Follow the Clues 2017 – Wrap-up

I started off 2017 with 75 Follow the Clues books and found myself a bit burned out on the challenge. Most were simple title to title matches. My initial goal was 12 books, so met that, at least. They were:

1. Donald Hamilton – The Menacers (1968) (set in Mexico, which led me to…)
2. John D. MacDonald – The Empty Trap (1957) (also set in Mexico. The trap was empty, which led me to…)
3. Michael Gilbert – The Empty House (1978) (an empty house, which led me to a house…)
4. Earl Derr Biggers – The House Without a Key (1925) (without a key, which led me to a key…)
5. Stanley Ellin – The Key to Nicholas Street (1952) (to Nicholas Street, which led me to Murder on…)
6. Edwin Lanham – Murder on My Street (1957) (my street, which led me to murder on…)
7. Vechel Howard – Murder on Her Mind (1959) (her mind, which led me to the…)
8. Margery Allingham – The Mind Readers (1965) (mind readers. The mind led me to the body…)
9. Richard Wormser – The Body Looks Familiar (1957) (from body to…)
10. Richard S. Prather – Over Her Dear Body (1959) (body to…)
11. Agatha Christie – The Body in the Library (1942) (body. The Library led me to another room…)
12. Doris Miles Disney – Room for Murder (1955) (From room to…)
13. Valentine Williams – The Portcullis Room (1934) (room. A portcullis is found in a castle…)
14. Maxwell Grant – London Crimes/Castle of Doom (this being a Castle of Doom. The London Crimes led me to a neighborhood in London (Chelsea))
15. Lionel Davidson – The Chelsea Murders (1978) (Chelsea is in London as is Cartwright Gardens)
16. J.S. Fletcher – The Cartwright Gardens Murder (1926) (Cartwright Gardens is a street, which led me to a road…)
17. Leslie Ford – Road to Folly (1940) (A road led me back to a street…)
18. Samuel A. Krasney – Death Cries in the Street (1955) (Crying in the street led me to a Night Cry)
19. William L. Stuart – Night Cry (1948) (From Night to night…)
20. William P. McGivern – Night Extra (1957) (to night…)
21. Donald Hamilton – Night Walker (1954) (From a walker to a run…)
22. Rae Foley – Run For Your Life (1957) (for you life, which led me to a running man…)
23. Christopher Bush – The Case of the Running Man (1958) (running to run…)
24. Thomas B. Dewey – Run, Brother, Run (1954) (brother, run, which led me to another brother…)
25. David Alexander – The Murder of Whistler’s Brother (1956) (published in 1956, which led me to another 1956 mystery…)
26. Helen Reilly – The Canvas Dagger (1956) (featuring a dagger, which led me to a knife…)
27. Adam Knight – Knife at My Back (1952) (at my back, where there was also a killer…)
28. John Godey – Killer At His Back (1948) (the original title of this being The Blue Hour, which led me to another Blue…)
29. Philip McCutchan – Bluebolt One (1965) (and from blue to blue…)
30. Ellery Queen Jr – The Blue Herring Mystery (1954) (herring, which led me to a swordfish…)
31. Arthur Upfield – The Mystery of Swordfish Reef (1939) (and from swordfish to dolphin…)
32. Velda Johnston – The Silver Dolphin (1979) (The silver dolphin, led me to the silver scorpion…)
33. Edward S. Aarons – Assignment Silver Scorpion (1973) (and silver led me to gold…)
34. Fredric Davies – The Cross of Gold Affair (1968) (From gold to gold…)
35. John Stephen Strange – Catch the Gold Ring (1955) (and from ring to ring…)
36. Lindsay Hardy – The Nightshade Ring (1954) (a nightshade is a perennial, which led me to…)
37. Phoebe Atwood Taylor – The Perennial Boarder (1941) (and a perennial is a flower, which led me to…)
38. The Detection Club – Crime on the Coast and No Flowers By Request (1953/1954) (From the coast to the beach…)
39. John D. MacDonald – The Beach Girls (1959) (and from girls to girl…)
40. Agatha Christie – Third Girl (1966) (Then we switched to numbers. From Third to Twice…)
41. Richard Lockridge – Twice Retired (1970) (from Twice to Once…)
42. Lee Roberts – Once a Widow (1957) (from Once to Never…)
43. Brett Halliday – Never Kill a Client (1962) (from Never to None…)
44. Agatha Christie – And Then There Were None (1940) (from None to One…)
45. Michael Innes – One Man Show (1952) (from One to Two…)
46. Frank Kane – Two to Tangle (1965) (Two to Three…)
47. Phoebe Atwood Taylor – Three Plots for Asey Mayo (1942) (Three to Four(th)…)
48. Brett Halliday – Fourth Down to Death (1970) (Four(th) to Five…)
49. G.T. Fleming-Roberts – Death’s Five Faces (1941) (Five to Six…)
50. Brett Halliday – Six Seconds to Kill (1970) (Six to Seven…)
51. William P. McGivern – Seven Lies South (1960) (Seven to Eight…)
52. Craig Rice – 8 Faces of 3 (1939) (Eight to Nine…)
53. John Dickson Carr – The Nine Wrong Answers (1952) (Nine to Ten(th)…)
54. Richard Lockridge – The Tenth Life (1977) (From Life to Life…)
55. Dorothy Salisbury Davis – A Death in the Life (1976) (And from Life to Death…)
56. Edward S. Aarons – Death Is My Shadow (1957) (From Death to death…
57. Louis Trimble – Till Death Do Us Part (1959) (…to death…)
58. Charles Williams – A Touch of Death (1954) (…to death…)
59. William Grew – Doubles in Death (1953) (…to death…)
60. John D. MacDonald – Death Trap (1957) (…to death…)
61. Hugh Pentecost – Kingdom of Death (1960) (…to death…)
62. Ngaio Marsh – Death at the Bar (1940) (…to death…)
63. Alfred Hitchcock’s Death Can Be Beautiful (1972) (…to death…)
64. John Creasey – Death in Cold Print (1961) (…to death. Lot of mysteries with “death” in the title. The cold print, led me to cold…)
65. Hank Janson – Cold Dead Coed (1964) (dead coed, and cold led me to hot…)
66. Neil MacNeil – Hot Dam (1960) (and from hot to hot…)
67. Frank Kane – Red Hot Ice (1955) (Red led me to white…)
68. Edward S. Aarons – Assignment White Rajah (1970) (and from white to blue…)
69. James McKimmey – Blue Mascara Tears (1965) (Red, white and blue, very patriotic. From tears to tears…)
70. Roy Huggins – Too Late for Tears (1947) (which were too late, and before…)
71. Lou Cameron – Before It’s Too Late (1970) (it’s too late, we go from before to after…)
72. Hugh Pentecost – Die After Dark (1976) (and after to after…)
73. Agatha Christie – Murder After Hours (1946) (hours, which led me to time…)
74. Frank Kane – Time to Prey (1960) (to prey, which led me to pray)
75. Helen MacInnes – Pray for a Brave Heart (1955) (and that’s it.)

