1. Discuss the ways in which The Lady Upstairs does or does not fit into the noir genre. What noir tropes do you see in the novel? How does the author subvert the more typical conventions of this genre?

2. How did the first-person narration in the novel affect your reading experience? Did you always trust Jo as a narrator? How does viewing things through her eyes change your perception of the events in the novel?

3. Jo is determined to take down men who treat women badly, and yet it could be argued that she herself does not always treat women well. What do you think of Jo’s attitudes toward other women? Do those attitudes change over the course of the novel? Would you consider her to be a feminist?

4. Take a look at Jo’s romantic relationships, particularly those with Jackal and Lou. How were these relationships different? How was Jo herself different in each of them?

5. Compare and contrast the different ways that characters in The Lady Upstairs command power over others. How do traditional definitions of power—whether political, financial, or professional—compare to the kind of power that Jo, Lou, and the Lady create?

6. What do you imagine Jo’s past looked like, before she joined in with the Lady Upstairs? Additionally, what do you imagine happens to Jo after the novel’s end? Is history doomed to repeat itself?

7. Many of the characters in The Lady Upstairs believe that money will solve their problems. Which instances in the novel support that idea and which undermine it?

8. Did you guess the identity of the Lady Upstairs while you were reading? If so, when?

9. Consider the different moral codes that guide each character. Who do you think bears the most responsibility for Ellen’s murder? How are “good” and “evil” defined?

10. Did you ultimately find Jo to be a sympathetic character? Discuss the different consequences of her actions. Did the ends justify the means?

A Conversation with Halley Sutton

The Lady Upstairs is your debut novel. Can you share a bit about your experience as a first-time author?

It’s a strange thing to have your childhood dream come true in the middle of a global crisis. I would say that the best part is having access to the writing community and to writers whom I admire, in a different way than I did before. For example, I’ve attended Noir at the Bar events for years—getting to read at one of those, from my own book, is a life highlight I won’t easily forget. Along with seeing my name on a book for the first time!

What inspired you to tell this story?

I wanted to write a story about power and sex and heartache and regret. It doesn’t get more noir than that.

Jo’s first-person voice is so unique and powerful. Where did that voice come from? Which came first, the character of Jo or the plot of the novel?