Cozy Mysteries discussion

I thought it was time for something a little different. I've borrowed this challenge from the folks over at Nothing But Reading Challenges. You can find there group here:

]https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

How to Play:
You can choose your own time frame for finishing the challenge, but the goal is to read a total of 78 books. There are a total of twelve towers, or stacks of books. The description for each is described below and you get to choose the time you will to climb each of the towers. You may work on them simultaneously or at different times. The choice is up to you. You can start this challenge at any time. Just for your own records, mark your start date.

Rules
- Any media allowed (book, audio, ebook, graphic novel, etc.).
- A book only counts once, even if it fits more than one tower category. You choose where to put it.
- You can use books for this challenge as well as using them in other challenges. That's fine.

Levels and Duration
Slow and Steady - up to 5 years
Eyes on Target - up to 3 years
Quick as a Bunny - up to 2 years
Need for Speed - up to 18 months
Fast and Furious - Up to 1 year.

Mystery levels
As with all of our challenges, it is not restricted to only mystery novels, however that is an option and can make it more challenging. [I had a lil fun naming the awards after tv fictional detectives, private investigators and amateur sleuths.)

1 to 14 mystery novels - Maxwell Smart Award (Get Smart)
15 to 29 mystery novels - Thomas Magnum Award (Magnum P.I.)
30 to 49 mystery novels - Jim Rockford Award (Rockford Files)
50 to 77 mystery novels - Cagney & Lacey Award (Cagney & Lacey)
78 All mystery novels - Sherlock Holmes Award (Sherlock)
78 All cozy mystery novels - Jessica Fletcher Award (Murder, She Wrote)

The Twelve Towers

12 books that you've acquired most recently (from start date).

11 books that you never find time to get around to or that have been on your shelves the longest (pre-choose these).

10 books you randomly select from your shelves (such as by using random.org -- as you go, or pre-choose.) For a little extra bit of random fun, let someone else pick them for you off your shelves. If you've already read them, they can go on category 3, or have them choose again.

9 sequels, series continuations, or spin-offs.

8 novellas or short-stories - they can be part of anthologies, you don't have to read the whole book in this case.

7 books that everyone seems to have read but you.

6 anticipated releases (release dates after your start date).

5 books that were recommended to you via Goodreads.

4 books that you started but never finished.

3 book that you've already read before.

2 books with covers that you don't think fit the storyline or that you don't like the covers of but everyone raves about the books.

1 book that intimidates you.

SUGGESTIONS:
If you have a tower/stack that just won't work for you (ie no unfinished books, etc.), you may take a suggested tower/stack from the list below and substitute it for one of the above. The new tower must then have the same number as the tower your replacing so the overall total stays the same at 78 books.

Chunkster(s) (a book over 450 pages)
Author(s) new to you
Second Chance Authors. Retry authors who you gave up on.
A book(s) that was borrowed or that was given to you.
Award Winning Book(s)
[Multiple lists of various mystery book awards http://stopyourekillingme.com/Awards/]

My God, Briansgirl! This looks complicated... But let's try to be Sherlock Holmes or Jessica Fletcher 😉

I think I'll begin this weekend... with the choices. Some cathegories are going to be complicated (some of them I've not even records for them).

I've got a notebook where I wrote each of the different towers into, and my start date. I'll fill in as I go, except for the pre-choose towers, which I have to work on to write in soon. Remember, there is no official start date, and you can take up to 5 years to finish. So there is no need to rush unless you want to.

I thought this might be a nice change from challenges where you end up, sometimes, with books you really don't want to read. (Author whose name starts with an X! lol) It shouldn't be too terribly hard to find books to fit the different towers, within whatever genres you want to read, or what you already have on your shelves at home. It's just time consuming, as it has 78 books on the list.

Recommended via Goodreads can be books you learn about from our group.

Books that are on your shelves the longest - you can sort your TBR list here on GRs by date entered. I've got so many, I'm just going to go through those gathering dust and see what looks interesting. Conversely, you can sort by date added and find your most recently added books as well. But you aren't restricted to using just those.

To me the hardest 2 towers will be "Books that everyone seems to read but you" and "Books with cover that you don't fit the storyline or that you don't like the covers of but everyone raves about the books." I finally read "Fifty Shades of Grey", just to see what the hype was about, so can't use that again.

Also, I usually finish books, so it's rare to find one I started that has a bookmark in it that I intend to finish but haven't. I have a few I've given up on and have no intention to finish! lol But heck, I got 5 years, I'm sure I'll run across one here or there.

For me, those are difficult towers too... and books you've begun but not finished. When that happens, I use to remove them from the ereader and I don't remember if I've begun them.

The ones I have bookmarks in still lying around are things like Chicken Soup for the Soul, or a Jeremy Clarkson book about cars (He's one of the Top Gear/Grand Tour guys and my husband being British loves him.) Definetly not mysteries, lol, but would fit the category. I also read some mysteries that aren't cozy (like Stephanie Plum series), but it has a new release out this fall Look Alive Twenty-Five. I'm awaiting the first book in the All Soul's Universe Time's Convert, but that isn't a mystery either. I've got a few books to catch up on the Aunt Dimity series, then I can get it's new release due out, Aunt Dimity and the King's Ransom comes out July 24th.

Glad I have up to 5 years on this one. lol Although I doubt it'll take that long. It would take longer, of course, if you were to read only cozies.

I agree. I think I'm going to try cozies in the beginning... and we'll see how it evolves.

This looks like a lot of fun, but is there a way to skip tower, or maybe substitute something else instead? I *never re-read books, and like Marisa, if I don't finish a book, I have no intention of ever returning to it. I hate to skip the challenge because of seven books, but I know I won't finish those towers, even if I had twenty years to finish!

Hi Barb, I'd suggest that you substitute a different tower/stack into your challenge to replace the one you can't do, that's similar to the others but different. I'll think of a substitution or two and add them above.

Thanks :) For the books you started but never finished, what about revisiting authors you previously gave up on?

It will probably take me all five years, but I will give it a go. I will make a cool chart

This sounds awesome, I'm in!

Start Date: 7/15/18
Duration: Eyes on Target (3 years - 7/14/21 hopefully)
Goal: Cagney & Lacey or Sherlock Holmes

Tower 12 - 12 Books That I've Most Recently Acquired: - COMPLETE
1. Bikinis in Paradise by Kathi Daley (audio - 7/15/18)
2. Agatha Raisin and the Fairies of Fryfam by M.C. Beaton (audio - 7/22/18)
3. **American Pharoah: The Untold Story of the Triple Crown Winner's Legendary Rise by Joe Drape (audio - 7/30/18)
4. Musseled Out by Barbara Ross (9/18/19)
5. Tightening the Threads by Lea Wait (audio - 10/31/18)
6. Sugar Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke (audio - 11/1/18)
7. After Anna by Lisa Scottoline (audio - 12/11/18)
8. Plantation Shudders by Ellen Byron (audio - 1/18/19)
9. Tart of Darkness by Denise Swanson (audio - 2/8/19)
10. Pulse by Felix Francis (audio - 3/24/19)
11. Leave No Scone Unturned by Denise Swanson (3/12/19)
12. Murder Once Removed by S.C. Perkins (4/9/19)

