Historical Mystery Lovers discussion
2021 Go the Distance Challenge
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Cheryl's Go the Distance
Book #1Prompt 34
The Ionia Sanction by Gary Corby
Completed 1/2/21
Not much out there about Ancient Greece, especially in the mystery department, and not a favorite time period for me. Reminds me a bit of the Falco series, but with a younger man. Lots of snark. Trigger warning galore - those Greeks were a wild bunch.
Book #2Prompt 19
Murder for Christ's Mass by Maureen Ash
Completed 1/5/21
This medieval series features both the main protagonist, a Templar Knight who was captured and tortured in the Outremer, resulting in the loss of an eye, and a street urchin that he rescues on his return journey to England, who is mute. This book, in particular, touches on the development of a book of signs and their meaning that Gianni uses to communicate with others.
Book #3Prompt 8
Pandora's Boy by Lindsey Davis
Completed 1/15/21
I came to the Falco series late and as a result, my library system is missing large chunks of the middle books. Being slightly OCD (as is every mystery reader) and having to read in order, I skipped over the very enjoyable Falco books and went on to the daughter - which are quite enjoyable as well, if a bit "modern".
The series is set in Rome, host city of the 1960 Summer Olympics.
Book #4Prompt 32
A Simple Murder by Eleanor Kuhns
Completed 1/27/21
This series has been on my radar for a while. It certainly ticks a lot of boxes for this challenge and it was nice to have a different time period (late 18th Century) as well as a male protagonist in a cozy mystery.
Cheryl A wrote: "Book #4Prompt 32
A Simple Murder by Eleanor Kuhns
Completed 1/27/21
This series has been on my radar for a while. It certainly ticks a lot of boxes for this chal..."
Hi Cheryl, I found the first two books in his series very promising too. I wasn't sure about later developments in the characters; I enjoy the main character, Will Rees, though.
Book #5Prompt 14
A Mystery of Errors by Simon Hawke
Completed 1/31/21
This is another selection that fits more than one prompt - I elected to go with the author who writes in a different genre as the author primarily writes Fantasy & Sci-Fi. This series starter was a quick and fun read - unfortunately, my library doesn't have the other 3 titles in the series.
Book #6Prompt 37
A Plague on Both Your Houses by Susanna Gregory
Completed 2/14/21
Collegiate politics amid the Black Death. Interesting characters and history of Cambridge.
Book #7Prompt 28
The Water Thief by Ben Pastor
Completed 2/18/21
On a bit of a Roman kick due to another Group's challenge and read this one to fulfill a 4th Century requirement. Luckily, it served double duty as the author - Maria Verbena Volpi - uses the pen name of Ben Pastor. Pretty solid mystery, with more Roman history than might have been necessary for the plot, although the MC is a historian, which might explain that!
Book #8Prompt 24
The Subtle Serpent by Peter Tremayne
Completed 2/20/21
Sister Fidelma is sent to a remote abbey to solve the mysterious death of a headless corpse found in a well. And I thought I had water problems!
Cheryl A wrote: "Book #8Prompt 24
The Subtle Serpent by Peter Tremayne
Completed 2/2021
Sister Fidelma is sent to a remote abbey to solve the mysterious death of a headless corpse fo..."
I hope your water problems are quickly resolved. Good luck.
Sandy wrote: "Cheryl A wrote: "Book #8Prompt 24
The Subtle Serpent by Peter Tremayne
Completed 2/2021
Sister Fidelma is sent to a remote abbey to solve the mysterious death of a h..."
Thanks, Sandy! Got it back on Sunday, but we're still under a boil water notice. Each section of the city is slowly making progress - shouldn't be long now!
Book #9Prompt 46
Dark Queen Rising by Paul Doherty
Completed 2/23/21
This was pretty disappointing. More like a history lesson, with a little mystery thrown in. I needed a 15th Century setting for another challenge, so I persevered for that reason. Even at just a little over 200 pages, this was a slogfest. On the other hand, I now know more than I ever did about the Yorks & Lancasters.
Book #10Prompt 27
Murder on Union Square by Victoria Thompson
Completed 2/26/21
Really enjoy this light historical cozy mystery series, especially after all the violence and gore in some of my previous reads.
Cheryl A wrote: "Book #10Prompt 27
Murder on Union Square by Victoria Thompson
Really enjoy this light historical cozy mystery series, especially after all the violence and gore in ..."
Cheryl; Agree this is such an enjoyable series and will work for numerous prompts.
I also read that series avidly for many, many books.
I left this series at about the halfway point, but you’ve reminded me I should return to it!
Mod
Me too! I'm on book #19 but I just ran out of steam with it. Hope to get back to it soon.
