Mark's Challenge for 2017

[Mark]

I'm back! I'm not sure how I will do with the categories, but we shall see, right? I'm doing level 4 again. Maybe if I can't make two in every category we can come up with something where I can read an extra 10 books to make up for it.

[Susie]

Glad you decided to join in!

[Mark]

Actually, I think the British cozies might be my biggest challenge since I mainly read American authors and American set books. I realized that I have a paranormal cozy sitting on my TBR pile, and it's the first in a series. Plus I'm expecting at least one to come out in the few paranormal cozy series I do read, so I think I'm good there.

[Mark]

Yes, I'm already planning on Rhys for one of mine. Love her stuff! I really don't care for M. C. Beaton. I've tried two of her books, one in each series, and didn't like them at all.

[Leslye❇]

Mark wrote: "Actually, I think the British cozies might be my biggest challenge since I mainly read American authors and American set books. I realized that I have a paranormal cozy sitting on my TBR pile, and ..."

I had posed the question as to whether a British setting written by an American would count towards this category. (Aunt Dimnity, or Jenn McKinlay's Hat Series for example). Haven't received an answer yet, but this, and the travel cozy will be hardest for me as well.

[Mark]

I'm counting the travel cozy if the main character is somewhere outside of the normal setting. As a result, I already know what my first for that category will be, the newest Hat Shop Mystery since it is set in Paris instead of London.

[Leslye❇]

Mark wrote: "I'm counting the travel cozy if the main character is somewhere outside of the normal setting. As a result, I already know what my first for that category will be, the newest Hat Shop Mystery since..."

Ahhh... that's interesting. I didn't even think to work it like that. I'll probably just read Maddy Hunter for travel, though, and hope I like it. Is Bowen or any British author especially humorous? That would be my preference.

[Mark]

Rhys Bowen's Lady Georgie series is considered comedic. It starts with Her Royal Spyness.

[Leslye❇]

Dagny wrote: "Mark wrote: "Rhys Bowen's Lady Georgie series is considered comedic. It starts with Her Royal Spyness."
i..."

Mark wrote: "Rhys Bowen's Lady Georgie series is considered comedic. It starts with Her Royal Spyness."

Thanks to you both. I will look into this series:)

[Mark]

And here we go for this year!

I've started off the year with:

1. Third Time's a Crime by Diana Orgain http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

2. (category culinary #1) Pop Goes the Murder by Kristi Abbott http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

[Yvonne]

Welcome Mark. You are off to a great start! I'm usually not that much into the British cozies, but I have enjoyed M.C. Beaton and Brian Kavanagh's books.

[Donna (weegraydog)]

Yay, Mark--I'm glad you're back for 2017! I enjoy seeing what mysteries you read and how fast you go through them!

[Mark]

Thanks for the tip. I have a few ideas, but I will keep this in mind if I get stuck.

[Tonya]

Mark, you are one of my Goodreads faves!! We are on another board together and I just love following your posts, because we have very similar reading preferences. You are just always WAY ahead of me in each of the series!!

[Mark]

Thanks, Tonya. It's always nice to meet someone with similarly good taste. :)

[Mark]

This week, I read:

3. (Category Travel #1) Assault and Beret by Jenn McKinlay http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

4. Nun Too Soon by Alice Loweecey http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

[Mark]

Glad I could help. :)

[Mark]

This week's books were:

5. Murder with a Twist by Tracy Kiely http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

6. (Career Based #1) Hearse and Gardens by Kathleen Bridge http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

[Mark]

This week, I enjoyed:

7. (Pet Based #1) Kitty Kitty Bang Bang by Sparkle Abbey http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

8. Silenced in the Surf by Kate Dyer-Seeley http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

[Mark]

Thanks!

