August 03

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Mysterious USA Reading Challenge

Posted by on August 3, 2013 in Reviews | 35 Comments

UntitledInspired by an article about a writer who read books from 196 countries to broaden her horizons, I decided to challenge myself as well.  Not being a native of the USA, but living here for the past 16 years, I want to read and review one mystery novel from each of the 50 states.

I’m looking for a novel—preferably but not necessarily written by a native of each state—that is either “representative” of the state, or shows one unique aspect of the state.

Please help me compile my list.  Suggestions are greatly appreciated!

This is just a preliminary list.  While there are a lot of books for certain states, I’m having trouble with others.

As the list grows I will read and review one novel from each state, which will appear with a link to the review in the list below.

I may be mistaken about the authors or where the books take place, so please don’t hesitate to correct me!

Want to join the challenge? Add a link to your page in the comments or email me a link to your review and it will be added to the list.

  • Alabama:
  • Alaska:
  • Arizona:
  • Arkansas:
    • Speer Morgan,
      • The Freshour Cylinders Foreword Magazine’s Silver Award, 1999 American Book Award
    • Joan Edmiston Hess,
      • Malice in Maggody
    • Kevin Brockmeier,
      • The Brief History of the Dead Borders Original Voices Award for Fiction (2006)
  • California:
  • Colorado:
  • Connecticut:
  • Delaware:
    • Barbara Johnson
  • District of Columbia:
  • Florida:
  • Georgia:
  • Hawaii:
    • Earl Derr Biggers,
      • The House Without a Key
    • Deborah Turrell Atkinson,
    • Victoria Heckman,
    • Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl,
      • Murder Casts a Shadow
    •  Juanita Sheridan,
      • The Chinese Chop
  • Idaho:
    • Wendell McCall (Ridley Pearson),
      • Killer Weekend
    • Patrick F. McManus,
      • The Shoot Canoes, Don’t They?
    • Joan Opyr,
      • Idaho Code Golden Crown Literary Society (Goldie) Award for Lesbian Mystery (2007)
  • Illinois:
  • Indiana:
    • Madelyn Alt,
      • The Trouble With Magic
    • Kate Collins,
      • Mum’s the Word
  • Iowa:
    • Barbara Allan,
      • Antiques Roadkill
    • Ed Gorman,
    • Maddy Hunter,
    • Mike Manno
  • Kansas:
  • Kentucky:
    • Joyce Carol Oates, A Garden of Earthly Delights
  • Louisiana:
  • Maine:
    • John Connolly,
      • The Book of Lost Things
    • Paul Doiron,
      • The Poacher’s Son Edgar Nominee 2011
    • Lea Wait,
      • Shadows at the Fair, Agatha Award Nominee for Best First Novel (2002)
  • Maryland:
  • Massachusetts:
  • Michigan:
    • Steve Hamilton,
      • The Lock Artist, Edgar Winner 2011
    •  Harry Dolan,
      • Bad Things Happen, Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Nominee (2008)
  • Minnesota:
  • Mississippi:
  • Missouri:
  • Montana:
  • Nebraska:
    • Alex Kava,
      • A Perfect Evil
    • William J. Reynolds,
      • The Nebraska Quotient Shamus Award Nominee for Best First PI Novel (1985)
    •  David Wiltse
  • Nevada:
    • Carol Davis Luce,
    • Kenneth Able,
      • Cold Steel Rain
  • New Hampshire:     
  • New Jersey:
  • New Mexico:
    • Tony Hillerman,
      • The Blessing Way, Edgar Nominee 1971,
      • Dance Hall of the Dead Edgar Winner 1974
    • Rodolfo Anaya,
    • Kirk Mitchell,
      • High Desert Malice Edgar Nominee 1996
  • New York:
  • North Carolina:
  • North Dakota:
  • Ohio:
    • Les Roberts,
      • Pepper Pike
    •  Michael Koryta,
      • So Cold the River,
      • Tonight I Said Goodbye Edgar Nominee 2005
    •  Avery Aames,
      • The Long Quiche Goodbye Agatha Award for Best First Novel (2010)
    • Sharon Short,
      • Death of a Domestic Diva
  • Oklahoma:
    • Carolyn Hart,
      • Death on Demand Anthony Award Nominee for Best Paperback Original (1988)
    • Mardi Oakley Medawar,
      • The Witch of Palo Duro
    • David Cole
      • Dragonfly Bones, Shamus Award Nominee for Best Original PI Paperback 2004
  • Oregon:
    • Nancy Bush,
      • Candy Apple Red
  • Pennsylvania:
    • Kathleen George, Taken
  • Rhode Island:
  • South Carolina:
    • Carolyn Hart,
      • Death on Demand Anthony Award Nominee for Best Paperback Original (1988)
    • Laura Childs,
      • Death by Darjeeling
    • Paige Shelton,
      • Farm Fresh Murder
  • South Dakota:
    • Lori Armstrong,
      • Blood Ties Shamus Award Nominee for Best First PI Novel (2006)
    • Kathleen Taylor,
      • Funeral Food
    • Harold Adams,
  • Tennessee:
  • Texas:
    • Susan Wittig Albert,
      • Thyme of Death Anthony Award Nominee for Best First Novel (1993), Agatha Award Nominee for Best First Novel (1992)
    • Maria Lima,
      • Matters of Blood
    • Livia J Washburn,
      • A Peach of a Murder
  • Utah:
    • Sarah Andrews,
      • Bone Hunter,
      • In Cold Pursuit Edgar Nominee 2008
    • Natalie M. Roberts,
      • Tutu Deadly
  • Vermont:
  • Virginia:
    • Donna Andrews,
      • Murder With Peacocks Barry Award for Best First Novel (2000), Macavity Award Nominee for Best First Mystery Novel (2000), Anthony Award for Best First Novel (2000), Agatha Award for Best First Novel (1999)
    • Patricia Cornwell,
      • Postmortem Edgar Winner 1991
    • Rita Mae Brown,
      • Wish You Were Here
    • Amanda Lee (Gayle Trent),
      • Murder Takes the Cake
  • Washington:
  • West Virginia:
    • Julia Keller,
      • A Killing in the Hills
    • Lauren Carr,
  • Wisconsin:
  • Wyoming: