C. Hope Clark: Edisto Book Club Questions

Book Club Questions – The Edisto Island Mysteries

Below you’ll find a list of questions that are pertinent to C. Hope Clark’s Edisto Island mysteries and intriguing enough to light a spark at book clubs. If you would like more information about Hope or her books, or if you’d like to invite Hope to your club via person or Zoom, email hope@chopeclark.com

Murder on Edisto (Book 1, Edisto Island Mysteries)

Was Callie’s plot surprising or predictable? At which places in the plot did you find yourself most shocked. . . or most disinterested?
Callie Jean Morgan is full of flaws. Did these attract you to her or detract from you liking her? How did these flaws impact her decisions?
The book, and the series, is set on Edisto Beach and Edisto Island in the Lowcountry of South Carolina. Did the setting enhance the plot? How did the setting impact Callie?
How well did you relate to Callie (or any of the other characters, like Sophie, Raysor, Mike or Stan)? Did you find something about them striking a nerve or an emotion?
Did you feel that Callie’s motherhood was genuinely depicted? How did it compare to her role as a daughter?
What main messages or themes are present? Are there more than one? Do they overlap before the book ends?
Did Callie change throughout the book? At what points did she fight that change?
Why do you think the author wrote this book? Do you see the author as the main character?
Was the book too graphic for your taste or did it address the violence tastefully?
Can you see this book as a movie? What about a cable television series?

Edisto Jinx (Book 2, Edisto Island Mysteries)

Did the plot follow a formula or did you find it unpredictable? Was it like other stories you’ve read?
Callie Jean Morgan is quite the flawed protagonist. Did her stumbles and hesitations attract you to her, making her human, or detract from you liking her? How did these flaws impact her decisions? How would she have made these decisions if she were less flawed?
The book, and the series, is set on Edisto Beach and Edisto Island in the Lowcountry of South Carolina. Did the setting enhance the plot? How did the setting impact Callie?
The book addresses social media. Did that add to the depth of the story or not? Does it make you wonder about real life crime and how social media plays into it?
How well did you relate to Callie (or any of the other characters, like Sophie, Mike, Rikki, or Janet)? Did you find something about them striking a nerve or an emotion?
What traits make certain characters memorable? Who was your favorite character?
There are more than the standard number of minor characters in this story. Did each of the minor characters serve a solid purpose?
Did you feel that Callie is a natural law enforcement official or does she have to try harder to make it work?
What main messages or themes are present? Are there more than one? Do they overlap before the book ends?
Did Callie change throughout the book? At what points did she fight that change?
Can you see this book as a movie? What about a cable television series?

Echoes of Edisto (Book 3, Edisto Island Mysteries)

In this, the third Edisto mystery, Callie is just beginning to find herself upright and home. Did the opening chapter stun you as much as it did her?
What did you see as the general theme of this story? Did you feel her loneliness, and did you sense she wasn’t as stable as she thought she was?
Callie is sick through most of the book. Did that impact your empathy toward her? Did the illness add to the tension of the plot?
Did Callie’s concerns and hesitations attract you to her, or detract from you liking her?
What was your opinion of Mike Seabrook? Callie has come to rely upon him as a person, an officer, and a love interest, but does he deserve her?
Did you understand Callie’s mother, Beverly? Did her decisions of the past make sense? Could you relate to her as a mother?
Did the climax shock you? Anger you?
How well do you think Callie handled the conclusion?
The book, and the series, is set on Edisto Beach and Edisto Island in the Lowcountry of South Carolina. Did the setting enhance the plot? How did the setting impact Callie?
Did Callie change throughout the book? Did you wonder how the author would handle the next book in the series after the turn of events in this one?
Can you see this book as a movie? What about a cable television series?

Edisto Stranger (Book 4, Edisto Island Mysteries)

Theme is the main idea, message or meaning of a story that provides a central focus for the other story elements to work to support. What did you see as the general theme of this story? Is it subtle or heavy-handed?
Did you feel Callie’s loneliness, and did you sense she was more or less stable than she thought she was? Does she have power she can’t identify or she just weak?
Was the alcoholism realistic? Did it add or detract from the story?
Callie’s motherhood is threatened in this book. How well do you feel she handled things? What would you have done differently?
With all that has happened to Callie in her life, is she stronger or not? What does she need?
The story is told in Callie’s point of view. Did you trust her logic or judgement since hers was the only viewpoint? Did you want to tell her no, that’s a bad decision?
What was your opinion of Raysor? And of Stan? Did they handle Callie appropriately?
The book, and the series, is set on Edisto Beach and Edisto Island in the Lowcountry of South Carolina. Did the setting enhance the plot? How did the setting impact Callie? Does it impact her negatively in any way?
Did yo like the author’s style? If you have read any of the other Edisto books, was the style consistent?
Can you see this book as a movie? What about a cable television series?

