Historical Mysteries Settings Challenge (2016) - Particpant Threads

[Denise S]

I've completed my challenge - Doctor of History - 22 books/10 categories.
That was fun - thank you for setting it up Lauren!

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Lauren]

Congrats Denise! I'm so glad you enjoyed it :0)

[Veronica]

Congrats, Denise!

[Denise S]

Thank you, Veronica:)

[Veronica]

Master level
Completed: 4/15

Early 20th century: Mark of the Lion

My original post

[Susan]

I completed my 8th book in my 5th category, Ancient Rome
by Lindsey Davis.

This was a new category and new author for me.

My original post: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Benjamin]

Added a good one, especially for fans of the canonical Sherlock Holmes -- same era

In the Fog by Richard Harding Davis, set 1902 - finished 5/17/2016

Added to my original post here

[Vicki]

Tudor/Stuart England: Sovereign by C.J. Sansom (May 13, 2016)

Tudor/Stuart England: Revelation by C.J. Sansom (May 20, 2016)

My original post

[Gretchen]

Original Msg https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Added
-The Mask of Ra (5/19)
-Medicus (5/14)
-The Eyes of Aurora: A Fifth Case from the Notebooks of Pliny the Younger (5/11)
-A Maze of Murders (5/23)
Cocaine Blues (5/24)

17 books so far

[Sandy]

Completed #6 towards my masters with Murder in Morningside Heights. Not the best in the series.

Original post #8 ##https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Dawn]

I finished A Devil's Judgement by Dennis Hamley. This was another nice installment in the Joslin de Lay series. I am enjoying this series.

My original post: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Lauren]

I finished my last book for the challenge -

This is a wonderful series with great characterization. Looking forward to the next installment, which comes out in July.

[Veronica]

Yay, congrats, Lauren! I love the Lady Darby series too. There was a short story/novella that was just released, A Pressing Engagement, that fits in between books 4 and 5.

[Lauren]

Veronica wrote: "Yay, congrats, Lauren! I love the Lady Darby series too. There was a short story/novella that was just released, A Pressing Engagement, that fits in between books 4 and 5."

Yeah, I'm going to read that one today :0)

[Sandy]

Finished #7 towards my masters: Murder in a Mill Town by P. B. Ryan, second in her Gilded Age series. The series falls under 'guilty pleasure' - light, quick read with a reasonable mystery and a low-level romance. I always want to go on to the next immediately, a bit like wanting to eat the entire box of chocolates in one sitting, but forget them soon after. There are only six in the series, so I will space them out.

My original post (#8) https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Veronica]

I love guilty pleasures. It's always nice to sprinkle them into the reading schedule.

[Lauren]

Sandy wrote: "Finished #7 towards my masters: Murder in a Mill Town by P. B. Ryan, second in her Gilded Age series. The series falls under 'guilty pleasure' - light, quick read with a reasonable ..."

Glad you are enjoying the series, Sandy.

[Jadetyger]

Just finished The Samurai's Wife.

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Lauren]

Oops! Forgot to post the updated readerboard after the end of May. Well done to all those who have completed their challenge and good luck to those who are still working it or have decided to continue on to the next level!

Aubree - 6/15
Benjamin - 6/10
Candace - 1/3
Carol
Dawn - 9/10
Denise -22/22
Gail - 9/9
Gretchen - 14/14
Gretchen II - 17/20
Jadetyger -4/10
Lauren - 10/10
Lindy-Lane - 4/15
Meghan - 11/15
Nick - 7/15
Paisley - 4/15
Rosina 2/10
Sandy - 7/10
Susan - 8/15
Veronica - 10/10 , 3/15
Vicki - 19/19
Viji - 10/20+

[Susan]

I just finished Mark of the Lion by Suzanne Arruda. That makes 9 books in 5 categories.

Here is the link to my original post: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Veronica]

I need to diversify more. I seem to be stuck in early 20th century, lol.

[Lauren]

Veronica wrote: "I need to diversify more. I seem to be stuck in early 20th century, lol."

It's hard to read outside a favorite sub-genre :0)

[Nick]

After setting it aside for ages, finally finished Bone Rattler, which gets me another category.

No idea why this one was such hard going for me, it was quite a good story and fairly well written. Guess it just happens sometimes.

My original post

[Carol]

Lauren wrote: "Oops! Forgot to post the updated readerboard after the end of May. Well done to all those who have completed their challenge and good luck to those who are still working it or have decided to conti..."

Lauren, I'm confused as to why I remain at zero in this latest update. Here's a link to my updated, original post from several weeks back.

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

If there's something else I need to do, please advise.

[Lauren]

Sorry about that, Carol.
I missed that you had added your finished dates to your original post.
You are up to date on the reader board now.

[Vicki]

I have finished the Matthew Shardlake series and can heartily recommend any of the books in it. The first one was my favorite, being set in a monastery. Have to warn you, though, they are all very long books, but you really learn a lot about Tudor England, and the stories don't drag, even though they're long.

Tudor/Stuart England: Heartstone by C.J. Sansom (May 27, 2016)

Tudor/Stuart England: Lamentation by C.J. Sansom (June 5, 2016)

My original post

[Carol]

Lauren wrote: "Sorry about that, Carol.
I missed that you had added your finished dates to your original post.
You are up to date on the reader board now."

