Daily Books - The High Tide Club - A Novel by Mary Kay Andrews | Conversation Starters

Conversation Starters

for

Mary Kay Andrewss

The High Tide Club

By dailyBooks

Bonus Downloads

Get Free Books with Any Purchase of Conversation Starters

Every purchase comes with a FREE download!

or Click Here.

Scan Your Phone

A bout Us:

THROUGH YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND FIELD EXPERTISE, from newspaper featured book clubs to local library chapters, dailyBooks can bring your book discussion to life. Host your book meets as we discuss some of todays most widely read books.

Copyright 2018 by dailyBooks. All Rights Reserved. Published in the United States of America

Disclaimer: This is an unofficial conversation starters guide. If you have not yet read the original work we encourage you to do so first before reading this Conversation Starters Product names, logos, brands, and other trademarks featured or referred to within this publication are the property of their respective trademark holders and are not affiliated with dailyBooks. The publisher and author make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of these contents and disclaim all warranties such as warranties of fitness for a particular purpose. This guide is unofficial and unauthorized. It is not authorized, approved, licensed, or endorsed by the original book's author or publisher and any of their licensees or affiliates. No part of this publication may be reproduced or retransmitted, electronic or mechanical, without the written permission of the publisher.

Tips for Using dailyBooks Conversation Starters:

EVERY GOOD BOOK CONTAINS A WORLD FAR DEEPER THAN the surface of its pages. The characters and their world come alive through the words on the pages, yet the characters and its world still live on. Questions herein are designed to bring us beneath the surface of the page and invite us into the world that lives on. These questions can be used to:

• Foster a deeper understanding of the book
• Promote an atmosphere of discussion for groups
• Assist in the study of the book, either individually or corporately
• Explore unseen realms of the book as never seen before

Introducing The High Tide Club

T HE HIGH TIDE CLUB IS THE LATEST NOVEL by Mary Kay Andrews who is well-known for her beach novels. Touching on the more serious themes of mystery, betrayal, deceit, and murder this time, compared to her normally light novels, it is nevertheless considered an easy and entertaining read.

Brooke Trappnell is a struggling lawyer in Georgia who suddenly gets a call from an old woman who wants her to be at her Talisa Island house the day after without giving much information about her legal case. She reluctantly agrees, not knowing what to expect but certain that she needs more clients. It turns out the caller is Josephine Warrick, an extremely wealthy 99-year-old woman who has important tasks for Brooke. But why would she choose Brooke who is not among the big-name law firms in the island? Brooke wonders. Mrs. Warrick is dying of fourth stage cancer and wants to settle her will before time runs out on her. She has no children but she has relatives who are eagerly anticipating. She has a running case with the local government which wants to buy her part of the island; she has been resisting their offer for so many years now. But she chose Brooke because she thinks she can help her with more personal things, including settling issues from her mysterious and distant past. As Brooke gets to know Josephine, the story of the High Tide Club is slowly revealed. The Club is composed of four womenJosephine and her three friends, Varina, Ruth, and Millie who grew up together on the island. They called their group the High Tide Club because they loved skinny-dipping together and shared many other memorable experiences. But they had secrets and mysteries between themselves which bonded them together and broke them apart as well. Josephine dies soon after talking to Brooke and the lawyer carries out her task of searching for the remaining members of the Club and their families to whom Josephine bequeathed Talisa Island. To her surprise, Brooke learns that her late grandmother is one of the Clubs members and she is therefore one of Josephines heirs. She brings together the unknowing heirs to the Island and informs them of Josephines desire to be make amends with her friends and be reconciled with the past.

The story is told in two timelinesthe past and the present. While the story of the four women in the 1940s is told, Brooke deals with the womens remaining families in the present as she informs them of Josephines will. The narrative moves back and forth in these two timelines which can be confusing to some readers, though other readers found it entertaining. The narration is told from multiple points of view, including that of Brookes and Josephines. There are many characters involved aside from Brooke and the four women members of the club. Josephines character stands out as the ornery old woman who wants things done her way. Brooke as a single mother struggling to keep her law practice alive and later on the person tasked to bring Josephines heirs together is portrayed as a strong, yet at times unsure woman willing to take on her surprising new role.

The plot is full of twists and turns as mysteries are revealed, betrayals and deceptions are uncovered, and a murder is involved. Though it adds to the suspense, the twists are also found to be unconvincing and too elaborate according to some readers. Told in a light manner that makes the mystery and suspense entertaining, the story is full of funny moments as well. Characters are vividly portrayed through the humorous dialogue and voices. Scenic Talisa Island is beautifully described and its history told, making a starkly contrasting setting to the mystery that involves the women who frolicked on its shores.

The theme of lasting love and friendship despite human weaknesses come out as the most heartfelt thing in the story. The close friendships among the women and the secrets that bound them together include harrowing experiences like abusive relationships, accidental pregnancies and illegitimate children born, and touchy racial issues. The novel also tackles how women were treated during the 1940s and the roles expected of them. The issue of slavery and the African Americans fight for freedom in the South was likewise part of the novels theme. Meanwhile, in the present, Brooke too has her own relationship challenges and readers learn about her past.

The High Tide Club is another anticipated novel from New York Times bestselling author Mary Kay Edwards. Critics laud it for another highly entertaining beach read though this time readers are given a bit more serious stuff to chew on.