Baker's Dozen Challenge - Tasks, Questions and Comments

[Nell]

Troll wrote: "for the Love You to Death challenge, does it mean a book where mc has a boyfriend, or dating someone?"

Not necessarily. Romantic Suspense is a specific sub-genre. Usually the MC meets someone and develops a relationship during the novel. There is often an element of danger - the MC is in peril. It is not just a cozy mystery with a love interest.

See my responses in messages 38 & 44.

[Marianne]

Just finished reading for the Booked for Murder category Murder Past Due lead character is a librarian.

[Marsha]

Nell wrote: "Troll wrote: "for the Love You to Death challenge, does it mean a book where mc has a boyfriend, or dating someone?"

Romantic Suspense are generally stand-alones; Sandra Brown, Kat Martin and Nora all write some RS, as does a favorite author of mine, Heather Graham whose books generally have a touch of paranormal in them.

[Nell]

Marsha wrote: "Nell wrote: "Troll wrote: "for the Love You to Death challenge, does it mean a book where mc has a boyfriend, or dating someone?"

Romantic Suspense are generally stand-alones; Sandra Brown, Kat Martin and Nora..."

Nora is Nora Roberts - some of her books are Romantic Suspense others are romance. Karen Robards, Linda Howard and Suzanne Brockman are other authors in this genre.

Thanks for the info Marsha.

[Karen]

Just to verify,

For the challenge about a mystery not set in the US or UK, we are counting Scotland as part of the UK, correct?

Thanks.

[Meg]

Would you consider "Foucault's Pendulum" by Emberto Eco a "thriller" ? It sure feels like one as well as a"mystery".

[Nell]

Karen wrote: "Just to verify,

For the challenge about a mystery not set in the US or UK, we are counting Scotland as part of the UK, correct?

Thanks."

Yes, the United Kingdom is England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

[Nell]

Meg wrote: "Would you consider "Foucault's Pendulum" by Emberto Eco a "thriller" ? It sure feels like one as well as a"mystery"."

Foucault's Pendulum is a mystery. I haven't read this one, Meg, but others agree that it is also a thriller. On the GR book page, mystery is 2nd and thriller is 7th on the genre list.

[Meg]

Thanks Nell

[Karen]

Thanks, Nell

[Marianne]

Culinary Chicanery Rotten to the Core

[Troll]

does a book series about cupcake bakeries, or magical bakeries count towards the challenge of food theme mystery?

[Nell]

Troll wrote: "does a book series about cupcake bakeries, or magical bakeries count towards the challenge of food theme mystery?"

Yes

[Jeanne]

Two questions for Nell,

For the "foreign intrigue" selection, does the entire book have to be set somewhere other than the US or UK? The selection I had in mind has a little more than 1/3 of the book set in the US with about 2/3 of the book set in Germany, Switzerland, and Namibia.

Also, I'm confused as to where to find whether a book is considered "romantic suspense" genre.

Thanks -- Jeanne

[Nell]

Jeanne wrote: "Two questions for Nell,

For the "foreign intrigue" selection, does the entire book have to be set somewhere other than the US or UK? .."

If 2/3 of the book is set in another country, you can use it for international intrigue.

where to find whether a book is considered "romantic suspense" genre

Each book page has a list of genres in the column on the right (above the author bio). Romantic Suspense has to be one of the first four listed. This is a different genre from cozy mystery. There's a link to a GR list of Best Romantic Suspense at msg 38 & comments at msg 44 and a few suggestions in msgs 51, 53 & 54.

[Amanda A]

I'd like to join this challenge - Pie in the Sky level.

[Nell]

Debbie wrote: "Debbie- Morning Glory Muffin
And the winner is - Well read then dead by Terrie Farley Moran
Agatha award for first novel"

Debbie - I don't see a tasks list for you in the reporting thread.

[Debbie]

I don't understand what a task list is. This is my first challenge that I'm participating in.

