Linz the Bookworm's 2021 Reading Challenge

 

Linz the Bookworm sponsors a 2021 Reading Challenge that works on a tiered-level format. There are five levels for a total of 60 books if all levels are completed. I plan on opting in for the first level: Book of the Month Club. After that, I may read more books for the challenge--just to see how many categories I can fill--but my personal commitment will be met at Level 1. I've filled in possible choices.

Level 1: Book of the Month Club [Commitment complete: 4/25/21]

1. Book from Kindle Unlimited, Audible, Amazon First Reads, Paperback Swap, or the Library: Crimson Snow by Martin Edwards [ed] (1/12/21)

2. Book under 400 pages: Death & the Dutch Uncle by Patricia Moyes (1/18/21)

3. Book that makes you happy: Bodies from the Library: Lost Tales of Mystery & Suspense by Agatha Christie & Other Masters of the Golden Age by Tony Medawar [ed] (3/10/21) [Golden Age mysteries always make me happy]

4. A stand alone novel: The Floating Admiral by The Detection Club (Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, et al) [1/17/21]

5. Book that starts with "D": Dead as a Dodo by Jane Langton (1/24/21)

6. Book recommended to you: The Bookwanderers by Anna James (2/6/21)

7. Book with color white on cover: The Double-Jack Murders by Patrick McManus (2/2/21)

8. Book with main character who is a high school or college student: The Green Door by Mildred A. Wirt [Penny is in high school] (2/26/21)

9. Book by an author named Michael/Mike/Michelle or variant: Smooth Justice by Michael Underwood (4/25/21)

10. Book that's been turned into a TV series or Movie: Murder in the Calais Coach (aka Murder on the Orient Express) by Agatha Christie (1/30/21)

11. Book with exactly two words in title: Hallowed Murder by Ellen Hart (1/26/21)

12: Free Space! Any book: Death of a Millionaire by G. D. H. & Margaret Cole (1/4/21)

Level 2: Casual Reader Club (Complete 6/15/21)

13. A book from https://www.whatshouldireadnext.co: The Documents in the Case by Dorothy L. Sayers & Robert Eustace [plugged in Murder on the Orient Express by Christie] (4/24/21)

14. Read a murder mystery: The Boomerang Clue by Agatha Christie (2/21/21)

15. First book in a series you've wanted to start: Sidney Chambers & the Shadow of Death by James Runcie (1/14/21)

16. Book that has a person on the cover: When Maidens Mourn by C. S. Harris (1/20/21)

17. Book where main character's occupation is chef/baker: A Tasty Way to Die by Janet Laurence (6/15/21)

18. Book by author born in 20th C: Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz

19. Book with form of royalty in title: Princess Elizabeth's Spy by Susan Elia MacNeal (1/2/21)

20. Book you meant to read on last year's challenge: The Cannibal Who Overate by Hugh Pentecost (2/14/21) [I didn't participate in last year's version of this challenge, but I had planned to read this for another challenge last year.]

21. Book by Barbara Cartland: Hiding (5/8/21)

22. Book that takes place in spring: Blue Octavo by John Blackburn (3/12/21)

23. Book with word Human/Person/People in title: People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks (6/4/21)

24. Free space! Any book: Mr. President, Private Eye by Martin H. Greenberg & Francis M. Nevins, Jr. [eds] (1/22/21)

Level 3: Dedicated Reader Club (Complete 7/29/21)

25: Book by a Self-Published Author: The Mystery of a Hansom Cab by Fergus Hume [self-published in 1886!] (7/29/21)

26. Book bought for under $5: Howard's End by E. M. Forster (2/27/21)

27. Book from https://time.com/collection/100-best-fantasy-books/: A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeleine L'Engle (5/8/21)

28. Book published in 2010s: Murder at Bray Manor by Lee Strauss [2017] (2/21/21)

29. Book from favorite genre: The Listerdale Mystery by Agatha Christie (2/7/21)

30. Book that has had at least 3 different covers: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John Le Carre (2/20/21)

31. Book takes place in Europe: Raffles (The Amateur Cracksman) by E. W. Hornung [mostly England, but some in Italy] (1/28/21)

32. Book by author with same first name as one of your grandparents: My Own Words by Ruth Bader Ginsburg (2/13/21)

33. Book with main character who is a magic user: The Red Fairy Book by Andrew Lang (1/9/21)

34. Book with time of day in title (Morning, Noon, Evening, Dusk, Dawn etc): Murder at Teatime by Cynthia Manson [ed] (7/16/21)

35. Book by author of different ethnicity: I'll Kill You Next! by Adam Knight [Lawrence Lariar; Jewish] (5/16/21)

36. Free space! Any book: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier (2/24/21)

Level 4 Speed Reader Club (Complete 7/27/21)

37. Next book a series you've started: What Darkness Brings by C. S. Harris (4/11/21)

38. Book with orange cover: Gently in the Sun by Alan Hunter (4/5/21)

39. Book over 600 pages: Giant Mystery Reader by Various [edited by Avon Books] (7/4/21)

40. Book with "Chosen One" trope: Preach No More by Richard Lockridge (5/9/21)

41. Book with elderly main character: Death in the Clouds by Agatha Christe [Poirot described as a "little elderly man with large moustaches and an egg-shaped head] (3/31/21)

42. Book with letter V in title or author's name: The Venetian Blonde by A. S. Fleischman (5/3/21)

43. Science Fiction book: The Fantastic Civil War by Frank McSherry, Jr. [ed] (6/23/21)

44. Book that starts with letter P: (The) Portcullis Room by Valentine Williams (7/27/21)

45. Book with bird on cover: Murder by the Book by Frances & Richard Lockridge [pelican] (5/5/21)

46. Book about a lady on this list https://www.historyextra.com/100-women-results/: The Illusion of Murder by Carol McCleary [Nellie Bly]  (7/11/21)

47. Book with main character with different ethnicity: The Conjure-Man Dies by Rudolph Fisher (7/3/21)

48. Free space! Any book: A Rogue of One's Own by Evie Dunmore (2/25/21)

Level 5 Overachiever Club

49. Book with interesting front cover: Murder in 3 Acts by Agatha Christie (3/2/21) [because I think all these old pulp-era covers are the coolest things ever]

50. Book about orphans: Uncle Silas by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu (2/22/21)

51. Book with word "wind" in title: A Wind in the Door by Madeleine L'Engle (5/7/21)

52. Book by John Irving

53. Book published when you were eleven: Star Trek The Motion Picture: The Photostory by Richard J. Anobile [ed] (4/21/21)

54. Book that takes place in the 1960s: One Lady, Two Cats by Richard Lockridge (1/31/21)

55. Book about a topic that interests you, but you haven't read about it yet: Women Heroes of World War II by Kathryn J. Atwood (5/5/21)

56. Nonfiction book that teaches you a new skill

57. Book without a picture on front cover: One Murdered: Two Dead by Milton Propper (4/14/21)

58. Book involving mental illness: Lord Mullion's Secret by Michael Innes (7/30/21)

59. book with unfavorable reviews, but you're still curious about: The Adventure of the Peerless Peer by Philip Jose Farmer (as by John Watson) 

60. Free space! Any book: The Talisman Ring by Geogette Heyer (2/19/21)