** Not a Mystery



Tower 11 - 11 Books that I Haven't Found Time For/On Shelves the Longest: - COMPLETE
1. Murder at Honeychurch Hall by Hannah Dennison (8/4/18)
2. The Advocate's Daughter by Anthony Franze (audio - 8/12/18)
3. Boiled Over by Barbara Ross (8/28/18)
4. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie (audio - 9/24/18)
5. Murder in Christmas River by Meg Muldoon (audio - 12/4/18)
6. The Twelve Dogs of Christmas by David Rosenfelt (audio - 12/29/18)
7. Memory Man by David Baldacci (audio - 1/25/19)
8. Triple Crown by Felix Francis (audio - 2/13/19)
9. Buried in a Bog by Sheila Connolly (audio - 3/30/19)
10. **Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World by Max Lucado (audio - 3/31/19)
11. Killer Green Tomatoes by Lynn Cahoon (audio - 4/2/19)

**Not a Mystery.



Tower 10 - 10 Randomly Selected Books: - COMPLETE
1. Without Precedent by J.D. Trafford (Audible TBA) (audio - 5/28/19)
2. The Ex by Alafair Burke (50 books that have been on my goodreads TBR the longest) (audio - 6/2/19)
3. Espressos, Eggnogs, and Evil Exes by Harper Lin (Hoopla digital wishlist) (audio - 6/13/19)
4. Class Reunions Are Murder by Libby Klein (goodreads TBA list -- from 2017) (audio - 6/25/19)
5. Penne Dreadful by Catherine Bruns (NetGalley shelf) (7/14/19)
6. Pane and Suffering by Cheryl Hollon (kindle tbr) (7/16/19)
7. Collared by David Rosenfelt (from Audible library TBR) (7/25/19)
8. The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie (from classics tbr) (7/30/19)
9. Tea Cups and Carnage by Lynn Cahoon (kindle TBR) (finished 8/6/19)
10. Crisis by Felix Francis (Audible TBR - 9/22/19)



Tower 9 - 9 Sequels, Series Continuations or Spinoffs: - COMPLETE
1. End Game by David Baldacci (Will Robie #5) (audio - 7/20/18)
2. Agatha Raisin and the Love from Hell by M.C. Beaton (Agatha Raisin # 11) (audio - 8/10/18)
3. Agatha Raisin and the Day the Floods Came by M.C. Beaton (Agatha Raisin #12) (audio - 9/6/18)
4. The Moonstone Castle Mystery by Carolyn Keene (Nancy Drew #40) (9/22/18)
5. Sprinkle with Murder by Jenn McKinlay (Cupcake Bakery #1) (audio - 10/1/18)
6. Eaves of Destruction by Kate Carlisle (Fixer-Upper #5) (10/15/18)
7. Agatha Raisin and the Case of the Curious Curate by M.C. Beaton (Agatha Raisin #13) (audio - 10/26/18)
8. Thread the Halls by Lea Wait (Mainely Needlepoint #6) (audio - 11/10/18)
9. The Diva Runs Out of Thyme by Krista Davis (audio -11/17/18)



Tower 8 - 8 Novellas or Short Stories: - COMPLETE
1. Bullseye by David Baldacci (Will Robie #2.5 short story) (audio - 7/25/18)
2. Agatha's First Case by M.C. Beaton (audio - 7/29/18)
3. Rockets' Dead Glare by Lynn Cahoon (audio - 9/4/18)
4. Extraction by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child (9/25/18)
5. A Deadly Brew by Lynn Cahoon (10/8/18)
6. The Hangman by Louise Penny (10/17/18)
7. Santa Puppy by Lynn Cahoon (audio - 11/19/18)
8. Corned Beef and Casualties byLynn Cahoon



Tower 7 - 7 Books that Were Borrowed (REPLACEMENT): - COMPLETE
1. Deck the Hallways by Kate Carlisle (10/6/18)
2. Murder in Her Stocking by G.A. McKevett (audio - 12/1/18)
3. Mayhem in Christmas River by Meg Muldoon (audio - 12/6/18)
4. Christmas in Paradise by Kathi Daley (audio - 12/16/18)
5. Cremas, Christmas Cookies, and Crooks by Harper Lin (audio - 12/24/18)
6. Peach Cobbler Murder by Joanne Fluke (audio - 12/28/18)
7. Books Can Be Deceiving by Jenn McKinlay (audio - 1/2/19)



Tower 6- 6 Anticipated Releases: - COMPLETE
1. Shattered at Sea by Cheryl Hollon (8/28/18)
2. A Wrench in the Works by Kate Carlisle (1/23/19)
3. Deadly News by Jody Holford (11/5/18)
4. Thread Herrings by Lea Wait (audio - 11/15/18)
5. Violet Tendencies by Kate E. Dyer-Seeley (11/26/18)
6. The Gun Also Rises by Sherry Harris (2/23/19)



Tower 5 - 5 Authors Who are New To Me (REPLACEMENT): - COMPLETE
1. Death by Chocolate Lab by Bethany Blake (audio - 8/9/18)
2. Single Malt Murder by Melinda Mullet (audio - 8/15/18)
3. A Muddied Murder by Wendy Tyson (audio - 9/16/18)
4. Circle of Influence by Annette Dashofy (audio - 10/12/18)
5. Assault and Pepper by Leslie Budewitz (audio - 10/20/18)



Tower 4 - 4 Books That I Started But Didn't Finish: - COMPLETE
1. Doubt by C.E. Tobisman (8/8/18)
2. Homicide in Hardcover by Kate Carlisle (audio - 4/16/19)
3. Someone Always Knows by Marcia Muller (5/6/19)
4. Whisper: How to Hear the Voice of God by Mark Batterson (5/19/19)



Tower 3 - 3 Award-Winning Books (REPLACEMENT): - COMPLETE
1. The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny (Best (Mystery) Novel - Macavity 2010, Anthony 2010 and Agatha 2009) (audio - 10/15/18)
2. A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny (Best (Mystery) Novel 2012 (Macavity, Anthony) (audio - 3/5/19)
3. Murder With Peacocks by Donna Andrews (Barry, Anthony and Agatha awards for Best First Novel; Lefty Award) (audio - 4/24/19)



Tower 2 - 2 Chunksters Over 450 Pages - COMPLETE(REPLACEMENT):
1. The Poet by Michael Connelly (510 pages) (audio - 11/21/18)
2. How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny (544 pages) (7/12/19)



Tower 1 - 1 Book that Intimidates Me: - COMPLETE
1. A Mother's Reckoning: Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy by Sue Klebold (finished 8/29/19)

Thanks for the alternate categories, Briansgirl! I'm going to try for the Sherlock Holmes level, but I may have to settle for the Cagney & Lacey level instead, at the Slow & Steady pace :)


