A Crime of Passion is the first in a series of stories featuring Henry Parker Britland IV and Sandra O'Brien Britland; it may be a good idea to read the other stories before discussing this one. In the later stories, Clark fleshes out her main characters, which may help understand how they function in the present novelette.

The mere fact that Henry was once America's president should spark avenues for discussion. Add that he must have been America's youngest president, having retired after two terms at age fortyfour, that he was the second most popular president of the twentieth century (who was the first?), and that he met his future wife only the last week of his tenure at the White House, and questions and speculations should flow.

1. What about Sandra made her stand out from the other women Henry had asked to dinner? Is this...