Historical Mystery Lovers discussion

Level : Updated May 9 from level 3

Level #4: History with Honors - 15-20 books in at least 15 categories

Just realized I have achieved my History with Honors! Congratulations to me.

Jan - L
Feb - U
Mar - D
Apr - O
May - V
June - E
July - P
Aug - Y
Sep - H
Oct - J
Nov - S
Dec - A

Progress:
Dec 22: 31 books, all 23 categories!

Categories:

Completed June, Aug - 1. Historical Mysteries
Completed March - 2. Historical Mysteries 2014
Completed July - 3. Regency and Victorian Mysteries
Completed July - 4. Historical Ghost Fiction
Completed Dec - 5. Historical Mysteries 2015
Completed Jan - 6. Sleuths in Silks (Female Detectives)
Completed Jan - 7. Historical Mysteries 2016
Completed July 8. Historical Mysteries in Ancient Times (Greece & Rome)
Completed June - 9. YA Historical Mysteries
Completed March - 10. Historical Mysteries 2017
Completed Oct - 11. Dual Time Mysteries
Completed Dec - 12. Mysteries with Literary Authors
Completed Sept - 13. Sherlock Holmes
Completed April - 14. Historical Mysteries 2018
Completed April - 15. Historical Cozy Mysteries
Completed Nov - 16. Historical Mysteries 2019
Completed Jan - 17. Best Historical Crime Fiction
Completed Feb - 18. Historical Mysteries 2020
Completed June - 19. Medieval Mysteries
Completed Aug, Nov, Dec - 20. Great War Veterans as Detectives
Completed May, July - 21. Historical Mystery 2021
Completed Oct - 22. Historical Mystery 2022
Completed May, June - 23. Mysteries first published before 1970

I am trying for Level #3: Doctor of History - 10 to 15 books in at least 10 categories. I anticipate having trouble finding books I want to read in some of the categories, particularly when I need to match a letter. And I can always move up a level later.

My January letter is "L". I confess to re-spinning as my first try gave me a "Q" and I spent a lot of time looking for a Q in any category. L is much better as I am reading the Flavia Albia series by Lindsey Davis, have the new book in the Latetia Rodd series, and our monthly author also writes as Gilian Linscott. Now to find categories for the books.

Thank you, Lauren, for all your work and good luck to all.

I feel that "Q" is a difficult letter to work with at any time! I agree the fun of this challenge will be matching titles to categories and it seems you are off to a good start! Best of Luck to You!

1st read

A. Level: 3- Doctor of History
B. January's letter: L
C. Category: 6- Sleuths in Silk (1st book in series is listed)
D. Book: The Mystery of the Sorrowful Maiden

This book is the third in the Laetitia (note the L) Rodd series.

1st read

A. Level: 3- Doctor of History
B. January's letter: L
C. Category: 6- Sleuths in Silk (1st book in series is listed)
D. Book: The Mystery of the Sorrowful Maiden
E. Completed 1/4

This book is the third in the Laetitia (note the L) Rodd series

This is a quiet pleasant series with likeable characters. The mystery is interesting, well plotted and unresolved until the final chapters. Clues are followed and suspects interviewed; rules of detection are respected. I did suspect one of the "big" reveals.

2nd read

A. Level: 3- Doctor of History
B. January's letter: L
C. Category: 17. Best Historical Crime Fiction
D. Book: A Foreign Affair

This book is the first in the Liberty Lane series.

2nd read

A. Level: 3- Doctor of History
B. January's letter: L
C. Category: 17. Best Historical Crime Fiction
D. Book: A Foreign Affair
E. Completed: 1/30

This book is the first in the Liberty Lane series. Quite an elaborate and exciting plot.

Sandy wrote: "2nd read

A. Level: 3- Doctor of History
B. January's letter: L
C. Category: 17. Best Historical Crime Fiction
D. Book: A Foreign Affair
E. Completed: 1/30

This book is the first in the Liberty La..."

I’m just reading this currently and am enjoying it too.

3rd read

A. Level: 3- Doctor of History
B. February's letter: U
C. Category: 18. Historical Mysteries 2020
D. Book: Untrue till Death

I liked the first book in the series and the 'U' in the title inspired me to read the second this month.

3rd read

A. Level: 3- Doctor of History
B. February's letter: U
C. Category: 18. Historical Mysteries 2020
D. Book: Untrue till Death
E. Completed Feb 23

Excellent. The main character is interesting, and it is a time and location I know little about.

I am including a book I read in February with January's letter (see Lauren's post #21 under rules - thank you Lauren)

4th read

A. Level: 3- Doctor of History
B. January's letter: L
C. Category: 7. Historical Mysteries 2016
D. Book: The Graveyard of the Hesperides
E. Completed: Feb 13

This series satisfies my Falco itch quite well. Flavia is an interesting character and the extended family pops in regularly.

