Historical Mystery Lovers discussion
2021 Go the Distance Challenge
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Robin 2021 FINI
#2 - A book set in multiple countries PopSugar: #29 - A book set in multiple countries
Silence and CircumstanceFinished: 1/3/2021
In December, 1926, Agatha Christie mysteriously disappeared. Was it kidnapping? Murder? A publicity stunt? Agatha's friends and fellow authors, such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Earnest Hemmingway, and Dorothy Sayers, join in the investigation to find the writer and her missing diary.
Rating: 3 stars
#3 - A book with a lamp on the coverPopSugar: #30 - A book set somewhere you'd like to visit in 2021
Axeman of New Orleans: The True StoryFinished 01/09/2021
Rating: 3 stars
#4 - A book that has won an awardPopSugar #21 - A genre hybrid
Maisie DobbsFinished: 01/11/2021
Barry Award Nominee for Best First Novel (2004), Macavity Award for Best First Mystery Novel (2004), Anthony Award Nominee for Best First Novel (2004), Dilys Award Nominee (2004), Agatha Award for Best First Novel (2003), Edgar Award Nominee for Best Novel (2004), ALA Alex Award (2004)
Rating 4 stars
#5 - A bestselling historical mystery
Murder on Astor PlaceFinished: 01/18/2021
First book in the bestselling Gaslight Mystery series.
Rating: 3 stars
#6 - A locked room mysteryPopSugar #13 - A locked-room mystery
The Mysterious Affair at StylesFinished: 01/20/2021
This was actually a re-read for me. Since it's been more than 40 years, it was like a new book. Agatha Christie is always a favorite.
Rating: 4 stars
#7 - A book that has been made into a movie or television showPopSugar #34 - A book about a social justice issue
In the Heat of the Night: The Original Virgil Tibbs NovelFinished: 01/22/2021
Great Book for a Great Movie...
“You’re pretty sure of yourself, aren’t you, Virgil,” Gillespie retorted. “Incidentally, Virgil is a pretty fancy name for a black boy like you. What do they call you around home where you come from?” “They call me Mr. Tibbs,” Virgil answered.
Rating: 4 stars
#8 - A book set in a city that has hosted the Olympic GamesPopSugar #48 - A book from your TBR list chosen at random
The Black DahliaFinished: 01/28/2021
Excellent crime noir set in Los Angeles. Based on an unsolved murder in 1947.
Rating: 4 stars
#9 - A book with an animal on the cover or in the titlePopSugar #47 - A book from your TBR list you associate with a favorite person, place, or thing
A Trust BetrayedFinished: 01/30/2021
First in a series. Set in Edinburgh Scotland, my favorite city in the world.
Rating: 3 stars
#10 - A book randomly selected from your historical mystery TBRPopSugar #32 - A book whose title starts with “Q,” “X,” or “Z”
The Quickening and the DeadFinished: 02/06/2021
I love this series! This is book #4.
Rating: 4 stars
#11- A book with an intriguing or inspiring first linePopSugar #36 - A book that has fewer than 1,000 reviews on Amazon or Goodreads
Neon MirageFinished: 02/09/2021
"I was riding shotgun, and that wasn’t just an expression: there was a goddamned sawed-off twelve-gauge in my lap, and I didn’t like it. At all."
Love Max Collins writing! #4 in the Nate Heller series.
Rating: 4 stars
#12 - A book related to one of the 7 deadly sins (Greed, Gluttony, Wrath, Lust, Sloth, Pride, Envy)
Frail BloodFinished 2/13/2021
Rating: 2 stars
#13 - A book with a female detectivePopSugar #50 - A free book from your TBR list (gifted, borrowed, library)
No Game For a DameFinished: 2/19/2021
“You’re gonna find out snooping ain’t no game for a dame.”
Free book on Amazon.com
Rating: 3 stars
#14 - A book by an author who also writes in a different genre
Dark ShadowFinished: 02/20/2021
John Bainbridge, a countryside access campaigner, has written three non-fiction books about walking in the British countryside
The 3rd book in the William Quest series. Couldn't put it down!
Rating: 4 stars
#15 - A book with a country setting on the cover
A Stranger Here BelowFinished: 02/27/2021
A new series set in 1830's Pennsylvania. Quite good, actually. Will continue with the series.
