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Cozy Mystery Corner Favorite Flavors Challenge - DONE!! FIND THIS CHALLENGE HERE:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
On hot summer days, we reach for cool treats to beat the heat. Whether it's ice cream, sorbet, sherbet, fro-yo, gelato or another frozen treat, here are some of our favorite flavors:
1. Chocolate - Most popular flavor
Read a book from a series that is popular with you. Book must be #4 or higher in series.
Sebastian St. Cyr #5: What Remains of Heaven by C.S. Harris 8/17/22
2. Vanilla - Simple but sensational, vanilla is the 2nd most expensive spice in the world.
Read a book with a character who is misjudged, underestimated, or falsely accused.
Evan Only Knows by Rhys Bowen 7/4/22
3. Strawberry
Read a book with fruit on the cover ...
Mango, Mambo, and Murder by Raquel V. Reyes 2/04/23
4. Passion Fruit / Mango
Read a book ... where MC is in the hospitality industry.
Destination Wedding Planner: Dying on the Vine by Marla Cooper 7/11/22 (& vanilla)
5. Mint Chocolate Chip - pairs mint and chocolate
Read a book where the MC is paired (has a SO).
A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Murder by Dianne Freeman 8/17/22
6. Butter Pecan - Most popular flavor in Southern states
Read a book set in one of the USA's southern states: GA
Southern Sass and Killer Cravings by Kate Young 12/19/22
7. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough - vanilla with chunks of chocolate
Read a book set in a bakery or with a culinary theme.
The Diva Says Cheesecake! by Krista Davis 12/08/22
8. Cookies 'n Cream - kids favorite
Read a book with a character that is a child.
A Lady's Guide to Gossip and Murder by Dianne Freeman 7/19/22 - Rose
9. Rocky Road - chocolate ice cream with nuts & marshmallows
The lumps and bumps from the nuts gave this ice cream its name. Created in the 1920s, later it also referred to the hard times people experienced during the Great Depression. Read a book set in the 1920s or 1930s.
Murder Comes to Call by Jessica Ellicott 12/02/22
10. Coffee
Read a book set in a coffee shop or with a scene in a coffee shop.
Roast Mortem by Cleo Coyle 9/24/22
11. Neapolitan - strawberry, chocolate & vanilla
Read a book that is classified in more than one genre on its GR page.
Where Serpents Sleep by C.S. Harris 8/07/22
12. Birthday Cake/Cake Batter
Read a book with a party scene.
How to Murder a Millionaire by Nancy Martin 7/3/22
13. Pistachio - The pistachio tree originated from central Asia.
Read a book with a tree on the cover OR a book that is set in Asia OR a book with a green or yellow cover (25%+).
Turkey: Tears of Pearl by Tasha Alexander 7/30/22 & neapolitan & mint
Winter Spell-Out ChallengeDec - Jan - Feb
Words
CANDY CANE
C Chandra Blumberg Digging Up Love
A Arsenic and Adobo Mia P. Manansala
N Erica Ruth Neubauer Murder at Wedgefield Manor
D The Diva Says Cheesecake! Krista Davis
Y Kate Young Southern Sass and Killer Cravings
C Cajun Kiss of Death Ellen Byron
A Alexia Gordon Death in D Minor
N No Way Home Annette Dashofy
E Ellen Byron Murder in the Bayou Boneyard
SNOWMAN
S Sell Low, Sweet Harriet Sherry Harris
N Night Moves Julie Mulhern
O Richard Osman The Thursday Murder Club
W Valerie Wilson Wesley A Glimmer of Death
M Mango, Mambo, and Murder by Raquel V. Reyes
A Absence of Alice Sherry Harris
N Erica Ruth Neubauer Danger on the Atlantic
HEART
H Sherry Harris A Time to Swill
E Jessica Ellicott Murder Comes to Call
A Alexia Gordon Killing in C Sharp
R Recipes for Love and Murder Sally Andrew
T Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder Valerie Burns
ORNAMENTS
WREATH
SANTA
DECEMBER
MENORAH
EGGNOG
SNOW
NEW YEAR EVE
2023 MAGICAL MYSTERY TOURDuration: January 1 - December 31, 2023
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
All crime fiction qualifies for this challenge. Books in other genres may qualify, if the protagonist investigates and tries to resolve some evildoing.
Prompts may not be repeated.
Have a killer time on this trip as we go once upon a crime!
Criminal Investigation Department
Current Rank - Special Agent in Charge: 5 cases per category
Career Goal - Special Agent in Charge: 5 cases per category
Progress: 35/30
Who = 7
What = 6
When = 6
Where = 5
How = 7
Why = 5
UNSOLVED CASES
WHO: 7/5
Solve cases featuring a main character (sleuth, perp, victim, or suspect) in one of the below fields.
1. Writer - columnist
Recipes for Love and Murder by Sally Andrew 2/04/23
2. Domestic - home aide
Dandelion Summer by Lisa Wingate 9/03/23
3. Finance - accountant
Three Shots to the Wind by Sherry Harris 1/21/23
4. Fashion - designer, model
Peril in Paris by Rhys Bowen 6/25/23
5. Politician - Mayor
Apple Pie and Arsenic by C.A. Phipps 4/30/23
6. Education - professor
Intrigue in Istanbul by Erica Ruth Neubauer 8/24/23
7. Sports - coach
Pumpkins in Paradise by Kathi Daley 10/14/23
WHAT: 6/5
What makes your case distinctive?
1. A significant weather event - storm
Dead Man's Leap by Tina deBellegarde 3/25/23
2. A food or beverage in the title
Mango, Mambo, and Murder by Raquel V. Reyes 2/05/23
3. Second or third in a series: Chloe Jackson, Sea Glass Saloon #2
A Time to Swill by Sherry Harris 1/18/23
4. A private investigator: Frank Malloy & Gino Donatelli
Murder on Pleasant Avenue by Victoria Thompson 5/27/23
5. A person's name in the title
Mimi Lee Gets a Clue by Jennifer J. Chow 5/19/23
6. A paranormal element ghost
In Hot Water by J.J. Cook 8/3/23 [& fire]
7. Related to a monthly theme (Which one?)
WHEN: 6/5
When did the dastardly deed take place or get reported?
1. In winter
Winter Witness by Tina deBellegarde 3/12/23 & holiday
2. In the 1900s: 1926
Murder at Wedgefield Manor by Erica Ruth Neubauer 1/30/23 (& #2)
3. During a holiday: New Year's Day
Murder on Trinity Place by Victoria Thompson 5/15/23
4. In the A.M. hours (midnight to 11:59)
Death at the Café by Alison Golden 9/01/23
5. During a group event: play
Murder in the Bayou Boneyard by Ellen Byron 1/08/23
6. Reported (published) in the decade you were born
7. Reported (published) in 2023
Hidden Beneath by Barbara Ross 8/5/23
WHERE: 5/5
Where did the dastardly deed take place?
1. Wilderness area
No Way Home by Annette Dashofy 1/02/23
2. Vacation destination: Palm Springs, CA
Desert Getaway by Michael Craft 3/19/23
3. A ship
Danger on the Atlantic by Erica Ruth Neubauer 2/18/23
4. A university
5. Public venue: restaurant
Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala 1/15/23
& Anthony, Macavity & Agatha Awards
6. On the road
Gone West by Carola Dunn 6/11/23
7. A tropical climate
HOW: 7/5
For this category, each means of murder must be distinctly different.
1. Boat crash: Cajun Kiss of Death by Ellen Byron 1/11/23
2. Knife: Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder by Valerie Burns 2/01/23
3. Spanner/Wrench: The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman 2/14/23
4. Barbiturates: Statue of Limitations by Kate Collins 5/13/23
5. Cellar stairs: On Turpentine Lane by Elinor Lipman 5/21/23
6. Gun: Murder on Wall Street by Victoria Thompson 5/29/23
7. Pillow: Evil Woman by Julie Mulhern 8/12/23
WHY: 5/5
What motivated you to choose a particular case?
1. Favorite mystery author or series: Country Club Murders #12
Night Moves by Julie Mulhern 2/09/23 & poison
2. A favorite mystery subgenre: Cozy
Muddled Through by Barbara Ross 1/05/23
3. A Goodreads listopia: Best Southern Mysteries
Hallowed Bones by Carolyn Haines 9/23/23
4. Literary prize winner for crime fiction:
5. A celebrity book club pick:
6. A cold case
Shoot the Moon by Billie Letts 7/30/23
7. Average Goodreads rating of 4 stars or above: 4.11
From Garden To Grave by Rickie Blair 4/09/23
Spring Spell-Out ChallengeMar - Apr - May
Words
MARCH
LAMB
SHAMROCK
S Statue of Limitations Kate Collins
H Accidentally Engaged Farah Heron
A Apple Pie and Arsenic C.A. Phipps
M Murder on Trinity Place Victoria Thompson
R From Garden To Grave Rickie Blair
O Elinor Lipman On Turpentine Lane
C Desert Getaway Michael Craft
K The Kiss Quotient Helen Hoang
Cozy Mystery Corner - Good Luck/Bad Luck Challenge - DONE!! Play Here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Start date: March 1st
Duration: Sept 24
Superstitions from Around the World
Irrational as they may be, we all have a superstition or two. Whether it's a lucky pair of pants or an aversion to Friday the 13th, superstitions are important to us because they give meaning to the often random nature of luck and put us in the driving seat of our destiny. This challenge draws on the cultural histories behind some of the world's most common superstitions.
