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They can't even agree on what to read, so how are they going to solve a murder?
Having recently moved from London to a small Cornish seaside village, Nova Davies started a book club at the local community center, but so far it's a disaster. The five members disagree on everything, and to make matters worse, a significant sum of money is stolen during one of the meetings, putting the much-loved community center at risk.
Suspicion for the theft falls on book club member Michael, especially when he disappears and a dead body turns up at his house. But the book club has their own theories. Agatha Christie superfan Phyllis is determined to prove Michael's been framed, while romance reader Arthur believes there's a mystery woman involved, and teenage sci-fi fan Ash thinks dark forces are at play.
While trying to locate Michael, solve the murder and recover the stolen money, each of them has their own secrets to protect. But despite the danger closing in, they won't rest until they've cracked the case and gotten everyone safe at home with a book, where they belong.
The community center is vital to the St. Tredock community. Are there any similar spaces that are the heart of your own community?
The library and senior center are together on one side of town. the main library is downtown but the other senior center is on the north side. the park District that runs that wanted to move the center because of building lease problems and they ended up with a huge fight on their hands! there ar...
-Colleen_K
Each of the book club members has a specific genre of book they particularly like to read. Do you have a favorite genre you come back to time and again?
I am also "Reading the Globe." Have been doing a handful of countries for the past couple years.
-Gabi_J
Arthur tells Ash he thinks “the whole point of a book club is to read things you wouldn’t normally.” (p. 71). Do you agree with him? If you’re in a book club, do you feel it encourages you to read outside your comfort zone?
Being in book clubs (2) I end up reading outside my normal (thriller) genre and learning a lot about my fellow readers, just like this book. However, we don't go sleuthing, sadly.
-Frances_N
Phyllis likes to pick a random stranger and make observations about them. What did you think of this hobby? How often do you think her observations were productive, and when did they lead her astray? Have you ever done something similar?
I mostly observe people and make up a story about them when I am waiting for an appointment or when traveling. It could be a great hobby but you have to be realistic about it. There is probably no truth to your story line but it does pass the time. Phyllis took her stories/observations as truth w...
-Arlene_Iannazzi
At several points throughout the novel Nova recalls her father saying, “No one writes books about characters who sit around waiting for life to happen to them.” What do you think he was trying to convey to her? Do you agree with him?
He didn't want Nova to waste her life just waiting for something exciting to happen to her. His intent was she has to create her own life, make it interesting and take advantage of opportunities no matter how small they may seem.
-Arlene_Iannazzi
Which of the characters in The Busybody Book Club would you most enjoy inviting to your own book club meeting?
I would invite them all, I think that when you have different points of view you can only make your book club more entertaining and educational
-Anke_V
Arthur continues reading romances to stay connected to Esi. What did you think of this? Is there any practice you’ve continued so that you can stay connected to someone?
I though it was very touching. When my mother passed, I read her books (she was an avid reader) anytime I wanted to feel close to her, wondering what went through her mind when she read them years ago.
-Anke_V
If you could suggest one book for The Busybody Book Club to read, what would it be and why?
As I read The Busybody Book Club, I thought about the characters in the Thursday Murder Club!
-Colleen_K
Which of Agatha Christie’s mysteries have you read? Do you have a favorite, and if so, what about it do you like?
I have read a lot of her work. My favorite is Then There Were None.
-Linda_S
All of the main characters in the story have a secret. Whose secret did you find the most surprising?
Arthur!!! Surprising.
-Linda_S
At the start of the story, Nova thinks the book club is a disaster. Do you think she’s right? What do you think is the key to a successful book club?
Whenever I start/join a new book club, I think it's a bit of a disaster, especially if I am not running it! Nova was worried it would be a flop and nobody would show. I think it takes a while for people to gel and for a book club to get its feet…or not!
-Linda_S
Like her heroine, Miss Marple, Phyllis claims that you should always believe the worst in people. Do you think the events of this book prove her right or wrong? Do you have any mottoes in your own life?
I think she was wrong. Given a chance, she became quite a nice person.
-Barbara_J1
Have you ever visited the English seaside? Did you enjoy the setting of St. Tredock in Cornwall?
I would like to go to Cornwall. I did stay in a motel at the North Sea. It was unnerving because it had a full wall glass sliding door that anyone could have come in through.
