Cheli's 16th Category Challenge in 2024

Hi everyone, this is my 16th annual category challenge.
I've been participating in the Category challenge since 2009 and this year I am going with 9 categories representing the area of the book background. I have a list of the series that I want to catch up on and slotted them into a background.

Last year was a poor reading year for me - I only managed 85 books, due mainly to health issues (31 days in hospital) selling my home, packing up, moving, and then unpacking and putting things away. I think we're finally settled so I'm hoping to get back to my 10+ books per month.

We are planning to get a pool put in the backyard but I don't think, since I won't be doing the digging, that should impact my reading time. However, now that my husband is retiring we will be doing more things together and traveling more so I've got my fingers crossed I'll still be reading a lot.

In 2024 I'll be continuing the following formal challenges:

The 75 Book Challenge is where I can chat about my grandchildren, themes for the day or just anything I feel like as well as BOOKS.

US Presidents Challenge So far I'm still working on FDR, I have made it to World War II but think it might take me as long to finish this era as it took the war to be fought. I'm winding down both the European and moving to the Pacific theater. Being unsure of how long it will take for the Pacific war and 75+ years after, this challenge has been extended for me to 2028 at least.

European Challenge - I still have 2/3 of Europe to explore. Hopefully, a few foreign countries are in my future this year - at least in books.

Miscellaneous monthly challenges that will help me find new things to stretch my reading include the Alpha Kit. I'm looking to the selections at the new Book Club now that I've moved, so I'm sure there will be books for that too.

Then there are also several personal challenges that I will be endeavoring to work on in 2023.
ROOT Challenge is my effort to read 72 books (6 per month at least) off my own shelves! (This includes books on my Nook/Kindle, ER & ARCs I receive for review, and audiobooks that I've downloaded in the past.) Even though I've resolved to reduce the number of ARCs/ERs that I request so that more of the old books have priority, I still managed to acquire 58 books in 2023. (actually less than I expected)

I know that my book acquisitions is out of control... there is no way that I can ever read all the books in my possession in my lifetime, but I will keep trying.

So here we go!

HERE ARE MY CATEGORIES:

Books/Bookshops/Libraries 4/15
Crafts 0/15
Food & Beverage 1/15
Government - Police/PI/IRS 5/15
Historical Fiction/Romance 0/10
Hospitality/Home Improvement 1/15
Mythology 1/12
Book Club Reads 4/8
Small Businesses/Travel 6/15

So my goal is 120 books. Ambitious with everything else in the works, yes, but worth a try.

Here are the series that I want to catchup on which are centered around books

Antique Bookshop Mystery 1

Caught on the Book

Ashton Corners Book Club 3
Blue Ridge Library Mystery 1

Murder Checks Out

Booktown Mystery 2

A Questionable Character
A Controversial Cover

✔A California Bookshop 1

Murder by the Seashore✅

Cambridge Bookshop 2

The Fatal Folio ✅
Madrigals and Mayhem

Cat Latimer Mystery 1

Murder On A Snowy Evening

Dangerous Type Mystery 3
Hunter and Clewe Mystery 1

Murder Checks Out

Library Lover's Mystery 10
Museum of Literature Romance 3
Scottish Bookshop Mystery 1

The Poison Pen

Secret Book and Scone Society 1

The Little Lost Library

Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery 5

There's A Murder Afoot ✅
A Curious Incident ✅
A Three Book Problem
The Game is a Footnote
The Sign of Four Spirits

Survivors' Book Club Mystery 1

Reading Between the Lies

Tourist Trap Mystery 2

Olive You to Death
Murder in a Tourist Town>

Writer for Hire Mystery 3

CRAFTS
One of my other hobbies besides reading is needlework, so books that bring that love out in the characters warms my heart.

