Michele Campbell

International Bestselling Author

  • Home
  • About
  • Books
  • Book Clubs
  • Press
  • Contact

Book Clubs

Special Offer for Book Clubs

Want to surprise your friends at your next book club meeting?  Be the hostess with the mostess and invite the author into your home for a video chat!  For a limited time, Michele will personally appear by telephone or Skype or Zoom to discuss THE WIFE WHO KNEW TOO MUCH, A STRANGER ON THE BEACH, SHE WAS THE QUIET ONE and/or IT’S ALWAYS THE HUSBAND at your book club or reading group meeting!  Contact Michele by clicking here and she’ll be delighted to arrange it with you.

Book Club Discussion Questions (Please note:  the questions may contain spoilers!)

A few suggested questions to jump-start your discussion of THE WIFE WHO KNEW TOO MUCH:

  1. The Wife Who Knew Too Much opens with Nina’s diary entry warning that Connor is planning to kill her to be with another woman, followed by the news report of her death. Did you ever question whether Nina was telling the truth in her diary? If you believed her, how did that affect your reaction to the other characters as the book unfolded? Were you able to keep an open mind about the cause of Nina’s death, and who the guilty part(ies) might be?
  2. Tabitha first met Connor when she worked as a pool girl at his grandmother’s country club. Years later, they found each other again when he walked into the restaurant where she was working as a waitress. How did the wealth and class differences between them influence their relationship? How did it constrain her behavior throughout the book?
  3. Tabitha grew up in difficult circumstances, not just financially, but emotionally. What scars does she carry from her dysfunctional childhood? How does her past influence her actions in the present?
  4. Nina’s chapters reveal harrowing details about her relationship with her first husband, the real-estate tycoon Edward Levitt. What effect did that marriage have on Nina? Did you sympathize with her, or judge her for staying with him? What role did Nina’s marriage to Edward play in her later behavior toward Connor? What role did it play in the circumstances that led to her death?
  5. What effect does the Levitt fortune have on various characters in the book? Discuss this with respect to Nina, Connor, Tabitha and Juliet.
  6. What did you think of Connor as a character? Did he have a moral compass, or was he motivated solely by vanity and greed? What was the source of his appeal to Tabitha? To Nina? Did you like him? Did your view of him change over the course of the novel?
  7. The theme of trust within marriage is present throughout The Wife Who Knew Too Much. How does trust (or the lack of it) affect Nina and Connor’s marriage? How does it affect Tabitha and Connor’s marriage? What role does lack of trust play in advancing the plot?
  8. The book follows Tabitha as she navigates two very different worlds – working as a waitress in New Hampshire, and enjoying vast wealth as Connor’s wife in the Hamptons. How well or poorly does Tabitha deal with the change in her circumstances? In which setting does she really belong? How did the two contrasting settings affect your feelings about Tabitha as a character?
  9. Were you happy with where Tabitha ended up, and the choices she made at the end of the novel? Why or why not?
  10. Did you see the ending coming? If yes, when did you start to figure it out? If no, what did you think was going to happen?

A few suggested questions to jump-start your discussion of A STRANGER ON THE BEACH:

  1. How do you see Caroline’s nervousness about Hannah fitting in to her character? Does it make her more sympathetic? Less?
  2. When you learned more about Aidan’s backstory partway through the novel, did it change your opinion of him? If so, in what way?
  3. Early in the novel, Caroline talks about the difference between thoughts and actions. What’s your opinion on this topic? Do you think that bad thoughts inevitably lead to bad actions, or are people entitled to think whatever they want? Explain why you think that way.
  4. On page 7, Caroline says “The thing about being rich is, there’s always someone richer.” Can you see this statement as a kind of foreshadowing of her actions later? Why do you think that wealth is so important to someone like Caroline?
  5. How did the dual narrator format affect your reading experience? Do you think it worked well within the novel?
  6. Halfway through the novel a huge storm hits the coast and damages Caroline’s beach house. How did this contribute to the atmosphere and mood of the second half of the novel? Can you point to specific passages where the writing created this atmosphere?
  7. Whose perspective did you believe (or believe more) while you were reading? When did your allegiances shift, and why?
  8. On page 165, Caroline says “The reckoning was coming for all of us. I could feel it.” What kind of reckonings does this book leave us with? Do you think that justice was served by the end of the novel?
  9. Given the dual narration and unreliable narrator in the novel, who do you think is actually the protagonist – Aidan or Caroline? Can you make an argument for both?
  10. Did you see the ending coming? If yes, when did you start to figure it out? If no, what did you think was going to happen?

