Welcome, Book Clubs

If your book club is looking for a contemporary novel you can really talk about, Fatal Equation was written with you in mind.

Ali Kurmi is 35, an ambitious songwriter and DJ with a quirky love of 70s and 80s music. At one of his corporate gigs he's instantly captivated by an older woman in the crowd: Laura O'Brien. A year earlier, Laura's husband - Ireland's legendary racehorse breeder Frank O'Brien - dropped dead, leaving her wealthy, isolated, and trapped between her grief and two very bitter stepchildren. Determined to start over, she escapes the acrimony by moving to Hampshire and taking a part-time job with an events company. It's at one of these events that she meets Ali, and their connection quickly deepens into a powerful, unexpected love.

Fatal Equation follows their relationship as it's tested by social prejudice, religious expectations, poison pen letters and the shadow of gangland Liverpool - raising questions about loyalty, courage, and how far we'll go to protect the people we love.

1. Fatal Equation opens with a chance encounter. How believable did you find the relationship between Laura and Ali? What drew them to each other?
2. The novel explores themes of age, wealth, race, and grief. Which theme did you connect with most?
3. How does Ali's music serve as more than just background - what does it reveal about his character?
4. Stephanie is a villain with clear motivation. Did you find her actions believable? Sympathetic? Terrifying?
5. The supporting cast of friends plays a large role. Did any secondary characters stand out to you? Would you read a spin-off about them?
6. The story is paired with a real music album by Coolstar. How did this add to your reading experience?
7. How did the shifting locations between Ireland and England enhance the story?
8. What did you think of the ending? Were you satisfied, surprised, or both?
9. Do you think this story would work well as a TV series? Who would you cast as Laura and Ali?