2025 Reading Challenge discussion

For those of you mystery lovers who are close to finishing all your yearly challenges (um, like me), here's a new challenge I discovered on the blog of MY READER'S BLOCK.

* * * * *

CALENDAR OF CRIME CHALLENGE
Created by MY READER'S BLOCK

General Guidelines
*To complete this challenge (and be eligible for a prize drawing on MY READER'S BLOCK blog but you need to sign up), read a book for one prompt in each month, 12 books total.
*All books must be mystery/crime/detective novels. They may contain elements of other genres must be primarily categorized as mystery/crime fiction.
*You need not read a book for a monthly prompt during its corresponding month. (You can complete a January prompt this month, for example.)
*Each book can only be counted for one month and one category within this challenge.
*The Wild Card prompt allows you to read any mystery, provided it's your birthday month.

For detailed rules on this challenge, check here on the challenge creator's blog.

- - - - - -
January
1. Month in the title
2. Author's birth month
3. Primary action takes place in this month
4. New Year's
5. Other January holiday
6. Original publication month
7. Title has a word starting with "J"
8. Month-related item on cover (snow, winter-related scene, top hat, party scene, etc.)
9. If your birthday, wild-card book, OR
9. Snowbound country-house mystery
- - - - - -
February
1. Month in the title
2. Author's birth month
3. Primary action takes place in this month
4. Valentine's Day
5. Other February holiday
6. Original publication month
7. Title has a word starting with "F"
8. Month-related item on cover (a heart, a couple, bow and arrow, etc.)
9. If your birthday, wild-card book, OR
9. Couple/romance/love triangle has major role
- - - - - -
March
1. Month in the title
2. Author's birth month
3. Primary action takes place in this month
4. St. Patrick's Day
5. Other March holiday
6. Original publication month
7. Title has a word starting with "M"
8. Month-related item on cover (shamrock, something green, etc.)
9. If your birthday, wild-card book, OR
9. Money/fortune/inheritance has major role
- - - - - -
April
1. Month in the title
2. Author's birth month
3. Primary action takes place in this month
4. Easter
5. Other April holiday
6. Original publication month
7. Title has a word starting with "A" (the words "A" or "An" don't count)
8. Month-related item on cover (rabbit, fancy hat, church, cross, etc.)
9. If your birthday, wild-card book, OR
9. Church/Minister/Religion has major role
- - - - - -
May
1. Month in the title
2. Author's birth month
3. Primary action takes place in this month
4. Memorial
5. Other May holiday
6. Original publication month
7. Title has a word starting with "M"
8. Month-related item on cover (graves, flags, a mother, flowers, etc.)
9. If your birthday, wild-card book, OR
9. Military figure or Mother has major role
- - - - - -
June
1. Month in the title
2. Author's birth month
3. Primary action takes place in this month
4. Father's Day
5. Other June holiday
6. Original publication month
7. Title has a word starting with "J"
8. Month-related item on cover (a father, a necktie, a bride, a wedding, church, etc.)
9. If your birthday, wild-card book, OR
9. Father or Wedding figures prominently
- - - - - -
July
1. Month in the title
2. Author's birth month
3. Primary action takes place in this month
4. Independence Day or Canada Day
5. Other July holiday
6. Original publication month
7. Title has a word starting with "J"
8. Month-related item on cover (flag, fireworks, maple leaf, etc. )
9. If your birthday, wild-card book, OR
9. Takes place in U.S. or Canada
- - - - - -
August
1. Month in the title
2. Author's birth month
3. Primary action takes place in this month
4. Academic setting
5. Other August holiday (?)
6. Original publication month
7. Title has a word starting with "A" (the words "A" or "An" don't count)
8. Month-related item on cover (summer scene, beach/water, school, bus, etc.)
9. If your birthday, wild-card book, OR
9. Summer holiday setting (beach, resort, etc.)
- - - - - -
September
1. Month in the title
2. Author's birth month
3. Primary action takes place in this month
4. Labor Day
5. Other September holiday
6. Original publication month
7. Title has a word starting with "S"
8. Month-related item on cover (people working, means of travel, picnic scene, etc.)
9. If your birthday, wild-card book, OR
9. Setting = place of employment (workplace)
- - - - - -
October
1. Month in the title
2. Author's birth month
3. Primary action takes place in this month
4. Halloween
5. Other October holiday
6. Original publication month
7. Title has a word starting with "O"
8. Month-related item on cover (pumpkin, mask, spooky scene, fall scene, etc.)
9. If your birthday, wild-card book, OR
9. Costume/disguise/mistaken identity has major role
- - - - - -
November
1. Month in the title
2. Author's birth month
3. Primary action takes place in this month
4. Thanksgiving
5. Other November holiday
6. Original publication month
7. Title has a word starting with "N"
8. Month-related item on cover (turkey, family dinner, poppies, etc.)
9. If your birthday, wild-card book, OR
9. Family relationships play major role
- - - - - -
December
1. Month in the title
2. Author's birth month
3. Primary action takes place in this month
4. Christmas
5. Other December holiday
6. Original publication month
7. Title has a word starting with "D"
8. Month-related item on cover (Christmas tree/other decor, snow, winter scene, etc.)
9. If your birthday, wild-card book, OR
9. House Party/Family Gathering plays major role
- - - - - -