Thanks, Lauren! I appreciate the update.

[Denise S]

Vicki wrote: "I have finished the Matthew Shardlake series and can heartily recommend any of the books in it. The first one was my favorite, being set in a monastery. Have to warn you, though, they are all very ..."

I LOVE this series! and I agree tho lengthy they move apace.

[Nick]

I loved the Shardlakes as well, I think it was probably my favourite historical series right up until I discovered Susanna Gregory's Bartholomew series ;)

[Susan]

I just finished my 10th book in a 6th category:
Mist of Midnight by Sandra Byrd.

Great mystery reminiscent of Jane Eyre/Victoria Holt.

My original post: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Sandy]

Complete #8 towards my masters: The Killing Way in the Medieval Britain category. I only have 4 categories covered and I need at least 5. So my next foray needs to be either the next in Viennese mysteries, Captain Lacey or Dr. Dody.

Original post, #8, https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Carol]

I finished The Infidel Stain, my 4th book and 3rd category.

Original post: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I've finished my bachelors so am now pursuing my Masters.

[Benjamin]

@Carol -- Judging by your stars, you didn't care for The Infidel Stain as much as The Strangler Vine. I fall into that camp too. I can't say Infidel was a total disappointment, but I have a good sized pile of hopes and reservations for Blake & Avery 3.

[Veronica]

Congrats on completing your first level, Carol!

[Aubree]

Finished these:

Mycroft Holmes 4/2/16
Fiercombe Manor 4/10/16
Lost Among the Living 4/12/16

My original post

[Meghan]

Veronica wrote: "I need to diversify more. I seem to be stuck in early 20th century, lol."

That's been my favorite category as well. I think it's partially because it's so huge!

[Carol]

Benjamin L wrote: "@Carol -- Judging by your stars, you didn't care for The Infidel Stain as much as The Strangler Vine. I fall into that camp too. I can't say Infidel was a total disa..."

I was very disappointed in The Infidel Strain, Benjamin. I'm not certain why she's continuing with these two characters who have no chemistry and aren't particularly likable. Carter's editor should have reduced it by a good 75 pages. Most important, Carter didn't have a story she needed to tell. The mystery was convoluted and uninteresting. Too many random characters and dead folk about whom we do not care. And now you know why I am waiting to write a review until I can find a couple of nice things to say, so Ndont provoke a response of, "who peed on you Wheaties." Lol

I'm not in for #3, assuming Infidel sells well enough to justify it, which is not a certainty, until and unless a couple of reliable discerning friends vet it first.

But enough about me...

[Carol]

Thanks, Veronica!

[Benjamin]

I was very disappointed in The Infidel Stain...

Oh, no! I agree, the chemistry wasn't as good as I thought it was in Strangler Vine, and the story overall was weaker. Well, Blake & Avery 3 is coming around the end of the year last I heard (from the author on Twitter a few months back), I'm certainly willing to give it a try, so you can count on me if you get curious about a review.

[Meghan]

Just finished The Service of the Dead, which is the first in a new series of Medieval mysteries. Not sure whether I'm going to continue or not.

Original Post

[Benjamin]

Why's that Meghan? I haven't read that one yet.

[Meghan]

Benjamin L wrote: "Why's that Meghan? I haven't read that one yet."

It's a fairly decent mystery, but this time period is really hit-and-miss for me. I have a feeling a lot of people will like the book, but it didn't hold my interest as much as I thought it would. So far Priscilla Royal is the only one that I've been really invested in (I haven't tried Ellis Peters yet). It may be that it's been an off-week for me, so I'll decide on whether I continue when the next installment is released.

[Jadetyger]

Finished another! It was all right. Not spectacular, but not dreadful, either. A Poisoned Season.

My link:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Sandy]

Jadetyger wrote: "Finished another! It was all right. Not spectacular, but not dreadful, either. A Poisoned Season.

My link:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/......"

I agree. I read one more and then put the series aside, at least for now.

[Susan]

I just finished my 11th book in a 7th category:
.

I loved this book! If you like Rhys Bowen's Molly Murphy series, you will most likely enjoy this. It takes place in 1910 Toronto. The mystery addresses the plight of immigrants and corrupt politicians. It also has many witty, laugh out loud moments.

I can't wait to read more in this series.

My original post: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Carol]

I completed my fifth book in 3 categories: The Mamur Zapt and the Spoils of Egypt by Michael Pearce. I enjoyed it and will look for others in the series.


My original post: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Meghan]

Another one down: Heirs and Graces by Rhys Bowen. I started this series last year (I think?) and then took a brief break from it. It was lovely to get back into it again.

Original Post

[Dawn]

I finished Angel's Snare. This is another good chapter in the Joslin de Lay series. I think there is only one book left.

My original post:https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Lauren]

Dawn wrote: "I finished Angel's Snare. This is another good chapter in the Joslin de Lay series. I think there is only one book left.

My original post:https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/......"

Congrats on receiving your Bachelor's, Dawn!

[Veronica]

Masters level
Complete: 5/15

Victorian England: The September Society

My original post