Bev’s Comments (group member since Nov 04, 2016)

Bev’s comments from the My Reader's Block Goodreads Challenge Site group.

This challenge was first started in 2011 and is the one nearest and dearest to my heart. I have set various challenges within the vintage mystery world over the years and this year (and last year) is a cover scavenger hunt. I would love to have you participate with me, but given the nature of the scavenger hunt cards and that I need to see covers (with scavenged items) linked up, I would ask you to join me through my blog: https://myreadersblock.blogspot.com/2...

I'm going to start off looking for enough clues to support a Misdemeanor charge. I may level up later.

Since mysteries are my primary genre, I wanted to develop another mystery challenge that would be more all-encompassing. Unlike the variations of my yearly Vintage Mystery Challenge, this mystery challenge will have no publication date limits. If it's a mystery--it counts and it does not matter when it was published. Your goal? To follow a set of clues furnished by the mystery books you read to create a body of evidence to support a book court case. Each book clue should lead you to your next read. The connection can be anything at all from author names to motive for murder to type of mystery (police procedural, espionage, romantic thriller, etc) to an item on the cover, but you must be able to make your case to the jury on your detective logic. I would prefer that you not read eight books from the same author and use the author/series character/etc. as the clue link, however.

Evidence Trail Example: if the first book I read is by Agatha Christie, then my next book could be Arrow Pointing Nowhere by Elizabeth Daly who has often been referred to as "Agatha Christie's favorite author." Using "Arrow" from the Daly book's title, then House of the Arrow by A.E.W. Mason (published in 1924) could be next and it might lead me to another book published in 1924...and so on. If you have doubts about whether your clue is convincing OR you need any clarification about the challenge at all, you may approach the bench with questions (phryne1969 AT gmail DOT com).

There are several levels of participation:
Infraction -- six books read in a single chain of evidence
Misdemeanor -- eight books read in a single chain of evidence
Felony -- ten books read in a single chain of evidence
Capital Offence -- twelve books in a single chain of evidence

Here are the rules in a nutshell:

~Challenge runs from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017. All books should be read during this time period. Sign up any time between now and November 1, 2017. Any books read from January 1 on may count regardless of your sign-up date. Please comment with your commitment.
~All books must be mysteries. Humor, romance, supernatural elements (etc) are welcome, but the books should be mysteries/crime/detective novels first.
~A full body of evidence must be read at the chosen level for a completed challenge and to be eligible for an end-of-year prize drawing.
~You are welcome to level up if you find that your evidence trail leads you to suspect a more serious crime. But no reduced sentences will be accepted (no leveling down).
~A wrap-up post/comment/email will be requested that should include explanations of the clue links.
~Reviews are not mandatory, but links to reviews are welcomed from those so inclined
~i will request a year-end case summary from those who would like to be considered for prizes.

Prizes!
~All challengers who complete their level with readily explained clues will be eligible for an end-of-year prize drawing.
~Bonus prize for the challenger who provides the longest chain of evidence (most books read in a single trail of clues). In case of a tie, I will draw a winner from those who have completed the same amount.

The Mount TBR Reading Challenge has its own group sites. The 2017 edition of the challenge may be found here: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

The Mount TBR Challenge has its own group sites. The Mount TBR edition may be found here: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

Mystery Lover...but overall a very eclectic reader. Will read everything from the classics to historical fiction. Biography to essays. Not into horror or much into YA. I am also a book collector (especially vintage mysteries!) and addicted to reading challenges. I sponsor 4-5 challenges of my own each year and I also join way more than I really ought to. This group will have folders for the various challenges that I sponsor each year.