 

Mt. TBR 2017 – Wrap-up

A successful climb up Mt. Everest was achieved with more than 100 books read off of the To Be Read pile. It looks like I messed up the numbering on my posts around #31 and then back the other way around #86, so it all evened out. Here’s the final tally of all 108:

1. Donald Hamilton – The Menacers (1968)
2. John D. MacDonald – The Empty Trap (1957)
3. Michael Gilbert – The Empty House (1978)
4. Earl Derr Biggers – The House Without a Key (1925)
5. Stanley Ellin – The Key to Nicholas Street (1952)
6. Edwin Lanham – Murder on My Street (1957)
7. Vechel Howard – Murder on Her Mind (1959)
8. Margery Allingham – The Mind Readers (1965)
9. Richard Wormser – The Body Looks Familiar (1957)
10. Richard S. Prather – Over Her Dear Body (1959)
11. Agatha Christie – The Body in the Library (1942)
12. Doris Miles Disney – Room for Murder (1955)
13. Valentine Williams – The Portcullis Room (1934)
14. Maxwell Grant – London Crimes/Castle of Doom
15. Lionel Davidson – The Chelsea Murders (1978)
16. J.S. Fletcher – The Cartwright Gardens Murder (1926)
17. Bone Vol. 5 Rock Jaw, Master of the Eastern Border
18. Bone Vol. 6 Old Man’s Cave
19. Leslie Ford – Road to Folly (1940)
20. Bone Prequel: Rose
21. Bone Vol. 7 Ghost Circles
22. Bone Vol. 8 Treasure Hunters
23. Bone Vol. 9 Crown of Horns
24. Bone Handbook
25. Samuel A. Krasney – Death Cries in the Street (1955)
26. William L. Stuart – Night Cry (1948)
27. Popeye: The Great Comic Book Tales of Bud Sagendorf (2010)
28. William P. McGivern – Night Extra (1957)
29. Donald Hamilton – Night Walker (1954)
30. Christopher Bush – The Case of the Running Man (1958)
31. Helen Reilly – The Canvas Dagger (1956)
32. Adam Knight – Knife at My Back (1952)
33. John Godey – Killer At His Back (1948)
34. Philip McCutchan – Bluebolt One (1965)
35. Ellery Queen Jr – The Blue Herring Mystery (1954)
36. Arthur Upfield – The Mystery of Swordfish Reef (1939)
37. Edward S. Aarons – Assignment Silver Scorpion (1973)
38. Fredric Davies – The Cross of Gold Affair (1968)
39. John Stephen Strange – Catch the Gold Ring (1955)
40. Lindsay Hardy – The Nightshade Ring (1954)
41. Phoebe Atwood Taylor – The Perennial Boarder (1941)
42. The Detection Club – Crime on the Coast and No Flowers By Request (1953/1954)
43. John D. MacDonald – The Beach Girls (1959)
44. Agatha Christie – Third Girl (1966)
45. Buck Rogers in the 25^th Century: The Complete Newspaper Dailies, Vol. 1, 1929-1930
46. Little Lulu, Vol. 6: Letters to Santa
47. Little Lulu, Vol. 7: Lulu’s Umbrella Service
48. Richard Lockridge – Twice Retired (1970)
49. Brett Halliday – Never Kill a Client (1962)
50. Agatha Christie – And Then There Were None (1940)
51. Michael Innes – One Man Show (1952)
52. Frank Kane – Two to Tangle (1965)
53. Little Lulu, Vol. 26: The Feud and Other Stories
54. Phoebe Atwood Taylor – Three Plots for Asey Mayo (1942)
55. Brett Halliday – Fourth Down to Death (1970)
56. G.T. Fleming-Roberts – Death’s Five Faces (1941)
57. Brett Halliday – Six Seconds to Kill (1970)
58. William P. McGivern – Seven Lies South (1960)
59. John Dickson Carr – The Nine Wrong Answers (1952)
60. Richard Lockridge – The Tenth Life (1977)
61. Louis Trimble – Till Death Do Us Part (1959)
62. John D. MacDonald – Death Trap (1957)
63. Hugh Pentecost – Kingdom of Death (1960)
64. Ngaio Marsh – Death at the Bar (1940)
65. Alfred Hitchcock’s Death Can Be Beautiful (1972)
66. John Creasey – Death in Cold Print (1961)
67. Hank Janson – Cold Dead Coed (1964)
68. Frank Kane – Red Hot Ice (1955)
69. Edward S. Aarons – Assignment White Rajah (1970)
70. Lou Cameron – Before It’s Too Late (1970)
71. Agatha Christie – Murder After Hours (1946)
72. Frank Kane – Time to Prey (1960)
73. Helen MacInnes – Pray for a Brave Heart (1955)
74. Frank Gruber – The Whispering Master (1947)
75. Agatha Christie – Ordeal By Innocence (1958)
76. The Spider – Pulp Doubles 11
77. Lawrence Block – No Score (1970)
78. Robert Wallace – Murder City (1934)
79. Agatha Christie – A Holiday for Murder (1938)
80. Thomas B. Dewey – My Love Is Violent (1956)
81. Jerry West – The Happy Hollisters and the Mystery of the Golden Witch (1966)
82. Thomas B. Dewey – A Sad Song Singing (1963)
83. Carter Brown – Blonde on a Broomstick (1966)
84. George Harmon Coxe – Murder with Pictures (1935)
85. Agatha Christie – The Seven Dials Mystery (1929)
86. Edward S. Aarons – Girl on the Run (1954)
87. Basil Cooper – The Dossier of Solar Pons (1979)
88. Carter Brown – The Hammer of Thor (1965)
89. Lawrence Block – Make Out With Murder (1974)
90. Brett Halliday – Lady Be Bad (1969)
91. Edward S. Aarons – Assignment Sulu Sea (1964)
92. Nick Carter – Operation Snake (1969)
93. Jerry West – The Happy Hollisters and the Punch and Judy Mystery (1964)
94. Nick Carter – The Katmandu Contract (1975)
95. John T. Phillifent – The Corfu Affair (1967)
96. P.D. James – Cover Her Face (1962)
97. J.J. Marric – Gideon’s March (1962)
98. Carter Brown – Had I But Groaned (1968)
99. E.X. Ferrars – In At the Kill (1978)
100. Edward S. Aarons – Assignment the Girl in the Gondola (1964)
101. Nick Carter – The Death’s-Head Conspiracy (1973)
102. J.J. Marric – Gideon’s Ride (1963)
103. Agatha Christie – The Clocks (1963)
104. Lawrence Sanders – Tales of the Wolf (1986)
105. Maj Sjowall-Per Wahloo – Murder at the Savoy (1970)
106. P.D. James – A Mind to Murder (1963)
107. Margery Allingham – Mr. Campion’s Farthing (1969)
108. J.J. Marric – Gideon’s Power (1969)

The second part of the wrap up is to complete the following phrases with book titles from the above list:

