2026 Color Coded Challenge

 

This challenge, hosted by Bev Hankins,  is located here.  

Read in previous years' challenges

Planned

Completed

Read nine books in the following categories:

1. A book with "Blue" or any shade of Blue in the title/on the cover.

The Blue Sequin by R. Austin Freeman, 1929

Mystery of the Blue Train by Agatha Christie

Blue Hand by Edgar Wallace, 1925

Mystery of the Blue Train - Agatha Christie

The Blue Horse of Taxco by Kathleen Moore Knight

• note for next time?  
•  

2. A book with "Red" or any shade of Red in the title/on the cover.

The Red House Mystery by A.A. Milne

The Adventure of the Red Circle by Arthur Conan Doyle (k)

Red Aces by Edgar Wallace, 1929

Case of the Crimson Kiss - Erle Stanley Gardner

The Red Mass by Valentine Williams

• note for next time? The Scarlet Letters by Ellery Queen
• note for next time? The Red Lamp by Mary Roberts Rinehart
• note for next time? A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle
• note for next time? Crimson Friday by Dorothy Cameron Disney
• note for next time? The Crimson Circle by Edgar Wallace

3. A book with "Yellow" or any shade of Yellow in the title/on the cover.

Gold Comes in Bricks by A. A. Fair (Erle Stanley Gardner)

The Yellow Room by Mary Roberts Rinehart

The Case of the Blonde Bonanza - Erle Stanley Gardner

The Case of the Lame Canary - Erle Stanley Gardner

• note for next time? The Golden Spiders by Rex Stout
• note for next time? The Golden Goose by Ellery Queen
•  note for next time: Mys. of the Yellow Room by Gaston Leroux (gutenberg/faded)

4. A book with "Green" or any shade of Green in the title/on the cover.
The Square Emerald by Edgar Wallace (1929) a.p.a. Girl from Scotland Yard

Green Hazard - Manning Coles (1945)

The Green Ribbon - Edgar Wallace (1930)

Case of the Green Eyed Sister - Erle Stanley Gardner

The Jade Venus by George Harmon Coxe

• note for next time? The Man in the Green Hat by Manning Coles
•   "The Greene Murder Case" by S. S. Van Dine for this one!

5. A book with "Brown" or any shade of Brown in the title/on the cover.

The Mystery of Mr. Bernard Brown by E. Phillips Oppenheim (1896)

The Wisdom of Father Brown - G.K. Chesterton

The Curse of the Bronze Lamp - Carter Dickson

Case of the Borrowed Brunette - Erle Stanley Gardner

The Bronze Hand by Carolyn Wells (1925)

6. A book with "Black" or any shade of Black in the title/on the cover.

Black Murder by Anthony Boucher

The Blackpool Highflyer by Andrew Martin (2004)

The Adventure of Black Peter by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, 1903-4

Black Orchids - Rex Stout

The Ebony Bed Murder by Rufus Gillmore (1932)
Acts of Black Night by Kathleen Moore Knight (1938)

• note for next time? The Black Mountain by Rex Stout
• 
  

7. A book with "White" or any shade of White in the title/on the cover.

The Window at the White Cat by Mary Roberts Rinehart

The White Elephant Mystery by Ellery Queen Jr.

The White Dress by Mignon G. Eberhart

The White Cockatoo by Mignon G. Eberhart

White Rider by Leslie Charteris

•  note for next time? White Face by Edgar Wallace

8. A book with any other color in the title/on the cover (Purple, Orange, Silver, Pink, etc).

The Adventure of Greystones Villa by Tony Evans

Mystery of the Gold Box by Valentine Williams

The Gold Skull Murders - Frank L. Packard (1931)

Case of the Gold Diggers Purse - Erle Stanley Gardner

The False Purple by Sydney Horler (1932)

• note for next time? The Chinese Orange Mystery by Ellery Queen
• note for next time? Ride the Pink Horse by Dorothy Hughes
• note for next time? The Silver Key by Edgar Wallace
• The Mystery of the Ivory Charm Nancy Drew *faded page)

9. A book with a word/image that implies color in the title/on the cover

 (Rainbow, Polka-dot, Plaid, Shadow, Paint, Ink, etc).

The Shadow on the Door by Frances K. Judd (faded page)

The Adventure of the Speckled Band by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

The Pattern - Mignon G. Eberhart

Miss Paisley on a Diet by John Pierce (1969) 

The Willow Pattern Van Gulik (faded page)

2026 Abra Cadavers

 

 

Get a Single by reading one book.  

Murder of a Quack by George Bellairs 

Get a Double by reading two books by a second author  
 

Cat Among the Pigeons by Agatha Christie

Problem at Sea by Agatha Christie 

 Get a Triple by reading three books by a third author  

The Cruelest Month by Louise Penny #3

A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny#4 

 

Get a Home Run by reading four books by a fourth author. 

