Historical Mystery Lovers discussion

Dawn's books for the 2021 Go The Distance Challenge

Go the Distance
Duration: January 1, 2021 - December 31, 2021

Based on the Popsugar 52 Week reading challenge, participants will read historical mystery books that meet the prompt allocated for each of the 52 weeks in the year.

GENERAL RULES:
1) Participants may join at any time during the challenge.
2) Definition of historical mystery for this challenge: Any book whose central plot involves a crime of any type (murder, robbery, etc.) and takes place at any point that is at least 50 years in the past. This includes works set in a time period that is historical from the author’s perspective (for example, The Cadfael Chronicles by Ellis Peters) as well as books written in the past from our perspective and set during the author’s lifetime (for example, Hercule Poirot by Agatha Christie).
3) Re-reads and audiobooks are acceptable
4) All books begun on January 1st count toward the challenge
5) Create a personal thread in the challenge folder to keep track of your prompts and books. Please make a new post for every task that contains:

A. The prompt of the week.
B. The book to be read.
C. Once you have finished the book, create a new post with all the details above AND the date read. You can also add a few comments about the book if you want (this is not compulsory).

6) The goal is to read at least one book for each prompt.
7) You can read more than one book per prompt
8) You can complete the prompts in any order
9) Each week has its dedicated prompt, but you can move ahead if you wish to the next week's prompt. Keep in mind that if you do this, you will complete the challenge more quickly.

The Prompts Summary

1. Published in 2021
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 rural/countryside 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

2021 Go The Distance Books Read Summary

1. Published in 2021
2. A book set in multiple countries- "Death of the Messenger" by M J Westerbone completed 03/12/2021
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 - "Murder on Black Swan Lane" by Andrea Penrose completed 09/13/2021
9. A book with an animal on the cover or in the title - "St. Mungo's Robin" by Pat McIntosh completed 06/29/2021
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 - "An Invitation to Murder" by Leighann Dobbs completed 05/21/2021
14. A book by an author who also writes in a different genre
15. A book with a rural/countryside 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.) - "Covenant with Hell" by Priscilla Royal completed 11/19/2021
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 - "Death Comes to the Village" by Catherine Lloyd completed 04/18/2021
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 - "That Time May Cease" by Ann Swinfen completed 01/16/2021
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 - "Princess of Egypt" by Nathaniel Burns completed 08/04/2021
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 - "The Merchant's Mark" by Pat McIntosh completed 02/19/2021
52. A book with water on the cover

Book 1:

A. 38. A book related to William Shakespeare
B. That Time May Cease by Ann Swinfen
C. Completed 01/16/2021
D. How it relates to the prompt: Will Shakespeare is a friend of the main character and appears several times in the book.
E. I enjoyed this book and there was a lot that hit close to home. The plague caused the the playhouses to close. Also, there was unrest due to people vilifying foreigners who came to London because they were believed to be taking away jobs from the Londoners.

Book 2:

A. 51. A book set in Medieval times
B. The Merchant's Mark by Pat McIntosh
C. Completed 02/19/21
D. How it relates to the prompt: This book is set in 1492 within the Medieval period.
E. I enjoyed this book and the whole series so far. I did not guess the mystery but did guess the character development.

Book 3:

A. 2. A book set in multiple countries
B. Death of the Messenger by M J Westerbone
C. Completed 03/12/21
D. How it relates to the prompt: This book is set in England and France.
E. I did not enjoy this book. I don't mind books that have violence when there is a point, but this felt like a book that just wanted to show violence without a purpose.

Book 4:

A. 32. The first book in a series you have not read before
B. Death Comes to the Village by Catherine Lloyd
C. Completed 04/18/2021
D. How it relates to the prompt: This book is first in the series.
E. I really enjoyed this book and the main female character. While I had ideas about the crimes, I did not put all the pieces together. I will definitely read more in this series.

Book 5:
A. 13. A book with a female detective
B. An Invitation to Murder by LeighAnn Dobbs
C. Completed 05/21/2021
D. How it relates to the prompt: This book's main character is a wanna-be detective who investigates crimes while posing as a matchmaker.
E. I enjoyed this book. It is definitely a cozy but gives some long-range open questions that make you want to go on with the series.

Book 6:

A. 9. A book with an animal on the cover or in the title
B. St. Mungo's Robin by Pat McIntosh
C. Completed 06/29/2021
D. How it relates to the prompt: The title refers to a robin.
E. This is a very good series which leans toward authenticity in the writing. I sometimes struggle to understand what the characters saying, but I enjoy the books.

Book 7:

A. 46. A book with a royal character
B. Princess of Egypt by Nathaniel Burns
C. Completed 08/04/2021
D. How it relates to the prompt: One of the main characters is the Pharaoh Ramsses.
E. There was a whole lot of mysteries going on in this book. Although I suspected one of the bad guys, I didn't get why or the others who had killed.

Book 8:

A. 8. A book set in a city that has hosted the Olympic Games
B. Murder on Black Swan Lane by Andrea Penrose
C. Completed 09/13/2021
D. How it relates to the prompt: This book is set in London.
E. This was my first book by this author and I liked the story. I think this could be a fun series to add to my list.

Dawn wrote: "Book 8:

A. 8. A book set in a city that has hosted the Olympic Games
B. Murder on Black Swan Lane by Andrea Penrose
C. Completed 09/13/2021
D. How it..."

One of my favorite series!

Book 9:
A. 24. A book set in a religious setting
B. Covenant with Hell by Priscilla Royal
C. Completed 11/19/2021
D. How it relates to the prompt: This book is set in Ryehill Priory in Walsingham, England.
E. I love this series. Medieval history is my favorite period and this story did not disappoint.