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Winter Challenge 2025 - Could you write a book?
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Brenda, Suspense lover!
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Aug 06, 2025 04:54PM

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Crime Club Winter Challenge - Could you write a book?
Duration: 1/6/25 - 31/8/25
Level: Easy
6/6
Part one: Plan your book
1. Choose your genre. This has to be crime but be specific. Is it mystery, romantic suspense, thriller, cosy etc
Read a book from the genre you have chosen. (Mystery)
To the Nines by Janet Evanovich - 4⭐️ - 17/6/25
2. Select a location. Where will your book be set?
Read a book set in that same location. (Australia)
The Woman in the Green Dress by Tea Cooper - 4⭐️ - 28/6/25
3. Time period. Today? Or will it be a historical mystery? Or maybe take a hint from J.D.Robb and set in the future?
Read a book from the same time period. (Historical)
Winds of Evil by Arthur W. Upfield - 4⭐️ - 7/8/25
4. You need a main character. For this one select one of your favourite female crime characters.
Read a book with that character in it (Stephanie Plum)
Ten Big Ones by Janet Evanovich - 4⭐️ - 1/7/25
5. You need another main character. For this one select one of your favourite male crime characters.
Read a book with that character in it (Lucas Davenport)
Judgement Prey by John Sandford - 4⭐️ - 5/6/25
6. When you have finished your book which author would you like to be compared with?
Read a book by a very well known author whose books you love. (Mary Higgins Clark)
On the Street Where You Live by Mary Higgins Clark - 4⭐️ 27/7/25







Crime Club Winter Challenge - Could you write a book?
Duration: 1/6/25 - 31/8/25
Level: Hard
Part one: Plan your book
1. Choose your genre. Cozy Mystery:
2. Select a location. UK :
3. Time period. The future :
4. You need a main female character. Eve Dallas :
5. You need another main male character. DCI Jack Hawksworth :
6. When you have finished your book which author would you like to be compared with? Nora Roberts :






Part two: My book title is : JEALOUSY
J :
E :
A :
L :
O :
U :
S :
Y :









Level: Hard
14/14
Part one: Plan your book
1. Choose your genre. Mystery
Read a book from the genre you have chosen.
2. Select a location. Where will your book be set? Australia
Read a book set in that same location.
3. Time period. Today
Read a book from the same time period.
4. You need a main character. For this one select one of your favourite female crime characters. Ruth Galloway
Read a book with that character in it
5. You need another main character. For this one select one of your favourite male crime characters. DS Lucas Walker
Read a book with that character in it
6. When you have finished your book which author would you like to be compared with?
Read a book by a very well known author whose books you love.






Part two: Choose a title for your book (minimum 6 letters) and spell it out using either first letter of title
My word is STICKLER
Also, was a coincidence came across this word when reading Lyrebird. See Page 11 - "Phil shrugged. You know Li.... the Inspector; she's a stickler.... good copper"
S:
T:
I:
C:
K:
L:
E:
R:








Lindy-Lane wrote: "is there a spring challenge for 2025?"
Yes there is. It will be posted on Thursday.
Yes there is. It will be posted on Thursday.

Jun 1-Aug 31, 2025
6/6 DONE
11/11
Part one: Plan your book
1. Choose genre : Cozy-- Chilled to the Cone Ellie Alexander 6/11 ★★★
2. Select a location. Where will your book be set? Alaska
Read a book set in that same location. Dead Line Marc Cameron 8/17 ★★★★★
3. Time period. Today A Spirited Blend Lauren Elliott 6/21 ★★★★
4. You need a main character. For this one select one of my favorite female crime characters.
Read a book with that character Geek girl Lexi Carmichael No Time Off Julie Moffett 7/5 ★★★★★
5. You need another main character. For this one select one of my favorite male crime characters. Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers (they are stronger together).
Read a book with that character in it Ocean Prey John Sandford 6/24 ★★★★★
6. When you have finished your book which author would I like to be compared with?
Well known author whose books I love. Marsh Madness Jana Deleon 6/1 ★★★