THE TWELVE TOWERS, starts 7/12/18
12/12 CATEGORIES COMPLETE | SHERLOCK HOLMES LEVEL


12 BOOKS THAT YOU'VE ACQUIRED MOST RECENTLY (from start date)
1. 7/16/18 : Plain as Day (Amish Mystery #5.5), by Laura Bradford, finished 7/19 ★★★.5
2. 7/13/18 : Halloween Murder (Lucy Stone #3 and #16), by Leslie Meier, finished 8/6 ★★★.5
3. 9/6/18 : Glitter Bomb (Scrapbooking #15), by Laura Childs, finished 9/10 ★★★.5
4. 10/11/18 : Christmas Cake Murder (Hannah Swensen #23), by Joanne Fluke, finished 10/18 ★★★
5. 11/2/18 : Death and Daisies (Magic Garden #2), by Amanda Flower, finished 11/4 ★★★.5
6. 11/4/18 : Night of Miracles (Arthur Truluv #2), by Elizabeth Berg, finished 11/7 ★★★★
7. 11/12/18 : In Peppermint Peril (Book Tea Shop #1), by Joy Avon, finished 11/14 ★★★.5
8. 11/15/18 : The Whispered Word (Secret, Book & Scone Society #2), by Ellery Adams, finished 11/18 ★★★.5
9. 11/23/18 : Yule Be Dead (Victoria Square #5), by Lorraine Bartlett, finished 11/25 ★★★.5
10. 11/25/18 : Just Plain Murder (Amish Mystery #6), by Laura Bradford, finished 11/30 ★★★★
11. 12/1/18 : Killer Classics (Book Barn #5), by Kym Roberts, finished 12/2 ★★★.5
12. 12/4/18 : Murder in Her Stocking (Granny Reid #1), by G.A. McKevett, finished 12/6 ★★★★



11 BOOKS THAT YOU NEVER FIND TIME TO GET AROUND TO OR THAT HAVE BEEN ON YOUR SHELVES THE LONGEST (pre-choose these)
1. G'Day to Die (Passport to Peril #5), by Maddy Hunter, finished 7/25 ★★★
2. Rolling Thunder (John Ceepak #6), by Chris Grabenstein, finished 7/16 ★★★★
3. A Deadly Vineyard Holiday (Martha's Vineyard #8), by Philip R. Craig, finished 8/13 ★★★★
4. If Books Could Kill (Bibliophile #2), by Kate Carlisle, finished 10/11 ★★★.5
5. Thread End (Embroidery #7), by Amanda Lee, finished 10/25 ★★★★
6. Ill Wind (Anna Pigeon #3), by Nevada Barr, finished 10/31 ★★★.5
7. Lowcountry Book Club (Liz Talbot #5), by Susan M. Boyer, finished 11/5 ★★★★
8. Cold Front (Tory Bauer #5), by Kathleen Taylor, finished 11/8 ★★★
9. Black Ship (Daisy Dalrymple #17), by Carola Dunn, finished 11/26 ★★★.5
10. Play with Fire (Kate Shugak #5), by Dana Stabenow, finished 12/9 ★★★★
11. I'm a Fool to Kill You (Rat Pack #5), by Robert J. Randisi, finished 12/29 ★★★.5


10 BOOKS YOU RANDOMLY SELECT FROM YOUR SHELVES
1. Swamp Sniper (Miss Fortune #3), by Jana DeLeon, finished 7/13 ★★★★
2. Thereby Hangs a Tail (Chet & Bernie #2), by Spencer Quinn, finished 8/7 ★★★★
3. Beside Still Waters (Psalm 23 #4), by Debbie Viguié, finished 8/14 ★★★.5
4. Once Upon a Grind (Coffeehouse #14), by Cleo Coyle, finished 8/26 ★★★.5
5. North of Clever (Hannah Garvey #3), by Suzann Ledbetter, finished 10/7 ★★★.5
6. Deader Homes and Gardens (Claire Malloy #18), by Joan Hess, finished 10/12 ★★★.5
7. A Toast to Murder (Wine Lover's #6), by Michele Scott, finished 10/22 ★★★.5
8. Twelve Angry Librarians (Cat in the Stacks #8), by Miranda James, finished 10/27 ★★★★
9. The Devil's Puzzle (Someday Quilts #4), by Clare O'Donohue, finished 10/29 ★★★.5
10. Freezer I'll Shoot (Vintage Kitchen #3), by Victoria Hamilton, finished 12/26 ★★★.5


9 SEQUELS, SERIES CONTINUATIONS, OR SPIN-OFFS
1. Independence Slay (Celebration Bay #3), by Shelley Freydont, finished 7/20 ★★★.5
2. Guilty as Cinnamon (Spice Shop #2), by Leslie Budewitz, finished 7/31 ★★★.5
3. Premeditated Peppermint (Amish Candy Shop #3), by Amanda Flower, finished 9/23 ★★★★
4. Bless Her Dead Little Heart (Southern Sisters #1), by Miranda James, finished 10/2 ★★★★
5. The Lacemaker's Secret (Chloe Ellefson #9), by Kathleen Ernst, finished 10/5 ★★★.5
6. Midsummer Mayhem (Potting Shed #7), by Marty Wingate, finished 10/13 ★★★★
7. The Colors of All the Cattle (No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency #19), by Alexander McCall Smith, finished 10/17 ★★★★
8. Cinnamon Toasted (Spice Shop #3), by Gail Oust, finished 11/16 ★★★★
9. Eggs on Ice (Cackleberry Club #8), by Laura Childs, finished 12/11 ★★★★


8 NOVELLAS OR SHORT-STORIES
8 BOOKS BY NEW-TO-ME AUTHORS
1. author Janel Gradowski – Pies & Peril (Culinary Competitions #1), finished 7/23 ★★★
2. author Christine DeSmet – First-Degree Fudge (Fudge Shop #1), finished 7/30 ★★★
3. author Claudia Bishop – A Taste for Murder (Hemlock Falls #1), finished 8/22 ★★★★
4. author Claire Donally – The Big Kitty (Sunny & Shadow #1), finished 8/31 ★★★★
5. author Peggy E. Edelheit – The Puzzle (Samantha Jamison #1), finished 9/18 ★★.5
6. author Diane Noble – Through the Fire (Mystery and the Minister's Wife #1), finished 9/21 ★★★.5
7. author Edith Maxwell – A Tine to Live, A Tine to Die (Local Foods #1), finished 10/14 ★★★★
8. author Cécile Chabot – The Merchant of Death (Cycle of Xhól #1), finished 10/28 ★★★


7 BOOKS THAT EVERYONE SEEMS TO HAVE READ BUT YOU
1. Deadly Heat (Nikki Heat #5), by Richard Castle, finished 9/4 ★★★.5
2. Killed at the Whim of a Hat (Jimm Juree #1), by Colin Cotterill, finished 9/9 ★★★.5
3. The Fix (Amos Decker #3), by David Baldacci, finished 9/24 ★★★★.5
4. Fun House (John Ceepak #7), by Chris Grabenstein, finished 11/12 ★★★★
5. Vengeance in Death (In Death #6), by J.D. Robb, finished 11/19 ★★★.5
6. Lord Edgware Dies (Hercule Poirot #9), by Agatha Christie, finished 11/20 ★★★
7. Her Final Breath (Tracy Crosswhite #2), by Robert Dugoni, finished 11/28 ★★★★.5


