He’s got his first plum assignment. But has this travel writer bitten off more than he can chew?
Frank Dodge can’t wait to dig into what he hopes is the biggest story of his career. Hired by a national magazine to pen a piece on the Midwest culinary scene, he brings his appetite for a scoop to a small river town’s food convention. But he’s forced to put his story on the backburner when a suspicious fire claims two innocent lives…
After the blaze is ruled accidental, the ambitious journalist isn’t convinced and vows to search for the truth. And with his scheming rival out to steal his article, and a bitter feud between an ice cream maker and a chocolatier heating up, if he’s not careful he may lose more than his lucrative engagement.
Can Dodge get to the bottom of a barrel of bad apples, or is this job a recipe for disaster?
Double Dealing in Dubuque is the second book in the quirky Frank Dodge mystery series. If you like complex characters, atmospheric Mississippi River settings, and great food, then you’ll love Dean Klinkenberg’s delicious whodunit.
Buy Double Dealing in Dubuque to enjoy the icing on a crime-baked cake today!
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Buy it at an Independent Bookstore
In Dubuque, at River Lights Bookstore
In St. Louis, at Dunaway Books
For Book Clubs
Book Summary
“Double Dealing in Dubuque” follows freelance writer Frank Dodge as he arrives in Dubuque, Iowa, to write about the boutique food movement for Wandering Gourmet magazine. What starts as a straightforward assignment becomes complicated when a fire breaks out at a food convention, leading to two deaths. Along with his friend Brian Jefferson, Frank finds himself drawn into investigating the incident, uncovering layers of rivalry, politics, and long-buried secrets in this Mississippi River town. The novel explores themes of loyalty, belonging, and the complex relationships that bind small communities together, while offering an insider’s view of the contemporary food scene and historic river towns.
Discussion Questions
1. How does Frank’s status as an outsider in Dubuque affect his investigation and interactions? What does this suggest about insider/outsider dynamics in small communities?
2. The novel features several strong female characters. How do their roles and relationships with each other drive the story forward?
3. Food plays a central role in the novel. How does the author use food and the boutique food movement to explore larger themes about authenticity, tradition, and change?
4. Frank struggles with personal relationships throughout the novel. How does his past affect his ability to connect with others? What does this suggest about the relationship between personal history and present choices?
5. The Mississippi River serves as more than just a setting. How does the river influence the story and its characters?
6. The novel explores various forms of loyalty – to friends, family, employers, and community. How do different characters navigate competing loyalties?
7. What role does the city’s history play in the contemporary events of the novel? How does the past influence the present in both the setting and the characters’ lives?
8. How does the author use humor throughout the novel? What purpose does it serve in the larger narrative?
9. The novel features several pairs of rivals. How do these rivalries reflect larger themes about competition and cooperation in small communities?
10. Frank is a travel writer by trade. How does his professional perspective influence how he approaches both the investigation and his relationships with others?