Original Calendar of Crime 2020 post @ MY READER’S BLOCK
Progress so far –
- January
- #1 Month in the title –
- #2 Author’s birth month – Death Walks in Eastrepps by Francis Beeding (1931)
- #3 Primary action takes place in this month – Who Killed Dick Whittington? by E. & M. A. Radford (1947)
- #4 New Years – Dancing Death by Christopher Bush (1931)
- #5 Other January Holiday [Chinese New Year Jan. 29, 1949] – The Chinese Chop by Juanita Sheridan (1949)
- #6 Original publication month – Fear and Miss Betony by Dorothy Bowers (1941)
- #7 Book title with a word starting with “J” – Death of Jezebel by Christianna Brand (1948)
- #8 Month-related item on cover [Party scene] – Death in Fancy Dress by J. Jefferson Farjeon (1934)
- #9 Snowbound country house mystery – Heads You Lose by Christinna Brand (1941)
- February
- #1 Month in the title – The 31st of February by Julian Symons (1950)
- #2 Author’s birth Month – Death in Fancy Dress by Anthony Gilbert (1933)
- #3 Primary action takes place in this month – Below Suspicion by John Dickson Carr (1949)
- #4 Valentine’s Day –
- #5 Other February Holiday – The Fate of the Immodest Blond by Patrick Quentin (1947) [Carnival Feb 13, 1947 to Feb 18, 1947]
- #6 Original publication month – The Eel Pie Murders by David Frome (1933)
- #7 Book title has a word starting with “F” – Death Stops the Frolic by George Bellairs (1949)
- #8 Month related item on cover [a couple] – A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Murder by Dianne Freeman (2020)
- #9 Couple/romance/love triangle major role – The Groote Park Murder by Freeman Wills Crofts (1923)
- March
- #1 Month in the title: The March Hare Murders by E. X. Ferrars (1949)
- #2 Author’s birth month – A Wreath for the Bride by Maria Lang (1957) [March 31, 1914]
- #3 Primary action takes place in this month – The Arsenal Stadium Mystery by Leonard Gribble (1939)
- #4 St. Patrick’s Day –
- #5 – Other March Holiday –
- #6 Original publication month – Seven Dead by J. Jefferson Farjeon (1939)
- #7 Book title has word starting with “M.” – The Middle of Things by J. S. Fletcher (1922)
- #8 Month-related item on cover [something green] – The Black Shrouds by Constance & Gwenyth Little (1941)
- #9 Money/fortune/inheritance has a major role – Murder in the Maze by J. J. Connington (1927)
- April – Month Complete!!!
- #1 Month in the title – The April Robin Murders by Craig Rice and Ed McBain (1959)
- #2 Author’s birth month – The Vanishing Man (aka The Eye of Osiris) by R. Austin Freeman (1911)
- #3 Primary action takes place in this month – The Black Beadle by E. C. R. Lorac (1939)
- #4 Easter – Death Walks the Woods by Cyril Hare (1954)
- #5 Other April Holiday [April Fools Day] – The Case of the April Fools by Christopher Bush (1933)
- #6 Original publication month – The Puzzle of the Happy Hooligan by Stuart Palmer (1941)
- #7 Book title has a word starting with “A’ – The Case of Sir Adam Braid by Molly Thynne (1930)
- #8 Month-related item on cover [fancy hat] – The Creeping Jenny Mystery by Brian Flynn (1929)
- #9 Church/Minister/Religion has major role – Death of a Busybody by George Bellairs (1942)
- May
- #1 Month in the title –
- #2 Author’s birth month – Answer in the Negative by Henrietta Hamilton (1959)
- #3 Primary action takes place in this month – The Policeman’s Holiday by Rupert Penny (1937)
- #4 Memorial Day –
- #5 Other May Holiday [Whitsunday/Whitsuntide] – The Man Who Could Not Shudder by John Dickson Carr (1940)
- #6 Original publication month: The Problem of the Green Capsule by John Dickson Carr (1939)
- #7 Book title has word starting with “M.” – Death Makes a Prophet by John Bude (1947)
- #8 Month-related item on cover [flowers] – Death in White Pyjamas by John Bude (1944)
