An online friend, Rick Mills, has a mystery novel webpage and he posts contests. This is one of his latest, the 2023 Baseball Season of Abra Cadavers! The goal is to complete all nine types of plate appearances to become an All-Star!
http://rickmillsproject.com/reading_challenges/baseball/2023/index.htmlAnnouncer: Ladies and Gentlemen, please stand and remove your caps for the National Anthem.
Get a Single by reading one book. Now how hard is that?
The Gideon Oliver Mystery Series by Aaron Elkins
Fellowship of Fear #1
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5291228328Get a Double by reading two books by a second author (Different author than the single)
Stephanie Plum Mystery Series by Janet Evanovich
One for the Money #1
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5344837368 Going Rogue #29
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4930041659 The first and the most recent novels
Get a Triple by reading three books by a third author (Different author than the single or double)
Lacey Flint Mystery Series by Sharon J. Bolton
Now You See Me #1
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5347352453 Dead Scared #2
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5383864792 Lost #3
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5467005451 There are more books in the series, alas they're not available in the local library system. :(
Get a Home Run by reading four books by a fourth author. (Different author than the single, double, or triple)
A White House Chef Mystery Series by Julie Hyzy
State of the Onion #1
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4480846481 Hail to the Chef #2
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5259534944 Eggsecutive Orders #3
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5271096287 Buffalo West Wing #4
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5300112758 I've actually read six out of the nine at this point, so . . .
Affairs of Steak #5
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5324979082 Fonduing Fathers #6
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5324979145You have hit for the Cycle once you complete a single, double, triple, AND a home run.
Single - The Gideon Oliver Mystery Series by Aaron Elkins
Double - Stephanie Plum Mystery Series by Janet Evanovich
Triple - Lacey Flint Mystery Series by Sharon J. Bolton
Home Run - A White House Chef Mystery Series by Julie Hyzy
Get a Foul by giving up on a foul one with the dreaded DNF (Did Not Finish)
This one is going to be a problem. Do I deliberately pick a novel so bad I won't finish it? Or do I just hope I run across one this year? My last DNF was "Daisy Jones and the Six" by Taylor Jenkins Reid last year.
Get a Bunt by reading a short story.
The Innocence of Father Brown by G.K. Chesterton (12 short stories)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5344859433 Raffles - The Amateur Cracksman by E.W. Hornung (24 short stories)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5393341103Get 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. This is an incentive for you to browse the readings of the other challengers. Browse all the archived challenges at The Mystillery.
http://rickmillsproject.com/mystillery/index.html Hmmm, a-hunting we will go, a-hunting we will go . . . :)
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.)
I have a friend who is downsizing her library. 8-O She gives me a box of books once a week. I take a few to keep and donate the rest to the Free Little Library on the front lawn of the local public library. I've given away three boxes of books to date. However, just to be technical; Nightshade by Susan Witting Albert.