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Topic: Mystery Challenge 2018 Discussion

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mary2029 avatar
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Subject: Mystery Challenge 2018 Discussion
Date Posted: 12/28/2017 1:56 PM ET
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Alice M.J. asked me if I was putting together another challenge for this year. To be honest, I hadn't given it any thought. Involved with packing to move several months last year, I didn't finish the 2017 Challenge, and still have most of the books in my TBR shelves. So the Challenge was kind of a hurry-up job. However, once I set on a theme, it wasn't all that difficult since I've been a fan of musicals since I was in third grade and saw a road company production of My Fair Lady at the DuPont Theater in Wilmington, Delaware.

If you're unsure of how to find a book for a particular category, the easiest way is to do a keyword search, e.g., "corporate ladder." Of course, if you do a keyword search on a given name, it's also going to list books with authors by that name, rather than just characters. Ignore the books that have the given name as the author. Let me know if anyone has any questions or problems.

 

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Alice J. (ASJ) - ,
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Date Posted: 1/1/2018 8:44 AM ET
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Mary do you have any banners for 2018 mystery challenge?

mary2029 avatar
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Date Posted: 1/6/2018 9:31 PM ET
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Read Portrait of a Spy by Daniel Silva for the My Fair Lady category. Suicide bombers have hit Paris and Copenhagen. Gabriel Allon, a retired Israeli intelligence agent and art conservationist is walking in Covent Garden with his wife when he spots a young man that sets of alarm bells in his head. He follows him and is about to take him out when he's prevented by British police officers who see Gabriel as the threat. Once again, he's pulled back into service against his will. He puts together a team to work in conjunction with the CIA to bring down an extremist group that would be successor to al Quaeda. Silva's books are always well plotted and this one is no exception. At jusst over 500 pages it's a surprisingly fast and easy read.

mary2029 avatar
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Date Posted: 1/6/2018 11:16 PM ET
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NOTE: I was unable to find a book that fit the Oklahoma category. Mmy keyword search for "Curly" came up with lots of curly-headed characters, but none named Curly. If you have better luck finding one, fine. Otherwise, feel free to instead read a mystery set in Surrey. There are several of those.

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Date Posted: 1/7/2018 10:19 AM ET
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Mary, have you read the others in this series? Could this one be read as a stand alone?

mary2029 avatar
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Date Posted: 1/7/2018 3:17 PM ET
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Kim, I've read 1 through 5, although not strictly in order. Portrait of a Spy is #11. However, some of the books should be read before others, and this is one of them. It's kind of a sequel to one of Gabriel's previous missions, possibly #5. I actually have some of the earlier ones on my TBR, just wanted to get a start on the Challenge. I suggest these be read in order.

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Date Posted: 1/7/2018 6:45 PM ET
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Thanks, Mary!

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Date Posted: 1/9/2018 1:33 PM ET
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Kim --- In my humble opinion, the Gabriel Allon books do need to be read in order if at all possible.  There is a theme with a wife, girlfriend, marriage, new wife, etc. that probably should be read in order to make any sense.  You must add to this equation, that I am about as anal as they come when it comes to books in order!!! I am quite behind with the series and need to figure out where I left off.

Mary P. --- I just love your "Broadway" contest!!!  Have actually seen every one of those shows live.  Either in New York, the DuPont Theater, the Beverly, Massachusetts theatre in the round and the Alley Theater in Houston, Texas!!  I am trying to talk myself into buying a theatre package here in Tulsa for the travelling shows --- have not decided how that would be doing it alone!!!

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Date Posted: 1/9/2018 1:55 PM ET
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Okay --- has anyone (Jeanne) created any 2018 Mystery Challenge banners????  Putting the pressure on (hee hee).  Love the Historical Mystery Challenge banners!!!

 

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Date Posted: 1/12/2018 2:01 AM ET
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I'm reading Winter House by Carol O'Connell for the Jersey Boys category. It's a fun read. For more see my post in the Happy New Year! What Are You Reading thread. 

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Date Posted: 1/13/2018 8:44 AM ET
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I believe Of Mice and Men has a character named Curley. Never read it......yet.  

Edited.......I forgot this was a mystery challenge. Not a mystery.



Last Edited on: 1/14/18 8:02 AM ET - Total times edited: 1
mary2029 avatar
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Date Posted: 1/14/2018 3:27 AM ET
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Read Pacific Vortex by Clive Cussler for the South Pacific category. Wow! Only halfway through January and I already have a Bronze Medal! Description of the book is in the Happy New Year! What Are You Reading thread.

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Date Posted: 1/15/2018 10:02 PM ET
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Mary M.C. --- I am thinking if you find a book with a character named Curley make it work.  The only other thing I can think of is the musical "Oklahoma"!!!!  Alas, it is not my Challenge, so perhaps I am being fast and loose!!!

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Date Posted: 1/31/2018 12:04 PM ET
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Well, I've finished six books in the basic challenge and so earned a Silver Medal. I have four more books for the basic challenge on my TBR pile, and two titles are on my WL. I'm pretty proud of myself because I didn't get anywhere near this far last year.  A couple of the books I've read have been new to me authors that are outside my usual reading list, a Clive Cussler novel and a cozy mystery. The challenges generally help us to broaden our reading horizons. Sometimes in the past I've discovered new authors that I really enjoy. While that hasn't happened so far this year, I have hopes for some of the authors remaining on my list.