The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

30.8 - Lauren Jodi's task: 80s Dynamic Duos

Growing up in the 80s, there was an abundance of action-oriented TV shows. Some of my favorites included two partners solving crimes together.

This is a TWO book task. Choose ONE book from TWO different options below.
REQUIRED: State the options you chose when posting.

Option 1: SIMON & SIMON
Staring Gerald McRaney and Jameson Parker, this show focused on two brothers with very different personalities running a private detective agency.

Read a book with exactly two men on the cover; no other human forms may be present. Faces must be clearly observable and identifiable as adult/teen male. No children, cartoons or silhouettes.



REQUIRED: Include the cover when posting.

Option 2: REMINGTON STEELE
Female private detective, Laura Holt, portrayed by Stephanie Zimbalist, invents a male figurehead for her business. All goes well until a man claiming to be Remington Steele, played by Pierce Brosnan, appears out of the blue and insists on taking an active role in Holt’s investigations.

Read a book with an imposter – the character must be impersonating someone else OR have assumed a fictitious identity. Occupation-related impersonators, including spies, undercover agents, and actors, do NOT work.
Required: Explain how the book fits the task
The Princeton Impostor "Greg Pierre, actually is assuming-a false name,"
Catch Me If You Can: The True Story of a Real Fake "Frank W Abagnale, alias Frank Williams, Robert Conrad, Frank Adams and Ringo Monjo, was one of the most daring con men, forgers, imposters and escape artists in history."
Stranger in My Arms From a page 1 review (view spoiler)[Then she was told that her husband really did die and New Hunter is an impostor. (hide spoiler)]

Option 3: CAGNEY & LACEY
In this show, two New York City police detectives, single mother, Christine Cagney (Sharon Gless), and working wife and mother, Mary Beth Lacey (Tyne Daly) work out of the 14th Precinct.

Read a book with a female protagonist who is a police officer in a city or town.

No federal agents of any kind (FBI, DEA, ATF, NCIS, US Marshals, Tribal Police)
No country sheriffs, state police (Texas rangers), military police
No arson investigators, CSIs, medical investigators like coroners, DA or prosecutor investigators or special legal investigators.
Ex. Naked in Death
The Apprentice
Silent Scream

Option 4: KNIGHTRIDER
David Hasselhoff starred as Michael Knight, a former police detective working for the Foundation for Law and Government alongside his partner, KITT, an artificially intelligent and self-aware car that is nearly indestructible.

Read any book that meets the SRC rules from one of the following Listopias:
Robots with Feelings
AI/Androids/Robot Main Characters
REQUIRED: State the list and page number on which your book is found.

Option 5: SPENSER FOR HIRE
Based on a series of books by Robert B. Parker, Spenser (Robert Urich), a former police officer, and his partner, Hawk (Avery Brooks), a former enforcer, work together to solve crimes.

Read a book with a character who has changed their occupation or profession.
Required: Explain how the book fits the task.
For example, a former police officer turned private investigator or a former military officer turned security expert. Of course, any of the Spenser books would also work for this task.

The Godwulf Manuscript from the series description "Spenser, an ex-boxer, ex-state cop turned private eye, in Boston, Massachusetts"
Lost Light from the description "now retired from the L.A.P.D."
Hard Target from the description" A former Green Beret"

Works:

Option 1


Option 2
Six Degrees of Separation

Option 3
The Bone Collector
The Sinner
Still Life
The Likeness
Night Rounds
A Cold White Sun

Option 5
Every Broken Trust
Any book in the Cupcake Bakery Mystery series.

Doesn't Work

Option 1
- cartoon and/or women on the cover.
- Figures are too far away to see any part of their faces.

Option 3
Every Broken Trust

Option 2
Magic for Nothing

Option 5
A Death in Vienna

This help thread is open.

I was a big Cagney & Lacey fan!

For option 5, does the character have to change professions in the book or can it be part of his/her background?

Brooke wrote: "I was a big Cagney & Lacey fan!

