June 2014 - Solved! (Reporting Thread for Clue!)

[Jannene]

What is a glue stick? Obviously I know what one is but not in this pretext. I'm new and only have done one other challenge than this one.

[Janice, Moderator]

It's the booby prize awarded to the person who comes in with the lowest score. It's taken on a life of it's own and is almost prized more than having the most points.

[Jannene]

Thanks for filling me in.

[Tejas Janet]

Casceil wrote: "Thank you, Janice. (I don't really stress over points unless I'm close to a win or a glue stick. In this case I am clearly going to be in the vast middle.)"

I've come so close (so close and yet so far) to winning top and bottom points. Neither so far, but something to look forward to...

[Lynn]

I'm not saying anything about the glue stick for this round, nope I'm keeping quiet, keeping stum, I'm not eyeing it up at all this round, nope not me, not at all!

[Janice, Moderator]

Hehehehe! Don't want to jinx yourself?

[Mariab]

I read Maigret's Revolver
Genre: - Must be a mystery
4 points – Police/Detective
Author:
5 points – Writes under a pseudonym (27 different ones!! G.Sim, Monsieur Le Coq, etc.)
2 points – Is male.
1 point – Is NOT a Goodreads author

Title: - Subtitles count
5 points – Is two words long.
4 points – Has the proper name of a person or place in it. (Maigret)

Cover: (based on the edition you read)
5 points – Has a murder implement on it. (revolver)
2 points – Title is under the author's name.
1 point – Black is a predominant colour (over 50% of the cover).

Setting:
1 point - Set in England (partialy)

Bonus points:
3 points – In honour of “National Bathroom Reading month”, count 3 points if you read more than one page of the book in the bathroom. This one's for those who like to soak in the tub while reading (not to mention the other).
3 points – In honour of “National Columnists' Day”: is a reporter or columnist in the story.
3 points - In honour of "Garfield the Cat Day": is a cat in the story.

39 points

[Cherie]

Nice point spread, Mariab!!! I have never heard of this author nor his Commissaire Maigret. I wonder if they are available here in the US? I was never really a mystery reader though, until I joined this group.

[Mariab]

Cherie wrote: "Nice point spread, Mariab!!! I have never heard of this author nor his Commissaire Maigret. I wonder if they are available here in the US? I was never really a mystery reader though, until I join..."

I had read mystery books years ago (about 30/35 years ago). Since then I haven´t read that genre much, being today no such a fan of, (occasionally some book from the Brother Cadfael Series);
Here I have read mystery only for the challange.
Georges Simenon is apparently a very famous author who wrote over 150 mystery books (including the Maigret series), of which some 50 feature films were made​​, mainly in France.
The author was compared to the greats names of literature, but I have not found great virtuosity in his work, nor anything extraordinary in his plots.
Actually I was quite surprised about all the fuzz that is made about him.
I´m pretty sure You can find his books in Amazon

[Janice, Moderator]

That puts you at the top, Mariab!

[Mariab]

HERE some comments about his writting,from great names in the literature:

André Gide: He is the greatest of all ... the truest novelist we had in literature.
William Faulkner: I love to read Simenon, it reminds me of Chekhov.
Ernest Hemingway: I could not find anything as good reading to furnish the peak hours of the day or night until the publication of the first good books of Simenon.
Henry Miller: I did not think it was possible to be both popular and so good.

[Sarah]

I can't comment on the Maigret books but I know the name as the book series was adapted for TV in the UK in the 60s. And then it was done again in the 90s which is the one I saw.

[Poongothai]

The Scarlet Slipper Mystery by Carolyn Keene


Genre: - Must be a mystery
4 points – Police/Detective
Nancy Drew is a detective

Author:
5 points – Writes under a pseudonym (Carolyn Keene is a writer pen name that was used by many different people)
1 point – Is NOT a Goodreads author

Title: - Subtitles count (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories 32)
5 points – Is two words long.
4 points – Has the proper name of a person or place in it. (Nancy Drew is a person)

Cover: (based on the edition you read)
3 points – Has a person's face on it.