Dying on Edisto (Book 5, Edisto Island Mysteries)

This is a crossover book, where Carolina Slade comes to Callie Morgan’s world on Edisto, giving the reader a taste of two protagonists from two different C Hope Clark series. Did you enjoy the two leading ladies brought together? Did it help or detract from the mystery?
Were you familiar with Carolina Slade before this? If so, did you appreciate her as much in a crossover tale? If not, did her participation intrigue you enough to check her out in her own world in The Carolina Slade Mystery series?
Which protagonist did you prefer? Why?
This story is steeped in the Lowcountry. Did the story and setting do all the senses justice?
What surprised you most about this mystery?
Who was your favorite secondary character? Why?
How were Slade and Callie good for each other? How were they bad for each other (if at all)?
What was not believable?
Did the opening grab your attention?
Did the ending satisfy you?

Edisto Tidings (Book 6, Edisto Island Mysteries)

Did you appreciate the holiday theme in this mystery series? Was it unnecessary or did you find it a nice touch? Do you think most long-term series need a holiday in it?
This is the shortest book in The Edisto Island Mystery Series. Do you wish it had been longer?
Who was your favorite secondary character and why?
Does Callie need a romantic interest or not? Can the series survive without one or do you feel her having one deepens character and adds layers?
Is Callie a stronger person or a stronger cop?
What are Callie’s weaknesses in this story versus the others? What strengths feel different?
What do you think about Callie’s newest mother? Where would you like their relationship to go?
Legrand Brice is quite the character and often an antagonist in these books. Do you have any empathy for him in this story? Did it change your long-term opinion of him or are you still leery?
How did you like the different feel of a winter Edisto Beach? Does it entice you to want to live there or maybe vacation there in the off season?
At the end of this story, what does Callie still need as a person?

Reunion on Edisto (Book 7, Edisto Island Mysteries)

This story was spawned from a real life experience of the author, after one classmate killed another forty years after graduation. What is a horror story from your graduating high school class? Did it resonate through time? Did it impact the subsequent reunions?
Did you predict the guilty party? At what stage in the story did you figure it out?
Does this high school experience make you understand Callie Morgan better? Do you think it really impacted her adult choices? Did it serve at somewhat of a catalyst in pushing her out of Middleton?
What is your opinion of her mother, Beverly, after knowing about Callie’s past?
Did you have any characters in your graduating class that you could relate to in this book?
Do you feel that the ending provided Callie any sort of closure from her young life?
Who is stronger, Mark or Callie? Do you see potential in their relationship?
Would you have added more characters in the reunion group?
Would you have handled the author character differently?
If you were any one of these high school characters, would you continue with the reunion? Now or ever?

Edisto Heat (Book 8, Edisto Island Mysteries)

Does Callie’s fear of fire feel real? Does it resonate with you? Do you have a similar phobia?
Could you feel how threatening it is to have a fire in an isolated town like Edisto Beach?
Did you feel sorry for Brice or doubt his story in the beginning?
Did you feel sorry for Monty or doubt his innocence?
Have you known people like Monty or Minnie? Did you trust them at first blush? Have you ever taken up for them to others more harsh? Do you feel the social strata in this story?
Name how many issues Callie juggled at one time. Did they add the needed tension to the story? Could you have handled her load?
How did you feel about Dudley Vaughn? Have you known people like him, locked away and guarded about the world?
Did any turn in this story catch you unawares?
Could you feel the fire, the smoke at any of the incidences? Do you have any history like this? How did you overcome it?
Was Callie’s action/reaction at the end justified? Or do you feel she was running away?

Badge of Edisto (Book 9, Edisto Island Mysteries)

How did you like the civilian version of Callie Morgan?
Do you avoid or enjoy a graveyard? Can you see the beauty in them? Could you see the beauty in this one?
Were you disappointed when Lumen died so early in the book, or did you feel enough of her presence in the book to sense she was still an active character?
Did you enjoy seeing Carolina Slade and Wayne Largo in this crossover story? Did they add enough color to justify their inclusion?
How is setting a character in this story? How real did Blue House Lane feel?
How did you feel for Callie when faced with going to bed with Mark with Seabrook on her mind? In that house?
This book was pivotal in Callie’s life, both personally and professionally. Name the various crossroads she had to face in all arenas, on all levels.
Slade can be messy. Is she good for Callie? Or a handicap? Explain.
Did Greer surprise you?
Mr. Burnett, the little old man on Blue House Lane, was my favorite character to write in this story. There are a lot of fresh characters in this book. Who did you like best? Who didn’t carry their load?