For option 5, does the character have to change professions in the book or can it be part of his/her background?"

It can be part of their background. The change of profession does not need to occur in the book.

The Bone Collector

Lincoln Rhyme was a forensic scientist that is no longer able to work due to a severe injury. In this series, he is basically bed bound but solves crimes as a consultant to the police department and assistance of a police detective. Would this work for option 5?

Bea wrote: "The Bone Collector

Lincoln Rhyme was a forensic scientist that is no longer able to work due to a severe injury. In this series, he is basically bed bound but solves crimes as a consul..."

Sorry Bea.
Unfortunately, this is not a change of occupation. Rhyme is still doing the same tasks just from his bed.

However, Amelia Sachs is also a main character and a police officer. So, the book works for option 3.

Lauren wrote: "Brooke wrote: "I was a big Cagney & Lacey fan!

For option 5, does the character have to change professions in the book or can it be part of his/her background?"

It can be part of their backgroun..."


Thank you for clarifying, Lauren!

Brooke wrote: "Thank you for clarifying, Lauren!."

Sure thing!
Have fun looking for books 😀

Lauren wrote: "Sorry Bea.
Unfortunately, this is not a change of occupation. Rhyme is still doing the same tasks just from his bed.

However, Amelia Sachs is also a main character and a police officer. So, the book works for option 3."

Lauren, I already have planned a book for option 3 (The Sinner); but I have a Spenser book on my TBR, which I will use for option 5.

A Death in Vienna

Does this one work for you? Gabriel was a spy, then he became an art restorer. He does go back briefly, but he's back to the restoration at the end of the book.

For Option 2, does a trading places scenario work?
For example The Prince and the Pauper

for option 2 men on cover can it have women on as well

I would say those are cartoons but Lauren Jodi will have to decide. However, I have a similar question, can there be women and/or children as long as there are exactly 2 men? I can't find the exact cover I had in mind but still curious.

Bea wrote: "Lauren, I already have planned a book for option 3 (The Sinner); but I have a Spenser book on my TBR, which I will use for option 5"


No worries.
I love Rizzoli and Isles. Enjoy!

Insiyah wrote: "A Death in Vienna

Does this one work for you? Gabriel was a spy, then he became an art restorer. He does go back briefly, but he's back to the restoration at the end of the book."

I'm sorry but no.
He is not a former art restorer or a former spy. From the description, Allon is an "art restorer and part time spy". This is a dual profession and not a change in profession.

Heather(Gibby) wrote: "For Option 2, does a trading places scenario work?
For example The Prince and the Pauper"

Yes. This works. Tom is an imposter and pretends to be Edward.

Marie (UK) wrote: "for option 2 men on cover can it have women on as well

"

Unfortunately no.
The task description is exactly two men on the cover. This rules out women.

Moreover, the figures on this cover are cartoons. This is not allowed as per the task description.

Robin P wrote: "I would say those are cartoons but Lauren Jodi will have to decide. However, I have a similar question, can there be women and/or children as long as there are exactly 2 men? I can't find the exact..."

Thanks Robin.
Yes, they are cartoons so they don't work.

Simon and Simon are brothers, so only two men on the cover with no women or children.

You should probably update the task description for exactly two men and no others to make this clearer. The current wording doesn't rule out a woman also being on the cover, as long as there are exactly two men with her. Plus, your first example has three men, and the last you can only see one of the two faces. It's a little bit confusing.

Thanks Aprilleigh.
I will ask the moderator to update it.

One more question about changing professions...
I'm reading a series about a woman who was a police detective but quit the force and decided to become a Private Investigator. Would you consider this a change? Some of the skills are, of course, the same, but in the book it is brought up numerous times how different the 2 jobs are.

Brooke wrote: "One more question about changing professions...
I'm reading a series about a woman who was a police detective but quit the force and decided to become a Private Investigator. Would you consider thi..."

Yes, this is a change in profession.

