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Some Danger Involved:
Reading Group Guide
Questions for Discussion
- To what does the title refer? Who is narrating? Look at the language
in the opening paragraphs. What does it tell you about the narrator? What
are some of the specifics about the narrator's life up to his employment
with Barker? Is he a reliable narrator? Why?
- How does Some Danger Involved hook you as a reader? Share your
response to the book's language and pace and details, and its characters.
When does the story take place? Share some examples of how Will Thomas
uses language and other sign-posts -- such as people, items, customs -- to
reveal this.
- In Chapter 2, what does Llewelyn mean when he tells Barker he is
"playing Virgil to my Dante"? Does this foreshadow anything? If so, what?
Recount what happens to Llewelyn in Chapter 2. What do we learn about
Barker? What does Barker see in Llewelyn?
- Looking at Chapter 3, read the titles of some of the books Barker
lends Llewelyn. Why these titles in particular? What do these have to do
with their work, or their lives? Do the titles of these books provide any
clues to the story that will come?
- Share your opinions about Barker. Describe him physically. Thinking
about his habits, what kind of person is he? Does he remind you of any
other literary Private Investigator? If so, who, and why? What do we
really know about him?
- At the end of Chapter 6, what does Llewelyn tell us that "barker"
means? Does this fit with the character? Discuss the other character
names. How does the author supply information about the characters by the
names he chooses for them?
- Given the story's historic setting, how does author Will Thomas
incorporate England's class system? Consider Barker's staff. Why does the
author choose the name Jacob Maccabee for his butler? Why, or why not, is
a Jewish butler appropriate for this story?
- Why does he use the struggles of the Jewish people here? What is he
telling us? What is the role of anti-semitism in the book? How effective
is it for this story?
- In Chapter 13, look at the interview Barker conducts with Rev.
Painsley. Share your reaction to what Painsley is saying about the
Jews.
- Why did you believe Llewelyn was shot at in Chapter 14? Did you have
any clue as to why he would be a target? Did you realize that this was a
ruse to throw off the investigation?
- Share your reactions to Professor Rushford's speech on eugenics. Do
you think this is still a prevailing opinion in some quarters? Why? What
is the purpose of holding and espousing such an opinion? Discuss whether
or not eugenics is a natural phenomenon (like Darwinism) or a fabricated
one, and why.
- Looking at Chapter 17, share how Llewelyn describes Nightwine when he
first sees him. Describe Sebastian Nightwine. What is his residence like?
What is his role in the story?
- How did you react to Racket being the bad guy? How does Will Thomas
succeed in surprising the reader with Racket's true identity? Why does
Racket crucify the young scholar, and then attempt to crucify
Llewelyn?
- Looking back on the fact that Racket was always nearby with his
carriage, do you think this was a subtle or not so subtle clue that he was
the murderer? Share whether or not anything gave away the fact that Racket
is not just a coachman.
- Do you think there is much more to learn about Barker and Llewelyn?
Discuss how Will Thomas leaves room for a sequel, and what you might like
to see this pair doing next.
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