Book Club Night Kit

Catch The Devil

Pamela Colloff

Cozy night

A gripping true-crime account from a master of the form, about a con man in Florida and the trail of damage he leaves behind. It reads like sitting close to a friend who has to tell you something hard.

Warm drinks, soft seats, one true story

Come cozy up for a low-key evening with comfort food and Pamela Colloff's Catch The Devil. Bring yourself, your slippers optional but encouraged.

Reading level: Moderate

Best for: A close-knit club that loves true stories told with heart and wants to talk feelings, not just facts

Discussion

Warm-up

1.Settle in with your cup of something warm: when in the reading did you most want to reach out and warn someone in these pages?
2.Was there a moment that gave you a comforting sense of relief, a place where someone showed real kindness or good sense? Tell us about it.

Digging in

1.This is a book about trust being given and broken. Has there been a time in your own life when trusting felt like the warmest, safest choice, even if it was risky?
2.Colloff writes with a lot of tenderness for the people affected. Which person did you find yourself quietly rooting for, and what made you care about them?
3.Florida's everyday, sun-worn world sits under this story. Did the ordinary setting make the events feel closer to home for you, and did that comfort or unsettle you?
4.How did the author's calm, reporterly voice make the hard parts easier to sit with? Did having a steady narrator feel like a gentle hand on your shoulder?

Going deep

1.By the end, what did this book leave you feeling about how much we owe each other in the way of caution versus openness? Share where you landed without giving anything away.
2.Reading about real people carrying real losses, what stayed with you most after you closed the book, and did anything about it feel oddly comforting or hopeful?

On the table & to sip

To eat

Slow-baked chicken and biscuits

Homey Southern comfort that suits the Florida setting and gives everyone something warm to hold while they talk.

Key lime bars

A cozy nod to Florida's flavors, tart and sweet and easy to pass around the couch.

Warm cheddar cornbread with honey butter

Nurturing, a little indulgent, and forgiving to make ahead for a low-pressure night.

To sip

Spiked sweet tea with bourbon and mint

A relaxed porch-style sipper that leans into the warm Southern setting.

Classic sweet iced tea with lemon (no alcohol)

The comforting, welcoming Florida standby, easy for everyone to enjoy.

Hot spiced apple cider (no alcohol)

Warm and soothing to cradle during the more tender parts of the conversation.