One Puzzling Afternoon

Eighty-four-year-old Edie Havercroft is in a bit of a muddle. At least, that's what her family continues to tell her. So, when Edie sees Lucy Theddle standing outside of the post office one Tuesday afternoon, her family chalks it up to one of her confusions. Because Lucy can't be standing outside the post office—she disappeared back in 1951.

Meanwhile in 1951, fifteen-year-old Edie is lonely. So, when she stumbles into a friendship with the mayor's daughter, it-girl Lucy Theddle, she cannot believe her luck…even if Lucy's friendship comes with a terrible secret.

As past and present collide, Edie becomes determined to finally figure out what happened to Lucy in 1951 before it's too late. All she remembers is Lucy was once her friend, and that she herself knew a secret that no one else ever did. A secret that could unlock what actually happened to Lucy Theddle before the girl is forgotten forever.

This discussion guide was shared and sponsored in partnership with SOURCEBOOKS.

Book club questions for One Puzzling Afternoon by Emily Critchley

Use these discussion questions to guide your next book club meeting.

Edie is suffering from memory loss, which makes remembering even the smallest details of her life difficult. What does she see one day outside of the post office, and why would that be confusing for her? How would you feel if this happened to you?

Edie soon becomes plagued with flashes of her old friend Lucy. What is her goal in remembering Lucy Theddle?

Do you think Edie is an unreliable narrator? Why or why not?

The story is told in two separate timelines, one in 2018, the other in 1951. How did these pieces connect, and what did this add to the suspense of the story? What time period were you most drawn to in the story?

What did you make of Edie’s mother’s occupation? How did that affect the way the people of Ludthorpe saw their family? How would you have felt if you were Edie?

This is not your typical mystery. As Edie says to Halim, “I think the clues are buried in me.” What did she mean by this? How did this type of mystery compare to others you’ve read?

Coming to terms with her dementia is hard for Edie. How did Edie grapple with some of the changes in her life? How does her memory loss evolve throughout the narrative?

How did you relate to Edie on her mission?

Why is Edie’s independence so important to her, and why does she feel it’s being taken away? If you were in Edie’s position, would you also want to prove your abilities, or would you accept help more willingly?

One Puzzling Afternoon Book Club Questions PDF

Click here for a printable PDF of the One Puzzling Afternoon discussion questions

"A clever, keep-‘em-guessing murder mystery, an empathetic yet realistic portrayal of the toll dementia takes, and a meditation on how the brain can bury the most tragic memories...An outstanding must-read."

—Booklist, STARRED review

“A captivating and poignant book, I was completely hooked. You can't help but fall for Edie as she desperately tries to find the lost friend from her past, while she begins to lose herself to dementia in the present.”

—Marianne Cronin, author of The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot

“An uplifting, bittersweet story with a page-turning mystery at its heart. Emily Critchley writes about aging and memory with huge warmth and compassion. A beautifully atmospheric and endearing book.''

—Freya Sampson, author of The Last Chance Library

“One Puzzling Afternoon is a quiet, compelling mystery of a woman untangling the secrets locked inside herself. This truly unique story blends past and present in a way that feels real. Great atmosphere and even better characters.”

—Lucy Gilmore, author of The Lonely Hearts Book Club