Discussion Questions
Use our LitLovers Book Club Resources; they can help with discussions for any book:
• How to Discuss a Book (helpful discussion tips)
• Generic Discussion Questions—Fiction and Nonfiction
• Read-Think-Talk (a guided reading chart)
Also, consider these LitLovers talking points to help get a discussion started for The Bishop at the Lake:
1. What is the reason Blackie's boss sends him to Grand Beach? Does the intrigue and plotting surrounding church politics surprise you?
2. What is wrong with this family! Describe the characters and dynamics of the Nolan family members, starting with Spike and his wife, Lady Anne, as well as their children and respective spouses and children. Who is your least favorite?
3. Everyone knows, of course, who the favorite is...but some claim that Margaret is too perfect? Agree or not?
3. What is the rivalry about between Margaret and her mother? Why has her mother worked to set the others against her own daughter?
4. Author Greeley establishes a contrast between two families —the Nolans and his own family, which includes his sister, brother-in-law, and nephew Joseph. Talk about the differences between the Nolans and Murphies.
5. Why does Blackie come to believe that Malachi Nolan is not much of a rival?
6. Greeley weaves questions of faith throughout his stories. Talk about the references in this novel to the Papal encyclical, God is Love. What does Greeley mean when he says that human passion is a sacrament reflecting God's love? And how does the meaning of forgiveness play out in this novel?
7. This is a "locked room" mystery. Were you puzzled about how the hornets were let loose—or who let them loose—in the closed room? Or was it obvious? What about the why?
8. Good mysteries usually have "red herrings"—false leads to throw both characters and readers off the scent. What are the red herrings in this novel—and how skillfully were they deployed? How susceptible were you to the misleading clues?
9. Were you satisfied by the way the mystery ended—did you find the outcome surprising or predictable? Was it a compelling story, one that kept you turning pages? Or did you find it difficult to become engaged?
10. Have you read other books in the Blackie Ryan series? If so, how does this one compare to the others? Is it fun to revisit the same characters, notably Blackie and his sister's family? If this is your first Blackie Ryan book, are you inspired to read others?
(Questions by LitLovers. Please feel free to use the, online or off, with attribution. Thanks.)
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