30.4- Cheryl TX's Task: Mysteries And Animals

[Dee]

Erin - i haven't read it yet, but I have Three Bags Full to read for Part A...basically its a herd of sheep trying to solve their shepherd's murder...it sounded cute!

Erin (NY) wrote: "I think I found a book for B: Agathat Christie's Five Little Pigs. I am having a lot of trouble finding something that interests me for part A. Are there any non-traditional mysteries..."

[Dlmrose, Moderator Emeritus]

Penny wrote: "I need help with B, Does The Freddy the Pig Series
by Walter R. Brooks work? EX. Freddy the Detective. If not please HELP!

For A I'm going with The Curious Incident of the Dog i..."</i>

[book:Freddy the Detective does not work for B- an animal has to be in the title.

For B, try Donna Andrews's Meg Langslow series with birds in the title or Ann Campbell's Annie O'Hara series with wolves in the title

[Liz]

Would The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie work for Part A b/c of the dead bird?

[Dlmrose, Moderator Emeritus]

Liz wrote: "Would The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie work for Part A b/c of the dead bird?"

Yes, it would help to include "a dead bird is the first clue" or a similar statement when you post

[Penny]

Mysries are not my thing, I'm a coward, my public library has this one Tears of the Giraffe so I'll go for it.

[Vicky]

Would Bunnicula: A Rabbit-Tale of Mystery work for Part A of this task? I loved it when I was younger, and I just recently found the book packed away!

[Dlmrose, Moderator Emeritus]

Vicky wrote: "Would Bunnicula: A Rabbit-Tale of Mystery work for Part A of this task? I loved it when I was younger, and I just recently found the book packed away!"

yes

[Leigh Ann]

For those who have read it: Could The Horse and His Boy be considered a mystery? Based on the synopsis it says he is trying to figure out who is father really is and uncover a plot to destroy Narnia. I just want to make sure.

[scherzo♫]

Leigh Ann wrote: "For those who have read it: Could The Horse and His Boy be considered a mystery? Based on the synopsis it says he is trying to figure out who is father really is and uncover a plot to ..."

Does not work. Figuring out who his father is does not solve a crime. They uncover the plot by accident.

[Leigh Ann]

OK, how about Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix?

I know I'm being a pain, but since I'm working nearly the entire Stephanie Plum series in for the "8th, 9th, 10th of a series" task I'm trying to find one for this one that's not the typical "mystery". I'm also trying to read HP and Narnia in this challenge...maybe I'm overdoing it.

[Bluemoon]

I am doing The Telltale Turtle for part A and In Sheep's Clothing for part B. The second book is part of a series that I want to use for Wendy's task so I have a few to read before that. I like to read my series in order but this one can be read out of order. There really isn't too much going on that would hinder understanding the story. It is a nice cozy series. Nothing really gory.

[Dlmrose, Moderator Emeritus]

Leigh Ann wrote: "OK, how about Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix?

I know I'm being a pain, but since I'm working nearly the entire Stephanie Plum series in for the "8th, 9th, 10th of a seri..."

It is not a mystery

[Ashley FL]

What about Dogs and Goddesses for Part A? It sounds like a mystery to me, but I haven't read it yet.

I have to admit, there have been so many animal-related challenges that I am running out of animal-related books!

[Dlmrose, Moderator Emeritus]

Ashley FL wrote: "What about Dogs and Goddesses for Part A? It sounds like a mystery to me, but I haven't read it yet.

I have to admit, there have been so many animal-related challenges that I am ru..."

Sorry, no

[Cheryl]

Dlmrose wrote: "Penny wrote: "I need help with B, Does The Freddy the Pig Series
by Walter R. Brooks work? EX. Freddy the Detective. If not please HELP!

For A I'm going with [book:The Curious Inciden..."

Sorry dlmrose - I did not see the change in the task for part B.Your answerto Erin is correct. I guess that will teach me to readmore before I try to answer

[Dlmrose, Moderator Emeritus]

Penny wrote: "I need help with B, Does The Freddy the Pig Series
by Walter R. Brooks work? EX. Freddy the Detective. If not please HELP!

For A I'm going with [book:The Curious Incident of the Dog i..."
Cheryl wrote:
Freddy the Detective Books will satisfy PartB of the task Penny
An animal other than dog or cat must appear in the title. This does not work

Erin (NY) wrote: "I think I found a book for B: Agathat Christie's Five Little Pigs. I am having a lot of trouble finding something that interests me for part A. Are there any non-traditional mysteries..."
Cheryl wrote:
Sorry Erin but Five Little Pigs by Agatha Christie is a mystery but it does not appearto involve any animals
This works because "pigs" appears in the title

[kiki]

Raven Black was a decent mystery i read in the spring. it would work for part B.