PART TWO: Choose a title for your book
C Criminal Karin Slaughter 6/11 ★★★★
A Aberration Lisa Regan 6/1 ★★★★
T Troubled Nate Thomas 1 Lexy Timms 6/17 ★★★★
A After She Wrote Him Sulari Gentill 7/2 ★★★
S Schooled in Murder Victoria Gilbert 6/3
T Thankless in Death J.D. Robb 8/12 ★★★★
R Revenge in Rubies A.M. Stuart 6/5 ★★★★
O Out with the Sunset P.D. Workman 6/16 ★★★★
P Pro Bono Thomas Perry 7/20 ★★★★
H Home Harlan Coben 7/1 ★★★★★
E Essence of Foul Play Daryl Wood Gerber 6/2 ★★★












2. Select a location. Where will your book be set? Ireland. The Unquiet Grave by Dervla McTiernan 3/7 4*
3. Time period. Historical. Dead in the Frame by Stephen Spotswood 4* 14/7
4. You need a main character. For this one select one of my favorite female crime characters Agatha Raisin A Spoonful of Poison by M.C. Beaton 4* 20/7
5. You need another main character. For this one select one of my favorite male crime characters. Read a book with that character in it Walter Sharpe Hidden in Smoke by Lee Goldberg 4* 26/6
6. When you have finished your book which author would I like to be compared with? James Patterson Private Dublin by James Patterson 4* 14/6
TITLE
B Six Motives for Murder by Frances Brody 4* 23/7
R Murder on the Marlow Belle by Robert Thorogood 4* 18/7
E Easter Bonnet Murder by Leslie Meier 4* 6/7
A Agatha Raisin and Kissing Christmas Goodbye: Agatha Raisin, Book 18 4* 17/6
D Dead Gingerbread Man Walking by London Lovett 4* 10/8
T The Tenant by Freida McFadden 4* 10/7
O Knife Skills for Beginners by Orlando Murrin 4* 8/8
K Kills Well with Others by Deanna Raybourn 4* 7/7
I The Imperfect Murder by James Patterson 4* 2/6
L Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent 4* 17/7
L Heads Will Cinnamon Roll by London Lovett 4* 12/7

Crime Club Winter Challenge - Could you write a book?
Duration: 1/6/25 - 31/8/25
Level: Hard
13/13
Completed - 21st August
Part one: Plan your book
☃️ 1. Choose your genre. This has to be crime but be specific. Is it mystery, romantic suspense, thriller, cosy etc. Read a book from the genre you have chosen. Cozy
Death in a Darkening Mist by Iona Whishaw - 20/06 - 4★
☃️ 2. Select a location. Where will your book be set? Read a book set in that same location. England
An Unfinished Murder by Ann Granger - 14/06 - 5★
☃️ 3. Time period. Today? Or will it be a historical mystery? Or maybe take a hint from J.D.Robb and set in the future? Read a book from the same time period. Historical
A Medal for Murder by Frances Brody - 01/08 - 4★
☃️ 4. You need a main character. For this one select one of your favourite female crime characters.Read a book with that character in it. Maisie Dobbs
The American Agent by Jacqueline Winspear - 07/08 - 5★
☃️ 5. You need another main character. For this one select one of your favourite male crime characters. Read a book with that character in it. Adam Dalgliesh
The Black Tower by P.D. James - 18/07 - 4★
☃️ 6. When you have finished your book which author would you like to be compared with?
Read a book by a very well known author whose books you love. Mick Herron
Bad Actors by Mick Herron - 13/07 - 5★






