Since The Erection Set departs from the tight format of his series fiction, it might be worth while when discussing this novel to range beyond the mystery/crime genres in drawing comparisons. Think of this book as an American novel with broader social and cultural concerns rather than just another hard-boiled detective story or spy thriller.

1. Discuss the book in the context of other twentieth-century small town exposes.

2. In spite of its differences, however, how does The Erection Set compare to the other Spillane novels you have read?

3. What differences from the earlier novels do you perceive in Spillane's treatment of women or of other minority groups in the book?

4. How does the place of family work in the book? Why is there so much emphasis on this thematic concern?

5. The past always plays some role in determining the events of the present in Spillane's work...