1. Knocking on Wood
Read a book with a tree on the cover.
Murder on Pleasant Avenue by Victoria Thompson 5/27/23
2. Throwing Salt Over Your Shoulder
Read a mystery with a culinary theme.
Chef Maurice and a Spot of Truffle by J.A. Lang 9/24/23
3.Walking Under a Ladder
Read a book that is #3 in a series OR where a key character is clergy.
Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade #3: In Hot Water by J.J. Cook 8/5/23
4. Broken Mirror
Read a book with a mirror or something glass or breakable on the cover.
Clay pot (broken) & statue: Statue of Limitations by Kate Collins 5/13/23
5. Step on a Crack, Break Your Mother’s Back
Read a book ... where a mother is a key character. Name her.
Jazz Friendly: Desert Getaway by Michael Craft 3/19/23
6. Lucky Pennies
Read the 1st book in a series and/or read an author for the first time.
#1 Batavia-on-Hudson: Winter Witness by Tina deBellegarde 3/19/23
7. Lucky Horseshoe
Read a book with something upside down or toppled over on the cover.
On Turpentine Lane by Elinor Lipman 5/21/23
8. Friday the 13th
Read a book that ... has both 1 and 3 in the total page count.
313 pp: From Garden To Grave by Rickie Blair 4/09/23
9. Black Cats
Read a book with a cat on the cover.
Mimi Lee Gets a Clue by Jennifer J. Chow 5/19/23
10. Fingers Crossed
Read a book with a hand(s) on the cover.
Gone West by Carola Dunn 6/11/23
11. Seeing a Rainbow
Read a book where there is stormy weather ...
Dead Man's Leap by Tina deBellegarde 3/25/23
12. The Number Four
Read ... a book with a key character with Asian ancestry.
Accidentally Engaged by Farah Heron 3/27/23 & culinary
13. Writing Love Letters to Juliet Capulet
Read a book where the MC writes a letter.
Peril in Paris by Rhys Bowen
14. Curse of the Evil Eye
Read a book with eyes or any part of a face on the cover.
Evil Woman by Julie Mulhern 8/12/23
15. Tucking Thumbs in Inside of a Cemetery
Read a book with a ... skull and crossbones on the cover.
Apple Pie and Arsenic by C.A. Phipps 4/30/23
16. Giving Yellow Flowers
Read a book with a yellow cover.
Murder on Wall Street by Victoria Thompson 5/29/23
17. Sweeping Feet
Read a book where the MC is single.
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang 6/27/23
18. Itchy Palms
Read a book where a key character has either good luck or bad luck with money.
Good luck-> wealthy or receives a windfall - inheritance
Murder on Trinity Place by Victoria Thompson 5/15/23 - Frank Malloy
Summer Spell-OutJune 1 to Aug 31
Words
SWIM
S Seaview Inn Sherryl Woods
W Sherryl Woods Home to Seaview Key
I Intrigue in Istanbul Erica Ruth Neubauer
M Julie Mulhern Evil Woman
TRAVEL
T Tara M. Stringfellow Memphis
R Rhys Bowen Peril in Paris
A Alison Golden Death at the Café
V Victoria Thompson Murder on Wall Street
E Edwene Gaines The Four Spiritual Laws of Prosperity:
L Billie Letts Shoot the Moon
Cozy Mystery Corner Summer Cites Challenge - DONE!!Tasks are inspired by quotes about summer.
Play here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Level: Porch Swing
Progress: 16/12
☀️🩴🌊🧮🏊🏽♀️🦥📺🍷💗🌄🌳🤪🏖️🧳🌙🍓🧺🌌🌦️🍽️🔮🏡🐦🌸
1. "A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing and the lawnmower is broken." - James Dent
☀️Read a book with a lawn, grass or sun on the cover. Show the cover.
2. "Like a welcome summer rain, humor may suddenly cleanse and cool the earth, the air and you." - Langston Hughes
🌦️Read a book that makes you laugh.
Death at the Café by Alison Golden 9/01/23
3. “Summer is singing with joy, and the beaches are inviting you with dancing waves.” -
Debasish Mridha
🌊Read a book where someone sings or dances.
Memphis by Tara M. Stringfellow 7/22/23 (& obstacle)
4. "Summer's lease hath all too short a date." - William Shakespeare
🏡Read a book with an MC who rents her/his home.
5. "Summer has a flavor like no other. Always fresh and simmered in sunshine." -
Oprah Winfrey
🍴Read a culinary cozy.
Chef Maurice and a Spot of Truffle by J.A. Lang 9/24/23
6. "Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August." - Jenny Han
🔮Read a magickal mystery
Stage Fright by Dakota Cassidy 10/07/23
7. "To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow." - Audrey Hepburn
🌸Read a book with a garden on the cover OR where the MC is a gardener or florist.
8. "My favorite weather is bird-chirping weather." - Terri Guillemets
🐦Read a book with a bird on the cover OR where weather plays a role in the story.
Uneasy Prey by Annette Dashofy 9/10/23
9. "It's always summer somewhere." - Lily Pulitzer
✈️Read a book set in a country other than the United States or United Kingdom.
France: Peril in Paris by Rhys Bowen 6/25/23
Turkey & Hungary: Intrigue in Istanbul by Erica Ruth Neubauer 8/24/23 [& night & past & water & crazy]
10. "One benefit of summer was that each day we had more light to read by." -
Jeanette Walls
📖Read a book where the MC is a librarian, owns a bookstore or reads a book.
11. "Deep summer is where laziness finds respectability." - Sam Keen
🦥Read a book with a character you consider lazy OR where a character takes a day off.
12. "If summer had one defining scent, it'd definitely be the smell of barbecue." —
Katie Lee
🧺Read a book where a character eats barbecue or goes on a picnic.
In Hot Water by J.J. Cook [& magickal & lake & wtr]
13. "I have only to break into the tightness of a strawberry, and I see summer – its dust and lowering skies." — Toni Morrison
🍓Read a book with fruit on the cover OR the name of a fruit in the title.
14. "Oh, the summer night, has a smile of light, and she sits on a sapphire throne." —
Bryan Procter
🌙Read a book with a night scene on the cover OR where the murder happens at night.
Shoot the Moon by Billie Letts 7/30/23 [& past]
15. "A vacation is having nothing to do and all day to do it in." — Robert Orben
🧳Read a book where the MC goes on vacation.
16. "When the sun is shining I can do anything; no mountain is too high, no trouble is too difficult to overcome." — Wilma Rudolph
🌄Read a book where the MC overcomes an obstacle. Tell us what it is. (ex: falsely accused of murder, business/career struggle, difficult relationship)
17. "All in all, it was a never-to-be-forgotten summer — one of those summers which come seldom into any life, but leave a rich heritage of beautiful memories in their going..." —
L.M. Montgomery
📺Read a book that is set in the past OR where an event in the past is central to the plot.
Hidden Beneath by Barbara Ross 8/5/23 [& wtr & bird]
Dandelion Summer by Lisa Wingate 9/03/23
18. "Summer is the annual permission slip to be lazy. To do nothing and have it count for something. To lie in the grass and count the stars. To sit on a branch and study the clouds." — Regina Brett
🧮Read a book with
Seaview Inn by Sherryl Woods 7/29/23 - 3 pails (& beach & day off & past)
19. “If a June night could talk, it would probably boast it invented romance.” - Bern Williams
💗Read a book with a romantic plot or subplot. MC has a significant other or spouse.
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang 6/27/23
20. "It's a smile, it's a kiss, it's a sip of wine ... It's summertime!" — Kenny Chesney
🍷Read a book where a character drinks wine, beer or other alcoholic beverage.
Hallowed Bones by Carolyn Haines 9/23/23
21. “If there’s heaven for me, I’m sure it has a beach attached to it.” - Jimmy Buffett
🏖️Read a book with a beach on the cover or where a character goes to a beach, lake or river.
Home to Seaview Key by Sherryl Woods 8/24/23 [& past & beer & swimming]
22. "Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer." - Nat King Cole
🤪Read a book with a character who does something crazy. (Your interpretation.)
23. "And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer." — F. Scott Fitzgerald
🌳Read a book with a tree, bush or plant on the cover.
24. “Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson
🏊🏽♀️Read a book where a character goes swimming OR with a body of water on the cover. Evil Woman by Julie Mulhern - swim meet [& laugh & drinks & past]
August 20231. August is Water Quality Month: Read a book with a body of water on the cover or in the title.
Intrigue in Istanbul by Erica Ruth Neubauer 8/24/23
2. August 9 is Book Lover's Day: Reader's choice--read any book you like!
Home to Seaview Key by Sherryl Woods 8/24/23
3. August 16 is Discovery Day: Read a book in which one of the characters discovers something.
In Hot Water by J.J. Cook 8/1/23 - MC discovers a lost Will.
