The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

20.4 - Golden Oldies - Maria Jo's Task: The Queen of Crime

One of my favorite authors is Agatha Christie, and reading her books is often the reason I am able to claim Golden Oldies tickets! This task is in honor of the “Queen of Crime.”

Choose one option.
Required: State the option.

1. Read a book by Agatha Christie or her pseudonym, Mary Westmacott, that was first published before 1950. (Most of her books fit this option, but not all!)

2. Agatha Christie famously disappeared when her husband, Archie, asked for a divorce. She reappeared 10 days later, claiming she did not know what had happened. The mystery of where she was and what she was doing during this time has never been solved. Recently, two novels have been published imagining where Christie was: The Mystery of Mrs. Christie and The Christie Affair.
Read a book with a major plot arc/subject where someone is missing or disappears mysteriously, such as a kidnapping or suspected crime, runaway, or supernatural/dystopian event. This list may help: Missing Persons.
Required: If the disappearance is not evident in the book's description, include a reference link.

3. Agatha Christie’s most widely read book, And Then There Were None, has over 1 million ratings on Goodreads.
Read a book that has over 1 million ratings. This list may help: One Million Ratings

4. There are so many fun facts about Agatha Christie, but this one is a little more obscure. In the 1960s, the Roman Catholic Church was rewriting their liturgy. Many Catholics in England preferred the old liturgy, and sent a request to the pope at the time, Paul VI, to request that the older style could be used in some places. Many prominent non-Catholics also signed the request, including Agatha Christie. The legend goes that when Pope Paul VI saw Agatha Christie’s signature, he said, “Ah, Agatha Christie,” and so decided to grant the request. This special permission given to Catholics in England and Wales is therefore known as the Agatha Christie Indult.
Read a book with MPG “Religion”, “Faith”, or “Spirituality”.

Approved:

Option 2:

Saved

This help thread is open.

Would The Eyre Affair work for option 2? Basically the villain kidnaps the character Jane Eyre from the book and the main character, named Thursday Next, goes into the novel to rescue her. To me it seems like this fits, but it's quirky enough that I wanted to check first.

That works for me! Approved.

Would An Unsuitable Heir work for option 2? The plot hitches on one of the main characters unexpectedly inheriting an earldom, after going missing with their twin sister as a child.

Sure! Approved.

Would this book work for option 2:

The Twyford Code

Approved!

Would any of these work for option 2 -
Hard Edge - the plot revolves around a kidnapping/hostage rescue.
The Hidden One - focuses on the disappearance of an Amish bishop.
Hell Breaks Loose - kidnapping of the First Daughter.
The Last Camel Died at Noon - search for a lost English aristocrat and his wife

Sorry for so many but I need to narrow it down, lol!

Maria Jo wrote: "Approved!"

Thank you.

Sorry for the delay, Lauren! All those are approved.

Maria Jo wrote: "Sorry for the delay, Lauren! All those are approved."

Thanks!

Maria Jo wrote: "Sure! Approved."

Excellent! Thank you. :D

Would this work for option 2?
So Close
A presumed dead woman reappears (or is it really her)

Cathy wrote: "Would this work for option 2?
So Close
A presumed dead woman reappears (or is it really her)"

It seems more like that's a reappearance than a disappearance. Is she officially dead at the beginning of the book, like a funeral or declared dead, or just presumed dead?

does this work for option 2? I Will Find You. Main character's son is killed and he is framed for murder. But is his son really dead? Don't want to tell you too much and ruin it for you

Cindie wrote: "does this work for option 2? I Will Find You. Main character's son is killed and he is framed for murder. But is his son really dead? Don't want to tell you too much and ruin it for..."

I think it's going to depend on whether he actually finds his son at the end of the book, and why murder was suspected. You can spoil the book for me. ;)

He does find him and the son was alive all along. The main character was framed by 2 different people oddly enough...

Cindie wrote: "He does find him and the son was alive all along. The main character was framed by 2 different people oddly enough..."

I've been thinking about this, and I really think the disappearance isn't enough of a central plot point to count.

Maria Jo wrote: "Cindie wrote: "He does find him and the son was alive all along. The main character was framed by 2 different people oddly enough..."

I've been thinking about this, and I really think the disappea..."

Ok. I still think you should read the book (even if I did just ruin it). HC is a great thriller writer

I will add it to my list! I do enjoy reading thrillers occasionally. Thanks for the recommendation!

I came on this thread to get an idea of the missing person requirement and was just spoiled on a book that I was highly looking forward to reading. Is it possible to remove those spoilers so others do not get spoiled? I was just absently skimming (did not make not of the title) and realized it was Harlan Coben's newest book upon skimming back up.

Please confirm MPG 'Religion' (option 4): Perelandra (The Space Trilogy #2). Thank you.

Tien wrote: "Please confirm MPG 'Religion' (option 4): Perelandra (The Space Trilogy #2). Thank you."

Genre confirmed!

Suggest that those including (view spoiler)[Spoilers, use the html coding to hide that information (hide spoiler)]

Would you consider the Muses, of greek mythology, persons? "The nine missing "things" mentioned in the GR's blurb are The Muses and the main character is sent to find them

Daughter of Sparta

Joanne wrote: "Would you consider the Muses, of greek mythology, persons? "The nine missing "things" mentioned in the GR's blurb are The Muses and the main character is sent to find them

[book:Daughter of Sparta..."

Does she know she's looking for the Muses when she sets out? If so, then I'll count it.

Maria Jo wrote: "Joanne wrote: "Would you consider the Muses, of greek mythology, persons? "The nine missing "things" mentioned in the GR's blurb are The Muses and the main character is sent to find them

[book:Dau..."

No she does not, but the other main character Apollo, who travels with her on the quest, knows who they are looking for

Joanne wrote: "No she does not, but the other main character Apollo, who travels with her on the quest, knows who they are looking for."

Okay, I'll approve it!

Thank you!

would this work for option 2

Unspeakable Things

JennRenee wrote: "would this work for option 2

Unspeakable Things"

Approved!

Maria Jo wrote: "JennRenee wrote: "would this work for option 2

Unspeakable Things"

Approved!"

thanks!