Baker's Dozen Challenge - Reporting Thread

[Helen]

I just realised I might have to upgrade to Smart Cookie!

[Nell]

Finished the challenge this morning with Die Job by Lila Dare for Holiday Homicide - set during Halloween.

[Julesy]

Congratulations, Nell!

[Julesy]

I finished the challenge today. See message #14. It was fun!

[Marisa]

Congrats, Julesy!

[Gary]

Well since the goals are a range and I have finished 11 tasks, I am finished as well. I may get to the final 2, fashion and romantic suspense before the end of the month. The 4th In Death book takes care of the romantic suspense. I am moving it onto my currently reading shelf.

[Marsha]

Since I just finished #8, I have updated to Smart Cookie. I updated Message 18 to show, a Holiday Homicide, A Christmas Message by Anne Perry Busy times but I hope to finish at least one more.
Marsha

[Donna]

Finished my Bakers Dozen challenge. Loved it.

[Julesy]

Congratulations, Donna!

[Marisa]

Congrats, Donna!

[Helen]

I've finished my 8th, a holiday mystery, though it isn't a homicide. Candy for Christmas, a novella by Joanne Fluke.

I still have 2 books for this challenge on my shelves, but I'm not sure I'll get them finished before the end of the year, along with completing my December challenge and several books I'm in the middle of.

[Nell]

Helen wrote: "I've finished my 8th, a holiday mystery, though it isn't a homicide. Candy for Christmas, a novella by Joanne Fluke.

I still have 2 books for this challenge on my shelves, but I'm not sure I'll ge..."

Helen - There is a 150 page minimum for challenge books so a novella isn't likely to qualify.

[Jennifer]

I made it to 7 books, updated post #4 -- great challenge!!!

[Anna Catharina]

Will start my 12th and last book, hope to finish it in time :-)

[Gary]

Reading my 12th book as well

[Marsha]

Just updated my thread (Message 18) to add my 9th book in the "pet" category... .

[Anna Catharina]

Finished this great challenge with 12 books :) Thank you, Nell, for this amazing challenge!

[Julesy]

Congratulations, Anna Catharina!

[Gary]

I am working on books 12 and 13, the odds of finishing both by tomorrow are slim, especially given that we had to get my mom to the ER last night.

[Marisa]

Congrats, Ana Catharina!

[Marisa]

Gary, I hope your mom is better, and it isn't a very serious illness (you understand, ER always is but...)

[Jeanne]

Congratulations Anna Catharines, and prayers for Gary's mom.

[Gary]

Thanks for prayers and concern for my mother, they are appeciated. She seems to be doing some better today, but is expected to be hospitalized for another 2 to 3 days.

[Julesy]

Gary wrote: "I am working on books 12 and 13, the odds of finishing both by tomorrow are slim, especially given that we had to get my mom to the ER last night."

How terrible, Gary. Hope all is well and your mom is back home.

[Mary]

Gary,

So Sorry to hear about your Mom. It is not a good time of year to be in the hospital. Not that any time is good.

Sending my prayers to you and your family!

Mary

[Gary]

This is her third hospital stay since September. She sounds better on the phone. Still going to be in for a day or two more at least.

[Nell]

Gary - It's good to hear that your mother is sounding better. I hope that she continues to improve.

[Nell]

Congratulations to everyone who met his/her challenge goal. Post on this thread to let me know so I can give you a star.

[Sharon]

I’ve really enjoyed this challenge. I’ve read some cozies I would never have considered and, with help from others in the group, I’ve found out about authors who – unsuspected by me -- are using pen names. I also hope everything I’m reporting counts in the broadly defined “mystery and suspense” rule outlined when we started. I haven’t been able to find anything to fit Love You to Death. I like cozies with romances in them, but romantic suspense seems generally a lot darker than cozy. I don't mind darker, but I just couldn't find anything I liked in the last few weeks of the challenge. So here’s my final report, which I think takes me all the way to Pie in the Sky = 11 to 13 tasks with a mere dozen tasks completed. Thanks for the fun!

TASKS:

Once Upon a Crime - Read an historical mystery (set more than 50 years ago) Murder at the Brightwell
Murder at the Brightwell by Ashley Weaver (1930s England)

And the Winner Is - Read a book that won a mystery award Blood Hollow
Blood Hollow by William Kent Krueger, winner of the Anthony for best first novel

International Intrigue - Read a mystery that is NOT set in the US or UK Inferno The Coroner's Lunch
Inferno by Dan Brown, set in Florence
(I also finished The Coroner’s Lunch by Colin Cotterill, set in Laos. It’s the first in a series and I’d like to read more of them. Good characters and interesting place to set a mystery.)