A few suggested questions to jump-start your discussion of SHE WAS THE QUIET ONE:

  1. Rose and Bel Enright are not only sisters, but twins. How are they alike?  How are they different?  What baggage do they carry with them from childhood that affects their relationship once they arrive at Odell Academy?
  2. The two sisters have very different reactions to being sent off to boarding school. How do the pressures of Odell Academy affect each twin, and their relationship? Are they better or worse off for being sent away to boarding school together?
  3. Sarah and Heath Donovan have been appointed dorm heads of Moreland Hall with the specific mission to crack down on disciplinary violations.  What strengths do they bring to this task?  What weaknesses?  What challenges do they face as they try to carry out their assignment?  Do you think their efforts were doomed from the start, or would another couple without their problems have succeeded where they failed?
  4. What do you make of the relationship between Sarah Donovan and Rose Enright?  How do Rose’s feelings towards Sarah influence choices she makes regarding her sister’s relationship with Heath?  Does Sarah do everything she could/should do to help Rose?
  5. The most controversial aspect of this book is the relationship between Heath and Bel.  Did you find their relationship believable?  What made Bel vulnerable to Heath’s attentions? How did the people around her at Odell contribute to her vulnerabilities?  Given how many people suspected something was going on, how was it possible that nobody intervened? As between Heath, Bel and other people in Bel’s life, who bears blame for what happens to her?
  6. How do you react to the character of Sarah Donovan?  Do you find her relatable, naïve, strong, honorable, a good mother?  What experiences in her own background and in the history of her relationship with her husband influence the choices she makes as she deals with events in Moreland Hall?  How much blame does she deserve for the ultimate outcome?
  7. Discuss Heath’s strengths and flaws. Why does Sarah love him?  Why does Bel?  Do you see any redeeming qualities?  What in his background can explain his weaknesses.  What is it about Heath that ultimately leads to his downfall?  Ambition?  Lust?  Insecurity?  How do you think you would have reacted to him if you met him in real life?  If you had him as your high school English teacher?
  8. What role did Darcy Madden and the Moreland girls play in the events that led to the murder?  Were they important to the plot, or just an amusing diversion?  Do you think Darcy is truly evil, or is she just a teenager who’s into pranks and shenanigans?
  9. Martha Enright steps up to take in her orphaned granddaughters but then sends them off to boarding school, where one dies.  What did you think of her conduct throughout the book?  If you were her age, and in her circumstances, do you think you would have done things differently, or not?  Does she redeem herself in the end?
  10. Did you form an opinion early on about which twin dies, and whether the other twin was responsible?  Were there other suspects for the murder that you believed might be the actual killer?
  11. Did you find the ending satisfying?  How do you imagine Sarah and Rose will go on with their lives?  

A few suggested questions to jump-start your discussion of IT’S ALWAYS THE HUSBAND:

  1. What is it about the college setting that allows three girls as different as Kate, Jenny and Aubrey to bond?  What attracts them to one another?  What repels them?  If nothing terrible had happened at the end of freshman year, do you think their friendship would have had a future, or would they have gone their separate ways?
  2. Kate, Jenny and Aubrey come from very different backgrounds.  How is each character shaped by her upbringing and family circumstances?  Can the characters’ flaws be explained by their difficult childhoods or their complicated relationships with their parents – or is this just an excuse for bad behavior?
  3. Kate is at the center of two love triangles that shape the book.  She gets involved with Lucas despite knowing he was Jenny’s high school boyfriend, and she has an affair with Ethan, who is Aubrey’s husband.  What forces compel Kate to behave so badly?  Is she simply pursuing these men in order to take them away from her best friends, or do you believe her feelings for them?  How does the sense of betrayal Jenny and Aubrey feel when Kate steals their men influence their actions toward her?
  4. The story cuts back and forth in time between freshman year at Carlisle and the roommates’ reunion twenty years later.  Over those two decades, how do the three main characters change?  Do they grow up at all?  Does marriage, motherhood or career make them wiser, or kinder?  At the end of the book, which of the three do you believe is the happiest, or best adjusted?
  5. When Kate meets Owen Rizzo in the bar during the thunderstorm, she tells him her name is Maggie Price.  Why?  What role does Maggie Price’s suicide play in Kate’s inner life over the years?  Do you believe she feels guilt for it?  Does she feel genuine guilt for what happened to Lucas at the bridge?  Is Kate capable of true remorse?
  6. Why does Griff love Kate so much?  What did you think of his actions toward her throughout the course of their marriage, and at the very end?  Throughout the second half of the book, did you believe he killed her?  Does he seem remorseful, or not?  What do you think his future holds?
  7. The three roommates wind up in three very different marriages to three very different men.  Were the problems in these marriages a reflection of the women’s innate character flaws?  Were they inevitable?  If you had to pick one of the three men to be married to – Griff, Ethan or Tim – which would you pick?
  8. Which of the three roommates did you like best?  Which would you most like to have as a friend?  Which is most like you — are you a Kate, an Aubrey or a Jenny, or some combination of the three?

