Reading Challenges 2021

A page to record my progress in all the challenges signed up for this year.

A to Z Reading Challenge

Goal: To read at least one book each for all the letters of the English alphabet

A:

Album, The by Mary Roberts Rinehart

An Afternoon to Kill by Shelley Smith

As Death Stared Back by Ajinkya Bhasme

B:

Before the Fall by Noah Hawley

Black Shrouds, The by Conyth Little

C:

Clubbable Woman, A by Reginald Hill

D:

Dark Frontier, The by Eric Ambler

Death Coins, The by Walter S. Masterman

Death Trap by Harry Carmichael

G:

Gathering of Friends, A by Ruskin Bond

Grim Pickings by Jennifer Rowe

H:

High Sheriff, The by Henry Wade

Hunted Man, The by Walter S. Masterman

J

Judy of Bunter’s Buildings by E. Phillips Oppenheim

K:

Kiss of Salt by Smita Bhattacharya

L:

Last Seen Wearing by Hillary Waugh

M:

Majestic Mystery, The by Denis Mackail

Murder in Bermuda by Willoughby Sharp

O:

Old Manor, The by Cecil Freeman Gregg

P:

Poisoners, The by George R. Preedy

Puzzle for Fools, A by Patrick Quentin

S:

Santa Klaus Murder, The by Mavis Doriel Hay

Sark Street Chapel Murder, The by Thomas Cobb

Seventh Guest, The by Gaston Boca and John Pugmire

T:

Three Comrades by Erich Maria Remarque and A.W. Wheen

V:

Voice Out of Darkness by Ursula Curtiss

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Back to the Classics

Goal: Read books published 50 years ago in 12 categories (Sign-Up No. 128)

  1. A 19th century classic: any book first published from 1800 to 1899
  2. A 20th century classic: any book first published from 1900 to 1971: The Old Manor by Cecil Freeman Gregg (1945) (37)
  3. A classic by a woman author: The Album by Mary Roberts Rinehart (1933) (38)
  4. A classic in translation: Three Comrades (Drei Kamraden) by Erich Maria Remarque. (37)
  5. A classic by BIPOC author; that is, a non-white author: In Andamans: The Indian Bastille by Bejoy Kumar Sinha (23)
  6. A classic by a new-to-you author, i.e., an author whose work you have never read: The Seventh Guest by Gaston Boca (41)
  7. New-to-you classic by a favorite author — a new book by an author whose works you have already read: The Black Shrouds by Conyth Little (1941) (40)
  8. A classic about an animal, or with an animal in the title. The animal can be real or metaphorical: Pigeons on the Grass by Wolfgang Koepenn (34)
  9. A children’s classic.
  10. A humorous or satirical classic: The Majestic Mystery by Denis Mackail (1924) (34)
  11. A travel or adventure classic (fiction or non-fiction): An Afternoon to Kill by Shelley Smith (1953). The Main Character flies to India. (34)
  12. A classic play. This is a work that was originally written for the stage. Plays will only count in this category.

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Cloak and Dagger

Goal: Sherlock Holmes: 56+ mysteries

  1. A Clubbable Woman by Reginald Hill
  2. The Black Shrouds by Conyth Little
  3. The High Sheriff by Henry Wade
  4. The Death Coins by Walter S. Masterman
  5. The Santa Klaus Murder by Mavis Doriel Hay
  6. A Puzzle for Fools by Patrick Quentin
  7. The Poisoners by George R. Preedy
  8. The Dark Frontier by Eric Ambler
  9. Kiss of Salt by Smita Bhattacharya
  10. The Seventh Guest by Gaston Boca
  11. The Album by Mary Roberts Rinehart
  12. An Afternoon to Kill by Shelley Smith
  13. Voice Out of Darkness by Ursula Curtiss
  14. Grim Pickings by Jennifer Rowe
  15. As Death Stared Back by Ajinkya Bhasme
  16. The Sark Street Chapel Murder by Thomas Cobb
  17. Last Seen Wearing by Hillary Waugh
  18. Judy of Bunter’s Buildings by E. Phillips Oppenheim
  19. Before the Fall by Noah Hawley
  20. Death Trap by Harry Carmichael
  21. The Hunted Man by Walter S. Masterman
  22. Murder in Bermuda by Willoughby Sharp
  23. The Old Manor by Cecil Freeman Gregg
  24. The Majestic Mystery by Denis Mackail