I'm going to be optimistic here, and start a list of participants.
If nobody else wants to play, I will delete this post, take my ball, and trudge home. *laughs

Participants

Completed
🤸🏽‍♀️Lynn (#20): 12/12
🤸🏽‍♀️Mie (#6): 49/47
🤸🏽‍♀️oshizu (#5): 43/37
🤸🏽‍♀️Carmen (#12): 70/70

Updated on 22 December through msg #112

I like this

If there's interest, I'd be happy to keep track of a list of authors' birthdays if others also contribute.
Disclaimer: This is by no means a definitive list and, in fact, includes many authors I've never read, haha.

AUTHORS' BIRTH MONTHS

*January: Edgar Allen Poe, Harlan Coben, Wilkie Collins, Umberto Eco, Patricia Highsmith, Kanae Minato, Walter Mosley

*February: Gillian Flynn, Elizabeth George, John Grisham, Keigo Higashino, Henning Mankell, Ruth Rendell,

*March: Donald Bain (aka Jessical Fletcher), James Elroy, Sujata Massey, James Patterson, Peter Robinson

*April: Simon Beckett, Janet Evanovich, Ngaio Marsh, Michelle McNamara, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Ian Rankin

*May: Sharon J. Bolton, Arthur Conan Doyle, Tana French, Naomi Hirahara,

*June: Patricia Cromwell, Ken Follett, Tess Gerritsen, Dorothy Gilman, Kerry Greenwood, Dorothy L. Sayers

*July: Raymond Chandler, Robert Galbraith (J.K. Rowlings), Faye Kellerman, Louise Penny, Kathy Hogan Trochek (aka Mary Kay Andrews)

*August: Jussi Adler-Olsen, P.D. James, Steig Larsson, Denise Mina, Robert Van Gulik

*September: Truman Capote, Agatha Christie, C.S. Harris, Stephen King, Alex Michaelides, Elizabeth Peters, Ellis Peters

*October: Alifair Burke, Jim Butcher, Lee Child, John le Carré, Winnie M. Li

*November: Charlaine Harris

*December: Kate Atkinson, Mary Higgins Clark, Donna Tartt,

Since I unintentionally fulfilled 18 prompts already, I'm aiming to finish 36 prompts (3 for each month) by the end of 2019.
Note that my book choices are highly subject to change over time.

