Historical Mystery Lovers discussion

Wheel of History
Duration: January 1, 2020 - December 31, 2020

Based on the popular television game show "Wheel of Fortune", in this challenge participants will spin the wheel of history and read a book that fits the category spun.

GENERAL RULES:
1) Participants may join at any time during the challenge.
2) Definition of historical mystery for this challenge: Any book whose central plot involves a crime of any type (murder, robbery blackmail, etc.) and takes place at any point that is at least 50 years in the past. This includes works set in a time period that is historical from the author’s perspective (for example, The Cadfael Chronicles by Ellis Peters) as well as books written in the past from our perspective and set during the author’s lifetime (for example, Hercule Poirot by Agatha Christie).
3) Re-reads and audiobooks are acceptable 
4) All books begun on January 1st count toward the challenge
5) Create a personal thread in the challenge folder to keep track of your spins and books. Please make a new post for every task that contains:
A. The wedge spun
B. The book to be read. 
C. Once you have finished the book, create a new post with all the details above AND the date read. You can also add a few comments about the book if you want (this is not compulsory). 

6) The goal is to read books from all of the wedges.
7) You cannot spin the wheel in advance. You must complete the book for the current spin before spinning again.
8) If you spin the wheel and land on a wedge that you have already completed, you have to read another book from the same wedge. You cannot spin the wheel again to get a different wedge.

The Wheel:
The wheel contains 24 wedges.
20 are connected to a specific Goodreads shelf or list related to historical mysteries. Feel free to add books to the various shelves and lists.
2 Bonus read - read any historical mystery of your choice
2 Lose a turn - ask a member of the group to choose a historical mystery for you to read.

SPIN THE WHEEL

Wedges

Click on the link to get to the shelf or list for the wedge.

*Please note that some wedges have more than one associated shelf or list. You can pick your book from any of the shelves or lists next to the name of the wedge.

** Please make sure that your choice of book meets the criteria for an historical mystery as per the rules of the challenge.


1. Historical Mysteries - List #1 / List #2 / Shelf #1
2. Historical Mysteries 2014 - List #1
3. Regency and Victorian Mysteries - List #1 / List #2 / Shelf #1 / Shelf #2
4. Historical Ghost Fiction - List #1
5. Historical Mysteries 2015 - List #1
6. Sleuths in Silks (Female Detectives) - List #1 / List #2 / List #3
7. Historical Mysteries 2016 - List #1
8. Historical Mysteries in Ancient Times (Greece & Rome) - List #1 / List #2 / Shelf #1
9. YA Historical Mysteries - List #1
10. Historical Mysteries 2017 - List #1
11. Dual Time Mysteries - List #1
12. Mysteries with Literary Authors - List #1
13. Sherlock Holmes - List #1 / List #2 / List #3 / Shelf #1
14. Historical Mysteries 2018 - List #1
15. Historical Cozy Mysteries - List #1 / Shelf #1
16. Historical Mysteries 2019 - List #1
17. Best Historical Crime Fiction - List #1 / List #2 / Shelf #1
18. Historical Mysteries 2020 - List #1
19. Medieval Mysteries - List #1 / Shelf #1
20. Great War Veterans as Detectives - List #1

Reserved

I'm ready! Thank you Lauren for thinking up ways to amuse us each year.

You are brilliant! The work you put into this every year is amazing!

So the books have to be from the linked list? Or can books be the next book in a series of a book on the list?

Example - Cocaine Blue (Phryne Fisher) is on the Great War Veterans List. If I'm working my way through that series, could I read book 8 instead of book 1?

I am in. thanks for another interesting Historical Mystery challenge.

Sandy wrote: "I'm ready! Thank you Lauren for thinking up ways to amuse us each year."

Glad you are enjoying them :)

Gretchen wrote: "You are brilliant! The work you put into this every year is amazing!"

Thanks! It’s fun :)

Gretchen wrote: "So the books have to be from the linked list? Or can books be the next book in a series of a book on the list?

Example - Cocaine Blue (Phryne Fisher) is on the Great War Veterans List. If I'm work..."

Yes it can be the next book in the series and you can also add books to the list.

Viji wrote: "I am in. thanks for another interesting Historical Mystery challenge."

Enjoy

I am in! What a fun idea! Thanks, Lauren!

I'm in too. Sounds like fun!

Lauren, Do you know how to copy the links for Spinning the Wheel and the various lists? I would like to add them to my area.

Fantastic Kerri and Robin!

Dawn wrote: "Lauren, Do you know how to copy the links for Spinning the Wheel and the various lists? I would like to add them to my area."

Hi Dawn,

The only way to copy the links to the wheel and the lists is to use html symbols.

If you look above the text box for writing posts you will see a link that says (some html is ok). If you click on it, your will see the html symbols for various items. Use the html symbols for "link" and replace the goodreads URL with the URLs for the wheel and the lists (right click on the links and choose 'copy link address' then past each instead of the Goodreads URL).
Replace the "my link text" with whatever you want the link to read.

