2021 Six Shooter Mystery Reading Challenge

 

I'm heading out to the shooting range again with Rick and his Six Shooter Mystery Reading Challenge in 2021. The goal is pretty straight-forward--read six books on the same target (by the same author) to complete your round. Any targets started in 2020 but not yet complete will carry over to the new year, so Rick's page won't be fully updated for a while. Once it's updated, you can check out the full details at the link above.

As with his other challenges, Rick doesn't ask for a commitment. But I will set a personal goal in order to claim the challenge complete for 2021. In 2020, I set it at four targets--and I will be aiming for the same in the new year.  Most likely those will include Agatha Christie, the Lockridges,  and possibly another round of Ngaio Marsh and C. S Harris.

C. S. Harris (complete)

1. When Maidens Mourn (1/20/21)

2. What Darkness Brings (4/11/21)

3. Why Kings Confess (4/12/21)

4. Who Buries the Dead (4/25/21)

5. When Falcons Fall (6/15/21)

6. Where the Dead Lie (6/16/21)

Agatha Christie (complete)

1. Murder in the Calais Coach [aka Murder on the Orient Express] (1/30/21)

2. The Listerdale Mystery (2/7/21)

3. The Boomerang Clue [aka Why Didn't they Ask Evans?] (2/21/21)

4. Mr. Parker Pyne, Detective [aka Parker Pyne Investigates] (3/8/21)

5. Murder in 3 Acts [aka Three Act Tragedy] (3/25/21)

6. Death in the Clouds (3/31/21)

Agatha Christie 2

1. Evil Under the Sun (8/10/21)

2. Funerals Are Fatal [After the Funeral] (8/14/21)

3. The Patriotic Murders [One, Two, Buckle My Shoe] (8/17/21)

4. Cards on the Table (8/22/21)

5. Dumb Witness (9/9/21)

6. The Regatta Mystery (9/13/21)

Claude Izner [carried over from 2020] (complete)

1. Murder on the Eiffel Tower (10/14/20)

2. The Disappearance at Pere-Lachaise (11/2/20)

3. The Montmartre Investigation (5/17/21)

4. The Marais Assassin (6/17/21)

5. The Predator of Batignolles (6/30/21)

6. Strangled in Paris (7/13/21)

Frances & Richard Lockridge (complete)

1. Murder by the Book (5/5/21)

2. Accent on Murder (5/6/21)

3. With One Stone (5/7/21)

4. Preach No More (5/1/21)

5. Think of Death (5/23/21)

6. The Judge Is Reversed (6/10/21)

Frances & Richard Lockridge #2

1. Practise to Deceive (9/13/21)

2. Burnt Offering (10/13/21)

3. Show Red for Danger (10/17/21) 

4. First Come, First Kill (10/19/21)

5. The Distant Clue (10/19/21)

6. Murder Can't Wait (10/26/21)

Anne Perry (complete)

1. The Cater Street Hangman (7/23/21)

2. Callander Square (7/25/21)

3. Paragon Walk (8/1/21)

4. Resurrection Row (8/4/21)

5. Rutland Place (8/5/21)

6. Bluegate Fields (8/6/21)

Charles Finch

1. A Beautiful Blue Death (8/12/21)

2. The September Society (8/21/21)

3. The Fleet Street Murders (8/26/21)

4. A Stranger in Mayfair (9/2/21)

5. A Burial at Sea (9/10/21)

6. A Death in the Small Hours (9/30/21)

Lee Strauss

1. Murder at Bray Manor (2/21/21)

2. Murder on the S. S. Rosa (10/27/21)

3. Murder at Hartigan House (10/30/21)

4. Murder at Feathers & Flair (11/24/21)

5. Murder at the Mortuary (12/6/21)

6. Murder at Kensington Gardens (12/18/21)

Carolyn Keene

1. The Spider Sapphire Mystery (10/17/21)

2. The Hidden Staircase (10/27/21)

3. The Bungalow Mystery (10/28/21)

4. The Secret at Shadow Ranch (10/30/21)

5. The Mystery at Lilac Inn (10/31/2)

6. The Secret of Red Gate Farm (11/2/21)

2021 Medical Examiner Mystery Reading Challenge

 

Once again Rick at the Rick Mills Project will be offering up the Medical Examiner Mystery Reading Challenge as well as the Six Shooter Challenge. I, having no self-control when it comes to challenges--especially mystery-related challenges, will--of course--sign up for both. He's got them both on deck for 2020 (as well as an all-new Beachcomber Challenge), so here I go again....For full details, check out the link above. Basically, just read mysteries and log the murder methods on his handy form. Compete for prizes!

Rick doesn't require a sign-up post, but in order to claim this one as complete on my own personal challenge tally sheet, I must submit at least 20 death certificate reports. With the number of mysteries I read per year, this shouldn't be too difficult.

