Crime, Mysteries & Thrillers discussion

Annual Challenge
A Book A Week Challenge
Dates: January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2026



How to participate: Comment below to indicate you're participating and how many books you are planning to read. List the name of the book you read and which prompt it was for.

Each book is worth 1 point.

What rank will you achieve?

Weekend Whodunit-Warrior: 1 - 7 points
Chapter Clue-Chaser: 8 - 14 points
Story Sleuth: 15 - 21 points
Library Lead-Locator: 22 - 28 points
Yearlong Yarn-Yielder: 29 - 35 points
Page Perp-Profiler: 36 - 42 points
Casefile Conqueror: 43 - 49 points
Master Mystery-Mind: 50+ points

Read mystery books that fit the following prompts:

01) unreliable narrator
02) cozy mystery
03) dual timeline
04) yellow dust jacket or spine
05) female author
06) protagonist has skeletons in the closet
08) nosy neighbor
09) political thriller
10) set during the summer
11) crime is blackmail
12) set in Australia
13) femme fatale character
14) paranormal mystery
15) victim is drowned
16) crime caught on video/CCTV
17) character has amnesia
18) psychiatrist character
19) a classic (over 75 years old)
20) academic mystery/set on college campus
21) purple dust cover or spine
22) detective with a sidekick
23) character having an affair
24) crime takes place on a boat
25) gothic mystery
26) murder to cover up past crime
27) the body is missing
28) Asian author
29) locked room mystery
30) suspect is innocent but confesses
31) true crime
32) medical mystery/thriller
33) food is a clue
34) inspired by Sherlock Holmes
35) Edgar winner
36) Hispanic author
37) is a religious mystery
38) senior sleuth
39) hidden room
40) a group of offenders
41) gold as a motive
42) natural disaster covers up a crime
43) element (earth/water/wind/air/fire/wood) is used in a crime
44) character is hanged
45) takes place on more than one continent
46) written by your favorite author
47) murder was accidental
48) set in the summer
49) detective consults with a criminal
50) cybercrime
51) gang/organized crime or turf war
52) animal is used to hide a crime

Final Note: I can open a new folder so we can make suggestions for each prompt if that would help, just let me know.

Participants
updated 02/01/26

Aoife (msg 15) - 0/30
Dawn (msg 10) - 1/30
Frankie (msg) 0/40
Gem (msg 03) - 0/05
JennH (msg 04) - 8/52
Lisa (msg 08) - 9/12
Melanie (msg 05) - 1/12
Sara (msg 11) - 0/11
Vanessa (msg 09) - 0/28

total number of participants: 08
total number of books pledged: 220
total number of books completed: 18
total of participants who completed the challenge: 0

I'm in for 5, hopefully I'll read more.

A Book A Week Challenge (message 3)
Dates: January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2026

0/5

01) unreliable narrator
02) cozy mystery
03) dual timeline
04) yellow dust jacket or spine
05) female author
06) protagonist has skeletons in the closet
08) nosy neighbor
09) political thriller
10) set during the summer
11) crime is blackmail
12) set in Australia
13) femme fatale character
14) paranormal mystery
15) victim is drowned
16) crime caught on video/CCTV
17) character has amnesia
18) psychiatrist character
19) a classic (over 75 years old)
20) academic mystery/set on college campus
21) purple dust cover or spine
22) detective with a sidekick
23) character having an affair
24) crime takes place on a boat
25) gothic mystery
26) murder to cover up past crime
27) the body is missing
28) Asian author
29) locked room mystery
30) suspect is innocent but confesses
31) true crime
32) medical mystery/thriller
33) food is a clue
34) inspired by Sherlock Holmes
35) Edgar winner
36) Hispanic author
37) is a religious mystery
38) senior sleuth
39) hidden room
40) a group of offenders
41) gold as a motive
42) natural disaster covers up a crime
43) element (earth/water/wind/air/fire/wood) is used in a crime
44) character is hanged
45) takes place on more than one continent
46) written by your favorite author
47) murder was accidental
48) set in the summer
49) detective consults with a criminal
50) cybercrime
51) gang/organized crime or turf war
52) animal is used to hide a crime

I'm going for all 52.