A stitch in time…(is) Time to Prey
Don’t count your chickens… (with) A Mind to Murder
A penny saved is…. (the) Road to Folly
All good things must come…Before It’s Too Late
When in Rome… Catch the Gold Ring
All that glitters is not… The Cross of Gold Affair
A picture is worth a…Sad Song Singing 
When the going gets tough, the tough get… No Score
Two wrongs don’t make… Two to Tangle
he pen is mightier than…. (a) Knife at My Back
The squeaky wheel gets… In at the Kill
Hope for the best, but prepare for… The Nine Wrong Answers
Birds of a feather flock…And Then There Were None

Vintage Scavenger Hunt 2017 – Wrap-up

Whew! Seventy-five books for both the Golden Age and Silver Age Vintage Cover Scavenger Hunt, plus accidentally reading two extra golden age ones when I messed up my card, causing me to read the same category twice.

Golden Age Vintage Cover Scavenger Hunt

1. Full Skeleton – Leslie Ford – Road to Folly (1940) 3/10/17
2. Shadowy or Ghostly Figure – Rae Foley – Run For Your Life (1957) 4/1/17
3. Written Document – Helen Reilly – The Canvas Dagger (1956) 4/24/17
4. Knife – Louis Trimble – Till Death Do Us Part (1959) 7/25/17
5. Body of Water – Earl Derr Biggers – The House Without a Key (1925) 1/14/17
6. Any Piece of Furniture – William P. McGivern – Night Extra (1957) 3/27/17
7. Bottle/Glass for Drinking – Charles Williams – A Touch of Death (1954) 7/25/17
8. Statue – Michael Innes – One Man Show (1952) 7/3/17
9. Bird – Christopher Bush – The Case of the Running Man (1958) 4/4/17
10. Chandelier/Candle/Etc. – Vechel Howard – Murder on Her Mind (1959) 1/22/17
11. Boat – Arthur Upfield – The Mystery of Swordfish Reef (1939) 5/19/17
12. Broken Object – Agatha Christie – A Holiday for Murder (1938) 10/16/17
13. Painting/Photograph – Thomas B. Dewey – My Love Is Violent (1956) 10/21/17
14. Nurse – Agatha Christie – Ordeal By Innocence (1958) 9/9/17
15. Telephone – Robert Wallace – Murder City (1934) 10/14/17
16. Suit of Armor – Robert Wallace – The Phantom’s Greatest Gamble (1941) 9/18/17
17. Jewelry of Any Sort – Lee Roberts – Once a Widow (1957) 6/27/17
18. Curtain/s – John Stephen Strange – Catch the Gold Ring (1955) 6/14/17
19. Castle or Ruins – Valentine Williams – The Portcullis Room (1934) 2/5/17
20. A Hat – John D. MacDonald – The Beach Girls (1959) 6/20/17
21. Cigarette or Pipe – Edwin Lanham – Murder on My Street (1957) 1/20/17
22. A Blonde (man or woman) – Adam Knight – Knife at My Back (1952) 5/5/17
23. A Blue Object – John Dickson Carr – The Nine Wrong Answers (1952) 7/16/17
24. Fog/Mist – Frances Crane – Murder on the Purple Water (1947) 9/2/17
25. Musical Instrument – Charles Williams – Nothing in Her Way (1953) 10/5/17
26. Skeletal Hand or Skull – A.B. Cunningham – Death of a Bullionaire (1947) 10/21/17
27. Train – Miles Burton – Death in the Tunnel (1936) 10/15/17
28. Spooky House/Mansion – David Frome – Homicide House (1949) 11/17/17
29. Revolver – Edward S. Aarons – Death Is My Shadow (1957) 7/23/17
30. Any Other Weapon – Richard S. Prather – Over Her Dear Body (1959) 1/29/17 or Ngaio Marsh – Death at the Bar (1940) 7/30/17
31. Bottle of Poison – Anthony Berkeley – Not To Be Taken (1938) 10/22/17
32. Clock/Timepiece – Agatha Christie – The Seven Dials Mystery (1929) 11/3/17