1. And Then Put Out the Light by E. C. R. Lorac (12/25/20) Deaths = 4 (two electrocuted; one poisoned/gassed; one drowned)

2. The Clue of the Runaway Blonde/The Clue of the Hungry Horse by Erle Stanley Gardner (12/28/20) Deaths = 2 (one stabbed; one hit on head)

3. The Crimes of Dr. Watson by Duane Swierczynski (12/29/20) Deaths = 1 (burned in fire)

4. Who's Killing the Great Writers of America? by Robert Kaplow (12/31/20) Deaths = 2 (shot)

5. Princess Elizabeth's Spy by Susan Elia MacNeal (1/2/21) Deaths = 3 (one shot; one beheaded; one drowned)

6. Death of a Millionaire by G.D.H. & Margaret Cole (1/4/21) Deaths = (one that is a spoiler to reveal)

7. Crimson Snow by Martin Edwards [ed] (1/12/21) Deaths = 10 (four shot; one drowned; one stabbed; one strangled; one fell from height; one poisoned; one natural)

8. Sidney Chambers & the Shadow of Death by James Runcie (1/14/21) Deaths = 5 (one shot; two "natural" [possibly helped along--but not proven]; one strangles; one stabbed)

9. The Floating Admiral by The Detection Club (1/17/21) Deaths = 3 (two stabbed; one natural)

10. Death & the Dutch Uncle by Patricia Moyes (1/18/21) Deaths = 3 (one shot; one hit by vehicle; one poisoned) 

11. When Maidens Mourn by C. S. Harris (1/20/21) Deaths = 5 (three shot; one stabbed; one hit on head)

12. Mr. President, Private Eye by Martin H. Greenberg & Francis M. Nevins, Jr. [eds] (1/22/21) Deaths = 15 (three shot; two hit on head; four stabbed; one drowned; one neck broken; one eaten by piranha; two poisoned; one natural)

13. Dead as a Dodo by Jane Langton (1/24/21) Deaths = 5 (two fell from height; one stabbed; one shot; one hung)

14. Hallowed Murder by Ellen Hart (1/26/21) Deaths = 3 (one drowned; one frozen to death; one heart attack)

15. Raffles [The Amateur Cracksman] by E. W. Hornung (1/28/21) Deaths = 5 (one hit with poker; one stabbed; one shot; one poisoned; one fell from height)

16. Murder in the Calais Coach [aka Murder on the Orient Express] (1/30/21) Deaths = 4 (one shot; one natural [died in childbirth]; one fell from height; one stabbed)

17. The Double-Jack Murders by Patrick McManus (2/2/21) Deaths = 3 (shot)

18. Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz (2/4/21) Deaths = 10 (one drowned; two fell from height; three stabbed; one natural; three poisoned)

19. The Listerdale Mystery by Agatha Christie (2/7/21) Deaths = 6 (one hit on head; one natural; two poisoned; one fell from height; one stabbed)

20. The Cannibal Who Overate by Hugh Pentecost (2/14/21) Deaths = 4 (one hanged; one shot; one natural; one stabbed)

Commitment Complete!

21. The Talisman Ring by Georgette Heyer (2/19/21) Deaths = one shot

22. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John Le Carre (2/20/21) Deaths = one neck broken

23. Murder at Bray Manor by Lee Strauss (2/21/21) Deaths = one stabbed

24. The Boomerang Clue (Why Didn't They Ask Evans?) by Agatha Christie (2/21/21) Deaths = 3 (one poisoned; one fell from height/shoved off cliff; one shot)

25. Uncle Silas by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu (2/22/21) Deaths = 4 (one natural; one stabbed/throat cut; one hit with hammer; one poisoned/overdose)

26. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier (2/24/21) Deaths = one shot

27. Dracula by Bram Stoker (adapted by Naunerle Farr) [3/2/21] Deaths = 2 (stabbed with sharp instrument--vampire teeth; then stake to the heart and knife to cut off head and give a final death to the undead vampires)

28. Dead, Man, Dead by David Alexander (3/7/21) Deaths = 3 shot

29. Mr. Parker Pyne, Detective (aka Parker Pyne Investigates) by Agatha Christie (3/8/21) Deaths = 4 (one stabbed; two poisoned; one fell from height)

30. 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) Deaths = 13 (one natural; two hit on head; two hanged; two drowned; two shot; two poisoned; two stabbed)

31. Blue Octavo by John Blackburn (3/12/21) Deaths = 6 (one hanged; one drowned; one burned to death; two fell from height; one natural)

32. The Coconut Killings by Patricia Moyes (3/22/21) Deaths = 2 stabbed/slashed with machete

33. Murder in 3 Acts by Agatha Christie (3/25/21) Deaths = 3 poisoned

34. Final Notice by Jo Dereske (3/27/21) Deaths = one stabbed

35. Money in the Morgue by Ngaio Marsh & Stella Duffy (3/29/21) Deaths = one smothered

36. Death in the Clouds by Agatha Christie (3/31/21) Deaths = 2 poisoned

37. The Devil & the Dark Water by Stuart Turton (4/1/21) Deaths = 7 (five stabbed; one beaten; one burned)

38. The Lazarus Tree by Robert Richardson (4/2/21) Deaths = 2 (one stabbed; one poisoned [overdose])

39. Gently in the Sun by Alan Hunter (4/5/21) Deaths = 3 (two strangled; one boat exploded)

40. Mr. Smith's Hat by Helen Reilly (4/7/21) Deaths = 3 (one hit on head; two stabbed)

41. Murder Goes to College by Kurt Steel (4/8/21) Deaths = 2 shot

42. Death of a Busybody by George Bellairs (4/10/21) Deaths = 2 (one drowned; one shot)

43. What Darkness Brings by C. S. Harris (4/11/21) Deaths =12 (one poisoned; five shot; two stabbed; one hit on head; two drowned; one fell from height)