Edisto Bullet (Book 10, Edisto Island Mysteries)

Did you like what you learned about Mark, since this was in essence his story? Did you like him more after the story was told? Or less?
Would you have handled Mark differently in Callie’s shoes?
They went off-book, so to speak, in handling this situation. Did you agree with their choices?
How did you enjoy the Maya/Zeus combination? Agree or disagree with how legit she was when it came to her other-worldly beliefs?
Do you believe in predictions or forecasts or visions like Sophie and Maya? Do you have experience?
Do you believe in law enforcement considering the paranormal when it comes to crime solving, or cold cases?
Were you surprised about how Brice got involved and wound up near the end? Was it satisfying or disappointing or totally expected? (Was it about time?)
Should Mark have felt so pulled to assist Amalia and Lily? Was he right? Was he justified?
Some people say that these types of things cannot happen in the real town of Edisto Beach. Would you be surprised if crime was more than you imagined? Would you want to know before going, or would you prefer things stay as they are, with those like Callie handling things outside of the public’s eye?
This story got complicated. Did it come around to your satisfaction? Authors are supposed to only use characters that add to the forward pace of a story. Did everyone carry their weight in this one? (Sophie, Stan, Amalia, Lily, Orson, etc.) Could any character have been left out?

Edge of Edisto (Book 11, Edisto Island Mysteries)

There wasn’t a real solid, primary, bad guy/antagonist in this story. Did that disappoint you or make you feel the story unfulfilling?
Can you see ladies of the evening (Summer Ladies) making annual plans like this? Would you consider something similar, where you go off with close friends to be something you are not the rest of the year?
Did you like or dislike Lydia? Could you envision that shawl? Did she make good decisions? Were any of her decisions wrong once you looked back at the story? How else could she have handled things?
Were all the ladies necessary for this story? Are there any you think could have been left out? What did you like about each one? Did they blend well like Lydia liked to believe?
How did you like the ladies being older in age? Did them seem more wise? Would you have thought the same of them if they were young?
There are a lot of visuals in this story. Name some of them.
Did the ending (Lydia’s affiliate with Edisto) surprise you? Did you soften toward her once you learned her past?
Did you like how Callie handled the ladies? She got tough at times, but not others. Why do you think that?
Stan is a favorite character of the author. What’s your take on him? Is he good for Callie? Is he good for crime solving? Could the Edisto stories be written without him?
Do you think Lydia will come back? Should she reveal herself to Marie?

Edisto Storm (Book 12, Edisto Island Mysteries)

Could you feel the hurricane? Did the countdown to Nikki help raise the tension?
Would you have left your home on the beach?
Was this the first time you’d read the word “touron?” Is it accurate? Opinion?
Did the Rangers indeed have a perfect crime setup? Was it believable?
Was it difficult to dislike the Rangers? Which one did you like best at first?
How did you like Donna Baird and Horse? Should they continue as regular secondary characters?
Is Bruce as good or bad guy deep down inside? Or does he just play the hand he’s dealt?
How is Bruce different from the other Rangers? Can he survive without them?
Did Callie make the right call at the helicopter? What would you have done?
Should Bruce return? Is he drawn to Callie or is following his own compass?

Hidden on Edisto (Book 13, Edisto Island Mysteries)

Were you surprised to see Bruce back? If you did not read Edisto Storm, did that detract from following the story in Hidden on Edisto?
How important was setting in this story?
Did you like the juxtaposition of the CBD store humor with the seriousness of criminal behavior?
Did the right people die? Would you have done differently as the author?
Can you understand the vigilante justice? Was it genuine or was he covering his own anonymity for personal need? After all, he knew Callie.
Miss Sere was colorful. . . and two-faced. Or was she? Did she act out of economic need and a sense of family, or did she not know better? Did your opinions about her change? More than once?
Did your opinions about Bruce flip flop or change as the story progressed?
Did Callie make the right decision in the end?
Why didn’t Bruce stay on Edisto?
Do you think he will return? Do you think he should? And should Callie remain silent about him since Mark really isn’t familiar much with him?
If you read the other Edisto books, how did this one feel different?

Edisto Lethal (Book 14, Edisto Island Mysteries)

There isn’t a real bad guy in this story. Who did you see as the bad character(s), and did that change as the story wound its way to the end?
The setting is very contained, being mostly Maelstrom Manor and Coots and the Pros and Cons Restaurant. Did you notice? Did it matter? Or did the story take place where it should have? Could you suggest some other places to have scenes?
The Poe name was used somewhat tongue-in-cheek but turned dark quickly. Did the famous name interfere with your enjoyment of the story?
Did the right persons die in this mystery?
What more could Callie have done to avoid what happened?
Did you enjoy having Jeb and Sprite actively involved?
Did the theme of generational interaction resonate with you? In which case and how?
Do you agree with Jeb’s desires? Can you understand Beverly’s mission?
Was the use of food too much, too little, or just right? Suggestions?
Would you buy that house if you could afford it after all that took place?