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Tuesday, January 12, 2021
Top Ten Tuesday: The Mystery of the Catch-Up Reader
10:14 AM
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!
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I have quite a few unfinished series on my shelf. Good luck with these!
ReplyDeleteSame. I've only listed ten here, but I could have listed at least that many more!
DeleteThanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Sam!
Good luck with catching up on these series. You have 3 of my favorites on your list - bet you might guess which. Ha!
ReplyDeleteThe Gamache series for sure. Also the Ruth Galloway, but what's the third?? Shetland? How did I do? 3 for 3?
DeleteThanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Kay!
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!
ReplyDeleteLOL. You're a bad influence! Seriously, though, I never follow through with my resolutions anyway, so what's the point??
DeleteThanks for stopping in, Sash!
I hope you enjoy all of these series!
ReplyDeleteMy post.
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 :)
DeleteThanks for coming by and commenting!
I love Huber's Lady Darby series. I'm excited for her new one to come out this spring. :)
ReplyDeleteYou'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 ...
DeleteThanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Lark!
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!
ReplyDeleteYou're smart to have only one series going at a time! I should try that ...
DeleteThanks for stopping by, Sarah!
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.
ReplyDeleteI'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.
DeleteI definitely recommend both Huber and Griffiths. They're both great writers. I hope you enjoy them :)
Thanks for coming by, curlygeek!
I hope you have fun catching up on these mysteries!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I love all these series, so it's definitely going to be fun catching up :)
DeleteThanks for stopping by, Alicia!
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.
ReplyDeleteThat'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.
DeleteThanks for coming by, Carole!
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).
ReplyDeleteThe 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.
DeleteThanks for stopping by, Greg!
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!
ReplyDeleteHappy reading!
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.
DeleteThanks for coming by, Nicole!
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!
ReplyDeleteColletta
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!
DeleteThanks for stopping in, Colletta!
I hope you get to 200 this year and clear all of these off your TBR! Great list!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I got SOOO close to 200 last year. This year I'm going to do it for sure. LOL.
DeleteThanks for coming by, Caroline!
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
ReplyDeleteThanks! I love all these series, so I'd definitely recommend them to you. Enjoy!
DeleteThanks for stopping by, Namrata!
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!
ReplyDeleteHa 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.
DeleteThanks for coming by, Holliehocks!
Wow, all of these series are new to me.. and they all sound good.. oh my TBR...
ReplyDeleteHa ha ha! TTT is really bad for my TBR :)
DeleteThanks for stopping by!
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.
ReplyDeleteInteresting! 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.
DeletePenny 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!
Looks like we all have similar goals, even if we don't believe in New Year's Resolutions.
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting my goal for 2021: Read more Books from my TBR pile.
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!
DeleteThanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Marianne!
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.
DeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteFor 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??
DeleteThanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Melody!
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!
ReplyDeleteLouise 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 :)
DeleteThanks for stopping by, Lory!
Ohh I love this version of goal setting! Thanks for the idea, and for sharing your goals. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty lazy when it comes to goal setting :) LOL.
DeleteThanks for coming by!
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.
ReplyDeleteOf 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. :-)
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.
DeleteThe 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!
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)
ReplyDeleteI haven't read anything by Faye Kellerman. I need to try her out.
DeleteThanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Helen!
"Killer Kung Pao: Steaming Hot Homicide" -- amazing. Where do you find such gems??
ReplyDeleteRight? Cozy titles (and subtitles) are the best!
DeleteThanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, RS!
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!
ReplyDeleteRight? 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.
DeleteThanks for stopping by, Leslie!
I also have several series that I want to finish or catch up on before the end of 2021. Great choice.
ReplyDeleteIt's a never-ending struggle, isn't it?
DeleteThanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Carla!