UNITED WE READ
BOOK OF THE MONTH
"The House of Love and Death"
BY ANDREW KLAVEN | PUBLISHED: OCTOBER 31, 2023
BOOK SUMMARY
Cameron Winter, the ex-spy-turned-English professor defies accepted narratives and corrupt local authorities to investigate the murder of a wealthy family in the Chicago suburbs. Insightful and atmospheric, The House of Love and Death is a penetrating mystery with a plot that cuts straight to the dark heart of some of modern America’s most pressing issues.
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MEET THE AUTHOR
ANDREW KLAVEN
Andrew Klavan is an American novelist and conservative political commentator. Klavan has also worked in film and as an essayist and video satirist. He is also known for being a political commentator and hosts The Andrew Klavan Show podcast on The Daily Wire. He has been nominated for the Mystery Writers of America’s Edgar Award five times and has won twice. He has also won the Thumping Good Read Award from WH Smith and has been nominated twice for the Bouchercon’s Anthony. His books have been translated around the world. His essays and op-eds on politics, religion, movies, and literature have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, The Washington Post, and the LA Times. He has been called “the most original novelist of crime and suspense since Cornell Woolrich.”
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Discussion Questions
1. Cameron Winter has no personal connection to the Wasserman case and the local authorities make it clear they do not want his help. Why do you think Winter feels so strongly about getting involved anyway?
2. The book opens with an epigraph from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein about “the various relationships which bind one human being to another in mutual bonds.” Which relationships stood out to you as being central in this story?
3. Which character in the book did you relate to most?
4. Were you surprised by the revelation of the culprit? Who did you suspect?
5. Would you have made the choice that Agnes makes when she realizes who has come to the house?
6. What lessons or morals do you think the author is trying to communicate with this story?
Regarding question #1 : It is possible that Winter has a strong ethical core and when he realizes a situatiton is corrupt, he wants to right it. Many others may experience the same ‘pull’ but in Winter’s case he has the courage, brains, strength, astuteness, intuitiveness, etc to actually get involved.
Regarding question #2 : This is a fascinating quote because it can be interpreted in many ways. Bonds that connect us on a human soul level, bonds that connect us as in bondage. Agnes’ relationship with the children was especially poignant – a confident, parental fill-in – kind, caring and unselfish. An ind who turned around her life to embrace love, truth, honesty and courage. Most appreciated the connection b/t Winter and Mrs. Lord. The author certainly chose appropriate names for all the characters. The little dance they do is enjoyable and heartwarming.
Regarding question #3: I probably related to some aspect of each character; the human struggle of chosing good over evil. The dark sides that need reigning in. The light sides that need to be shared yet protected. The facade of bravado, the repungnace of cruelty to others. We all belong to the fates of the good, the bad, the ugly and the beautiful.
Regarding question #4 : Piquing the readers’ curiousity was part of the appeal of the story line. Wondering all the way through who the culprit could be. I was surprised it was Mateo’s younger brother but also, on some level, found it unlikely that one so young could be so strong as to tear Agnes’ clothing and beat her, shot people in cold blood, etc. Speaks to the degree of desparaton one can experience even at a young age. An important note to the reader is the power of addiction. The power of shame. The power of humiliation. All of which can be destructive forces if not healed. Tthe power of Faith as seen in Agnes; not discussed – more implied.
Regarding question #5. In order to answer this question, one must first contemplate if he/she has the awareness, insight, astuteness that Agnes has in making the decision.
Regarding question #6. This read offered many life lessons: Strength (or weakness) of character, struggling with decisions of right an wrong, succumbing to corruption, the need for healing the hurts so they don’t get acted out and displaced. The reality that life can be cold and chilling (Winter) or fascinating and curious (Cameron = mischievious). Life can also be difficult – lots of struggles, temptations, cruelty. Solid friends, nannies, partners, mentors, etc is what makes the difference. Most important is Faith in God.
Is anyone else reading this book? The summaries and reviews describe a fascinating read. Would enjoy having others with whom to discuss. Thanks !
Current book is Vance’s biography? Please join conversation there. So what do you think of Vance confronting Walz on stolen valor?
Q1,2 and 6 I will deal with separately as motivation of the author and our protagonist deals with a complaint about the selection/
Actually #3 I have to reserve my actual favorite characters as they are continuing characters. In this book plot alone, the most emotional reaction is for the doomed couple like Romeo and Juliet, Lila and Mateo. As for a “mutual bond” that Cameron needed to discover all of the truths involved it would be the deputy Ann Farmingham.
#4 While a powerful plot twist,that Tomas would not only slaughter the family but also his brother doesn’t really work especially since it makes a young boy both crazed with passion, but coldblooded and then a sociopath among his parents and calmly talking about the love story of Lila and Mateo. I think for Klavan it fits in with the arc of Cameron’s backstory where he was also “cold blooded” including killing but for totally different reasons. But again, that’s developed over the whole 3 novels.
#5 Rationally I would not have made the choice Agnes did. Yes if sacrificing yourself would have saved others, maybe. But she had to know that most if not all in the house except the child were dead. And since Tomas might have killed the boy too out on the street, she should have gone out the window and made sure his escape and be able to tell the story. ———————————–
Q1,2,6 and as I alluded to some of the other questions all have aspects that go beyond this the 3rd novel.
Question 1 indeed begs the question of Cameron’s motivation. The very title of the second in the series “A strange habit of mind” answers the question !!! Its his training as an intelligence agent and his knowledge of the dark side that gives him insight.
The relationship with Margaret Whitaker the therapist is at same time, both retrospective but also examines her growing feelings – and due to the age difference she encourages him to follow his heart instead with Gwendolyn Lord (also a counselor)
The Recruiter and then Stan-Stan, almost a comic relief spy out of a Get Smart episode are continuing characters and we see were not only important in the past but play a role. In the second novel, I believe, the Recruiter supposedly in retirement still gathered his forces to clean up after what Cameron did to confront evil in that novel.
So, question 6 – I COMPLAINED LAST MONTH THAT YOU PICKED THE WRONG BOOK (dealing with history of imperial military strategy instead of the the history of citizenship that you asked questions about) NOW THIS MONTH YOU PICKED THE 3RD BOOK IN SERIES AND ONLY BY READING ALL 3 BOOKS COULD YOU ARGUE INTELLIGENTLY ABOUT THE MORAL LESSONS THAT ANDREW KLAVAN WAS TRYING TO CONVEY