Broken Harbour

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Did you suspect the twist that Jenny was the murderer? If so, when, and why? If not, were you more compelled by Scorcher’s belief that it was Conor, or Richie’s belief that it was Pat?

2. How would you describe the overall tone of the book? How did it leave you feeling?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Scorcher has firm beliefs throughout the novel, including his assertions that cause and effect are important, and people reap what they sow. How does his worldview align with or differ from your own? Why?

2. Consider the novel’s depictions of Pat, Jenny, and Conor. Of the three, who did you most feel a connection to, and why?

3. The novel focuses on how the financial pressures of Ireland’s 2008 economic recession impacted individual and family lives. Have you, a friend, or family member experienced financial hardship? How did the narrative’s depiction resonate with your experience?

4. The book explores fraught sibling and caregiving relationships through Scorcher, Dina, and Geri’s dynamic, as well as Fiona’s relationship with Jenny. How does the narrative reflect or diverge from your own experiences with these relationship dynamics?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The 2008 economic recession in Ireland is central to the plot of the novel and the Spains’ murders. How does French’s portrayal of the Spain family’s struggle enter into contemporary conversation about the social and familial repercussions of financial pressure?

2. Through Scorcher’s family, the novel explores the effects of generational trauma. Discuss the narrative’s portrayal of the relationship dynamics between Scorcher and his sisters, including how, through them, the novel addresses contemporary perspectives on childhood trauma and mental illness.

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. Although the novel delves deeply into the relationships between characters and thematic development, it is, at its heart, a crime novel. Discuss the ways in which the narrative fulfills the conventions of the genre while building literary elements into the text.

2. Setting is crucial throughout the book, from Broken Harbour to the Spains’ house. Consider how French uses setting to contribute to tone, character development, and more.

3. What role does Richie fulfill in the novel? Consider both how he changes over the course of the narrative and how he is a catalyst for change in other characters.

4. Discuss the importance of the Spains’ house itself to the narrative. Does it function as a symbol, motif, character, or setting? Does it serve more than one role?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. French tends to use secondary characters from one novel as protagonists in another. Choose one of the secondary characters in Broken Harbour and outline the premise for another Dublin Murder Squad novel, in which they are the main character. Who would you choose, and what aspects of their character or backstory would you like to explore?

2. Scorcher plans to resign from the Murder Squad at the end of the novel. Write an epilogue, set one year after the end of Broken Harbour. What is Scorcher doing professionally? Is he happy in his work? How does he look back on his time as a detective?