If you're in a book club or just looking for questions to ponder, I've put together a few discussion questions for Listen to the Mockingbird.
Readers Guide
1. What attracted you to this book? The historical period? The mystery aspect? The portrayal of Matty as a strong woman? Did any or all of these aspects live up to your expectations? Why or why not?
2. How should this book be classified? As a Western, a Civil War novel, a mystery, a thriller, or as feminist literature? Why?
3. Is there any one scene that you remember particularly vividly? Why? How does it relate to the story as a whole? What does it reveal about the characters?
4. Given the historical setting, is there enough background information to understand the events in the story? Does including a few real people and events help?
5. On a scale of 1 to 10 how would you rate the following, and why?
Character development
Action
Dialog
Setting
Mystery
Suspense
6. Does the author use any narrative devices like flashbacks or multiple voices in telling the story? Do you generally like or dislike these methods?
7. Did the story compelling enough to keep you interested? Were you able to predict things before they happened or did the author keep you guessing?
8. Does the romantic subplot add or detracted from this tale? Why?
9. How much does “place” or locale or landscape contribute to this book?
10. Although this novel was written as a “stand‑alone,” would you like to see a sequel? Why or why not?