A Book A Week Challenge
Dates: January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2026

28/52

Read mystery books that fit the following prompts:

01) unreliable narrator - The Noh Mask Murder by Akimitsu Takagi 4/16/26
02) cozy mystery - Margaritas, Marzipan, and Murder by Harper Lin 1/5/26
03) dual timeline - The Lock Artist by Steve Hamilton 1/28/26
04) yellow dust jacket or spine - Peking Duck and Cover by Vivien Chien 2/16/26
05) female author - Ransom Road by Anya Mora 1/7/26
06) protagonist has skeletons in the closet - The Brothers Hawthorne by Jennifer Lynn Barnes 4/13/26
08) nosy neighbor
09) political thriller
10) set during the summer - The Virgin Blue by Tracy Chevalier 2/8/26
11) crime is blackmail - Death Before Wicket by Kerry Greenwood 2/22/26
12) set in Australia - Away with the Fairies by Kerry Greenwood 3/1/26
13) femme fatale character
14) paranormal mystery - Dead and Breakfast by Kate Kingsbury 1/29/26
15) victim is drowned
16) crime caught on video/CCTV - Down the River Unto the Sea by Walter Mosley 1/17/26
17) character has amnesia - The Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie 3/20/26
18) psychiatrist character
19) a classic (over 75 years old) - The Man in the Brown Suit by Agatha Christie 3/24/26
20) academic mystery/set on college campus - Kaleidoscope of Death Vol. 3 by Xi Zi Xu 3/8/26
21) purple dust cover or spine
22) detective with a sidekick
23) character having an affair - The Housemaid by Freida McFadden 1/12/26
24) crime takes place on a boat
25) gothic mystery
26) murder to cover up past crime - Six Sweets Under by Sarah Fox 1/8/26
27) the body is missing - Where Is Bianca? Lib/E by Ellery Queen 1/19/25
28) Asian author - Kaleidoscope of Death Vol. 1 by Xi Zi Xu 2/3/26
29) locked room mystery
30) suspect is innocent but confesses - The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis 1/24/26
31) true crime - The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America by Erik Larson 2/14/26
32) medical mystery/thriller
33) food is a clue
34) inspired by Sherlock Holmes
35) Edgar winner - Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line by Deepa Anappara 1/22/26
36) Hispanic author
37) is a religious mystery
38) senior sleuth
39) hidden room
40) a group of offenders
41) gold as a motive
42) natural disaster covers up a crime
43) element (earth/water/wind/air/fire/wood) is used in a crime - Shadow Play by Iris Johansen 4/6/26
44) character is hanged - The Windsor Knot by S.J. Bennett 2/10/26
45) takes place on more than one continent - Intrigue in Istanbul by Erica Ruth Neubauer 2/4/26
46) written by your favorite author - Crooked House by Agatha Christie 3/26/26
47) murder was accidental
48) set in the summer - Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret by Benjamin Stevenson 2/15/26
49) detective consults with a criminal
50) cybercrime
51) gang/organized crime or turf war - I, Michael Bennett by James Patterson 2/26/26
52) animal is used to hide a crime

I'll aim for 12.

A Book A Week Challenge
Dates: January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2026

Completed: 6/12

01) unreliable narrator
02) cozy mystery: Christmas is Murder by C.S. Challinor - January 20
03) dual timeline
04) yellow dust jacket or spine
05) female author
06) protagonist has skeletons in the closet
08) nosy neighbor
09) political thriller
10) set during the summer: Fear Stalks the Village by Ethel Lina White - April 17
11) crime is blackmail: McKee of Centre Street by Helen Reilly - April 9
12) set in Australia
13) femme fatale character
14) paranormal mystery
15) victim is drowned: The Valentine's Day Murder by Lee Harris - March 14
16) crime caught on video/CCTV
17) character has amnesia
18) psychiatrist character
19) a classic (over 75 years old)
20) academic mystery/set on college campus: Murder Among Friends by Lange Lewis - February 17
21) purple dust cover or spine
22) detective with a sidekick
23) character having an affair
24) crime takes place on a boat
25) gothic mystery
26) murder to cover up past crime
27) the body is missing
28) Asian author
29) locked room mystery
30) suspect is innocent but confesses
31) true crime: Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson - April 6
32) medical mystery/thriller
33) food is a clue
34) inspired by Sherlock Holmes
35) Edgar winner
36) Hispanic author
37) is a religious mystery
38) senior sleuth
39) hidden room
40) a group of offenders
41) gold as a motive
42) natural disaster covers up a crime
43) element (earth/water/wind/air/fire/wood) is used in a crime
44) character is hanged
45) takes place on more than one continent
46) written by your favorite author
47) murder was accidental
48) set in the summer
49) detective consults with a criminal
50) cybercrime
51) gang/organized crime or turf war
52) animal is used to hide a crime

Question before I decide how many to commit to - do some of the monthly reads count? Also, what if a book fits in several of the challenges since I noticed there were other yearly challenges - can the same book be used for multiple challenges?