Crochet Mystery 9
Embroidery Mystery 5

Thread on Arrival
Cross Stitch Before Dying
Thread End
Wicked Stitch
The Stitching Hour
Better Off Thread

Needlecraft Mysteries 11
Quilting Mysteries 7
Seaside Knitters Mystery 10

Patterns in the Sand
Moon Spinners
A Holiday Yarn
The Wedding Shawl
A Fatal Fleece
Angora Alibi
Murder in Merino
A Finely Knit Murder
Trimmed With Murder
Murder at Lambswool Farm

Yarn Retreat Mystery 9

III. FOOD & BEVERAGE

Culinary cozies are my favorites - recipes and a good story. Great fun!

Catering Hall Mystery 1

Witless Protection Program

Charcuterie Shop Mystery 2
Chef-to-Go Mystery 2
Coffeehouse Mystery 12
Cook-Off Mystery 1

Serving Up Spite

Cupcake Bakery Mystery 12
Death by Chocolate Mystery 1

Death by Chocolate Raspberry Scone

Domestic Diva 1

The Diva Goes Overboard

Farm to Table Mystery 1

Crime and Cherry Pits

Hannah Swensen Mystery 1

Pumpkin Chiffon Pie Murder

Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails Mystery 17
Kitchen Witch Mystery 2

Five Furry Familiars ✅
Six Stunning Sirens

Merry Muffin Mystery 6

Muffin But Murder
Death of an English Muffin
Much Ado About Muffin
Muffin to Fear
Muffin But Trouble
Double or Muffin

Poppy McAllister Mystery 1

Silent Nights Are Murder

Sloan Krause Mystery 2

Beer and Loathing
Ale I Want for Christmas is a Clue

Tea Shop Mysteries 2

Murder in the Tea Leaves
Peach Tea Smash

True Confections Mystery 2

Six Sweets Under
Baking Spirits Bright

Vintage Kitchen Mystery 1

Sieve and Let Die

Whisky Business Mystery 1

In the Still of the Night

IV. Police and Private Detectives

Well, you can't love mysteries without having detectives - public and private.

Armstrong and Oscar Cosy Mystery 5

Murder in Florence✅
Murder in Siena ✅
Murder on the Matterhorn ✅
Murder at the Leaning Tower✅
Murder on the Italian Riviera

Clare Fergusson / Russ Van Alstyne 4

I Shall Not Want
One Was a Soldier
Through the Evil Days)
Hid from Our Eyes

Franki Amato Mysteries 9

Limoncello Yellow ✅
Prosecco Pink
Amaretto Amber
Campari Crimson
Galliano Gold
Marsala Maroon
Valpolicella Violet
Tuaca Tan
Nocino Noir

Commissario Brunetti Mystery 1
Dublin Murder Squad 1
Escape to Tuscany 1
Jeff Resnick 7
Maya and Sandra Mystery 1
Sophie Kimball Mystery 11
Goddess of Greene St. Mystery 1
Tara Holloway 12

V. Historical Fiction/Romance
I love to read books that are set in the past whether they be mysteries or romances.
Can't wait to get to some of these.

Adventurers Quartet 4
Casebook of Barnaby Adair 6
Cavanaugh's 4
Countess of Harleigh Mystery 1
Emily Dickinson Mystery 1
Gaslight Mysteries 22
Gentlewoman's Guide to Murder 1
Gilded Newport Mystery 1
Jane Austen Mysteries 16
Lady Julia Grey 10
Lady Sherlock 4
Maggie Hope 1
Maisie Dobbs 6
Plantagenet and Tudor Novels 13
Rokesbys 4
Veronica Speedwell Mystery 5
Cynsters Next Generation 14
Devil's Brood 3

1. Twenty Years Later - sequel to The Three Musketeers

VI. RENOVATIONS and Hospitality

It's so much fun see renovations used as a backdrop for mysteries.
This category will be used for those books.

