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Don't Upstage the Body
Rules for professional mourners:
· Plan your aliases well--no improvising.
· Wear proper mourning attire.
· Maintain discretion at all costs.
· Don't upstage the body.
It is 1957, and Hippolyta Halfpenny and her family have mastered the business of bereavement. As professional mourners, they are so accomplished that even Lord Basil Monfort, the famous and wealthy recluse, engages the family's services for his own funeral. Tired of disguises and aliases, Hippolyta vows it will be her last performance. Then she discovers the undertaker's body during the wake and finds herself cast as an amateur sleuth in an increasingly unpredictable investigation.
Soon rain washes away the roads, trapping the funeral party at Lord Monfort's estate--with an unidentified killer in their midst. Bound by her father's wishes to maintain their charade, Hippolyta navigates a web of secrets spanning decades. But sorting truth from deception proves even more difficult when Lord Montfort's charming yet perceptive heir suspects Hippolyta is not all she appears to be.
Concealing her family's true identities while unraveling secrets might be a role Hippolyta is hesitant to play, but with a murderer among them, she must unmask the truth before the final curtain falls.
With her Agatha Christie inspired voice, Naomi Stephens pens a 1950s manor house murder mystery set in England--perfect for book clubs and fans of cozy mysteries, amateur sleuths, Enola Holmes, Michelle Griep, Julie Klassen, and Anna Lee Huber.
Book club questions for Don't Upstage the Body by Naomi Stephens
Use these discussion questions to guide your next book club meeting.
In The Moonstone, Wilkie Collins coined the term “detective-fever” to describe the obsession one feels when desperately trying to untangle a mystery. On this note, discuss your experience with “detective-fever” while reading Don’t Upstage the Body—who did you think the culprit might be? Were there any red herrings that led you astray and/or any clues you picked up on before Hippolyta and Crispin had fully realized their meaning? Were there any moments or revelations that were especially shocking?
Discuss Crispin and Hippolyta’s relationship—in what ways are they well-suited to each other?
How do themes of grief and loss play out in this story? What are some of the ways the various characters process their grief, and where do you see the clearest examples of growth?
Mary Magdalene and Lazarus are both mentioned in Chapter 22. In what ways do these religious allusions add to or complement the novel’s themes at large? What other religious references or messages did you find memorable and/or particularly compelling?
Though dealing with serious topics, this book was always meant to be a bit theatrical, particularly in its light embracing of farcical elements. Britannica defines a farce as “a comic dramatic piece that uses highly improbable situations, stereotyped characters, extravagant exaggeration, and violent horseplay.” There are also often unexpected twists, where audience expectations are turned on their heads. Based on this definition, where do you see farcical elements in Don’t Upstage the Body? How did you feel these elements were balanced with the more serious themes and experiences discussed in questions 3 & 4?
Imagine you were staging an actual performance of Don’t Upstage the Body. Which scenes from the book do you think would be most suited to a stage production? What would you want the set to look like? How would you use lighting, sound effects, music, and colors to help “set the stage” for the story?
By the end of the book, Hippolyta says that she “couldn’t help but feel more like a heroine.” What is the significance of this line?
Who was your favorite secondary character, and why?
From Mr. Pritchard’s beloved lobster curry to Tula’s famous ambrosia salad, there are a number of recipes referenced in this book. Which would you most like to try?
Bonus Question: Do you think Tula will become a professional mourner? Why or why not?
Don't Upstage the Body Book Club Questions PDF
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