Progress: 43/37

- - - - - -
📗January: 3/3
1. Month in the title
✔️2. Author's birth month: Patricia Highsmith, The Tremor of Forgery
3. Primary action takes place in this month
4. New Year's
5. Other January holiday
✔️6. Original publication month: The Good Liar (21 Feb)
7. Title has a word starting with "J"
8. Month-related item on cover (snow, winter-related scene, top hat, party scene, etc.)
✔️9. If your birthday, wild-card book: My Sister, the Serial Killer (4 Mar)
- - - - - -
📗February: 4/3
1. Month in the title
✔️2. Author's birth month: Keigo Higashino, Under the Midnight Sun (3 Jul)
✔️3. Primary action takes place in this month: What Angels Fear (23 Aug)
4. Valentine's Day
✔️5. Other February holiday (Imbolc): Charms and Chocolate Chips
6. Original publication month
✔️7. Title has a word starting with "F": Feint of Art (Mar)
8. Month-related item on cover (a heart, a couple, bow and arrow, etc.)
9. Couple/romance/love triangle has major role: Enter a Murderer
- - - - - -
📗March: 3/3
1. Month in the title
✔️2. Author's birth month: Sujata Massey/The Widows of Malabar Hill (13 Mar)
3. Primary action takes place in this month
4. St. Patrick's Day
5. Other March holiday
6. Original publication month
✔️7. Title has a word starting with "M": A Most Peculiar Malaysian Murder (18 Apr)
8. Month-related item on cover (shamrock, something green, etc.):
✔️9. Money/fortune/inheritance has major role: Arsenic and Old Paint (Oct)
- - - - - -
📗April: 4/3
1. Month in the title
✔️2. Author's birth month: Ngaio Marsh/A Man Lay Dead (Sep)
3. Primary action takes place in this month
4. Easter
5. Other April holiday
✔️6. Original publication month: Death at La Fenice (Oct)
✔️7. Title has a word starting with "A": The Absent One (Sep)
8. Month-related item on cover (rabbit, fancy hat, church, cross, etc.)
✔️9. Church/Minister/Religion has major role: What Remains of Heaven
- - - - - -
📗May: 5/3
1. Month in the title
✔️2. Author's birth month: Tana French/In the Woods (Nov)
✔️3. Primary action takes place in this month: Some Enchanted Éclair
4. Memorial
5. Other May holiday
✔️6. Original publication month: Brownies and Broomsticks (Oct)
✔️7. Title has a word starting with "M": The Mysterious Affair at Styles (3 Jan)
8. Month-related item on cover (graves, flags, a mother, flowers, etc.)
✔️9. Military figure or Mother has major role: Why Mermaids Sing (Oct)
- - - - - -
📗June: 3/3
1. Month in the title
2. Author's birth month: Kerry Greenwood/Cocaine Blues (Dec)
✔️3. Primary action takes place in this month When Gods Die (Sep)
4. Father's Day
5. Other June holiday
✔️6. Original publication month: Penance (Oct)
✔️7. Title has a word starting with "J": Killer Jam (28 Aug)
8. Month-related item on cover (a father, a necktie, a bride, a wedding, church, etc.)
9. Father or Wedding figures prominently
- - - - - -
📗July: 3/3
1. Month in the title
✔️2. Author's birth month: Faye Kellerman/The Ritual Bath (26 Aug)
3. Primary action takes place in this month
4. Independence Day or Canada Day
5. Other July holiday
✔️6. Original publication month: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (24 Jan)
7. Title has a word starting with "J"
8. Month-related item on cover (flag, fireworks, maple leaf, etc. )
✔️9. Takes place in U.S. or Canada: Grave Peril (Jun)
- - - - - -
📗August: 4/3
1. Month in the title
✔️2. Author's birth month: Jussi Adler-Olsen/The Keeper of Lost Causes (18 Mar)
3. Primary action takes place in this month
4. Academic setting:
✔️5. Other August holiday (Ghost Month): Ghost Month (28 Jun)
✔️6. Original publication month: The Plotters (17 Jun)
7. Title has a word starting with "A" (the words "A" or "An" don't count):
✔️8. Month-related item on cover (summer scene, beach/water, school, bus, etc.):
Little Black Lies (24 Aug)
9. Summer holiday setting (beach, resort, etc.)
- - - - - -
📗September: 3/3
1. Month in the title
✔️2. Author's birth month: Carlos Ruiz Zafón, The Shadow of the Wind
3. Primary action takes place in this month
4. Labor Day
5. Other September holiday
6. Original publication month: A Bali Conspiracy Most Foul
✔️7. Title has a word starting with "S": Shooting Gallery (9 Jul)
✔️8. Month-related item on cover (people working, means of travel, picnic scene, etc.):
Huntress (5 Mar)
9. Setting = place of employment (workplace)
- - - - - -
📗October: 4/3
1. Month in the title
✔️2. Author's birth month: Jim Butcher/Death Masks
3. Primary action takes place in this month
4. Halloween
5. Other October holiday
✔️6. Original publication month: The Round House (30 Apr)
✔️7. Title has a word starting with "O": State of the Onion (9 Mar)
✔️8. Month-related item on cover (pumpkin, mask, spooky scene, fall scene, etc.):
Certain Dark Things (Oct)
9. Costume/disguise/mistaken identity has major role
- - - - - -
📗November: 3/3
1. Month in the title
2. Author's birth month
3. Primary action takes place in this month
4. Thanksgiving: Still Life
5. Other November holiday
✔️6. Original publication month: Where Serpents Sleep (Nov)
✔️7. Title has a word starting with "N": The Night Visitor (Sep)
8. Month-related item on cover (turkey, family dinner, poppies, etc.)
✔️9. Family relationships play major role: Denise Mina/Field of Blood (25 Jul)
- - - - - -
📗December: 4/3
1. Month in the title
2. Author's birth month
3. Primary action takes place in this month
✔️4. Christmas: The Lost Man
5. Other December holiday
✔️6. Original publication month: Bewitched, Bothered, and Biscotti (Nov)
✔️7. Title has a word starting with "D": Brush With Death (18 Jul)
✔️8. Month-related item on cover (Christmas tree/other decor, snow, winter scene, etc.):
The Virgin in the Ice
9. House Party/Family Gathering plays major role

- - - - - -
My Member's Corner: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Oh, I will definitely join you 🤩
Starting goal: 25/40 - new goal 47
Update: 49/47 - COMPLETE ✔️
my corner

