In October 2013, I joined a challenge to read books for all 50 states in the USA, plus the District of Columbia. I did not keep up with how many states I had completed over time, so now I am doing that.
The challenge is hosted by Kerrie at Mysteries in Paradise. The challenge is ongoing, not limited to a timeframe. If you are interested you can read about the challenge at the USA Fiction Challenge site.
In order to identify the states I looked through all blog entries after October 2013. It amazes me that I read so many mysteries that are set outside of the United States. I haven't kept stats at all but as I look at books reviewed for each month, the great majority of books are set in the UK. I also read a good number of books set in Canada. Plus a lot of European countries, some Asian countries,and some Central and South American countries. And even when I read books set in the US, a large number are set in California or New York.
I have now read novels for nearly one third of the states (plus the District of Columbia). I initially decided to stick with crime fiction novels that are set in the state. If I have trouble getting to the total of 51 books I may eventually start adding novels from outside the crime fiction genre.
Below is the list of states and the books I have read so far. Later, I may include multiples if the books are really good examples of the setting.
- ALABAMA
- ALASKA
- ARIZONA
- ARKANSAS
- CALIFORNIA: Jasmine Trade by Denise Hamilton
- COLORADO
- CONNECTICUT
- DELAWARE
- DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: Cast a Yellow Shadow by Ross Thomas
- FLORIDA: Don’t Lose Her by Jonathan King
- GEORGIA
- HAWAII
- IDAHO
- ILLINOIS: Sleeping Dogs by Ed Gorman
- INDIANA
- IOWA: Eleven Days by Donald Harstad
- KANSAS: The Ice Harvest by Scott Phillips
- KENTUCKY
- LOUISIANA: The Indigo Necklace by Frances Crane
- MAINE
- MARYLAND
- MASSACHUSETTS: The Hanging Judge by Michael Ponsor
- MICHIGAN: Motor City Blue by Loren D. Estelman
- MINNESOTA
- MISSISSIPPI: The Last Clinic by Gary Cusick
- MISSOURI
- MONTANA
- NEBRASKA
- NEVADA
- NEW HAMPSHIRE
- NEW JERSEY
- NEW MEXICO: Ride the Pink Horse by Dorothy B. Hughes
- NEW YORK: Death of a Butterfly by Margaret Maron
- NORTH CAROLINA: Time’s Witness by Michael Malone
- NORTH DAKOTA: See Also Murder by Larry D. Sweazy
- OHIO
- OKLAHOMA
- OREGON
- PENNSYLVANIA: Concrete Angel by Patricia Abbott
- RHODE ISLAND
- SOUTH CAROLINA: In the Heat of the Night by John Ball
- SOUTH DAKOTA
- TENNESSEE
- TEXAS: Too Late to Die by Bill Crider
- UTAH
- VERMONT
- VIRGINIA
- WASHINGTON
- WEST VIRGINIA
- WISCONSIN
- WYOMING
22 comments:
Are you looking for suggestions for some of the ones you haven't found yet? I've got a couple of corkers for you from Nebraska. Also, must they be set in the state, or can the author be from the state? And, how current must they be?
I would love to have suggestions, Terry. I am sticking with books set in the state for now. I don't care how current the book is. In fact I mostly read less current books.
The research involved in this must be time consuming!
You've made some real progress, Tracy! I'm impressed. I'll be interested in 'following along' as you visit other states, so to speak.
OK, I can recommend _The Cleanup_ by Sean Doolittle published in 2006. Mr. Doolittle is a native Omahan and the story is set in Omaha, & contemporary. I liked it a lot, it's somewhat different than a lot of cop stories I've read. For one thing, the star is something of a screw-up but his heart's in the right place - though it leads him to some questionable actions. Anyway, that's my recommendation for one set in Nebraska.
For a far-too-short series by a Nebraska author but not set in Nebraska, I highly recommend MK Lorens's Winston Marlowe Sherman series. Sadly, Ms. Lorens passed away so we're deprived of any more, but I re-read these about once a year. Sherman's a curmudgeonly English prof who gets dragged into solving murders. It's not as twee as it sounds; Lorens makes her characters matter and sometimes the books are heart-breaking.
