Historical Mystery Lovers discussion

Starting on March 1

Dice Roller

Properties Claimed

1. Kings Cross
2. Chance #1
3. Pall Mall
4. Electric Company
5. Northumberland Avenue
6. Marlborough Street
7. The Strand
8. Chance #2
9. Leicester Square
10. Oxford Street
11. Community Chest #1
12. Liverpool Street Station
13. Old Kent Road
14. Income Tax
15. Pentonville Road
16. Community Chest #2
17. Free Parking
18. Fleet Street
19. Trafalgar Square
20. Water Works

Move #1

Roll = 5
Square : King's Cross/Reading Railroad
Task : Read a book set in the 19th century (1800-1899)

Dead Image by Joan Lock (set in 1874)

Move #1

Roll = 5
Square : King's Cross/Reading Railroad
Book : Dead Image by Joan Lock

Completed : March 1

Mixed feelings - historical detail good, interesting main character (Sergeant Best), but plot a bit muddled. OK for a debut. 2.5 stars

Move #2

Roll = 2
Square = Chance #1
Task : Read a recommendation from another challenge participant

Book The Winter Queen by Boris Akunin

Move #2

Roll = 2
Square = Chance #1
Book The Winter Queen by Boris Akunin

Completed : March 11

Loved the setting, clever plot, will read more. 4 stars

Move #3

Roll = 4
Square = Pall Mall/St Charles Place
Task : Read a book whose title has a word with double letters

Book Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear

No, going to keep Maisie for later. Changed book to
Catilina's Riddle by Steven Saylor

Move #3

Roll = 4
Square = Pall Mall/St Charles Place
Book : Catilina's Riddle by Steven Saylor

Finished : March 18

3 stars. Not as good as earlier books in the series, but still well worth a read, especially for the relationship between Gordianus and his children

Move #4

Roll = 1
Square = Electric Company
Task = Read a book set in 17th century (1600-1699)

Book : The Butcher of Smithfield by Susanna Gregory (set in 1663)

Pamela wrote: "Move #3

Roll = 4
Square = Pall Mall/St Charles Place
Book : Catilina's Riddle by Steven Saylor

Steven Saylor books are excellent. Gordianius is a great character. He brings ancient Rome alive
Finished : March 18

3 stars. Not as good as earlier books in the serie..."

Alice wrote: "Steven Saylor books are excellent. Gordianius is a great character "

Yes, I loved the first two books.

Move #4

Roll = 1
Square = Electric Company
Book = The Butcher of Smithfield by Susanna Gregory

Finished April 3

3.5 stars. Good fun, plenty of adventure, just rambles a bit in the middle.

Move #5

Roll = 2
Square = Northumberland Avenue/Virginia Avenue
Task = Read a book set during the Roman Empire (27 BC - 1453 AD)

Book = Ruso and the Demented Doctor by Ruth Downie

Move #5

Roll = 2
Square = Northumberland Avenue/Virginia Avenue
Book = Ruso and the Demented Doctor by Ruth Downie

Finished April 21

4 stars. Like Ruso a lot and this was a fun read.

Move #6

Roll = 4
Square = Marlborough Street/Tennessee Avenue
Task = Read a book set in the Southern Hemisphere

Book = Killman by Graeme Kent (set in Solomon Islands)

Move #6

Roll = 4
Square = Marlborough Street/Tennessee Avenue
Book = Killman by Graeme Kent

Finished April 28

4* Unusual and charming series, and this was the best book in the series

Move #7

Roll = 3
Square = The Strand/Kentucky Avenue
Task = Read a book from the Regency and Victorian Mysteries Listopia

Book = The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King (#57 on list)

Not actually Victorian or Regency as set in 1915, but Holmes is a Victorian figure and it's on the list and I own a copy, so that is my choice :)

Move #7

Roll = 3
Square = The Strand/Kentucky Avenue
Book = The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King

Finished May 11

2* Disappointing.

Move #8

Roll = 1
Square = Chance #2
Task = Read a book by a new to you author

Hmm, lots to choose from, will think.... Got it!

Book = The Mask of Ra by Paul Doherty

Move #8

Roll = 1
Square = Chance #2
Book = The Mask of Ra by Paul Doherty

Finished 19 May
3.5 stars, nice start to a series, enjoyed it

Move #9

Roll = 4
Square = Leicester Square/Atlantic Avenue
Task = Read a book with a yellow cover

Book = Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James

My version has this cover - pretty yellow!

