You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion

It's a Mystery!

Is mystery one of your favorite genres? If so, here's your chance to indulge. Never really tried to read a who-don-it? The time is now!

The rules:

1. Read a book from the mystery genre between March 1 and 31st. No overlapping into neighboring months.

2. The book may be in any format - hardcover, paperback, ebook, or audiobook.

3. The book may not be combined with the March themed read.

Points are awarded as follows:

Genre:
5 points - Historical Mystery
4 points - Classic Mystery
3 points - Paranormal Mystery (includes ghost story)
2 points - Real Life Mystery
1 point - Contemporary Mystery

Theme:
5 points - police drama
4 points - archeology
3 points - missing person
2 points - theft
1 point - ghosts

Location/Setting:
5 points - Sweden
4 points - England
3 points - Egypt
2 points - Australia
1 point - these States: Alaska, Florida, or New York

Author:
5 points - last name starts with R, E, D
4 points - uses initials in the name
3 points - written by two authors
2 points - is American
1 point - is male

Title:
5 points - contains the word "Murder"
4 points - contains the word "Bones"
3 points - has the name of the sleuth in it (eg Miss Marples)
2 points - Is one word long

Cover:
5 points - is predominantly red
4 points - has a knife on it
3 points - has an animal on it
2 points - title is across the bottom of the page
1 point - has blood on it

Page Length:
200 - 299 pages - 1 point
300 - 399 pages - 2 points
400 - 499 pages - 3 points
500 - 599 pages - 4 points
600 or greater - 5 points

Stars Awarded by you:
5 stars - 5 points
4 stars - 4 points
3 stars - 3 points
2 stars - 2 points
1 star - 1 point

Bonus points:

Sherlock Holmes Month: Add 2 points if the book you chose is a Sherlock Homes case.
International Women's Month: Add 2 points if the protagonist is a woman.
Read an e-book week (Mar 4 - 10): Add 2 points if your book is in e-book format.
National Horse Protection Day (Mar 1): Add 2 points if there is a horse in the story.
St. Patrick's Day (Mar 17): 2 points for a green cover, the word green in the title, or green in the author's name.

We'll use this thread for reporting as well. Remember to link both the cover and name of the book you read.

Have fun!

Here is a sample report.

The Snowman by Jo Nesbø.

Genre:
contemporary mystery - 1 pt

Theme:
police drama - 5 pts
missing person - 3 pts

Location - 0

Author:
male - 1 pt

Title - 0

Cover:
has blood on it - 1 pt

Pages:
400 - 3 pts

Stars:
4 stars - 4 pts

Bonus:
e-book format - 2 pts

Total points: 20 points

Oooo awesome, will starting perusing my options as soon as I'm home :-)

I made a small change to the Genre options. I combined Paranormal & Ghost story Mystery as one option and added Real Life Mystery.

Ooh I like this challenge :)
I'll be going to the library today so I'll peruse the mystery section.

I have a choice of Dark Matter a ghost story set in the Arctic, or Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. The first fits in with Around The World, but the latter was a Christmas present. I don't think I can do both this month as I have Sarah's Key and The Prince and the Pauper buddy reads this month and I still haven't finished The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, or The Lake Shore Limited which is part of my year long challenge! I also have Storyteller: The Life of Roald Dahl sitting borrowed from the library for the year challenge and that is 568 pages long. Phew.

I've decided that I'll be reading Mark of the Lion by Suzanne Arruda which is one of the boks I borrowed a few days ago from the library. It's a historical mystery set in my favourite continent, Africa. I really think the cover for it is gorgeous.

Right up my street!

Think I'll go for Snow Drops .

I'm going to choose Heartless . And I may read another one if I have time this month. I do enjoy mysteries.

Just one thing, isn't St Patrick's Day March 17th?

I think I'll try The Boy In The Suitcase.

Sue wrote: "Just one thing, isn't St Patrick's Day March 17th?"

I was just testing you all to see if someone would catch it. (I wish!) LOL!

I'm going to be reading:

Janice wrote: "Sue wrote: "Just one thing, isn't St Patrick's Day March 17th?"

I was just testing you all to see if someone would catch it. (I wish!) LOL!"

You just want more time to celebrate!

Ok, darnit, you've got me. I have been putting off this book FOR-E-VER, so I guess it's a sign from the gods of the bookcase that I need to read this.

::SIGH:: I am doing this for you, book group. I hope you recognize the sacrifice.

I will be reading: The Name of the Rose, by Umberto Eco.

Maria wrote: "Ok, darnit, you've got me. I have been putting off this book FOR-E-VER, so I guess it's a sign from the gods of the bookcase that I need to read this.

::SIGH:: I am doing this for you, book group...."

Hooked, pulled in, and sunk! Glad you are going to join us, Maria.

Not sure if I can...already reading 4 books and realize I have 2 more that start with the beginning of March. Of course none are mysteries.

Maria wrote: "Ok, darnit, you've got me. I have been putting off this book FOR-E-VER, so I guess it's a sign from the gods of the bookcase that I need to read this.

::SIGH:: I am doing this for you, book group...."

I appreciate your sacrifice!☺

With this book, you will never regret it.

I am up!

i am in..

I am dancing...

I'm gonna get, like, no points, but I'm reading The Lenient Beast by Fredric Brown. He's one of my favorite SF authors, but he also wrote good pulp mysteries.

Gaeta1 wrote: "I am reading Unnatural Fire, which I whined and pined for when it was only a UK book, downloaded it on my e-reader when it was finally available...and never got around to reading."

I've done that so many times. I think the energy spent being excited interferes with my ability to transfer to reading the book.

Maria wrote: "Ok, darnit, you've got me. I have been putting off this book FOR-E-VER, so I guess it's a sign from the gods of the bookcase that I need to read this.

