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The Crooked Queen
The Murder of a Queen
Lacey Papparin, a law school dropout turned private investigator, is on assignment in Lisbon when she stumbles into a mystery involving the murder of a fourteenth century noblewoman depicted in a work of art that has disappeared along with a man claiming to be its owner. Working with the disappeared man's daughter, Lacey must study the secrets of Portugal's traditional azulejo art form while dodging sinister forces bent on preventing her from uncovering the truth.=
With the dramatic romance of King Pedro I of Portugal and his murdered mistress Inês de Castro as backdrop, The Crooked Queen delves into Portuguese history, culture, art, and cuisine while spinning the complex web of a contemporary murder mystery.
This discussion guide was shared and sponsored in partnership with DartFrog Books.
Book club questions for The Crooked Queen by Daniel A. Crane
Use these discussion questions to guide your next book club meeting.
The book's main character, Lacey, dropped out of law school to become a private detective. Was that the right decision for someone like her, and why do you think she made it?
Lacey's nickname is "the Mouse." Why is that an appropriate nickname for her? Can you think of a better one?
The book is set in contemporary Portugal, but has a lot to do with Portugal's past. What were some things that you learned about Portugal that you didn't expect? Having read the book, are there other things you would like to learn about Portugal? If you were planning a trip to Portugal, what would you like to do and see?
The mystery in the book centers on the longstanding feud between two families. How could the families have resolved that feud? How might the lives of the characters in the book have been different if the families had been able to come to peace?
The book's postscript--the letter from Ines to Lacey--ends with a twist. Do you think that Lacey really did meet the ghost of Ines de Castro at the fountain where Ines was murdered?
The Crooked Queen Book Club Questions PDF
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