[Nell]

The first post for this thread and the reporting thread includes a list of tasks - the themes for the books that you are reading. (It starts just below the levels.) On the reporting thread, you will see that most of the players copied that list from message 1 and are editing it to track their reading and to report the books they've read that match the different tasks. Each person's name in msg #2 is a link to their tasks list if they have one. You can participate in the challenge without copying the list but It's harder to track your progress.

fyi - Here's how to post book titles and covers if you want to do that.

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

[Hilary (A Wytch's Book Review), Co-Moderator, Featured Series]

Does Georgia (Pies and Prejudice) count and Southern US?

[Nell]

Hilary wrote: "Does Georgia (Pies and Prejudice) count and Southern US?"

Yes, it's set in Georgia - that's a Deep South state in the US.

The Southern states are: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Texas, Tennessee and Kentucky. The "Deep South" is South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi. It is a geographic area that has a distinct culture and history.

[Hilary (A Wytch's Book Review), Co-Moderator, Featured Series]

Thank you Nell - being in and from the UK I have limited knowledge of US geography :D

[Nell]

The Southwestern US states are: Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Utah. You'll note that Texas is included on both list. I'm defining this broadly to give more leeway even though Colorado makes me think of ski resorts.

You can also read a book set in other warm climates like an African nation or the Caribbean.

[Beth]

If Agatha Christie wind the Archie Goodwin award in 2005 would any of her novels count as award winners. I am interested in reading Murder on the Orient Express as it ties in with one of the theme books for November. Wondering if it would count for the Bakers Dozen challenge also. Thanks

[Nell]

You can use Murder on the Orient Express for the International Intrigue task. It won't work for the award winner task, the book you read has to win an award - not the author.

[Beth]

Nell wrote: "You can use Murder on the Orient Express for the International Intrigue task. It won't work for the award winner task, the book you read has to win an award - not the author."

Oh good I didn't even think of that! Thanks Nell

[Troll]

Does Josie Belle's Good Buy Girls series meet the criteria of "Dressed to Kill -Read a mystery that has a fashion theme " since the MC has her own secondhand shop My Sister's Closet?

[Nell]

Troll wrote: "Does Josie Belle's Good Buy Girls series meet the criteria of "Dressed to Kill -Read a mystery that has a fashion theme " since the MC has her own secondhand shop My Sister's Closet?"

Yes that fits.

Josie Belle is also a pen name for Jenn McKinlay. If you read another book in this series you can use it for the Alias & Alibi task.

[Nell]

The featured reads for November fit several tasks for the challenge.

Both Avery Aames and Kylie Logan are pen names. - Aliases & Alibis

The Cheese Shop mysteries can also be used for Culinary Chicanery (food themed) or Mind Your Own Business (owns cheese shop). The first book in the series, The Long Quiche Goodbye, can be used for And the Winner is - it won the Agatha Award in 2010.

The League of Literary Ladies series is book themed - Booked for Murder. And one or two of the book group ladies owns a business - Mind Your Own Business.

You can only use one book per task but you have some options.

[Nell]

Mary wrote: "Nell wrote: "All books for this challenge must be mysteries.

When the task calls for a specific genre (or sub-genre), such as romantic suspense, it must be one of the first three four genres list..."

You have Mayhem at the Orient Express for Culinary Chicanery and The Long Quiche Goodbye for Pet-ty Crimes. That should probably be the other way around.

[Mary]

Nell wrote: "Mary wrote: "Nell wrote: "All books for this challenge must be mysteries.

When the task calls for a specific genre (or sub-genre), such as romantic suspense, it must be one of the first three fou..."

OK I can switch them around.

Thanks, Nell

Mary

[Helen]

Would a book set in Sydney Australia count for Hot and Bothered? It has a similar latitude to California or Georgia in the U S.
I have another country in mind for Foreign Intrigue.

[Nell]

Helen wrote: "Would a book set in Sydney Australia count for Hot and Bothered? It has a similar latitude to California or Georgia in the U S.
I have another country in mind for Foreign Intrigue."