Move #9

Roll = 4
Square = Leicester Square/Atlantic Avenue
Book = Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James

Finished June 9
2 stars, disappointing, dull and plodding

Move #10

Roll = 6
Square = Oxford Street/North Carolina Avenue
Task = Read a book set at a university

Book = An Order for Death by Susanna Gregory (set at Cambridge University)

Move #10

Roll = 6
Square = Oxford Street/North Carolina Avenue
Book = An Order for Death by Susanna Gregory

Finished June 24
4 stars, this is one of my favourite series

Move #11

Roll = 1
Square = Community Chest #3
Task = Read a book from the Historical Mystery Lovers shelf

Book = Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear

Move #11

Roll = 1
Square = Community Chest #3
Book = Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear

Finished June 30
2 stars, too much backstory, not enough mystery

Move #12

Roll=2
Square = Liverpool Street Station/Short Line Railroad
Task = Read a book 150 to 250 pages in length

Book = Baynard's List by Jason Vail (219 pages)

Move #12

Roll = 2
Square = Liverpool Street Station/Short Line Railroad
Book = Baynard's List by Jason Vail

Finished July 7
2 stars, bit predictable

Move #13

Roll = 6
Square = Old Kent Road/Mediterranean Avenue
Task = Read a book set in a Mediterranean country

Book = Inquisition by Alfredo Colitto (set in Italy)

Move #13

Roll = 2
Square = Old Kent Road/Mediterranean Avenue
Book = Inquisition by Alfredo Colitto

Finished July 17
3.5 stars, plot not always believable but enjoyable and loved the setting

Move #14

Roll = 3
Square = Income Tax
Task = Read a book from the Historical Mystery shelf with a Goodreads rating lower than 3.5.

Book = An Expert in Murder by Nicola Upson (GR rating on July 17 = 3.45)

Move #14

Roll = 3
Square = Income Tax
Book = An Expert in Murder by Nicola Upson

Finished July 29
Very slow start but enjoyed it once it got going so a solid 3* overall.

Move #15

Roll = 5
Square = Pentonville Road/Connecticut Avenue
Task = Read a book set in a city with a famous prison

Book = The Mangle Street Murders by M.R.C. Kasasian (set in London)

Move #15

Roll= 5
Square = Pentonville Road/Connecticut Avenue
Book = The Mangle Street Murders by M.R.C. Kasasian

Finished August 14
3 stars, strange concept but ok

I've read all that series but am never sure if I really like them. Still, I continue.

I know what you mean Sandy, I think I'll probably do the same :)

Move #16

Roll = 5
Square = Northumberland Avenue/Virginia Avenue (2nd time)
Task = Read a book set during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I

Book = The Queen's Head by Edward Marston

Move #16

Roll = 5
Square = Northumberland Avenue (already claimed)
Book = The Queen's Head by Edward Marston

Finished August 22.
3 stars, good fun, easy read

Move #17

Roll = 3
Square = Community Chest #2
Task = Read a book from any page of the Favorite Historical Mystery Series Listopia

Book = One for Sorrow by M.E. Mayer (#759 on list)

Move #17

Roll = 3
Square = Community Chest #2
Book = One for Sorrow by M.E. Mayer

Finished August 26.
3 stars, very quick and easy read, interesting setting (6th C Byzantium).

Move #18

Roll = 3
Square = Free Parking
Task = Read any book of your choice

Book = A Man Lay Dead by Ngaio Marsh

Move #18

Roll = 3
Square = Free Parking
Book = A Man Lay Dead by Ngaio Marsh

Finished September 2
3 stars, bit of an odd sub plot but the main plot was good

Move #19

Roll = 3 (again!)
Square = Fleet Street/Indiana Avenue
Task = Read a book in which the protagonist or narrator is a member of the clergy, a writer or a journalist

Book = The Dante Club by Matthew Pearl (Protagonist is the poet Longfellow - a writer)

Pamela wrote: "Book = The Dante Club by Matthew Pearl (Protagonist is the poet Longfellow - a writer) "

I really enjoyed this one particularly the way Pearl incorporated the Inferno into the storyline. Hope you like it.

Thanks Lauren, I studied Dante many years ago and love to see his influence carrying on. Good to know you enjoyed it, too.

Move #19

Roll = 3
Square = Fleet Street/Indiana Avenue
Book = The Dante Club by Matthew Pearl

Finished October 9
3.5 stars, slow start but enjoyed it once it got going, loved the setting and the literary theme

Move #20

Roll = 1
Square = Trafalgar Square/Illinois Avenue
Task = Read a book set in the Northern hemisphere

Book = Elementary Murder by A.J. Wright (set in England)

Move #20

Roll = 1
Square = Trafalgar Square/Illinois Avenue
Book = Elementary Murder by A.J. Wright

Finished October 15

3.5 stars, liked the setting and the protagonist, nice read

Move #21

Roll = 4
Square = Water Works
Task =Read a book with a body of water on the cover (sea, lake, river, stream, etc.)

Off to check my covers, back soon .....

Ok, my books are mainly land based, but I do have The Lake District Murder by John Bude with (unsurprisingly) a picture of a lake on the cover

Move #21

Roll = 4
Square = Water Works
Book = The Lake District Murder by John Bude

Finished October 22
Focus on police methods rather than any exciting twists, but solid 3*

Move #22

Roll = 4
Square = Oxford Street/North Carolina Avenue (2nd time)
Task = Read a book with a green cover

Ok off to check covers again.....

It will be The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley. The cover is definitely green

ETA : I m just not getting anywhere with Flavia De Luce at the moment, so I'm changing to The Crime at the 'Noah's Ark' by Molly Thynne.

This also has a green cover .