Baker's Dozen Challenge - Tasks, Questions and Comments

[Nell]

Baker's Dozen Challenge
Duration: 3 months - Oct 1 to Dec 31

This is a challenge based on mystery themes and settings.
All books read for this challenge must be from the mystery or suspense genre.

Page limit: 150 minimum
Book can be used for only one task.

TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS CHALLENGE:
Pick a level and copy the tasks list on the Reporting Thread

LEVELS:
Piece of Cake = 2 to 4 tasks
Morning Glory Muffin = 5 to 7 tasks
Smart Cookie = 8 to 10 tasks
Pie in the Sky = 11 to 13 tasks

TASKS:

Once Upon a Crime - Read an historical mystery (set more than 50 years ago)

And the Winner Is - Read a book that won a mystery award

International Intrigue - Read a mystery that is NOT set in the US or UK

Mind Your Own Business - Read a mystery where the MC is an entrepreneur

Holiday Homicide - Read a mystery that is set during a holiday

Booked for Murder - Read a book themed mystery: MC is a librarian, an author or owns a bookstore, etc.

Aliases and Alibis - Read a book by an author writing under a pseudonym (uses a pen name)

Hot and Bothered - Read a mystery set in a hot climate (e.g., US South or Southwest) or set during the summer

Culinary Chicanery - Read a food themed mystery

Tickled to Death -Read a mystery that made you LOL

Pet-ty Crime - Read a mystery where the MC has a pet or mystery is animal themed

Love You to Death - Read a book from the romance suspense genre

Dressed to Kill -Read a mystery that has a fashion theme

[Nell]

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 listed on the GR book page.

Exception - The "Tickled to Death" task is entirely subjective. If you laughed out loud, it counts whether or not it is classified as a humorous mystery.

For Aliases and Alibis, the book you read has to be written under a pen name.

You may pick your books in advance or post as you read.

Books read for this challenge can be used for the Serial Reader Challenge or can be a CMC Featured Read.

You may change your level during the challenge. Post a message on this thread to let the moderator know.

[Nell]

A great list of cozies by theme can be found at www.cozy-mystery.com

You can also check this group's bookshelves for themed reads.

[Nell]

And the Winner Is -

SYKM lists books that were nominated for the major mystery awards. There's an asterisk next to the winners in each category. The book you read has to win an award.

http://stopyourekillingme.com/Awards/...

The Agatha Awards recognize the top traditional/cozy mysteries. Winners have an asterisk and are listed first. Note that the Agatha award year is based on year of publication. Ex: The 2015 books were published in 2015 and received awards in 2016.

http://stopyourekillingme.com/Awards/...

These are not the only mystery awards so the book you read does not have to be on one of the SYKM lists. Let us know what mystery award the book you read won.

[Helen]

I'd love to join in this one, starting with the piece of cake level.

[Mary]

Nell wrote: "A great list of cozies by theme can be found at www.cozy-mystery.com

You can also check this group's bookshelves for themed reads."

Nell,


I did not mean Pie in the sky to start, I meant Piece of Cake to start. Sorry about that.

Mary

[Debbie]

I'll start with Morning Glory

[Jeannie]

This challenge sounds like fun. I would like to participate. Jeannie

[Kerri]

I'd like to participate, starting with Morning Glory Muffin level. I can't wait to see what everyone else will be reading.

[Helen]

Nell wrote: "And the Winner Is - I love the sound of the Agatha Awards. I'll definitely put it on my list.



SYKM lists books that were nominated for the major mystery awards. There's an asterisk next to the winners in each category.

http://stopyourekillingme.com/Awards/...
..."

[Tracey]

Sounds fun. Count me in for Smart Cookie.

[Marsha]

This challenge sounds like fun. I do read a number of different genres, not just mysteries, but I should be able to manage the Morning Glory category.

[Nell]

Helen wrote: "Nell wrote: "And the Winner Is - I love the sound of the Agatha Awards. I'll definitely put it on my list...."

I've discovered a lot of new favorites from the list of Agatha nominees. Malice Domestic hosts a conference each spring for cozy authors and fans where the winners are announced.

[Rebecca]

I'm in for Pie in the Sky. I will try to do all 13.

[Gary]

For the historical mystery can we use books written in an earlier era,
for instance books by Dorothy Sayers, Patricia Wentworth, A. Conan Doyle, etc.?

[Deanna]

I'm in for Pie in the Sky (which is also the name of a wonderful British detective show with Richard Griffiths). Hope it also isn't a perfect description for this goal!

[Nell]

Gary wrote: "For the historical mystery can we use books written in an earlier era,
for instance books by Dorothy Sayers, Patricia Wentworth, A. Conan Doyle, etc.?"

By historical, I meant mysteries written recently that are set more than 50 years ago. (like Victoria Thompson, Rhys Bowen, Charles Finch or Susan MacNeal). I wasn't thinking of the Golden Age mysteries but that does fit the description. So if the book was published more than 50 years ago, I will accept that as historical as well.

[Anne]

I am in for Morning glory

[Randa]

I'm in for smart cookie

[Jeanne]

I'm in and I think I'll aim for smart cookie.

[Meg]

What fun ! I'll start with a Piece of Cake, please.

[Christine]

I'm going to do a piece of cake.

[Stacie]

I'm going to start out shooting for Morning Glory Muffin.

[Gary]

Nell wrote: "Gary wrote: "For the historical mystery can we use books written in an earlier era,
for instance books by Dorothy Sayers, Patricia Wentworth, A. Conan Doyle, etc.?"

By historical, I meant mysteri..."
I have several that fit your idea in my TBR. Thanks for the clarification.

[Kim]

I'm in w/Piece of Cake.