5th read

A. Level: 3- Doctor of History
B. March's letter: D
C. Category: 15. Historical Cozy Mysteries
D. Book: Pignon Scorbion & the Barbershop Detectives

The description from GR makes it sound like a cozy

5th read

A. Level: 3- Doctor of History
B. March's letter: D
C. Category: 15. Historical Cozy Mysteries
D. Book: Pignon Scorbion & the Barbershop Detectives

I've dropped this book so my 5th read will be posted later.

Edited March 14: This book would not have counted as the "D" word is not the first in the title.

5th read (2nd try)

A. Level: 3- Doctor of History
B. March's letter: D
C. Category: 2. Historical Mysteries 2014
D. Book: The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches

This is a re-listen for me so I know I will like it.

5th read

A. Level: 3- Doctor of History
B. March's letter: D
C. Category: 2. Historical Mysteries 2014
D. Book: The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches
E. Completed March 13

Just as good the second time around

6th read

A. Level: 3- Doctor of History
B. March's letter: D
C. Category: 10. Historical Mysteries 2017
D. Book: The Third Nero

Author is Lindsey Davis (note D)

6th read

A. Level: 3- Doctor of History
B. March's letter: D
C. Category: 10. Historical Mysteries 2017
D. Book: The Third Nero
E. Completed: April 5

Love the series.

I still have two more "D" books before I move on to April's "O".

7th read

A. Level: 3- Doctor of History
B. March's letter: D (yes, I know I'm late)
C. Category: 15. Historical Cozy Mysteries
D. Book: The Deadly Mystery of the Missing Diamonds

"D" in both the title and the series name (Dizzy)

7th read

A. Level: 3- Doctor of History
B. March's letter: D (yes, I know I'm late)
C. Category: 15. Historical Cozy Mysteries
D. Book: The Deadly Mystery of the Missing Diamonds
E. Completed: April 12

Lots of witty banter but there are many series that I like more.

Future read

A. Level: 3- Doctor of History
B. March's letter: D (still late)
C. Category: 21. Historical Mystery 2021
D. Book: The Dying Day

Edited: I will postpone this read until May when my letter is V and continue with books that need to be returned to the library

8th read

A. Level: 3- Doctor of History
B. April's letter: O
C. Category: 14. Historical Mysteries 2018
D. Book: The Paper Bark Tree Mystery

author: Ovidia Yu

A. Level: 3- Doctor of History
B. April's letter: O
C. Category: 14. Historical Mysteries 2018
D. Book: The Paper Bark Tree Mystery by Ovidia Yu
E. Completed: April 26

Good series set in Singapore in the 30's.

Agreed. this series is my favorite discovery of the year so far.

9th read

A. Level: 3- Doctor of History
B. May's letter: V
C. Category: 16. Historical Mysteries 2019
D. Book: An Oxford Murder

This was originally one of my April choices (letter O) but the author works for May (V).

9th read

A. Level: 3- Doctor of History
B. May's letter: V
C. Category: 16. Historical Mysteries 2019
D. Book: An Oxford Murder

Abandoned.

9th read

A. Level: 3- Doctor of History
B. May's letter: V
C. Category: 21. Historical Mystery 2021
D. Book: The Dying Day


Postponed from March (D), moved to May (V). Author is Vaseem Khan

New level to be attempted:
Level #4: History with Honors - 15-20 books in at least 15 categories

9th read

A. Level: 4- History with Honors
B. May's letter: V
C. Category: 21. Historical Mystery 2021
D. Book: The Dying Day
E. Completed: May 9

In this second book in the series, Persis is developing nicely, both as a detective and in controlling her temper.

Having competed 9 categories (of the 10 required for level 3) I have decided to aim for a History with Honors, 15 categories. The number of books shouldn't be a problem, only the categories. It helps that there are two additional categories now.

10th read

A. Level: 4- History with Honors
B. March's letter: D (back dating allowed rule)
C. Category: 23. Mysteries first published before 1970
D. Book: Death of an Airman

First published in the 1930's and re-released as part of the Bristish Crime Classics (excellent 'series')

11th read

A. Level: 4- History with Honors
B. May's letter: V (finishing my May books before starting June)
C. Category: 1. Historical Mysteries
D. Book: Poison at Pemberton Hall: the first Vita Carew historical mystery

11th read

A. Level: 4- History with Honors
B. May's letter: V (finishing my May books before starting June)
C. Category: 1. Historical Mysteries
D. Book: Poison at Pemberton Hall: the first Vita Carew historical mystery
E. Completed: June 2

A pleasant easy read with interesting characters and a plot that is different from many mysteries in a similar setting.