44. Why Kings Confess by C. S. Harris (4/12/21) Deaths = 11 (four stabbed; three natural; two beaten/hit on head; one blown up; one fell from height)

45. One Murdered: Two Dead by Milton Propper (4/14/21) Deaths = 2 (one stabbed; one natural)

46. Who Killed Stella Pomeroy? by Sir Basil Thomson (4/16/21) Deaths = 3 (one hit on head; two natural)

47. Murder in the Bookshop by Carolyn Wells (4/17/21) Deaths = 3 [total for book; 2 in main story; 1 in short story] (one stabbed; one suffocated; one shot)

48. An Ad for Murder by John Penn (4/18/21) Deaths = 3 (one explosion; one poisoned; one fell from height)

49. Murdock's Acid Test by George Harmon Coxe (4/19/21) Deaths = 3 (two shot; one stabbed)

50. The African Poison Murders by Elspeth Huxley (4/21/21) Deaths = 4 (one stabbed; one poisoned; one burned to death; one shot) [includes one red setter dog named Rhode]

51. The Documents in the Case by Dorothy L. Sayers & Robert Eustace (4/24/21) Deaths= 2 (one poisoned; one hung)

52. Smooth Justice by Michael Underwood (4/25/21) Deaths = one hit on head

53. The Ivory Snuff Box by Arnold Fredericks (4/27/21) Deaths = one stabbed

54. The Egyptian Cross Mystery by Ellery Queen (4/29/21) Deaths = four hit on head (beheaded after death)

55. Fire in the Thatch by E. C. R. Lorac (4/30/2) Deaths = 3 (one hit on head; one auto crash; one shot)

56. Look Behind You, Lady by A. S. Fleischman (5/1/21) Deaths = 5 (one stabbed; one auto crash; one shot; two blown up)

57. The Sands of Windee by Arthur W. Upfield (5/3/21) Deaths = 2 (one shot; one snake bite)

58. The Venetian Blonde by A. S. Fleischman (5/3/21) Deaths = 5 (one hit on head; one stabbed; one heart attack; one drowned; one shot)

59. Murder by the Book by Frances & Richard Lockridge (5/5/21) Deaths = 3 (one stabbed; one poisoned; one natural)

60. Accent on Murder by Frances & Richard Lockridge (5/7/21) Deaths = 3 (two shot; one explosion)

61. With One Stone by Frances & Richard Lockridge (5/7/21) Deaths = 3 (two hit on head; one shot)

62. Preach No More by Richard Lockridge (5/9/21) Deaths = 2 (one stabbed; one smothered)

63. The Z Murders by J. Jefferson Farjeon (5/9/21) Deaths = 3 shot (actually five shot--but I don't think "the Countryman" and "the Man With No Arms" counts as names; also Ledlow dies, but we're not told exactly how)

64. The Haunted Attic by Judy Bolton (5/10/21) Deaths = 3 (one shot; one car accident; one natural)

65. Innocent Blood by P. D. James (5/12/21) Deaths = 3 (one strangled; one natural; one overdose)

66. The Clue of the New Pin by Edgar Wallace (5/15/21) Deaths = 3 (two shot; one stabbed)

67. I'll Kill You Next! by Adam Knight [Lawrence Lariar] (5/16/21) Deaths = 2 (one drowned; one exposure to the cold)

68. The Montmartre Investigation by Claude Izner (5/17/21) Deaths = 5 (one stabbed; three strangled; one mauled by lion)

69. Theoretically Dead by Tinker Marks (5/19/21) Deaths = 2 hit on head

70. Think of Death by Frances & Richard Lockridge (5/23/21) Deaths = 2 hit on head

71. Who Buries the Dead by C. S. Harris (5/25/21) Deaths = 6 (two stabbed; one hit on head; two shot; one drowned)

72. Murder in Mesopotamia by Agatha Christie (5/27/21) Deaths = 2 (one hit on head; one poisoned)

73. The Black Thumb by Constance & Gwenyth Little (5/30/21) Deaths = 2 axed to death

74. The Ultraviolet Widow by Frances Crane (5/31/21) Deaths = 1 pushed into well

75. Hunt the Tortoise by E. X. [Elizabeth] Ferrars (6/6/21) Deaths = 4 (one stabbed; three shot)

76. A Silver Spade by Louisa Revell (6/9/21) Deaths = 5 (one shot; two poisoned; one stabbed; one hit on head)

77. The Judge Is Reversed by Frances & Richard Lockridge (6/10/21) Deaths = 3 (one hit on head; one strangled; one pushed down stairs)