January
1. Month in the title
📗 2. Author's birth month - Tell No One - Harlan Coben
3. Primary action takes place in this month
4. New Year's
5. Other January holiday
📗 6. Original publication month - A Killing Frost
📗 7. Title has a word starting with "J" - Judaskysset
📗 8. Month-related item on cover (snow, winter-related scene, top hat, party scene, etc.) - A Little Yuletide Murder
9. If your birthday, wild-card book, OR
9. Snowbound country-house mystery
- - - - - -
February
1. Month in the title
📗 2. Author's birth month - The Fugitive - John Grisham
3. Primary action takes place in this month
4. Valentine's Day
5. Other February holiday
6. Original publication month
📗 7. Title has a word starting with "F" - Winter Frost
📗 8. Month-related item on cover (a heart, a couple, bow and arrow, etc.) - The Thirteen Problems
9. If your birthday, wild-card book, OR
9. Couple/romance/love triangle has major role
- - - - - -
March
1. Month in the title
📗 2. Author's birth month - Gallows View - Peter Robinson
📗 3. Primary action takes place in this month - Storm Front
4. St. Patrick's Day
5. Other March holiday
📗 6. Original publication month - After the Funeral
📗 7. Title has a word starting with "M" - Coffee, Tea, or Murder?
📗 8. Month-related item on cover (shamrock, something green, etc.) - The Chinese Maze Murders
9. If your birthday, wild-card book, OR
📗 9. Money/fortune/inheritance has major role - A Pocketful of Rye
- - - - - -
April
1. Month in the title
📗 2. Author's birth month - The Scent of Death - Simon Beckett
3. Primary action takes place in this month
4. Easter
5. Other April holiday
📗 6. Original publication month - The Mysterious Mr. Quin
📗 7. Title has a word starting with "A" (the words "A" or "An" don't count) - A Murder Is Announced
8. Month-related item on cover (rabbit, fancy hat, church, cross, etc.)
9. If your birthday, wild-card book, OR
📗 9. Church/Minister/Religion has major role - The Wisdom of Father Brown
- - - - - -
May
1. Month in the title
2. Author's birth month
3. Primary action takes place in this month
4. Memorial
5. Other May holiday
📗 6. Original publication month - The Dry
📗 7. Title has a word starting with "M" - The Haunted Monastery
8. Month-related item on cover (graves, flags, a mother, flowers, etc.)
9. If your birthday, wild-card book, OR
9. Military figure or Mother has major role
- - - - - -
June
1. Month in the title
📗 2. Author's birth month - Sidste forestilling
3. Primary action takes place in this month
4. Father's Day
5. Other June holiday
📗 6. Original publication month - Finders Keepers
7. Title has a word starting with "J"
8. Month-related item on cover (a father, a necktie, a bride, a wedding, church, etc.)
9. If your birthday, wild-card book, OR
📗 9. Father or Wedding figures prominently - I lige linje
- - - - - -
July
1. Month in the title
📗 2. Author's birth month - Lethal White - Robert Galbraith
📗 3. Primary action takes place in this month - Et mørke iblandt os
4. Independence Day or Canada Day
5. Other July holiday
📗 6. Original publication month - The Moving Finger
📗 7. Title has a word starting with "J" - The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
8. Month-related item on cover (flag, fireworks, maple leaf, etc. )
9. If your birthday, wild-card book, OR
📗 9. Takes place in U.S. or Canada - Redemption Road
- - - - - -
August
1. Month in the title
📗 2. Author's birth month - Offer 2117 - Jussi Adler-Olsen
3. Primary action takes place in this month
📗 4. Academic setting - The Scandal
5. Other August holiday (?)
📗 6. Original publication month - The Mystery of Three Quarters
📗 7. Title has a word starting with "A" (the words "A" or "An" don't count) - The Activist
8. Month-related item on cover (summer scene, beach/water, school, bus, etc.)
9. If your birthday, wild-card book, OR
📗 9. Summer holiday setting (beach, resort, etc.) - Camino Island
- - - - - -
September
1. Month in the title
📗 2. Author's birth month - The Seven Dials Mystery - Agatha Christie
3. Primary action takes place in this month
4. Labor Day
5. Other September holiday
📗 6. Original publication month - The Secret History
📗 7. Title has a word starting with "S" - Søster min
📗 8. Month-related item on cover (people working, means of travel, picnic scene, etc.) - Passenger to Frankfurt
9. If your birthday, wild-card book, OR
📗 9. Setting = place of employment (workplace) - Én gang morder
- - - - - -
October
1. Month in the title
2. Author's birth month
3. Primary action takes place in this month
📗 4. Halloween - Trick or Treachery
5. Other October holiday
📗 6. Original publication month - The Restless Dead
📗 7. Title has a word starting with "O" - Close-up on Murder
📗 8. Month-related item on cover (pumpkin, mask, spooky scene, fall scene, etc.) - A Necessary End
9. If your birthday, wild-card book, OR
📗 9. Costume/disguise/mistaken identity has major role - Kunsten at dø
- - - - - -
November
1. Month in the title
2. Author's birth month
3. Primary action takes place in this month
4. Thanksgiving
5. Other November holiday
📗 6. Original publication month - Ordeal by Innocence
📗 7. Title has a word starting with "N" - Force of Nature
8. Month-related item on cover (turkey, family dinner, poppies, etc.)
9. If your birthday, wild-card book, OR
📗 9. Family relationships play major role - Den skaldede detektiv
- - - - - -
December
1. Month in the title
2. Author's birth month
📗 3. Primary action takes place in this month - Et spørgsmål om penge
📗 4. Christmas - The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding
5. Other December holiday
6. Original publication month
📗 7. Title has a word starting with "D" - Dybt at falde
📗 8. Month-related item on cover (Christmas tree/other decor, snow, winter scene, etc.) - A Dedicated Man
9. If your birthday, wild-card book, OR
9. House Party/Family Gathering plays major role
- - - - - -

Mie, welcome to the Calendar of Crime Challenge!
I'm delightfully surprised that you've already completed 25 prompts for this challenge. Wow!

Also, I prefer your red push-pins to my red exclamation marks---I might need to copy you....

I am interested, but overwhelmed right now with challenges. Perhaps next year? :)

Good luck to you-all completing this.

Lynn wrote: "I am interested, but overwhelmed right now with challenges. Perhaps next year? :)

Good luck to you-all completing this."

