Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. Mystery is a genre that has existed for centuries, and there have been many classic mystery novels, both with and without famous detectives. What are some mysteries that you’ve read before?

Teaching Suggestion: Lucy Foley’s book doesn’t have a central detective figure, but it incorporates many elements of mystery. Encourage students to think about why this genre is so popular and how characterization can play a vital role in the plot as readers try to figure out who was the victim and who was the murderer. Ultimately, by having students think about mystery as a genre, you can begin to explore the theme of The Power of Deceptive Appearances.

• This Time.com article compiles a list of one hundred popular mystery and thriller books.
• This blog post from the British Psychological Society explores why people are so drawn to mysteries.

2. This novel takes place on a seemingly haunted isle called the Folly, and the setting is perfect for the mystery that takes place there.