Rating: 4 stars
#16 - A book with a real historical figurePopSugar - #23 - A book with something broken on the cover
Smoke and MirrorsFinished: 03/02/2021
Historical figure: P.T. Barnum
Another first in a series, and it's a good one. Although I couldn't help seeing Hugh Jackman in my mind as I read it.
Rating: 4 stars
#17 - A book by an author of colorPopSugar #24 - A book by a Muslim American author
Mycroft HolmesFinished: 03/12/2021
Great book! 1st of 3.
Rating: 4 stars
18. A book set in the '20s of any century (except the 21st)
Death at the DanceFinished: 03/19/2021
Set in the 1920's. 2nd in the series. Not as good as the first one, but I like the characters and hope #3 is better.
Rating: 3 stars
19. A book with a disabled character
Death of a Chimney Sweep: Alfie's gang take to London's slumsFinished: 03/21/2021
Sammy, a main character, is blind.
4th book in the YA series by Cora Harrison. A quick read. Good, but I felt some things were left unresolved. Maybe will be addressed in the next book.
Rating: 3 stars.
#20 - A book with a plant in the title or on the coverPopSugar #10 - A bestseller from the 1990s
The Apothecary RoseFinished: 03/28/2021
First book in the Owen Archer series, set in Medieval York. I liked it and plan to continue with the series.
Rating: 4 stars
#21 - A cozy historical mystery
Resurrection RowFinished: 04/04/2021
4th book in the Thomas & Charlotte Pitt series. I always enjoy Anne Perry's books.
Rating: 3 stars
#22. - A book with gothic elementsPopSugar #38 - A book about art or an artist
American Gothic: The Story of America's Legendary Theatrical Family—Junius, Edwin, and John Wilkes BoothFinished: 04/11/2021
A very well-written, well-researched book about the tragic acting family.
Rating: 4 stars
I just started the 2nd book in this series.
#23 - A debut novelPopSugar #43 - The book on your TBR list with the prettiest cover
Murder at the Mena HouseFinished: 04/22/2021
A great debut novel! I really enjoyed this mystery set in Egypt. Looking forward to #2.
Rating: 4 stars
#24 - A book set in a religious setting (convent, abbey, vicarage, temple, shrine, etc.)PopSugar #46 - A book from your TBR list you meant to read last year but didn't.
A Morbid Taste for BonesFinished: 05/01/2021
Had this on my reading list for quite a while. Interesting writing style. Brother Cadfael is a great character. Hope to read more in the series.
Rating: 4 stars
#25. - A book with a solitary female figure on the cover
The Maid’s SecretFinished: 05/08/2021
Third book in the Penny Green series. I like the characters in this cozy series. I believe it should be read in order, as there are underlying plots that continue from book to book.
Rating: 3.5 stars
#26 - A book with alliteration in the titlePopSugar #15 - A book with a black-and-white cover
The Malvern Murders
Robin wrote: "#26 - A book with alliteration in the titlePopSugar #15 - A book with a black-and-white cover
The Malvern Murders"I just bought the first six books of that series for 99 cents.
Robin wrote: "#25. - A book with a solitary female figure on the coverThe Maid’s Secret."I found the series a little hit or miss as it went on. I think I got to around 5 or 6 and then gave it a break, may try to continue to see if it was me or the story. Must say though that I really can't get on with the author's Churchill and Pemberley series and thinking about it that started at about the same time as I lost interest in Penny Green.
#26 - A book with alliteration in the titlePopSugar #15 - A book with a black-and-white cover
The Malvern MurdersFinished: 5/11/2021
If this book was a jigsaw puzzle, it would be 1000 pieces! So many twists, turns, and red herrings!. I liked it. First book featuring Inspector Ravenscroft.
Rating: 3.5 stars
#27 - A book with the name of a real place in the title
Murder at Ebbets FieldFinished: 05/15/2021
I've reached the half way point!!!
Being a baseball fan, I really enjoy this series by Tony Soos. Lots of early stars make an appearance...this one featured Casey Stengel (as a player, not a coach), even Honus Wagner (playing at 40+). The Dodgers and Giants were still in New York, and the Braves were in Boston. I like the character of Mickey Rawlings, utility player and amateur sleuth, and I really enjoy the dialogue from the games. This is #2 in the series.
Rating: 4 stars
Robin wrote: "#27 - A book with the name of a real place in the titleMurder at Ebbets FieldFinished: 05/15/2021
I've reached the half way point!!!
