Wilful Murder (Conrad)

Wilful Murder  (Alicia Allen Investigates Trilogy, 2)
Celia Conrad, 2011
Barcham Books
332 pp.
ISBN-13: 9780954623333


Summary
The second mystery in the Alicia Allen Investigates trilogy lures the justice-loving solicitor out of London and into the shadowy depths of the Land Down Under where nothing is what it seems and a risky Trust could lead to murder.

When an Australian-born heiress living in London asks Alicia Allen to draw up a Will in expectation of her forthcoming marriage and impending English fortune, she reveals that her family members have been meeting untimely deaths.

After her fiance is killed in an explosion, and her own life is threatened, she implores Alicia to investigate. Alicia soon finds herself hot on the trail of a psychopathic killer who could be responsible for the deaths and near-deaths that continue to occur in London and Australia—or are there two psychopaths working in tandem?

Alicia's quest takes her to Australia—coinciding with an Australian friend's wedding in Brisbane where Alicia's old flame Alex Waterford has also been invited. Alex, a London lawyer now working in Singapore for a British firm, confesses his love for Alicia, but events conspire to make the pursuit of justice more important than personal desires, and the duo join forces to solve the crimes.

Putting questions of love on the back burner, they put their own lives on the line as they search for the answer to the murderous mystery that lies just beneath the misleadingly placid surfaces of Probate, Wills and a Trust. (From the publisher.)

This is the second book in the Alicia Allen Investigates Trilogy. A Model Murder (2011) is the first, and Murder in Hand is the third.

Author Bio
• Birth—N/A
• Where—London, England, UK
• Education—J.D., University of London
• Currently—lives in West London, England


Celia Conrad is a British author who shares similarities with the heroine of her Alicia Allen Investigates Trilogy in her own Anglo-Italian heritage and solicitor experience (aka "lawyer" in the U.S.). Together they share an enthusiasm for crime solving, Shakespeare, All Things Italian and, of course, Pringles. A Model Murder was her debut novel, written at the suggestion of a mentor who encouraged her to write mysteries based on real-life stories she has encountered while working within the law. She followed it with Wilful Murder and Murder in Hand, Books 2 and 3, respectively in the Alicia Allen Investigates series. (From the author.)

Visit the author's website.
Follow Celia on Facebook.

Book Reviews
Celia Conrad has composed a pastiche of cozy-cerebral murder mystery “must haves” plus a fresh blend of Travelogue, Greek Tragedy, Shakespeare and Love Story.
Dancing in the Experience Lane Book Reviews Blog


Alicia Allen in Australia may seem a cuddly, fluffy, Pringle-crunching koala, but when needed she can show both class and claws! Conrad sets any number of teasing possible outcomes in motion, and reserving some daring bait-and-switch manoeuvres for the final chapters. For much of the novel Alicia is in Australia while many of the key plot developments take place in England...yet the pace never slackens.
Ophideide, Amazon U.K. customer review

Discussion Questions
1.  What is your opinion of the bitter family feuds and inheritance issues as they are depicted in Wilful Murder?
 
2. In what ways can you relate to the concept of hostile and greedy relatives and toxic family ties?
 
3. Since Wilful Murder is Book 2 of the Alicia Allen Investigates Trilogy, did it strike you as a “stand-alone” mystery tale, or would you suggest readers read Book 1, A Model Murder, first? What is the reason for your answer?
 
4. What do you see as Alicia Allen’s strengths and weaknesses as a lawyer/detective?
 
5. Do you agree with Alex that Alicia’s feeling of obligation to do the best for her clients goes too far sometimes?
 
6. What do you think about Alicia’s on/off relationship with Alex? Why do you think Alicia pushes him away when it is evident she is so attracted to him?
 
7. How does Alicia compare with the other female characters? What did you think about her relationships with other women in the story?
 
8. What’s your reaction to how Alicia handles authority figures?
 
9. How do you feel about the action that leads up to Drew’s murder? Did it surprise you? How did you think the story was going to develop?
 
10. How did you feel about Alicia’s heiress-client Isabelle, and what happens to her? Did you feel sympathy or empathy for her at the beginning? Did those feelings change? If so, how?
 
11. How did you feel about the way the “backstory” (past events told by various characters) was presented? Did it slow the action down, confuse you, or make you curious to learn more?
 
12. Most of the violent scenes are not shown to the reader. News of the deaths or “accidents” are relayed by “messenger.” How did you feel about this?
 
13. In what ways did the action being set in London and Australia (with murders taking place across different time zones and locations) help or hurt your enjoyment of this story?
 
14. What was your reaction when the identity of the murderer was revealed? What, if any, clues were you able to spot?
 
15. What role, if any, do you feel Fate plays in the story?
 
16. How do you feel about the way language and culture is portrayed? Did you learn anything new about Italian or Australian culture? If you are American, did you learn anything new about British and Australian language or food?
 
17. If you have read A Model Murder (Book 1), how did you feel about some characters in that book not reappearing or playing a bigger role in Wilful Murder (Book 2)? Please discuss why you were or were not disappointed?
 
18. Which characters would you like to see return to Book 3 (Murder in Hand)? If you have read A Model Murder, are there any characters there that you would like to reappear in the last book of the Trilogy?
 
19. Regarding Alicia and Alex’s on again/off again relationship, were you as interested in what happens with them romantically as you were in their solving the crime crime together? Why or why not?
(Questions courtesy of the author.)

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