I'm in! Here's hoping I have more time to read personal choice this year between my book reviewing commitments:)

I have a couple of stupid questions. #1) If you spin the wheel several times and have a list going of each wedge, do you have to read them in order of the wedge spun or skip around the list? Where do we post if we spin and get the one where a group member has to choose for you?

Malorie wrote: "I have a couple of stupid questions. #1) If you spin the wheel several times and have a list going of each wedge, do you have to read them in order of the wedge spun or skip around the list? Where ..."

You can only spin the wheel after you have completed the wedge for the previous spin. No spinning in advance. I will update the rules to indicate this.

The "Lose A Turn" thread is the second thread from the top in the challenge folder. This is where you request a book from a group member.

Lauren, I landed on 18. Historical Mysteries 2020. It will take some time for me to get the books as most of them are yet to be published. Do I wait till I could get one or could I spin the wheel again and go to the next wedge and read the book for the SPIN 1 later? Could you pl. help me? Thanks.

Viji wrote: "Lauren, I landed on 18. Historical Mysteries 2020. It will take some time for me to get the books as most of them are yet to be published. Do I wait till I could get one or could I spin the wheel a..."

Hi Viji,
Yes, for this wedge, you can spin again as the books have not yet been published.

Lauren wrote: "Viji wrote: "Lauren, I landed on 18. Historical Mysteries 2020. It will take some time for me to get the books as most of them are yet to be published. Do I wait till I could get one or could I spi..."

Thanks, Lauren.

Lauren
How do I get my Wheel info on the site? I have this problem every year! Sorry for stupidity of mine, Libby

Click on this link:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...

Then click on New Topic and make the first post. Goodreads will automatically create your thread where you can post your progress.

Hello Lauren,

I have an annoying question. If I select a book that I do NOT find at all interesting or entertaining, can I select another from the same wedge category to replace it? I assume I would mark the initial selection as Not Completed.

If I must finish it I will, but my heart won't be in it. :)

Kerri wrote: "Hello Lauren,

I have an annoying question. If I select a book that I do NOT find at all interesting or entertaining, can I select another from the same wedge category to replace it? I assume I wou..."

Absolutely. You did not need to finish a book you are not enjoying

Hi newbie here. I'd like to join the challenge. I've got a question though. Will you please clarify the 50 years prior rule?

Re the Agatha Christie example, historical to me, but contempory to the author = not allowed?

Thanks

Welcome to the challenge. I understand the rule that as long as the book was written before 1970 or takes place before then it is okay to read for the challenge. So Agatha Christie would be allowed.

Hi Rachel!

Thanks for clarifying. I've played another challenge, where Christie' contrmpory works weren't allowed but her book(s) that take place in ancient Egypt were.

Emerson wrote: "Hi Rachel!

Thanks for clarifying. I've played another challenge, where Christie' contrmpory works weren't allowed but her book(s) that take place in ancient Egypt were."

That is a truer definition but we have laxer rules.

Yes, Christie is allowed.
See the definition of historical mystery in section 2 of the rules for the challenge :)

Does anyone have any Dual Timeline Mysteries to suggest that aren't on the list?

Like so many people right now, I can't get to the library. I really don't want to buy anything.

Gretchen wrote: "Does anyone have any Dual Timeline Mysteries to suggest that aren't on the list?

Does your library have online access?
There are also Amazon books that are free so it's always a good idea to check there as well.

I think the Pink Carnation mysteries The Secret History of the Pink Carnation are dual timeline but I can't get them through the library's OverDrive or Hoopla accounts.

I know almost half the year is over, but I can finally join the Wheel of History.

Ok, I landed on lose a turn. I need a member of the group to pick a historical mystery for me to read. I don't know any of you yet, so can someone please choose a historical mystery for me?

Welcome to the challenge Kristin!

There is a thread for the "Lose A Turn" requests here - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I am sure you will get some fantastic recommendations. Good luck!

as late in the year as it is,, I'd like to try this!

Just want to make sure I understand:

I spin and it gives a wedge name - then I pick any book at all from the lists/shelves?

If the book is from a series I'm already reading I can substitute it with the next book in the series. Correct?

Thank you in advance!

Welcome to the challenge, Denise!

Yes, that is exactly correct.

Lauren wrote: "Welcome to the challenge, Denise!

Yes, that is exactly correct."

thank you!

I just got Lose a Turn for the second time in only five books. Lose a turn must like me! If I get Lose a Turn a third time in the future, it is my understanding I am to spin again. Is that right or not? Just want to clarify, not complaining.

Kristin wrote: "I just got Lose a Turn for the second time in only five books. Lose a turn must like me! If I get Lose a Turn a third time in the future, it is my understanding I am to spin again. Is that right or..."

Yes, you can spin again.