33. Dog – J.S. Fletcher – The Cartwright Gardens Murder (1926) 2/28/17
34. Any Other Animal – David Alexander – The Murder of Whistler’s Brother (1956) 4/18/17
35. Car/Truck – Roy Huggins – Too Late for Tears (1947) 8/12/17
36. Carriage/Wagon – George Bellairs – Death of a Busybody (1943) 11/10/17
37. Bloodstains – Samuel A. Krasney – Death Cries in the Street (1955) 3/18/17
38. Staircase – Edward S. Aarons – Girl on the Run (1954) 11/11/17
39. Doctor – Sax Rohmer – The Daughter of Fu Manchu (1931) 10/2/17
40. Typewriter – Nicholas Blake – End of Chapter (1957) 10/10/17
41. Flower/s – The Detection Club – Crime on the Coast and No Flowers By Request (1953/1954) 6/19/17
42. A Glove – G.T. Fleming-Roberts – Death’s Five Faces (1941) 7/7/17
43. A Door – Frank Gruber – The Whispering Master (1947) 9/3/17
44. Graveyard – Phoebe Atwood Taylor – Three Plots for Asey Mayo (1942) 7/4/17
45. Magnifying Glass – Rufus King – Murder By Latitude (1930) 10/28/17
46. Playing Cards – Agatha Christie – Murder After Hours (1946) 8/19/17
47. A Red-Head (woman or man) – William L. Stuart – Night Cry (1948) 3/21/17
48. A Red Object – Phoebe Atwood Taylor – The Perennial Boarder (1941) 6/18/17
49. Suitcase/Briefcase – John D. MacDonald – The Empty Trap (1957) 1/3/17
50. Spider or Spiderweb – Patricia Wentworth – Dead or Alive (1936) 11/24/17
51. Rope/Hangman’s Noose – Agatha Christie – And Then There Were None (1940) 7/1/17
52. Blunt Instrument – William Grew – Doubles in Death (1953) 7/26/17
53. “Damsel in Distress” – Rufus King – Somewhere in This House (1929) 10/11/17
54. Hand Holding Weapon – Lindsay Hardy – The Nightshade Ring (1954) 6/17/17
55. Dead Body – Richard Wormser – The Body Looks Familiar (1957) 1/28/17 or John D. MacDonald – Death Trap (1957) 7/27/17
56. Food of Some Sort – Carter Dickson – Seeing Is Believing (1941) 10/19/17
57. Library or A Book – Agatha Christie – The Body in the Library (1942) 1/30/17
58. Cat – Doris Miles Disney – Room for Murder (1955) 2/2/17
59. Map or Chart – George Harmon Coxe – Murder with Pictures (1935) 10/30/17
60. Plane – Carter Dickson – The Unicorn Murders (1935) 9/28/17
61. Any Holiday Decoration – Martin Edwards, ed. – Silent Nights: Christmas Mysteries (2015) 11/22/17
62. Newspaper – Death and the Spider (January 1942) and Scourge of the Yellow Fangs (April 1937) by Grant Stockbridge 9/12/17
63. Policeman – Maxwell Grant – London Crimes/Castle of Doom (1935/1936) 2/15/17
64. Building (other than house) – Ellery Queen Jr – The Blue Herring Mystery (1954) 5/17/17
65. Camera – A.A. Fair – Owls Don’t Blink (1942) 8/31/17
66. Performer (Clown/Dancer/Etc) – Thomas B. Dewey – Run, Brother, Run (1954) 4/8/17
67. Snow/Snowy Scene – Craig Rice – 8 Faces of 3 (1939) 7/15/17
68. A Tree – Helen MacInnes – Pray for a Brave Heart (1955) 8/30/17
69. A Tombstone – Craig Rice – The Corpse Steps Out (1940) 9/16/17
70. Moon – Patricia Wentworth – Hue and Cry (1927) 10/26/17
71. Flashlight – Rufus King – The Deadly Dove (1945) 9/13/17
72. A Brunette (woman or man) – Donald Hamilton – Night Walker (1954) 3/29/17
73. A Green Object – Stanley Ellin – The Key to Nicholas Street (1952) 1/15/17
74. A Mask – John Godey – Killer At His Back (1948) 5/10/17
75. Butler/Maid/Servant – Jonathan Latimer – Sinners and Shrouds (1955) 11/14/17