[Mark]

This week, I read and enjoyed:

9. (Craft #1) A Palette for Murder by Sybil Johnson http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

10. Cat Killer by Sandy Dengler (Don't worry, not cats appear in this book, much less are harmed. Cat is the nickname of the murder victim.) http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

[Mark]

This week, I enjoyed:

11. War and Peach by Susan Furlong http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

12. (Culinary #2) A Measure of Murder by Leslie Karst http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

[Mark]

I really enjoyed all three of the books in that series.

[Mark]

This week, I read:

13. (Career Based #2) Death in Advertising by Laura Bradford http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

14. A High-End Finish by Kate Carlisle http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

[Mark]

You must read Laura Bradford. You must!

[Mark]

LOL. Sounds about my my "next" pile.

[Mark]

This week's books were:

15. (Animal Related) Twelve Angry Librarians by Miranda James http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

16. (Travel) Oliver Twisted by Cindy Brown http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

[Mark]

Thank you very much.

[Mark]

17. A Dark and Stormy Murder by Julia Buckley http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

18. Bitter Harvest by Wendy Tyson http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

[Betsy]

Mark wrote: "17. A Dark and Stormy Murder by Julia Buckley http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

18. [bookcover..."

I really enjoyed A Dark and Stormy Murder. I am looking forward to book #2.

[Gail]

You are moving right along Mark. Sounds like you have read some really good books too. I will have to check out some of them. Thanks.

[Mark]

Thank you all. I'm glad you're finding recommendations here. One of the fun parts of this challenge is adding to my list as well.

Here are this week's books.

19. Gone with the Twins by Kylie Logan http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

20. The Silence of the Flans by Laura Bradford http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

[Gail]

I read Gone With the Twins actually I read the whole series. I enjoyed them and I hope you do too!

[Mark]

I do. It's such a fun series.

[Britney]

I have the first in the series on my TBR but have yet to read it. Seems like it gets good reviews.

[Mark]

It really is a lot of fun.

[Mark]

Over the last couple of weeks, I've enjoyed:

21. Say No More by Hank Phillippi Ryan http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

22. The Semester of Our Discontent by Cynthia Kuhn http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

23 (Historical #1). Design for Dying by Renee Patrick http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

[Mark]

This week, I enjoyed:

24. When the Grits Hit the Fan by Maddie Day http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

25. Mouse Trapped by Sandy Dengler http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

[Mark]

The book just came out this week, so hopefully if your library doesn't have it yet, they will very, very soon.

[Britney]

Design for Dying looks good. I have been getting in to historical mysteries more & more.

[Mark]

If you are looking for historical mysteries, I certainly recommend you check out that book. The sequel comes out this month.

[Mark]

This week, I enjoyed:

26. Caramel Crush by Jenn McKinlay http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

27. Dying on the Vine by Marla Cooper http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

[Betsy]

Mark wrote: "This week, I enjoyed:

26. Caramel Crush by Jenn McKinlay http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

27. Dying on the Vine by Marla Cooper http://carstai..."

Looking forward to Caramel Crush. Love that series especially the movie quotes.

[Mark]

This week, I enjoyed:

28. (Historical #2) Called to Justice by Edith Maxwell http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

29. Blown Away by Clover Tate http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

[Mark]

The next in that series comes out end of May.

[Mark]

This week's books were:

30. Whale of a Crime by Karen MacInerney http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

31 (British #1). In Farleigh Field by Rhys Bowen http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

[Betsy]

Mark wrote: "This week's books were:

30. Whale of a Crime by Karen MacInerney http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

31 (..."

Like the Grey Whale Inn series. Love Natalie and crew.

[Mark]

Both of these books were good, Joanne.

You'll be glad to go back to the Gray Whale Inn with this book, Betsy.

[Mark]

Over the last couple of weeks, I've enjoyed:

32. A Good Day to Buy by Sherry Harris http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

33. Murder on St. Mark's Place by Victoria Thompson http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

34. Death in Dark Blue by Julia Buckley http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

[Mark]

You're half way through, in that case. I'm only a tenth of the way through. We both have a lot of great reading ahead of us.