The Calendar of Crime is a reading challenge hosted by Bev at My Reader’s Block. It allows mystery readers to include any mystery regardless of publication date. If it falls in a mystery category (crime fiction/detective novel/police procedural/suspense/thriller/spy & espionage/hard-boiled/cozy etc.), then it counts and it does not matter if it was published in 1892 or 2019.

The Challenge ran from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019. I really enjoyed doing this and completed 42 of the 108 categories as shown in the chart and listed below:

January:

• Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch – original publication month
• The Christmas Card Crime and Other Stories, edited by Martin Edwards – month related scene on the cover

February:

• Dirty Little Secrets by Jo Spain – original publication month (7 February 2019)
• The Glass Woman by Caroline Lea – couple has major role
• The Evidence Against You by Gillian McAllister – author’s birth month
• Fell Murder by E C R Lorac – book title has word starting with ‘F’

March:

• The Murder of My Aunt by Richard Hull – Money/Fortune/Inheritance has a major role
• Wakenhyrst by Michelle Paver – original publication month
• Murder by Matchlight by E R C Lorac – book title has word starting with ‘M’

April:

• The King’s Evil by Andrew Taylor -original publication month
• Nothing Ventured by Jeffrey Archer – author’s birth month
• An April Shroud by Reginald Hill – month in the title
• The Adventures of Maud West, Lady Detective by Susannah Stapleton – book title has word starting with ‘A’

May:

• The Lying Room by Nicci French author’s birth month (Sean French)
• The Seeker by S G Maclean – original publication month
• Who Killed Ruby? by Camilla Way – mother has a major role
• Wild Fire by Ann Cleeves – action takes place this month

June:

• Then She Vanishes by Claire Douglas – original publication month
• Clouds of Witness by Dorothy L Sayers – author’s birth month

July:

• Destroying Angel by S G MacLean – original publication month
• The Island by Ragnar Jónasson – author’s birth month
• A Beautiful Corpse by Christi Daugherty – takes place in the US

August:

• Greenmantle by John Buchan – author’s birth month
• The Art of Dying by Ambrose Parry – original publication month
• An Advancement of Learning by Reginald Hill – book title has word starting with ‘A’
• The Seagull by Ann Cleeves – wild card book (my birth month)
• The Vanished Bride by Bella Ellis – action takes place this month
• The Colour of Murder by Julian Symons – month related item on cover

September:

• Excellent Intentions by Richard Hull – author’s birth month
• A Snapshot of Murder by Frances Brody – book title has word beginning with ‘S’
• Codename Villanelle by Luke Jennings – original publication month
• Ruling Passion by Reginald Hill – primary action takes place this month
• Blood on the Tracks edited by Martin Edwards – month related item on cover
• The Shadow Puppet by Georges Simenon – setting is place of employment

October:

• Cold Earth by Ann Cleeves – author’s birth month
• Anything You Do Say by Gillian McAllister – original publication month
• Operation Pax by Michael Innes – book title has word beginning with ‘O’

November:

• The Stranger Diaries by Elly Griffiths – primary action takes place in this month
• The Lost Man by Jane Harper – Family relationships play major role
• Not Dead Enough by Peter James – book title has word beginning with ‘N’

December:

• Fallen Angel by Christopher Brookmyre – House party/family gathering important
• Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield – original publication month
• The Saint-Fiacre Affair by Georges Simenon – snow scene on cover

And now I’m looking forward to taking part in this year’s challenge – you can sign up too on Bev’s blog My Readers Block.