Mind Your Own Business - Read a mystery where the MC is an entrepreneur Through the Grinder
Through the Grinder by Cleo Coyle (mc owns a coffee shop)

Holiday Homicide - Read a mystery that is set during a holiday Santa Cruise: A Holiday Mystery at Sea
Santa Cruise by Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark (the name says it all)

Booked for Murder - Read a book themed mystery: MC is a librarian, an author or owns a bookstore, etc. Death of an Avid Reader
Death of an Avid Reader by Frances Brody (mc is a library board member)

Aliases and Alibis - Read a book by an author writing under a pseudonym (uses a pen name)
Death of a Gossip and Death of a Cad by M.C. Beaton (and thanks to everybody who helped me with pen names!)

Hot and Bothered - Read a mystery set in a hot climate (e.g., US South or Southwest) or set during the summer
Scalp Dance, A Sam Chitto Mystery by Lu Clifton (set in Oklahoma Indian territory; unsolicited plug with full discloser – Lu is a neighbor and friend and this is her first mystery after writing award-winning books for middle grade readers. It’s not exactly a cozy, but I think it was a darn good read. I’m looking forward to the second novel in the series.)

Culinary Chicanery - Read a food themed mystery
On What Grounds by Cleo Coyle (coffee plays a big role in this series)

Tickled to Death -Read a mystery that made you LOL
Mr. Monk and the Blue Flu by Lee Goldberg

Pet-ty Crime - Read a mystery where the MC has a pet or mystery is animal themed
The Anteater of Death by Betty Webb (mc is a zookeeper; she has lots of “pets”)

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

Dressed to Kill -Read a mystery that has a fashion theme
Secondhand Spirits by Juliet Blackwell (mc owns a second-hand clothes shop in San Francisco and thanks to Creative Caprice for listing this)

[Sharon]

Gary wrote: "Thanks for prayers and concern for my mother, they are appeciated. She seems to be doing some better today, but is expected to be hospitalized for another 2 to 3 days."

Any hospitalization is tough, but at this time of year it always seems to be worse. Best to you and your mother.

[Marisa]

I've updated my report, and I think I've gotten Pie in the Sky as I've read 12 of 13 (I haven't been able to find any funny mystery, I'm very strange about them) (Updated message 6)

[Gary]

I'm on the last 10 pages of Rapture in Death by J.D. Robb which will complete task 12. I may be able to finish number 13 tonight but it may carry over somewhat past midnight. I have about 140 pages to go, but it is a quicker read than the In Death book.

[Beth]

I completed my 10th book to finish the smart cookie level. I am over half way through Cherry Cheesecake Murder for the Culinary Chicanery; but not sure if I will make it. Nell; I have thoroughly enjoyed this challenge and look forward to the next one! HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

[Gary]

Finished at the stroke of midnight, now on to January's serial reads

[Helen]

Due to too much happening, I never got to Smart Cookie level. My last monthly challenge book for the year, Even Cat Sitters get the Blues, by Blaize Clement, was set at Christmas, so could be a replacement holiday read!

[Mary]

Nell wrote: "Congratulations to everyone who met his/her challenge goal. Post on this thread to let me know so I can give you a star."

I originally said that I would read 70 books in this 2016 challenge. But I just kept reading and finished with 102 books in all.

This year I scheduled for 100 and hope I can get at least 125 for the year.

Mary

[Nell]

Mary wrote: "Nell wrote: "Congratulations to everyone who met his/her challenge goal. Post on this thread to let me know so I can give you a star."

I originally said that I would read 70 books in this 2016 cha..."

Congratulations Mary on meeting your goal for the 2016 GR reading challenge.

[Barbara]

Just got in under the wire with my sixth challenge book, putting me right in the middle of my Morning Glory goal of 5-7 books. Between work and the holidays, I'm thrilled to have been able to complete six. Thank you, Nell, for creating this challenge. It really has expanded my reading horizons and given me new books for my TBR list!

[Debbie]

Life got in the way of Bakers Dozen. I think I missed by a couple books.
On my 2016 reading challenge I read 102 books to my challenge of 52, over by 50 books.

[Nell]

Jennifer wrote: "I'm in.

12/25 I finished morning glory muffin level as of today. Happy Holidays everyone!

Morning Glory Muffin = 5 to 7 tasks

Once Upon a Crime - Read an historical mystery (set more than 50 ye..."

Jennifer -

Two of the books you listed don't qualify for the specific challenge tasks: Once Upon a Crime and Aliases & Alibis. For Once Upon..., the mystery has be to set in the past. The Greg Iles mystery seems to have a current investigation that tries to solve a crime that happened in the past. For Aliases..., the book you read must be written under a pen name.

You did reach the Morning Glory level with 5 books.