-Barbara_J1
Who did you suspect was behind the theft and the murder? Did your suspicions change at all as the story went on?
I actually thought Michael was the thief at the beginning. Yes, I did change my mind as the story went on. I never felt the theft and the murder were done by the same person.
-Nancy_H
Overall, what did you think of The Busybody Book Club? (no spoilers, please!)
I really enjoyed the book! I think the characters were well developed! I thought replicating a sort Agatha Christie was a great idea! There were no "letdowns" in this books great descriptors. Story was very fluid!
-Arlene_Iannazzi
To what audience would you recommend The Busybody Book Club? Is there another book or author you feel has a similar theme or style?
This is a book for anyone who just wants to read a Cozy Mystery. I think sometimes you just want to read something that is entertaining.
-Miss_Liz
At times Nova found it difficult to speak up for herself. Where in the story did you see her fellow book club members helping her grow?
I think for me it was when Phyllis hung up Nova's phone while she was talking to Craig.
-Angela_B
Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton novels are featured heavily throughout The Busybody Book Club. Have you read any of them, or watched the series? What’s your favorite “enemy-to-lovers” novel?
I have not read Bridgerton, but have read some of Quinn's other novels. I like her mix of fiction and historical facts. Cannot think of a particular enemy to lovers novel, but any novel where people resolve their difficulties/differences and become lovers or friends is a good read.
-Nancy_D
Did Ash and Arthur’s unlikely friendship surprise you as they bonded over books? Have you found in your own experiences that books can bring people from different circumstances together in a shared love of the story or characters?
I just thought the friendship between Arthur and Ash was great. Books bring people together. We have a young man who comes to a program at the library where we just talk about books. He even baked for us one month and we love when he comes. His book choices are often books we haven't read and we ...
-Melinda_J
Phyllis asks Nova, “[W]hat’s so wrong with being a busybody?” (p. 191). Where do you stand on the question? Was her nosiness a good thing or a bad thing? Do you consider yourself a busybody, or do you know someone who is?
I think it depends on your definition of busybody. In this book, Phyllis often took it too far, to the point of being intrusive and accusatory. But I do value curiosity and wanting to know other people's stories. So if you take "busybody" as a form of curiosity, I think it's good. If you are simp...
-Susan_L
The Busybody Book Club by Freya Sampson
Please join BookBrowse in our book club discussion of The Busybody Book Club by Freya Sampson.
-kim.kovacs
What are you reading this week? (5/8/2025)
...the end of the sprawling drama of The Antidote by Karen Russell. Once finished, I plan to begin reading Playground by Richard Power. I'm also reading The Busybody Book Club by Freya Sampson to review.
-Sunny
"[A] genial and entertaining cozy centered on a ragtag ensemble of bookworm...Sampson hits a parade of familiar but satisfying beats: unexpected friendships blossom, books provide key clues, and well-placed red herrings keep the pace from flagging. It's a bright and breezy treat." —Publishers Weekly
"Lovers of found family tales will enjoy; lovers of puzzles maybe less so." —Kirkus Reviews
"Sampson's latest is another fun British amateur sleuth story. … The intertwining perspectives of the disparate members will tug at readers' armchair sleuthing abilities as they try to puzzle out whodunit and why. A good fit for fans of bookish mysteries featuring reluctant allies who learn to work together." —Library Journal
"Sampson has a knack for pulling together a ragtag, multigenerational crew of charming characters, and this time, she adds crime to the mix. … This cozy mystery has strong caper vibes and lots of bookish references, a real treat for readers." —Booklist
"The small-town book group we all want to join, where the quirky, coloring-outside-the-lines members take their cues from literature and band together to do the right thing for one of their own, even if it means risking their lives to solve a crime. Funny, endearing, and full of snappy, insightful dialogue about the joys and compromises of life – I'll bring the brownies to their next meeting!" —Christina Lynch, author of Pony Confidential
This information about The Busybody Book Club was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Freya Sampson works in television as a creator and Executive Producer. Her credits include two documentary series for the BBC about the British Royal Family, and a number of factual and entertainment series. She studied History at Cambridge University and in 2018 was shortlisted for the Exeter Novel Prize. She lives in London with her husband, two young children and an antisocial cat. The Last Chance Library is her debut novel.
Author Interview
Link to Freya Sampson's Website
Name Pronunciation
Freya Sampson: FRAY-uh
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