4. August 19 is Aviation Day: Read a book that features something or someone that flies.
Hidden Beneath by Barbara Ross 8/5/23 - birds
5. August 25 is National Secondhand Wardrobe Day: Read a book with clothes on the cover
Evil Woman by Julie Mulhern 8/12/23
Autumn Spell-Out ChallengeMASK
M Manna from Hades Carola Dunn
A Alisha Rai Play With Me
S Stage Fright Dakota Cassidy
K The Body in the Moonlight: Katherine Hall Page
Cozy Mystery Corner: Autumn Trees Mix & Match Challengehttps://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Goal: Sapling
Progress: 7/8
TASKS:
Oak - There are about 450 species of oak; many with broad flat leaves. Acorns are the fruit of oak trees.
🍂Read a book by an author whose name (first or last) begins with a vowel.
Alisha Rai, Play With Me 9/29/23
Maple - Maples are often used as ornamental trees in landscaping and in areas where shade is desired. Maple leaves become brightly colored in fall.
🍂Read a book with a brightly colored cover OR a cover that is at least 25% red, yellow and/or orange.
The Proof of the Pudding by Rhys Bowen 11/27/23
Beech trees are native to North America and Eurasia.
🍂Read a book with double vowels in the title or author's name. May be the same or different letters (oo, ee, ie, ea, ai, ou, oi).
A Colourful Death by Carola Dunn 11/13/23
Elm is one of the most popular street names in the US.
🍂Read a book set in an urban area.
New Orlean, LA: Hallowed Bones by Carolyn Haines 9/23/23
Birch is commonly used to produce furniture, flooring, paneling, cabinets and plywood.
🍂Read a book with furniture or an interior room (inside a house) on the cover.
Stage Fright: by Dakota Cassidy 10/07/23
Dogwood is an ornamental tree, it's leaves turn scarlet in fall. Blooming during the Easter season, the dogwood's four petaled flowers resemble a cross and symbolize resurrection and new life.
🍂Read a book with flowers on the cover OR with a religious sleuth or key character - Rev Thomas Fairchild
The Body in the Moonlight: A Faith Fairchild Mystery by Katherine Hall Page 10/30/23
Ash trees are plants in the olive and lilac family.
🍂Read a book with the letters A-S-H in either the Title or Author's name.
Chef Maurice and a Spot of Truffle by J.A. Lang 9/24/23
Hickory trees serve many craft uses.
🍂Read a book with a craft theme ...
Night of the Living Thread by Janet Bolin
Linden trees attract bees with their flowers; hollow trees are an important source of honey.
🍂Read a book with two different consonants in the title or author's name.
Pumpkins in Paradise by Kathi Daley 10/14/23 - mp, th
Magnolia trees are both evergreen and deciduous.
🍂Read a book classified in more than one genre. (ex: historical fiction and mystery)
Manna from Hades by Carola Dunn 11/09/23
October Mini-ChallengeProgress: 3
1. It's the spooky season, when black and orange abound: Read a book with a mostly orange or black cover (at least fifty percent), or with those colors in the title.
2. October 3 is Look at the Leaves Day: Read a book with leaves on the cover.
Pumpkins in Paradise by Kathi Daley 10/07/23
3. It's Friday the Thirteenth, a day considered unlucky in some Western countries: Read a book with a symbol related to curses, superstition or bad luck on the cover.
4. October 16 is Dictionary Day, which celebrates the birthday of Noah Webster: Read a book whose title begins with A, B, or C.
Calypso, Corpses, and Cooking by Raquel V. Reyes 10/22/23
5. October 31 is Halloween: Read a book that features a ghost, witch or monster.
Stage Fright: by Dakota Cassidy 10/07/23 - MC is a witch who helps ghost! 🪄👻
COZY MYSTERY CORNER - NEW YEAR'S Join this challenge here
Whether we call them resolutions, intentions or goals, the new year feels like a time to set new ones. New Year's Resolutions can be a great starting point to prioritize health and wellness on your own terms. Instead of unrealistic goals placing pressure on us:
🎇Embrace attainable goals.
🎇Focus on slowly adapting new routines and habits that will make you feel great about yourself.
🎇Aim to relieve stress, minimize anxiety and improve your overall well-being.
The tasks in this challenge are drawn from a list of attainable goals for the new year. To participate in the challenge, pick the number of tasks you intend to complete. (Must be at least 5.)
Duration: 3 months from start
TASKS: 3
1. Start a gratitude journal.
Keeping track of things, people and events that you're grateful for throughout the year can improve your mental and physical wellness. It recharges and rejuvenates. Gratitude makes you feel happier and more satisfied.
Read a book where a character says thank you or expresses appreciation to someone. (Tell us who).
Sycamore Row by John Grisham 4/10/24
2. Bond more deeply with family and friends.
Read a book where characters include member(s) of the MCs family.
Murder in an Irish Village by Carlene O'Connor 1/30/24 - MC and 5 siblings
3. Try new recipes.
Cook one new thing each week. Try to eat more diverse food. This year find some easy recipes you've never tried before. After all, variety is the spice of life.
Read a culinary cozy OR a book where a character hosts a meal for friends/guests.
4. Read more books.
January is the perfect time to snuggle up with a book. Review the books you read on our Goodreads page.
Read a book by a favorite author and post a review on this group's discussion page.
5. Become sober curious.
Since you don't have to drink to have fun. Why not cut back and join the sober curious movement? Doing so could improve your mood, sleep and skin. Plus, it'll also help you save money.
Read a book where the MC only drinks non-alcoholic beverages.
6. Book your yearly doctors' visits.
Open your calendar app and make your appointments for the year. Start with your primary care physician. Then book annual screenings, dentist and ophthalmologists appointments. Exams will be less likely to get squeezed out as life gets bonkers.
Read a book with a key character in the healthcare or wellness profession.
7. Be a plant owner.
Caring for indoor plants makes life less stressful. Indoor plants improve air quality among other benefits. People who work near plants report greater concentration.
Read a book with indoor plant(s) on the cover. (Show the cover.)
8. Drink more water.
Read a book with a glass, cup, pitcher or drinkware on the cover.
A Newlywed’s Guide to Fortune and Murder by Dianne Freeman 2/19/24
9. Volunteer regularly.
Read a book where the MC volunteers for something.
The Diva Delivers on a Promise by Krista Davis 12/4/23
Sophie hosts a fundraising tea for charity.
10. Sanitize your phone weekly.
We check our phones a gazillion times a day. Phones carry 10 times the bacteria on most toilet seats! 😲 Use disinfectant wipes to kill most viruses and bacteria.
Read a book where the MC uses a mobile/cell phone, computer or other electronic device.
11. Say goodbye to toxic friends.
If you don't feel supported or if the relationship drains you, you may be in an unhealthy relationship. Break up with a once friend turned frenemy. Sometimes, ghosting is appropriate; Sometimes approaching the situation with a structured conversation can help you get the closure you need to grow.
Read a book where a character has or is a toxic friend. Tell us who.
12. Make your bed every morning.
Time to grow past the messy bed look! Making your bed is a simple and easy way to transform your space and kickstart a productive morning routine.
Read a book with furniture on the cover. (Show the cover.)
Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life by Richard Rohr
13. Learn to love vegetables.
Vegetables are our friends. Vegetables are full of essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that provide many important health benefits to your body. Fiber-rich vegetables are especially crucial for healthy hearts and strong veins.
Read a book with a title that begins with a letter in V-E-G-E-T-A-B-L-E. (Not including 'a', 'an', or 'the'.)
Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson & fam
14. Make a chaotic zone calm.
Make the chaotic zone by the door a calm, happy space. Set up simple systems (a mail basket, a shoe bench, hooks) for tidying.
Read a book with a door on the cover. (Show the cover.)
15. Play upbeat music.
Read a book where a character(s) dances, sings, plays or listens to music.
The Liar by Nora Roberts 2/12/24 - Shelby (MC) sings at a nightclub.
16. Do one thing at a time.
Multitasking doesn't make you more efficient, but it does stress you out. Instead, organize your activities into chunks of time and then commit to being focused in those allotted minutes.
Read a book that is classified in only one genre. (Subgenres are OK.)
17. Get artsy
Read a book where the MC visits a museum.
A Dream of Death by Connie Berry 12/25/23 - MC visits historical museum
[& tk u & new & frenemy]
18. Be kind to yourself.
Ease stress with kindness. Practice self-compassion. Take some time each day to focus on something you love about yourself. Focus on what's good in your life. Treat yourself like a good friend.
Read a book where a character does something you consider self-care. Tell us what it is. (ex: visits friends, gets a massage)
19. Join a club.
Joining a club will help you meet new people. Find a group of people with similar interests, and meet new friends in the process. Creative clubs can also be a boon in helping you stick to mastering a new craft.
Read a book where the MC is a member of a social group (ex: book group, craft club, sewing circle). Not a work group.
20. Give your feet better support.
Start the year off on the right foot. Wear shoes that are properly supportive for walking or running. Shop for shoes in the afternoon when feet are slightly swollen.
