Discussion Questions for A Real Basket Case:

1. How is this mystery typical of the amateur sleuth or cozy mystery form? How is it atypical?

2. Is Claire a good sleuth or a bad sleuth? What assets does she have that help her in her hunt for Enrique's killer? What characteristics hinder her search? Do her abilities as a sleuth change or grow in the course of the novel? How would you, if you were in Claire's shoes, have done things differently?

3. Does Roger Hanover love his wife, Claire? How do his words and actions show how he feels about Claire as the book progresses? How do his feelings for Claire change?

4. How is Claire Hanover like her best friends Ellen and Jill? How is she different? Do these differences enhance Claire's relationships with her friends or detract from them? How are your close friendships like these?

5. How is setting used in the story? Could this story have taken place in a city other than Colorado Springs? What changes would need to have been made?