Calendar of Crime 2020

I love mysteries, but usually only do one mystery reading challenge a year. This year, I’m going to sign up for a couple more. It may be my year of the mystery.

Calendar of Crime, hosted by Bev at My Reader’s Block, sounds fun.

The goal is to read twelve books, one representing each month. Each month comes with several categories (see chart above) that may be selected to fulfill that month’s reading. To claim a book, it must fit one of the categories for the month you wish to fulfill. Unless otherwise specified, the category is fulfilled within the actual story. for instance, if you are claiming the book for December and want to use “Christmas” as the category, then Christmas must figure in some in the plot. Books do not have to be read during the month for which they qualify.

All participants who complete the challenge will be eligible for an end-of-year prize drawing. There will also be a “My Calendar’s Booked” prize for the challenger who fills their calendar with the most books, so you are encouraged to read more than one category for each month.

The hashtag is #CalendarOfCrime2020.

January

1. Flowers for the Judge by Margery Allingham (word starting with J)

February

1. They All Fall Down by Rachel Howzell Hall (word starting with F)

March

1. Trace Elements by Donna Leon (original publication month)
2. Death in the Family by Tessa Wegert (money/inheritance has major role)

April

1. Left-Handed Death by Richard Hull (takes place in April)

May

1. Malice at the Palace by Rhys Bowen (word starting with M)
2. Bruno, Chief of Police by Martin Walker (other holiday, Victory Day (France))

June

July

1. Lost Hills by Lee Goldberg (takes place in the US)
2. Egg Drop Dead by Vivien Chien (takes place in July)

August

1. Wonton Terror by Vivien Chien (original publication month)
2. Resorting to Murder edited by Martin Edwards (summer holiday setting)

September

1. Crowned and Dangerous by Rhys Bowen (author’s birth month)
2. Sweet Danger by Margery Allingham (word starting with S)

October

1. The Curse of Braeburn Castle by Karen Baugh Menuhin (takes place in this month)
2. Clutch of Constables by Ngaio Marsh (disguise/mistaken identity)

November

1. Police at the Funeral by Margery Allingham (family relationships play a major role)

December

1. The Black Cat Murders by Karen Baugh Menuhin (house party)
2. Doctored Evidence by Donna Leon (word starts with D)