Books

-The challenge runs from January 1 to December 31, 2026. You can sign up any time, but only count books that you read between those dates.
-Read a book in any format (hard copy, ebook, audio) with a title that fits into each category.
-Don’t use the same book for more than one category.
-Creativity for matching the categories is not only allowed, it’s encouraged!
-You can choose your books as you go or make a list ahead of time.
-In 2026, choose 6 books that have titles that contain:
Six/6: Titles for this category need to include the word “six” or number “6” somewhere in the title, even if they are part of another word or number.
Cold weather: Your title for this category should include a word that describes cold weather such as “snow,” “ice,” blizzard,” “frozen,” etc.
Peace: Titles for this category need to include a word that describes peace: “peace,” “serenity,” “still,” “calm,” etc, even if it doesn’t directly mean “peace.”
Pathways: Titles for this category need to include words that are types of paths: “trail,” “road,” “avenue,” “sidewalk,” etc.
Terrain: Titles for this category need to include a word for a type of topographic terrain or the name of a particular part of terrain. Types of terrain: Mountains, Hills, Plains, Plateaus, Valleys, Deserts, Forests/Jungles, Wetlands, Coastal, Glacial/Polar
Flower: Titles for this category need to include a type of flower or the word “flower.”

The Mystillery hosts reading challenges for mystery readers and I have played along for several years.

The Medical Examiner Mystery got me 100 books for a total of 347 toe tags, earning me the Brass Bone Saw.

I racked up 12 notches in The Six Shooter Mystery, which has the goal to shoot (read) six mysteries by the same target (author).

I did finished the new Mystery Marathon in 104 days, using 8827 steps (or pages). The Mystillery also hosts 2 seasonal games that add some fun to the year, & I completed the Ten Pins bowling game & AbraCadavers baseball game.

Thank you to Rick for making mystery reading so fun!

34 non-fiction
33 new-to-me authors
93 series books
44 re-reads
79 audio-books
10 of 11 challenges completed
92 of 103 Newbery winners

You can see all my books read here.

2024: 160 books; 52,798 pages; 16 non-fiction; 35 new-to-me authors; 103 series books; 14 re-reads; 66 audio-books; 10 of 11 challenges completed; 92 of 102 Newbery winners
2023: 168 books; 50,922 pages; 11 non-fiction; 27 new-to-me authors; 109 series books; 21 re-reads; 61 audio-books; 7 of 7 challenges completed; 91 of 101 Newbery winners
2022: 171 books; 55,585 pages; 15 non-fiction; 34 new-to-me authors; 115 series books; 28 re-reads; 76 audio-books; 9 of 10 challenges completed; 86 of 100 Newbery winners
2021: 194 books; 64,530 pages; 8 non-fiction; 36 new-to-me authors; 126 series books; 40 re-reads; 110 audio-books; 9 of 9 challenges completed; 83 of 99 Newbery winners
2020: 218 books; 76,990 pages; 31 non-fiction; 51 new-to-me authors; 115 series; 27 re-reads; 104 audio-books; 10 of 10 challenges completed; 82 of 98 Newbery winners
2019: 161 books; 55,269 pages; 15 non-fiction; 44 new-to-me authors; 105 series; 26 re-reads; 78 audio-books; 8 of 8 challenges completed; 81 of 97 Newbery winners
2018: 122 books: 41,700 pages; 10 non-fiction; 25 new-to-me authors; 56 series; 23 re-reads; 52 audio-books; 9 of 9 challenges completed; 77 of 96 Newbery winners
2017: 162 books; 49,126 pages; 14 non-fiction; 32 new-to-me authors; 94 series; 22 re-reads; 78 audio-books; 14 of 14 challenges completed; 75 of 95 Newbery winners
2016: 162 books; 50,718 pages; 14 non-fiction; 33 new-to-me authors; 49 series; 30 re-reads; 68 audio-books; 16 of 17 challenges completed; 73 of 94 Newbery winners
2015: 141 books; 50,971 pages; 11 non-fiction; 29 new-to-me authors; 45 series; 37 re-reads; 56 audio-books; 10 of 10 challenges completed; 71 of 93 Newbery winners
2014: 139 books; 43,972 pages; 7 non-fiction; 36 new-to-me authors; 26 series; 20 re-reads; 37 audio-books; 10 of 10 challenges completed; 70 of 92 Newbery; books set in 25 of 50 states
2013: 150 books; 47,936 pages; 7 non-fiction; 29 new-to-me authors; 25 series; 32 re-reads; 49 audio-books; 6 of 6 challenges completed; 64 of 91 Newbery; books set in 25 of 50 states
2012: 196 books; 56,851 pages; 11 non-fiction; 55 new-to-me novelists; 95 series; 25 re-reads; 25 audio-books; 6 of 6 challenges completed; 64 of 90 Newbery
2011: 132 books; 39,641 pages; 15 non-fiction; 42 new-to-me novelists; 54 series; 12 re-reads; 33 audio-books; 0 of 0 challenges completed; 59 of 89 Newbery
2010: 152 books; 46,899 pages; 3 non-fiction; 37 new-to-me novelists; 25 series; 19 re-reads; 28 audio-books; 5 of 5 challenges completed; 50 of 88 Newbery
2009: 73 books; 23,576 pages; 3 non-fiction; 31 new-to-me novelists; 36 series; 5 re-reads; 48 of 87 Newbery
2008: 79 books; 32,031 pages; 8 non-fiction; 15 new-to-me novelists; 31 series; 19 re-reads; 42 of 86 Newbery
2007: 44 books; 17,069 pages; 3 non-fiction; 8 new-to-me novelists; 15 series; 13 re-reads; 38 of 85 Newbery

Blue– Black Woods, Blue Sky by Eowyn Ivey
Red– A Red Herring Without Mustard (Flavia de Luce #3) by Alan Bradley
Yellow-The Golden Tresses of the Dead (Flavia de Luce, #10) by Alan Bradley
Green– Angel of Greenwood by Randi Pink
Brown– What Time the Sexton’s Spade Doth Rust (Flavia de Luce, #11) by Alan Bradley
Black– The Grey Wolf (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, #19) by Louise Penny
White– White Mulberry by Rosa Kwon Easton
Any other color (Purple, Orange, Silver, Pink, etc).– The Weed that Strings the Hangman’s Bag (Flavia de Luce #2) by Alan Bradley (purple cover)
A word/image that implies color (Rainbow, Polka-dot, Plaid, Shadow, Paint, Ink, etc).– A Tarnished Canvas (Lady Darby Mystery, #13) by Anna Lee Huber