Newsletter Signup:

Sign up here for all the latest news on Michele and her books.

Email address:

michelecampbellbooks

Are you stressed? Me too. Timeline cleanse— a su Are you stressed? Me too. Timeline cleanse— a sunset in Greece. Take me back there please! #nature #beauty #refresh #vacation #takemeaway #enoughalready
Happy book birthday to my friend @katewhite_author Happy book birthday to my friend @katewhite_author! THE SECOND HUSBAND is out today, and it’s an addictive page-turner. Do. Not. Miss. Perfect for your July 4 beach bag!!! #books #bookstagram #suspense #thriller #beachread #mustread #katewhite #authorsofinstagram
Happy book birthday to my talented friend, @sarahs Happy book birthday to my talented friend, @sarahstewarttaylor! THE DROWNING SEA, out today, is the latest installment in her gripping, atmospheric and gorgeously written detective series set in Ireland. Here’s the description — “Former Long Island homicide detective Maggie D'arcy's vacation takes a dangerous turn when human remains wash up below the steep cliffs of a remote West Cork, Ireland peninsula." Sooo good. I adore these books, and you will, too! A must-read! #books #bookstagram #mystery #suspense #thriller #ireland #sarahstewarttaylor #thedrowningsea #authorsofinstagram
Nice to see three of my books hanging out on the s Nice to see three of my books hanging out on the shelf at the @barnesandnoble in #hyannis! Many thanks to Suzanne for the photo. #beachreads #thriller #suspense #summer #capecod #vacation #michelecampbellbooks #astrangeronthebeach #shewasthequietone #thewifewhoknewtoomuch
Timeline cleanse because we all need one. #nature Timeline cleanse because we all need one. #nature #healing #water #sky #peace #greece
Happy Book Birthday to the queen of twists, @jaime Happy Book Birthday to the queen of twists, @jaimelynnhendricksauthor! A new book from her is a must-buy. IT COULD BE ANYONE is out today! Yay!! #books #bookstagram #suspense #thriller #twisty #mustread #beachread #summervibes #authorsofinstagram
Happy pub day to @daniellegirardbooks! The Ex is o Happy pub day to @daniellegirardbooks! The Ex is out today! #books #bookstagram #thriller #summer #beachread #authorsofinstagram
Happy Mother’s Day weekend! Lots of love and sup Happy Mother’s Day weekend! Lots of love and support to mothers everywhere. #mother #mothersday #flowers #appreciationpost❤️
SALE ALERT! Calling all UK readers— the audioboo SALE ALERT! Calling all UK readers— the audiobook of It’s Always the Husband, my bestselling debut about three Uni friends with a terrible secret, compared to Big Little Lies, is on sale now from @kobobooks for £4.99 for a limited time. See link in bio for details on that and other psych suspense audiobooks on sale. #books #bookstagram #suspense #thriller #beachread #sale #audiobook #michelecampbell #itsalwaysthehusband
Happy book birthday to @jenevaroseauthor! ONE OF U Happy book birthday to @jenevaroseauthor! ONE OF US IS DEAD is out today. I adored this book about the dark side of the beautiful people. Named a top pick from E! News, PopSugar, Bustle, Betches, and Amazon, it’s Big Little Lies meets The Real Housewives. Get it today, so much fun! #books #bookstagram #suspense #thriller #beachread #authorsofinstagram #jenevarose
Tons of fun zooming with @golden.girls.book.club l Tons of fun zooming with @golden.girls.book.club last night! They read A Stranger on the Beach.
I love book club chats! #books #bookstagram #bookclub #bookshelf #bookaholic #suspense #thriller #beachread #michelecampbell #astrangeronthebeach #authorsofinstagram
Congrats again to Tricia (@dreambigteachbigger) on Congrats again to Tricia (@dreambigteachbigger) on winning a copy of A STRANGER ON THE BEACH! Enjoy!! #books #bookstagram #weekendreads #beachreads #suspense #thriller #contest #giveaway #michelecampbell #astrangeronthebeach
#throwbackmonday! Over at @golden.girls.book.club, #throwbackmonday! Over at @golden.girls.book.club, they’ve been pairing A STRANGER ON THE BEACH with burgers and brownies. That got me thinking about when Stranger had its own bespoke cocktail, the Red Anchor Rum Punch, in honor of Aidan the bartender. Cheers to hot bartenders everywhere. #books #bookstagram #beachreads #eroticthriller #cocktails #astrangeronthebeach