Fortunately, Patti, I love to do research. But many times, I just let the right book come along and don't go out searching for them. I know of a couple of books / authors for Ohio, because my husband is from there. And I have had one for Maine on my TBR forever.
Thanks, Margot, I hope to get to more of them soonish.
Thanks, Terry. Both of those sound good. I go to a big charity book sale in September every year and there is a good chance one of their books will show up. I will put them on my list to look for.
Your post is very timely. My goal is to read a book from all 50 states in a year (started in January). I'll look out for some that you have read as I think we enjoy the same novels.
Ann
Ann, I have been following your reviews for books set in the 50 states, and a couple of other bloggers are working on that goal too. That inspired me to figure out which ones I have covered so far.
The Long Faraway Gone set in Oklahoma is good; see Reactions to Reading's review. The Quality of Silence set in Alaska is different; one character is a child who has deafness. Her perspective is interesting.
Nevada Barr's Anna Pigeon mysteries are set in national parks; each book is set in a different state. I enjoy them a lot. And with most, one learns about the location.
And then there is the V.I. Warshawski series by Sara Paaretsky set in Chicago. I love those books, full of wit.
I agree with Kathy D about the Oklahoma book. And your commenter above has intrigued me with MK Lorens...
Thanks for all the suggestions for books, Kathy. I do remember Bernadette's review of The Long Faraway Gone, and I will definitely seek that out. I haven't read any of Nevada Barr's books although I have two or three to try. I think I read a few of the V.I. Warshawski when I was younger but I have been planning to start again at the beginning, so that is a great suggestion for Illinois.
Moira, I agree that the MK Lorens books sound interesting. I love to do lists and I should try to figure out which of my (too many) unread books feature states that I haven't read yet. Unfortunately, many of them I am interested in are for states I have already done. For instance, Barbara Neely's books, which I plan to read, are set in North Carolina and I have already done both of the Carolinas. So my progress on the States list is slow but that is fine.
Impressive, Tracy. Good luck with the rest of the states.
Thanks, Prashant. I am getting some good suggestions in the comments.
Well done for doing this post - I keep meaning to update my own, but haven't got around to it. Last time I thought about it I reckoned I was touching halfway. It doesn't help that I'm running about 30 reviews behind! My blogging impetus is flagging!
I am sorry about your blogging impetus, Col. I love your posts. I think you should update your states list so I can get more ideas.
It's OK however long you take. It's not a test or a job. It's about leisure and entertainment. I have realized that through the last five years when I've kept track that I've read books from 26 states, but I haven't counted all the Nevada Barr books I've read or mysteries from years ago from Colorado and Louisiana and other states, which I can't remember.
I've been reading more books from Britain than ever, not usual although there are some good writers there. But I have to branch out further.
That is the way I feel too, Kathy. It takes as long as it takes. I can tell you read a wide variety of authors from various locations all over the world.
August 1, 2016: The Nebraska author, Sean Doolittle's book The Cleanup, that I recommended earlier, is on sale as an ebook for $1.99 at amazon.com and Barnes & Noble today. I don't know how to make live links here but here's the amazon URL:
https://www.amazon.com/Cleanup-Sean-Doolittle-ebook/dp/B000MAH5LK?ie=UTF8&_bbid=2230158&tag=bookbubemailc-20#nav-subnav
and here's the B&N URL:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cleanup-sean-doolittle/1100297006?ean=9780440336419&_bbid=2230159&st=AFF&SID=BNB_DRS_Evergreen_20150928&2sid=Pubmark+Inc._5620418_NA&sourceId=AFFPubmark+Inc.M000019
Just to be clear, I have nothing to do with Mr. Doolittle or either of these book sellers, I'm just a fan.
Thanks, Terry, I appreciate that. I do love that cover, I might get the paperback edition instead.
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