A Very Woodsy Murder Reading Kit

A Very Woodsy Murder

A Very Woodsy Murder is the first book in the Golden Motel Mystery Series by Ellen Byron. The amateur sleuth is Dee Stern, a down-on-her-luck sitcom writer. While driving through rustic California, Dee impulsively decides to buy a shabby retro motel. She talks her best friend Jeff, who also happens to be her ex-husband, into helping her fix the place up and reopen it. When their first guest "checks out" early, Dee and Jeff find themselves trying to solve a murder mystery.

Read more about A Very Woodsy Murder

A Very Woodsy Murder Reader Questions

Note: If you aren’t in a book club, you can still use these questions to reflect on the story after you read it.

• What three words would you use to describe Dee Stern?

• Do you think Dee's former career helps or hinders her sleuthing abilities?

• Who is your favorite character from A Very Woodsy Murder?

• Would you like to live in the wilderness in California?

• Have you ever stayed at a retro motel?

• Have you ever seen or had an experience with a bear?

• Did you have a favorite scene in the book? What did you like about this scene?

• Were you able to identify the killer before Dee did?

• What red herrings threw you off the real culprit’s trail?

• What did you think of the ending of A Very Woodsy Murder?

• Would you like to see A Very Woodsy Murder turned into a TV series or movie? Who would you pick to play Dee?

• Do you have any predictions for future books in the Golden Motel Mystery series?

• Will you read the next book in the series, Solid Gold Murder?

Fun Activities for A Very Woodsy Murder Book Club Meeting

Make one or both of the recipes at the end of A Very Woodsy Murder.

Ask every book club member to bring an index card or a piece of paper with a road trip tip on it. Then, take turns reading the tips out loud.

Dee is a former sitcom writer. Ask everyone to share their favorite sitcom.

Elmira is an awful baker. Tell each other about the worst baked good you've ever eaten or made.

Create a charcuterie platter that would make Serena proud.

Print and pass out this free coloring page featuring the cover from A Very Woodsy Murder.

Interview with Author Ellen Byron

Read an interview with Ellen Byron, the author of A Very Woodsy Murder.

Visit EllenByron.com

Get a printable reading list and coloring pages when you sign up for Ellen's free newsletter at www.ellenbyron.com.