Book Clubs

Discussion
Guide

Whether you're reading alone or with a group, these questions are designed to deepen your experience of the novel and spark meaningful conversation.

Love & Relationships

1. What makes Vick and Ann's relationship so transgressive in the context of Pagua Bay? Which social barriers are most powerful — race, class, or family expectation?
2. How does the community's reaction to Vick and Ann's relationship reflect broader patterns of how societies police who can love whom?
3. Do you think Vick and Ann were naive about the consequences of their relationship, or bravely defiant? Where is the line between the two?

4. Why does the village choose silence over truth after the fire? What are the costs and benefits of that silence for different characters?
5. Rita takes enormous personal risk to seek the truth. What drives her when everyone else looks away? Have you ever been in a situation where speaking up was costly?
6. The novel suggests that some truths, once buried, poison an entire community. Do you agree? Can you think of real-world parallels?

7. How does Ann's Kalinago heritage shape her experience in the village? How does the novel portray the relationship between the Kalinago community and the wider village?
8. What role does obeah play in the story? How does the novel navigate the line between superstition and spiritual tradition?
9. The Nine Night vigil is both a funeral tradition and the setting for key revelations. How does the ritual structure shape the story's pacing and emotional impact?

10. How does the Dorado family's wealth influence the investigation — and the village's willingness to question the official story?
11. Ma Dorado is both a complex character and a formidable antagonist. Did you find yourself understanding her perspective, even while opposing her actions?
12. The novel depicts a community where power is held by a few families. How does this dynamic shape who gets to speak, who gets to love, and who gets justice?

13. The novel uses Dominican Creole alongside English. How did this affect your reading experience? What did the Creole add that English alone couldn't convey?
14. Many characters speak in distinct voices — from the village elders to the young generation. Which voice stayed with you most, and why?
15. How does the oral storytelling tradition of the Caribbean shape the novel's structure and style?

• Set the mood with Caribbean music — look for Dominican cadence-lypso or bouyon playlists.
• Serve ti-punch (white rum, lime, cane sugar) or sorrel drink for an authentic island atmosphere.
• Read select passages aloud in the Creole — the rhythm and cadence add a dimension that silent reading can't capture.
• Visit the glossary before your meeting to familiarize yourself with the Creole terms.

Deborah is available for virtual book club visits and Q&A sessions. Reach out through the press page to arrange a visit.