Historical Mystery Lovers discussion

Move #1

Roll: 1
Square: Mediterranean avenue
Task: set on Mediterranean sea
Book: The Janissary Tree ... I am on my library waiting list

Move #1

Roll: 1
Square: Mediterranean avenue
Task: set on Mediterranean sea
Book: The Janissary Tree ... finished Jan 13


I've finished The Janissary Tree. I enjoyed it but wish I knew more about the time and place (Istanbul in the 1830's). I would have gotten more out of it. I'm not planning to continue the series right away, but hope to pick it up later. I loved the Polish ambassador.

Move #2

Roll: 3

Square: Income tax

Task: Book from Historical Mystery shelf with rating less than 3.5

Book: A Simple Murder, rating 3.37 - it is on my TBR and my library has it in stock. In searching for books meeting the criteria (below 3.5 rating) I found a few I will probably take off my TBR - too many other books!

Update to move two:

I have exchanged A Simple Murder withAfter the Armistice Ball, rating 3.48. I listened to about a third of the book and could not get interested.

I removed The Anatomist's Apprentice from my TBR after reading reviews.

Finished After the Armistice Ball and enjoyed it. The lead character, Dandy, has an amusing outlook on life. I still rated it only a 3, as it is not great literature, nor is the mystery particularly complex. But a fun read.

Move #3

Roll: 1

Square: Reading Railroad

Task: Book set in 19th century

Book: The Shifting Tide

I have The Railway Detective on my TBR, but need to check the setting. It may be 20th c.

Decided to continue with a series I love but have been ignoring.

It is set in 1851 so its 19th century.

Lauren wrote: "It is set in 1851 so its 19th century."

Yes, just checked myself. Then I read all the other Monopoly squares to see if I would need an actual railroad mystery later (that's not really cheating!). I haven't decided - some of my favorite series (Anne Perry's Monk for example) are in that time period and I've been ignoring them lately.

P.S. Thank you organizing these challenges; coming up with all those categories must have taken a lot of time. I've discovered so many books.

Edited my 'move 3' post to say I will be reading The Shifting Tide - next in the Monk series and immediately available thru Overdrive (always a plus).

Sandy wrote: "P.S. Thank you organizing these challenges; coming up with all those categories must have taken a lot of time. I've discovered so many books..."

Glad you're enjoying it, Sandy! I'm always looking for ways to broaden my reading horizons. Hopefully this challenge will fit the bill :0)

Move #3 update:
Finished The Shifting Tide on Jan 23. I loved it This is one of my favorite series and this entry has lots of changes for the characters as well as introducing a some new ones. The scene also shifts from the London streets to the Thames river. Excellent read.

Move #4

Roll: 1
Square: Oriental Ave
Task: Book with blue cover or set in the Orient

Book: TBD

Choices:
The White Mirror, set in the Orient and I enjoyed Jade Dragon Mountain

Always a Cold Deck, blue cover and I own a kindle version

Death by Water, blue cover, next in the Phryne Fisher series, and I have the audio version available.

Update to roll #4: I decided to read The White Mirror, set in 18th century China.

Completed The White Mirror on Feb 5 and enjoyed it very much. Love the setting, the story, the characters, and the time and location (Chine and Tibet in 1700) are new to me. Now I have to wait a year for the next installment.

Move #5
Roll: 2
Square: Vermont Ave
Assignment: a cozy historical or set in New England.

I live in New England and attended a book signing for a debut author of a book set in a local cemetery: The Strangers' Tomb, so expect that is what I will read.

Sandy wrote: "I live in New England and attended a book signing for a debut author of a book set in a local cemetery: The Strangers' Tomb, so expect that is what I will read. ."

This looks like an interesting book, Sandy.

I've finished The Strangers' Tomb and gave it four stars..
My review:
I live in Cambridge, Massachusetts where this story takes place and that probably enhanced my enjoyment of this book. Local history is woven into the plot: the filling of Back Bay for example. I know about the feud that developed between Asa Gray and Louis Agassiz over Darwin and enjoyed seeing their characters in a fictional setting. The mystery is interesting and the plot holds together well. There is a "modern" romance that did not ring true to me, but perhaps I don't know my history that well. An enjoyable read and I'm looking forward to the next installment.

Move #6
Roll: 6
Square: Virginia Ave
Assignment: Read a book set during the Roman Empire (27 BC - 1453 AD) OR during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1533-1603). The book can take place in any country.

I have a coupe of potentials on my TBR for the Roman Empire ...

Deciding between The Silver Pigs vs. Medicus. Any opinions?

Decided on Medicus: it sounds interesting and is available immediately from the library

Sandy wrote: "I removed The Anatomist's Apprentice from my TBR after reading reviews...."

Very good idea!

Update on move # 6:
Finished Medicus. I enjoyed the lead character and his troubles. Hope to continue the series at some point, but not right now.

Move # 7
Roll: 4
Square: MARLBOROUGH STREET / TENNESSEE AVENUE Assignment: Read a book with a white cover OR one set in the Southern Hemisphere

This one is easy. I haven't read a Phryne Fisher for quite awhile and the next in the series is Death by Water

Finished Death by Water. Such a fun series with plenty of amusing comments by the author.

Move # 8
Roll: 2

Square: Free parking

My choice: The Attenbury Emeralds a modern addition to Dorothy Sayers' Wimsey series. The last book took place in WWII, so expect this one to be a similar time frame.

Finished The Attenbury Emeralds today. Review to follow but Jill Paton Walsh does a good job of continuing the Wimsey saga.