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European Reading

Goal: Jet-Setter: Books set in 5 different European Countries

France: The Poisoners by George R. Preedy

Germany: Three Comrades by Erich Maria Remarque

UK: The High Sheriff by Henry Wade

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Goodreads

Goal: 101 books

  1. A Gathering of Friends by Ruskin Bond
  2. A Clubbable Woman by Reginald Hill
  3. The Black Shrouds by Conyth Little
  4. The High Sheriff by Henry Wade
  5. The Death Coins by Walter S. Masterman
  6. The Santa Klaus Murder by Mavis Doriel Hay
  7. A Puzzle for Fools by Patrick Quentin
  8. The Poisoners by George R. Preedy
  9. The Dark Frontier by Eric Ambler
  10. Three Comrades by Erich Maria Remarque
  11. Kiss of Salt by Smita Bhattacharya
  12. The Seventh Guest by Gaston Boca
  13. The Album by Mary Roberts Rinehart
  14. An Afternoon to Kill by Shelley Smith
  15. Voice out of Darkness by Ursula Curtiss
  16. Grim Pickings by Jennifer Rowe
  17. As Death Stared Back by Ajinkya Bhasme
  18. The Sark Street Chapel Murder by Thomas Cobb
  19. Last Seen Wearing by Hillary Waugh
  20. Judy of Bunter’s Buildings by E. Phillips Oppenheim
  21. Before the Fall by Noah Hawley
  22. Death Trap by Harry Carmichael
  23. The Hunted Man by Walter S. Masterman
  24. Murder in Bermuda by Willoughby Sharp
  25. The Old Manor by Cecil Freeman Gregg
  26. The Majestic Mystery by Denis Mackail

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Library Love Challenge

Goal: Overdrive Junkie (36 Books)

  1. A Gathering of Friends by Ruskin Bond
  2. The Black Shrouds by Conyth Little
  3. The High Sheriff by Henry Wade
  4. The Death Coins by Walter S. Masterman
  5. Grim Pickings by Jennifer Rowe
  6. The Sark Street Chapel Murder by Thomas Cobb
  7. Death Trap by Harry Carmichael
  8. The Hunted Man by Walter S. Masterman
  9. Murder in Bermuda by Willoughby Sharp
  10. The Old Manor by Cecil Freeman Gregg
  11. The Majestic Mystery by Denis Mackail

*

Vintage Mystery

Goal: Read at least 8 mysteries from the following categories for both the golden (pre 1960) and the silver (1960-1980) age:

