Hooked on Books discussion
Escape Room Challenge
>
Escape Room: Silver Screen Sleuths - Nine Clues Down (9)
message 2:
by
Michelle's Empty Nest, The Challenge Whisperer
(last edited Jul 31, 2025 01:23AM)
(new)
Mod
📛 First off, CHECK IN with your teammate(s) and decide on a TEAM NAME. Please post it in the Check-In Thread so that I don't miss seeing it.
💰 For books that are being used as "HINT PAYMENTS," please list them in this Team Thread as you typically would, and then post as a team in the Check-In with the Chief: Check-In Thread. This is due to the fact that you won't be giving anything away to another team, as no actual hints or clues will be typed out here. After all, we ALL KNOW that eyes go wandering around. I know MINE do! 😅
➡️ Please use this format for your Team Thread.
Chapter #:
Hint #2 or #3: {number ONLY, NO words}
Book/Author:
Date Read:
Pages:
How it Fits: Meets general HOB guidelines
➡️ You can just do a Team Completion with links to each post in the Check-In Thread.
Player 1: Link
Player 2: Link
Etc.
🕵🏼♀️ Once you've answered the clue question correctly and are ready to submit your books for the Prompt/Tasks, post ONLY A LINK to the proper SPREADSHEET CHAPTER TAB in the Check-In Thread. PLEASE DO NOT list those books here in your Team Thread. The same goes for the Introduction and the Conclusion. Handle them the same way, please.
➡️ Please use this format for the Chapters/Introduction/Conclusion.
Team Name:
Link to Team Thread:
Link to Spreadsheet Chapter Tab:
✅ The very last tab in the Spreadsheet is the ANSWER CHECKER. There are instructions included about how to use it.
✏️ Pencil and paper MAY come in handy for a few of the clues to do some SCRATCH WORK. They also might help with the ANSWER CHECKER. You'll see how as you start to use it.
🔗 Super-Secret Silver Screen Sleuths Spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
😎 You will need to REQUEST ACCESS to the Spreadsheet the first time you try to use it.
🙋🏼♂️ Questions about anything?? Post them in the Call in a Favor: Q&A Thread.
message 3:
by
Michelle's Empty Nest, The Challenge Whisperer
(last edited Jul 29, 2025 08:26AM)
(new)
Mod
🕵🏼 Claire (26)
🕵🏼 Trisha (53)
🕵🏼 Vicki (55)
🕵🏼 bamaace83(122)
Mod
Mod
Ten Chapters
Chapter 1:
oooh, I'm so excited to start this!any ideas for a team name?
I'm too tired tonight to think on team names, but I'll try tomorrow.
The page-turners, the cryptic readers, the letter solvers, …Just a few ideas, but hope you’ll find more.
I feel a little sassy, so here's a few and some with the play on 9, the number of our team:The Ninth (9th) Reel
Reel Nine (Reel 9)
Nine (9) Clues Down
Three Broad Detectives (assuming we get no other teammate)
Trenchcoats Optional
The Cold Case Club
No Clue Left Behind
Dead Quiet
Curtain Call Killers
The Starlight Detectives
Detective Unit Nine 2.0
Sleuths Nine 2.0
Division Nine 2.0
The Silver Screen Syndicate 2.0
For the first few with Nine or Ninth, I was thinking or we could use the number 9. Not spelled out and a 9 in parenthesis.
FYI - I will be gone all day but will be back probably 7-ish PM PST. If you girls want to decide on a team name, I am fine with literally anything. It doesn't have to be one of my names I came up with. I just was having fun thinking on these. lol I'll check in tonight to see if any decisions were made. If so, would one of you please post it for us in the check-in thread?
I like 9 clues down a lot:-) but am good with everything.
I'm good with 9 Clues downI'll go post in the thread that that's our name.
Thanks, Trisha. :) Oh, and since you're our all things Goodreads savvy girl, what do you think about a private group for our team rather than using the SS for our private messages? That seems easier to me. What do you girls think?
I can't believe that you guys didn't choose Trenchcoats Optional as your name!!!!Just popping by to say hello before we all crawl off to our secret lairs and ignore each other...
Jenny wrote: "I can't believe that you guys didn't choose Trenchcoats Optional as your name!!!!Just popping by to say hello before we all crawl off to our secret lairs and ignore each other..."
Jenny, you're so naughty. I did have it on my list of names, but the girls opted for Nine Clues Down. Maybe next time.
Me naughty? I was just repeating what you wrote there, lady!teehee
I am totally stealing that if I do another Noir challenge at some point.