Thank you for your interest and comment, Lynn!
I am hoping to keep an eye on MY READER'S BLOCK blog and try to host an "unofficial" yearly challenge based on crime fiction in 2020 in this same folder.

I won't be forgetting your "Perhaps next year?" comment! 😉

Hola, everyone!
Oshizu, my favorite genre!
Since I saw your post yesterday I'm engrossed with this challenge, as if I hadn't anything more to do 🤣.
I'm working on my list..

Carmen wrote: "Hola, everyone!
Oshizu, my favorite genre!
Since I saw your post yesterday I'm engrossed with this challenge, as if I hadn't anything more to do 🤣.
I'm working on my list.."

Oh Carmen! Your comment put a huge smile on my face!!!
Honestly, I have also been spending the last few hours "researching" my reading list instead of actually reading.

Besides being a voracious reader, you've been reading Agatha Christie as part of your Author's Works Challenge as well, so I imagine you've already completed dozens of prompts already!

I can't wait to see the unveiling of your Calendar of Crime! *jumps up and down with excitement

Here I go!

❎ Books read: 43
🔜 Books I want to read for other challenges: 14
⁉️ Potential books: 12

Starting goal: 43/60 (Aug 07, 2019)
PROGRESS: 70/60 70

- - - - - -
January
⁉️1. Month in the title: January Thaw
❎2. Author's birth month: Devil in a Blue Dress/Walter Mosley
❎3. Primary action takes place in this month: Faceless Killers
❎4. New Year's: The Mysterious Mr. Quin (The first short story: The coming of Mr. Quin takes place on New Year's Eve)
5. Other January holiday
❎6. Original publication month: A Red Death
❎7. Title has a word starting with "J": Murder in Jamaica
❎8. Month-related item on cover (snow, winter-related scene, top hat, party scene, etc.): Smilla's Sense of Snow
9. If your birthday, wild-card book, OR
❎9. Snowbound country-house mystery: The Sittaford Mystery
- - - - - -
February
⁉️1. Month in the title: February Fever
❎2. Author's birth month: The Dogs of Riga/Henning Mankell
❎3. Primary action takes place in this month: The Hermitage
⁉️4. Valentine's Day: Deadly Valentine
5. Other February holiday
❎6. Original publication month: Peril at End House
❎7. Title has a word starting with "F": The Big Four
8. Month-related item on cover (a heart, a couple, bow and arrow, etc.)
9. If your birthday, wild-card book, OR
❎9. Couple/romance/love triangle has major role: Gone Girl
- - - - - -
March
1. Month in the title:
❎2. Author's birth month: The Black Dahlia/James Ellroy
3. Primary action takes place in this month
4. St. Patrick's Day
5. Other March holiday
❎6. Original publication month: The Mystery of the Blue Train
❎7. Title has a word starting with "M": The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
❎8. Month-related item on cover (shamrock, something green, etc.): The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie
9. If your birthday, wild-card book, OR
❎9. Money/fortune/inheritance has major role: The Westing Game
- - - - - -
April
1. Month in the title
❎2. Author's birth month: Four to Score/Janet Evanovich
❎3. Primary action takes place in this month: Her Royal Spyness
4. Easter
⁉️5. Other April holiday: April Fool Dead
❎6. Original publication month: The Hound of the Baskervilles
❎7. Title has a word starting with "A" (the words "A" or "An" don't count): Appointment with Death
8. Month-related item on cover (rabbit, fancy hat, church, cross, etc.)
9. If your birthday, wild-card book, OR
❎9. Church/Minister/Religion has major role: A Study in Scarlet (Mormons)
- - - - - -
May
⁉️1. Month in the title: May Day
❎2. Author's birth month: The Likeness/Tana French
❎3. Primary action takes place in this month: A Morbid Taste for Bones
4. Memorial
❎5. Other May holiday: La leona blanca
❎6. Original publication month: In the Woods
❎7. Title has a word starting with "M": They Do It with Mirrors
❎8. Month-related item on cover (graves, flags, a mother, flowers, etc.): The Moving Finger
9. If your birthday, wild-card book, OR
❎9. Military figure or Mother has major role: Morirás en Chafarinas (Military figure)
- - - - - -
June
⁉️1. Month in the title: June Bug
❎2. Author's birth month: The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax/Dorothy Gilman
❎3. Primary action takes place in this month: Mrs. Pollifax on Safari
4. Father's Day
5. Other June holiday
❎6. Original publication month: Partners in Crime
❎7. Title has a word starting with "J": The Job
8. Month-related item on cover (a father, a necktie, a bride, a wedding, church, etc.)
❎9. If your birthday, wild-card book, OR: Penshaw (08/19)
❎9. Father or Wedding figures prominently Other American Dreams
- - - - - -
July
⁉️1. Month in the title: Knee High by the Fourth of July
🔜2. Author's birth month: Every Crooked Nanny/Kathy Hogan Trocheck
3. Primary action takes place in this month
4. Independence Day or Canada Day
5. Other July holiday
❎6. Original publication month: Murder in Mesopotamia
🔜7. Title has a word starting with "J": The Family Jewels (A Callahan Garrity Short Story)
8. Month-related item on cover (flag, fireworks, maple leaf, etc. )
9. If your birthday, wild-card book, OR
❎9. Takes place in U.S. or Canada A High-End Finish (California)
- - - - - -
August
⁉️1. Month in the title: August Moon
❎2. Author's birth month: Los chicos que cayeron en la trampa/Jussi Adler-Olsen
❎3. Primary action takes place in this month: The Man Who Went Up in Smoke
❎4. Academic setting: El secreto
❎5. Other August holiday (?): El lejano país de los estanques
❎6. Original publication month: The Moonstone
❎7. Title has a word starting with "A" (the words "A" or "An" don't count): Three Act Tragedy
❎8. Month-related item on cover (summer scene, beach/water, school, bus, etc.): Murder in Bermuda
9. If your birthday, wild-card book, OR
❎9. Summer holiday setting (beach, resort, etc.): And Then There Were None (08/19)
- - - - - -
September
⁉️1. Month in the title: September Mourn
❎2. Author's birth month: The Silent Patient/Alex Michaelides
❎3. Primary action takes place in this month The Scapegoat
4. Labor Day
❎5. Other September holiday: Master's Mates
❎6. Original publication month: The Scam
❎7. Title has a word starting with "S": Seven Bridges
❎8. Month-related item on cover (people working, means of travel, picnic scene, etc 4:50 from Paddington
9. If your birthday, wild-card book, OR
❎9. Setting = place of employment (workplace) The Moor (The action takes place in a circus) (08/19)
- - - - - -
October
⁉️1. Month in the title: October Fest
❎2. Author's birth month: I've Got You Under My Skin /Alafair Burke
❎3. Primary action takes place in this month: Dark Skies
❎4. Halloween: Masked Ball at Broxley Manor
5. Other October holiday
❎6. Original publication month: The Black Mountain
🔜7. Title has a word starting with "O": Once Gone
❎8. Month-related item on cover (pumpkin, mask, spooky scene, fall scene, etc.)
9. If your birthday, wild-card book, OR
❎9. Costume/disguise/mistaken identity has major role: Big Little Lies
- - - - - -
November
⁉️1. Month in the title: November Hunt
❎2. Author's birth month: Unos asesinatos muy reales/Charlaine Harris
❎3. Primary action takes place in this month: Longstone
4. Thanksgiving
5. Other November holiday
❎6. Original publication month: The Infirmary
❎7. Title has a word starting with "N": The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
❎8. Month-related item on cover (turkey, family dinner, poppies, etc.)
9. If your birthday, wild-card book, OR
❎9. Family relationships play major role: A Murder Is Announced
- - - - - -
December
⁉️1. Month in the title: December Dread
❎2. Author's birth month: El asesinato de Cenicienta/Mary Higgins Clark
3. Primary action takes place in this month
❎4. Christmas: Christmas Bliss
5. Other December holiday
❎6. Original publication month: Killer Knots
❎7. Title has a word starting with "D": Detection Unlimited
❎8. Month-related item on cover (Christmas tree/other decor, snow, winter scene, etc.):
9. If your birthday, wild-card book, OR
❎9. House Party/Family Gathering plays major role: Fatal Shadows (Funeral)
- - - - - -