[Tami]

for Part B, I'm reading The Good Husband of Zebra Drive by Alexander McCall Smith - par of the #1 Ladies Detective Agency Series...

[Terri FL]

I'm hoping this will work. The Book of Chameleons by José Eduardo Agualusa. Included in the description is this "In this completely original murder mystery, where people are not who they seem and the briefest of connections leads to the forging of entirely new histories, a bookish albino, a beautiful woman, a mysterious foreigner, and a witty talking lizard come together to discover the truth of their lives." The lizard is supposed to be a reincarnation of Jorge Borges!

For Part A I'm hoping to do Advice for Strays by Justine Kilkerr.

[Dlmrose, Moderator Emeritus]

Terri Fl wrote: "I'm hoping this will work. The Book of Chameleons by José Eduardo Agualusa. Included in the description is this "In this completely original murder mystery, where p..."

Advice for Strays does not seem to fit the description of mystery- can you identify the crime?
The Book of Chameleons works for B

[Terri FL]

This is what I was going by. It looks like the main character is searching for her missing father and on top of that all the cats have disappeared as well. If it doesn't work I'll look for something else.

"It is five days since Marnie's father disappeared. This is worrying, but not unlikely. A famous writer, he is also schizophrenic. Marnie remembers his mania, his affection; and how quickly it could turn to anger. She can't sleep, and has taken time off work, ostensibly to search for him. But she is struggling. Marnie's best friend Shiulie tries to cheer her up, but she has her own problems. Her younger sister Jess moves in, but sits on the sofa lost in the TV. This is also worrying, but Marnie will do her best. What she needs most is some good advice; someone to listen, to understand, to scare away the demons. In the streets of the town, missing posters bloom on the lamp posts. The neighbourhood cats have disappeared; Mr Knuckles, the stray she has adopted, vanished with them. Have they been kidnapped? Or has something scared them away?"

[Dlmrose, Moderator Emeritus]

I don't think from that description or the publisher's website that it is a crime or that Marnie is an amateur detective.

[Terri FL]

Ok, thanks. I'll take a look for something else then.

[Sarah (Mood Reader)]

Would either The Patience of the Spider OR He Who Fears the Wolf work for Part B?

[Dlmrose, Moderator Emeritus]

Sarah (Mood Reader) wrote: "Would either The Patience of the Spider OR He Who Fears the Wolf work for Part B?"

Spiders don't work (post 41) but He Who Fears the Wolf does work for B.

[Ms.soule]

I just finished Code Name: Princess and I'm wondering if this fits as a mystery. The crime is that a priceless koala (Princess) has been stolen from a lab. The hero might count as the "sleuth" as he's trying to figure out who took the koala and where they're hiding her. He goes around interviewing people and examining various crime scenes and definitely discovers several clues that lead everyone to the hiding place and the bad guys, but he's a Navy SEAL not a police detective. Would this still count?

[Dlmrose, Moderator Emeritus]

Mrs.soule wrote: "I just finished Code Name: Princess and I'm wondering if this fits as a mystery. The crime is that a priceless koala (Princess) has been stolen from a lab. The hero might count as the..."

stolen animal + amateur detective = yes for A

[Deedee]

I'm reading Three Bags Full for Part A;

If Elizabeth Peters's Amelia Peabody books count as mysteries, then the following would all work for Part B:
Crocodile on the Sandbank
Lion in the Valley
The Last Camel Died at Noon
The Snake, the Crocodile and the Dog (snake and crocodile)
The Hippopotamus Pool
The Ape Who Guards the Balance
The Serpent on the Crown
The Falcon at the Portal

Right? Thanks!

[Dlmrose, Moderator Emeritus]

Deedee wrote: "If Elizabeth Peters's Amelia Peabody books count as mysteries, the following all work for Part B:
Crocodile on the Sandbank
Lion in the Valley
[book:Th..."

All the Amelia Peabody books are mysteries and all the ones listed work

[chucklesthescot]

OK I'm struggling here as I don't read crime novels! Does anyone know if Storm Front or Fool Moon by Jim Butcher has an animal pet or sidekick? And if so can they be used in the challenge?

I have Three Bags Full but I need a second option in case I don't finish it!

[Cindy]

I would like to read Murder Takes the Cake for part A. The first book in the series, Murder Off the Books, features the detective's dog as his side kick as does this one.