Silver Age Vintage Cover Scavenger Hunt

1. Full Skeleton –Alfred Hitchcock’s Bleeding Hearts (1974) 11/21/17
2. Shadowy or Ghostly Figure – Margery Allingham – Cargo of Eagles (1968) 12/16/17
3. Written Document – Lawrence Sanders – Tales of the Wolf (1986) 12/24/17
4. Knife – Lionel Davidson – The Chelsea Murders (1978) 2/25/17
5. Body of Water – Edward S. Aarons – Assignment Sulu Sea (1964) 11/21/17
6. Any Piece of Furniture – Carter Brown – Had I But Groaned (1968) 12/7/17
7. Bottle/Glass for Drinking – Neil MacNeil – Hot Dam (1960) 8/6/17
8. Statue – P.D. James – A Mind to Murder (1963) 12/27/17
9. Bird – Agatha Christie – Third Girl (1966) 6/21/17
10. Chandelier/Candle/Etc. – J.J. Marric – Gideon’s Power (1969) 12/31/17
11. Boat – Edward S. Aarons – Assignment White Rajah (1970) 8/10/17
12. Broken Object – Michael Gilbert – The Empty House (1978) 1/7/17
13. Painting/Photograph – Lawrence Block – Make Out With Murder (1974) 11/19/17
14. Nurse – Hank Janson – Cold Dead Coed (1964) 8/5/17
15. Telephone – Frank Kane – Ring-a-Ding-Ding (1963) 11/4/17
16. Suit of Armor – Robert Arthur – The Secret of Terror Castle (1964) 12/9/17
17. Jewelry of Any Sort – Dorothy Salisbury Davis – A Death in the Life (1976) 7/21/17
18. Curtain/s – James McKimmey – Blue Mascara Tears (1965) 8/10/17
19. Castle or Ruins – Edward S. Aarons – Assignment Silver Scorpion (1973) 6/1/17
20. A Hat – Velda Johnston – The Silver Dolphin (1979) 5/29/17
21. Cigarette or Pipe – Frank Kane – Time to Prey (1960) 8/22/17
22. A Blonde (man or woman) – Carter Brown – The Hammer of Thor (1965) 11/18/17
23. A Blue Object – J.J. Marric – Gideon’s March (1962) 12/6/17
24. Fog/Mist – Hugh Pentecost – Kingdom of Death (1960) 7/30/17
25. Musical Instrument – Thomas B. Dewey – A Sad Song Singing (1963) 10/27/17
26. Skeletal Hand or Skull – Richard Lockridge – Twice Retired (1970) 6/24/17
27. Train – Nick Carter – The Katmandu Contract (1975) 11/26/17
28. Spooky House/Mansion – Margery Allingham – Mr. Campion’s Farthing (1969) 12/30/17
29. Revolver – Brett Halliday – Fourth Down to Death (1970) 7/7/17
30. Any Other Weapon – Lou Cameron – Before It’s Too Late (1970) 8/13/17
31. Bottle of Poison – P.D. James – Cover Her Face (1962) 12/3/17
32. Clock/Timepiece – Agatha Christie – The Clocks (1963) 12/23/17
33. Dog – Nick Carter – The Death’s-Head Conspiracy (1973) 12/19/17
34. Any Other Animal – Hugh Pentecost – Die After Dark (1976) 8/14/17
35. Car/Truck – Fredric Davies – The Cross of Gold Affair (1968) 6/3/17
36. Carriage/Wagon – Alfred Hitchcock’s A Hearse of a Different Color (1972) 11/26/17
37. Bloodstains – John Creasey – Death in Cold Print (1961) 8/4/17
38. Staircase – Robert Arthur – The Mystery of the Green Ghost (1965) 12/22/17
