Murder Takes a Vacation

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Did you find the mystery plot of Murder Takes a Vacation suspenseful? Did the characterizations draw you in? What specific aspects added to or detracted from your reading experience?

2. What, for you, were the novel’s most powerful moments? Were they scenes of suspense and action, or those dealing with the emotional development of the characters?

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

1. Beyond solving a mystery, Muriel Blossom goes on a journey of growth and self-discovery in Murder Takes a Vacation. Did her personal journey resonate with you? Why, or why not? 

2. Have you encountered agism, sexism, body-shaming, or other prejudices like those that Mrs. Blossom has dealt with in her life?

3. Mrs. Blossom and Elinor are quite different from one another, which does not prevent them from being best friends. Do you have similar relationships in your own life? What does having a friend who is so different contribute to your life?

4. Have you ever been underestimated by someone who didn’t realize that you possessed a skill or knowledge? Were you able you able to prove yourself?

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

1. Discuss how societal attitudes toward Mrs. Blossom’s body type have made her reluctant to travel. How does this drive the thriller plot?

2. Pat Siemen, one of the story’s villains, claims that “money is the root of everything” (210). How does the novel, despite its luxurious settings, function as a critique of materialism?

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

1. Lippman’s book belongs to the cozy mystery genre but devotes equal time to the evolving character of her protagonist. Compare and contrast Muriel Blossom with one of the first cozy genre detectives, Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple.

2. Murder Takes a Vacation focuses more on suspense and character development than on rigorous plotting. What plot holes, inconsistencies, or logical flaws can you spot in the story?

3. In Murder Takes a Vacation, Lippman alludes repeatedly to Dashiell Hammett’s novel The Maltese Falcon and its 1941 film version with its central McGuffin, characters, intrigue, and complicated denouement. What noir elements does Lippman introduce to the novel? What do they contribute to the narrative? 

4. Muriel Blossom, the book’s hero, has appeared in some of Lippman’s Tess Monaghan novels, like Another Thing to Fall, as a supporting character. Trace her journey to becoming a “main character” over the course of the novel.

5. In Les Andelys, Danny tells Mrs. Blossom about the forgotten cruelties of the celebrated King Richard the Lionheart. Later, the cruise offers a tour of the picturesque home of the Nazi general Erwin Rommel. What satirical point is Lippman making with this juxtaposition?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. In her youth, Mrs. Blossom was a fan of first-wave punk and New Wave music. Create a playlist of songs from that era that relate to the book’s setting or themes, e.g., “Metro” by Berlin or “Jet Set” by Alphaville.

2. Rewrite a scene from the novel in the hardboiled style of The Maltese Falcon, or in the slapstick style of The Pink Panther.

3. Create an illustrated map that traces Mrs. Blossom’s itinerary through France, including images of her stopovers, such as Giverny, Vétheuil, etc.