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2024 Bookish Books Reading Challenge (Hosted by Yours Truly)

My Progress:


30 / 30 books. 100% done!

2024 Literary Escapes Challenge

- Alabama (1)
- Alaska (1)
- Arizona (1)
- Arkansas (1)
- California (7)
- Colorado (1)
- Connecticut (1)
- Delaware (1)
- Florida (1)
- Georgia (2)
- Hawaii (1)
- Idaho (2)
- Illinois (3)
- Indiana (4)
- Iowa (1)
- Kansas (1)
- Kentucky (1)
- Louisiana (1)
- Maine (1)
- Maryland (1)
- Massachusetts (3)
- Michigan (1)
- Minnesota (1)
- Mississippi (1)
- Missouri (1)
- Montana (1)
- Nebraska (1)
- Nevada (2)
- New Hampshire (1)
- New Jersey (1)
- New Mexico (1)
- New York (8)
- North Carolina (4)
- North Dakota (1)
- Ohio (2)
- Oklahoma (2)
- Oregon (2)
- Pennsylvania (2)
- Rhode Island (1)
- South Carolina (1)
- South Dakota (1)
- Tennessee (1)
- Texas (4)
- Utah (2)
- Vermont (2)
- Virginia (2)
- Washington (3)
- West Virginia (1)
- Wisconsin (1)
- Wyoming
- Washington, D.C.* (2)

International:
- Australia (2)
- Bolivia (1)
- Canada (3)
- China (1)
- England (20)
- France (1)
- Ghana (1)
- India (1)
- Indonesia (1)
- Ireland (4)
- Italy (1)
- Poland (1)
- Russia (1)
- Scotland (3)
- The Netherlands (1)

My Progress:


51 / 51 states. 100% done!

2024 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

My Progress:


44 / 50 books. 88% done!

2024 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge


36 / 50 books. 72% done!

Booklist Queen's 2024 Reading Challenge

My Progress:


52 / 52 books. 100% done!

2024 52 Club Reading Challenge

My Progress:


50 / 52 books. 96% done!

2024 Build Your Library Reading Challenge

My Progress:


36 / 40 books. 90% done!

2024 Pioneer Book Reading Challenge


17 / 40 books. 43% done!

2024 Craving for Cozies Reading Challenge

My Progress:


21 / 25 books. 84% done!

2024 Medical Examiner's Mystery Reading Challenge

2024 Mystery Marathon Reading Challenge

My Progress


17 / 26.2 miles (3rd lap). 65% done!

Mount TBR Reading Challenge

My Progress


38 / 100 books. 38% done!

2024 Pick Your Poison Reading Challenge

My Progress:


92 / 104 books. 88% done!

Around the Year in 52 Books Reading Challenge

My Progress


52 / 52 books. 100% done!

Disney Animated Movies Reading Challenge

My Progress


125 / 165 books. 76% done!

The 100 Most Common Last Names in the U.S. Reading Challenge

My Progress:


76 / 100 names. 76% done!
Tuesday, January 12, 2021

Top Ten Tuesday: The Mystery of the Catch-Up Reader


What do you want to accomplish in 2021?  Do you make New Year's resolutions?  Do you keep them?  Are you a person who chooses a focus word/idea to guide your choices throughout the year?  I've always been a great goal maker, but not a very good goal achiever!  Because of my son's wedding in early January, my usual New Year's tasks were postponed, so I haven't made any resolutions yet.  It feels very liberating, let me tell you!  I may use February 1st as my January 1st or I may not make any resolutions at all.  We'll see.  I am curious what you all do and how well your methods work, though, so please share.  I need some motivation (obviously).

Today's Top Ten Tuesday is all about our hopes and goals for the new year.  Book/blog-wise, my only real aims are to read 200 books in 2021 and to complete the reading challenges I've taken on.  If I fail completely?  No biggie.  These are just-for-fun goals.  Since I'm not really sure about what else I want to accomplish this year, on the blog and off, I'm not going to do today's topic of Top Ten Goals and Hopes for 2021.  Instead, I'm going to steal a topic that Katherine over at I Wish I Lived in a Library did last week:  Top Ten Series I Want to Finish/Catch Up On By the End of the Year (check out her list here).  I love series, especially mystery ones, but I get stuck in the middle of them all the time.  2021 seems like a good time to catch up!  