Envelope please! And the #winner is…@dreambigtea Envelope please! And the #winner is…@dreambigteachbigger! Congratulations, you have won a copy of the large print edition of A STRANGER ON THE BEACH. Please DM @michelecampbellbooks via Instagram with an address by 5 pm Friday to claim your prize. #books #bookstagram #suspense #thriller #beachread #giveaway #contest #winner #michelecampbell #authorsofinstagram
Not getting anything done this weekend because I’m so immersed in THE SECOND HUSBAND! @katewhite_author’s tale of a woman who starts over after the murder of her husband only to learn that her seemingly perfect second husband may not be who he seems is highly addictive and hard to put down! Coming 6/22.
#giveaway alert!! Win a copy of this gorgeous larg #giveaway alert!! Win a copy of this gorgeous large-print edition of A STRANGER ON THE BEACH from @harpercollinsuk. Fabulous #beachread for warm days ahead. You can enter once on Instagram and once on Facebook by (1) following @michelecampbellbooks on that platform and (2) tagging two friends who love to read in the comments below. US only, winner announced 3/29. Good luck! #contest #giveaway #books #bookstagram #michelecampbell #astrangeronthebeach
Went outside today and saw a lot of birds. #nature Went outside today and saw a lot of birds. #nature #outdoors #getoutdoors #birding #birdphotography #amwriting #perhapstoomuch #authorsofinstagram
These flowers from my husband are too beautiful no These flowers from my husband are too beautiful not to share. Happy Valentine’s Day! #love #pretty #flowers #valentines #authorsofinstagram
Happy book birthday to my friend @reafrey! If you Happy book birthday to my friend @reafrey! If you love unputdownable domestic drama, SECRETS OF OUR HOUSE is for you. #books #bookstagram #bookshelf #domestic #reafrey #secretsofourhouse #authorsofinstagram
Excited about my weekend plans! #books #bookstagra Excited about my weekend plans! #books #bookstagram #bookshelf #amreading #friday #weekend #outlander #dianagabaldon #bees #atlast
Wishing you vistas and bubbles! #happynewyear Wishing you vistas and bubbles! #happynewyear
Happened to be passing through #Vegas and saw that Happened to be passing through #Vegas and saw that @kevinkwanbooks has his own slot machine. That’s some unattainable author goals right there. #books #bestseller #famous #waytosuccess #thanksalotkevinlol #authorsofinstagram
I am reading absolutely the wildest thriller about I am reading absolutely the wildest thriller about a female — hmm, I guess you could call her serial killer, but I totally love her! BLOOD SUGAR from @saschagrothchild is set in a glittering #Miami just awash in cocaine, and I can’t put it down. Keep your eyes open for this one! #books #bookstagram #thriller #suspense #murderandmayhem #bloodsugar #authorsofinstagram
They call it Nevada for a reason. Heading into Chr They call it Nevada for a reason. Heading into Christmas with snow and wild horses. Wishing you peace and beautiful vistas in the new year. #love #peace #holiday #christmas #nevada #horses #views #wideopenspaces #maybeillwriteawestern #authorsofinstagram
Load More...

Follow Michele:

The Wife That Knew Too Much, by Michele Campbell

Now in Paperback!
Amazon Barnes and Noble
iBooks Indies Indiebound

  A Stranger on the Beach, by Michele Campbell

Now in paperback!
Amazon Barnes and Noble
iBooks Indies Indiebound

  She Was the Quiet One, by Michele Campbell

Amazon Barnes and Noble
iBooks Indies Indiebound

  its always the husband, by Michele Campbell

Amazon Barnes and Noble
iBooks Indies Indiebound

Share this page
Share on FacebookTweet about this on TwitterShare on Google+Pin on PinterestEmail this to someone
HomeAboutBooksBook ClubsPressContact

© 2021 Michele Campbell. All rights reserved.


Credit: Photo © Nina Subin


Designed & developed by FSB Associates