Carmen

Good gracious, girl, that is unbelievably impressive!
I "borrowed" Mie's red push-pin emojis and now I shall "borrow" the idea of adding the bookcovers to my list (though I have only one so far...)

Thanks so much for joining us!

Wow, what a fantastic list! Think, I will be doing a little digging around on the library homepage for some of your books 🤩

oshizu wrote: "If there's interest, I'd be happy to keep track of a list of authors' birthdays if others also contribute.
Disclaimer: This is by no means a definitive list and, in fact, includes many authors I've..."

My authors' birthdays:
January: Walter Mosley
February: Henning Mankell
March: James Ellroy
April: Janet Evanovich
June: Dorothy Gilman
July: Kathy Hogan Trochek aka Mary Kay Andrews
September: Alex Michaelides
October: Alafair Burke
November: Charlaine Harris

Thanks oshizu, for discovering this mysteriuos/criminal challenge!

Mie wrote: "Wow, what a fantastic list! Think, I will be doing a little digging around on the library homepage for some of your books 🤩"

Haha, ikr? I'd just gotten back to reading when Carmen posted her list so I ended up playing around with my reading list for another hour, lol!

Carmen wrote: "My authors' birthdays:."
Thanks for your list--I've added them all to the "Author's Birthdays" post along with a few from Mie's challenge.

oshizu wrote: "Besides being a voracious reader, you've been reading Agatha Christie as part of your Author's Works Challenge as well, so I imagine you've already completed dozens of prompts already!.."

Yes my "Author's Works Challenge" helped me a lot with this one, because, besides Agatha Christie and excepting just one author, the rest of them are mystery/crime writers: Janet Evanovich, Arthur Conan Doyle, L.J. Ross, Georgette Heyer and Henning Mankell.
Didn't I tell you that's my favorite genre?