[Gary]

I'm in and will shoot for Smart Cookie Status but may make it one level higher. We shall see.

Would the In Death series work as Romance Suspense?

[Beth]

I'm going for the Morning glory Muffin, and to challenge myself a little more I am going to try and read new series for me for each challenge.

[Nell]

Gary wrote: "I'm in and will shoot for Smart Cookie Status but may make it one level higher. We shall see.

Would the In Death series work as Romance Suspense?"

If you mean the series by J D Robb/Nora Roberts? Yes

btw - That's also a pen name.

[Marisa]

Gary wrote: "I'm in and will shoot for Smart Cookie Status but may make it one level higher. We shall see.

Would the In Death series work as Romance Suspense?"

Although Nell has answered, I wanted to ask my vote. Perhaps, after the first four books, it's not a traditional romance, but all of them are romantic, a lot, and the future is only a landscape, the main meat is the suspense.

[Gary]

Nell wrote: "Gary wrote: "I'm in and will shoot for Smart Cookie Status but may make it one level higher. We shall see.

Would the In Death series work as Romance Suspense?"

If you mean the series by J D Robb/..."
Yep I knew that... for Nora Roberts.

[Gary]

Marisa wrote: "Gary wrote: "I'm in and will shoot for Smart Cookie Status but may make it one level higher. We shall see.

Would the In Death series work as Romance Suspense?"

Although Nell has answered, I wante..."
I have book 4 and one of the shorter works cuurently on my Nook. I was thinking book 4.

I am open to other suggestions for that category....

[Nell]

Gary wrote: "Nell wrote: "Gary wrote:
Would the In Death series work as Romance Suspense?"
If you mean the series. .btw - That's also a pen name.

Yep I knew that... for Nora Roberts.."

Nora Roberts is also a pen name. Her name is Eleanor Robertson Wilder.

[Karen]

Can't wait to dig into this challenge! Happy Reading everyone!

[Mark]

I just want to double check that any mystery or thriller counts for this, right? Not just cozies? Because I just bought an award winner that isn't a thriller I was thinking about trying to read in November or December.

[Rebecca]

I'll take a shot at the Morning Glory level!

[Nell]

Mark wrote: "I just want to double check that any mystery or thriller counts for this, right? Not just cozies? Because I just bought an award winner that isn't a thriller I was thinking about trying to read in ..."

The books have to be mysteries but they do not have to be cozies. To qualify for the winner task, the book has to win a mystery award.

[Marisa]

Gary wrote: "I am open to other suggestions for that category.... "

I like some books by Andrea Kane (I think more heavy in romance), Karen Rose (quite scary and a bit gore some of them), Mary Burton, Laura Griffin... but I think the last books in "In Death" series are heavier in suspense and "binds building" than romance (4th, if I'm not wrong, is the honeymoon book, and is nice... and suspenseful -not in the gore / scary side as some of her late books).

[Nell]

Here's a GR list of Best Romantic Suspense

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...

[Gary]

Marisa and Nell:

Thanks for the input. I went through the first 699 entries on that list and found 2 books that I have on my Nook. In Death #4 and Stephanie Plum #1

[Lydia]

Hi. I'm new, but think this will help as I work on my own mystery novel for NaNoWriMo!

I'm in for Morning Glory Muffin!

[Carmen]

I'm gonna take a walk on the wild side and go for Pie In The Sky. Thanks for picking such a fun challenge.

[Mark]

Nell wrote: "Mark wrote: "I just want to double check that any mystery or thriller counts for this, right? Not just cozies? Because I just bought an award winner that isn't a thriller I was thinking about tryin..."

Thanks, Nell. The book I'm thinking of just won the Anthony at Bouchercon for best first novel, so it definitely qualifies.

[Marisa]

Gary wrote: "Marisa and Nell:

Thanks for the input. I went through the first 699 entries on that list and found 2 books that I have on my Nook. In Death #4 and Stephanie Plum #1"

I disagree with Stephanie Plum ;-) For me, when I think about Romantic Suspense, I think in HEA or, at least, a relationship through the books. Stephanie Plum is a mystery (cozy for some ones), with a perennial triangle, so no, not my kind of romantic suspense but to each his/her own.

[Nell]

Gary wrote: "Marisa and Nell:

Thanks for the input. I went through the first 699 entries on that list and found 2 books that I have on my Nook. In Death #4 and Stephanie Plum #1"

Gary -

In order to qualify for the challenge, the book has to be listed as Romance Suspense on its book page. Posting a link to the GR list may have been misleading. Once you get past the first page or two, they often include books that have less than 5 votes.

Rapture in Death (In Death #4) fits the criteria. Romantic Suspense is 4th on the genre list. I'm not going to be super picky and will edit the task to include the first four genres.

Stephanie Plum's One for the Money does not have Romantic Suspense on the book page so that one won't work for this task.

The rule now reads:
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 listed on the GR book page.

[Sharon]

I know I'll get a few more mysteries in this year. I'm going to try for Morning Glory muffin to start.

[Gary]

Nell wrote: "Gary wrote: "Marisa and Nell:

Thanks for the input. I went through the first 699 entries on that list and found 2 books that I have on my Nook. In Death #4 and Stephanie Plum #1"

Gary -

In orde..."

I found it odd that the Plum book was on the list, sonce over 800 books into the list it was the only one from that series. I will stick with my initial idea of using In Death # 4 for that task.

[Troll]

Is Halloween considered a Holiday? I am asking this question for the Holiday Homicide challenge.

[Meg]

I sure hope Hallo'ween is considered a holiday here. I've got a long list of mysteries that occur around this time of year.

[Nell]

Troll wrote: "Is Halloween considered a Holiday? I am asking this question for the Holiday Homicide challenge."

Yes

[Troll]

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