Book Club Night Kit

Getting Away With Murder

Shari Lapena

Cozy night

A New York couple so in love with their brownstone that they start wondering about the unthinkable. It's a twisty, bingeable thriller that's perfect for curling up with friends and asking how far any of us would go to keep the home we love.

Come Home to the Brownstone

Grab your coziest sweater and join us for warm mugs, comfort food, and a gentle chat about Shari Lapena's Getting Away With Murder. Slippers are encouraged, and suspicion is optional.

Reading level: Easy

Best for: Friendly clubs who love a juicy thriller but would rather talk about feelings over a warm mug than pick apart clues

Discussion

Warm-up

1.The couple adores their brownstone. What's one room, corner, or chair, past or present, that has felt most like home to you, and what made it feel that way?
2.Where were you (couch, bed, bath, commute) when you couldn't put this book down, and what did you snack on or sip while you read?

Digging in

1.How did it feel to watch two ordinary people slowly talk themselves toward a terrible idea? Were there moments you felt uncomfortably close to understanding them?
2.The brownstone is almost a character in its own right. Have you ever loved a place so much that losing it felt unbearable? How did the book stir up that feeling for you?
3.Family and money get tangled together in this story. Without naming names, has money ever shifted the warmth between you and someone you love, and did the book bring any of that back?
4.Which moments made you want to reach into the pages and give a character a hug, or a firm talking-to? What was it about those moments that moved you?

Going deep

1.By the final pages, did you feel more tenderness or more unease toward the couple? How did your heart change toward them as the story went on, without giving away where it lands?
2.After closing the book, did you look at your own home, your own comforts, or your own family a little differently? What did the story leave you holding onto or letting go of?

On the table & to sip

To eat

Baked Brownstone Mac and Cheese

A bubbling, golden casserole that tastes like a New York family kitchen on a chilly night. It's pure comfort and easy to make ahead.

Mini Chicken Pot Pies

Individual pies feel nurturing and a little indulgent, like dinner at a relative's house where everyone is polite and something is simmering under the surface.

Homemade Black-and-White Cookies

A classic New York bakery treat. The two-tone icing is a sweet nod to the story's moral gray areas, and they're simple to bake the day before.

To sip

The Inheritance Hot Toddy

Bourbon, honey, lemon, and a cinnamon stick. It's warm and soothing, with a bit of richness, fitting for a story about wealth in the family.

Stoop-Side Mulled Red Wine

A slow cooker of spiced wine that fills the room with a cozy brownstone-in-autumn smell and lets guests serve themselves.

Vanilla Cinnamon Hot Chocolate (no alcohol)

A creamy, alcohol-free mug with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon, for anyone who wants to stay snug and clear-headed.