Read a book with feet or foot ware (shoes) on the cover. (Show the cover.)
21. Get a good night's rest.
Commit to a healthier sleep routine. Sleep is possibly the most important thing we can do for our physical, mental, and emotional health, as well as our creativity. Beyond a reasonable bedtime, improve your sleep hygiene — the habits you maintain to get good sleep every night.
Read a book with a scene where the MC takes a nap or goes to sleep.
The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan
22. Keep moving.
Read a book where a character goes for a walk or does some other physical exercise.
Heirs of the Body by Carola Dunn 3/13/24 [& host & shoes]
23. Exercise your brain.
Read a mystery by a new-to-you author; try to figure out "who-done-it." Let us know whether you did.
That's the Spirit! by Mallory Pierce
24. Make your home more fragrant.
Smell is associated with the parts of the brain that process emotion and store memories. Certain aromas can affect mood: Vanilla makes people more relaxed and joyful (mmm, baking), while peppermint can boost energy and lavender can zap stress.
Read a book with a house on the cover. (Show the cover.)
Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes
25. Plan a vacation.
A vacation can help you feel rested, refreshed, resilient, and prepared to handle whatever comes. It can also boost your happiness and your ability to make positive changes in your life. Even thinking about an upcoming trip can boost happiness.
Read a book where the MC goes on vacation OR works in the hospitality industry (ex: hotel, restaurant, tourism).
26. Take a social media break.
Read a book published or set in the 1990s or earlier - before social media's popularity.
1980s: Sycamore Row by John Grisham 4/10/24
Hypatia Hasbrouck, Handbook of Positive Prayer
Murder For Christmas - 26 Tales Of Yuletide Malice ed. by Thomas Godfrey - pub 1989
27. Have a financial plan.
Make a vow to save more money. Outline a rough budget that works for you — and make a plan for how you'll stick to it. Supercharge your shopping habits by rethinking when and how you buy things for your home and family; often, there are savings you're leaving on the table.
Read a book where the MC goes shopping.
28. Upcycle your wardrobe for good.
Bye-bye, too-tight jeans and clothing mistakes. So long uncomfortable work clothes and special occasions only. Upcycle clothes that no longer fit who you are. Drop them off at a local charity.
Read a book with clothes on the cover. (Show the cover.)
29. Keep clutter out of the kitchen.
If you can hardly see your counters through all the papers, Post-its, and not-yet-put-away groceries, you may pay for that chaos later when it comes to meals. Take a few minutes to whisk it all where it belongs, and it can help you eat more mindfully in days to come.
Read a book where the MC cooks, washes dishes or cleans her kitchen.
Crescent: by Diana Abu-Jaber
30. Chill out.
Read a book with a scene where someone gets angry or there is an argument or fight.
Peg and Rose Solve a Murder by Laurien Berenson 2/7/24
Peg and Rose bicker all the time!
BONUS: Try a couple of ideas if it might make your life easier or more fun.
2024 MAGICAL MYSTERY TOURGoal: ▪ Forensic Analyst: 4 cases per category
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Rank: ▪ Forensic Analyst: 4 cases per category
Solved Cases:
Who: 4
What: 4
When: 5
Where: 4
How: 4
Why: 4
Cases: 25/24
Who: 4/4
Solve cases featuring a main character (sleuth, perp, victim, or suspect) in one of the below fields.
1. Military: Major Ramsey
A Peculiar Combination by Ashley Weaver 8/29/24
2. Plants: Ellie - gardener, botanist, aromatherapist
Daisies for Innocence by Bailey Cattrell 11/28/24
3. First response (EMT, firefighter, deputy, etc.)
4. Security: Secret Service - Neville, Gavin
Foreign Éclairs by Julie Hyzy 12/01/24
5. Travel (train driver, pilot, cruise staff, etc.)
6. Animal Care: Peg - dog whisperer, breeder & poodle show judge
Peg and Rose Solve a Murder by Laurien Berenson 2/7/24
7. Building:
What: 4/4
What makes your case distinctive?
1. An orange cover
Heirs of the Body by Carola Dunn 3/14/24
2. A tree on the cover
5/29/243. A flower on the cover
4. A number in the title
5. A place name in the title
The Bangalore Detectives Club by Harini Nagendra 4/26/24
6. A geographical feature in the title
Secrets of a Scottish Isle by Erica Ruth Neubauer 12/14/24
7. A season in the title
When: 5/4
When did the dastardly deed take place or get reported?
1. In spring
2. In the second half of 20th century: 1980s
Sycamore Row by John Grisham 4/10/24
3. During a trip (business)
Fatal Fascinator by Jenn McKinlay 9/27/24
4. Between noon and midnight
Offstage in Nuala by Harriet Steel
5. During a romantic celebration - wedding rehearsal dinner
Torn Asunder by Barbara Ross 5/23/24 (& spring & 2024)
6. In the season you were born
Bobbin for Answers by Melissa Bourbon 10/09/24
7. Published in a Year of the Dragon (2024, 2012, 2000, etc.)
2012: Grace Among Thieves by Julie Hyzy
Where: 4/4
Where did the dastardly deed take place?
1. In a small town or village
Murder in an Irish Village by Carlene O'Connor 1/30/24
2. On a mountain
The Liar by Nora Roberts 2/12/24
3. In a vacation rental (cabin, resort, etc.)
4. On an island
Dial P For Poison by Zara Keane 4/17/24
5. On a train or plane
6. Near the equator - Sri Lanka
Trouble in Nuala by Harriet Steel 9/12/24
7. Above the Arctic Circle
How: 4/4
1. Laudanum: A Newlywed’s Guide to Fortune and Murder by Dianne Freeman 2/19/24
2. Curtain tie-back: That's the Spirit! by Mallory Pierce 3/16/24
3. Train: The Secret, Book & Scone Society by Ellery Adams 8/15/24
4. Knife Here Comes the Body by Maria DiRico 8/23/24
Why: 4/4
What motivated you to choose a particular case?
1. A favorite mystery author or series:
2. Favorite mystery subgenre: Cozy
Pretty is as Pretty Dies by Elizabeth Spann Craig 7/13/24
3. Appears in a Goodreads listopia
4. Won a literary prize for crime fiction: Anthony, Dilys, Ellis, Dagger & Silver Pen
Still Life by Louise Penny 7/7/24
5. A challenged or banned crime book
6. A cold case (among your TBRs for over a year)
Just Killing Time by Julianne Holmes 10/24/24
7. Average Goodreads rating of 4 stars or above:
The Key to Deceit by Ashley Weaver 9/7/24
* * *
Leap into Spring ChallengeDuration: 3 months from start
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Progress: 7
TASKS:
1. A Spring in Your Step: Read a book where the MC travels or goes on a journey.
🪷2. Spring is in the Air: Read a book with something that can be found in the air on the cover - clouds.
Dial P For Poison by Zara Keane 4/17/24
3. Spring Comes in like a Lion, Goes Out like a Lamb: Read a book where MC has a pet or with a key character who works with animals.
🌷4. No Spring Chicken: Read a book where one of the main characters is a senior citizen. Name the character(s).
Pretty is as Pretty Dies by Elizabeth Spann Craig 7/13/24
5. The First Sign of Spring: Read a book with a bird or flower on the cover.
Spring Forward, Fall Back: Must be done together.
🌹6. Spring Forward: Read the next book in a series then -
Maine Clambake #12: Torn Asunder by Barbara Ross
🌺7. Fall Back: Read an earlier book in another series.
Armand Gamache #1: Still Life by Louise Penny 7/7/24
🌷8. Spring Fever: Read a book with a key character who is in a healthcare or wellness profession - doctor
The Bangalore Detectives Club by Harini Nagendra 4/26/24
9. Spring Break: Read a book with an MC who has a hobby (including crafts) or plays a sport.
🌻10. Spring Training: Read a book where MC's profession is part of the plot.
Forensic Photographer: One Hit Wonder by Kristi Rose 5/29/24
🪻11. Spring to Life: Read a book where someone who is thought to be dead turns out to be alive.
Sycamore Row by John Grisham 4/10/24
12. Hope Springs Eternal: Read a book with a happy ending.
13. Spring Out: Read a book with a surprise twist.
SUMMER CHALLENGECAMP
C Pretty is as Pretty Dies Elizabeth Spann Craig
A Ashley Weaver A Peculiar Combination
M Maria DiRico Here Comes the Body
P Louise Penny Still Life
Cozy Mystery Corner Challenge: LIGHTHOUSES: BEACONS IN THE DARKhttps://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Lighthouses are beacons guiding ships safely into harbor at night or during a storm. ...The theme for this challenge is scenic lighthouses in the United States.
DURATION: 3 months from start
Progress: 11/12
BLOCK ISLAND, RHODE ISLAND
🛳️Read a book ... with a character who moves, is new to town or returns home.
A Peculiar Combination by Ashley Weaver 8/29/24 - Felix returns home from fighting in WWII
CAPE HATTERAS LIGHTHOUSE, NORTH CAROLINA
🛳️Read a book ... by an author whose first or last name begins with C or H.