Categories: Golden Age

Categories: Sliver Age

  1. Colorful Crime: A book with a color or reference to color in the title
  2. Murder by the Numbers: A book with a number or quantity in the title
  3. Amateur Night: A book with a detective who is not a P.I.; Police Officer; or other official investigator (Nurse Keate, Father Brown, Miss Marple, etc.)
  4. Leave It to the Professionals: A book featuring cops, private eyes, secret service, professional spies, etc.: Last Seen Wearing by Hillary Waugh
  5. Jolly Old England: A mystery set in the United Kingdom: The Old Manor by Cecil Freeman Gregg
  6. Yankee Doodle Dandy: A mystery set in the United States: Voice Out of Darkness by Ursula Curtiss
  7. World Traveler: A mystery set in any country except the U.S. or U.K. Murder in Bermuda by Willoughby Sharp
  8. Dangerous Beasts: A book with an animal in the title: The Crimson Cat by Francis Grierson
  9. A Calendar of Crime: A mystery with a date/holiday/year/month/etc. in the title
  10. Wicked Women: A book with a woman in the title–either by name (Mrs. McGinty’s Dead) or by reference (The Case of the Vagabound Virgin): Miss Jessica’s Stick by Aylmer Hunter
  11. Malicious Men: A book with a man in the title–either by name (Maigret & the Yellow Dog) or by reference (The Case of the Haunted Husband): The Hunted Man by Walter S. Masterman
  12. Murderous Methods: A book with a means of death in the title (The Noose, 5 Bullets, Deadly Nightshade, etc.)
  13. Staging the Crime: A mystery set in the entertainment world (theatre, musical event, pageant, Hollywood, etc)
  14. Scene of the Crime: A book with the location of the crime in the title (The Body in the Library, Murder at the Vicarage, etc): The Sark Street Chapel Murder by Thomas Cobb
  15. Cops & Robbers: A book that features a theft rather than murder
  16. Locked Rooms: A locked-room mystery
  17. Impossible Crimes: Any other impossible crime (locks not necessary): The Seventh Guest by Gaston Boca
  18. Country House Criminals: A standard (or not-so-standard) Golden Age-style country house murder
  19. Murder on the High Seas: A mystery involving water: Judy of Bunter’s Buildings by E. Phillips Oppenheim
  20. Planes, Trains, & Automobiles: A book with a mode of transportation in the title
  21. Murder is Academic: A mystery involving a scholar, teacher, librarian, etc. OR set at a school, university, library, etc.
  22. Things That Go Bump in the Night: A book with something spooky, creepy, gothic in the title (The Skeleton in the Clock; Haunted Lady; The Bat; etc)
  23. Repeat Offenders: A mystery featuring your favorite series detective or by your favorite author or reread an old favorite : The Dark Frontier by Eric Ambler
  24. The Butler Did It…Or Not: A mystery where the butler is the victim, the sleuth…(gasp) the criminal…or is just downright memorable for whatever reason.
  25. A Mystery by Any Other Name: Any book that has been published under more than one title (Murder Is Easy–aka Easy to Kill [Christie]; Fog of Doubt–aka London Particular [Christianna Brand], etc.)
  26. Dynamic Duos: A mystery featuring a detective team (Holmes & Watson; Pam & Jerry North; Nero Wolfe & Archie Goodwin, or a little-known team that you introduce to us):
  27. Size Matters: A book with a size or measurement in the title (Death Has a Small Voice; The Big Four; The Weight of the Evidence; etc.)
  28. Psychic Phenomena: A mystery featuring a seance, medium, hypnotism, or other psychic or “supernatural” characters/events: The Poisoners by George R. Preedy
  29. Book to Movie: A book that has appeared on screen (feature film or TV)
  30. The Old Bailey: A courtroom drama mystery OR a mystery featuring a judge, lawyer, barrister, district attorney
  31. Serial Killers: Books that were originally published in serial format (from the pulp era) OR a book that includes three or more deaths–all committed by the same person. The Album by Mary Roberts Rinehart (fits both the categories)
  32. Killed in Translation: A work that originally appeared in another language and has been made available in English–original publication date determines Gold or Silver Age–OR if your native language is not English, then a work that originally appeared in English which you read in your native language.
  33. Blondes in Danger: A variation on “Colorful Crime.” A book that features a blonde in the title (The Blonde Died First; The Case of the Black-Eyed Blonde) or another shade of hair color (The Case of the Substitute Brunette)
  34. International Detectives: A variation on “World Traveler”–but instead of the crime being set in another country, the detective is not from the U.S. or U.K.
  35. Somebody Else’s Crime: Read a book that someone else has already read for the challenge.
  36. Genuine Fakes: Read a book by an author who wrote under a pseudonym: A Puzzle for Fools by Quentin Patrick
  37. Hobbies Can Be Murder: A mystery that involves a hobby in some way: stamp, coin, book collecting, etc; knitting; birdwatching; hunting; etc.
  38. Snatch & Grab: Read the first book you pick up off your shelf or TBR stack/s
  39. I’ve Got You Covered: Pick a book to read based on the cover
  40. Get Out of Jail Free: One per customer. You tell me what special category the book fits and it counts–the only thing I won’t accept is “It’s a vintage mystery!” The genre/time period is a given. An Afternoon to Kill by Shelley Smith (Begins in my own country, India)

Categories: Silver Age

  1. Colorful Crime: A book with a color or reference to color in the title
  2. Murder by the Numbers: A book with a number or quantity in the title
  3. Amateur Night: A book with a detective who is not a P.I.; Police Officer; or other official investigator (Nurse Keate, Father Brown, Miss Marple, etc.)
  4. Leave It to the Professionals: A book featuring cops, private eyes, secret service, professional spies, etc.
  5. Jolly Old England: A mystery set in the United Kingdom: The Long Shadow by Celia Fremlin (1975)
  6. Yankee Doodle Dandy: A mystery set in the United States: Letter of Intent by Ursula Curtiss
  7. World Traveler: A mystery set in any country except the U.S. or U.K: Another Death in Venice by Reginald Hill (1976)
  8. Dangerous Beasts: A book with an animal in the title
  9. A Calendar of Crime: A mystery with a date/holiday/year/month/etc. in the title
  10. Wicked Women: A book with a woman in the title–either by name (Mrs. McGinty’s Dead) or by reference (The Case of the Vagabound Virgin)
  11. Malicious Men: A book with a man in the title–either by name (Maigret & the Yellow Dog) or by reference (The Case of the Haunted Husband): How Awful about Allan by Henry Farrell (1963)
  12. Murderous Methods: A book with a means of death in the title (The Noose, 5 Bullets, Deadly Nightshade, etc.)
  13. Staging the Crime: A mystery set in the entertainment world (theatre, musical event, pageant, Hollywood, etc)
  14. Scene of the Crime: A book with the location of the crime in the title (The Body in the Library, Murder at the Vicarage, etc)
  15. Cops & Robbers: A book that features a theft rather than murder
  16. Locked Rooms: A locked-room mystery
  17. Impossible Crimes: Any other impossible crime (locks not

necessary)

