Book Club Questions

Welcome to the Book Club Guide for Mouse in the Box and Spare the Rod.

Please note: To offer the most thoughtful and in-depth discussion questions possible, this guide reveals key plot elements from both novels—including their endings.

If you have not yet finished reading Mouse in the Box or Spare the Rod, you may wish to wait before reviewing these questions, as they do contain spoilers.

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1. This book toys with the idea of a sympathetic criminal. Both the Michael and Lori storylines gear the reader to feel for them and put themselves in their shoes. Did you sympathize with one or both of them? If so, why? If not, why?

2. We learn about interrogation tactics used by law enforcement to “extract a confession” out of Michael, including lying, harassing, and intimidating, particularly by Detective Chase. Under the same circumstances do you think you would confess to a crime you did not commit? Also, do you think these tactics are fair?

3. Throughout this book we get a glimpse of the inner workings of the criminal justice system, which is clearly flawed. What did you learn or were most interested to learn about the system?

4. The assassination of Alice on the courtroom steps thrusts Mason into being the primary lawyer for Michael Key. Do you think it hurt or helped Michael's case? Do you think Alice would have changed the outcome of Michael’s case. Would you have continued to represent Michael after Alice’s assassination?

5. If you were in Lori's position on the morning of trial morning of trial, would you have taken a plea deal? Do you ultimately feel that the sentence she got was fair?

6. Racial tensions are prevalent in this novel. Specifically, that Michael and Robin are a mixed-race couple. How do you think the story would be different if Michael and Robin were both black? Both white?

7. Did you find the testimony of the jail house snitch, Steven Baker, credible?

8. Do you think Michael should have testified?

9. Lori and Mason develop a relationship and friendship while she is in prison through writing to each other. How do you believe this relationship benefited each character and why do you think it kept growing?

10. Perhaps one of the biggest twists in the book is the revelation of Doctor Fehl and the subsequent hope for Michael. What were your thoughts on the failure of the motion for a new trial?

11. Who else (if anyone) did you suspect for murdering Robin?

12. The book revealed later in the story that Ozzy was black. Did you originally picture him as white or black? How did the reveal of his race contribute to his character in the book?

13. How did you feel about the ending of the book?

14. Were there any part of the plot or aspects of the characters that frustrated or upset you?

1. The Prologue sets a chilling tone with Jacob enduring harsh punishment. What were your first thoughts upon reading it and how did it shape your expectations for the book?

2. The title “Spare the Rod” carries strong implications. How does the title reflect the story's themes and key events?

3. Figures like Chuck Winston and Sherif Blumhagen wield power in different ways. How does the book explore the theme of power—both its fair use and its corruption?

4. How do you think this case would have unfolded differently if it had taken place in a larger city like Milwaukee, rather than in this small community?

5. Does Dominic view himself as a sinner, a survivor, or something else? How do you view him?

6. Mason has built a new life for himself in Door County, but how much of his past is still haunting him? Do you think he is truly moving on, or is he just running from something?

7. Lori joins Beyond Bars to help other women transition out of prison. Do you see this as an act of self-healing, or is she trying to make up for something in her past?

8. How did you feel about the book's conclusion? Do you believe the legal outcome aligned with the moral truth of the story?

9. Were there any moments in the book that resonated with you personally? Did you relate to any character's struggles or choices?

10. Sheriff Tommy Blumhagen struggles with pressure, responsibility, and perceived expectations from the community. Do you think Tommy was motivated more by wanting to help Jacob or by protecting his own image and political relationships? How did your view of him evolve?

11. Religious language is often used to justify punishment within the Hawkins household. How does the novel portray faith—as comfort, corruption, control, or something else entirely?

12. Mason and Loris’s friendship is grounded in shared vulnerability, but they come from very different worlds. Do you think they genuinely help each other heal, or is their bond built on trauma? What future do you imagine for them after the events of the novel?