78. The Curious Custard Pie by Margaret Scherf (6/11/21) Deaths = 2 (poisoned)

79. Murder by the Book: The Crime That Shocked Dickens's London (6/12/21) Deaths = 6 (two throat cut; one pushed down well; one crushed to death; two hanged)

80. The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: Murder at Sorrow's Crown by Steven Savile & Robert Greenberger (6/14/21) Deaths = 5 (two poisoned; one stabbed; one suffocated; one shot)

81. A Tasty Way to Die by Janet Laurence (6/15/21) Deaths = 2 poisoned

82. When Falcons Fall by C. S. Harris (6/15/21) Deaths = 13 (one poisoned; one shot; two fell from height; one drowned; two natural; two accident; two hit on head; two stabbed)

83. Where the Dead Lie by C. S. Harris (6/16/21) Deaths = 12 (four strangled; seven stabbed; one fell from height)

84. The Marais Assassin by Claude Izner (6/17/21) Deaths = 6 (four shot; two fell from height)

85. The Bitter Path of Death by Pierre Audemars (6/18/21) Deaths =2 stabbed

86. Dragon's Cave by Clyde B. Clason (6/21/21) Deaths = 3 (two stabbed; one poisoned)

87. Why Kill the Innocent by C. S. Harris (6/22/21) Deaths =6 (one hit on head; three stabbed; one shot; one drowned)

88. Mrs. Jeffries on the Ball by Emily Brightwell (6/24/21) Deaths = 3 (one stabbed; one hit by train; one natural)

89. The Youth Hostel Murders by Glyn Carr (6/28/21) Deaths = 3 (hit on head)

90. The Predator of Batignolles by Claude Izner (6/30/21) Deaths = 5 (two stabbed; one burned to death; one gassed; one shot)

91. Who Slays the Wicked by C. S. Harris (6/30/21) Deaths = 11 (five stabbed; one drowned; one hit on head; three shot; one strangled)

92. Road Rage by Ruth Rendell (7/2/21) Deaths = 3 (one strangled; one fell from height; one shot)

93. The Conjure-Man Dies by Rudolph Fisher (7/3/21) Deaths = 2 (one suffocated; one shot)

94. The Bride of Newgate by John Dickson Carr (7/3/21) Deaths = 4 (one stabbed; one fell from height; two natural)

95. Murder in a Hurry by Frances & Richard Lockridge (7/4/21) Deaths = 2 (one poisoned; one strangled)

96. Giant Mystery Reader by Various (7/4/21) Total Deaths (for shorter works) =  23 (seven shot; eleven hit on head; one axed; four stabbed)

97. Murder Underground by Mavis Doriel Hay (7/5/21) Deaths = two strangled (one a dog named Dido--which provides a vital clue)

98. After the Armistice Ball by Catriona McPherson (7/6/21) Deaths = two fell from height

99. Two-Way Murder by E. C. R. Lorac (7/9/21) Deaths = 2 (one hit on head; one stabbed)

100. The Red Right Hand by Joel Townsley Rogers (7/10/21) Deaths = 5 (one strangled; two hit on head; one run over; one stabbed)

101. The Illusion of Murder by Carol McCleary (7/11/21) Deaths = 5 (one stabbed; four shot)

102. Cats Don't Smile by D. B. Olsen [Dolores Hitchens (7/11/21) Deaths = 5 (two strangled; one stabbed [cat named Silver--important to plot]; one shot; one natural)

103. Who Speaks for the Damned by C. S. Harris (7/12/21) Deaths = 10 (six stabbed; one drowned; two shot; one strangled)

104. Strangled in Paris by Claude Izner (7/13/21) Deaths = 5 (one strangled; three hit on head; one natural)

105. Murder Draws a Line by Willetta Ann Barber & R. F. Schabelitz (7/15/21) Deaths = 4 (one stabbed; two shot; one fell from height)

106. Murder at Teatime by Cynthia Manson [ed] (7/16/21) Deaths = 13 (two poisoned; four hit on head; two strangled; three natural; one neck broken--by a blow; one fell from height)

107. Stone Cold Blonde by Adam Knight (7/17/21) Deaths = 3 (one stabbed; two hit on head)

108. Naked Came the Manatee by Carl Hiassen, Dave Barry, et. al (7/17/21) Deaths = 6 (one strangled; one blown up; one choked to death; two shot; one killed by boat propellers)

109. Quaker Witness by Irene Allen (7/19/21) Deaths = one poisoned

110. The Kennel Murder Case by S. S. Van Dine (7/20/21) Deaths = 4 (2 stabbed; one attacked by dog; one shot [dog named Ruprecht--important to plot])

111. No Medals for the Major by Margaret Yorke (7/20/21) Deaths = 2 (one run over; one shot)

112. The Perfect Crime (aka The Big Bow Mystery) by Israel Zangwill [with "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" by Edgar Allan Poe] (7/21/21) Deaths = 4 (two stabbed; one shot; one strangled) 

112. What the Devil Knows by C. S. Harris (7/22/21) Deaths = 24 (ten head bashed & throat cut; one hanged; five stabbed; two strangled; one fell from height; two drowned; two shot; one hit with flotsam from the brewery flood) [Harris's books are always pretty death-ridden, but this one was a regular blood-bath. It includes all of the deaths related to the original Ratcliffe Highway murders which are detailed in the story.]

