Fiona’s
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(group member since Apr 01, 2023)
Fiona’s
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from the Bookish Challenges group.
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Congrats, you finished the Anniversary Challenge! 50 points for you :)
Investigation - William EverettDaniel: (Glancing up) “Thank you for agreeing to speak with me, Mr. Everett. I understand you’ve been with the Donovan family for quite some time.”
William: (Nods) “Nearly thirty years, Mr. Hunt. I’ve served this household since before James and Sarah were born.”
Daniel: “Thirty years is a long time. You must know the family better than anyone.”
William: (Smoothly) “My role is to ensure the household runs smoothly and the family’s privacy is respected. I observe, yes, but only insofar as it pertains to my duties.”
Daniel: “And yet, I imagine you’ve seen your share of conflicts within these walls.”
William: (Pauses, choosing his words carefully) “Every family has its disagreements, Mr. Hunt. The Donovans are no exception, though they are... more passionate than most.”
Daniel: “Passionate enough for things to turn violent?”
William: (His expression doesn’t change) “I wouldn’t presume to speculate. My focus is always on diffusing tension, not escalating it.”
Daniel: (Stepping closer) “Were there tensions the night James died?”
William: (Hesitates, then nods) “There was a heated exchange during dinner. Mr. James was in rare form, I’m afraid. He seemed... frustrated.”
Daniel: “Frustrated with whom?”
William: (Glances at the floor briefly, then back at Daniel) “There were words exchanged between Mr. James and Miss Sarah, though I didn’t catch the specifics. Later, I saw Mr. Maxwell Carter speaking with him in the study. That, too, seemed tense.”
Daniel: (Leaning forward slightly) “Did you overhear any of their conversation?”
William: “No, sir. I don’t eavesdrop. But when Mr. Carter left, he appeared... agitated.”
Daniel: “Agitated how?”
William: (Pauses, carefully phrasing his response) “He was pacing in the hallway, muttering to himself. I offered to escort him to his car, but he waved me off.”
Daniel: “And what about you? Where were you after that?”
William: “I spent most of the evening ensuring the other guests were comfortable. Mrs. Graves requested tea in the sunroom, and I delivered a tray to Miss Sarah in her room. I retired shortly before midnight.”
Daniel: “Did you see or hear anything unusual after that?”
William: (Shakes his head) “No, sir. The house was quiet when I retired. It wasn’t until the morning that I was informed of Mr. James’s... passing.”
Daniel: “You’ve worked here long enough to understand the dynamics of this household. Do you believe anyone in this family could have done this?”
William: (His expression tightens ever so slightly) “It is not my place to pass judgment, Mr. Hunt. But I will say this: strong emotions can drive people to act in ways they might later regret.”
Daniel: (Watching him closely) “You sound as though you’ve seen something like this before.”
William: (A faint smile) “I’ve been in service for three decades, sir. One learns to anticipate the storms before they arrive.”
Daniel: “And yet you didn’t anticipate this one?”
William: (His smile fades, and he looks Daniel squarely in the eye) “No one could have anticipated this, Mr. Hunt. Mr. James had his flaws, but I never imagined this would be his fate.”
Daniel: “Thank you, Mr. Everett. If anything else comes to mind, you know where to find me.”
William: (Bows slightly) “Of course, sir. I only wish I could be of more help.”
Daniel: (Nods, closing his notepad) “You’ve been more helpful than you realize.”
William: (Straightens, his expression unreadable) “If I may, Mr. Hunt... I hope you find the answers you’re looking for. Mr. James may have made enemies, but he was still a Donovan. That alone makes him worth remembering.”
Daniel: (Turning to leave, his tone thoughtful) “Every detail helps, Mr. Everett. Sometimes the smallest ones tell the biggest stories.”
Read a book that meets the general guidelines.
Great!
Here is your personal point account and your first 3 points!Points spent:
Points total: 12
Posted :)
Arrival at Donovan Manor
The Donovan Manor looms ahead as the guests arrive for a weekend gathering. The atmosphere is thick with tension, and the house, though grand, feels cold. Victoria Donovan, the matriarch, stands at the entrance, poised and polite, but there is something unsettling about the way she watches everyone.
Task 1: Read a book with a mysterious or eerie setting.
Task 2: Read a book about family secrets or hidden histories.
Task 3: Read a book where the atmosphere plays a central role in the story.
IMPORTANTExtra Clues
There will be quite a few clues in the story itself but after the investigation round, you will get the chance to buy extra clues with your points. I will let you know about this again, so do not worry about missing it.
Buying extra clues is optional and you can buy as many as you want (and you have points for).
To keep it fair for everyone, I will send these clues to you via DM and once it's time to guess who the killer is, you will also have to send me a DM as to not spoil other players.
Murder Mystery - Death in the MansionSign-ups will close on April 30th.