Yes you can use Australia for hot and bothered.

[Debbie]

Debbie Morning Glory Muffin
International Intrigue. Alpine for you by Mandy
Hunter setting Switzerland

[Jeanne]

Nell, I think I'd like to upgrade my Bakers' Challenge to "Pie in the Sky"
Thanks -- Jeanne

[Carmen]

Can a book be nominated for an award or does it have to be the winner of an award?

[Julesy]

Carmen wrote: "Can a book be nominated for an award or does it have to be the winner of an award?"

It actually has to win the award and you have to name the award in which it was won in your progress.

[Nell]

Carmen wrote: "Can a book be nominated for an award or does it have to be the winner of an award?"

Thanks Julesy.

The book has to win a mystery award for And The Winner Is.

[Troll]

Does Library Lover's Mysteries by Jenn McKinlay apply to challenge "Booked for Murder"? thanks

[Nell]

Troll wrote: "Does Library Lover's Mysteries by Jenn McKinlay apply to challenge "Booked for Murder"? thanks"

Yes, The Library Lover's series works. MC is a librarian.

But...
Who Do, Voodoo? did not win the Agatha Award, it was a nominee. The book has to win a mystery award to fit And the Winner Is.. This one is set in California so you can use it for Hot and Bothered and switch the Kylie Logan Button Box mystery to Dressed to Kill.

Jenn McKinlay is not a pen name so it doesn't fit for Aliases and Alibis. She does use a pen name for other series but not this one. The book you use has to be written under a pen name. Sorry if that wasn't clear.

Three of the other books you have read are written under pen names: Bailey Cates, Kylie Logan and Heather Blake. One option is to use the Cupcake Bakery book for Mind Your Own Business and use the Heather Blake for Aliases.

That way you can use all the books you've read for the challenge.

[Nell]

Meg wrote: "Hello ! My name is not highlighted in the challenge participant list, how do you want me to update what I've read so far in this 3 month challenge ?"

The names of players who copied and posted the tasks list are links to their post. Your name is not a link because you did not copy and paste the tasks list. You can do that now in a new post and edit the list to update your progress. Or you can edit your post at msg 54 to include additional books read and tasks as you complete them. Once you've done one or the other I will link your name to the message.

[Nell]

Rebecca wrote: "I guess I should upgrade to a tougher challenge level. I've already done 4:
...
Holiday: The Falcon's Malteser (if it's okay that it's kids/YA. It was definitely a real mystery, of the hard-boiled-with-tongue-in-cheek variety). ..."

You can use a YA book as long as it's a mystery and meets the page minimum - this one does.

[Troll]

Thanks, Nell! Just gives me excuse to read more books :-) I absolutely love the challenges!

[Marianne]

For the International Intrigue I just finished reading Murder in an Irish Village set in Ireland.

[Nell]

Marianne wrote: "For the International Intrigue I just finished reading Murder in an Irish Village set in Ireland."

Remember to edit your tasks list on the Reporting Thread to report the books read and tasks completed.

[Julesy]

Nell, I've surpassed the number of tasks so could you please bump me up to Pie in the Sky level? Thanks.

[Nell]

Julesy wrote: "Nell, I've surpassed the number of tasks so could you please bump me up to Pie in the Sky level? Thanks."

Sure.

[Anna Catharina]

How much pet needs "pet-ty crime"?
I read a cozy, the main character (and her family) has a cat, but it's not very prominent in the book, only mentioned some times. So I'm not quite sure if I can use it for "pet-ty crime".

[Nell]

Anna Catharina wrote: "How much pet needs "pet-ty crime"?
I read a cozy, the main character (and her family) has a cat, but it's not very prominent in the book, only mentioned some times. So I'm not quite sure if I can u..."

Yes you can use it. The MC has a pet so it fits for the pet-ty crime task.

[Anna Catharina]

Nell wrote: Yes you can use it.

Thanks, Nell :)