6 ANTICIPATED RELEASES (release dates after your start date)
1. The Vanishing Box (Stephens & Mephisto #4), by Elly Griffiths, finished 7/27 ★★★★ – released 11/17 in the UK, 9/18 in the US
2. The Guilty Dead (Monkeewrench #9), by P.J. Tracy, finished 8/9 ★★★★.5 –released 8/23 in the UK, 9/11 in the US
3. Shattered at Sea (Webb's Glass Shop #5), by Cheryl Hollon, finished 8/18 ★★★★ – released 8/28/18
4. Silver Anniversary Murder (Lucy Stone #25), by Leslie Meier, finished 8/24 ★★★.5 – released 9/25
5. Hitting the Books (Library Lovers #9), by Jenn McKinlay, finished 8/27 ★★★★ – released 9/11
6. Read and Gone (Haunted Library #2), by Allison Brook, finished 9/3 ★★★.5 – released 9/11


5 BOOKS RECOMMENDED TO YOU VIA GOODREADS
1. In the Drink (Mack's Bar #3), by Allyson K. Abbott, finished 8/21 ★★★.5
2. Mai Tai One On (Tiki Goddess #1), by Jill Marie Landis, finished 8/29 ★★★
3. Gnome on the Range (Gnome series #1), by Jennifer Zane, finished 9/5 ★★.5
4. Scene of the Climb (Pacific Northwest #1), by Kate E. Dyer-Seeley, finished 10/10 ★★★
5. Napoleon's Pyramids (Ethan Gage #1), by William Dietrich, finished 12/5 ★★★


4 BOOKS THAT YOU STARTED BUT NEVER FINISHED
4 BOOKS THAT HAVE WON AN AWARD
1. 2017 Gold Dagger Award : The Dry (Aaron Falk #1), by Jane Harper, finished 11/9 ★★★★
2. 1992 Agatha Award : The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter (Ballad #2), by Sharyn McCrumb, finished 2/7 ★★★
3. 2000 Anthony Award : The Big Sleep (Philip Marlowe #1), by Raymond Chandler, finished 2/14 ★★★★
4. 2008 Agatha Award : The Cruelest Month (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #3), by Louise Penny, finished 3/13 ★★★★


3 BOOKS THAT YOU'VE ALREADY READ
3 CHUNKSTERS (over 450 pages)
1. 593 pages : The Guilty (Will Robie #4), by David Baldacci, finished 10/4 ★★★★
2. 484 pages : The Concrete Blonde (Harry Bosch #3), by Michael Connelly, finished 10/19 ★★★★
3. 464 pages : The Final Cut (Brit in the FBI #1), by Catherine Coulter & J.T. Ellison, finished 1/23/19 ★★★★


2 BOOKS WITH COVERS THAT YOU DON'T THINK FIT THE STORYLINE OR THAT YOU DON'T LIKE THE COVERS OF BUT EVERYONE RAVES ABOUT THE BOOKS
1. cover doesn't fit storyline : The Abduction (Theodore Boone #2), by John Grisham, finished 9/11 ★★★.5
2. don't like the cover : Aunt Bessie Assumes (Isle of Man #1), by Diana Xarissa, finished 12/28 ★★★.5


1 BOOK THAT INTIMIDATES YOU
1. Royally Dead (A Stitch in Time #3), by Greta McKennan, finished 8/12 ★★★
I didn't really care for the first two in this series, so I wasn't looking forward to reading this one



***** CHALLENGE COMPLETE 3/13/19 *****

Love it - thanks for another good one! Pls note that some books may change where it is allowed. Here we go...

Quick as a Bunny - up to 2 years
78 All mystery novels - Sherlock Holmes Award
Start date: July 13, 2018
Completion date: Sep 08, 2019

12 books that you've acquired most recently (from start date)

1. Cindy Sample - Dying for a Deal
2. Louise Lynn - Purrfect Murder
3. Lucy Burdette - Death in Four Courses
4. Cindy Blackburn - Unbelievable
5. Cindy Blackburn - Six Easy Pockets
6. Mary Feliz - Dead Storage
7. Karen Rose Smith - Murder with Lemon Tea Cakes
8. Allison Brook - Death Overdue
9. Sparkle Abbey -Barking with the Stars
10. Kathi Daley - Cupid's Curse
11. Juliette Blackwell - Secondhand Spirits
12. Harper Lin - Macaron Murder



11 books that you never find time to get around to or that have been on your shelves the longest (pre-choose these).

1. Jennifer Fischetto - Death by Scones
2. Tracy D. Comstock - - Murder Is Our Mascot
3. Charlaine Harris - Three Bedrooms, One Corpse
4. Laura Bradford - Death in Advertising
5. Kathi Daley - Murder at Dolphin Bay
6. Alice K. Boatwright - Under an English Heaven
7. Karen MacInerney - Dead and Berried
8. Shannon Esposito - Karma's A Bitch
9. Rae Davis - Cut Loose
10. Linda Howard - Veil of Night
11. Adele Abbott - Witch Is When It All Began



10 books you randomly select from your shelves

1. Leslie Langtry - Mint Cookie Murder
2. Kathi Daley - Christmas Crazy
3. Catherine Bruns - Death of the Kona Man
4. Terrie Farley Moran - Well Read, Then Dead
5. Sara Rosett - Death in the English Countryside
6. Diane Kelly - Death, Taxes, and a French Manicure
7. Nancy Martin - No Way to Kill a Lady
8. Carol J. Perry - Caught Dead Handed
9. Angie Fox - Deader Homes and Gardens
10. Joanne Pence - Murder by Devil's Food



9 sequels, series continuations, or spin-offs.

1. Laura Levine - Death of a Bachelorette
2. Jenna Bennett - Bad Debt
3. Cleo Coyle - Dead Cold Brew
4. Ruby Loren - Murder is a Monkey's Game
5. Karen MacInerney - Mother's Little Helper
6. Mary Marks - Gone But Knot Forgotten
7. Maria E. Schneider - Executive Dirt
8. Julie Moffett - No Living Soul
9. Deborah Brown - Psycho in Paradise



8 novellas or short-stories - they can be part of anthologies, you don't have to read the whole book in this case.

1. M. C. Beaton - Agatha's First Case
2. Kerri Nelson - Ornamental Danger
3. Joanne Fluke - "Gingerbread Cookie Murder" (from anthology Gingerbread Cookie Murder)
4. Laura Levine - "The Dangers Of Gingerbread Cookies" (from anthology Gingerbread Cookie Murder)
5. Lynn Cahoon - A Deadly Brew
6. Connie Shelton - Spellbound Sweets
7. P Creeden - Murder on Saint Patrick's Day
8. Alice Loweecey - Changing Habits: A Short Story



7 books that everyone seems to have read but you

1. Susan M. Boyer - Lowcountry Book Club
2. Darynda Jones -First Grave on the Right
3. J. D. Robb - Calculated In Death
4. Kerry Greenwood - Cocaine Blues
5. Juliette Harper - Witch at Heart
6. Carolyn Haines - Them Bones
7. Lynn Cahoon - A Story to Kill



6 anticipated releases (release dates after your start date)

1. Kathi Daley - Finding Courage
2. Anne Marie Stoddard - Handbags & Homicide
3. Cleo Coyle - The Ghost and the Bogus Bestseller
4. Jayne Ann Krentz - Untouchable
5. Ellen Byron - Mardi Gras Murder
6. Donna Andrews - Toucan Keep a Secret



5 books that were recommended to you via Goodreads

1. Libby Klein - Class Reunions Are Murder
2. Krista Davis - Color Me Murder
3. Barbara Early - Death of a Toy Soldier
4. Laura Morrigan - Woof at the Door
5. Daryl Wood Gerber - A Deadly Éclair



4 Author(s) new to you (substitute)

1. Leslie Nagel - The Book Club Murders
2. Lea Wait - Twisted Threads
3. Noreen Wald - The Luck of the Ghostwriter
4. Kathleen Bridge - Better Homes and Corpses



3 books that were borrowed or given to you (substitute)
1. Steamed Open
2. Look Alive Twenty-Five
3. A Picture of Murder



2 Award Winning Books (substitute)

1. A Cajun Christmas Killing (2017 Lefty Award for Best Humorous Mystery)
2. Kellye Garrett - Hollywood Homicide (2017 Agatha Award for Best First Novel)



1 book that intimidates you

Nora Roberts - Year One

Posting here is fine, or on your own, or both. This is not a fast challenge, due to the amount of books read, but is doable. I've written most of mine down, but things will change I'm sure before I'm done. The list is fkexible.