The challenge is open-ended.
The Challenge
1. Comment here to sign up and I will create a challenge thread for you.
2. In this challenge you will solve a murder mystery! The challenge consists of three parts: The Murder, The Investigation and The Reveal.
The Murder
During this part, you will get to know the characters and the setting task after task. For each bit you will receive a part of the story and a set of three tasks of which you have to complete one task. Each completion will earn you 2 points.
The Investigation
The suspects will be questioned one after one. For each part of the investigation, you will receive clues to solve the mystery. For each questioning you will read a book that meets the general guidelines. Each completion will earn you 2 points.
The Reveal
After the investigation round, it is up to you to catch the killer!
Points for first attempt: 25
Points for second attempt: 18
Points for third attempt: 12
Points for fourth attempt: 7
Points for fifth attempt: 3
3. If you feel stuck with your tasks, you have one free skip, which you can use to read a book that meets the general guidelines.
Once that is used up and you find yourself stuck again, you can use 5 points to skip a task and read a book that meets the general guidelines instead.
4. Please make a completion post in your thread using this template:
Book:
Author:
Date completed:
Task:
How it fits:
5. If you don't have a personal point account thread yet, request one here.
Clara Donovan
Clara Donovan, a distant cousin, arrives at the manor with an air of entitlement. She has recently discovered that she might be entitled to a share of the Donovan estate, a revelation that hasn’t been well-received by Victoria or the rest of the family. Clara has a sharp tongue and is unafraid to speak her mind, often to her own detriment. Her sudden appearance raises eyebrows, and many wonder if she’s truly here for family or for money.
Task 1: Read a book starting with a letter in INHERITANCE.
Task 2: Read a book where a distant relative returns unexpectedly.
Task 3: Read a book where a character fights for their rightful place in a family.
Investigation - Eleanor GravesDaniel: (Settling into the chair opposite her) “Thank you for meeting with me, Mrs. Graves. I understand you’ve been close to the Donovan family for many years.”
Eleanor: (Softly) “Yes, that’s true. Victoria is one of my dearest friends, and I’ve watched James and Sarah grow up in this house.”
Daniel: “So, you must have known James’s father quite well.”
Eleanor: (Her fingers tighten slightly around the cup) “I did. Richard was… a remarkable man. Strong, intelligent, devoted to his family.”
Daniel: (Watching her carefully) “Some say your connection with him went beyond friendship.”
Eleanor: (Looks up sharply, her expression hardening) “Richard and I were close, but he loved Victoria deeply. Whatever anyone may have whispered over the years, my loyalty has always been to this family.”
Daniel: “And to James?”
Eleanor: (Her voice softens) “James was… complicated. So much like his father, yet so different. He had Richard’s ambition but none of his patience. He often acted before thinking things through.”
Daniel: “Did that ambition ever concern you?”
Eleanor: (Pauses, then takes a slow sip of her tea) “It concerned everyone who cared about him. James was bold, but boldness can make enemies, Mr. Hunt. It can blind you to the consequences of your actions.”
Daniel: (Leaning forward slightly) “Do you think James made enemies here, in this house?”
Eleanor: (Her gaze sharpens) “The Donovan name is powerful. With power comes jealousy. Suspicion. Even hatred. I imagine there are few people in this world who haven’t felt the weight of James’s decisions, one way or another.”
Daniel: “And what about you, Mrs. Graves? Did you ever feel that weight?”
Eleanor: (Her lips curl into a faint smile) “Me? No, I always knew my place. I wasn’t a threat to James, nor did I wish to be. My role in this family has always been one of support, not interference.”
Daniel: “Even when James dismissed you from certain conversations? I was told he didn’t always appreciate your advice.”
Eleanor: (Tilting her head slightly) “James was young and headstrong. He didn’t see the value in experience, but that never offended me. If I had any influence, it was through Victoria.”
Daniel: “Yet you stayed here the night of his death. Why?”
Eleanor: (Setting her teacup down, her voice calm but measured) “Victoria needed me. After our dinner conversation, she seemed... troubled. I stayed for her sake, not James’s.”
Daniel: “Did you see James that evening?”
Eleanor: (Hesitates, her gaze drifting to the window) “Briefly, in passing. He seemed preoccupied, though that wasn’t unusual for him. I didn’t pry—James didn’t welcome questions.”
Read a book that meets the general guidelines.
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Ask your questions here!
Yearly Challenge 2025
Sign-ups are open throughout 2025.
The challenge will end on December 31, 2025.
The Challenge
1. Comment here to sign up and I will create a challenge thread for you. You can sign up at any point during the year but only for the months that are left. Example: If you join in January, you will be able to participate in the months January-December. If you join in March, you will be able to participate in the months March-December.