Move # 9
Roll: 5

Square: FENCHURCH ST. STATION / B&O RAILROAD: Read a book where the protagonist sets out on a journey at some point during the investigation.

I have Mycroft Holmes on my kindle already and, from the synopsis, he travels to Trinidad.

He does indeed - I hope you like it as much as I did!

Mycroft Holmes was a fun swashbuckling adventure, portraying Mycroft as young, athletic and very much in love. Quite a change from Sherlock's view - guess your family doesn't really know you!

Move # 10
Roll - 5
Got to Jail!!
Roll - 1
Going back one square:

PICCADILLY / MARVIN GARDENS: Read a book from the Historical Mysteries and Thrillers Featuring Women Listopia OR a book with a flower, tree or garden on the cover.

Off to review the list ....

While I'm disappointed to not find The Novice's Tale (I was hoping for a 2-for-1 read, monthly author and Monopoly) on the list, I found Locked Rooms, next in the Mary Russell / Sherlock Holmes series - I've wanted to get back to that series for awhile.

Finished and loved Locked Rooms. So glad to revisit Russell and Holmes, and to meet Dashiell Hammett.

Move # 11
Roll - 6

LIVERPOOL ST. STATION / SHORT LINE RAILROAD: Read a book of 150 to 250 pages in length.

Off to find a short(ish) book ...

Our April read, The Novice's Tale is 240 pages! I'm so happy to get a 'two for one' - my current reading list is quite long.

I love when those 'two for one' things happen! It makes life just a tad simpler. :-)

And simple is good.

Move # 11
Roll - 6

LIVERPOOL ST. STATION / SHORT LINE RAILROAD: Read a book of 150 to 250 pages in length.

Chose The Novice's Tale, also our author of the month, and loved the book. Hope to continue on the series very soon.

Move # 12
Roll - 3

LUXURY TAX: Read a book from the Historical Mystery shelf with a Goodreads rating higher than 3.5.

I will read The Late Scholar as I am reading this for another group that is doing all the Lord Peter Wimsey books. So, like The Novice's Tale I can count it for two challenges. I was actually hoping to roll a two for Park Place; Wimsey is both rich and titled. I got to page 17 before finding the book on the list and was beginning to worry.

At least your single star didn't bring the average rating under 3.5 - then I couldn't have included it on Monopoly. I hope I like it better than you did.

Finished The Late Scholar. The book was a panache to the Wimsey series and I enjoyed that. The mystery was less successful.

Move # 13
roll: 4

COMMMUNITY CHEST #1: Read a book by one of your favorite authors.

Book: Dark Assassin by Anne Perry, next (for me) in her Monk series

Completed Dark Assassin, excellent entry in one of my favorite series. Monk is mellowing now that he's happy.

Move #14
roll: 1

WHITECHAPEL ROAD / BALTIC AVENUE: Read a book set in Victorian England OR one set in a Baltic country (Wikipedia List)

Off to review the list of Baltic countries. I have The Winter Queen on my ipod and I'm hoping that qualifies.

Update:
Russia is included so while it feels a bit like cheating as the book is set in Moscow which isn't on the Baltic, Moscow is in Russia and Russia borders on the Baltic so I will be reading The Winter Queen. A good reason to move it up on my TBR.

I so like this challenge!

Sandy wrote: "Completed Dark Assassin, excellent entry in one of my favorite series. Monk is mellowing now that he's happy."

I always liked Monk better than the Pitts. I need to catch up on these series.

I only the read the first two Pitts, I liked them well enough but there are so many,

I finished The Winter Queen and only gave it two starts. I really liked the first half, a young hero working for the Russian police, but the second half devolved into a spy vs. spy adventure (maybe even a spoof) with a series of unlikely escapes for the hero. It would be ok if that was what I was expecting.

Move #15
Roll: 5 (I was so hoping for a four!)

EUSTON ROAD / VERMONT AVENUE: Read a book from the Cozy Historical Shelf OR a book set in one of the New England states (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont)

I've been here before and read a book set in New England, so this time I'll be choosing from the cozy historical list. So far its between the last Amelia Peabody, the next Phrynne Fisher or the first Angela Marchand which I bought as a kindle deal long ago.

Chose Murder in the Dark, # 16 in the Phrynne Fisher series and finished it today. It was fine, perhaps a it more 'over the top' for even Phrynne. I enjoyed Dot reading Catholic miracles to the girls, and the girls' responses..

Move #16
Roll: 1

PENTONVILLE ROAD / CONNECTICUT AVENUE: Read a book set in a city with a famous prison (10 Most famous prisons) or a book with a bridge on the cover.

Ok ... London and San Francisco spring to mind

I decided on The Necklace Affair and Other Stories, a novella and two short stories, next in the series and already on my kindle.

Finished The Necklace Affair and Other Stories. I liked these less than the others in the series, perhaps because of the shorter format. My library has the next book available as an ebook but after that I will have to buy them and that will be my decision point. So many books on my TBR that I don't want to waste reading time.

Move # 17
Roll 3

ELECTRIC COMPANY: The first serious study of electricity and magnetism was conducted in 1600 by the English scientist William Gilbert. Read a book set in 17th century (1600-1699).

Book TBD

I've tentatively decided on An Instance of the Fingerpost. Its quite long and has been on my TBR for awhile. It is the only book on my TBR set in the 1600's.

I read Laura Joh Rowland's Sano Ichiro series for that task if you are looking for something less daunting.

Thank you. The book sounds interesting, it is set in time and place that I know little about, and is available at my libraries. On the negative side I have too many series in process .... though I am close to getting current in one. I have two books to read before I can start this one, so time to waver. Thanks for the suggestion.