Where I share my love of books with reviews, features, giveaways and memes. Family and needlepoint are thrown in from time to time.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Slip of the Knife - Win this book here!


Slip of the Knife
by Denise Mina


Paddy Meehan is no stranger to murder--as a reporter she lives at crime scenes--but nothing has prepared her for this visit from the police. Her former boyfriend and fellow journalist Terry Patterson has been found hooded and shot through the head. Paddy knows she will be of little help--she had not seen Terry in more than six months. So she is bewildered to learn that in his will he has left her his house and several suitcases full of notes. Drawn into a maze of secrets and lies, Paddy begins making connections to Terry's murder that no one else has seen, and soon finds herself trapped in the most important--and dangerous--story of her career.

Read an excerpt.


Here is the Reading Group Guide for Slip of the Knife -

1. Why do you think Denise Mina chooses to begin the novel from Terry’s point of view? Is his death so early in the novel a surprise?

2. Paddy’s family members play important roles in this novel. How have the Meehan family dynamics changed since the death of Paddy’s father? What is the importance of Mary Ann’s vocation to her mother? Discuss the alternative forms of “family” that the novel presents. How does Paddy’s own definition of family change in the course of the novel?

3. How does Paddy’s life as a single mother affect her relationship to her work? What does the novel suggest about the balance between personal and professional obligations for a character like Paddy?

4. Discuss the role Callum Ogilvy plays in the story. Does your opinion of him change from the novel’s beginning to end?

5. Discuss the ways in which religion limits different characters’ views of each other in the novel.

6. Much of Slip of the Knife is concerned with changes to the journalistic profession and the economic difficulties facing newspapers today. Describe some of these changes, and discuss the ways in which they affect the kinds of journalism that gets published.

7. Discuss the differences between Brian Donaldson and Martin McBree. Is either of them ever a sympathetic character? Why do you think Denise Mina chooses to narrate parts of the novel from Martin McBree’s perspective?

8. Explain why the Scottish police are protecting Martin McBree. How does this novel change your understanding of present day relations between Scotland and Ireland? Among Scotland, Ireland, and England?

9. What is Slip of the Knife saying about the usefulness of revenge? Does the novel carry a message about what makes a political cause just or unjust?

10. What do you think the future holds for Paddy and Dub as a couple?

Giveaway

I have five copies of this paperback book to giveaway courtesy of Hachette Books. For your first entry (MUST DO THIS ONE FOR ANY OTHER ENTRIES TO COUNT) give me a link to your blog - or if you don't have a blog - you're favorite blog! Oh - and leave your email address.

For additional entries you can sign up to follow (old followers let me know), Twitter or post it on your blog. Each entry must have it's own comment. (Four entries total.)

This giveaway if for U.S./Canada only - no PO boxes and will end Apr 9!

57 comments:

Simply Stacie said...

http://stacievaughansblog.blogspot.com/

simplystacieblog at gmail dot com

scottsgal said...

There's so many I read this one daily
http://www.readingatthebeach.com/
also booking with Bingo and so many other
msboatgal at aol.com

scottsgal said...

already a follower
msboatgal at aol.com

Marjorie/cenya2 said...

Well, my favourite blog of course is Books and Needlepoints and I
also like Northern Mama.
This book sounds terrific and I would love to win it.

cenya2 at hotmail dot com

Marjorie/cenya2 said...

I subscribe by email.

I follow by google reader.

cenya2 at hotmail dot com

Margie said...

I don't have a blog...but one of my favorites is Bookin with Bingo (and yours of course!)
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

old follower (GFC and email)
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

LuAnn said...

http://lumorgan.blogspot.com

reading_frenzy at yahoo dot com

LuAnn said...

I'm an "old" follower!

reading_frenzy at yahoo dot com

Susan Helene Gottfried said...

No need to enter me, babe. I'm dropping in to say thanks for the e-mail. I've got this posted at Win a Book for you!

Heidi V said...

This sounds good! - http://theblackcell.net/blog/

heidivargas [at] live dot com

Katrina said...

My blog

http://wakeboardingmama.blogspot.com/

ykatrina at hotmail dot com

Carol M said...

Another blog I like to visit is A Sea of Books.
http://aseaofbooks.blogspot.com/

mittens0831 at aol dot com

Carol M said...

I'm an old follower.
mittens0831 at aol dot com

Carol M said...

tweet
http://twitter.com/CarolAnnM/status/10734586411

mittens0831 at aol dot com

misskallie2000 said...