Julianne Holmes, Just Killing Time 10/24/24
BODIE ISLAND, NORTH CAROLINA
🛳️ Read a book ... with the word 'body' in the title.
Here Comes the Body by Maria DiRico 8/23/24
CAPE FLORIDA LIGHTHOUSE, FLORIDA
🛳️Read a book with a word in its title that rhymes with KEY.
The Secret, Book & Scone Society by Ellery Adams 8/15/24
BILOXI LIGHTHOUSE, MISSISSIPPI
🛳️Read a book ... where the MC is a female business owner.
Fatal Fascinator by Jenn McKinlay 9/27/24
NEW LONDON LEDGE LIGHTHOUSE, CONNECTICUT
🛳️Read a book with a ghost or other supernatural character...
Bodice of Evidence by Melissa Bourbon 10/03/24
CAPE NEDDICK (NUBBLE) LIGHTHOUSE, MAINE
🛳️Read a book with double consonants in the author's name AND set on an island.
Dark Clouds Over Nuala by Harriet Steel 9/16/24 - Sri Lanka/Ceylon
PORTLAND HEAD LIGHTHOUSE, MAINE
🛳️Read a book with 'historical fiction' or 'historical mystery' on its main GR page.
The Key to Deceit by Ashley Weaver 9/6/23
SPLIT ROCK LIGHTHOUSE, MINNESOTA
🛳️ Read a book ... where MC attends a play.
Offstage in Nuala by Harriet Steel 10/05/24
WHITE SHOAL LIGHT, MICHIGAN
🛳️Read a book with a striped object on the cover - wallpaper
HECETA HEAD, OREGON
🛳️Read a book ... MC is in the hospitality business.
White House Chef, Ollie Paras
Foreign Éclairs by Julie Hyzy 11/30/24
PIGEON POINT LIGHTHOUSE, CALIFORNIA
🛳️Read a book with a character who is a youth (teenager or child).
Trouble in Nuala by Harriet Steel 9/12/24
Autumnal Spell OutSep Oct Nov
BAT
B Bodice of Evidence Melissa Bourbon
A Ashley Weaver, The Key to Deceit
T Robert Thorogood, The Marlow Murder Club
DUCKS IN A ROWOct - Nov - Dec
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
#1 Clock Shop Mystery: Just Killing Time by Julianne Holmes 10/24/24
#3 Inspector de Silva: Offstage in Nuala by Harriet Steel 10/05/24
#4 Inspector de Silva: Fatal Finds in Nuala by Harriet Steel 12/07/24
#5 Jane Wunderly: Secrets of a Scottish Isle by Erica Ruth Neubauer 12/14/24
#7 Magical Dressmaking: Bodice of Evidence by Melissa Bourbon 10/02/24
#8 Magical Dressmaking: Bobbin for Answers by Melissa Bourbon 10/09/24
#9 White House Chef: Foreign Éclairs by Julie Hyzy 11/30/24
#1 The Marlow Murder Club: The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood 11/22/24
#1 Enchanted Garden: Daisies for Innocence by Bailey Cattrell 11/28/24
MAKE YOUR OWN APPLE CIDERDuration: 3 months from start
Here's a challenge based on making your own apple cider.
Read: 10/15
🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎
1. Read a book with a fruit or vegetable in the title or on the cover
Bobbin for Answers by Melissa Bourbon 10/09/24
2. Read a book that seems to fit a standard formula (tell us how) OR a book with the letter 'X' in the title or author's name.
E.X. Ferrars, Murders Anonymous
3. Read ... a book with a tree on the cover.
Daisies for Innocence by Bailey Cattrell 11/28/24
4. Read a book by an author with a first or last name that begins with 'B' OR a book with an unattractive cover (you decide).
Bailey Cattrell, Nightshade for Warning
5. Late ripening apples include: Red Delicious, Jonathan, Northern Spy, and Rome Beauty,
Read a book by an author whose first AND last initials can be found in one of the varieties named (tell us the variety) OR a book originally published in October of any year.
Jonathan: J H - Julianne Holmes, Julie Hyzy
6. Read a book with a wild animal on the cover OR a book from a series with 10 or more books.
Inspector de Silva: Offstage in Nuala by Harriet Steel 10/05/24 - elephants
7. Read a book with an intact "23" in its total number of pages OR a book with a container on the cover.
8. Read a book with a cluttered cover...
Just Killing Time by Julianne Holmes 10/24/24
9. Read a book with at least two different genres on its main GR page
Secrets of a Scottish Isle by Erica Ruth Neubauer 12/14/24
- Mystery & Historical Fiction
10. Read a book in which a business closes OR a book set in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan or Washington (state).
11. Read ... a short book (less than 150 pages).
Bodice of Evidence by Melissa Bourbon 10/03/24 - 138pp
12. Read a book with a character who drinks alcoholic beverages OR a book with a character who seems sweet but turns hard/bitter by the end of the book.
The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood 11/22/24
13. Read a book from an on-going series OR a book with some type of beverage on the cover.
Inspector de Silva #4 of 14: Fatal Finds in Nuala by Harriet Steel 12/07/24
14. Read a book with a cap (or hat) on the cover ...
Fatal Fascinator by Jenn McKinlay 9/27/24
15. Read a book with a glass object on the cover.
Bowls - Foreign Éclairs by Julie Hyzy 12/01/24
COZY MYSTERY CORNER CHALLENGE - BILLBOARD BEST CHRISTMAS SONGSDuration: December 1 to 31
🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄
Song List
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
TASKS: 1
🎄Author's or MCs first and last initials are initials in the Musician's name(s). Can be in any order. Any Capital letters.
🎄Number of pages in the book include the last two nos. of the song's release date.
🎄A word in the song title is in the book title (not: 'a', 'an', 'and', 'the') OR "Christmas" is in the book title - and many of the songs.
1. All I Want for Christmas is You, Mariah Carey (1994)
Christmas in Spite of You by K.C. Mills
🎄Book title is a "play on words" based on a popular Christmas holiday song - title or lyric. The song does not have to be on the top 25 list for this task.
'Tis the Damn Season by Fiona Gibson 12/8/24
🎄Word in the song title is pictured on the book cover. Post the cover.
2025 Magical Mystery TourRank: 🕶️ Undercover Operative: 3 cases per category
Solved Cases:
Who - 3
What - 3
When - 5
Where - 3
How - 4
Why - 4
Our Unsolved Cases
Who: 3
Solve cases featuring a main character (sleuth, perp, victim, or suspect) in one of the below fields.
1. Music (singer, drummer, etc.)
2. Driving (courier, taxi driver, etc.)
3. Food service - Clare Cosi, barista
Murder by Mocha by Cleo Coyle
4. Healthcare (psychiatrist, midwife, etc.)
5. Games - Judith Potts, puzzle setter
Death Comes to Marlow by Robert Thorogood 6/03/25
6. Books - Madeline Brimley, bookstore owner
Booked for Murder by P.J. Nelson 9/01/25
7. Events - Sophie Winston, event planner
The Diva Goes Overboard by Krista Davis 5/18/25 & summer
What: 3
What makes your case distinctive?
1. A middle grade or young adult sleuth
A Crime in the Neighbourhood by Suzanne Berne
2. An emotion in the title
A Fatal Obsession by Faith Martin 9/20/25
3. A time in the title
4. A color in the title
5. An animal companion or narrator - Trouble Cat
Familiar Trouble by Carolyn Haines 6/17/25
6. A food on the cover
Chopping Spree by Diane Mott Davidson
7. A mostly white cover
A Fatal Mistake by Faith Martin 9/23/25
When: 5
When did the dastardly deed take place or get reported (published)?
1. In the 1920s
Superfluous Women by Carola Dunn 6/08/25 (& Oct)
2. In the last 25 years - 2018
Beaches, Bungalows & Burglaries by Tonya Kappes
3. Around a holiday - Christmas & Hannukah
The Convivial Codfish by Charlotte MacLeod
4. During a vacation
5. In your birth month - Oct
Die Me a River by Denise Swanson 5/31/25
6. Between dusk and dawn
A Brazen Curiosity by Lynn Messina 4/11/25
7. In summer
Where: 3
Where did the dastardly deed take place?
1. At an orchard or farm
2. On an island
3. In a capital city
An Art Lover's Guide to Paris and Murder by Dianne Freeman 5/24/25
4. At a restaurant or bar
5. At a hotel or lodge
Nightshade for Warning by Bailey Cattrell 5/25/25 & smr
6. At a park or campground
Leave No Scone Unturned by Denise Swanson 6/07/25 (& smr)
7. In someone’s home
A Fatal Flaw by Faith Martin
How: 4
For this category, each means of murder must be distinctly different.
1. Cattle prod: Dead in the Water by Denise Swanson 5/27/25
2. Shotgun: A Very English Murder by Verity Bright 7/13/25
3. Axe: The Bilbao Looking Glass by Charlotte MacLeod 7/29/25
4. Poison/Aconite: The Queen of Poisons by Robert Thorogood 8/19/25
Why: 4
What motivated you to choose a particular case?