39. Doctor – Frank Thomas – Sherlock Holmes and the Golden Bird (1979) 12/13/17
40. Typewriter – Vin Packer – The Girl on the Best Seller List (1960) 12/10/17
41. Flower/s – Carter Brown – Blonde on a Broomstick (1966) 10/28/17
42. A Glove – Brett Halliday – Never Kill a Client (1962) 6/29/17
43. A Door – Donald Hamilton – The Menacers (1968) 1/2/17
44. Graveyard – Alfred Hitchcock’s Death Can Be Beautiful (1972) 8/1/17
45. Magnifying Glass – Basil Cooper – The Dossier of Solar Pons (1979) 11/13/17
46. Playing Cards – Jim Thompson – Texas By the Tail (1965) 12/28/17
47. A Red-Head (woman or man) – Carter Brown – The Coffin Bird (1970) 12/13/17
48. A Red Object – Brett Halliday – Killers from the Keys (1961) 12/22/17
49. Suitcase/Briefcase – Brett Halliday – Six Seconds to Kill (1970) 7/12/17
50. Spider or Spiderweb – Isaac Asimov – Tales of the Black Widowers (1974) 11/24/17
51. Rope/Hangman’s Noose – Frank Kane – Two to Tangle (1965) 7/4/17
52. Blunt Instrument – George Harmon Coxe – An Easy Way to Go (1968) 11/30/17
53. “Damsel in Distress” – Charles Williams – The Long Saturday Night (1962) 11/30/17
54. Hand Holding Weapon – Lawrence Block – No Score (1970) 10/8/17
55. Dead Body – E.X. Ferrars – In At the Kill (1978) 12/8/17
56. Food of Some Sort – Maj Sjowall-Per Wahloo – Murder at the Savoy (1970) 12/26/17
57. Library or A Book – William Campbell Gault – Dead Hero (1963) 11/12/17
58. Cat – Richard Lockridge – The Tenth Life (1977) 7/18/17
59. Map or Chart – John T. Phillifent – The Corfu Affair (1967) 11/27/17
60. Plane – William P. McGivern – Seven Lies South (1960) 7/14/17
61. Any Holiday Decoration – Jerry West – The Happy Hollisters and the Mystery of the Golden Witch (1966) 10/25/17
62. Newspaper – Simenon – Maigret in Society (1961) 12/9/17
63. Policeman – Margery Allingham – The Mind Readers (1965) 1/27/17
64. Building (other than house) – J.J. Marric – Gideon’s Ride (1963) 12/20/17
65. Camera – Elmore Leonard – LaBrava (1983) 12/21/17
66. Performer (Clown/Dancer/Etc) – Talmage Powell – Start Screaming Murder (1962) 10/18/17
67. Snow/Snowy Scene – Nick Carter – Operation Snake (1969) 11/22/17
68. A Tree – Philip McCutchan – Bluebolt One (1965) 5/17/17
69. A Tombstone – Margery Allingham – The China Governess (1963) 11/28/17
70. Moon – Elmore Leonard – The Big Bounce (1969) 11/11/17
71. Flashlight – Brett Halliday – Lady Be Bad (1969) 11/20/17
72. A Brunette (woman or man) – Michael Crichton – Odds On (1966) 12/18/17
73. A Green Object – Van Wyck Mason – Secret Mission to Bangkok (1960) 10/24/17
74. A Mask – Jerry West – The Happy Hollisters and the Punch and Judy Mystery (1964) 11/22/17
75. Butler/Maid/Servant – Edward S. Aarons – Assignment the Girl in the Gondola (1964) 12/17/17