Before we get to that, though, I want to encourage you to join in the TTT fun.  This is an awesome weekly meme that encourages bloggers to spread the love throughout our wonderful book blogosphere.  It's a great way to get involved in the community, find new blogs, revisit old favorites, and, of course, add more books to your TBR pile mountain mountain chain.  What's not to love?  Hop on over to That Artsy Reader Girl for all the TTT deets. 

Top Ten Mystery Series I Want to Finish/Catch Up On Before the End of the Year (in no particular order)


1.  Name:  The Noodle Shop Mystery series
Author:  Vivien Chien
Description:  Cozy culinary mysteries revolving around a Asian-American family that runs a Chinese restaurant in Cleveland
Books in series so far:  8 (two of which come out in 2021)
Books I've read:  5
Next up for me:  Killer Kung Pao 


2.  Name:  The Gilded Newport Mystery series
Author:  Alyssa Maxwell
Description:  Cozy historical mysteries starring a poor Vanderbilt relation who gets caught up in upstairs/downstairs tangles of all sorts
Books in series so far:  9 (the newest of which comes out in 2021)
Books I've read:  2
Next up for me:  Murder at Beechwood


3.  Name:  Lady Darby Mystery series
Author:  Anna Lee Huber
Description:  Set in 1830's Scotland, this mystery series features a widow whose former occupation as an anatomist's assistant makes her especially suited to help solve confounding murder mysteries.
Books in series so far:  9 (the newest of which comes out in 2021)
Books I've read:  2
Next up for me:  A Grave Matter


4.  Name:  The Bakeshop Mystery series
Author:  Ellie Alexander
Description:  Cozy culinary mystery series set in a family-owned bakeshop in Ashland, Oregon
Books in series so far:  13 (the newest of which comes out in 2021)
Books I've read:  1
Next up for me:  A Batter of Life and Death


5.  Name:  The Amish Candy Shop Mystery series
Author:  Amanda Flower
Description:  Cozy mystery series set in a family-owned candy shop in the heart of Ohio's Amish country
Books in series so far:  7 (the newest of which comes out in 2021)
Books I've read:  3
Next up for me:  Toxic Toffee


6.  Name:  The Ruth Galloway Mystery series
Author:  Elly Griffiths
Description:  An English archeologist helps solve mysteries involving bones and secrets
Books in series so far:  13 (the newest of which comes out in 2021)
Books I've read:  4
Next up for me:  A Dying Fall


7.  Name:  Below Stairs Mystery series
Author:  Jennifer Ashley
Description:  London's best cook is also a keen observer and amateur detective
Books in series so far:  5 (the newest of which comes out in 2021)
Books I've read:  3
Next up for me:  Murder in the East End


8.  Name:  Inspector Armand Gamache Mystery series
Author:  Louise Penny
Description:  Canada's best detective solves puzzling mysteries, with a special interest in those originating from the small town of Three Pines
Books in series so far:  17 (the newest of which comes out in 2021)
Books I've read:  11
Next up for me:  A Great Reckoning


9.  Name:  Shetland Mystery series
Author:  Ann Cleeves
Description:  Crime series set in the Shetland Islands
Books in series so far:  8
Books I've read:  3
Next up for me:  Blue Lightning


10.  Name:  Lucy Campion Mystery series
Author:  Susanna Calkins
Description:  A chamber maid solves mysteries in plague-ridden 17th Century England
Books in series so far:  5
Books I've read:  0
Next up for me:  A Murder at Rosamund's Gate    

There you go, ten mystery series I want to catch up on in 2021.  Are you a fellow fan of these series?  Which mystery series are your favorites?  Which series in other genres do you enjoy?  I'd truly love to know.  Leave a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog.

Happy TTT!

53 comments:

  1. I have quite a few unfinished series on my shelf. Good luck with these!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Same. I've only listed ten here, but I could have listed at least that many more!

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Sam!

      Delete
  2. Good luck with catching up on these series. You have 3 of my favorites on your list - bet you might guess which. Ha!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Gamache series for sure. Also the Ruth Galloway, but what's the third?? Shetland? How did I do? 3 for 3?

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Kay!

