A good place to begin discussion may be the relationship of Eight Million Ways to Die to other hard-boiled detective novels.

Is it unique in any way? Does it rehash old territory? Is its appeal primarily to fans of hard-boiled detective fiction, or does it reach for a wider audience? From these questions a discussion can move on to how individualized the characters are and whether the novel features valid social criticism or is merely borrowing cliches from the hard-boiled detective subgenre for its background.

If group members are of a philosophical turn of mind, then focusing on Scudder's unhappy personal life and the harsh, cruel world of crime in which he works could generate a good discussion. It can be hard to tell the good from the bad in Eight Million Ways to Die because pimps and prostitutes, traditionally untrustworthy people, may be more humane...