Part two: Choose a title for your book (minimum 6 letters) and spell it out using either first letter of title (disregarding "A", "An" or "The" if you choose to) or either the first or last initial of the author. A Murder
❄️ A - Keeping Bad Company by Ann Granger - 06/06 - 5★
❄️ M - Marble Hall Murders by Anthony Horowitz - 05/08 - 4★
❄️ U - The Unquiet Grave by Dervla McTiernan - 10/07 - 4★
❄️ R - Say You're Sorry by Michael Robotham - 26/07 - 4★
❄️ D - Devoted in Death by J.D. Robb - 18/08 - 4★
❄️ E - Earthly Remains by Donna Leon - 09/07 - 4.5★
❄️ R - The Reach by B. Michael Radburn - 21/08 - 4★








Crime Club Winter Challenge 1/6/25 - 31/8/25
Level: Easy
6/6
Part one: Plan your book
1. Choose your genre This has to be crime but be specific. mystery
Read a book from the genre you have chosen.

Opal by Patricia Wolf -- 5★ -- 30/07/2025
2. Select a location. Where will your book be set? --Australia
Read a book set in that same location.

Barren Cape by Michelle Prak -- 3★ -- 12 July 2025
3. Time period. -- Today
Read a book from the same time period.

Blood Runs Deep by Doug Sinclair -- 5★ -- 14/07/2025
4. You need a main character. For this one select one of your favourite female crime characters. Detective Kay Hunter

Cradle to Grave by Rachel Amphlett -- 5★ -- 16/08/2025
Read a book with that character in it
5. You need another main character. For this one select one of your favourite male crime characters. -- DI Mick Nash
Read a book with that character in it

Dead or Alive by Bill Kitson -- 5★ -- 8/07/2025
6. When you have finished your book, which author would you like to be compared with?
Read a book by a very well known author whose books you love.

The Gathering Murders by Keith Moray -- 5★ -- 17/07/2025
Finished
Crime Club Winter Challenge - Could you write a book?
Duration: 1/6/25 - 31/8/25
Level: Hard
15/15
Part one: Plan your book
1. Choose your genre. This has to be crime but be specific. Is it mystery, romantic suspense, thriller, cosy etc Read a book from the genre you have chosen.
A Body at the Book Fair by Ellie Alexander Cosy mystery 4 stars 8/6/25
2. Select a location. Where will your book be set? Read a book set in that same location. Australia.
Cult by Jack Adams 4 stars 17/7/25
3. Time period. Today? Or will it be a historical mystery? Or maybe take a hint from J.D.Robb and set in the future? Read a book from the same time period. Today
Death and the Librarian by Victoria Gilbert 3 stars 9/7/25
4. You need a main character. For this one select one of your favourite female crime characters. Read a book with that character in it. Aunt Bessie
Aunt Bessie Understands by Diana Xarissa 5 stars 15/8/25
5. You need another main character. For this one select one of your favourite male crime characters. Read a book with that character in it. Bruno
An Enemy in the Village by Martin Walker 5 stars 10/7/25
6. When you have finished your book which author would you like to be compared with? Read a book by a very well known author whose books you love.
The Frozen People by Elly Griffiths 5 stars 15/7/25
Part two: Choose a title for your book (minimum 6 letters) and spell it out using either first letter of title (disregarding "A", "An" or "The" if you choose to) or either the first or last initial of the author. For the difficult letters - Q, X and Z, you may use a book in which the letter appears somewhere in the title or author's first or last name.
My title: STRANGERS
S Stalker by Jack Adams 4 stars 21/6/25
T Tea with Jam & Dread by Vicki Delany 3 stars 25/7/25
R Rage by Linda Castillo 5 stars 19/8/25
A Arsenic and Old Lies by Benedict Brown 4 stars 12/7/25
N No Footprints in the Bush by Arthur W. Upfield 4 stars 24/8/25
GThe Heat by Garry Disher 5 stars 24/8/25
EThe Frozen People by Elly Griffiths 5 stars 30/6/25
RSave Her Soul byLisa Regan5 stars 19/7/25
SFive Found Dead by Sulari Gentill 4 stars 18/8/25
Crime Club Winter Challenge - Could you write a book?
Duration: 1/6/25 - 31/8/25
Level: Hard
15/15
Part one: Plan your book
1. Choose your genre. This has to be crime but be specific. Is it mystery, romantic suspense, thriller, cosy etc Read a book from the genre you have chosen.
2. Select a location. Where will your book be set? Read a book set in that same location. Australia.
3. Time period. Today? Or will it be a historical mystery? Or maybe take a hint from J.D.Robb and set in the future? Read a book from the same time period. Today
4. You need a main character. For this one select one of your favourite female crime characters. Read a book with that character in it. Aunt Bessie
5. You need another main character. For this one select one of your favourite male crime characters. Read a book with that character in it. Bruno
6. When you have finished your book which author would you like to be compared with? Read a book by a very well known author whose books you love.