      Delete
  3. It really is so liberating not making resolutions! I vote for not making February 1st your January 1st and just go with the flow lol!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL. You're a bad influence! Seriously, though, I never follow through with my resolutions anyway, so what's the point??

      Thanks for stopping in, Sash!

      Delete
  4. I hope you enjoy all of these series!

    My post.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Lydia! I'm enjoying all of them, although I haven't actually started the Calkins one yet. I'm pretty sure I'm going to like it, too :)

      Thanks for coming by and commenting!

      Delete
  5. I love Huber's Lady Darby series. I'm excited for her new one to come out this spring. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're the one who recommended the Lady Darby series and I'm so glad. It's a good one! I want to try the Verity Kent series, too, but I have to catch up with Lady Darby first. So many great series, so little time ...

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Lark!

      Delete
  6. Right now I'm in the midst of reading one series only -- the Morgan Dane series by Miranda Leigh. I can't wait to get back to it, but I have a few other books I need to get through first!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're smart to have only one series going at a time! I should try that ...

      Thanks for stopping by, Sarah!

      Delete
  7. Good luck with your reading challenges and finishing your series! I'm terrible about sticking with series. I hear good things about Huber and Griffiths, I've been meaning to read them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm great at starting series, but I always seem to get lost in the middle of them. I need to work on actually finishing the ones that are complete and catching up on the ones that are ongoing.

      I definitely recommend both Huber and Griffiths. They're both great writers. I hope you enjoy them :)

      Thanks for coming by, curlygeek!

      Delete
  8. I hope you have fun catching up on these mysteries!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! I love all these series, so it's definitely going to be fun catching up :)

      Thanks for stopping by, Alicia!

      Delete
  9. I am really bad at finishing a series. After I wait too long, I always feel like I need to re-read the books that I have already read in order to move on and then I put that task off. I need a better plan.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's me as well! My memory is no bueno, so it's hard to keep track of who's who and what's what. I have unintentionally abandoned several series because I can't remember what's going on and I don't want to go back and re-read all the books I've already read! I keep telling myself not to start a series until it's finished and I can binge-read the whole thing, but I never listen. LOL.

      Thanks for coming by, Carole!

      Delete
  10. Killer Kung Pao sounds right up my alley haha- because food! A cozy series centered around a Chinese restaurant. I need those. I've been wanting to try LAdy Darby series as well (and her other series).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The series definitely makes me hungry for Chinese food! It's a fun series that I think you'll enjoy. The Lady Darby series is more serious, but it's still an engrossing, entertaining one.

      Thanks for stopping by, Greg!

      Delete
  11. Great list and twist on the topic! I want to catch up on the Noodle Shop mysteries also (I just got two more for Christmas, so I have no excuse) and I want to start the Amish Candy Shop Mystery series. Hopefully soon!

    Happy reading!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm JUST about caught up with the Noodle Shop mysteries. There are two coming out in 2021, though, so then I'll be behind again ... I'm way behind in the Amish Candy Shop one, but I do have the next one out from the library, so I can catch up at least a little.

      Thanks for coming by, Nicole!

      Delete
  12. I'm currently reading a book in a series. I tend to lean toward series and I love mysteries but don't read nearly enough of them :) Thanks for stopping by!

    Colletta

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Same! I love really getting to know characters and settings. I just wish my memory wasn't so terrible so I could actually remember who's who and what's what from installment to installment!

      Thanks for stopping in, Colletta!

      Delete
  13. I hope you get to 200 this year and clear all of these off your TBR! Great list!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! I got SOOO close to 200 last year. This year I'm going to do it for sure. LOL.

      Thanks for coming by, Caroline!

      Delete
  14. Wow! I love how you have drafted this post and there are so many interesting books to read! I am definitely going to increase my TBR pile with this! :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! I love all these series, so I'd definitely recommend them to you. Enjoy!

      Thanks for stopping by, Namrata!

      Delete
  15. I enjoy making new year resolutions/goals, although I never hold myself to them. I don't read much mystery, although I've been thinking of finding some more cozy mystery books. It seems you've mentioned a few that I'll definitely have to look into! Especially since they all seem to be dealing with food. Haha. I wish you the best in getting through these series!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha ha. Cozies are often set in eateries and they ALWAYS make me hungry! I hope you found some on my list to try out. Let me know what you think of them if you do.