Book #11Prompt 39
Death in a Darkening Mist by Iona Whishaw
Completed 3/9/21
I really enjoyed the first book in the series and then forgot about it. Luckily, there are now 4 or 5 more in the series to enjoy. Ex-WWII intelligence officer settling down for a (not-so) quiet post war life in rural British Columbia.
Book #12Prompt 29
Poppy Redfern and the Fatal Flyers by Tessa Arlen
Completed 3/19/21
Second in the Poppy Redfern WWII homefront series. Nice addition to the genre. Cozy, but plausible...and with a believable protagonist.
Book #13Prompt 2
Paving the New Road by Sulari Gentill
Completed 3/22/21
Another enjoyable series. Often silly and implausible, but with unexpected depth and insight into 1930's Australian politics. Same for the quartet of MC's - on the surface, a bunch of free spirited artists, but much more complex. In this installment, Rowly and Company travel from Sydney to Berlin via Singapore to throw a wrench in the plans of Eric Campbell and the fascist New Guard.
Cheryl A wrote: "Book #12Prompt 29
Poppy Redfern and the Fatal Flyers by Tessa Arlen
Completed 3/19/21
Second in the Poppy Redfern WWII homefront series. Nice addition to the genr..."
Cheryl; I enjoyed #1 and just got Fatal Flyers from the library. Lots of potential for this new series!
Book #14Prompt 18
Murder on Location by Cathy Pegau
Completed 3/26/21
Set in 1920 in Cordova, Alaska, this 3rd entry in the series finds the journalist Charlotte Brody investigating a murder on a movie location. Nice character development, but it looks like it's the last one (published 2017).
Book #15Prompt 36
Murder on the Lusitania by Conrad Allen
Completed 3/28/21
Meh.
On the plus side, the author had my initials. Also, written under a pseudonym. And I got a few miles out of it for a Million Mile challenge :)
Book #16Prompt 23
Medicus by Ruth Downie
Completed 4/4/21
Nice series starter. A little "modern" for a novel set in 2nd century Britain, but well done with interesting characters.
Cheryl A wrote: "Book #16Prompt 23
Medicus by Ruth Downie
Completed 4/4/21
Nice series starter. A little "modern" for a novel set in 2nd century Britain, but well done with interesting c..."
I love this series. However, yeah, along with Davis' series featuring Falco, can seem like modern characters and situations "transported" back to Roman times.
John wrote: "Cheryl A wrote: "Book #16Prompt 23
Medicus by Ruth Downie
Completed 4/4/21
Nice series starter. A little "modern" for a novel set in 2nd century Britain, but well done w..."
So true, John! I start the Marcus Falco series, but ran into trouble reading them in order (lack of availability at the library) and have read the Albia Falco series as well. All things aside, it's probably the modern sensibilities that make them so enjoyable. Looking forward to reading more of the Downie series and trying to get back to the original Falco series - I can probably get them digitally now that it's an option.
Book #17Prompt 12
Singapore Sapphire by A.M. Stuart
Completed 4/13/21
I had originally picked this for the alliteration prompt (prompt 26), but it fit so nicely with this prompt as greed was at the heart of the plot. It's the first in the series and is a promising start, with the main protagonist and supporting characters being nicely developed and a very interesting setting.
Book #18Prompt 25
The Queen's Accomplice by Susan Elia MacNeal
Completed 4/25/21
Really enjoyed the earlier books in the series, but had fallen behind in keeping up with Maggie's escapades. Nice to have a nudge in getting back into this WWII genre bending series (espionage/mystery).
Book #19Prompt 6
Fortune Favors the Dead by Stephen Spotswood
Completed 5/2/21
Real great series starter featuring women PI in post WWII NYC. Femme noir light. Listened to it on audio - great narrator. One of the main characters is LGBT+, which was handled really well and is something you don't find often in a semi-cozy mystery.
Book #20Prompt 17
A Death in Harlem by Karla F.C. Holloway
Completed 5/8/21
Academic author's first foray into fiction. A bit on the literary side, with lots of changes in POV. Insights into historical Harlem were the highlight for me.
Cheryl A wrote: "Book #20Prompt 17
A Death in Harlem by Karla F.C. Holloway"
Have to say I've looked through the books you've chosen and the only ones I've read are the gaslight mysteries. You've just given me a whole new set of books and authors to investigate... thank you!
Always glad to add to someone's TBR list :). I see so many interesting titles come thru while working at the library - I want to try them all. Stand alone titles work great, since I have a really hard time getting over my compulsion to read series in order.
Book #21Prompt 35
Murder Underground by Mavis Doriel Hay
Completed 5/11/21
Part of the British Crime Classics reprint series. This one was a bit of a miss for me - lots of characters, but a little short on depth. Nice representation of the time period (a contemporary novel of the early 1930's).
Book #22Prompt 38
Murder In Stratford: As Told By Anne Hathaway Shakespeare by Audrey Peterson
Completed 5/27/21
Don't judge this by the uninspiring cover. Nicely done little mystery, with lots of domestic "details" of the lives and marriage of Will & Anne.