113. The Cater Street Hangman by Anne Perry (7/23/21) Deaths = 5 strangled

114. Great French Detective Stories by T. J. Hale [ed] (7/25/21) Deaths = 19 (nine stabbed; one natural; three shot; three poisoned; one hit by taxi; two hanged)

115. Callander Square by Anne Perry (7/25/21) Deaths = 7 (three stabbed; three strangled; one poisoned)

116. The Portcullis Room by Valentine Williams (7/27/21) Deaths = 3 (two stabbed; one drowned)

117. The Basle Express by Manning Coles (7/28/21) Deaths = 5 (two shot [Edouard Bastien; Herr Eisenschmidt]; one stabbed [Gregor--Russian bodyguard]; two fell from height [Duble; Medeski])

118. The Mystery of a Hansom Cab by Fergus Hume (7/29/21) Deaths = 6 (one poisoned; one fell from height; three natural; one hanged)

119. Drink to Yesterday by Manning Coles (7/30/21) Deaths = 6 (five shot [Michael, Elsa, Marie, Knirim, von Bodenheim]; one stabbed)

120. Lord Mullion's Secret by Michael Innes (7/30/21) Deaths = one natural

121. The Graveyard Rolls (aka Moonlight Flitting) by Maurice Procter (7/31/21) Deaths = 2 (one struck with ax; one hit by car)

122. Paragon Walk by Anne Perry (8/1/21) Deaths = 3 (two stabbed; one hanged)

123. Henrietta Who? by Catherine Aird (8/2/21) Deaths = 5 (two run over; three shot)

124. The Secret of Skeleton Island by Robert Arthur (8/3/21) Deaths = one electrocuted

125. Resurrection Row by Anne Perry (8/4/21) Deaths = 5 (three natural; one run over by cart; one strangled)

126. Sleight of Crime by Cedric E. Clute & Nicholas Lewin [eds] (8/4/21) Deaths = 11 (four stabbed; three strangled; one natural; three shot)

127. The Sound of Insects by Mildred Davis (8/5/21) Deaths = 3 (one stabbed; one poison/gas; one natural/cancer)

128. Rutland Place by Anne Perry (8/5/21) Deaths = 2 (one poisoned; one run over by cart)

129. Bluegate Fields by Anne Perry (8/6/21) Deaths = 3 (one drowned; one strangled; one shot)

130. The House on Vesper Sands by Paraic O'Donnell (8/8/21) Deaths = 14 (two fell from height; one strangled; one hit on head; one hit by train; one hanged; seven poisoned; one drowned)

131. Evil Under the Sun by Agatha Christie (8/10/21) Deaths = 3 (two strangled; one poisoned--mentioned in passing, but named)

132. A Beautiful Blue Death by Charles Finch (8/12/21) Deaths = 6 (one poisoned; one shot; one natural; one stabbed; two drowned)

133. Funerals Are Fatal (After the Funeral) by Agatha Christie (8/14/21) Deaths = 3 (two natural; one cut with axe)

134. The Patriotic Murders (One, Two, Buckle My Shoe) by Agatha Christie (8/17/21) Deaths = 3 (one shot; two poisoned)

135. Death in Daylesford by Kerry Greenwood (8/20/21) Deaths = 5 (one drowned; one hit with large pole; one fell from train; two poisoned)

136. The September Society by Charles Finch (8/21/21) Deaths = 6 (three shot; one poisoned [cat named Longshanks]; one strangled; one hit on head)

137. Hang the Little Man by John Creasey (8/22/21) Deaths = 8 (one hit on head; one natural; two stabbed; one suffocated; three hanged)

138. Cards on the Table by Agatha Christie (8/22/21) Deaths = 7 (one stabbed; four poisoned; one shot; one drowned)

139. The Body of a Girl by Michael Gilbert (8/25/21) Deaths = 9 (one buried alive; one strangled; one poisoned; one natural; three shot; two run over)

140. The Fleet Street Murders by Charles Finch (8/26/21) Deaths = 5 (one stabbed; two shot; one hanged; one natural)

141. Add a Pinch of Cyanide by Emma Page (8/27/21) Deaths = 2 (one poisoned; one fell from ladder)

142. The Private Face of Murder by John & Emery Bonett (8/29/21) Deaths = 2 (one car accident; one crushed by falling rocks)

143. Appleby's Other Story by Michael Innes (8/31/21) Deaths = 2 (one shot; one fell from height)

144. A Stranger in Mayfair by Charles Finch (9/2/21) Deaths = one hit on head

145. The Appeal by Janice Hallett (9/3/21) Deaths = one fell from height

146. The River & the Rose by Sandra Abbott (9/4/21) Deaths = 5 (one hit by train; one shot; one stabbed; one killed in fire; one hit by chandelier)

