Book Club Page
Reading Group Resources for “The Spider Bite Murders”
If you’re a book club leader and you’ve chosen this book for your members, please see the following potential questions and prompts. Clearly, you’d want to pick and choose (or have members vote), as addressing all would make for a very lengthy meeting! I’ve tried to write these ideas in such a way as to avoid spoilers—but you might want to read the book first, all the same.
(Interested in a possible complimentary 30-minute Zoom session with me during your meeting? Keep reading after these questions.)
Michael Calrissi
The big question regarding any book’s protagonist is: what do they want? In “The Spider Bite Murders,” what do you think Michael Calrissi wants? And by the end, how close does he come to getting it?
If you were offered a skill like Calrissi’s (or Frankie’s), would you accept it? If so, how would you incorporate such a potential mixed blessing into your life?
Simon Nguyen
In order for their partnership to be successful, who do you think had to change more: Nguyen or Calrissi—or was it about even?
Eva Delgado
In your opinion, did Eva make the right choice in the last few pages? Why or why not? Name a few pros and cons to a love relationship with a person who has Calrissi’s unique talents.
Aunt Jessica
Is there a person for you who fulfills or fulfilled the role Aunt Jessica plays in Calrissi’s life? Explain. Discuss Calrissi’s attempts to break though the walls of dementia using his PCM.
Johnny Taylor
Discuss two Johnny Taylor qualities which finally cause Calrissi to respect him.
Spiders and Snakes
Read my two Substack newsletter articles: Murder by Spider and Murder by Snake. Discuss in relation to the book.
Setting
Setting is not just the backdrop, it should be organic to your plot —write it so readers can’t imagine your tale in any other spot.
(Originally posted as one of my daily writing tips on X, formerly Twitter.)
Discuss the Southern California forest setting in relation to both atmosphere and the spiders and snakes integral to the plot.
I can drop by virtually…
I’d be happy to consider a complimentary 30-minute Zoom session with your book group in which I could answer questions about writing in the general and “The Spider Bite Murders” in particular. I can also mail signed bookplates to members who purchase the book. Inquire and check availability here.
(Calrissi Photo by Sasha Freemind on Unsplash, Nguyen Photo by Stormseeker on Unsplash, Eva Photo by Ahmet Sali on Unsplash, Jessica’s Rest Home room Photo by Adhy Savala on Unsplash, Spiders and Snakes Photo by Timo Pasch & James Van Den Broeke for Getty Images)