Gray Whale Inn Mystery 7
House-Flipper Mystery 1

Four-Alarm Homicide✅

Mountain Lodge Mystery 1
Nailed It Home Reno 4

VII. MYTHOLOGY

I have always had a fascination with mythology so when I originally discovered the books of Rick Riordan, that fascination was rekindled. I haven't been able to get all the books read, but I'll keep trying.

Here are my series for this category:

Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard 3

For Magnus Chase: Hotel Valhalla Guide to the Norse Worlds
The Ship of the Dead
From the Nine Worlds

Nico Di Angelo Adventures 1

The Sun and the Star

Percy Jackson & Kane Chronicles Crossover 3

The Son of Sobek
The Staff of Serapis
The Crown of Ptolemy

Percy Jackson and the Olympians 4

The Sword of Hades ✅
The Singer of Apollo
The Chalice of the Gods
Wrath of the Triple Goddess

Trials of Apollo 2

The Tyrant's Tomb
The Tower of Nero

VIII. BOOK CLUB AND MISCELLANEOUS

Even though I have more than 200 books on my TBR list, I know that there will be times when I will be reading books that are not sitting on my shelves - in essence, they will be shiny new books I couldn't resist, library books, book club selections.

Here is where those undiscovered and undetermined books will be slated.

1. You're Snug with me - gift from a friend.
2. Ballparks: Yesterday & Today - gift from my Mom
3. Winnie-the-Pooh - in memory of rosalita
4. Dead Man's Folly - in memory of rosalita

Many of the series that I read are related to small businesses and travels. This category will be for these:

Amish Matchmaker Mystery 1

1. Dating Can Be Deadly ✅

Aspen Valley 7
Fairy Garden Mystery 1

A Twinkle of Trouble ✅

Hat Shop Mystery 7
Haunted Life cozy Mystery 4

A Medium Fate✅
A Medium Homecoming
A Medium Life
A Medium Gift

Life on Victoria Square 11
Living History Museum Mystery 3

The Final Reveille ✅
The Final Tap ✅
The Final Vow ✅

Magical Menagerie Mystery 1
Meg Langslow 32
Museum Mysteries 4
Victoria Square Mystery 2
Year Round Christmas Mystery 6
Maggie Newberry Mystery 3
Poppy Fields 7

Books read in January, February, and March

1. Murder by the Seashore
2. Murder in Florence
3. You're Snug With Me
4. Limoncello Yellow
5. Murder in Siena
6. There's A Murder Afoot
7. Dating Can Be Deadly
8. a Curious Incident
9. Murder at the Matterhorn
10. Sword of Hades
11. Murder at the Leaning Tower
12. 20 YEARS AFTER
13. Ballparks: Yesterday & Today
14. A Twinkle of Trouble
15. A Medium Fate
16. Dead Man's Folly
17. Winnie-the-Pooh
18. Fatal Folio
19. Final Reveille
20. Four-Alarm Homicide
21. Final Tap
22. Five Furry Familiars
23. Final Vow
24. Medium Homecoming
25. Chalice of the Gods
26. Razing the Dead
27. The Last Hope
28. Three Book Problem
29. I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died
30. Muffin but Murder
31. Death of a Country Fried Redneck
32. The Stolen Crown

Hope you have a great year of reading!

Enjoy your 2024 reading!

Happy reading, Chèli!

Good luck with your 2024 reading!

Good luck with your reading in 2024. I will be popping back in since I love cozy mysteries and I also am reading the Percy Jackson books.

Happy reading in 2024!

The picture in >2 cyderry: looks so cozy, I want to pop right in there and browse and buy some books!