1. A favorite mystery author or series - Daisy Dalrymple #23
The Corpse at the Crystal Palace by Carola Dunn 6/14/25
2. A favorite mystery subgenre - Cozy
A Very Woodsy Murder by Ellen Byron 8/9/25
3. On a Goodreads listopia (Which one?)
4. Won a literary prize for crime fiction: Edgar, Anthony, Barry & Lefty Awards
Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger 7/19/25 (& smr & youth)
5. A challenged or banned crime book
6. A cold case TBR'd Mar '24
Crime and Parchment by Daphne Silver 9/13/25
7. Average Goodreads rating of 4 stars or above
* * *
Ranks
When posting updates, include your case counts so that your rank will be calculated. (See post #2 for instructions.)
🔎 Crime Scene Investigator: 2 cases per category
👩🏻🔬 Forensic Analyst: 4 cases per category
👨🏽💼 Special Agent in Charge: 5 cases per category
👮♂️ Assistant Chief of Detectives: 6 cases per category
🕵🏽♀️ Chief of Detectives: 7 cases per category
Cozy Mystery Corner - New Year Challengehttps://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
⛄Tasks:
Progress: 11/12
New Author
Read a book by an author who is new to you.
We Should All Be Millionaires: A Woman’s Guide to Earning More, Building Wealth, and Gaining Economic Power by Rachel Rodgers 4/5/25
New Series
Read the first book in a series.
#1 Trouble Cat: Familiar Trouble by Carolyn Haines 6/17/25
New Home
Read a book where the MC owns his/her home.
Death Comes to Marlow by Robert Thorogood 6/03/25
New Business
Read a book where the MC has her/his own business.
Nightshade for Warning by Bailey Cattrell & visit & home 5/25/25
New Place
Read a book where the MC travels to a different state or country.
The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods 5/17/25 & love & bus
New Love
Read a book where the MC has a new romantic relationship.
The Dearly Departed by Elinor Lipman
New Skill
Read a book where the MC learns how to do something new. Tell us what it is.
Die Me a River by Denise Swanson 5/31/25 - MCs become parents of twins
New Friend
Read a book where the MC meets someone new.
An Art Lover's Guide to Paris and Murder by Dianne Freeman 5/24/25 &place & fam
New Family Member
Read a book where someone has a baby,
Dead in the Water by Denise Swanson 5/25/25
New Hobby
Read a book where the MC has a hobby.
Sewing - Pinned for Murder by Elizabeth Lynn Casey
New Publication
Read a book published within the last two years.
2024: The Diva Goes Overboard by Krista Davis 5/18/25 & bus
New Attitude
Read a book where a character falsely accuses someone and has to change their mind.
Beatrice Hyde-Clare: A Brazen Curiosity by Lynn Messina 4/11/25
TLC Mystery Challenge https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Duration: Three Months from your start date
Level One: 3-11 books
Progress: 14/11
Tasks:
You may use the tasks as many times as you wish.
Mystery fiction is a genre of fiction usually involving a mysterious death or a crime to be solved.
🔍 1. Read a book "involving a mysterious death or a crime to be solved".
Charlotte MacLeod, The Convivial Codfish 8/3/25
Often with a closed circle of suspects, each suspect is usually provided with a credible motive and a reasonable opportunity for committing the crime.
🔍 2. Read a book where the MC is the suspect.
The central character oftentimes will be a detective who eventually solves the mystery by logical deduction from facts presented to the reader.
🔍 3. Read a book where the MC is the crime solver.
🔍 4. Read a book where the MC is a police detective.
Sometimes mystery books are nonfictional.
🔍 5. Read a mystery that is non-fiction.
"Mystery fiction" can be detective stories in which the emphasis is on the puzzle or suspense element and its logical solution such as a whodunit.
🔍 6. Read a whodunit mystery.
The Queen of Poisons by Robert Thorogood 8/19/25
Mystery fiction can be contrasted with hardboiled detective stories, which focus on action and gritty realism.
🔍 7. Read a Hardboiled detective mystery.
Mystery fiction may involve a supernatural mystery where the solution does not have to be logical, and even no crime involved.
🔍 8. Read a mystery that has a supernatural connection.
Enchanted Garden: Nightshade for Warning by Bailey Cattrell 5/25/25
Mystery fiction can be divided into numerous categories - Mystery Genres.
🔍 9. Read a book from one of the Related Genres.
Cozy Mystery: Leave No Scone Unturned by Denise Swanson 6/07/25
🔍 10. Read a book from New Releases Tagged "Mystery".
🔍 11. Read a mystery book that has been made into a TV series or TV movie.
Marlow Murder Club (PBS): Death Comes to Marlow by Robert Thorogood 6/03/25
🔍 12. Read a mystery book that has been made into a movie.
The Girl on the Train
Gone Girl
🔍 13. Read a mystery book whose MC is a female detective.
Ex. List of female detective characters
Sarah Booth Delaney
🔍 14. Read a mystery book that features a detective team.
Frances & George: An Art Lover's Guide to Paris and Murder by Dianne Freeman 5/24/25
Skye & Wally: Die Me a River by Denise Swanson 5/31/25
Sarah & Max: The Bilbao Looking Glass by Charlotte MacLeod 7/29/25
🔍 15. Read a book that has won a mystery award.
🏆🏆🏆🏆Edgar, Barry, Anthony & Lefty Awards: Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger 7/19/25
🔍 16. Read a mystery book by a new to you author.
Lynn Messina, A Brazen Curiosity 4/11/25
Verity Bright, A Very English Murder 7/13/25
🔍 17. Read a mystery book from your favorite author.
A Very Woodsy Murder by Ellen Byron 8/9/25
🔍 18. Read a mystery book from a series.
Domestic Diva #17: The Diva Goes Overboard by Krista Davis 5/18/25
Return to Scumble River #1/20: Dead in the Water by Denise Swanson 5/27/25
Faith Fairchild #9: The Body in the Bookcase by Katherine Hall Page
🔍 19. Read a mystery book that is a stand alone.
The Tilted World by Tom Franklin
A Death of No Importance by Mariah Fredericks
Penumbra by Carolyn Haines
🔍 20. Read a mystery book whose title begins with a letter in MYSTERY.
Murder by Mocha by Cleo Coyle
🔍🔍🔍🔍🔍🔍🔍🔍🔍🔍🔍🔍🔍🔍🔍
2025 LET'S GET COZYDuration: January 1- , 2025
Snuggle up beside the fire with a hot beverage, a comfy blanket, and some new books as we start the year together with this cozy prompt-based challenge.
1. Cozy Books: These sub-genres embody a sense of warmth, comfort and relaxation.
Read a book from the Cozy Mystery, Cozy Fantasy, or Cozy Horror bookshelf.
2. Cozy Arrangement: A secret or informal agreement, often implying a sense of mutual benefit.
Read a book involving a secret arrangement, or with the word "secret" in the title.
3. Tea Cozy: A knit or cloth covering for a teapot used to keep the water inside warm.
Read a book with a tea cup or tea pot on the cover, or where characters serve or consume tea.
4. Cozy Fireplace: A crackling fire provides warmth and comfort, and is associated with relaxation and intimacy.
Read a book with fire on the cover or in the title, or a self-help book.
5. Cozy Up: To snuggle up to someone, implying physical comfort and closeness.
Read a book where people are physically close to one another, including, but not limited to, a romance.
6. Cozy Winter Scene: A depiction of a serene winter environment, often featuring snow-covered landscapes.
Read a featuring a snowy image on the cover, or set in a cold place.
7. Cozy Cabin: A rustic and intimate space, often featuring natural materials and warm lighting.
Read a book set at a cabin or lodge in the wilderness, or with natural materials (pine cones, feathers, etc.) in the cover art.
8. Cozy Evening: A enjoyable evening spent in a comfortable setting, often featuring activities like reading or chatting.
Read a book where one or more people enjoy leisure time at home with books, games, movies, etc., or a book with leisure activity items on the cover.
Spring Spell-OutMar-Apr-May
Words
MARCH
LAMB
SHAMRoCK
Letters
A D F An Art Lover's Guide to Paris and Murder Dianne Freeman
E L W The Lost Bookshop Evie Woods
B C N Nightshade for Warning Bailey Cattrell
B H S Sisters of the Yam: bell hooks
B L M A Brazen Curiosity Lynn Messina
D K The Diva Goes Overboard Krista Davis
D S Denise Swanson Dead in the Water
D S Die Me a River Denise Swanson
R W We Should All Be Millionaires: Rachel Rodgers
O S T On Tyranny: Timothy Snyder
SPRING CLEAN-UP CHALLENGE - Cozy Mystery CornerDURATION: March - June
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Level: Elbow grease 💪🏽
7/5
Tasks
1. Read three books that have been on your TBR list for more than a year.
📕We Should All Be Millionaires: by Rachel Rodgers (TBR Feb '24) 3/23/25
📗Sisters of the Yam: by bell hooks (tbr ~20+ yrs) 4/29/25
3. Read three books from your TBR list that you need to help catch up in a series (or two). The books can be from the same series, or from different series, it's up to you.
