Evening Book Club: Book Club

Discussion Questions

1. What were your overall thoughts about the setting at the Dorset coastline and the town Tome? How did the setting serve as a character of its own?
2. Part of the novel focuses on a local folklore about the Birds, a cult who protects the town. What did you think about the Birds? How did it help to add a creepy element to the story?
3. The story is told in two different timelines—the present in the year 2025 and a journal from 2009. Why was it important to include the journal entires as well?
4. We read the perspectives from many different characters. How does the multi-perspective technique help to build tension in these kind of stories?
5. Why did Francesca decide to turn The Manor into a luxury resort? Did she really think her past wouldn’t come back to haunt her?
6. Why was it important for Bella to attend The Manor opening and confront Francesca about the past? What was she hoping to achieve?
7. At the beginning of the novel, we know a body has been found and The Manor was set on fire. Who did you suspect the body was at first?
8. There’s a ton of connections in this story—Francesca’s husband, Owen, is actually from Tome and he was picked on as a child. Eddie, the dishwasher, is a local who had an older brother. What was your impression of all the connections between the past and present in this novel?
9. As a teenager, Bella embarked on a summer romance with a guy named Jake. But all that comes to a grinding halt during Frankie’s party. Frankie makes poisoned brownies, and a local named Cora eats one and dies. Let’s talk about all the developments from that fateful night.
10. Why did Jake take a dark turn and eventually leave town after that night? And on same token, why did he become a detective focused on cold cases? Were you surprised when it turned out the detective investigating was actually Jake?
11. We find out that Cora was actually Owen’s mother. Let’s talk about that reveal.
12. When Francesca tries to escape from everyone chasing her, it’s Eddie who puts on the Bird outfit and causes Francesca to go off a cliff. What was your thoughts as you read all this unfold? How will this impact Eddie going forward?
13. The story ends with Eddie living with guilt, and his mother revealing that she’s part of the Birds. Jake and Bella meet for a drink. Owen inherits The Manor and decides to turn it into a place where locals can enjoy. What happens next for all the characters going forward?

Source: https://bookclubchat.com/books/book-club-questions-for-the-midnight-feast-by-lucy-foley/