Books read in January, February, and March

1. Murder by the Seashore
2. Murder in Florence
3. You're Snug With Me
4. Limoncello Yellow
5. Murder in Siena
6. There's A Murder Afoot
7. Dating Can Be Deadly
8. a Curious Incident
9. Murder at the Matterhorn
10. Sword of Hades
11. Murder at the Leaning Tower
12. 20 YEARS AFTER
13. Ballparks: Yesterday & Today
14. A Twinkle of Trouble
15. A Medium Fate
16. Dead Man's Folly
17. Winnie-the-Pooh
18. Fatal Folio
19. Final Reveille
20. Four-Alarm Homicide
21. Final Tap
22. Five Furry Familiars
23. Final Vow
24. Medium Homecoming
25. Chalice of the Gods
26. Razing the Dead
27. The Last Hope
28. A Three Book Problem
29. I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died
30. Muffin but Murder
31. Death of a Country Fried Redneck
32. The Stolen Crown

>21 cyderry: how did Pooh Bear get caught in all those mysteries? :grin:

>22 fuzzi: I needed a quick read and I read this one for Julia (rosalita).

I just realized that I haven't posted any reviews to my thread, WOW! How did that happen. I'll have to get on that.

Book #1
Murder by the Seashore
by Samara Yew
Category - Book related
Source - NETGALLEY
Series - California Bookshop Mystery (1)
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit (A/Y), ROOT Challenge, 75 Book Challenge

Scarlett Gardner Has a dream of opening a bookstore at the beach and she thinks her dreams are coming true when she and her boyfriend open Palm Trees and Page Turners. The boyfriend quickly leaves her high and try but Scarlett is determined to keep her dream alive. Not so easy when she finds a dead body near her shop at the beach and she becomes the prime suspect because this stranger left a large sum of money to her in her will. Who is she and how did this happen?

Great start for a new series, interested to see what the future holds for Scarlett.

Book #2
Murder in Florence
by T.A. Williams
Category - Police and Private Detectives
Source - NETGALLEY
Series - Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Mysteries (3)
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit (A/Y), ROOT Challenge, 75 Book Challenge

Dan Armstrong with his buddy, black lab, Oscar have are working to get his PI business moving. They are hired to protect a movie set that is under attack with Crossbow bolts aimed at the cast. The location shooting is a time travel and everyone is dressed in medieval costumes including Dan. Trying to find the archer while dodging the bolts has Oscar feeling a game while Dan is tense.

Interesting concept. Great characters.

LBook #3
You're Snug With Me
by Chitra Soundar
Category - BOOK CLUB AND MISCELLANEOUS
Source - my friend Linda, whisper1
Series - n/a
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit (A/Y), ROOT Challenge, 75 Book Challenge

This was a lovely book telling the story of a polar bear and her cubs as they arise out of the winter and the cubs see the outside world for the first time. The art work was tremendous! I thank my friend Linda for sending this book to be, she knows how much I love bears!

Book #4
Limoncello Yellow
by Traci Andrighetti
Category - Police and Private Detectives
Source - Amazon
Series - Franki Amato (1)
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit (A/Y), ROOT Challenge, 75 Book Challenge

Franki Amato is working as a police officer in Austin TX and felt that she wasn't being treating fairly by her partner (a misogynist)and then she discovers her boyfriend in bed with another woman, so she quits her job and headed to New Orleans to join her best friend at her private detective agency.

The book is filled with small cases juggled with their big case - solving the murder of a boutique manager so that their client doesn't get charged with the murder. Along with their investigations, Franki is also trying to appease her Italian grandmother in Austin by dating "good Italian boys" none of which she is even remotely interested in. But she has found a man who she is drawn to and the resulting interactions are hilarious.

The characters a re over the top, the setting is great, the mystery was a little light.

Book #5
Murder in Siena
by T A Williams
Category - Police and Private Detectives
Source - NetGalley
Series - Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Mysteries (4)
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit (A/Y), ROOT Challenge, 75 Book Challenge

Dan Armstrong, a retired UK Scotland Yard inspector turned mystery novelist, is on holiday in Siena with his new girlfriend, Anna, his dog, Oscar, and his friend from the Tuscany police and his wife.