📕Domestic Diva #17: The Diva Goes Overboard by Krista Davis 5/18/25
📗Countess of Harleigh #7: An Art Lover's Guide to Paris and Murder by Dianne Freeman 5/24/25
📕Magical Garden Mystery #2: Nightshade for Warning by Bailey Cattrell 5/25/25
6. Read two books from your TBR list that are by authors you’ve never read before.
📘Lynn Messina, A Brazen Curiosity 4/12/25
📙Evie Woods, The Lost Bookshop 5/17/25
Bonus: Go through your Goodreads TBR list and delete any books you’re no longer interested in reading. Let us know how many you deleted!
WHAT'S IN YOUR PICNIC BASKET?Cozy Mystery Corner Challenge
Join here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Pick at least one task from each course.
THE TASKS
BEVERAGES: 3
🍋LEMONADE: Read a book with a beverage on the cover OR a book with a simple cover.
🧋ICED TEA: Read a book with a past tense verb in its title OR a book with ice on the cover.
The Dearly Departed by Elinor Lipman 7/26/25
Booked for Murder by P.J. Nelson
🍺🍷WINE AND BEER: Read a book with two characters who don't mix well together (i.e., argue & disagree) OR a book where the MC goes to a bar or pub.
Superfluous Women by Carola Dunn 6/08/25 (& corn)
🫗WATER: Read a book with a body of water on the cover OR with a cover that is predominantly blue.
Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger 7/19/25 - river (& s'mores)
🥤SODA/SOFT DRINK: Read a soft-boiled mystery (cozy with an edge) OR a book with the letters S-O-D-A in the title; can be in any order.
APPETIZERS:: 3
🥚DEVILED EGGS: Read a book by an author with double consonants in their name OR a book that you can read quickly (125-200 pages); tell us how many pages.
🍇FRUIT SALAD: Read a book with some kind of fruit in its title or on the cover OR book #5 in a series; tell us the series.
🍉WATERMELON: Read a book with a cover that is predominantly green or red OR a book with a compound word in its title.
The Queen of Poisons by Robert Thorogood 8/19/25
🧀🧀CHEESE & COLD CUTS: Read a book with at least three Cs in its title and author name (combined) OR a book with a word in its title that rhymes with CHEESE.
The Corpse at the Crystal Palace by Carola Dunn 6/14/25
Beaches, Bungalows & Burglaries by Tonya Kappes 8/10/25
🌶️CHIPS & SALSA: Read a book with the word 'AND' intact and standing alone in its title OR a book in which the main character has a significant other.
🥕VEGGIES & DIP: Read a book with a colorful cover OR a book with a 4 word title.
SIDES: 3
🫘BAKED BEANS: Read a book by an author whose first and last initials are the same OR a book set in New England.
The Convivial Codfish by Charlotte MacLeod - MA 8/3/25
🥬COLE SLAW: Read a book whose title contains only words that are no more than four letters long (3-word minimum) OR a book with a character who is worried about money (ex: struggling financially, loses money, steals).
🌽CORN ON THE COB: Read a book with a cover that is predominantly yellow OR a book that is #12 or higher in a series; tell us the series.
Die Me a River by Denise Swanson 5/31/25
🥗PASTA SALAD: Read a book with an intact 10 in its total page count; tell us how many pages OR a book with a diverse 'cast' of characters.
🥔POTATO SALAD: Read a book by an author with a sandwiched letter in their name (any single letter between two identical letters) OR a book where the first letter of every word in its title can be found in POTATOSALAD.
T P O T - The Power of TED by David Emerald 8/27/25
MAIN COURSES: 3
🍗FRIED CHICKEN: Read a book with a common farm animal on the cover OR a book with both 'I' and 'E' in the author's first or last name (both vowels in one name).
Denise Swanson, Dead in the Water 5/28/25 - cow and 1st name
🍔HAMBURGERS: Read a book that is very popular (over 50,000 GR ratings); tell us how many ratings OR a book with the name of any location (street, city, nation) in the title.
Death Comes to Marlow by Robert Thorogood 6/03/25 & SODA
🌭HOT DOGS: Read a book whose title contains only one vowel (may exclude, 'a', 'an' or 'the') OR a book set in a location (state, city, town, village, county) that begins with a letter in HOTDOGS
🍖RIBS: Read a book with bones on the cover OR whose title contains all the letters in RIBS (not necessarily in order, nor in the same word).
The Bilbao Looking Glass by Charlotte MacLeod 7/29/25
🌯WRAPS: Read a book with a one-word title OR a book with something on its cover that can be rolled up.
DESSERTS: 4
🍫S'MORES: Read a book where the victim is found outdoors OR a book with a contraction in its title.
🥟🥟MOUNTAIN PIES:Read a book with a mountain on the cover OR a book whose title contains at least one of every vowel (A, E, I, O and U).
Familiar Trouble by Carolyn Haines 6/17/25 - vowels
A Very Woodsy Murder by Ellen Byron 8/9/25
🟫BROWNIES: Read a book whose main character bakes dessert OR a book with a cover that is predominantly chocolate brown.
🍪🍪COOKIES/BISCUITS: Read a book with at least three almost identical items shown prominently on the cover OR a book by an author who writes under a pen name.
Leave No Scone Unturned by Denise Swanson 6/07/25 - biscuits (& veggies)
Verity Bright, A Very English Murder 7/13/25 - pen name
SUMMER SPELL-OUT CHALLENGEJune July August
Words
TRAVEL
T Beaches, Bungalows & Burglaries Tonya Kappes
R Death Comes to Marlow Robert Thorogood
A As a Man Thinketh James Allen
V A Very English Murder Verity Bright
E A Very Woodsy Murder Ellen Byron
L Elinor Lipman The Dearly Departed
S’MORES
S Superfluous Women Carola Dunn
M Charlotte MacLeod The Bilbao Looking Glass
O Ordinary Grace William Kent Krueger
R The Queen of Poisons Robert Thorogood
E The Power of TED David Emerald
S Leave No Scone Unturned Denise Swanson
SEASHORE
SHORTS
BEACH
WAVES
BOAT
HEAT
CAMP
Letters
B C The Convivial Codfish Charlotte MacLeod
C D Carola Dunn The Corpse at the Crystal Palace
C F H Familiar Trouble Carolyn Haines
Ducks in a RowApr May Jun Jly Aug
#1 Golden Motel: A Very Woodsy Murder by Ellen Byron 8/9/25
#2 Marlow Murder Club: Death Comes to Marlow by Robert Thorogood 6/03/25
#3 Marlow Murder Club: The Queen of Poisons by Robert Thorogood 8/19/25
#4 Kelling & Bittersohn: The Bilbao Looking Glass by Charlotte MacLeod 7/29/25
#5 Kelling & Bittersohn: The Convivial Codfish by Charlotte MacLeod 8/3/25
#20 Welcome Back to Scumble River: Dead in the Water by Denise Swanson 5/27/25
#21 Welcome Back to Scumble River: Die Me a River by Denise Swanson 5/31/25
#22 Daisy Dalrymple: Superfluous Women by Carola Dunn 6/08/25
#23 Daisy Dalrymple: The Corpse at the Crystal Palace by Carola Dunn 6/14/2
#1 Beatrice Hyde-Clare: A Brazen Curiosity by Lynn Messina 4/11/25
#2 Enchanted Garden: Nightshade for Warning by Bailey Cattrell 5/25/25
#1 Lady Eleanor Swift: A Very English Murder by Verity Bright 7/13/25
#2 Chef-to-Go: Leave No Scone Unturned by Denise Swanson 6/07/25
#1 Trouble Cat: Familiar Trouble by Carolyn Haines 6/17/25
#1 Campers & Criminals: Beaches, Bungalows & Burglaries by Tonya Kappes 8/10/25
#7 Countess of Harleigh: An Art Lover's Guide to Paris and Murder by Dianne Freeman 5/24/25
#17 Domestic Diva: The Diva Goes Overboard by Krista Davis 5/18/25
CM - AUTUMN SPELL OUT CHALLENGEWords
Letters
B N S A Nice Class of Corpse Simon Brett
C D S Crime and Parchment Daphne Silver
F M Faith Martin A Fatal Obsession
F M Faith Martin A Fatal Mistake
8
7
6
5
4
MiSChieF
3
CorN Maze
MoNSter
oktoBerFeSt
SaMhaiN
SepteMBer
toMbStoNe
2
Black Cat
CeMetery
CoStume
hauNteD
jaCk-o-lanterN
FootBall
NutS
oCtoBer
NoveMber +
SCarecrow
SChool +
MaSk
SkeletoN
thankSgiviNg
1
appleS
autuMn
Fall
Chill
Cider +
Bat
Boo
Crypt
ghoSt
graveyarD
harveSt
grateFul
hayriDe
halloweeN
pumpkiN
leaveS
Spooky
Sweater
triCk
witCh
vaMpire
List
ghoul
treat
turkey
werewolf
B C P The Perfect Day Formula: How to Own the Day and Control Your Life Craig Ballantyne
C F R A Field of Darkness Cornelia Read
I V T Iyanla Vanzant Trust: Mastering the Four Essential Trusts:
AWESOME AUTUMN:Duration: Three months from start
Tasks:
Progress: 5/16
🧥 Fall is sweater weather as the days grow cooler and crisper. The chilly fall temps are not too hot, yet not too cold either. Perfect weather for cozy sweaters and comfy hoodies.