::SIGH:: I am doing this for you, book group...."

The name of the Rose is quite good. I really enjoyed it.

I will be reading Defending Jacob: A Novel. It won't earn too many points (except for the page length - over 400!), but I've heard such good things about it and my library just got it in, so this is my March mystery pick.

Me too, Judy.

I will be reading Faceless Killers

My report on Snow Drops . Review is here http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... .
Points:
Contemporary: 1
Missing person: 3
Theft: 2
Author uses initials: 4
Author male: 1
Gave it 3*: 3
Page length: 1
Total= 14

Alison wrote: "My report on Snow Drops. Review is here http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... .
Points:
Contemporary: 1
Missing person: 3
Theft: 2
Author us..."

Goodness me, you were quick off the mark there. *green eyes*

One day into the challenge and you're done already!!

Add one more point Alison. I tallied that up to 15.

Janice wrote: "One day into the challenge and you're done already!!

Add one more point Alison. I tallied that up to 15."

OMG I'm so embarrassed, I can't even count anymore!

The Boy In The Suitcase by Lene Kaaberbøl and Agnete Friis

Genre:
1 point - Contemporary Mystery

Theme:
3 points - missing person

Location/Setting:
0 points - Denmark

Author:
3 points - written by two authors

Title:
0 points

Cover:
0 points

Page Length:
300 - 399 pages - 2 points

Stars Awarded by you:
5 stars - 5 points

Bonus points:
International Women's Month: Add 2 points if the protagonist is a woman.

St. Patrick's Day (Mar 17): 2 points for a green cover.

18 points

Great selection, Almeta. I've added it to my wishlist. :)

I love a Scandi mysteri. I'll add this to my list too.

Alison wrote: "I love a Scandi mysteri. I'll add this to my list too."

I'm currently listening to Jo Nesbo's The Snowman. I'm enjoying it quite a bit.

The Lenient Beast, by Fredric Brown. .

1 point - Contemporary Mystery

Theme:
5 points - police drama

Author:
2 points - is American
1 point - is male

Stars Awarded by you:
5 stars - 5 points

no bonuses
14 points

Really a clever and provocative novella, written as a 'pulp' and would make a good movie or tv show, but better quality than one would expect. Rich characters and real themes, as well as a clever, almost sympathetic, criminal and an even smarter, and wiser, detective. Tucson, AZ, 1956.

I have just finished Dark Matter and I rather enjoyed it. Although It is another book set in the never-ending darkness it didn't affect me like Snow Angels did.

I'll link my review here when I have written it, but scoring wise:
Genre 3 ghost story
Cover 3 birds on it
Length 1 200-299 pages
My rating 3
TOTAL 10

The very beginning of the book takes place in England but I haven't counted this as it is only a matter of 10 pages at the start of the book. It wouldn't be a winning score if I did include it so it doesnt matter. The book is set in 1937 but is not historical fiction, it could have bet set 20 years ago and the only thing that would be different IMO is the technology and equipment would be more up-to-date.

My first ghost story in a long time, I picked it up at the library as the cover and title caught my eye. Pleasantly satisfied, but not a real page turner for me.

It's March 4th and we have 4 people who have completed the challenge already!

Maria wrote: "Ok, darnit, you've got me. I have been putting off this book FOR-E-VER, so I guess it's a sign from the gods of the bookcase that I need to read this.

::SIGH:: I am doing this for you, book group...."

It's a great book - glad you got he push you needed!

I've finally got it, I'm reading The Hidden Child for this one :-)

I'm in! Reading: .

UGH... didn't even finish my book for the February challenge. Too much going on... went from reading 6 books in January to ZERO in February! I'm tryign this again. Will see what is on my kindle that fits! :)

Jenna wrote: "I'm in! Reading: ."

Wow!!! Did you read Elizabeth's review? It should be framed somewhere!!!

Thank you for listing this book as a choice. I will be reading this book, I know that I want to read more of Elizabeth's reviews.

i believe you gals are forcing me to organize my gr bookshelves for these challenges.. I hope your proud of yourselves! i loathe organizing.. However i LOVE organization..

heh-heh :)

Okay Im doing some looking around to try and find my read for this challenge and i dont exactly know the difference between mysteries and thrillers.. they seem to be grouped together for the most part.. Thanks in advance for answering my silly question :)

I actually may do this, not really for the challenge but just because I borrowed an ebook from the library for my Kindle fire and it's a mystery, Midnight Riot. This is the first in a paranormal mystery series which has a different title in England (can't recall it at the moment).

Tea Is for Terror: A Claire Gulliver Mystery by Gayle Wigglesworth

Genre:
1 point - Contemporary Mystery

Theme:
0

Location/Setting:
4 points - England

Author:
2 points - is American

Title:
0 points

Cover:
0

Page Length:
1 point: 200 - 299 pages

Stars Awarded by you:
5 points - 5 stars

Bonus points:
International Women's Month: Add 2 points if the protagonist is a woman.
Read an e-book week (Mar 4 - 10): Add 2 points if your book is in e-book format.

Grand total, 17 points

A very enjoyable read, the first book in a series.(view spoiler)[The chief criminal escapes at the end of the book, thus the mystery is not concluded, but continues into the next book. It certainly has me hooked - I'm anxious to read Washington Weirdos! (hide spoiler)]

Jane in SC wrote: "Tea Is for Terror: A Claire Gulliver Mystery by Gayle Wigglesworth

Genre:
1 point - Contemporary Myster..."

It seems to me that we had this situation come up in a previous challenge. At that time we decided that we wouldn't consider the sub-title. So I would score your book as 17 points. Sorry, Jane. :(