Part two: Choose a title for your book (minimum 6 letters) and spell it out using either first letter of title (disregarding "A", "An" or "The" if you choose to) or either the first or last initial of the author. For the difficult letters - Q, X and Z, you may use a book in which the letter appears somewhere in the title or author's first or last name.
My title: STRANGERS
S
T
R
A
N
G
E
R
S










📚 Crime Club Winter Challenge 1/6/25 - 31/8/25 ☔️
Level: HARD
Books: 12/12 books
Part one: Plan your book
1. Choose your genre. This has to be crime but be specific. Is it mystery, romantic suspense, thriller, cosy etc
Read a book from the genre you have chosen.
✔ Murder Mystery Five Found Dead by Sulari Gentill (read 17 Aug) 4★
2. Select a location. Where will your book be set?
Read a book set in that same location.
✔ Scotland Where She Lies by Caro Ramsay (read 16 Aug) 4★
3. Time period. Today? Or will it be a historical mystery? Or maybe take a hint from J.D.Robb and set in the future?
Read a book from the same time period.
✔ Contemporary What the Night Brings by Mark Billingham (read 4 July) 5★
4. You need a main character. For this one select one of your favourite female crime characters.
Read a book with that character in it
✔ Erika Foster Chasing Shadows by Robert Bryndza (15 June) 5★
5. You need another main character. For this one select one of your favourite male crime characters.
Read a book with that character in it
✔ Bruno, Chief of Police The Templars' Last Secret by Martin Walker (14 June) 4★
6. When you have finished your book which author would you like to be compared with?
Read a book by a very well known author whose books you love.
✔ Karin Slaughter We Are All Guilty Here (read 12 June) 5★






Part two: Choose a title for your book (minimum 6 letters) and spell it out.
JAILED!
✔ J The Janes by Louisa Luna (read 2 July) 4★
✔ A A Taste for Vengeance by Martin Walker (read 20 July) 4★
✔ I Invisible by James Patterson (read 30 July) 4.5★
✔ L The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater (read 12 July) 4★
✔ E The Quiet Librarian by Allen Eskens (read 22 Aug) 4.5★
✔ D The Leap by Paul Daley (read 12 Aug) 4.5★







Crime Club Winter Challenge - Could you write a book?
Duration: 1/6/25 - 31/8/25
Level: Hard
12/12
Part one: Plan your book
1. Choose your genre. This has to be crime but be specific. Mystery
2. Select a location. Where will your book be set? Read a book set in that same location. UK
3. Time period. Read a book from the same time period. Today
4. You need a main character. For this one select one of your favourite female crime characters. Kitty Underhay
5. You need another main character. For this one select one of your favourite male crime characters.Rowland Sinclair
6. When you have finished your book which author would you like to be compared with? Read a book by a very well known author whose books you love.