Case of the Missing Governess by Tony Evans

 Problem of Poldennis Hall by Tony Evans

Case of the Solo Anarchist by Tony Evans

Adventure of Greystones Villa by Tony Evans 

 

Hit for the Cycle once you complete a single, double, triple, AND a home run.

  

 

Get a Foul by giving up on a foul one with the dreaded DNF (Did Not Finish) 

The Arabian Nights Murder by John Dickson Carr 

Get a Bunt by reading a short story.

 

Get a Stolen Base by stealing (reading) a book which has been submitted to any of our previous or current challenges - in any year - by someone else.  

 

Strike Out when a book physically strikes out of your house (back to the library, loaned out, mailed out, given away, sold, traded, composted, thrown out, audiobook taken outdoors for a walk, book taken elsewhere to read, etc.)

2026 Vintage Scavenger Hunt

 

2026 Vintage Scavenger Hunt

 

Bev Hankins at My Reader's Block is sponsoring the 2026 Vintage Scavenger Hunt. The challenge page is located here. 

The goal is to find as many objects on the scavenger hunt list as possible on the covers of the mystery books you read. I am working the Golden Age era. Here is the list:

 Progress will be recorded on this spreadsheet.  

2025 Abra Cadavers

Get a Single by reading one book.  

Cargo of Eagles by Margery Allingham

Get a Double by reading two books by a second author  

Over My Dead Body by Rex Stout

Double for Death by Rex Stout 

 Get a Triple by reading three books by a third author  

The Tragedy of X by Barnaby Ross

The Tragedy of Y by Barnaby Ross

The Tragedy of Z by Barnaby Ross

Get a Home Run by reading four books by a fourth author. 

Peril at End House by Agatha Christie

The Patriotic Murders by Agatha Christie

Murder in Retrospect by Agatha Christie

The Regatta Mystery & OS by Agatha Christie

Hit for the Cycle once you complete a single, double, triple, AND a home run.

 complete 

 

Get a Foul by giving up on a foul one with the dreaded DNF (Did Not Finish)

Honolulu Story by Leslie Ford

Get a Bunt by reading a short story.

Murder for Money by John D. MacDonald

Get a Stolen Base by stealing (reading) a book which has been submitted to any of our previous or current challenges - in any year - by someone else.  

The Seven Sinister Sombreros by Erle Stanley Gardner (read by Linda B)

Strike Out when a book physically strikes out of your house (back to the library, loaned out, mailed out, given away, sold, traded, composted, thrown out, audiobook taken outdoors for a walk, book taken elsewhere to read, etc.)

2025 Reading By The Numbers

 

The challenge page is located here.
My goal is 100 books.

1. The Frightened Wife & Other Murder Stories by Mary Roberts Rinehart
2. The Case of the Crying Swallow & OS by Erle Stanley Gardner
3. The Patriotic Murders by Agatha Christie
4. Over My Dead Body by Rex Stout
5. Turn on the Heat by A.A. Fair
6. Deep Lay the Dead by Frederick C. Davis
7. The Wisdom of Father Brown by G.K. Chesterton
8. Murder in Retrospect by Agatha Christie
9. Cargo of Eagles by Margery Allingham
10. Murder on Cape Cod by Maddie Day
11. Again the Three Just Men by Edgar Wallace
12. Road to Folly by Leslie Ford
13. Death Answers the Bell by Valentine Williams
14. Double for Death by Rex Stout
15. The Regatta Mystery & OS by Agatha Christie
16. Enter the Saint by Leslie Charteris
17. Burnt Offering by Richard & Frances Lockridge
18. Peril at End House by Agatha Christie
19. The Seven Sinister Sombreros by Erle Stanley Gardner
20. The Dragon Murder Case by S.S. Van Dine
21. This Fortress by Manning Coles
22. The Blackpool Highflyer by Andrew Martin
23. The Clue of the Poor Man's Shilling by Katherine Moore Knight
24. Daughter of Fu Manchu by Sax Rohmer
25. The Seven Dials Mystery by Agatha Christie
26. Murder R.F.D. by Herman Petersen
27. The Case of the Sulky Girl by Erle Stanley Gardner
28. Ellery Queen, Master Detective by Ellery Queen
29. Four Frightened Women by George Harmon Coxe
30. Death on the Last Train by George Bellairs
    
31. Old Lover's Ghost by Leslie Ford
32. Still Life by Louise Penny
33. With This Ring by Mignon G. Eberhart
34. The Ringer Returns by Edgar Wallace
35. The Door by Mary Roberts Rinehart
36. Green Hazard by Manning Coles
37. The Norths Meet Murder by Frances & Richard Lockridge
38. Mystery of the Blue Train by Agatha Christie
39. Mystery of the Gold Box by Valentine Williams
40. The Yellow Room by Mary Roberts Rinehart
41. The White Elephant Mystery by Ellery Queen Jr.
42. The Adventure of the Speckled Band by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
43. Three at Wolfe's Door by Rex Stout
44. All for the Love of a Lady by Leslie Ford
    
45. The Excursion Train by Edward Marston
46. Let the Tiger Die by Manning Coles
47. The Case of the Restless Redhead by Erle Stanley Gardner
48. O is for Outlaw by Sue Grafton
49. The Tigress of the Château Plage by Rufus King

Wrapup (January 2026): I got up to 49 entries by fall, then I had to suspend participating in this one as the challenges I host were requiring more time to administer. Thanks again for this challenge, Bev!