Congrats, Robin! And wow! I'd wasn't aware of this series until I saw your above post. Love baseball and found out our library has the e-books at Hoopla :)
Robin wrote: "#26 - A book with alliteration in the titlePopSugar #15 - A book with a black-and-white cover
The Malvern MurdersFinished: 5/11/2021
If t..."
I bought the first six Ravenscroft stories for 99 cents.
#28 - A book by an author who uses a pseudonym
Edinburgh DuskFinished: 05/21/2021
Carole Lawrence aka Carole Bugge', C.E. Lawrence, Elizabeth Blake
Second book in the Inspector Ian Hamilton series.
Rating: 3.5 stars
#29 - A book with a title that includes a character's name
The Wrath of MosesFinished: 05/24/2021
Second book in the Levee District series featuring Detective Patrick Moses. Good old Chicago crime fiction. Many things going on keeps up the pace. Author needs a better proofreader though. Series should be read in order.
Rating: 3 stars. Would be higher if there weren't so many errors.
#30 - A book set during wartime
Murder at ManassasFinished: 05/30/2021
A Southern gambler hunts a killer in the thick of the first great battle of the Civil War.
First book in the Harrison Raines series. It was good, and I love the Civil War setting.
Rating: 4 stars
#31 - A book with a "Clue" weapon on the cover or in the title (rope, revolver, candlestick, lead pipe, dagger or knife, wrench)
The Perfect Crime: The Real Life Crime that Inspired Hitchcock’s RopeFinished: 05/30/2021
Short book. Not what I expected. More of a summary, but still informative. Editing/proofreading was sub-par.
Rating: 2.5 stars
#32 - The first book in a series you have not read beforePopSugar #44 - The book on your TBR list with the ugliest cover
The Reaper's Breath
#32 - The first book in a series you have not read beforePopSugar #44 - The book on your TBR list with the ugliest cover
The Reaper's BreathFinished: 06/05/2021
First in the "Ripper Legacies" series by Robert Southworth.
Good...Actually, Very Good! Fast paced, great story, well developed characters. Would have given it 4 stars, except for the typos. Who proofreads this stuff? I HATE typos; I find them very distracting, especially when the book is good. I have a morbid fascination for JTR stories, and this one did not disappoint.
Rating: 3+ stars
#33 - A book recommended in the challenge suggestions thread
A Witness to MurderFinished 06/08/2021
Suggested by Merle. Third book in the Lady Swift series. I enjoy the banter between Ellie and Clifford. A good mystery.
Rating: 3+ stars
#34 - A book set in a time period you are unfamiliar with
The Ruffler's ChildFinished: 06/13/2021
Set in the Elizabethan period. I have not read many books from this time period. This is the first book in the "Thomas the Falconer" series and was very good.
Rating: 4 stars
#35 - A book with a mode of transportation on the cover (carriage, horse, ship, train, automobile, etc.)PopSugar #6 - A book with a gem, mineral, or rock in the title
Iron TiesFinished: 6/27/2021 (on my way home from Las Vegas...lol)
Second book in the Silver Rush series. Set in Colorado in the 1880's. A good series if you enjoy westerns.
Rating: 3.5 stars
#36 - A book written by an author with your initials
Signal RedFinished: 07/18/2021
Author: Robert Ryan
Very good fictional account of The Great Train Robbery of 1963. Well researched; very well written. Great use of the British slang of the time. Story flows well and keeps you interested.
Rating: 4 stars
#37 - A book related to one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse (death, disease, famine, war)
Star of the SeaFinished: 08/03/2021
Subject: Famine
This was a very good book. Set on a the voyage of famine ship bound for New York. Several contributors to the story: an American journalist, the Captain's log, pieces of the investigation. The language is proper for the time, and I learned a lot of new words. Since the murder is actually at the end of the book, the author sets the stage with the background of the principal characters, the victim, and the unknown murderer. The ending was definitely a surprise.
Rating: 4+ stars
#38 - A book related to William Shakespeare
Sherlock Holmes and the Missing ShakespeareFinished: 08/07/2021
So-so. 1st in a series. A murder and a stolen manuscript lead Holmes and Watson to Stratford-upon-Avon.
Rating: 3 stars
#39 + A book with an "-ing" word in the titlePopSugar #3 - A book with a heart, diamond, club or spade on the cover
The Deadly Mystery of the Missing DiamondsFinished: August 20, 2021
First book in a spinoff of the Lady Hardcastle series, featuring the Dizzy Heights jazz band. I have not read any of the Lady Hardcastle series, but there was enough background that I didn't need to. Loved the banter between Skins and Dunn, the two main characters. A fun, cozy mystery set in 1920's London.