While sightseeing they become acquainted with a group of scientists in Tuscany for a meeting. When one of their number is found dead apparently mulled by a wolf, the police as Dan to be their interpreter with the group. When the medical examination shows that it wasn't a wolf but a man, Dan is needed even more.

This is a great series. The characters are interesting and the writing is great.

Book #6
There's A Murder Afoot
by Vicki Delany
Category - Book related
Source - HOOPLA
Series - Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mysteries (5)
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit (A/Y), ROOT Challenge, 75 Book Challenge

Gemma Doyle and her Uncle Arthur, run the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium and her friend Jayne runs Mrs. Hudson's tea shoppe. Gemma and Jayne with a few friends and her boyfriend Ryan head to London England to do the town, accept an award for Arthur, and visit with family.
Shortly after arrival, Gemma is accosted by a stranger and given a note for her mother. She later learns that the stranger was her uncle Randolph, whom her mother has been in contact with ever since Randolph stole the family treasure.
Gemma's father, Henry, an retired policeman, later is seen arguing with and warning Randy to stay away from his family. Is there any surprise that Gemma while looking for her father discovers Henry hovering over the body of Randy with no idea what has happened?

This series isa a great deal of fun with great characters and well developed plots.

Book #7
Dating Can Be Deadly
by Amanda Flower
Category - Small Business
Source - NetGalley
Series - Amish Matchmaker Mysteries (5)
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit (A/Y), ROOT Challenge, 75 Book Challenge

Millie, an older Amish woman, and her English friend Lois are excited about the county fair, Millie because she is entering a quilt in the show and Lois because she is meeting a new man. As Millie is arranging her quilt in the Needlework tent, she is startled by an argument between Ruth Yoder and Tara Barron, the head judge. Apparently Ruth missed the entry deadline but doesn't think that that should really matter for her the bishop's wife. Tara is firm, Ruth's quilt cannot be entered.

The next morning Tara is found dead and she is surrounded by pieces of Ruth's quilt. Because it appears that Ruth is a strong suspect, Millie and Lois set out to find the real killer,

I love the characters in this series because they play so well together. It's also great to see them in cameo roles in the Amish Candy Shop Mysteries. The mystery was entertaining especially with the insertion of mischievous goats and a pig with a following.

Book #8
A Curious Incident
by Vicki Delany
Category - Book related
Source - HOOPLA
Series - Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mysteries (6)
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit (A/Y), ROOT Challenge, 75 Book Challenge

Little Lauren Tierney has come to the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium to enlist Gemma Doyle's help in finding her lost cat. Gemma has tried to explain that she is not a detective and cannot make promises to find the feline, however, while out walking her dog, she manages to discover the wayward kitten and returns her to Lauren.
Because of this success, Lauren now feels that Gemma can solve any problem and when her mother is arrested for the murder of Anna Wentworth, a rival gardener, Gemma feels a responsibility to at least try to find out what happened.

It was fun to see Gemma in situations outside her comfort zone while still being Gemma, the other characters were also fun.

Looking forward to her next adventure.

Book #9
Murder at the Matterhorn
by T A Williams
Category - Police and Private Detectives
Source - NetGalley
Series - Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Mysteries (5)
Other Challenges - ALPHAKit (A/Y), ROOT Challenge, 75 Book Challenge

Dan Armstrong, retired Chief Inspector of Scotland Yard, now private detective/writer in Tuscany, is prevailed upon by a former colleague to go the Italian Alps to check on the colleague's sister who is involved in a mysterious death this side of the Matterhorn. The crew he is to infiltrate are alien hunters and are trying to pass the death off as a Extra-Terrestrial visitation gone wrong. Dan with his faithful black lab, Oscar, soon learn of the disagreements among the crew.

I found this series about a year ago and fell in love with the mysteries but especially the characters. The descriptions of the areas visited as well as the plot are great!