147. The House of Care by W. J. Burley (9/6/21) Deaths = 4 (two fell from height; one car accident; one hanged)

148. Dumb Witness by Agatha Christie (9/9/21) Deaths = two poisoned

149 Burial at Sea by Charles Finch (9/10/21) Deaths = 8 (two stabbed; three strangled/hanged; two drowned; one fell from height)

150. The Lake Frome Monster by Arthur W. Upfield (9/11/21) Deaths = two shot

151. Practise to Deceive by Frances & Richard Lockridge (9/13/21) Deaths = 2 (one stabbed; one drowned)

152. The Regatta Mystery by Agatha Christie (9/13/21) Deaths = 6 (two stabbed; two poisoned; one shot; one natural)

153. Dead Woman's Ditch by Simon Nash [Raymond Chapman] (9/15/21) Deaths = 2 (one stabbed; one strangled)

154. Dolls Are Deadly by Brett Halliday (9/16/21) Deaths = 3 (one shot; one run over; one stabbed)

155. The Witch of the Low Tide by John Dickson Carr (9/18/21) Deaths = 2 (one strangled; one shot)

156. DeKok & Variations on Murder by A. C. Baantjer (9/21/21) Deaths = 5 (two strangled; two shot; one natural)

157. The Locked Room by Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö (9/23/21) Deaths = 2 shot

158. Many Deadly Returns by Patricia Moyes (9/25/21) Deaths = 2 (one "natural" [induced allergic reaction]; one auto accident)

159. Murder at Archly Manor by Sara Rosett (9/29/21) Deaths = one fell from height

160. Death in the Small Hours by Charles Finch (9/30/21) Deaths = 3 (one fell from height; one stabbed; one shot)

161. Seven Dead by J. Jefferson Farjeon (10/2/21) Deaths = 12 (seven gassed; one plane crash; one stabbed; one natural; one shot; one drowned)

162. Mister Splitfoot by Helen McCloy (10/4/21) Deaths = 4 (two stabbed; two car crash)

163. The Five Assassins by Owen Fox Jerome (10/6/21) Deaths = 3 poisoned

164. Three Thirds of a Ghost by Timothy Fuller (10/7/21) Deaths = 3 shot

165. Watson's Last Case by Ian Charnock (10/8/21) Deaths = 4 (one natural; one shot; one beaten to death; one stabbed)

166. Serpents in Eden by Martin Edwards [ed] (10/11/21) Deaths = 8 (two natural [one an induced heart attack from intense heat]; two shot; one strangled; one drowned; one poisoned; one stabbed)

167. Burnt Offering by Frances & Richard Lockridge (10/13/21) Deaths = one shot

168. Show Red for Danger by Frances & Richard Lockridge (10/17/21) Deaths = 3 (two shot; one drug overdose)

169. First Come, First Kill by Frances & Richard Lockridge (10/19/21) Deaths = 2 shot

170. The Distant Clue by Frances & Richard Lockridge (10/19/21) Deaths = 6 (two shot; one smothered; two car accident; one fell from height)

171. The Arsenal Stadium Mystery by Leonard Gribble (10/22/21) Deaths = 2 (one poisoned; one drowned)

172. Death in the Tunnel by Miles Burton (10/26/21) Deaths = 3 (one shot; two hanged)

173. Murder Can't Wait by Richard Lockridge (10/26/21) Deaths = 2 (one shot; one poisoned)

174. Murder on the S. S. Rosa by Lee Strauss (10/27/21) Deaths = one drowned (in pickle juice)

175. Blood on the Dining-Room Floor by Gertrude Stein (10/29/21) Deaths = one fell from height

176. Murder at Hartigan House by Lee Strauss (10/30/21) Deaths = 3 (one strangled; one fell from height; one poisoned)

177. The Secret at Shadow Ranch by Carolyn Keene (10/30/21) Deaths = one auto accident

178. Dying Fall by Judith Cutler (11/3/21) Deaths = 4 (one stabbed; one hit on head; one explosion; one fell from height)

179. Death Among the Stars by Kenneth Giles (11/7/21) Deaths = 4 (one strangled; one run over by train; one natural; one stabbed)

180. The American Gun Mystery by Ellery Queen (11/10/21) Deaths = 3 shot

181. Death of an Obnoxious Tourist by Maria Hudgins (11/19/21) Deaths = 2 (one stabbed; one fell from height)

182. Death in High Heels by Christianna Brand (11/23/21) Deaths = one poisoned

183. Murder at Feathers & Flair by Lee Strauss (11/24/21) Deaths = two neck broken

184. Spence & the Holiday Murders by Michael Allen (11/27/21) Deaths = 2 (one hit on head; one drug overdose)

185. Murder under the Mistletoe by Jennifer Jordan (11/27/21) Deaths = one poisoned

186. Silent Nights by Martin Edwards [ed] (12/1/21) Deaths = 10 (one fell from height; two stabbed; one shot; one accident; one natural; one poisoned; one hit on head; two suffocated)