Rating: 3.5 stars
Robin wrote: "40. A book with a Muslim character
The Case of the Purloined PyramidFinished: August 27, 2021
I came across this gem while s..."
Thanks for the recommendation! Got my copy. :)
41. A book connected to a specific season
Winter at Death's HotelFinished: 09/05/2021
Have had this ebook for a long time; should have read it sooner. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and his wife, Louisa, travel to New York for a lecture tour. Sir Arthur heads out on the tour. Louisa stays in New York (I won't tell you why (spoiler) and becomes involved in the hunt for a serial killer. Very well written and a great story line. This book also fits the prompt for famous characters; besides Doyle and Louisa, there are appearances by Teddy Roosevelt, "Buffalo Bill" Cody, and others. Well worth the read.
Rating: 4 stars
40. A book with a Muslim character
The Case of the Purloined PyramidFinished: August 27, 2021
I came across this gem while searching for a book for this prompt. Set in Cairo in 1919, I figured it had to have a Muslim character. And I was right. This book was excellent! It is the first in a series, and I am anxious to read the next one. I loved the characters; they are a good fit. The story reminded me of Indiana Jones and Raiders of the Lost Ark. If you need a book for the prompt, I highly recommend it, and it is only $0.99 on Amazon!
Rating: 4 1/2 stars
(This is a re-post. Somehow i managed to delete the original.)
Historical Mystery Lovers
Books mentioned in this topic
The Case of the Murderous Dr. Cream: The Hunt for a Victorian Era Serial Killer (other topics)Empire of Deception: The Incredible Story of a Master Swindler Who Seduced a City and Captivated the Nation (other topics)
The Case of the Murderous Dr. Cream: The Hunt for a Victorian Era Serial Killer (other topics)
The Case of the Murderous Dr. Cream: The Hunt for a Victorian Era Serial Killer (other topics)
At Midnight In Venice (other topics)
More...
2. A book set in multiple countries
3. A book with a lamp on the cover
4. A book that has won an award
5. A bestselling historical mystery
6. A locked room mystery
7. A book that has been made into a movie or television show
8. A book set in a city that has hosted the Olympic Games
9. A book with an animal on the cover or in the title
10. A book randomly selected from your historical mystery TBR
11. A book with an intriguing or inspiring first line
12. A book related to one of the 7 deadly sins (Greed, Gluttony, Wrath, Lust, Sloth, Pride, Envy)
13. A book with a female detective
14. A book by an author who also writes in a different genre
15. A book with a country setting on the cover
16. A book with a real historical figure
17. A book by an author of color
18. A book set in the '20s of any century (except the 21st)
19. A book with a disabled character
20. A book with a plant in the title or on the cover
21. A cozy historical mystery
22. A book with gothic elements
23. A debut novel
24. A book set in a religious setting (convent, abbey, vicarage, temple, shrine, etc.)
25. A book with a solitary female figure on the cover.
26. A book with alliteration in the title
27. A book with the name of a real place in the title
28. A book by an author who uses a pseudonym
29. A book with a title that includes a character's name
30. A book set during wartime
31. A book with a "Clue" weapon on the cover or in the title (rope, revolver, candlestick, lead pipe, dagger or knife, wrench)
32. The first book in a series you have not read before
33. A book recommended in the challenge suggestions thread
34. A book set in a time period you are unfamiliar with
35. A book with a mode of transportation on the cover (carriage, horse, ship, train, automobile, etc.)
36. A book written by an author with your initials
37. A book related to one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse (death, disease, famine, war)
38. A book related to William Shakespeare
39. A book with an "-ing" word in the title
40. A book with a Muslim character
41. A book connected to a specific season
42. A book with a question word in the title (who, what, where, why, when, how)
43. A book that includes a major world event (not a war)
44. A book with food or drink on the cover
45. A book by one of your favorite authors
46. A book with a royal character
47. A book from another group member's bookshelf.
48. A book set in the Southern Hemisphere
49. A book linked to one of the four elements (earth, air, wind, fire)
50. A book with a body part in the title
51. A book set in Medieval times
52. A book with water on the cover
FINISHED 11/26/2021! 😁🎆🥂