Book #23Prompt 49
The Western Wind by Samantha Harvey
Completed 6/3/21
IRL HF Book Club selection - great unreliable narrator and very interesting format (told backwards!).
Book #24Prompt 47
The Right Sort of Man by Allison Montclair
Completed 6/6/21
A pleasant surprise - I was expecting something a little on the insipid side, sort of a chick lit historical mystery. This one had a little more "meat" to it - both MC were well developed and had interesting back stories. Definitely will read the next in the series - hope the author keeps it up!
Book #25Prompt 31
by Kerri ManiscalcoCompleted 6/28/21
Not a fan of James Patterson, but since this was just his imprint and I'm always looking to expand my YA base for work purposes, I thought I'd give it a shot. It's also a debut novel and this shows at times. Otherwise, nicely done for the intended audience.
Book #26Prompt 20
The Darling Dahlias and the Eleven O'Clock Lady by Susan Wittig Albert
Completed 7/6/21
Southern Style historical cozy featuring small town garden club. Nice readers' palate cleanser.
Book #27Prompt 16
A Tale of Two Murders by Heather Redmond
Completed 7/13/21
A young Charles Dickens as the protagonist. Nice series starter.
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2. A book set in multiple countriesBook #13 3/22/213. A book with a lamp on the coverBook #46, 12/12/214. A book that has won an awardBook #43, 11/26/215. A bestselling historical mysteryBook #39, 9/24/216. A locked room mysteryBook #19, 5/2/217. A book that has been made into a movie or television showBook #45, 12/6/218. A book set in a city that has hosted the Olympic GamesBook #3, 1/15/219. A book with an animal on the cover or in the titleBook #36, 8/31/2110. A book randomly selected from your historical mystery TBRBook #47, 12/15/2111. A book with an intriguing or inspiring first lineBook #38, 9/10/2112. A book related to one of the 7 deadly sins (Greed, Gluttony, Wrath, Lust, Sloth, Pride, Envy)Book #17, 4/13/2113. A book with a female detectiveBook #48, 12/17/2114. A book by an author who also writes in a different genreBook #5, 1/31/2115. A book with a rural/countryside setting on the coverBook #44, 12/5/2116. A book with a real historical figureBook #27, 7/13/2117. A book by an author of colorBook #20, 5/8/2118. A book set in the '20s of any century (except the 21st)Book #14, 3/26/2119. A book with a disabled characterBook #2, 1/5/2120. A book with a plant in the title or on the coverBook #26 7/6/2121. A cozy historical mysteryBook #37, 9/7/2122. A book with gothic elementsBook #29, 7/18/2123. A debut novelBook #16, 4/4/2124. A book set in a religious setting (convent, abbey, vicarage, temple, shrine, etc.)Book #8, 2/20/2125. A book with a solitary female figure on the coverBook 18, 4/25/2126. A book with alliteration in the titleBook #32, 8/4/2127. A book with the name of a real place in the titleBook #10, 2/27/2128. A book by an author who uses a pseudonymBook #7, 2/18/2129. A book with a title that includes a character's nameBook #12, 3/19/2130. A book set during wartimeBook #42, 11/23/2131. A book with a "Clue" weapon on the cover or in the title (rope, revolver, candlestick, lead pipe, dagger or knife, wrench)Book #25 - 6/28/2132. The first book in a series you have not read beforeBook #4, 1/27/2133. A book recommended in the challenge suggestions threadBook #31, 7/31/2134. A book set in a time period you are unfamiliar withBook #1, 1/2/2135. A book with a mode of transportation on the cover (carriage, horse, ship, train, automobile, etc.)Book #21, 5/11/2136. A book written by an author with your initialsBook #15, 3/28/2137. A book related to one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse (death, disease, famine, war)Book #6, 2/14/2138. A book related to William ShakespeareBook #22, 5/27/2139. A book with an "-ing" word in the titleBook #11, 3/9/2140. A book with a Muslim character
41. A book connected to a specific seasonBook #28, 7/16/2142. A book with a question word in the title (who, what, where, why, when, how)Book #33, 8/15/2143. A book that includes a major world event (not a war)Book #30, 7/20/2144. A book with food or drink on the coverBook #36, 8/24/2145. A book by one of your favorite authorsBook #40, 11/9/2146. A book with a royal characterBook #9, 2/23/2147. A book from another group member's bookshelf.Book #24 6/6/21 - Aubree48. A book set in the Southern Hemisphere
49. A book linked to one of the four elements (earth, air, wind, fire)Book 23, 6/3/2150. A book with a body part in the titleBook #35, 8/20/2151. A book set in Medieval times
52. A book with water on the coverBook #41, 11/14/21