Lisa wrote: "Question before I decide how many to commit to - do some of the monthly reads count? Also, what if a book fits in several of the challenges since I noticed there were other yearly challenges - can ..."

Any mystery book counts. Group reads, personal selections, group reads from another group, just as long as it's a crime, mystery, or thriller.

You may use the same book to complete multiple challenges, but you cannot count the same book more than once toward any single challenge.

Thank you! I'm in and will shoot for 12, and hope for even more.

12/12 Since I did all those in two months, I will double my goal to 24.
23/24 completed

01) unreliable narrator
02) cozy mystery - completed 4/7 Bayou Book Thief
03) dual timeline - completed 1/11 The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers
04) yellow dust jacket or spine completed 4/10 Murder on an Irish Farm
05) female author - completed 1/30 Cheddar Off Dead
06) protagonist has skeletons in the closet
08) nosy neighbor
09) political thriller
10) set during the summer 2/22 Murder in Highbury
11) crime is blackmail
12) set in Australia - completed 1/7. The Bat
13) femme fatale character
14) paranormal mystery - completed 3/7 In the Company of Witches
15) victim is drowned
16) crime caught on video/CCTV
17) character has amnesia
18) psychiatrist character
19) a classic (over 75 years old) - completed 1/11 The Secret of Chimneys
20) academic mystery/set on college campus
21) purple dust cover or spine - completed 1/3 'Twas the Knife Before Christmas
22) detective with a sidekick
23) character having an affair
24) crime takes place on a boat - 4/2 A Tempest at Sea
25) gothic mystery - 3/6 The Woman in White
26) murder to cover up past crime - 2/7 Find You First
27) the body is missing - 3/20 The Library Game
28) Asian author - completed 1/3 Your House Will Pay
29) locked room mystery - completed 4/12 Death Comes to Marlow
30) suspect is innocent but confesses - completed 4/6 The Murder of Mr. Wickham
31) true crime
32) medical mystery/thriller
33) food is a clue - completed 2/25 A Margin for Murder
34) inspired by Sherlock Holmes
35) Edgar winner - completed 1/26 Five Decembers
36) Hispanic author
37) is a religious mystery
38) senior sleuth - completed 1/19 Pretty is as Pretty Dies
39) hidden room - completed 4/17 The Inheritance Games
40) a group of offenders - completed 4/15 The Light of Day
41) gold as a motive completed 4/1 Beat Not The Bones
42) natural disaster covers up a crime
43) element (earth/water/wind/air/fire/wood) is used in a crime
44) character is hanged
45) takes place on more than one continent
46) written by your favorite author
47) murder was accidental - completed 1/23 Getaway With Murder
48) set in the summer
49) detective consults with a criminal
50) cybercrime
51) gang/organized crime or turf war
52) animal is used to hide a crime

A Book A Week Challenge
Dates: January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2026

Library Lead-Locator: 22 - 28 points
Completed: 0/28

01) unreliable narrator
02) cozy mystery
03) dual timeline
04) yellow dust jacket or spine
05) female author
06) protagonist has skeletons in the closet
08) nosy neighbor
09) political thriller
10) set during the summer
11) crime is blackmail
12) set in Australia
13) femme fatale character
14) paranormal mystery
15) victim is drowned
16) crime caught on video/CCTV
17) character has amnesia
18) psychiatrist character
19) a classic (over 75 years old)
20) academic mystery/set on college campus
21) purple dust cover or spine
22) detective with a sidekick
23) character having an affair
24) crime takes place on a boat
25) gothic mystery
26) murder to cover up past crime
27) the body is missing
28) Asian author
29) locked room mystery
30) suspect is innocent but confesses
31) true crime
32) medical mystery/thriller
33) food is a clue
34) inspired by Sherlock Holmes
35) Edgar winner
36) Hispanic author
37) is a religious mystery
38) senior sleuth
39) hidden room
40) a group of offenders
41) gold as a motive
42) natural disaster covers up a crime
43) element (earth/water/wind/air/fire/wood) is used in a crime
44) character is hanged
45) takes place on more than one continent
46) written by your favorite author
47) murder was accidental
48) set in the summer
49) detective consults with a criminal
50) cybercrime
51) gang/organized crime or turf war
52) animal is used to hide a crime