J.J. Marric – Gideon’s Power (1969)

Vintage Silver Age Mystery
Scavenger Hunt Category: Chandelier/Candle/Etc.
TBR #108
Date Finished: December 31, 2017

Commander George Gideon and his entire Scotland Yard staff of detectives, or most of them, investigate sabotage at London power plants, a furniture company fire, and a child abuser/rapist/killer. The first two turn out to be related as Gideon seemingly deals less with the politics involved, and his inner turmoil, as opposed to others in this series.

Although Gideon jumps at his conclusions fairly quickly and wraps up major conspiracies against the U.K. in 160 pages, still this is a rather suspenseful and entertaining mystery, though from an administrative angle throughout.

And that finishes the Vintage Cover Scavenger Hunt and 2017.

Margery Allingham – Mr. Campion’s Farthing (1969)

Vintage Silver Age Mystery
Scavenger Hunt Category: Spooky House/Mansion
TBR #107
Date Finished: December 30, 2017

A Russian scientist, Vassily Kopeck (Kopeck=Farthing, get it?) disappears after being at a Victorian reenactment house. Much clamor ensues. Campion becomes involved because he is now all about the secret service and other stuff happens. Bleah.

What the heck. If an author was running on fumes anyway, let her die and don’t try and keep going a series that has no inspiration or cleverness left. Here Margery Allingham’s husband, Youngman Carter, tries to prove that he has talent, too. No, he does not. A convoluted mess that starts off fairly well, but just bogs down and goes nowhere. Poor Campion. You deserved better than this. No suspense and the only mystery is why bother.

Reporter’s Challenge 2017 – Wrap-up

I didn’t work too hard at this one, mainly as I knew I wasn’t going to read the supernatural categories. Still, qualified as the News Anchor with three from each category:

WHO (3/5)
Protagonist is a religious person (priest, nun, cleric, minister, deacon, etc)
Protagonist is in the medical profession (doctor, nurse, EMT, hospital staff, etc.) Once a Widow by Lee Roberts
Protagonist is a dead person (ghost, skeleton, vampire, zombie…anybody who is dead)
Protagonist is a writer – Night Extra by William P. McGivern
Protagonist is an innkeeper (Inn, B&B, hotel, motel, etc.) – The Empty Trap by John D. MacDonald

WHAT (3/5)

A Short Story from an Anthology – Alfred Hitchcock’s Death Can Be Beautiful
Poison in the title
Weather in the title
A Cold Case (crime investigated is over 10 years old) – Catch the Gold Ring by John Stephen Strange
Time in the Title (minute, week, clock, year, hour, etc) 8 Faces at 3 by Craig Rice

WHERE (5/5)

NOT set on land (cruise ship, boat, airplane, spaceship, etc) – Murder By Latitude by Rufus King
Set in a big city – Murder on My Street by Edwin Lanham
Set in a state beginning with the letter ‘N’ – The Key to Nicholas Street by Stanley Ellin
Set in England – The Empty House by Michael Gilbert
Set in Europe (anywhere but England) – Pray for a Brave Heart by Helen MacInnes

WHEN (3/5)

