Gail's 2025 Determination Plus Challenge

[GailW]

MYSTERY/THRILLER FRIENDS GROUP CHALLENGE
☀ Completed 25 / 25

Determination List
initially planning to catch up on the series of which I am behind!
☀ 1. Cry Wolf by Annette Dashofy
☀ 2. The Extinction of Irena Rey by Jennifer Croft
☀ 3. A Cup of Flour, A Pinch of Death by Valerie Burns
☀ 4. Artificial Condition by Martha Wells
☀ 5. Death at the Bar by Ngaio Marsh
☀ 6. A Fatal Illusion by Matthew Costello
☀ 7. Stalking Ground by Margaret Mizushima
☀ 8. First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston
☀ 9. April Fools by Jess Lourey
☀ 10. Long Bright River by Liz Moore

Plus List
☀ 11. A book set in a different country than you live in: Australia: G'Day to Die
☀ 12. Read a book by an Author that you never read before or one by a new debut author: Sonia Parin: House Party Murder Rap
☀ 13. A book that someone recommended to you: Cindy: The God of the Woods
☀ 14. A book that is a different genre than your normal type of reading: Religious:
Pope John Paul II: In My Own Words

Two books from a series you haven't completed yet:
☀ 15. Murder at an English Séance, Beryl and Edwina series by Jessica Ellicott
☀ 16. Shot With Crimson - Josephine Tey Mystery series by Nicola Upson

☀ 17. A book that comes out in 2025: Glory Daze: A Glory Broussard Mystery
☀ 18. A book that you meant to read in 2024: The Last Devil to Die
☀ 19. A book that came out before you were born: 1941: N or M?
☀ 20. A book that more than one author does:
Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings writing as Christina Lauren: The Unhoneymooners
☀ 21. A book that won an award: 2024 Edgard Award, Best Paperback Original: Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers
☀ 22. One of the oldest to-be-read books on your unread mountain: 1887: A Study in Scarlet
☀ 23. A book set in multiple countries: Barbados/British Guiana/Trinidad: River Sing Me Home
☀ 24. Book you started in the past but put aside and never finished for some reason: started in audio, disliked the narrator: Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect
☀ 25. A book that is 500+ pages OR longer than your usual average page count or audio length (290 pages): 432 pages: The Frozen River

[Ann]

Good choices Gail! I admite you for lining the fun challenges up early.
Two Dennis Lehane’s and two of my favorites = great choices. Tana French = ditto!

[Donnajo]

Good books. I had small mercies out a few months ago from library it went back unread but I still would like to read it at some point. Also want to read In The Woods. Hopefully this will be the year.
I can't pick the books ahead it never worked for me when I did that years ago. Nice you give the extra information on each book too.

Good luck.

[GailW]

Updated for January. I think this is the first time I've used "non-mystery/thrillers" in my prompts. Hopefully those are the only two I will do that with this year. I feel as though I'm cheating a bit!

[Ann]

Gail, not cheating! Nice start to your challenge.

Gail W wrote: "Updated for January. I think this is the first time I've used "non-mystery/thrillers" in my prompts. Hopefully those are the only two I will do that with this year. I feel as though I'm cheating a bit.."

[GailW]

Updated for February. You'll see in the monthly folder that I read quite a few <250 page books this month. I am doing my bit to "spit in the ocean" by cancelling all my Amazon subscriptions, audio, prime, prime TV and kindle unlimited. So I had 11 books I needed to read before March 12th or I'd lose them. Got 4 done! (Minimal housework, no cooking, just reading).

It might be cutting my nose off to spite my face but I intend to give my money to people who deserve it, which means I'm paying more, but then hopefully buying less. This is a total lifestyle change... Thank heavens, GoodReads is still free.

[Carol/Bonadie]

Good for you, Gail! I admire your resolve. Putting your money where your mouth is, as they used to say. Or *not* putting, lol.

[Ann]

Gail, who needs cooking and housekeeping when you have reading!

[Donnajo]

So true except I don’t cook. Just microwave lol.

[GailW]

Donnajo wrote: "So true except I don’t cook. Just microwave lol."
Oh, Donnajo. I call microwaving cooking!

[GailW]

Updated with recent reads and some tbr changes.

[Ann]

Wow Gail; 18 of 25. You are on a roll! Good plan to use the top ten to catch up on series books.

[Donnajo]

WTG. You are really doing great.

[GailW]

Updated with recent reads. One to go!

Just wanted to give you guys a heads up. You may see less of me on here for awhile. I was just seen at Wills Eye Hospital ER and diagnosed with optic neuropathy. I'm pretty much down to one eye for reading (and of course, not my dominant eye!). Have to see a neuro-opthamologist either in Pittsburgh or Philadelphia for further evaluation and hopefully treatment. So it's not that I'm ignoring you. I just haven't been able to read or work on my computer as long as I normally do...

[Ann]

Oh Gail, please keep us posted and I hope your vision issues can be addressed and reversed with the treatment you will discover. Healing thoughts, prayers and best wishes as you navigate the health care options.
You have made great progress with your determination books!

[Donnajo]

Oh Gail sorry you are going through that. My thoughts and prayers that something can be done.
You are doing so great with the challenge.

[Carol/Bonadie]

Gail, take care of yourself and your eyes. I'm wishing you a speedy resolution and will be thinking about you.

[ChrisQ]

Oh my goodness,I'm so sorry! I really hope it improves and that the doctors find something that helps and brings you relief.

[GailW]

Well, I finally got the last one done! Had to use a non-mystery though. But what an awesome book!

[Donnajo]

WTG. Congrats on finishing.

[GailW]

Donnajo wrote: "WTG. Congrats on finishing."

Thanks Donnajo!

[Carol/Bonadie]

Good job, Gail!