Book #10
Percy Jackson and the Sword of Hades
by Rick Riordan
Category - Mythology
Source - HOOPLA
Series - Percy Jackson and the Olympians (4.5)
Other Challenges - ROOT Challenge, 75 Book Challenge

I've always been a fan of mythology so the Percy Jackson series is right up my alley. In this tale, we see Percy along with Thalia and Nico (children of the big three - Poseidon, Zeus, and Hades) tasked with finding the Sword Hades that has been stolen and if it reaches the Titons they will be able to control death and thus defeat the Gods.

Love these stories.

Book #11
Murder at the Leaning Tower
by T A Williams
Category - Police and Private Detectives
Source - NetGalley
Series - Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Mysteries (6)
Other Challenges - ALPHAKIT (A/Y), ROOT Challenge, 75 Book Challenge

I am truly enjoying this series with the well written mysteries, Italian flair and characters that get my attention. Love Dan and Oscar!

Book #12
20 YEARS AFTER
by Alexandre Dumas
Category - BOOK CLUB AND MISCELLANEOUS
Source - My shelves
Series - n/a
Other Challenges - ALPHAKIT (A/Y), ROOT Challenge, 75 Book Challenge

I loved the Three Musketeers by Dumas so I thought I would enjoy this revisit just as well, however, it didn't have the same joie de vie that 3M had possibly because Athos, Porthos, Aramis and D'Artagnan weren't as together as they were in the original tale. Also it didn't seem fresh that their enemy turned out to be the son of Milady from the original.

It was a fun read, just not as much as the Three Musketeers.

Book #13
Ballparks: Yesterday & Today
by Editors of Publications International Ltd.
Category - BOOK CLUB AND MISCELLANEOUS
Source - My shelves
Series - n/a
Other Challenges - ALPHAKIT (A/Y), ROOT Challenge, 75 Book Challenge

I am a big baseball fan so this book was thoroughly entertaining with pictures and the history various ballparks from Ebbet's field to Camden Yards.

Any baseball fan would love it for the pictures alone.

Book #15
A Twinkle of Trouble
by Daryl Wood Gerber
Category - Small Business
Source - NetGalley
Series - A Fairy Garden Mystery (5)
Other Challenges - ALPHAKIT (F/E), ROOT Challenge, 75 Book Challenge

Courtney and her fairy friend Fiona are concerned when 2 of Courtney's friends are murdered. Could she be next? The fairy community join together to help Courtney find the killer.

Such fun! Light-hearted, great characters, well-written.

Book #16
A Medium Fate
by Lynn Cahoon
Category - Small Business
Source - Amazon
Series - The Haunted Life (1)
Other Challenges - ALPHAKIT (F/E), ROOT Challenge, 75 Book Challenge

Eddie Cayce has an unusual ability to see ghosts. Apparently, she inherited this from her grandmother and when she returns to New Orleans for her grandmother's funeral, she decides to stay and live her dream of opening an antique store.

The ghosts that visit her aid in the investigation of murder.

What fun! Love the characters and the setting!

Book #17
Dead Man's Folly
by Agatha Christie
Category - Police and Private Detectives
Source - my shelves
Series - n/a
Other Challenges - ALPHAKIT (F/E), ROOT Challenge, 75 Book Challenge

Hercules Poirot as usual is determined to use his little gray cells to solve the case
when the mock murder party turns into real life murder. Who better to have at your side than Poirot.

Book #18
Winnie-the-Pooh
by A. A. Milne
Category - Police and Private Detectives
Source - HOOPLA, read for Julia
Series - n/a
Other Challenges - ROOT Challenge, 75 Book Challenge

Another Classic that I really thought I would enjoy since I am an arctophile (a person who collects or is very fond of teddy bears) but imagine my surprise when I didn't like it.

I don't know whether it was the treatment that Winnie received or the writing, but not a favorite for me.

You've been doing a lot of reading!

>42 thornton37814: reading yes, reviews no. I'm terribly behind.