PROGRESS: 45/60

🔖June #9 - wild-card Penshaw
🔖September #9 - setting: workplace The Moor (The action takes place, mainly, in a circus.)
& by L.J. Ross
Books #12 and #13 in DCI Ryan Mysteries, one of my favorite detective series.

Such a cool idea!

CALENDAR OF CRIME CHALLENGE
Created by MY READER'S BLOCK

General Guidelines
*To complete this challenge (and be eligible for a prize drawing on MY READER'S BLOCK blog but you need to sign up), read a book for one prompt in each month, 12 books total.
*All books must be mystery/crime/detective novels. They may contain elements of other genres must be primarily categorized as mystery/crime fiction.
*You need not read a book for a monthly prompt during its corresponding month. (You can complete a January prompt this month, for example.)
*Each book can only be counted for one month and one category within this challenge.
*The Wild Card prompt allows you to read any mystery, provided it's your birthday month.

12/12 completed as of August 25! Done!

Though I came to this late in the year (August 14), I had already read 11 books that qualified and I was able to fit them into the prompts. then read the 12th one that qualified! :)

January
Original Publication Month
Two Can Keep a Secret

February
Original Publication Month
The Maltese Feline

March
If your birth month--Wild Card
The Wife Between Us

April
Original Publication Month
Artemis Fowl

May
Original Publication Month
The Dry

June
Original Publication Month
The Book of Hidden Things

July
Takes place in US or Canada
Them Bones

August
Original Publication Month
Where the Crawdads Sing

September
Book Title Has a Word Starting with "S"
The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

October
Original Publication Month
The Witch Elm

November
Family Relationships
The Dog Who Knew Too Much

December
House Party/Family Gathering
Beautiful Bad

PROGRESS: 46/60

🔖August #9 - Summer holiday setting: And Then There Were None


Reread of one of my beloved mysteries by the great Agatha.

On 8 August in the late 1930s, eight people arrive on a small, isolated island off the Devon coast of England. Each has an invitation tailored to his or her personal circumstances, such as an offer of employment or an unexpected late summer holiday. They are met by Thomas and Ethel Rogers, the butler and cook-housekeeper...but none of them will never leave the island.

Rachael wrote: "Such a cool idea!"

Yes, it's a fantastic challenge created by the blogger MY READER'S BLOCK.
They actually show an image of a 12-month calendar (a rectangle of 3x4 tiles) with all the tasks listed under each month.
A list is easier to see and track, though.

Lynn wrote: "11/12 completed as of August 14

Though I came to this late in the year (August 14), I had read already 11 books that qualified and I was able to fit them into the prompts. I am currently reading the 12th! :)..."

Welcome to the challenge, Lynn, fellow mystery lover!
You just couldn't resist checking your 2019 books against the challenge prompts, right?
Since you're already on your last book (what!?), you can enjoy this challenge without it conflicting with your other challenges. Great move!

PROGRESS: 47/60

🔖June #9 - Father or Wedding figures prominently: Other American Dreams


The protagonist is a Cabo Verdean policeman, Sergeant Abel 'Aranha' Teixeira, whose father, Coloté Teixeira is a beloved member in his community and a national hero in the war against the Portuguese in Guinea-Bissau, which eventually compelled Portugal to accept independence for Cabo Verde.

Very interesting novel that I discovered searching for destinantions for the Globetrotter Challenge 😉

PROGRESS: 48/60

🔖July #9 - Takes place in U.S. or Canada: A High-End Finish

The action takes place in October on the Northern California coast.

Carmen wrote: "PROGRESS: 47/60

🔖June #9 - Father or Wedding figures prominently: Other American Dreams


The protagonist is a Cabo Verdean policeman, Ser..."

This book sounds so interesting, Carmen, that I've added it to my TBRs! Thank you!

PROGRESS: 49/60

🔖May #9 - Military figure or Mother has major role: Morirás en Chafarinas


A conscript corporal for the Melilla Regulars will be involved in the investigation of a series of violent deaths in his own barracks.

oshizu wrote: "This book sounds so interesting, Carmen, that I've added it to my TBRs! Thank you!..."

My pleasure, oshizu. Hope you like it!

August update to msg #5

Welp, I started the challenge with 18 tasks already completed.
This month, I finished four more.

(19) February #3. Primary action takes place in this month:
What Angels Fear
This is Book 1 in the Regency-era historical mystery series Sebastian St. Cyr. I put off reading this book until the last week of the month to motivate me to read my other not-as-interesting challenge-related books first. One of my most enjoyable reads this month!!!

(20) August #8. Month-related item on cover (beach/water):
Little Black Lies
This is a stand-alone mystery novel which is set in Falkland Islands. I'd initially planned to read it for the Globetrotter challenge. :D
It provided an insightful look at a small coastal community in the Falklands. Great cast of characters, too.

(21) July #2. Author's birth month: Faye Kellerman/The Ritual Bath
I chose this book for my #OwnVoices challenge because its author and one of its main characters are both Jewish.
The book character lives in a reclusive Torah Judaist community, so I found the book very educational (but I won't be continuing with the series).

