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A Dyeing Shame: Death at the Beauty Box
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Discussion questions for Book Clubs
1. Cozy mysteries are nearly always set in small towns (or British villages.) How does the small-town setting for Dyeing Shame help set the stage for murder? Why wouldn’t the premise for the book work as well in New York city? What small-town elements contributed to plot progression?
2. Cozy mysteries (and crockpot) sales have seen a resurgence since September 11th. What qualities of these books make them appealing in uncertain times?
3. Myrtle doesn’t allow her age to create obstacles for her. Give some examples of how she uses her age to her advantage during the investigation. In general, how is society changing to accommodate the active lifestyles of today’s seniors? Do you think Myrtle’s interest in challenging pastimes is more common in seniors than it was a generation ago?
4. The beauty parlor in A Dyeing Shame becomes a hotbed of local gossip. Do you use a similar salon or do you think the trend these days is towards walk-in salons where you see different stylists each time? How important was the small-town, old-fashioned beauty parlor to the plot?
5. The understood “fair-play” rules for mysteries state that all clues are presented to the readers and that red herring wild-goose chases don’t go on excessively. What red herrings did you notice in the book that didn’t pan out as clues to the murderer?
6. Myrtle and Red are at odds several times in the book—especially when he makes safety adjustments (improvements?) to her home. Is there a diplomatic way to approach safety and driving concerns?
7. Bootsie’s cell phone is ever-present (and ever-ringing), much to Myrtle’s consternation. Do you also have a love-hate relationship with cell phones? How have they changed our lives for the better? How have they changed them for the worse?
8. Were you surprised when the murderer was revealed? Looking back, could you see the clues that lead to the killer? Was there another suspect you’d pegged as the murderer? What made you feel that way?