“Update message (#10) I will commit to 30 and see if I can read more. -


01) unreliable narrator- In the Woods by Tana French
02) cozy mystery- A Fatal Grace by Louise Penny
03) dual timeline
04) yellow dust jacket or spine- The Girl With The Dragon Tatoo by Stieg Larsson
08) nosy neighbor
09) political thriller- The Manchurian Candidate by Richard Condon
10) set during the summer
11) crime is blackmail
12) set in Australia- The Woman in the Green Dress by Tea Cooper
13) femme fatale character
14) paranormal mystery
15) victim is drowned
16) crime caught on video/CCTV
17) character has amnesia
18) psychiatrist character
19) a classic (over 75 years old)
20) academic mystery/set on college campus
21) purple dust cover or spine Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka
22) detective with a sidekick- A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle
23) character having an affair
24) crime takes place on a boat
25) gothic mystery
26) murder to cover up past crime-Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz
27) the body is missing
28) Asian author- The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino
29) locked room mystery- The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
30) suspect is innocent but confesses
31) true crime
32) medical mystery/thriller
33) food is a clue
34) inspired by Sherlock Holmes
35) Edgar winner- The Stranger Diaries by Elly Griffiths
36) Hispanic author
37) is a religious mystery
38) senior sleuth
39) hidden room
40) a group of offenders
41) gold as a motive
42) natural disaster covers up a crime
43) element (earth/water/wind/air/fire/wood) is used in a crime
44) character is hanged
45) takes place on more than one continent
46) written by your favorite author
47) murder was accidental
48) set in the summer
49) detective consults with a criminal
50) cybercrime
51) gang/organized crime or turf war
52) animal is used to hide a crime


Read: 11/30

My goal is 12 but hopefully I can read more.

I've added everyone and their goals (msg 02) to the participation list as of this message, updated 01/03/26. Good luck, everyone. New participants are always welcome.

When you complete a book, edit your original message and make a note below that says something like:

"Update message (insert your original message #), with a brief explanation (e.g. finish 2 books)."

So I can continue to edit msg 2 with our progress.

Update message (it was message #8) I finished 2 books today. Pretty sure I will be able to do more than 12 for the year.
Not sure if I'm doing this the way you want. I edited my original post to include the books I finished today in the appropriate categories.

Update message #8. Finished my 3rd book so far.

I'm in! I'll try for 30 but hope I can hit near all :)

0/30



Completions
12) set in Australia - The Ghost Writer 23-02
38) senior sleuth - The Retirees: Retirement has never felt so deadly
02) cozy mystery - Cherry Slice
14) paranormal mystery - Steeped to Death 17-01

All Tasks
(view spoiler)[
01) unreliable narrator
02) cozy mystery
03) dual timeline
04) yellow dust jacket or spine
05) female author
06) protagonist has skeletons in the closet
08) nosy neighbor
09) political thriller
10) set during the summer
11) crime is blackmail
12) set in Australia
13) femme fatale character
14) paranormal mystery
15) victim is drowned
16) crime caught on video/CCTV
17) character has amnesia
18) psychiatrist character
19) a classic (over 75 years old)
20) academic mystery/set on college campus
21) purple dust cover or spine
22) detective with a sidekick
23) character having an affair
24) crime takes place on a boat
25) gothic mystery
26) murder to cover up past crime
27) the body is missing
28) Asian author
29) locked room mystery
30) suspect is innocent but confesses
31) true crime
32) medical mystery/thriller
33) food is a clue
34) inspired by Sherlock Holmes
35) Edgar winner
36) Hispanic author
37) is a religious mystery
38) senior sleuth
39) hidden room
40) a group of offenders
41) gold as a motive
42) natural disaster covers up a crime
43) element (earth/water/wind/air/fire/wood) is used in a crime
44) character is hanged
45) takes place on more than one continent
46) written by your favorite author
47) murder was accidental
48) set in the summer
49) detective consults with a criminal
50) cybercrime
51) gang/organized crime or turf war
52) animal is used to hide a crime
(hide spoiler)]

Update to message #4. 3/52.

Also, just noticed that prompt 10 and 48 are both "set in summer." I don't care if it's the same but wanted to bring it up in case it wasn't intentional.

Update message #8. Finished 4/12

Update message #8. Finished 5/12

Update to message #4.

4/52

Update message #8. Completed 6/12

Update message #8. Finished 7/12

Update message #8. Finished 8/12

Aoife wrote: "I'm in! I'll try for 30 but hope I can hit near all :)

0/30

[bookcover:Forgive & Forget: The Space Between, Filled With M..."

Welcome to the challenge! Good luck!