(22) June #7. Title has a word starting with "J": Killer Jam
I'd bought this ebook on sale at Amazon for 99 cents last year.
Definitely not the kind of setting I usually enjoy (it centers on a farming community in Texas), but it was an okay read after all. Haha.

Progress: 22/36
(My goal is to complete at least 3 tasks for every month)

August update msg 6: 32/40 👍

PROGRESS 50/60

🔖October #2 - Author's birth month: I've Got You Under My Skin /Alafair Burke

oshizu wrote: "August update to msg #5

Welp, I started the challenge with 18 tasks already completed.
This month, I finished four more.

(19) February #3. Primary action takes place in this month:
[book:What A..."

Thanks for your input, oshizu!
I have most of these books on my TBR list and it's good to know your opinion.

oshizu wrote: "Lynn wrote: "11/12 completed as of August 14

Though I came to this late in the year (August 14), I had read already 11 books that qualified and I was able to fit them into the prompts. I am curren..."

I am such a sucker for making lists and participating in these challenges! Yes, I could NOT resist! ;)

Lynn wrote: I am such a sucker for making lists and participating in these challenges! Yes, I could NOT resist! ;) "..."

LOL, there are quite a few of who love the planning stage of challenges.
By the way, I like the way you roll in monthly challenges lately, listing a possible read for every prompt but then setting a "realistic goal" anyway.

Mie and Carmen,

You've both made incredible progress last month!
I'm astounded and impressed!

oshizu wrote: "Lynn wrote: I am such a sucker for making lists and participating in these challenges! Yes, I could NOT resist! ;) "..."

LOL, there are quite a few of who love the planning stage of challenges.
By..."

I learned the hard way. Just because I WANT to read that many books, rarely do I manage to do so in these monthly (or even quarterly) challenges.

PROGRESS 51/60

🔖May #8 - Month-related item on cover (graves, flags, a mother, flowers, etc.): The Moving Finger

PROGRESS 52/60

🔖November #9 - Family relationships play major role: A Murder Is Announced

As I plan to start the Dresden Files series soon, I just checked the birth month of Jim Butcher - it’s October, if you want to add that to the list 😉

PROGRESS 53/60

🔖June #7 - Title has a word starting with "J": The Job


I love this series (Fox and O'Hare,) uproarious!

Lynn wrote: "I am such a sucker for making lists and participating in these challenges! Yes, I could NOT resist! ;).."

@Lynn
Congratz on reading your 12th mystery and completing this challenge!
When you last posted, I hadn't checked your original post and the fact that you'd finished completely escaped me. Well done!

Mie wrote: "As I plan to start the Dresden Files series soon, I just checked the birth month of Jim Butcher - it’s October, if you want to add that to the list 😉"

Thank you, Mie!
After adding Jim Butcher's birthday, I also alphabetized the authors by family name (I'd ordered them loosely by age before....)

I hope you enjoy Storm Front! Allow me to warn you that it's probably the weakest book in the series. He wrote it as a writing assignment in graduate school.

Carmen wrote: "PROGRESS 53/60

🔖June #7 - Title has a word starting with "J": The Job


I love this series (Fox and O'Hare,) uproarious!"

Oh, Carmen! Soooooo many mysteries read!!!!

I am looking forward to Storm Front and the Dresden Files, but I will keep in mind, that it starts slow 🤓 Thanks for the warning 😉👍

oshizu wrote: "Lynn wrote: "I am such a sucker for making lists and participating in these challenges! Yes, I could NOT resist! ;).."

@Lynn
Congratz on reading your 12th mystery and completing this challenge!
Wh..."

One thing I've learned this year in participating in so many challenges--so many times books you have already read or already have planned for book club reads, etc., will fit prompts. It is so fascinating to me! And thank you! Now to finish some other year-long challenges! :)

Lynn wrote: "One thing I've learned this year in participating in so many challenges--so many times books you have already read or already have planned for book club reads, etc., will fit prompts. It is so fascinating to me! And thank you! Now to finish some other year-long challenges! :)..."

This is my second year on GoodReads and in this group.
I'd signed up for all 15 of this year's yearly challenges for 2019 plus 2019 Reading Women and this Calendar of Crime.
Needlless to say, I've regretted my foolishness but I'm too stubborn to drop a challenge. So I'm gritting my teeth this year.
Next year, I will only join 6-7 yearly challenges so I have more freedom for whim-driven book choices. ;)
On the plus side, I've read some great books this year!

oshizu wrote: "Lynn wrote: "One thing I've learned this year in participating in so many challenges--so many times books you have already read or already have planned for book club reads, etc., will fit prompts. ..."

This is my first year to participate in challenges, so I will reserve judgement until December 31st! :) I swore to myself as I enlisted in these challenges that I would not worry about it if I found it impossible to complete all of them. I want to have fun and discover new books that I probably would not have known about otherwise! And...so far...so good! :)

Updated to msg #5

November:
7. Title has a word starting with "N": The Night Visitor

Progress: 23/36

PROGRESS: 54/60

🔖December #9 - House Party/Family Gathering plays major role (Funeral): Fatal Shadows

Updated msg #5

April #2: Author's birth month: Ngaio Marsh, A Man Lay Dead

Progress 24/36