Well, this will be my initial tracking post (although it will be in my personal thread too..., moving from year to year :D ). I'm going to replace some towers...

THE TWELVE TOWERS, 7/20/18 - 7/20/21 (Eyes on Target) (Updated: 02/09/2018)

2/12 CATEGORIES COMPLETE

Tower 12 - 12 books that you have acquired most recently (from start date)

11 BOOKS THAT YOU NEVER FIND TIME TO GET AROUND TO OR THAT HAVE BEEN ON YOUR SHELVES THE LONGEST (pre-choose these)

(view spoiler)[A Skeleton in the Family by Leigh Perry
Paging the Dead by Brynn Bonner
Allergic to Death by Peg Cochran
Book, Line, and Sinker by Jenn McKinlay
Chihuahua of the Baskervilles by Esri Allbritten
Bookmarked to Die by Jo Dereske
To the Manor Dead by Sebastian Stuart
Opal Fire by Barbra Annino
Catering to Nobody by Diane Mott Davidson
A Cat in the Manger by Lydia Adamson
Sugar Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke (hide spoiler)]

10 BOOKS YOU RANDOMLY SELECT FROM YOUR SHELVES (I used the "Select random book" in calibre over my virtual library "Cozy challenges")

(view spoiler)[Meow if It's Murder by T. C. Lotempio
Zero at the Bone by Mary Walker
Deadly Dye and a Soy Chai by Traci Andrighetti
Postern of Fate by Agatha Christie
First-Degree Fudge by Christine DeSmet
Desperate Housedogs by Sparkle Abbey
Feta Attraction by Susannah Hardy
Cheddar Off Dead by Julia Buckley
Bones to Pick by Linda Lovely
Seeds of Revenge by Wendy Tyson
(hide spoiler)]

Tower 9 - 9 sequels, series continuations, or spin-offs

1.- To Catch a Witch by Heather Blake (13/08/2018 - ★★★★)
2.- The Hammett Hex by Victoria Abbott (14/08/2018 - ★★★☆)
3.- Death on the Patagonian Express by Hy Conrad (31/08/2018 - ★★)
4.- Sleeping Murder by Agatha Christie (01/09/2018 - ★★★★)
5.- Golden Malicious by Sheila Connolly (07/09/2018 - ★★★)



Tower 8 - 8 novellas or short-stories Done

1-4.- Miss Marple's Final Cases by Agatha Christie (15/07/2018 - ★★★★)
5-8.- The Thirteen Problems by Agatha Christie (16/07/2018 - ★★★★)



Tower 7 - 7 books by New-To-Me authors (replacement of "7 books that everyone seems to have read but you")

1.- The Death Merchant by Lee Goldberg (20/08/2018 - ★★★☆)
2.- A Stitch in Time by Monica Ferris (23/09/2018 - ★★★★☆)
3.- X Marks the Scot by Kaitlyn Dunnett (30/09/2018 - ★★★★☆)
4.- Survival of the Fritters by Ginger Bolton (02/10/2018 - ★★★★)
5.- Cherry Pie or Die by CeeCee James (10/10/2018 - ★★★★☆)



Tower 6 - 6 anticipated releases (release dates after your start date)

1.- Seventh Chapter by Kathi Daley (15/08/2018 - ★★★★☆)
2.- The Murder at Mandeville Hall by Stephanie Laurens (17/08/2018 - ★★★★☆)
3.- Leverage in Death by J.D. Robb (05/09/2018 - ★★★★☆)
4.- Shattered at Sea by Cheryl Hollon (27/09/2018 - ★★★★☆)
5.- Marigolds for Malice by Bailey Cattrell (20/10/2018 - ★★★★)



Tower 5 - 5 books recommended to you via goodreads (Friend's recommendation)

1.- The Golden Spiders by Rex Stout (16/08/2018 - ★★★☆)



4 BOOKS THAT YOU STARTED BUT NEVER FINISHED
4 BOOKS THAT HAVE WON AN AWARD

3 BOOKS THAT YOU'VE ALREADY READ

2 BOOKS WITH COVERS THAT YOU DON'T THINK FIT THE STORYLINE OR THAT YOU DON'T LIKE THE COVERS OF BUT EVERYONE RAVES ABOUT THE BOOKS

Tower 1 - 1 chunkster (Replacement) (over 450 pages) Done

1.- Edge of Darkness by Karen Rose (14/07/2018 - ★★★★☆)

I'm genuinely excited by this one!

I'm going for Sherlock Holmes.

The Twelve Towers

12 books that you've acquired most recently (from start date)
(view spoiler)[
Vanished
Exposed

(These were all purchased the same date, so choose 10)
The Hypnotist
Honeymoon
Murder at the National Gallery
Murder in the CIA
Murder in the Smithsonian
Bloodline
Murder on Capitol Hill
A Stranger in the Mirror
Memories of Midnight
Cross the Line
Death Angels
Dekok and the Somber Nude
DeKok and Murder by Melody
Dekok and the Dead Harlequin
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
The Postcard Killers
Never Never
Murder for Christ's Mass
Murder on the Orient Express
Well-Schooled in Murder
The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party
Morality for Beautiful Girls
Tears of the Giraffe
Poirot Loses a Client
The Kalahari Typing School for Men
Kill Alex Cross
The Good Husband of Zebra Drive
Red Mist
In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner
The Miracle at Speedy Motors
Private Down Under
Private India
The Full Cupboard of Life
To the Nines
Unnatural Exposure
The Comforts of a Muddy Saturday
The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon
The Careful Use of Compliments
The Westminster Poisoner
Cracker: Men Should Weep
The Noble Outlaw
A Plague of Heretics
The Manor of Death
Deception on His Mind
In the Presence of the Enemy
Hot Six
A Place of Hiding
Payment in Blood
Skinwalkers
The Fallen Man
(hide spoiler)]

11 books that you never find time to get around to or that have been on your shelves the longest (pre-choose these).
The Westing Game

(view spoiler)[
(All added the same day, choose 11)
Faceless Killers
The Trouble With Magic
Death by Darjeeling
One for the Money
Still Life
A Morbid Taste for Bones
One Corpse Too Many
Monk's Hood
Killing Floor
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Homicide in Hardcover
Whose Body?
What Angels Fear
The Westing Game
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
Dead Until Dark
Cross Country
(hide spoiler)]

10 books you randomly select from your shelves (such as by using random.org -- as you go, or pre-choose.) For a little extra bit of random fun, let someone else pick them for you off your shelves. If you've already read them, they can go on category 3, or have them choose again.
10 award winning books.