Lauren wrote: "Brooke wrote: "One more question about changing professions...
I'm reading a series about a woman who was a police detective but quit the force and decided to become a Private Investigator. Would y..."

Perfect. Thanks for the input! :-)

Would this one work

Joanne wrote: "Would this one work

"

For option 1?
Yes.

Would Who Is Maud Dixon? work for Option 2? It sounds like a case where the assistant takes on her boss's identity, or at least her pseudonym.

Thanks!

Kristen wrote: "Would Who Is Maud Dixon? work for Option 2? It sounds like a case where the assistant takes on her boss's identity, or at least her pseudonym.

Thanks!"

It is not clear from the description or any of the reviews that she actually assumes Maud Dixon's / Helen's identity. It just states that she considers doing it

If you read the book, and she does then please state this when you post.

For option 3 Female police inspector working cold cases ??

Thanks in advance

Still Life by Val McDermid

Cindy wrote: "For option 3 Female police inspector working cold cases ??

Thanks in advance

Still Life by Val McDermid"

Yes, this works.
Looks like a good series.

Wanted to check and see if In the Woods would work for Option 3?

And if The Likeness would work for Option 2?

Meagan wrote: "Wanted to check and see if In the Woods would work for Option 3?

And if The Likeness would work for Option 2?"

Yes, it works. Cassie Maddox is a police detective.

For Option 3, I didn't understand if "In Death" and the other books are allowed or not?

Pia wrote: "For Option 3, I didn't understand if "In Death" and the other books are allowed or not?"

Yes. They are allowed.
In Death - Eve Dallas is a NY police detective
The Apprentice - Jane Rizzoli is a Boston police detective
Silent Scream - DI Kim Stone is a police detective in a city in the UK.

Got it.
Thanks!

Lauren wrote: "Pia wrote: "For Option 3, I didn't understand if "In Death" and the other books are allowed or not?"

Yes. They are allowed.
In Death - Eve Dallas is a NY police detective
The Apprentice - Jane Ri..."

Will this work for option 3? Night Rounds

Thank you.

Kim wrote: "Will this work for option 3? Night Rounds

Thank you."

Yes, this works.

I'm not sure I would read this chunkster but I do own it and I am curious if it would work. There are 2 male bodies, and maybe it's unclear that one is supposed to be divine?



The Agony and the Ecstasy

Robin P wrote: "I'm not sure I would read this chunkster but I do own it and I am curious if it would work. There are 2 male bodies, and maybe it's unclear that one is supposed to be divine?

[bookcover:The Agony ..."

Yes. Those are two males, so it works.

Does work for Option 1?

And does Six Degrees of Separation work for Option 2? (I would be reading a different edition, but the description on this audio edition references Paul as a con man who says he is the son of actor Sidney Poitier. Most of the other editions just say it is a classic play.)

Julia wrote: "Does work for Option 1?
"

Yes to both.

Just wanted to confirm that A Cold White Sun is okay for Option 3.

The series is named for Constable Molly Smith, who works in the police force in Trafalgar, British Columbia: https://www.goodreads.com/series/6618...

There is a male detective in the series, but Molly is the focus character

Trish wrote: "Just wanted to confirm that A Cold White Sun is okay for Option 3.

The series is named for Constable Molly Smith, who works in the police force in Trafalgar, British Columbia: htt..."

Yes, this works.

Thanks, Lauren.

Question about option 2: if someone assumes a false identity for the purpose of spying, but is not paid as a spy does that work?

E.G. In Magic for Nothing, the main character infiltrates a secret organization to spy on them for her family, but she's not a professional spy.

Brooke wrote: "Question about option 2: if someone assumes a false identity for the purpose of spying, but is not paid as a spy does that work?

E.G. In Magic for Nothing, the main character infil..."

Sorry but no. Spies of any type do not work for this option.

Looking at this for option 1 - will it work?

Will this work for Option 1

Bucket wrote: "Looking at this for option 1 - will it work?

"

Sorry, this doesn't work. You can only see the backs of their heads at a distance. No part of the face is visible.