Historical Mystery Lovers discussion
2021 Go the Distance Challenge
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Sandy's Go the Distance - Finished!
22nd readCategory: 23. A debut novel
Book: The Mamur Zapt and The Return of the Carpet
Finished 6/11
I will definitely be reading more in the series. This book would really qualify for category 34 as I don't understand all the political relationships even after reading the book. Good mystery and characters I want to follow,
23rd readCategory: 41. A book connected to a specific season
Book: I Am Half-Sick of Shadows
Takes place at Christmas and it is cold enough for Flavia to consider flooding the portrait gallery for a skating rink.
23rd readCategory: 41. A book connected to a specific season
Book: I Am Half-Sick of Shadows
Finished 6/12
A re-read for me and I remembered nothing. Flavia is always a treat.
Do you know if the series is finished or whether there will be more?
I don't know. I'm hoping for more but the author is over 80. Let's wish him a healthy long life.
24th readCategory: 22. A book with gothic elements
Book: Castle Shade
The synopsis talks about mysterious happenings in Vlad's castle ... sounds gothic to me.
24th readCategory: 22. A book with gothic elements
Book: Castle Shade
Completed 6/19
Wonderful series! Russell and Holmes work well together in this book. And the gothic elements are there: vampires and brooding castle.
Best of luck to those entering the giveaway.
25th readCategory: 19. A book with a disabled character
Book: The Frangipani Tree Mystery
Our heroine has a withered leg, and severe limp, from polio in childhood.
Sandy wrote: "25th readCategory: 19. A book with a disabled character
Book: The Frangipani Tree Mystery
Our heroine has a withered leg, and severe limp, from polio in childhood."
Granted that's a factor for this challenge, but her determination to overcome racism is done very well!
John wrote: "Sandy wrote: "25th readCategory: 19. A book with a disabled character
Book: The Frangipani Tree Mystery
Our heroine has a withered leg, and severe limp, from polio in childhood."
..."
I agree. I think the norms of the day are probably portrayed accurately and Su Lin's reaction to racism she encounters is realistic for a woman in her position and with her goals.
25th readCategory: 19. A book with a disabled character
Book: The Frangipani Tree Mystery
Completed 6/27
Very promising start to a new series. The heroine is the epitome of plucky, with a bad limp from polio and a realistic attitude towards the racism of the day. Good mystery with interesting plot, characters and setting. On to the next one.
26th readCategory: 31. A book with a "Clue" weapon on the cover or in the title (rope, revolver, candlestick, lead pipe, dagger or knife, wrench)
Book:
Candlestick on the cover. And next in the series.
26th readCategory: 31. A book with a "Clue" weapon on the cover or in the title (rope, revolver, candlestick, lead pipe, dagger or knife, wrench)
Book: Resurrection Row (Charlotte & Thomas Pitt, #4) by Anne Perry
This book had humorous aspects with bodies popping up in strange locations and Pitt trying to match them to the appropriate grave. Another good read from Perry.
# 26 of 52 - I'm half way there!
27th readCategory: 49. A book linked to one of the four elements (earth, air, water, fire)
Book: An Air of Treason
Its right there in the title.
27th readCategory: 49. A book linked to one of the four elements (earth, air, water, fire)
Book: An Air of Treason
Completed: 7/7
Excellent entry in the series with Carey and Dodd on separate, but connected, adventures for much of the book. And a new character is introduced that bodes ill for our intrepid hero.
Sandy wrote: "27th readCategory: 49. A book linked to one of the four elements (earth, air, water, fire)
Book: An Air of Treason
Completed: 7/7
Excellent entry in the series with Carey and Dodd on separate, ..."
Sandy; Love this series! Have read all 9. According to the author she is writing #10 although not sure when it's being published.
Peggyzbooksnmusic wrote: "Sandy wrote: "27th readCategory: 49. A book linked to one of the four elements (earth, air, water, fire)
Book: An Air of Treason
Completed: 7/7
Excellent entry in the series with Carey and Dodd..."
I love this series too! I hope #10 will be published soon. By what I've heard on her FB fan group, it will be a particularly exciting one. :)
28th readCategory: 17. A book by an author of color
Book: A Beautiful Place to Die
Set in South Africa in the 1950's
Sandy wrote: "28th readCategory: 17. A book by an author of color
Book: A Beautiful Place to Die
Set in South Africa in the 1950's"
Other titles in the series qualify as Southern Hemisphere!
My library is holding the new Phrynne Fisher book for me that I plan to use for Southern Hemisphere ... unless I use Phrynne for published in 2020. Its been fun trying to match books I want to read to a category, always trying for one that is hard to meet. Those seven deadly sins could be a problem.
Sandy wrote: "My library is holding the new Phrynne Fisher book for me that I plan to use for Southern Hemisphere ... unless I use Phrynne for published in 2020. Its been fun trying to match books I want to read..."Gallows Court = wrath
28th readCategory: 17. A book by an author of color
Book: A Beautiful Place to Die
Completed 7/11
I have mixed feelings about this book. The sense of place, both time and location, was excellent and the characters were very well drawn and interesting. However, the men in power were so very brutal I dreaded their every appearance and that rather ruined my reading of the book.
29th readCategory: 26. A book with alliteration in the title
Book: The Sanctuary Sparrow
Looking forward to spending time with Cadfael.