Read a book with clothes on the cover. (May be worn or not.)
🏫🎺⚽Autumn means new beginnings...
Read the first book in a new-to-you series OR read a book where the MC has a new beginning.
Mrs. Pargeter #1: A Nice Class of Corpse by Simon Brett 9/14/25 - moves to new home & 1st in series
🏈Fall marks the start of football season in the US. Enjoy a football tailgate or an outdoor barbeque on a sunny fall afternoon.
Read a book that has the colors of your favorite football or soccer team (college or pro) on the cover.
Philadelphia Eagles - green & silver/white
🍁 Fall is a beautiful explosion of color. Hues of fiery red, yellow and orange take over trees every autumn. Purple asters, orange and yellow mums, chocolate brown acorns, orange pumpkins.
Read a book whose cover is primarily one or more of these fall colors - red, yellow, orange, purple, chocolate. Post the cover.
🚸 It's back-to-school time.
Read a book with a character who is a student or a teacher OR a character who has school-aged child.
Crime and Parchment by Daphne Silver 9/13/25
🍎🥕The seasonal food is amazing. It's peak season for many fruits and vegetables - apples, cranberries, sweet potatoes, cauliflowers, carrots, squash and pumpkins. Oh my! Fall may be the best time of year for food.
Read a book with food on the cover or with a culinary theme.
🔥Fall is the perfect time for the crackle of a warm fire in a cozy chair by the fireplace or an outdoor firepit.
Read a book with an outdoor nature scene on the cover or with a fire or fireplace on the cover.
🚪 Outdoor decorations make things more festive as people decorate their porches or hang wreaths on their doors to celebrate the season's holidays.
Read a book with a wreath, porch and/or door on the cover.
🕰️ You can turn back time!
Read a book ... set in the 1970s or earlier.
1960s: A Fatal Obsession by Faith Martin 9/20/25
🍷 Enjoy a wine tasting tour. Autumn is the time for harvesting grapes that are made into wine.
Read a book with a white, rose/pink or burgundy/red cover OR with W-I-N-E in the title. Letters can be in any order.
🌍It's a season of great festivals around the world like Oktoberfest, Diwali, Halloween and Dia de los Muertos.
Read a book that is set in a different country (not set in the country where you live).
🍂 The crunch of leaves under your boots. Plus piles of leaves to kick through or play in. The stunning foliage is not only beautiful but also fun.
Read a book with leaves on the cover (on or off a tree) OR read a book where the MC has to let something go. Tell us what it is.
🍻🎪 Oktoberfest is an annual folk and beer festival celebrating the harvest.
Read a book whose title begins with a letter in Oktoberfest.
F - A Fatal Flaw by Faith Martin 9/27/25
🦃There's Thanksgiving.
Read a book where one of more members of the MC's family are characters.
A Fatal Mistake by Faith Martin 9/23/25
✈️ Travel is cheaper. Fall is one of the best times of the year to travel.
Read a book where the MC travels to another city/town, state or country.
👻Happy Halloween! Costumes, candy, trick-or-treat! Haunted houses, scary movies! Rooted in the Celtic festival of Samhain and the Christian ceremony of All Hallows Eve, Halloween blurs the line between the living and the dead. Long ago, people lit fires and donned costumes to ward off ghosts. Halloween evolved into a festive celebration but we still wear costumes, light jack-o'-lanterns and scare ourselves.
Read a book with a ghost or magickal/paranormal theme.
Sep Oct Nov#1 Rare Books: Crime and Parchment by Daphne Silver 9/13/25
#1 Mrs Pargeter: A Nice Class of Corpse by Simon Brett 9/14/25
#1 Ryder & Loveday: A Fatal Obsession by Faith Martin 9/20/25
#2 Ryder & Loveday: A Fatal Mistake by Faith Martin 9/23/25
#3 Ryder & Loveday: A Fatal Flaw by Faith Martin 9/27/25
Cozy Mysteries
Books mentioned in this topic
A Fatal Flaw (other topics)A Fatal Obsession (other topics)
A Fatal Mistake (other topics)
A Fatal Mistake (other topics)
A Fatal Flaw (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Faith Martin (other topics)Faith Martin (other topics)
Faith Martin (other topics)
Faith Martin (other topics)
Simon Brett (other topics)
More...
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Mystery
Duration: Three Months from your start date
You may use the tasks as many times as you wish.
Levels:
Level One: 3-11 books
Level Two: 12+ books
Tasks:
Mystery fiction is a genre of fiction usually involving a mysterious death or a crime to be solved.
🔍 1. Read a book "involving a mysterious death or a crime to be solved".
Often with a closed circle of suspects, each suspect is usually provided with a credible motive and a reasonable opportunity for committing the crime.
🔍 2. Read a book where the MC is the suspect.
The central character oftentimes will be a detective who eventually solves the mystery by logical deduction from facts presented to the reader.
🔍 3. Read a book where the MC is the crime solver.
🔍 4. Read a book where the MC is a police detective.
Sometimes mystery books are nonfictional.
🔍 5. Read a mystery that is non-fiction.
"Mystery fiction" can be detective stories in which the emphasis is on the puzzle or suspense element and its logical solution such as a whodunit.
🔍 6. Read a whodunit mystery.
Mystery fiction can be contrasted with hardboiled detective stories, which focus on action and gritty realism.
🔍 7. Read a Hardboiled detective mystery.
Mystery fiction may involve a supernatural mystery where the solution does not have to be logical, and even no crime involved.
🔍 8. Read a mystery that has a supernatural connection.
Ex. Charley Davidson Series OR Tradd Street Series
Mystery fiction can be divided into numerous categories - Mystery Genres.
🔍 9. Read a book from one of the Related Genres. Select a sub genre from the list on the right side of the pages - Related Genres.
🔍 10. Read a book from New Releases Tagged "Mystery".
🔍 11. Read a mystery book that has been made into a TV series or TV movie.
Ex. Aurora Teagarden Series OR Shetland Island Series
🔍 12. Read a mystery book that has been made into a movie.
Ex. Mystery:Film
🔍 13. Read a mystery book whose MC is a female detective.
Ex. List of female detective characters
🔍 14. Read a mystery book that features a detective team.
Ex. List of fictional detective teams
🔍 15. Read a book that has won a mystery award. Tell us the award.
Ex. Mystery fiction awards search
🔍 16. Read a mystery book by a new to you author.
🔍 17. Read a mystery book from your favorite author.
🔍 18. Read a mystery book from a series.
🔍 19. Read a mystery book that is a stand alone.
🔍 20. Read a mystery book whose title begins with a letter in MYSTERY.
🔍🔍🔍🔍🔍🔍🔍🔍🔍🔍🔍🔍🔍🔍🔍🔍🔍🔍🔍🔍🔍🔍🔍🔍🔍🔍🔍
List: Best Mysteries from the 2010s
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7...
#18 Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger
#361 Lowcountry Bookshop by Susan M. Boyer
Death in a Warm Climate
Lowcountry Bookshop by Susan M. Boyer
Wife of the Gods by Kwei Quartey
List: First in Series - Historical Mystery #57
List: Agatha Award Nominees and Winners #105
The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey
List: Best Mysteries from the 2000s #14
List: Cozy Mystery Series - First Book #8
16. Still Life by Louise Penny
Best Mysteries from the 2000s
Cozy Mystery Series - First Book
Still Life by Louise Penny
Death by Dumpling by Vivien Chien
Death Al Dente by Leslie Budewitz &
ATY 2020 Mystery
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
Auntie Poldi
Wife of the Gods
Never Have I Ever, Joshilyn J
List: Best Multicultural Mysteries
Wife of the Gods by Kwei Quartey
Murder in a Warm Climate
Lowcountry Bookshop
Historical Mysteries and Thrillers Featuring Women
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/4...
List: Best Historical Mystery
#6 The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
#5 Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin
#125 The Dark Enquiry by Deanna Raybourn
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
Best British Crime/Mystery Fiction
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
Favorite Historical Mystery Series:
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/5...
A Red Herring Without Mustard by Alan Bradley
The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King
#5 Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin
#16 The Dark Enquiry by Deanna Raybourn
Sleuths in Silks
Tears of Pearl by Tasha Alexander
List: Victorian/Regency Female Sleuths/Mysteries
#13 A Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas
Mysteries by Authors of Color
List: Women Who Solve Crimes
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...
List: Mysteries for Deep Thinkers #
#48: Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith
#65 Ordinary Grace
List: Best World Mysteries
List: Best Literary Mysteries #94
A Red Herring Without Mustard by Alan Bradley
List: Best Cozies with Attitude
http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/98...
Lowcountry Bookshop
Killed at the Whim of a Hat
List: Crime Writers of Color
List: Best Literary Mysteries #-
List: Cozy Mystery Series - First Book #8
Mysteries for Deep Thinkers #11
Still Life by Louise Penny
List: Amateur Detectives
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
List: Best Literary Historical Fiction
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...