Part two: Choose a title for your book (minimum 6 letters) and spell it out using either first letter of title (disregarding "A", "An" or "The" if you choose to) or either the first or last initial of the author.
My title: DARKER
D -
A -
R -
K -
E -
R -







Crime Club Winter Challenge - Could you write a book?
Duration: 1/6/25 - 31/8/25
Level: Hard
Progress: 📚: 26/26 🖊️:8/8 ✒️:10/10 🕵️:8/8
Part one: Plan your book
1. Choose your genre. This has to be crime but be specific. Is it mystery, romantic suspense, thriller, cosy etc
Read a book from the genre you have chosen.
🖊️Literary
✅

✒️Noir
✅

🕵️Detective
✅

2. Select a location. Where will your book be set?
Read a book set in that same location.
🖊️France
✅

✒️France
✅

🕵️France
✅

3. Time period. Today? Or will it be a historical mystery? Or maybe take a hint from J.D.Robb and set in the future?
Read a book from the same time period.
🖊️Contemporary
✅

✒️Contemporary
✅

🕵️Contemporary
✅

4. You need a main character. For this one select one of your favourite female crime characters.
Read a book with that character in it
🖊️Cassie Maddox
✅

✒️Laura
✅

🕵️Robin Ellacott
✅

5. You need another main character. For this one select one of your favourite male crime characters.
Read a book with that character in it
🖊️Rob Ryan
✅

✒️Tom Ripley
✅

🕵️Cormoran Strike
✅

6. When you have finished your book which author would you like to be compared with?
Read a book by a very well known author whose books you love.
🖊️Fyodor Dostoevsky
✅

✒️Jim Thompson
✅

🕵️Arthur Conan Doyle
✅

Part two: Choose a title for your book (minimum 6 letters) and spell it out using either first letter of title (disregarding "A", "An" or "The" if you choose to) or either the first or last initial of the author. For the difficult letters - Q, X and Z, you may use a book in which the letter appears somewhere in the title or author's first or last name.
Planning a book sure is hard work. Now to the actual writing:
TITLE
✅A✒️Die a Little by Megan Abbott 03/06/2025 ⭐⭐⭐
✅B✒️The Bird Tribunal by Agnes Ravatn 21/06/2025 ⭐⭐
✅S🖊️The Snakes by Sadie Jones 13/07/2025 ⭐⭐
✅I✒️If The Dead Rise Not by Philip Kerr 22/08/2025 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅N🕵️The Railway Conspiracy by John Shen Yen Nee 01/06/2025 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅T🕵️In Cold Blood by Truman Capote 09/06/2025 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅H✒️He Died With His Eyes Open by Derek Raymond 19/06/2025 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅E🖊️Penance by Eliza Clark 30/08/2025 ⭐⭐⭐⭐









Level Hard
Part 1
1. Genre - Thriller The Scarred Woman by Jussi Adler-Olsen 4 ★ 19/06/25
2. Location - Japan Salvation of a Saint by Keigo Higashino 5 ★ 10/08/25
3. Time Period - Now Still See You Everywhere by Lisa Gardner 4 ★ 30/09/25
4. Femail Lead -Tess Monaghan Another Thing to Fall by Laura Lippman 3 ★ 12/07/25
5. Male Lead - Jimmy Perez Dead Water by Ann Cleeves 5 ★ 18/07/25
6. Well Known Author : One Step Too Far by Lisa Gardner 5 ★ 17/08/25
Part 2 Title Corner
1. C - Cold, Cold Bones by Kathy Reichs 3 ★ 5/7/25
2. O - The Rest is Death by James Oswald 5 ★ 22/06/2025
3. R - The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood 4 ★ 26/07/25
4. N - The Binding Room by Nadine Matheson 5 ★ 27/06/25
5. E - The Midnight Hour by Elly Griffiths 3 ★ 04/08/25
6. R - Dark Water by Robert Bryndza 5 ★ 1/08/25













reading updates can be viewed in post #21 on page #1 of this thread.
enjoyed the reading adventure!
Books mentioned in this topic
Hiss Me Deadly (other topics)Hangman (other topics)
Salvation of a Saint (other topics)
Still See You Everywhere (other topics)
The Scarred Woman (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Miranda James (other topics)Jussi Adler-Olsen (other topics)
Keigo Higashino (other topics)
Daniel Cole (other topics)
Laura Lippman (other topics)
More...