I tried to get my team to go for "You Just Put Your Lips Together and Blow" but we went with something else.
LMAO, oh, Jenny. If Goodreads were tracking innuendo per page, you'd be a bestseller. I mean, let's be honest, the way your mind works you are thinking Trenchcoats Optional feels more like Trenchcoats Strongly Encouraged...but left unbuttoned.
Too true Vicki!I really liked the whole Blowing Lips thing - I just got stuck on what imagery to use for the group banner, so...
Good luck Nine Clues Down team! :)
Teddie wrote: "Good luck Nine Clues Down team! :)"Thank you Teddie!! you too!!
Mod
I wasn't online at 1:30 AM on July 31 nor yesterday, but I just requested the SS and I'm super excited to see it!
Teddie wrote: "Too true Vicki!I really liked the whole Blowing Lips thing - I just got stuck on what imagery to use for the group banner, so...
Good luck Nine Clues Down team! :)"
LMAO I hear ya! Guess we picked a better name for our team after all. lol
I’m here! I know this may come as a surprise but I lost the thread. I’ll be more on top of it going forward. I’ll catch up!
Mod
Chapter 1 has been added to your SS!
Remember, you MUST use the evidence and clues/hints to make a correct guess in #2 before you move on to reading for the tasks in #3. You may begin planning your books, but they can't be completed and checked in before you make a correct guess. 🕵🏼
Mod
Sorry, team!
That is not the correct answer. I have left you another hint!
You will now each need to read any book that meets HOB's general guidelines. Post the completions HERE in the thread for these "hint payment" books, but only list the Hint #...no words to give the hint away. Then do a team completion post in the Check-In Thread. After that, you may make another guess based on the evidence and the hints.
Chapter #: 1Hint #2 or #3: 2
Book/Author: House of Monstrous Women
Date Read: 8/6
Pages: 336
How it Fits: Meets general HOB guidelines
Chapter #: 1Hint #2 or #3: 2
Book/Author: Dirty Boss by Lilian Monroe
Date Read: 8-6-25
Pages: 350
How it Fits: Meets general HOB guidelines
Chapter # 1Hint #2
Book/Author: AriadneJennifer Saint
Date Read: 7 august
Pages: 350
How it Fits: Meets general HOB guidelines
Chapter #: 1Hint #2
Book/Author: Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson
Date Read: 8/7
Pages: 392
How it Fits: Meets general HOB guidelines
Team: 9 Clues DownTeam Thread: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
Ch 1 / Hint 2
Trisha: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Bamaace83: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Claire: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Vicki: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
message 34:
by
Michelle's Empty Nest, The Challenge Whisperer
(last edited Aug 08, 2025 02:01PM)
(new)
Mod
AWESOME JOB, team!!!
You may now read for Chapter 1's tasks!
Mod
Excellent!
I have added Chapter 2 to your SS. Good luck!
Mod
SUPERB!!
You may now read for Chapter 2's tasks!
Mod
Mod
Excellent!
I have added a Chapter 3 Evidence Tab and a Chapter 3 Tab to your SS. There's more evidence...so two tabs were easier. Good luck!
message 40:
by
Michelle's Empty Nest, The Challenge Whisperer
(last edited Aug 21, 2025 06:19PM)
(new)
Mod
OUTSTANDING!!
You may now read for Chapter 3's tasks!
Mod
Excellent!
I have added a Chapter 4 Tab to your SS. Good luck!
Mod
Michelle's Empty Nest wrote: "Trisha, gross!! LOL! 🤢😅"lol the story was wild!! 🤣😂🤣
Mod
Sorry, team!
That is not the correct answer. I have left you another hint!
You will now each need to read any book that meets HOB's general guidelines. Post the completions HERE in the thread for these "hint payment" books, but only list the Hint #...no words to give the hint away. Then do a team completion post in the Check-In Thread. After that, you may make another guess based on the evidence and the hints.
Chapter #: 4Hint #2 or #3: 2
Book/Author: As Old as Time by Liz Braswell
Date Read: 8-24-25
Pages: 266
How it Fits: Meets general HOB guidelines
Chapter 4 Clue #2
Book: The Rain Watcher
Author: Tatiana de Rosnay
Read: 25 august
PAGES’ 229 p.