9 sequels, series continuations, or spin-offs.
Murder on Lenox Hill
Oathbreaker


8 novellas or short-stories - they can be part of anthologies, you don't have to read the whole book in this case.

7 books that everyone seems to have read but you.

6 anticipated releases (release dates after your start date).
A Dark and Twisting Path
Four Funerals and Maybe a Wedding


5 books that were recommended to you via Goodreads.
The Cracked Spine


4 books that you started but never finished. (honestly, there aren't even 4 series I've started and not finished. My OCD is real and problematic.)
4 authors new to you

3 book that you've already read before.

2 books with covers that you don't think fit the storyline or that you don't like the covers of but everyone raves about the books.
Into the Black Nowhere

1 book that intimidates you.

SUGGESTIONS:
If you have a tower/stack that just won't work for you (ie no unfinished books, etc.), you may take a suggested tower/stack from the list below and substitute it for one of the above. The new tower must then have the same number as the tower your replacing so the overall total stays the same at 78 books.

Chunkster(s) (a book over 450 pages)
Author(s) new to you
A book(s) that was borrowed or that was given to you.
Award Winning Book(s)
[Multiple lists of various mystery book awards http://stopyourekillingme.com/Awards/]

reply | flag *

The Twelve Towers

12 books that you've acquired most recently (from start date).

11 books that you never find time to get around to or that have been on your shelves the longest (pre-choose these).

10 books you randomly select from your shelves (such as by using random.org -- as you go, or pre-choose.) For a little extra bit of random fun, let someone else pick them for you off your shelves. If you've already read them, they can go on category 3, or have them choose again.

9 sequels, series continuations, or spin-offs.

8 novellas or short-stories - they can be part of anthologies, you don't have to read the whole book in this case.

7 award-winning books.

6 anticipated releases (release dates after your start date).

5 books that were recommended to you via Goodreads.

4 books that you started but never finished.

3 book that you've already read before.

2 book(s) that were borrowed or given to you.

1 book that intimidates you.

SUGGESTIONS:
If you have a tower/stack that just won't work for you (ie no unfinished books, etc.), you may take a suggested tower/stack from the list below and substitute it for one of the above. The new tower must then have the same number as the tower your replacing so the overall total stays the same at 78 books.

Chunkster(s) (a book over 450 pages)
Author(s) new to you
A book(s) that was borrowed or that was given to you.
Award Winning Book(s)
[Multiple lists of various mystery book awards http://stopyourekillingme.com/Awards/]

This is insane! And of course I want to play along. Let me think a bit.

ஐ Briansgirl (Book Sale Queen)ஐ wrote: "I thought it was time for something a little different. I've borrowed this challenge from the folks over at Nothing But Reading Challenges. You can find there group here:

]https://www.goodreads.co..."
12 books recently acquired? Is that newest before joining today?

Goal 7/11/18 to 7/11/22 at Sherlock level. ★'s represent book ratings.
Completed 4/20/2020 All Mystery Novels!

Really four years should be enough. I'm hoping completing this one will help with the USA challenge. Level 11 books might change if I end up hating them. Just a heads up.
1 to 14 mystery novels - Maxwell Smart Award (Get Smart)
15 to 29 mystery novels - Thomas Magnum Award (Magnum P.I.)
30 to 49 mystery novels - Jim Rockford Award (Rockford Files)
50 to 77 mystery novels - Cagney & Lacey Award (Cagney & Lacey)
78 All mystery novels - Sherlock Holmes Award (Sherlock)
78 All cozy mystery novels - Jessica Fletcher Award (Murder, She Wrote)

The Twelve Towers

12 books that you've acquired most recently (from start date). A work in progress!

1- New Corpse in Town Lucy Quinn ★★★
2- Double Fudge Brownie Murder by Joanne Fluke ★★★
3- Wicked Appetite by Janet Evanovich ★★★★
4- The Snowman Killer by Wendy Meadows ★★★
5- Saturn Night Fever by Diane Vallere★★★★
6- Murder Unmentionable by Meg London★★★
7- Behind Chocolate Bars by Kathy Aarons ★★★★
8- Reel of Fortune by Jana DeLeon ★★★★★
9- Dead Man Talking by Jana DeLeon★★★★
10- Death of a Pumpkin Carver by Lee Hollis ★★★
11- Swamp Spook by Jana Deleon ★★★★
12- Wicked Witch Murder by Leslie Meir ★★★
DONE 12/12


11 books that you never find time to get around to or that have been on your shelves the longest (pre-choose these).
1. Louisiana Hotshot by Julie Smith ★★★★
2. Hairspray and Homicide by Cindy Bell ★★★
3. Misfortune Cookies by Linda P Kozar★★★
4. A Fatal Twist of Lemon by Patrice Greenwood ★★★
5. Paper, Scissors, Death by Joanna Campbell Slan ★★★★
6. Merry Christmas Mysteries by Linda Kozer★★
7. Trouble in Mudbug by Jana DeLeon ★★★
8. One For the Money by Janet Evanovich★★★★★
9. Whiskey Rebellion by Liliana Hart★★★
10. He Sees You When You’re Sleeping by Mary and Carol Higgins Clarke ★★★★
11. St. Valentine's Day Cookie Massacre by Elisabeth Crabtree ★★★★
DONE 1/28/2020

10 books you randomly select from your shelves (such as by using random.org -- as you go, or pre-choose.) From random library picks:

1. The Witches' Tree by M.C. Beaton ★★★★
2. The Harlequin Tea Set by Agatha Christie ★★★
3. The Diva Runs Out of Thyme Krista Davis ★★★★
4. A Bad Days Work by Nora McFarland ★★★★★
5. A-List by D.P.Lyle ★★★
6. Color Me Murder By Krista Davis ★★★
7. Much ADO in Maggody by Joan Hess ★★★★
8. Snowmen in Paradise by Kathi Daley ★★★
9. Who Moved My Goat Cheese by Lynn Cahoon ★★★★
10. Living the Vida Lola by Melissa Bourbon ★★★★
Done 2/8/19 read 10/10

9 sequels, series continuations, or spin-offs.

1- Lowcountry Bonfire by Susan M. Boyer ★★★★★
2- Lowcountry Bookshop by Susan M. Boyer★★★★★
3- Lord of the Wings by Donna Andrews ★★★★★
4- The Invisible Code by Christopher Fowler ★★★★
5. Duck the Halls by Donna Andrews ★★★★
6. The Nightengale Before Christmas by Donna Andrews ★★★★
7. The Crimson Warning by Tasha Alexander ★★★
8. Plum Tea Crazy by Laura Childs ★★★★
9. Death in the Floating City by Tasha Alexander★★★★
DONE- 4/10/19

8 novellas or short-stories - they can be part of anthologies, you don't have to read the whole book in this case.
1- Just This Once by Michael Guillebeau ★★
2- Just Kidding by Diane Vallere ★★★ (mystery?)
3- The Library Ghost of Tanglewood Inn by Gigi Pandian ★★★★
4- The Invisible Assistant by John Gaspard ★★★
5- Routine Changes by Betsy Bitner ★★★★
6- Midnight Ice by Diane Vallere ★★★★★
7- The Five Dollar Dress by Mary Higgins Clark ★★★★
8 - Costume Conundrums by Ritter Ames ★★★★
9- Comin up from Cape Fear by Chris Muessig ★★
DONE 7/22/18 read 8/8


7 books that everyone seems to have read but you. (7 New to you authors)

1- Double Indemnity by James M. Cain ★★★★
2- Death at the Voyager Hotel by Kwei Quartey ★★★
3- A Story to Kill by Lynn Cahoon ★★★★
4- Homicide for the Holidays by Cheryl Honigford ★★★★
5- Bread of the Dead by Ann Myers ★★★
6- Diva Haunts a House by Krista Davis ★★★★★
7- Death Overdue by Allison Brook ★★★
DONE 10/31/18 read 7/7


6 anticipated releases (release dates after your start date). A work in progress!