2025 Color Coded Challenge

 

This challenge, hosted by Bev Hankins,  is located here.  

Read in previous years' challenges

Planned

Completed

Read nine books in the following categories:

1. A book with "Blue" or any shade of Blue in the title/on the cover.

Mystery of the Blue Train by Agatha Christie

Blue Hand by Edgar Wallace, 1925

Mystery of the Blue Train - Agatha Christie

The Blue Horse of Taxco by Kathleen Moore Knight

• note for next time? The Blue Hand by Edgar Wallace
•  

2. A book with "Red" or any shade of Red in the title/on the cover.

The Adventure of the Red Circle by Arthur Conan Doyle (k)

Red Aces by Edgar Wallace, 1929

Case of the Crimson Kiss - Erle Stanley Gardner

The Red Mass by Valentine Williams

• note for next time? The Scarlet Letters by Ellery Queen
• note for next time? The Red Lamp by Mary Roberts Rinehart
• note for next time? A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle
• note for next time? Crimson Friday by Dorothy Cameron Disney
• note for next time? The Crimson Circle by Edgar Wallace

3. A book with "Yellow" or any shade of Yellow in the title/on the cover.

The Yellow Room by Mary Roberts Rinehart

The Case of the Blonde Bonanza - Erle Stanley Gardner

The Case of the Lame Canary - Erle Stanley Gardner

• note for next time? Gold Comes in Bricks by A. A. Fair (Erle Stanley Gardner)
• note for next time? The Golden Spiders by Rex Stout
• note for next time? The Golden Goose by Ellery Queen
•  note for next time: Mys. of the Yellow Room by Gaston Leroux (gutenberg)

4. A book with "Green" or any shade of Green in the title/on the cover.

Green Hazard - Manning Coles (1945)

The Green Ribbon - Edgar Wallace (1930)

Case of the Green Eyed Sister - Erle Stanley Gardner

The Jade Venus by George Harmon Coxe

• note for next time? The Man in the Green Hat by Manning Coles
•   "The Greene Murder Case" by S. S. Van Dine for this one!

5. A book with "Brown" or any shade of Brown in the title/on the cover.

The Wisdom of Father Brown - G.K. Chesterton

The Curse of the Bronze Lamp - Carter Dickson

Case of the Borrowed Brunette - Erle Stanley Gardner

The Bronze Hand by Carolyn Wells (1925)

6. A book with "Black" or any shade of Black in the title/on the cover.

The Blackpool Highflyer by Andrew Martin (2004)

The Adventure of Black Peter by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, 1903-4

Black Orchids - Rex Stout

The Ebony Bed Murder by Rufus Gillmore (1932)
Acts of Black Night by Kathleen Moore Knight (1938)

• note for next time? The Black Mountain by Rex Stout
• 
  

7. A book with "White" or any shade of White in the title/on the cover.

The White Elephant Mystery by Ellery Queen Jr.

The White Dress by Mignon G. Eberhart

The White Cockatoo by Mignon G. Eberhart

White Rider by Leslie Charteris

• note for next time? The Window at the White Cat by Mary Roberts Rinehart
• note for next time? White Face by Edgar Wallace

8. A book with any other color in the title/on the cover (Purple, Orange, Silver, Pink, etc).

Mystery of the Gold Box by Valentine Williams

The Gold Skull Murders - Frank L. Packard (1931)

Case of the Gold Diggers Purse - Erle Stanley Gardner

The False Purple by Sydney Horler (1932)

• note for next time? The Chinese Orange Mystery by Ellery Queen
• note for next time? Ride the Pink Horse by Dorothy Hughes
• note for next time? The Silver Key by Edgar Wallace
• The Mystery of the Ivory Charm Nancy Drew *faded page)

9. A book with a word/image that implies color in the title/on the cover

 (Rainbow, Polka-dot, Plaid, Shadow, Paint, Ink, etc).

The Adventure of the Speckled Band by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

The Pattern - Mignon G. Eberhart

Miss Paisley on a Diet by John Pierce (1969) 

The Willow Pattern Van Gulik (faded page_

Wrapup (January 2026): Got all the colors! (Highlighted in green above). The grey ones were used in previous years, to help me not repeat. The "implies color" is the hardest one! Thanks, Bev!