How it fits: meets general HOB GUIDELINES
Chapter 4Hint #2
Book: Break Wide the Sea
Author: Sara Holland
Read: 8/24
Pages: 336
How it works: meets HOB guidelines
Chapter 4Hint #2
Book: The Paris Express
Author: Emma Donoghue
Read: 8/24
Pages: 288
How it Fits: meets HOB guidelines
Nine Clues Down Completion for Chapter 4, Hint #2: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...Spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
Anna: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Claire: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Trisha: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Vicki: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Mod
Hooked on Books
Books mentioned in this topic
Matchmaking for Psychopaths (other topics)Saving Myles (other topics)
Ten Day Affair: A One Night Stand Off-Limits Romance (other topics)
De Briar-club (other topics)
The Paris Express (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Tasha Coryell (other topics)Carl Vonderau (other topics)
Blakely Stone (other topics)
Kate Quinn (other topics)
Emma Donoghue (other topics)
More...
Escape Room: Silver Screen Sleuths
Partner/Team Challenge; Open-Ended
Grab Your Detective Hat on August 1, 2025
📖 The Storyline 📖
In the heart of 1940s Los Angeles, you and your partner, Peggy, are drawn into a challenging case. Chief Inspector Theodore Harrington hands you a cryptic letter, hinting at a sinister plot involving a fake charity and a MURDER.
Your investigation begins at the police precinct, where a mysterious figure left the letter and three ticket stubs. The charity, presented as a force for good, hides dark secrets. The murder victim holds THE KEY to unraveling the entire scheme.
As you navigate the city’s labyrinthine streets, from opulent theaters to grimy back alleys, you’ll piece together intricate CLUES and solve demanding PUZZLES. Each step uncovers new secrets, bringing you closer to the truth.
“Silver Screen Sleuths” is designed for true detective enthusiasts. With its complex storyline and puzzles, this game will TEST your skills and CHALLENGE your wits.
📓 The Plan 📓
Grab a PARTNER - or TWO or THREE - and get ready to solve this mystery!
This is a SPREADSHEET-BASED challenge where only your team will have access in order to keep the clues you uncover a SECRET from other prying eyes. After all, we don't want to be solving the crime for another team of detectives, do we??
You will receive a set of CLUES and a stack of EVIDENCE for each Chapter in this mystery. You will also receive one "FREE" hint at the beginning of the Chapter. If you can find the answer to the clue, you will move on to the Prompt and Tasks for the Chapter. If you are unable to find the answer to the clue, you will read a book that fits the general Hooked on Books guidelines as "PAYMENT" for a NEW HINT. There are THREE hints available for each Chapter, and there are TEN Chapters in all. So you will read between ONE and THREE books per Chapter, depending on how sharp your detective skills are.
Once you see the spreadsheet and get through the first Chapter, anything that sounds confusing above will make much more sense, I PROMISE! Also, I will share the "WALKTHROUGH" at the end of each Chapter so you can start to see how the clues and evidence are being used to solve the mystery.
📝 The Sidenote 📝
While we are trying to keep our detective work to ourselves, this is NOT a race-to-the-finish challenge. However, with that being said, I would suggest using the space at the bottom of your spreadsheet for any discussions - INSTEAD OF in your team thread. Again...prying eyes and all. 👀 You will need to take a little time to SORT THROUGH the evidence and CRACK the clues, just like in a real investigation and a real escape room scenario.
👨👩👧👦 The Partnering Up 👨👩👧👦
I would LOVE for you to play with a partner or group of up to four of YOUR choosing. Since reading speed won't be of critical importance for this Escape Room Challenge, I want to allow you to create your partnerships/groups on your own. So discuss it among yourselves and let me know who will be together. ALL members will still need to post a sign-up so I can be sure they are aware of their commitment to this challenge. If you want me to partner you with someone random, please let me know that when you sign up as well. I would love to have teams IN PLACE by July 28th to give me a few days to set everything up for you. However, you can STILL start a new team after that time.
😓 The Hard Truth 😓
If you CAN'T access and maneuver Google Sheets on your device, this MAY NOT be the challenge for you to participate in. Sorry about that. This was the best way I could determine to run this particular challenge.
✨ The Tidbits ✨
There will be a FEW more details about how to post your "hint payment" books and checking in, etc., in your team threads. Your Super-Secret Silver Screen Sleuths Spreadsheet link will also be there.
📚 The Challenge Rules 📚
📗 Standard Rules Apply
📕 I will create a team thread for you prior to the start date.
📘 You may begin reading your first book for the Introduction Prompt prior to the start date, but it MAY NOT be completed before August 1, 2025.
📗 Books MUST be completed after you receive new information. If you get your new Chapter/Prompt on August 4th, you can't use a book you completed on August 3rd.
📕 The Challenge will run for as long as you need to complete all ten Chapters.