1. The Saint is a family business, and Traci wants Parrish to work the guest relations desk so she can promote the family image. How did Traci’s varying relationships with the Eddings family impact her running the hotel and resort? Would you ever go into business with your family?

2. At the beginning of the story, we learn that Traci was born into a working-class family so she was considered an “Ain’t.” Because she marries into the wealthy Eddings family, she becomes a “Saint.” How are class differences presented in the story? Which characters were you more sympathetic towards?

3. SUMMERS AT THE SAINT is told from a variety of third person limited perspectives. How did this structure impact your reading experience? Whose perspective was your favorite to read?

4. In Chapter 13, Traci revealed that her mother–in-law started a tradition to watch the sunset on the patio with a glass of wine. Do you have any vacation traditions?

5. Traci was only 40 when she became a widow, and it’s been four years since her late husband, Hoke, died. Parrish’s death also devastates her. How does Traci cope with both of their losses? How is grief portrayed in the book?

6. SUMMERS AT THE SAINT is a summer mystery beach read, but the author nods to several serious topics like sexual assault and harassment, the opioid crisis and white privilege. Why is it important to bring awareness to these issues in a story like this?

7. Shannon raised Olivia as a single mother. Traci tried to have kids with Hoke, going through four rounds of IVF, but ultimately never had children. Traci is closer to Parrish than Parrish’s own mother and stepmother, Madelyn, are to her. How are Shannon, Madelyn and Traci’s approaches to motherhood different?

8. Shannon and Traci have been friends since they were children. Although they go through a long period of time without speaking to each other, they reconcile by the end of the story. Other female friendships in the story include Traci and Parrish, Olivia and Felice, and Olivia and Parrish. What is the significance of including and preserving female friendships in the story?

9. When you realized who was behind Parrish’s death and the shady deals going on in the resort, were you surprised? Which characters were you most suspicious of? Were there clues throughout the story that gave them away?

10. Were you rooting for Whelan and Traci to get together? What was your favorite moment between the pair?