Setting:

Pages:

Bonus points:
3 points – In honour of “National Bathroom Reading month”, count 3 points if you read more than one page of the book in the bathroom. This one's for those who like to soak in the tub while reading (not to mention the other).

Total : 25

[Janice, Moderator]

I finished A Red Herring Without Mustard

Genre - 2 pts, cozy mystery
Author - 4 pts, Canadian
Author - 2 pts, male
Cover - 5 pts, murder weapon on it (crystal ball)
Title - 4 pts, Proper name (in subtitle)
Setting - 1 pts, England
Pages - 2 pts, 388 pages
Bonus - 3 pts, Bathroom Reading Month

Total, 23 points

[Jkmays]

I just finished my book Paper Towns

Points:

Author resides in the country where you reside 4 pts.
Author is male 2 pts.

Title is 2 words long 5pts

Cover: title is under the author's name: 2 points

Pages: 305 2 pts

Bonus points: Bathroom reading month...3 pts

Total points: 18

[Casceil]

I just read all the comments about the Maigret mysteries. When I was taking college French (in about 1973), we read one of those in French for the class. I didn't find it all that interesting, but I was very proud of myself for actually reading a book in French. So much so that over the summer I read Tarzan of the Apes in French, because my brother owned a copy. In the books, the apes speak French, and I found that very amusing.

[Almeta]

The Green Eagle Score
Genre: - Must be a mystery
4 points – Police/Detective - Crime

Author:
5 points – Writes under a pseudonym (Richard Stark is Donald E. Westlake)
4 points – Born or resides in the country where you reside.
3 points – Uses an initial.
2 points – Is male.
1 point – Is NOT a Goodreads author

Title: - Subtitles count
1 point – Starts with the word "The"

Cover: (based on the edition you read)
5 points – Has a murder implement on it. (May differ from the game items.)
2 points – Title is under the author's name.
1 point – Black is a predominant colour (over 50% of the cover).

Setting:
3 points - Set in New York

Pages:
0 pts - 173 pages

Bonus points:
3 points – In honour of “National Bathroom Reading month”, count 3 points if you read more than one page of the book in the bathroom. Easy points!

34 Points Total

[Cherie]

Casceil wrote: "I just read all the comments about the Maigret mysteries. When I was taking college French (in about 1973), we read one of those in French for the class. I didn't find it all that interesting, but..."

So, did Tarzan learn to write in French then or did he learn to write in English? Wow, that is confusing.
In my books - printed in English, he learned to speak French before he learned to speak English, but he knew how to Read and Write in English because he taught himself how to do it from the primary books he found in the cabin in the jungle. He spoke the language of the great apes because they raised him. I cannot remember the name of the man who taught him French.

[Janice, Moderator]

Tracked to here.

[Debra]

Eye of the Crow by Shane Peacock

Genre: - Must be a mystery
5 points – Historical Mystery

Author:
2 points – Is male.

Title: - Subtitles count
0 points

Cover: (based on the edition you read)
1 point – Black is a predominant colour (over 50% of the cover).

Setting:
1 point - Set in England

Pages:
1 pts - 200 - 299 pages

Bonus points:
3 points – In honour of “National Columnists' Day”, count 3 points if there is a reporter or columnist in the story.

13 points

[Janice, Moderator]

Oh, Debra... you're missing one need to know thing. What is the title of the book you read. LOL!

[Debra]

oooops!

[Janice, Moderator]

LOL! Thanks Debra.

[Anne (Booklady)]

Done! 6/21

, The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie



Genre: - Must be a mystery
1 Point - Whodunnit

Author:
1 point – Is NOT a Goodreads author

Title: - Subtitles count
1 point – Starts with the word "The"

Cover: (based on the edition you read)
2 points – Title is under the author's name.

Setting:
1 point - Set in England

Pages:
1 pts - 200 - 299 pages

Total: 7 Points

Could be in the running for the Glue Stick!