1. Broken Bone China by Laura Childs ★★★★
2. I'm Your Venus by Diane Vallere ★★★★
3. Mardi Gras Murder by Ellen Byron★★★
4. Buried in Books by Kate Carlisle ★★★★
5. Dim Sum of All Fears by Vivian Chien ★★★★
6. Murder Lo Mein by Vivian Chien ★★★★
Done! 7/19 Read 6/6

5 books that were recommended to you via Goodreads.

1. The Christie Curse by Victoria Abbot ★★★
2. Killer Image By Wendy Tyson ★★★★★
3. On What Grounds by Cleo Coyle ★★★
4. The Glass Key by Dashell Hamet★★★
5. Fuzzy Mud by Louis Sacher★★★
DONE 3/22/2020

4 books that you started but never finished. (4 award-winning books)

-1 Snakeskin Shamisen by Naomi Hirahara ★★★★
-2 Devil in a Blue Dress by Walter Mosley ★★★
-3 Accidental Alchemist by Gigi Pandian★★★★★
-4 Murder in G Major by Alexia Gordon ★★★★
Done 4/20/2020

3 book that you've already read before.

-1 Dangerous to Know by Tasha Alexander ★★★★
-2. Dance Hall of the Dead by Tony Hillerman ★★★★★
-3 Where Are the Children? by Mary Higgins Clark ★★★★★
DONE 2/26/19 read 3/3

2 books with covers that you don't think fit the storyline or that you don't like the covers of but everyone raves about the books.

-1 I Once Was Lost by Dana Rongione
-2 Ornaments of Death by Jane K. Cleland
Done 12/19

1 book that intimidates you.
1 The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins ★★
DONE completed 1/1 on 9/25/19

Caren wrote: "ஐ Briansgirl (Book Sale Queen)ஐ wrote: "12 books recently acquired? Is that newest before joining today? "

It all depends on when you want to start your challenge and how picky you are. I figured if I bought it in the last few months it was still newly acquired and I'd count that. Release date after challenge started was tougher, as I had to use those as newly acquired and then I have to wait til others are released.

I think I'm only going to end up Thomas Magnum level, as I read a lot that aren't mysteries. Although romantic suspense is good, the suspense part is sort of a mystery. Still never quite sure what category Stephanie Plum books fall into. Humorous adventure doesn't exist. lol Thomas Magnum works for me. I just finished buying for Mother's Day, the couple seasons I was missing so I can finish rewatching all of Magnum P.I. Gotta love me some Tom Selleck in Hawaii. :)

However, the list in my notebook that I'm working on could be done in under 18 months (Need for Speed level), maybe, depending on the new releases I'm waiting for. A higher mystery rating would mean a longer speed level for me.

I so was not going to do this challenge due to the length and volume of it, not to mention a couple categories I didn't like or couldn't do (ie. books started but never finished). I've decided to bite the bullet and join in. I've substituted out the novellas for books borrowed and books started but not finished for new authors. Like a lot of people I usually don't reread books either (too many I haven't read yet to reread ones I have), the main exception to this being when I get to the last book in a series where the author has died, so I'm already planning a reread of Sue Grafton's Kinsey Milhone series in early 2019, so that will work perfectly for this challenge. My challenge can be found here in my personal folder but I'm sure I'll occasionally post updates here. I've also already gotten some ideas for categories from what other people have posted already.

ஐ Briansgirl (Book Sale Queen)ஐ wrote: "Caren wrote: "ஐ Briansgirl (Book Sale Queen)ஐ wrote: "12 books recently acquired? Is that newest before joining today? "

It all depends on when you want to start your challenge and how picky you a..."

Thanks. This is such fun.

ஐ Briansgirl (Book Sale Queen)ஐ wrote: "Caren wrote: "ஐ Briansgirl (Book Sale Queen)ஐ wrote: "12 books recently acquired? Is that newest before joining today? "

It all depends on when you want to start your challenge and how picky you a..."

Thanks. This is such fun.

I need to think about this one. Wasn't there a random generator in my books at one time? How do you randomize your GR tbr on randomize.org?

Gary wrote: "I need to think about this one. Wasn't there a random generator in my books at one time? How do you randomize your GR tbr on randomize.org?"

Can someone help Gary with this? I've never used randomize.org.

ஐ Briansgirl (Book Sale Queen)ஐ wrote: "Gary wrote: "I need to think about this one. Wasn't there a random generator in my books at one time? How do you randomize your GR tbr on randomize.org?"

Can someone help Gary with this? I've neve..."

I admit that I have never used randomize.org either, but the way I would do it is to use the "True Random Number Generator" feature in the upper right hand corner. The minimum number would be 1, and the maximum would be the number of books on your to-be-read list (in my case 621 -- Yikes!!!). I would then generate 10 random numbers and the books that correspond to those numbers would go on my tower list.

However, before I did any generating, I would try to cull down my GR to-be-read list to eliminate items that were put there, for example, when I entered a GR giveaway, but I really don't have any intention of purchasing the book.

BTW, it now occurs to me that I should probably create a separate to-be-read list containing only those books I own or have access to. Not sure I'll get around to it, but maybe I should do it for this challenge.

Hope this helps. :-)

You *can sort your GR want-to-read list in a Random sort. At the bottom of the page, there are boxes with drop-down menus that allow you to sort your list in a lot of different ways. Since you want 10 random books for this challenge, set the number of books to 10 per page and set the Sort option to Random. Then you'll want to read the books that show up on the first page of that sort.

Gary wrote: "How do you randomize your GR tbr on randomize.org?"

Barbara is exactly right about how to do this, but the website is random.org, not randomize.org.
Random.org

I think I'm going to like this challenge! In perusing my Goodreads TBR for the oldest things on it I came across a series I want to read and now have the first 3 books in 3 different towers - the first book is in new to me author, the second is in recommended to me by Goodreads and the third is in the oldest stuff to read. So excited to finally have something to push this series to the top of the list.

Barb wrote: "Gary wrote: "How do you randomize your GR tbr on randomize.org?"

Barbara is exactly right about how to do this, but the website is random.org, not randomize.org.
Random.org"

Sorry, Barb and Gary. When I typed "randomize.org" in to my search, it automatically listed "random.org" as the first option. Or maybe I just typed "random.org" into the search engine? I didn't even notice! I'll blame it on the time of night. :-}

Barb wrote: "You *can sort your GR want-to-read list in a Random sort. At the bottom of the page, there are boxes with drop-down menus that allow you to sort your list in a lot of different ways. Since you want..."