12th read

A. Level: 4- History with Honors
B. June's letter: E
C. Category: 19. Medieval Mysteries
D. Book: An Excellent Mystery

12th read

A. Level: 4- History with Honors
B. June's letter: E
C. Category: 19. Medieval Mysteries
D. Book: An Excellent Mystery
E. Completed: June, 10

The was an excellent entry in the series; a bit different and Cadfael isn't quite as involved as he usually is. He come through in the end however and insures a happy ending for all.

13th read

A. Level: 4- History with Honors
B. June's letter: E
C. Category: 23. Mysteries first published before 1970 (repeat)
D. Book: The Moving Toyshop

Author is Edmund Crispin.

13th read

A. Level: 4- History with Honors
B. June's letter: E
C. Category: 23. Mysteries first published before 1970 (repeat)
D. Book: The Moving Toyshop
E. Completed: Jume 13

This was a re-read for me and I enjoyed it more when I wasn't expecting a sensible story and could lose myself in the fantastical farce.

14th read

A. Level: 4- History with Honors
B. June's letter: E
C. Category: 9. YA Historical Mysteries
D. Book: Premeditated Myrtle by Elizabeth C. Bunce

14th read

A. Level: 4- History with Honors
B. June's letter: E
C. Category: 9. YA Historical Mysteries
D. Book: Premeditated Myrtle by Elizabeth C. Bunce
E. Completed: June 17

A very resourceful young heroine.

15th read

A. Level: 4- History with Honors
B. January's Letter: L (explanation to follow)
C. Category: 4. Historical Ghost Fiction
D. Book: Nobody's Sweetheart Now, first in the Lady Adeliade series

I had to go way back to January to find a qualifying letter, but I am unlikely to read another ghost story so I wanted credit.

15th read

A. Level: 4- History with Honors
B. January's Letter: L (explanation to follow)
C. Category: 4. Historical Ghost Fiction
D. Book: Nobody's Sweetheart Now, first in the Lady Adeliade series
E. Completed: July 11

The ghost is amusing.

16th read

A. Level: 4- History with Honors
B. June's Letter: E (still behind)
C. Category: 3. Regency and Victorian Mysteries
D. Book: The Gilded Shroud

This month's author; last month's letter

16th read

A. Level: 4- History with Honors
B. June's Letter: E (still behind)
C. Category: 3. Regency and Victorian Mysteries
D. Book: The Gilded Shroud
E. Completed: July 13

Quite like the lead characters but not sure about adding another series to my "active" list. We'll see.

17th read

A. Level: 4- History with Honors
B. July's Letter: P
C. Category: TBD
D. Book: The Tale of the Tenpenny Tontine

Author:P.J. Fitzsimmons

18th read

A. Level: 4- History with Honors
B. July's Letter: P
C. Category: 8. Historical Mysteries in Ancient Times (Greece & Rome)
Book: Pandora's Boy

An audio 'read' while #17 is kindle

17th read

A. Level: 4- History with Honors
B. July's Letter: P
C. Category: 21. Historical Mystery 2021
D. Book: The Tale of the Tenpenny Tontine
E. Completed: July 17

Fun series and my kindle edition promises another,

18th read

A. Level: 4- History with Honors
B. July's Letter: P
C. Category: 8. Historical Mysteries in Ancient Times (Greece & Rome)
D. Book: Pandora's Boy
E. Completed: July 18

Very nearly as good as Falco and he made an appearance in this one.

19th read

A. Level: 4- History with Honors
B. July's Letter: P
C. Category: TBD
D. Book: Bluegate Fields byAnne Perry

19th read

A. Level: 4- History with Honors
B. July's Letter: P
C. Category: 3. Regency and Victorian Mysteries
D. Book: Bluegate Fields by Anne Perry
E. Completed: July 20

Another good series. I've been churning though a lot of books lately as I finish my Covid isolation (feeling fine).

20th read

A. Level: 4- History with Honors
B. July's Letter: P (still in July)
C. Category: 20. Great War Veterans as Detectives
D. Book:The Lady with the Gun Asks the Questions, in the Phryne Fisher series

20th read

A. Level: 4- History with Honors
B. July's Letter: P (still in July)
C. Category: 20. Great War Veterans as Detectives
D. Book:The Lady with the Gun Asks the Questions, in the Phryne Fisher series
E. Competed: Aug 11

A collection of very insubstantial short stories.

21th read

A. Level: 4- History with Honors
B. July's Letter: P (still in July)
C. Category: TBD
D. Book: The Mamur Zapt and the Night of the Dog