      Thanks for coming by, Holliehocks!

      Delete
  16. Wow, all of these series are new to me.. and they all sound good.. oh my TBR...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha ha ha! TTT is really bad for my TBR :)

      Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  17. I'm a big Louise Penny fan. One of hers would usually make my Top Ten Audiobooks list every year, but I listened to so much more audio this year, she got bumped off! The Vivien Chen series has been getting buzz at my library and I've been wanting to start it. I usually listen to mysteries instead of reading them, but I occasionally pick up a cozy in print! The first Elly Griffiths I read with a mystery book club back when it was new, but that series quickly got away from me! PJ Tracy's Monkeewrench series is one of my favorites. I also keep up with Michael Connelly's series, Jack Reacher, and am halfway through Agatha Raisin.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Interesting! I've just started getting into audiobooks, but I've yet to listen to a mystery. I feel like I need to read them in print so I can pay attention to all the clues and twists. A cozy would be good to listen to in audio, though - I'll have to try one out and see how it goes.

      Penny is a great author. I love all the Gamache books that I've read. I've been reading the series slowly on purpose so I can savor it :)

      I haven't tried any of the series you mention. I'll definitely look into them.

      Thanks for coming by, Laurie!

      Delete
  18. Looks like we all have similar goals, even if we don't believe in New Year's Resolutions.

    Thank you for visiting my goal for 2021: Read more Books from my TBR pile.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, mine are pretty simple and if I don't achieve them, oh well. I'm not going to stress out about reading and blogging!

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Marianne!

      Delete
    2. Same here, I see them more as a help if I get stuck. Or making it easier to plan. Most of the time, I get quite a few books read that I attempt but it really is only there to make me enjoy reading more.

      Delete
  19. I love series books but with so many out there, it can be quite challenging to catch up on them all. Still, they're always a treat and it's always good to read more about the characters as the series go.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. For sure! I can't even count how many series I'm in the middle of right now. I do love series, though, because I do like to really get to know characters and settings. It makes reading series feel like coming home, you know??

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Melody!

      Delete
  20. I really want to read Louise Penny but her books are always out from the library. Maybe I have to break down and buy some copies!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Louise Penny is very popular! I've been buying all her books slowly from my local indie. They have a lot of discounts offered throughout the year, so I take advantage of them to get her books at a discounted price. If you live in Arizona, I'll totally let you borrow them :)

      Thanks for stopping by, Lory!

      Delete
  21. Ohh I love this version of goal setting! Thanks for the idea, and for sharing your goals. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm pretty lazy when it comes to goal setting :) LOL.

      Thanks for coming by!

      Delete
  22. I did something very similar to this last year, and it really worked well. I didn't actually finish a series, but I made good progress on six or seven of them.

    Of your ten, Louise Penny's Gamache books was one I worked on hardest. Just two to go now in that series, but I'm wondering if I should put one away for a while because now I can't imagine waiting a whole year or more between Gamache books. :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. None of the series I mentioned here are complete, so I can't really finish them. I'm just aiming to catch up - even a little bit would be good.

      The Gamache series is the only one I'm reading slowly on purpose. I want to savor it! And, yes, it's so hard to wait for the next book in a favorite series. I'm not a very patient reader :)

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Sam!

      Delete
  23. I've only read the first Louise Penny, but I really enjoyed it. My favorite detective series is the one by Faye Kellerman (Peter Decker series)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I haven't read anything by Faye Kellerman. I need to try her out.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Helen!

      Delete
  24. "Killer Kung Pao: Steaming Hot Homicide" -- amazing. Where do you find such gems??

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Right? Cozy titles (and subtitles) are the best!

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, RS!

      Delete
  25. I really hope that you get to finish these!! I'm soo bad about finishing series. It's a goal of mine this year... to just finish a few that I've started. So many books... then shiny new ones come along!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Right? And then I get stuck in the middle of a series, forget who's who and what's what, figure I have to go back and re-read books in order to continue on, and end up abandoning the series altogether because it's too much work to keep up! Ugh. I really shouldn't even start a series until all the books have been written.

      Thanks for stopping by, Leslie!

      Delete
  26. I also have several series that I want to finish or catch up on before the end of 2021. Great choice.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's a never-ending struggle, isn't it?

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Carla!

      Delete

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