Set during a competition (Olympics, ballroom dancing, cooking contest, etc.)
Centers around a holiday – The Happy Hollisters and the Mystery of the Golden Witch by Jerry West
Set during summer – The House Without A Key by Earl Derr Biggers
One where the protagonist has to beat the clock (time is crucial to solving mystery)
Set during a courtroom trial (Not the whole book) – The Murder of Whistler’s Brother by David Alexander

HOW (3/5)

Framed for Murder – Death Trap by John D. MacDonald
Attempted Murder (victim recovers) Six Seconds to Kill by Brett Halliday
Fire (burned, smoke inhalation, etc.)
Drowned – Run for Your Life by Rae Foley
Supernatural death (exsanguinations, staked, voodoo, magic, etc)

BONUS CATEGORY (3/5)

WHO – Protagonist is industrious (deaf, blind, wheelchair-bound, ADHD, Aspergers, etc.)
WHAT – Title starts with the same letter as your pet’s name (or the pet of someone close to you) – Time to Prey by Frank Kane
WHERE – Set at work (main event occurs at protagonist’s workplace)
WHEN – Book set during a snowstorm – Somewhere In This House by Rufus King
HOW – 2 different attempts to kill the same victim (killer can be successful on 2nd attempt) – The Deadly Dove by Rufus King

From <https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/18396556-reporter-s-challenge-2017>

Jim Thompson – Texas By the Tail (1965)

Vintage Silver Age Mystery
Scavenger Hunt Category: Playing cards
Date Finished: December 28, 2017

A gambler and his woman are running low on their funds, though she isn’t fully aware of the situation. This shortage is due partly to the blackmail that his secret wife is forcing him to pay. The gambler is afraid the woman, whom he really loves, will leave him if he finds out the lies he has been telling her. Of course, his whole lifestyle is built around lying and cheating. Various schemes and failures occur as we look at their life and what brought them to this point.

There isn’t a strong plot here, or a big climax payoff scene, but more a character study and a look at the gambler/conman lifestyle. The main character, Mitch Corley, is very sympathetic and you root for him, despite all the shady actions. Thompson also looks at Texas itself and the role it plays in this sort of person. The gambler plays craps, rather than cards, so the cover image is not representative of the book, though it does fulfill one of my last categories. This may not be Thompson’s best work, but it is still an engrossing read, and a good change of pace from all the British/European police mysteries that I’ve left to last this year.

P.D. James – A Mind to Murder (1963)

Vintage Silver Age Mystery
Scavenger Hunt Category: Statue
TBR #106
Date Finished: December 27, 2017

The cold and officious administrator of a London psychiatric clinic is murdered in the medical records room. Only the staff of the clinic had the opportunity to commit the murder and Superintendent Adam Dalgleish of Scotland Yard must sort through their characters and their motives to find the killer.

The murder happens fairly quickly in this one, so there is much more focus on the investigation and on Dalgleish than there was in the first one of this series, Cover Her Face. The ending is a surprising switch, but not terribly clever. Dalgleish’s morose and self-critical character is the draw, I suppose, as is the other well-rounded characters. I guess I’ll have to keep reading these.

Maj Sjowall-Per Wahloo – Murder at the Savoy (1970)

Vintage Silver Age Mystery
Scavenger Hunt Category: Food of Some Sort
TBR #105
Date Finished: December 26, 2017

A Swedish business tycoon is murdered by an unidentified man during a corporate dinner at a restaurant in Malmö. No one recognized him and, although various motives could be found among the corporate underlings attending the dinner, no connections are found indicating guilt. Martin Beck is called in from Stockholm to assist the local police in their investigation.

This is an interesting look at a police investigation and at Sweden in the late 1960s. The reader is not challenged to unravel the mystery, as the killer is not even a character in the novel until he becomes the prime suspect. Rather, this is a character study of various police officers who are struggling with, against, and for their jobs and their calling. Beck is identified by the cover marketeers as the detective, but he is just one of several featured here. It is not terribly fast moving, but it is very well done.

Lawrence Sanders – Tales of the Wolf (1986)

Vintage Silver Age Mystery
Scavenger Hunt Category: Written Document
TBR #104
Date Finished: December 24, 2017

These thirteen short stories, originally published in 1968 and 1969 in Swank magazine, feature Wolf Lannihan, insurance investigator, as he looks into various crimes for which insurance companies are on the hook. Being in Swank, Wolf manages to hook up in most of the stories, regardless of the innocence or guilt of his “friend.” The stories are well written, with sufficient tough guy stuff and humor, and fast moving enough to fit with a dozen to two dozen pages. I’d never read anything by Lawrence Sanders before, but would be willing to do so if the pacing was similar.