Other than your blog I love Luxury Reading.

This books sounds like my type of book. Thanks for the review and love your questions.

misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

misskallie2000 said...

I am an old follower


misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

misskallie2000 said...

I am an old subscriber


misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

misskallie2000 said...

I follow via twitter(@misskallie2000)

Thanks again for the opportunity to enter.

misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

Vera said...

I blog at http://www.luxuryreading.com

vvperesk@gmail.com

Vera said...

I follow vvperesk@gmail.com

rubynreba said...

I like Bookin With Bingo, Luxury Reading and your blog.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

I am an old follower.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

Benita said...

Well, I don't have a blog, but for this entry you know, your blog is my fave.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Benita said...

Old follower via GFC.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

nfmgirl said...

http://cerebralgirl.blogspot.com/

nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com

nfmgirl said...

I already follow

nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com

nfmgirl said...

Tweet:
http://twitter.com/nfmgirl/status/10842923544

nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com

ossmcalc said...

I don't have a blog myself but do enjoy reading the blogs Books and Needlepoint, Frugal Plus, and Bookin with Bingo.

Thank you,

Christine
womackcm@sbcglobal.net

ossmcalc said...

I tweeted about this giveaway http://twitter.com/ossmcalc/status/10860676877

Thank you,

Christine
womackcm@sbcglobal.net

Colleen Turner said...

I love Bookin with Bingo and Luxury Reading.
Thanks!
Colleen
candc320@gmail.com

Cheryl said...

I would like to enter
my e-mail is cherylbaryl@hotmail.com and my blog is
http://www.cherylbaryl.blogspot.com/

Cheryl said...

I left a comment already and I am a follower.
cherylbaryl@hotmail.com

Tabathia B said...

I don't have a blog, but one of my favorites is

http://www.agoodaddiction.blogspot.com/

tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

Tabathia B said...

google follower

tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

Tabathia B said...

tweeted http://twitter.com/ChelleB36/status/11094204699

tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

CHRISTIE said...

I’m a new follower.

My blog can be found here
http://thefictionenthusiast.blogspot.com/

Email:
TheFictionEnthusiast (AT) Live (DOT) Com

skkorman said...

I don't have a blog but Books and Needlepoint is my fave!

skkorman AT bellsouth DOT net

Linda Kish said...

I don't have a blog but I enjoy
bookinwithbingo.blogspot.com

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

My blog is

http://meditativereading.blogspot.com

bstilwell12 at comcast dot net

Unknown said...

I am an old follower.

bstilwell12 at comcast dot net

Unknown said...

I tweeted about this giveaway:

http://twitter.com/pine1211/status/11385107825

bstilwell12 at comcast dot net

Sophia said...

I love murder books! They're so intense and the suspense kind of eats me alive!

I don't have a blog but my favorite blog is the Story Siren: http://www.thestorysiren.com/

Thanks for the opportunity and I hope I win!

mashimaro401[at]yahoo[dot]com

Colleen Turner said...

Hi,
I am a follower.
Thanks,
Colleen
candc320@gmail.com

suzie said...

my blog
http://suzquiz.blogspot.com/
9oofus(at)gmail(dot)com

suzie said...

Follow with Google friend connect
9oofus(at)gmail(dot)com

suzie said...

tweeted
http://twitter.com/suzquiz/status/11732930145
9oofus(at)gmail(dot)com

suzie said...

blogged
http://suzquiz.blogspot.com/2010/04/booksandneedlepoint-giveaway.html
9oofus(at)gmail(dot)com

Karin said...

Don't really have a favorite blog--But this is one I read.

http://kat-bryanscorner.blogspot.com/

ossmcalc said...

I like your blog, of course, Bookin' with Bingo, Frugal Plus, and A Woman After God's Own Heart.

Thank you,

Christine
womackcm@sbcglobal.net

ossmcalc said...

I follow your blog.

Thank you,

Christine
womackcm@sbcglobal.net

ossmcalc said...

I tweeted about this giveaway http://twitter.com/ossmcalc/status/11811599476

Thank you,

Christine
womackcm@sbcglobal.net

Darcie K. said...

I follow via Google Friend Connect
dmkayes@gmail.com

Darcie K. said...

I don't have a blog but I follow many. I love The Mommy Files.
dmkayes@gmail.com

Nancye said...

My favorite blog is Bookin' With Bingo (bookinwithbingo.blogspot.com)

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

Follower

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

Tweet! Tweet!

http://twitter.com/NancyeDavis/status/11919216198

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

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