Annual Challenge
A Book A Week Challenge
Dates: January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2026

Page Perp-Profiler: 36 - 42 points

I'll try for 40

01) unreliable narrator
02) cozy mystery
03) dual timeline
04) yellow dust jacket or spine
05) female author
06) protagonist has skeletons in the closet
08) nosy neighbor
09) political thriller
10) set during the summer
11) crime is blackmail
12) set in Australia
13) femme fatale character
14) paranormal mystery
15) victim is drowned
16) crime caught on video/CCTV
17) character has amnesia
18) psychiatrist character
19) a classic (over 75 years old)
20) academic mystery/set on college campus
21) purple dust cover or spine
22) detective with a sidekick
23) character having an affair
24) crime takes place on a boat
25) gothic mystery
26) murder to cover up past crime
27) the body is missing
28) Asian author
29) locked room mystery
30) suspect is innocent but confesses
31) true crime
32) medical mystery/thriller
33) food is a clue
34) inspired by Sherlock Holmes
35) Edgar winner
36) Hispanic author
37) is a religious mystery
38) senior sleuth
39) hidden room
40) a group of offenders
41) gold as a motive
42) natural disaster covers up a crime
43) element (earth/water/wind/air/fire/wood) is used in a crime
44) character is hanged
45) takes place on more than one continent
46) written by your favorite author
47) murder was accidental
48) set in the summer
49) detective consults with a criminal
50) cybercrime
51) gang/organized crime or turf war
52) animal is used to hide a crime

Frankie wrote: "Annual Challenge
A Book A Week Challenge
Dates: January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2026

Page Perp-Profiler: 36 - 42 points

I'll try for 40

01) unreliable narrator
02) cozy mystery
03) dual timeline..."

Welcome to the challenge Frankie.

Update for message #8. Finished 9/12

Updated message #8. Finished 10/12

“Update message (#10) I will commit to 30 and see if I can read more. -I
read

9/30

Update message #8. Completed 11/12

Update message #8. Completed 12/12, so updating my goal to 24.

Updated msg 15! 4 tasks completed

Update message #8. 14/24 completed.

Update msg #5. Finished 3/12 books.

Update message #8. Completed 15/24

Update message #8. Completed 16/24

Update message #8. completed 17/24

Update message #8. Completed 18/24

Update to message #8. completed 19/24

Update message #5. Completed 4/12

Update #8. 20/24 completed

Update message #8. Completed 21/24

A Book A Week Challenge (message 42)
Dates: January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2026
I'm joining late, I just found this challenge. I aim to complete 52.

0/52

01) unreliable narrator
02) cozy mystery
03) dual timeline
04) yellow dust jacket or spine
05) female author
06) protagonist has skeletons in the closet
08) nosy neighbor
09) political thriller
10) set during the summer
11) crime is blackmail
12) set in Australia
13) femme fatale character
14) paranormal mystery
15) victim is drowned
16) crime caught on video/CCTV
17) character has amnesia
18) psychiatrist character
19) a classic (over 75 years old)
20) academic mystery/set on college campus
21) purple dust cover or spine
22) detective with a sidekick
23) character having an affair
24) crime takes place on a boat
25) gothic mystery
26) murder to cover up past crime
27) the body is missing
28) Asian author
29) locked room mystery
30) suspect is innocent but confesses
31) true crime
32) medical mystery/thriller
33) food is a clue
34) inspired by Sherlock Holmes
35) Edgar winner
36) Hispanic author
37) is a religious mystery
38) senior sleuth
39) hidden room
40) a group of offenders
41) gold as a motive
42) natural disaster covers up a crime
43) element (earth/water/wind/air/fire/wood) is used in a crime
44) character is hanged
45) takes place on more than one continent
46) written by your favorite author
47) murder was accidental
48) set in the summer
49) detective consults with a criminal
50) cybercrime
51) gang/organized crime or turf war
52) animal is used to hide a crime

Marie-Anne wrote: "A Book A Week Challenge (message 42)
Dates: January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2026
I'm joining late, I just found this challenge. I aim to complete 52.

0/52

01) unreliable narrator
02) cozy mystery
..."

Good luck!

I was considering joining this but am I allowed to add any books that I've already read from the year or would that be considered cheating?

Update message #8. Completed 22/24

Update msg #5. Read 5/12.

rosie xo wrote: "I was considering joining this but am I allowed to add any books that I've already read from the year or would that be considered cheating?"

That's a good question. There is a discussion called ask the moderator, so maybe post it there to make sure to get an answer. Sorry the discussion is actually Questions for the moderator.

Lisa wrote: "rosie xo wrote: "I was considering joining this but am I allowed to add any books that I've already read from the year or would that be considered cheating?"

That's a good question. There is a dis..."
Thank you Lisa I wanted to respond but I do not know how to get a hold of moderators. Now I do .

Update of message #8. Completed 23/24. I will be increasing my goal to 36.