[Janice, Moderator]

Anne (Booklady) wrote: "Could be in the running for the Glue Stick!"

Could be! :)

[Amanda]

I read

Points:
Mystery: 0 points (not one of the sub-genres listed)

Author:
Male: 2 points

Title:
Two words: 5 points

Cover:
Title under name: 2 points

Setting:
Not sure if this is stretching it, but about 40 pages took place in the state of New York (but the town was a key focus of the book for the last 100 pages or so)

Pages:
353 pages: 2 points

Bonus points:
National bathroom reading month: 3 points

Total: either 14 points or 17 points depending on the ruling on setting :-) (Amanda B)

[Janice, Moderator]

Amanda wrote: "Setting:
Not sure if this is stretching it, but about 40 pages took place in the state of New York (but the town was a key focus of the book for the last 100 pages or so)
"

I checked back on the scores claimed by the other 2 people who read the book, and neither claimed points for the setting, so we'll go with that - 14 points.

[Amanda]

Ok, no worries. Thought it was worth a try :-)

[Pragya]

I read Two for the Dough (Stephanie Plum Series) by Janet Evanovich.

Genre: - Must be a mystery
4 points – Police/Detective

Author:
5 points – Writes under a pseudonym ((Steffie Hall))

Cover: (based on the edition you read)
3 points – Has a person's face on it.

Pages:
2 pts - 300 - 399 pages

Bonus points:
3 points - In honour of "Garfield the Cat Day", count 3 points if there is a house cat in the story.

Total - 17

[Janice, Moderator]

Yes, you may count it, Pragya. :)

[Janice, Moderator]

I read a second book in the challenge, Poison Study, but it has less points than the first.

[Esther]

Janice wrote: "I read a second book in the challenge, Poison Study, but it has less points than the first."

I read White Heat that may have more points than my first one but I gave up scoring that one. Too complicated. :)

[Tejas Janet]

I enjoyed the 3 books I read for this challenge:
A Red Herring Without Mustard
Dance Hall of the Dead
and In the Shadows.

All wound up about the same point-wise. Here are my revised/approved points for A Red Herring Without Mustard: A Flavia de Luce Mystery

2 - cozy mystery
2 - male author
4 - subtitle has proper name in it
5 - crystal ball was weapon used in the attempted murder
1 - set in England
2 - page length between 300-399 pages
3 - for bathroom reading bonus

19 total points

[Ava Catherine]

Read The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

Genre: Must be a mystery
4 points: Police/Detective

Author:
2 points: is male
1 point: is not a Goodreads author

Title:
2 points: has 2 words starting with the same letter
1 point: starts with the word "the"

Cover:
3 points: has a person's face on it
2 points: title under the author's name
1 point: black is predominant color

Setting:
1 point: set in England

Pages:
5 points: 672 pages

Bonus points:
3 points: National Bathroom Reading month

total points: 25

[Cherie]

Esther wrote: "I read White Heat that may have more points than my first one but I gave up."..."

I think I looked at the points for this one too and gave up. But, what I want to know - was it a good story! :0)

[Esther]

Cherie wrote: "Esther wrote: "I read White Heat that may have more points than my first one but I gave up."..."

I think I looked at the points for this one too and gave up. But, what I want to know - was it a g..."

While it will not make my list of best in mystery, it was a good listen. The setting (Nunavuk) made it interesting. I think a few characters could have had more substance and the plot was a bit thin. I believe it is her 1st novel so I will seek out the 2nd in the series.

[Janice, Moderator]

Tejas Janet wrote: "I enjoyed the 3 books I read for this challenge:
A Red Herring Without Mustard
Dance Hall of the Dead
and In the Shadows.


The 2nd two books I read lo..."

Oh boy!

First. The rules for genre specifically state that you may only pick one, and the one that fits the most. Police/Detection is restricted to the professionals, not amateurs. This book is primarily a cozy mystery. So just 2 points.