29th readCategory: 26. A book with alliteration in the title
Book: The Sanctuary Sparrow
Completed: 7/14
Wonderful series for a visit to the 12th century.
30th readCategory: 46. A book with a royal character
Book: Four Funerals and Maybe a Wedding
I'm expecting at least one royal character ...
30th readCategory: 46. A book with a royal character
Book: Four Funerals and Maybe a Wedding
Completed 7/17
Georgie attended Ascot with the King and Queen. The mystery was weaker than usual but I enjoyed the involvement of all the major characters.
31st readCategory: 15. A book with a rural/countryside setting on the cover
Book: Mortal Arts
2nd in the Lady Darby series
31st readCategory: 15. A book with a rural/countryside setting on the cover
Book: Mortal Arts
Completed 7/22
Good for the historical treatment of mental illness and PTSD. Weak on the mystery. I'm finding the romance frustrating as, if there are barriers, I don't know what they are and it seems Gage is being mysterious for no good reason. Also, Keira dwells on her social ostracization and uniqueness, but it is never demonstrated.
32nd readCategory: 11. A book with an intriguing or inspiring first line
Book: A Free Man of Color
Our monthly author and a great opening paragraph. (See the suggestions thread for my abbreviated quote.)
32nd readCategory: 11. A book with an intriguing or inspiring first line
Book: A Free Man of Color
Finished: 7/25
Many excellent points about this book but I was not as drawn in as I usually am with my books. I plan to continue the series as the characters and the setting are great.
33rd readCategory: 48. A book set in the Southern Hemisphere
Book: Death in Daylesford
A new Phrynne; surprised me!
33rd readCategory: 48. A book set in the Southern Hemisphere
Book: Death in Daylesford
Finished: 8/7
Too many plot lines. I liked seeing Phryne's family in action without her but Phryne had too much going on in her location and a villain that strained credulity. Still, it was a pleasant visit with old friends.
34th readCategory: 37. A book related to one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse (death, disease, famine, war)
Book: A Peculiar Combination
A safecracker does war work during WWII.
Sandy wrote: "28th readCategory: 17. A book by an author of color
Book: A Beautiful Place to Die
Completed 7/11
I have mixed feelings about this book. The sense of place, both time and location, was excellen..."
I skipped the second story as the plot didn't interest me much. The third one Blessed Are the Dead wasn't nearly as brutal. As Cooper says (paraphrased): "making the best of a bad situation." Consider it for next year's challenge if there's a category that seems to fit.
John wrote: "Sandy wrote: "28th readCategory: 17. A book by an author of color
Book: A Beautiful Place to Die
Completed 7/11
I have mixed feelings about this book. The sense of place, both time and location..."
Thank you for the recommendation. I may continue as the author is a wonderful writer and the setting and history was very interesting.
34th readCategory: 37. A book related to one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse (death, disease, famine, war)
Book: A Peculiar Combination
Finished: 8/12
Probably not a series I will continue though the characters and setting were both interesting. I also read only one of the author's other series so we just don't 'click'.
35th readCategory: 3. A book with a lamp on the cover
Book:
35th readCategory: 3. A book with a lamp on the cover
Book: Rutland Place (Charlotte & Thomas Pitt, #5) by Anne Perry
Finished: 8/20
A good entry in a good series. Charlotte has a different sort of adventure in thus one.
36th readCategory:16. A book with a real historical figure
Book: Death in Delft
Vermeer and Van Leeuwenhoek are both characters.
36th readCategory:16. A book with a real historical figure
Book: Death in Delft
Finished: 8/24
This is an excellent start to a new (for me) series. It may be more modern in feel and characters than an historical mystery should be but I found it very readable. The main character has a sense of humor and lots of compassion. The setting is different from most books I read and sounds true to me (not knowing anything about Delft and the religious tolerance at the time). The actual historical figures add interest. I'm looking forward to continuing.
There is yet another real historical figure: de Graaf does the post mortem.
Sandy wrote: "36th readCategory:16. A book with a real historical figure
Book: Death in Delft
Finished: 8/24
This is an excellent start to a new (for me) series. It may be more modern in feel and characters t..."
I have that one on my Audible wishlist, hoping it fits a category for next year's challenge!
The main character is one I like too- he is down to earth and quite witty.
37th readCategory: 13. A book with a female detective
Book: Love and Death Among the Cheetahs
Lady Georgianna is female (and shocked that she should wear trousers in Kenya).
37th readCategory: 13. A book with a female detective
Book: Love and Death Among the Cheetahs
Completed: 8/27
Almost up-to-date in the series. It has become a favorite and I almost gave up after the first couple. Somebody in this group urged me to continue and I'm glad I did. Thank you.
Now you have raised my curiosity about this series, Sandy. I really struggled with the first one and ended up setting it aside. I may pick it back up again!
Kerri wrote: "Now you have raised my curiosity about this series, Sandy. I really struggled with the first one and ended up setting it aside. I may pick it back up again!"They are light / cozy mysteries and the characters are fun. Many people really like the audio versions, but I switched to print fairly soon.
38th readCategory: 47. A book from another group member's bookshelf.
Book: Gently Does It
Thank you Pamela (I have had many suggestions from this group)
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Category: 23. A debut novel
Book: The Mamur Zapt and The Return of the Carpet
Michael Pearce 's first book