187. The Christmas Card Crime & Other Stories by Martin Edwards [ed] (12/5/21) Deaths = 9 (four stabbed; one hanged; two shot; two accident)

188. Murder at the Mortuary by Lee Strauss (12/6/21) Deaths = 4 shot

189. Still Life with Murder by P. B. Ryan (12/9/21) Deaths = 3 (one stabbed; one shot; one poisoned)

190. The Odor of Violets by Baynard Kendrick (12/11/21) Deaths = 7 (one hit on head; five suffocated; one decapitated)

191. A Surprise for Christmas by Martin Edwards [ed] (12/16/21) Deaths = 10 (one drowned; one electrocuted; two stabbed; three shot; one killed in explosion; one hit by car; one neck broken)

192. Murder in the French Room by Helen Joan Hultman (12/18/21) Deaths = 2 (one stabbed; one carbon monoxide poisoning)

193. Murder at Kensington Gardens by Lee Strauss (12/18/21) Deaths = 3 poisoned

194. The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman (12/20/21) Deaths = 6 shot

 

2021 Monthly Key Word Challenge: My Sign-Up

 

I'm back for another round of the Monthly Key Word Challenge, hosted by Kim and Tanya at Girlxoxo. I encourage you to join us as we read books for the monthly prompts (image above). Just click the link to head to her page.

January: Princess Elizabeth's Spy by Susan Ella MacNeal (1/2/21)

February: The Cannibal Who Overate by Hugh Pentecost (2/14/21)

March: 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)

April: Gently in the Sun by Alan Hunter (4/5/21)

May: Murder by the Book by Frances & Richard Lockridge (5/5/21)

June: The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: Murder at Sorrow's Crown by Steven Savile & Robert Greenberger (6/14/21)

July: Road Rage by Ruth Rendell (7/2/21)

July: Murder Underground by Mavis Doriel Hay (7/5/21)

July: Trixie Belden & the Mystery Off Glen Road by Julie Campbell (7/5/21)

August: The Secret of Skeleton Island by Robert Arthur (8/3/21)

September: The House of Care by W. J. Burley (9/6/21)

October: Three Thirds of a Ghost by Timothy Fuller (10/7/21)

November: Death Among the Stars by Kenneth Giles (11/7/21)

December: Still Life With Murder by P. B. Ryan (12/9/21)

The Disappearance at Père-Lachaise

 The Disappearance at Père-Lachaise (2003) by Claude Izner (Liliane & Laurence Korb/Lefevre)

This is the second in the French historical mystery series featuring bookseller Victor Legris as an amateur detective. He is pulled into another investigation when Denise, the maid of his ex-lover, comes to him, frightened out of her wits and begging for help. Her mistress, Odette de Valois has disappeared from the  Père-Lachaise cemetery. Denise had accompanied Madame de Valois to the tomb of her husband Armand de Valois. The widow had been instructed via a spiritualist's communication to bring certain items to tomb in order to allow her husband's spirit to rest. She instructs her maid to wait for her outside and Denise walks around for a bit. When she returns, there is no sign of her mistress except for a scarf. The gatekeeper insists that the two women must have missed each other and tells Denise to go on home where she's sure to find Madame. 

But she doesn't. All alone in the house, she barricades herself in her room--which proves to be a wise move when someone comes into the house and tries to get in...unsuccessfully. As early as possible, she heads for the only person she knows in Paris, Odette's former lover Victor Legris. He doesn't think things are as serious as the maid would have him believe, but he does agree to investigate because he can see that she is truly terrified. When Denise winds up dead, he is sorry he didn't take her more seriously and he and his shop assistant begin investigating in earnest. They will find a trail of murder that leads all the back to the isthmus of Panama where a new canal is being dug.

Okay...can I just say that I hope Victor gets more interesting as an amateur detective in the next book because I have four more of this series sitting on my TBR shelves and up till now he's just not doing it for me. A bookseller amateur detective in turn-of-the-century (19th to 20th, that is) Paris sounded like a good idea at the time. But if you're going to write a whole series about a guy as an amateur detective, it would be nice if the reader really wanted to read about that guy doing the investigating. As I mentioned in my review of the first book, I'm much more impressed with Joseph, the assistant. He's much more enthusiastic about mysteries and, again, if Victor would share all the information with him, I'm quite sure he could run rings around Victor as a sleuth. And Victor is quite frankly too hung up on his personal relationships. Last book's primary emotions was suspicion--suspecting both his latest love, beautiful artist Tasha, and his mentor in turn as the murderer. This time around he's focused on jealousy. He's jealous of the other artists and, really, anyone who gets a minute of Tasha's time. 

As with the last book, the mystery itself is an interesting one and the characters involved are well-drawn. Père Moscou is a particularly interesting man with his intermittent bouts of believing he's still in Napoleon's army. He also helps keep the investigators on their toes (without really meaning to). The clues are a little less evident in retrospect, but there are still a number of good pointers for those who are alert. ★★★ all for plot--none for Victor.

