Well Read, Then Dead
By Terrie Farley Moran
DISCUSSION DATE: 7 p.m. Tuesday, August 12, 2025
LOCATION: The Elusive Grape, 129 N. Woodland Blvd, DeLand, FL 32720
About the Book
Nestled in the barrier islands of Florida’s Gulf Coast, Fort Myers Beach is home to Mary “Sassy” Cabot and Bridget Mayfield—owners of the bookstore café, Read ’Em and Eat. But when they’re not dishing about books or serving up scones, Sassy and Bridgy are keeping tabs on hard-boiled murder.
Read ’Em and Eat is known for its delicious breakfast and lunch treats, along with quite a colorful clientele. If it’s not Rowena Gustavson loudly debating the merits of the current book club selection, it’s Miss Augusta Maddox lecturing tourists on rumors of sunken treasure among the islands. It’s no wonder Sassy’s favorite is Delia Batson, a regular at the Emily Dickinson table. Augusta’s cousin and best friend Delia is painfully shy—which makes the news of her murder all the more shocking.
No one is more distraught than Augusta, and Sassy wants to help any way she can. But Augusta doesn’t have time for sympathy. She wants Delia’s killer found—and she’s not taking no for an answer. Now Sassy is on the case, and she’d better act fast before there’s any more trouble in paradise.
Click here to buy the book on Amazon.com.
This Month’s Icebreaker
If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
Discussion Questions
- How does the Read ’Em and Eat café create a unique and cozy setting for the story?
- What did you think of the dynamic between Sassy and Bridgy as amateur detectives?
- How does the murder of shy Delia Batson highlight the contrasts within Fort Myers Beach’s colorful community?
- How does the book balance lighthearted moments with the darker elements of the mystery?
- What role does bookish humor play in the story?