2. Each month, I will post prompts surrounding a specific theme to your thread. There will be 9 prompts each month, divided into 3 levels. For the completion of a level 1 prompt, you will receive 1 point. For level 2, you will receive 2 points and for level 3 it will be 3 points.
To receive each month's Book Award, please complete one prompt in each level. You can complete as many prompts as you want and are able to and in any order. Note that only books completed in the respective months will be accepted.
3. You have 3 free skips throughout the challenge but you can only use one free skip each month. To skip a prompt, please read a book that meets the general guidelines.
If you are out of free skips or want to use another skip in that month, you can either:
- spend 2 points to complete a prompt from a previous month,
- spend 3 points to complete a prompt from the current month twice or
- spend 5 points to read a book that meets the general guidelines.
4. Please make a completion post in your thread using this template:
Book:
Author:
Date completed:
Task:
How it fits:
5. If you don't have a personal point account thread yet, request one here.
✅
Reputation
Note: I will not include songs that are on the track list twice (with the addition of “Pop Version” etc.)
Track list:
… Ready For It?
End Game
I Did Something Bad
Don’t Blame Me
Delicate
Look What You Made Me Do
So It Goes …
Gorgeous
Getaway Car
King Of My Heart
Dancing With Our Hands Tied
Dress
This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things
Call It What You Want
New Year’s Day
That's 2 points for the task and another point for finishing the era!
Sarah Donovan
Sarah Donovan is James’s opposite—lively, rebellious, and fiercely independent. She left the estate years ago to make her own way in the city. She’s only returned for her mother’s sake, and it’s clear she has little respect for the Donovan legacy. Her contempt for James’s way of life is obvious, and the siblings clash at every opportunity.
Task 1: Read a book with a strong, independent female lead.
Task 2: Read a book where a character rejects their family’s traditions.
Task 3: Read a book where city and country life are in conflict.
Investigation - Maxwell CarterDaniel: (Studying him) “Mr. Carter, I’ve been told you and James had a heated argument the night he was killed. Care to explain?”
Maxwell: (Smirking slightly) “Business disagreements, Mr. Hunt. They happen all the time. James and I were passionate about what we built together. Arguments were just part of the process.”
Daniel: (Coolly) “Passionate? According to the staff, your voices were loud enough to carry down the hall. That sounds a bit more intense than a standard business debate.”
Maxwell: (Shrugs) “What can I say? James was stubborn. He had a way of pushing my buttons, but it never went beyond words.”
Daniel: (Leaning back slightly, his eyes narrowing) “And what exactly were you arguing about?”
Maxwell: (Pauses, choosing his words carefully) “He was making decisions I didn’t agree with. Risky moves, let’s just say. I told him he needed to slow down, reassess. He didn’t take it well.”
Daniel: “Risky moves? Like cutting you out of a deal, perhaps?”
Maxwell: (Laughs, though there’s a tightness to it) “You’ve got quite the imagination, Mr. Hunt. James and I may have had our differences, but he valued me. He wasn’t about to push me out.”
Daniel: (Pointedly) “You sound confident about that. But business partnerships can be complicated. You didn’t feel he was holding you back, maybe looking to end things?”
Maxwell: (His tone sharpens slightly) “James and I had a dynamic that worked, even if it wasn’t always smooth sailing. If you’re implying I had something to gain from his death, you’re wasting your time.”
Daniel: (Slowly) “Perhaps. But I can’t ignore the fact that tensions were high, and James had confided in others about trust issues with you.”
Maxwell: (Feigning surprise) “Oh, James confided in everyone, didn’t he? Always quick to cast doubt, but never willing to confront the real problems. Let me guess—Sarah mentioned something, didn’t she? Or maybe Clara, stirring the pot as usual?”
Daniel: (Unfazed) “Let’s stick to you and James. After your argument, where did you go?”
Maxwell: (Leaning back, his composure returning) “To my room. I needed space to cool off, and James needed to sulk. We were supposed to talk it out the next morning, but… well, here we are.”
Daniel: (Watching him carefully) “Convenient that you didn’t see him again. Do you often leave things unresolved like that?”
Maxwell: (Smirks) “Not usually, but with James? It was better to let him stew. He’d come around eventually—he always did.”
Daniel: “And now he won’t.”
Maxwell: (Leaning forward, his tone suddenly firm) “Look, Mr. Hunt, I had nothing to do with James’s death. Argue with him? Sure. But murder? That’s not who I am. If you want the truth, maybe you should dig deeper into this family. James had more enemies under this roof than business rivals outside of it.”
Daniel: (Nods slowly, his gaze lingering) “I’ll be doing just that, Mr. Carter. Don’t stray too far.”
Maxwell: (Standing, smoothing his suit) “I have no intention of leaving, Mr. Hunt. After all, I have nothing to hide.”
Read a book that meets the general guidelines.
