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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who embarrasses Montgomery at the dinner party?

2. At first Montgomery believes he is in shock, but what does he decide the feeling really is?

3. What other things does Montgomery think about the day of his capture?

4. Why does Charlie begin to question Montgomery about his crime?

5. How does Montgomery react as he is arrested?

Short Essay Questions

1. Montgomery speaks of his wife visiting him in jail. He is annoyed with her calm demeanor and ability to make decisions without him. Why might these characteristics upset Montgomery?

2. As he is leaving the scene of his crime, Montgomery realizes "that the fat, foul-mouthed, inner man has burst out." What he is talking about?

3. Why does Montgomery take the time to pay attention to the details of his victim's face before hitting her with the hammer?

4. What is the most important thing to Montgomery while he is in jail and why?

5. Charlie tells Montgomery that the police brought Charlie into the station and Montgomery thinks Charlie is talking about the train station. What does this tell you about the mindset of Montgomery?

6. For what reasons would the drop of blood Montgomery discovers on his finger cause him to go into a paranoid state?

7. As the maid fights back at Montgomery after he shoves her in the car, he says he sees her as a "cornered heroine in a melodrama." Do you think this is an appropriate description of his victim?

8. Charlie was a dear friend of Montgomery's parents and tells Montgomery of his mother when she was younger. Charlie says that many men adored Montgomery's mother and she was a loved by all except her husband. Why would Charlie tell Montgomery this?

9. What clues are presented during the dinner party that Montgomery's fantasy relationship with Charlie may be more realistic than the reader is led to think?

10. What does Montgomery mean when he says that he can't say he didn't mean to kill her, only that he doesn't know precisely when he began to mean it?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Guilt is another theme to the novel. There are times where Montgomery feels guilt and other times when he places it on others. Discuss some examples when Montgomery feels guilt for his crimes. Why does he feel guilty sometimes and then not at others? What does Montgomery's lack of guilt say about him as a character?

Essay Topic 2

The title of the novel is "The Book of Evidence." Why is this an appropriate title to the novel? What is Montgomery's book of evidence?

Essay Topic 3

Relationships play a large part in Montgomery's life. What relationships are the most important to Montgomery? Why are these relationships more important than the others he has? What relationships were the most successful in Montgomery's life? What made them most successful?

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