First line: They had finally reached Las Juntas after a difficult descent through forests dripping with humidity.

Last line: You saved Victor's life and for that you deserve a kiss and my eternal gratitude.

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Deaths = 6 (three hit on head; one fell from height; one stabbed; one natural causes)

The Nine Tailors

 The Nine Tailors (1934) by Dorothy L. Sayers.

This is going to be a far more informal review than usual. If you'd like more detail on the story itself, please see my previous reviews linked below. I was quite surprised when I decided to read this for the 52 Book Club Reading Challenge's "Mensa Reading list grades 9-12" prompt (having tried JFK's Profiles in Courage and just not being able to get through it)...as I said, I was quite surprised to find that I had not used The Nine Tailors previously for my very own Mount TBR Challenge. So, I'm very excited that I can count this for more challenges than expected. 

I will say that this is a brand new edition for me (reading-wise)--previous reviews (found HERE, HERE, and HERE) were from the World War II-era Pocket book edition and from listening to the audiobook. I was delighted to find that this newer Harcourt Brace Jovanovich copy has maps of both the church and the town and country around it. I always like it when mysteries offer up maps to help the reader orient themselves to the countryside or the floorplan of the vital building in the plot. 

As always, it was great fun to visit once again with Lord Peter and Bunter.  I was struck this time by how much I like the Rector, Mr. Venables as well as Hezekiah Lavender, the elder statesman of bell ringers in Fenchurch St. Paul. And Sayers writing is always a joy to read. It was a bit poignant to visit with them in this book where the influenza is playing such a huge role--though not quite as much as watching the filmed version where Bunter actually helps get Will Thoday home when he stumbles into the Wheatsheaf looking like death warmed over. One wants to warn Bunter to put his scarf over his face. ★★★★

First line: "That's torn it!" said Lord Peter Wimsey.

Last Line: "I'll wish you good-morning, gentlemen," he said, and went out.

November Calendar of Crime Reviews

 

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November Virtual Mount TBR Reviews

 

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November Vintage Mystery Extravaganza Reviews

 

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Foot in the Grave

 Foot in the Grave (1972) by E. X. Ferrars

Christine Findon likes her quiet little home life with her husband Henry. She's not much of a people person and definitely doesn't like them in large quantities. So, when she finds herself with a houseful of people one weekend, she already feels out of sorts. Like maybe she was suffering from an overdose of the human race. In a very short time period, her house had filled up with one cook/housekeeper that she really didn't need; her rather precocious young nephew and niece; their au pair; the prodigal son of the cook/housekeeper; her brother-in-law; and one of Christine's oldest friends who is visiting in order to give a talk on antique shoes. 

Things definitely start out weird when Christine goes upstairs after breakfast and meets a strange man coming downstairs.

As she went, she wondered if she might be going mad. She could usually recognize the people whom she met in her own home, or at least account for their presence there.

Of course, the man winds up being the prodigal son of their prodigal cook/housekeeper. Mrs. Heacham had originally been the cook/housekeeper for Christine's father when he was alive. When the Christine's father died, Mrs. Heacham had gone to Canada for several years and had just recently come back to England. Somehow it was assumed that she would just take up where she left off and work for Christine. Next, Vivienne, Christine's friend, arrives and her wearable shoes disappear. Well...not all of them. Just the left shoe from each pair. Anybody in the house could have taken the shoes, but why would they? 

The next morning Christine finds the missing shoes burned and destroyed in the remains of a bonfire (made from leaves the housekeeper's prodigal son Lew had thoughtfully swept up for them). But that isn't the worst thing found destroyed that morning...the body of Mrs. Heacham is found stuffed in a trunk in the storeroom and now they not only have a thief but a murderer amongst them.

The best thing about this one is the characters. Ferrars gives us fully realized, well-drawn characters and fills the house with them (literally). Their interactions with one another make for interesting reading. What keeps this from being a first-rate mystery is the plot itself. I'm just not sold on the motive that results in murder--I might have been if there had been any indications of it. But there weren't. Spoiler in apparent blank space--highlight if curious: At no time are we given any indication that Vivienne has reasons to steal Henry's snuff boxes. No hints that she or her husband have always coveted them or were in need of money. She's supposedly an old friend of Christine's and we've no reason to think she would do anything so despicable. It just pops up at the end. Others on Goodreads give the mystery high marks indeed, so your mileage may vary.  ★★★--just.

Quotes

First line: Christine Findon was going upstairs after breakfast to get sheets from the linen cupboard to make up the bed in the spare room for her friend, Vivien Richmond, who was arriving  that afternoon to spend the weekend with the Findons, when she met a perfectly strange man coming downstairs. 

This happened almost every time he and Christine went out. A week or so before the occasion, Henry was capable of believing that he would enjoy it, and when he was actually in the middle of it he enjoyed it as much as anyone, but in the few hours before it a deep gloom settled on him at the prospect of being torn away from his home. (p. 30)

Last line: It took Christine longer than she had expected to begin to get used to that continuing quiet.

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Deaths = one hit with hammer