Hellfire Conspiracy

Reading GuideThe Hellfire Conspiracyby Will ThomasQuestions for DiscussionThe Hellfire Conspiracyopens with Major Trevor Devere of her Majesty's Horse Guard unceremoniously forcing his way into private inquiry agent Cyrus Barker's office. Why is the Major upset? How does Barker get the Major to "shape up" before he suffers a complete breakdown?With what kind of tone does our narrator, Thomas Llewelyn, assistant to Cyrus Barker, use when describing the opening events? What does Thomas's tone reveal about him? What words would you use to describe Thomas from the way he tells the story?Why is it called "white slavery?" How does it differ from any other slavery? Discuss why this is or isn't a racist phrase in 1885.When Thomas mentions the legal age of consent -- 13 years old -- were you surprised? What does legal age of consent mean? Does the meaning differ today as compared to in 1885? What age should the legal age of consent be? Why is it not 13 years old today?What reason does Barker give Thomas when he asks why the government doesn't put an end to white slavery? What does Barker's answer tell you about his beliefs about class and social justice?William Stead, editor of thePall Mall Gazette, is also investigating the disappearance of young girl's. What is the goal of his investigation and how does it differ from Barker and Thomas's and the police's goals? What happens to Stead in the end?How does the rivalry between Scotland Yard, the Thames Police and the Metropolitan Police influence the plot? Do similar rivalries exist between governmental service groups today?What is the common factor among the girls who have gone missing? How does this lead Barker to the murderer? Are you surprised when you learn who the murderer is? Were there clues provided prior to the revelation? If so, what were they?Each installment in Will Thomas's series of books reveals a little more about Thomas's past. What new fact do we learn about Thomas's past inThe Hellfire Conspiracy?What do you think about journalism that has a social goal behind it -- can it be unbiased as journalism is supposed to strive to be? Does this type of journalism have a legitimate place in the greater arena of news reporting?Book Club Tips:Visit willthomas.com and share some of what you've learned about Thomas at the meeting.Read the previous Barker and Llewelyn books chronologically and discuss how the characters change and what keeps them interesting to you.Read some of Edmund Lear's tales and see if you can find hints of the strong-willed character presented inThe Hellfire Conspiracyin them.Discuss who should play each of the characters in the film version ofThe Hellfire Conspiracyand why.Find an English-style pub in your town and hold your meeting there.Thomas, Will is the author of 'Hellfire Conspiracy ', published 2007 under ISBN 9781416548058 and ISBN 141654805X.