  1. Country House Criminals: A standard (or not-so-standard) Golden Age-style country house murder
  2. Murder on the High Seas: A mystery involving water
  3. Planes, Trains, & Automobiles: A book with a mode of transportation in the title
  4. Murder is Academic: A mystery involving a scholar, teacher, librarian, etc. OR set at a school, university, library, etc.
  5. Things That Go Bump in the Night: A book with something spooky, creepy, gothic in the title (The Skeleton in the Clock; Haunted Lady; The Bat; etc)
  6. Repeat Offenders: A mystery featuring your favorite series detective or by your favorite author or reread an old favorite
  7. The Butler Did It…Or Not: A mystery where the butler is the victim, the sleuth…(gasp) the criminal…or is just downright memorable for whatever reason.
  8. A Mystery by Any Other Name: Any book that has been published under more than one title (Murder Is Easy–aka Easy to Kill [Christie]; Fog of Doubt–aka London Particular [Christianna Brand], etc.)
  9. Dynamic Duos: A mystery featuring a detective team: A Clubbable Woman by Reginald Hill (Dalziel and Pascoe)
  10. Size Matters: A book with a size or measurement in the title (Death Has a Small Voice; The Big Four; The Weight of the Evidence; etc.)
  11. Psychic Phenomena: A mystery featuring a seance, medium, hypnotism, or other psychic or “supernatural” characters/events: Vendetta by Harry Carmichael
  12. Book to Movie: A book that has appeared on screen (feature film or TV)
  13. The Old Bailey: A courtroom drama mystery OR a mystery featuring a judge, lawyer, barrister, district attorney: Search for the Slipper by
  14. Serial Killers: Books that were originally published in serial format (from the pulp era) OR a book that includes three or more deaths–all committed by the same person.
  15. Killed in Translation: A work that originally appeared in another language and has been made available in English–original publication date determines Gold or Silver Age–OR if your native language is not English, then a work that originally appeared in English which you read in your native language.
  16. Blondes in Danger: A variation on “Colorful Crime.” A book that features a blonde in the title (The Blonde Died First; The Case of the Black-Eyed Blonde) or another shade of hair color (The Case of the Substitute Brunette)
  17. International Detectives: A variation on “World Traveler”–but instead of the crime being set in another country, the detective is not from the U.S. or U.K.
  18. Somebody Else’s Crime: Read a book that someone else has already read for the challenge.
  19. Genuine Fakes: Read a book by an author who wrote under a pseudonym (Josephine Tey [Elizabeth Mackintosh]; Nicholas Blake [Cecil Day Lewis]; etc.) Death Trap by Harry Carmichael (Leopold Horace Ognall)
  20. Hobbies Can Be Murder: A mystery that involves a hobby in some way: stamp, coin, book collecting, etc; knitting; birdwatching; hunting; etc.
  21. Snatch & Grab: Read the first book you pick up off your shelf or TBR stack/s
  22. I’ve Got You Covered: Pick a book to read based on the cover
  23. Get Out of Jail Free: One per customer. You tell me what special category the book fits and it counts–the only thing I won’t accept is “It’s a vintage mystery!” The genre/time period is a given.

Virtual Mount TBR

Goal: White Plume mountain (48 books I do not own)

  1. A Gathering of Friends by Ruskin Bond
  2. The Black Shrouds by Conyth Little
  3. The High Sheriff by Henry Wade
  4. The Death Coins by Walter S. Masterman
  5. Kiss of Salt by Smita Bhattacharya
  6. The Album by Mary Roberts Rinehart
  7. Grim Pickings by Jennifer Rowe
  8. As Death Stared Back by Ajinkya Bhasme
  9. The Sark Street Chapel Murder by Thomas Cobb
  10. Death Trap by Harry Carmichael
  11. The Hunted Man by Walter S. Masterman
  12. Murder in Bermuda by Willoughby Sharp
  13. The Old Manor by Cecil Freeman Gregg
  14. The Majestic Mystery by Denis Mackail
  15. Pigeons on the Grass by Wolfgang Koepenn
  16. Splinter by Sebastian Fitzek
  17. The Girl who wasn’t There by Ferdinand von Schirach
  18. The Stranger Upstairs by Melanie Rabbe
  19. Miss Jessica’s Stick by Aylmer Hunter
  20. Asylum by Madeleine Roux
  21. The Neighbour by Fiona Cummins
  22. Spiders in a Dark Web by Emily Senecal 
  23. The House Party by Mary Grand
  24. Another Death in Venice by Reginald Hill
  25. Death at the Wedding by Anne Hocking