This works, too, and is probably easier. I see it now when I access GR through the computer. Thank you.

I think I'd like to try this. :) I'll definitely be Slow and Steady. My reading time has lessened. :) But, this definitely looks like fun. And, I'm aiming for ALL cozy mysteries, but it may end up being all mysteries. We'll see. I will substitute the unfinished books, b/c I usually can't leave a book unfinished. So, I only have two books I've never finished. I'll post my books here, in a little bit.

12 Towers
Date started: 7/13/18
0/78

I may modify the random category by going to the earliest unread book in the chosen series.

Changed my random books to a more restricted scope (only 500 ;) ), so I can clean my poor ereader, that some of them have been there for a long time.

Gary wrote: "I may modify the random category by going to the earliest unread book in the chosen series."

I’m doing this with “oldest”, “newest”, and “random”. Otherwise I would have to read a ton of books to get to the books chosen. (I’m not actually capable of just picking up and reading book 5.)

I'm the same way, Rachel, I just can't bring myself to read series books out of order! I created a shelf for my next-in-series books. As much as possible, that's the shelf I plan to use for most of these towers. Obviously, that shelf won't work for New-to-Me Authors, and it probably won't for Chunksters, but it helps narrow down my choices :)

I would use the Chunkster tower, but most of my longer books, aka doorstoppers, are epic fantasy by the likes of Robert Jordan, Terry Goodkind and others.

I seriously don't need to start another challenge, but this intrigues me. I'm going to give it a go. I'll keep my list on my challenge spreadsheet (yes it's crazy, but it works) but may post category picks or finishes. Great challenge but I too appreciate the alternate categories. Heaven knows, if I didn't finish a book, I'm not going back to it because I usually finish whatever I start.

Gary wrote: "I would use the Chunkster tower, but most of my longer books, aka doorstoppers, are epic fantasy by the likes of Robert Jordan, Terry Goodkind and others."

I don't know that I have *any cozies that are over 450 pages long, but I have some mysteries that will work, so I've already given up on the Jessica Fletcher Award :)

As Barb, I've left the Jessica Fletcher Award and at most I'll go for Sherlock Holmes. This is because I've already finished my chunkster, that intimidates me too, as you never know how dark a Karen Rose's book is going to be. I've read Edge of Darkness, and I've liked it a lot (two days for reading it only), but yes, it's dark and not cozy at all.

Barb wrote: "I don't know that I have *any cozies that are over 450 pages long"

The Complete Father Brown, for example ;)

Thanks, Marisa, I'll keep that in mind. My library system doesn't have a copy (not surprising, given the age of the book), but I might be able to find it somewhere else. But this doesn't have "cozy" on the book's main GR page. Will that matter for this challenge?

Barb wrote: "Thanks, Marisa, I'll keep that in mind. My library system doesn't have a copy (not surprising, given the age of the book), but I might be able to find it somewhere else.

Barb, its routinely free for Kindle f you ever read that way.

Good to know, Rachel, thanks!

I'm giving this a try. I'm changing a couple of categories. And as much as I'd like to read all mysteries, I'm trying for Rockford, since he is my favorite:

12 books that you've acquired most recently
Fletch Won - Gregory McDonald (Read 7/13/2019)
Pop Goes the Weasel: The Secret Meanings Of Nursery Rhymes - Albert Jack
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Stories My Mother Never Told Me - Alfred Hitchcock
Pissing In The Snow and Other Ozark Folktales - Vance Randolph
Evil Under the Sun - Agatha Christie (Read 7/5/2019)
Ask the Cards a Question - Marcia Muller (Read 6/10/2019)
The Missing Man - Hillary Waugh
Death Before Bedtime - Edgar Box
Twilight of the Gods: A Journey to the End of Classic Rock - Steven Hyden (Read 4/11/2019)
In a Narrow Grave: Essays on Texas - Larry McMurtry
The Fallen - Ace Atkins (Read 8/11/198)
Chicago: A Novel of Prohibition - David Mamet (Read 8/2/18)



11 Edgar Award Winners
2018 Edgar Award - Bluebird, Bluebird - Attica Locke - Read 8/18/2018



10 books you randomly select from your shelves (such as by using random.org -- as you go, or pre-choose.) For a little extra bit of random fun, let someone else pick them for you off your shelves. If you've already read them, they can go on category 3, or have them choose again.
The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History - Robert M. Edsel
Ready Player One - Ernest Cline
A Wrinkle in Time - Madeleine L'Engle
Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy
The Grownup - Gillian Flynn
The Things They Carried - Tim O'Brien
Across Five Aprils - Irene Hunt
The Lord of the Rings - J.R.R. Tolkien
Dorothy Day: A Radical Devotion - Robert Coles
Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch - Terry Pratchett

9 sequels, series continuations, or spin-offs.
You Know Who Killed Me - Loren D. Estleman
Dead Man's Blues



8 novellas or short-stories - they can be part of anthologies, you don't have to read the whole book in this case.

7 authors new to me
Meddling Kids - Edgar Cantero
Universal Harvester - John Darnielle
The Devil's Feast - M.J. Carter
The Pigeon Pie Mystery - Julia Stuart




6 anticipated releases (release dates after your start date).
Guess Who - Chris McGeorge - (Read 2/11/2019)
Monster City: Murder, Music, and Mayhem in Nashville’s Dark Age - Michael Arntfield - (Read 4/11/2019)




5 histories or biographies (I need to read more non-fiction)
A Mighty Fortress: A New History of the German People - Steven E. Ozment
The Mexican Wars for Independence - Timothy J. Henderson
The Story of Psychology - Morton Hunt
Northmen: The Viking Saga, 793-1241 AD - John Haywood - Read 01/21/2019
Barbarians, Marauders, And Infidels: The Ways Of Medieval Warfare - Antonio Santosuosso


4 true crime recommended by my wife
Ladykiller - Donna Fielder
Devil's Knot: The True Story of the West Memphis Three - Mara Leveritt
Small Sacrifices: A True Story of Passion and Murder - Ann Rule
Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders - Vincent Bugliosi

3 book that you've already read before.

2 chunksters
The Abominable - Dan Simmons - read 10/16/2018



1 book that intimidates you.

Gary wrote: "I would use the Chunkster tower, but most of my longer books, aka doorstoppers, are epic fantasy by the likes of Robert Jordan, Terry Goodkind and others."

You can still use them, it just means you aren't reading all mysteries (or cozies). I'm mixing my list up including both, so I can get rid of stuff that fits other categories (like finishing up those books with bookmarks in them, meaning I wasn't enjoying them.)

Marisa wrote: "As Barb, I've left the Jessica Fletcher Award and at most I'll go for Sherlock Holmes. This is because I've already finished my chunkster, that intimidates me too, as you never know how dark a Kare..."

My "intimdates" me book is Shakespeare's Hamlet. I never had to read Shakespeare in school, meaning I have no help in attempting to read it. I've got the No Fear Shakespeare books (with modern translations along with original text to help), but it definitely qualified as an intimidating read! I read half last year, and now need to pick it up again. Darn books with bookmarks. lol