I disagree about the title being a play on words. It's a direct quote. A play on words would be "Dead White and Blue" instead of "Red White and Blue"

The cat in a picture doesn't count. I was looking for a real cat. I allowed a dead cat because it was significant to the story.

I feel like such a meany.

Good news is that you missed the murder weapon on the cover (the crystal ball was the weapon used in the attempted murder). That's 5 points.

Total amended points is 19. The reason mine was 23 was that Bradley is Canadian, as am I.

Would either of the other two books score higher?

[Tejas Janet]

Oh, that's fine, Janice. I'm not in it for the points. Thanks for your help :)

[Janice, Moderator]

I've added you to my spreadsheet. I enjoyed the book. What did you think?

[Tejas Janet]

Janice, I replied earlier, but my reply has disappeared for now or forever due to some GR issues.

I enjoyed this book, too. Very pleased to have "found" the Flavia de Luce series. I'm in awe of her chemistry knowledge and general smarts. Glad she's not a "bad guy" : )

[Janice, Moderator]

I didn't care for the first book in the series. I probably approached it too seriously. This one, I enjoyed more because I didn't have those same expectations.

[Tejas Janet]

While I liked book one, I thought the next two were better. But for some reason, I'm kind of a sucker for Flavia with her passion for chemistry and how she personifies her bicyle.

I may add these to my personal library just because I'm so fond of them - but wouldn't have found them without you guys - thanks!

p.s., sorry about my scoring boo-boos - makes me feel like a trouble-maker - exact opposite of what I want to be

[Janice, Moderator]

No need to apologize, TJ. I was worried that I would upset you with the red x's crossed through your score. Because I read the book myself, I was well versed with the scoring. *hint*

[Tejas Janet]

Hint noted :) Going off beta blockers in the throes of menopause really threw me off my game last week. Much better this week.

[Tejas Janet]

Oh, and I got my score edited in my reporting post.

[Tasha]

Read The Leavenworth Case by Anna Katharine Green

Genre: - Must be a mystery
4 points – Police/Detective

Author:
4 points– Born or resides in the country where you reside.
1 point – Is NOT a Goodreads author

Title: - Subtitles count
4 points – Has the proper name of a person or place in it. (Specify if not obvious.)Leavenworth
1 point – Starts with the word "The"

Cover: (based on the edition you read)
5 points – Has a murder implement on it. (May differ from the game items.)
2 points – Title is under the author's name.

Setting:
3 points - Set in New York

Pages:
2 pts - 300 - 399 pages


26 points

[Diane]

I read The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie.

Qualifying word: Library

Genre:
1 point – Whodunit

Author
1 point – Is NOT a Goodreads author

Title:
1 point – Starts with the word "The"

Cover:
2 points – Title is under the author's name.

Setting:
1 point - Set in England

Pages:
0 points - 191 pages

Total Point = 6 (wow, this is lame. Good book, though)

[Dawn]

That is definitely not lame, that gives you a good chance for the gluestick badge. Which is a highly sought after prize around here! :)

[jaxnsmom]

Books Can Be Deceiving (Library Lover's Mystery #1 Jenn McKinlay

Genre:
2 points – Cozy Mystery

Author:
5 points – Writes under a pseudonym - Lucy Lawrence and Josie Belle
4 points – Born or resides in the country where you reside - US.

Title: - Subtitles count
2 points – Have two or more words starting with the same letter - Library Lover's

Pages:
1 pts - 200 - 299 pages

Bonus points:

3 points – In honour of “National Bathroom Reading month”, count 3 points if you read more than one page of the book in the bathroom. This one's for those who like to soak in the tub while reading (not to mention the other).

Total points: 17

[Janice, Moderator]

Diane wrote: "I read The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie.

Qualifying word: Library

Genre:
1 point – Whodunit

Author
1 point – Is ..."

Anne (Booklady) had one more point for this book, but she read a different edition which had more pages.

That puts you in the "lead" for the gluestick badge.