[Dlmrose, Moderator Emeritus]

Lulu wrote: "I would like to read Murder Takes the Cake for part A. The first book in the series, Murder Off the Books, features the detective's dog as his side kick as does this one."

An Irish Wolfhound sidekick works for A

[Kate]

I just wanted to check a couple of books really quick:
Does The Chocolate Cat Caper work for task A? And I am assuming that The Chocolate Bear Burglary works for part B.

[Dlmrose, Moderator Emeritus]

Kathryn wrote: "I just wanted to check a couple of books really quick:
Does The Chocolate Cat Caper work for task A? And I am assuming that The Chocolate Bear Burglary works for part B."

The Chocolate Cat Caper's description only mentions a cat-shaped chocolate, books for A should include an animal in the plot. Please provide a reference if there is another animal in the book. The Chocolate Bear Burglary does work for B.

[Nicki]

Dlmrose wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "I just wanted to check a couple of books really quick:
Does The Chocolate Cat Caper work for task A? And I am assuming that The Chocolate Bear Burglary w..."

I read The Chocolate Cat Caper a while ago and if I remember right the chocolate cats are modelled after a real life cat the client (who orders the chocolate) owns. It does feature a bit at a party. Not a main feature but definitely appears. Not sure if that's good enough for Kathryn to use it :)

Edited to add: checked the spoilers and there is a cat - Champion Myanmar Chocolate Yonkers!!

[Kate]

Nicki (UK) wrote: "Dlmrose wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "I just wanted to check a couple of books really quick:
Does The Chocolate Cat Caper work for task A? And I am assuming that [book:The Chocolate Bear Bu..."

I noticed that the chocolates were modeled after the cat. I haven't read this book so I didn't know if it featured any more than that. Thanks for the info Nicki. I will have to wait for Dlmrose to decide. If not, I have another book to read. i just don't like to skip books in series and I plan on reading the second book for the challenge so I wanted to read the first!

[Dlmrose, Moderator Emeritus]

Kathryn wrote: "Nicki (UK) wrote: "Dlmrose wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "I just wanted to check a couple of books really quick:
Does The Chocolate Cat Caper work for task A? And I am assuming that [book:Th..."

Yonkers works- please include the info when you post- the description doesn't include the cat info

[Kate]

Thanks, I will be sure to!

[Sheila]

I was wanting to get pre-approval for my choices.

A. Dead and Doggone by Susan Conant
B. Murder with Puffins by Donna Andrews

Do these work for this task?

[Dlmrose, Moderator Emeritus]

Sheila wrote: "I was wanting to get pre-approval for my choices.

A. Dead and Doggone by Susan Conant
B. Murder with Puffins by Donna Andrews

Do these work for this task?"

They do!

[B]

YES! This task is fabulous - I can fit in 2 books on my TBR shelf that I've been really wanting to read! Happy times!

A.) Thereby Hangs a Tail (Chet is a dog and helps his owner Bernie, a P.I., solve the case)
B.) Flamingo Fatale

[chucklesthescot]

For part A is it possible to use the Artemis Fowl books? Foaly the tech expert who helps the fairy police is a centaur...

[Dlmrose, Moderator Emeritus]

chucklesthescot wrote: "For part A is it possible to use the Artemis Fowl books? Foaly the tech expert who helps the fairy police is a centaur..."

Do they satisfy the definition of a mystery as defined in the task? Mysteries have a detective protagonist (amateur or professional) who investigates and solves a crime.
I haven't found a source that categorizes the series as mystery.

[chucklesthescot]

The book I looked at was Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception where the female fairy cop is accused of murdering her commanding officer and sets out to catch the real killer. They are children's books(though I love them!) but I wondered if being a murder investigation could fit even though you know all along who the killer is.

If it's too much of a stretch, no worries!

[Dlmrose, Moderator Emeritus]

chucklesthescot wrote: "The book I looked at was Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception where the female fairy cop is accused of murdering her commanding officer and sets out to catch the real killer. They are chi..."

I think it is too far a stretch for this task. I hope you can fit it in somewhere else.

[chucklesthescot]

Always worth a try! No sweat, and thanks for your time as always!

[Megan]

chucklesthescot wrote: "Always worth a try! No sweat, and thanks for your time as always!"

You might be able to try the The Fairy-Tale Detectives for this one, if you want to use something more fantasy-like. A pet wolf helps the girls solve the mysteries and protects them.

[Lauren]

does The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo work for part B?

[Dlmrose, Moderator Emeritus]

Lauren wrote: "does The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo work for part B?"

yes, it works

[Lauren]

great thanks!