1. How well does Walsh's theory that the Royster brothers forced alcohol into Poe stand under scrutiny? What concrete evidence does Walsh have to support this part of his account of Poe's death? Does he present a persuasive argument?

2. Would it have been better (or worse) if Walsh had written a full-length biography of Poe and included his rationale for Poe having been murdered into the larger context of Poe's life?

3. The news that Poe was murdered and that the murderers have been identified should be a sensation among Poe aficionados. Why would anyone object to Walsh's conclusions?

4. Why would any of the figures who may have known the truth not speak out? Where does Walsh not explain this satisfactorily?

5. How well could Midnight Dreary be translated into a motion picture? Would audiences find the ending satisfying?

6. What does Elmira Shelton's refusal to discuss Poe...