- #9 My birthday month (wildcard) – The Penguin Pool Murder by Stuart Palmer (1931)
- June
- #1 Month in the title –
- #2 Author’s birth month – The Billiard Room Mystery by Brian Flynn
- #3 Primary action takes place in this month – The Case of the Black Twenty-Two by Brian Flynn (1928)
- #4 Father’s Day –
- #5 Other June Holiday – Which to Cross and Which to Burn by Endellion Palmer (2019)
- #6 Original publication month – Inquest by Henrietta Clandon (1933)
- #7 Book title with a word starting with “J” – Flowers for the Judge by Margery Allingham (1936)
- #8 Month-related item on cover [a tie] – Inspector French’s Greatest Case by Freeman Wills Crofts (1924)
- #9 Father figures prominently – The Duke of York’s Steps by Henry Wade (1929)
- July
- #1 Month in the title –
- #2 Author’s birth month – Roger Sherington and the Vane Case by Anthony Berkeley (1927)
- #3 Primary action takes place in this month – Murder of Lydia by Joan A. Cowdrey
- #4 Independence Day – Four to Go by Rex Stout (1958) – Fourth of July Picnic (1 of 4 short stories)
- #5 Other July Holiday [Wake Week] – Miss Hogg and the Bronte Murders by Austin Lee (1956)
- #6 Original publication month – The Moving Finger by Agatha Christie (1942)
- #7 Book title with a word starting with “J” – Sir John Magill’s Last Journey by Freeman Wills Crofts (1930)
- # 8 Month-related item on cover [flag] – Half-Mast Murder by Milward Kennedy (1930)
- # 9 Takes place in US or Canada – Never Turn Your Back by Margaret Scherf (1959)
- August
- #1 Month in the title –
- #2 Author’s birth month – Why Shoot a Butler by Georgette Heyer (1933) [August 16, 1902]
- #3 Primary action takes place in this month – The Problem of the Wire Cage by John Dickson Carr (1939)
- #4 Academic setting – Dead Man’s Knock by John Dickson Carr (1958)
- #5 Any August Holiday – The Lyttleton Case by R. A. V. Morris (1922) [UK Summer Bank Holiday]
- #6 Original publication month – Till Death Do Us Part by John Dickson Carr (1944)
- #7 Book title has word starting with “A.” – Death of an Airman by Christopher John Sprigg (1934)
- #8 Month related item on the cover [beach] – Evil Under the Sun by Agatha Christie (1941)
- #9 Summer holiday setting [beach, resort, etc] – Death in Room Five by George Bellairs (1955)
- September Month Complete!!
- #1 Month in the title – 30 Days Hath September by Dorothy Cameron Disney and George Sessions (1942)
- #2 Author’s birth month – The Hanging Captain by Henry Wade (1933)
- #3 Primary action takes place in this month – Dead Man’s Quarry by Ianthe Jerrold (1930)
- #4 Labor Day – Murder Comes First by Richard and Frances Lockridge (1951) [First murder occurs on]
- #5 Other September Holiday [Yom Kippur] – The Rabbi Went Hungry by Harry Kemelman (1966)
- #6 Original publication month – Death of My Aunt by C. H. B. Kitchins (1929)
- #7 Book title has a word starting with “S” – The Cheltenham Square Murder by John Bude (1937)
- #8 Month related item on the cover [Method of Travel: Train] – The Z Murders by J. Jefferson Farjeon (1932)
- #9 Place of employment [men’s club] – Keep It Quiet by Richard Hull (1935)
- October
- #1 Month in the title –
- #2 Author’s birth month – Crime in Kensington by Christopher St. John Sprigg (1933)
- #3 Primary action takes place in this month – Bleeding Hooks by Harriet Rutland (1933)
- #4 Halloween –
- #5 Other October Holiday –
- #6 Original publication month – The Crooked Hinge by John Dickson Carr (1938)
- #7 Book title has word starting with “O” – Mr. Pottermack’s Oversight (1930)
- #8 Month-related item on cover [spooky scene] – Castle Skull by John Dickson Carr (1931)
- #9 Month related item on the cover [Costume] – Tragedy at Ravensthorpe by J. J. Connington (1927)
- November
- #1 Month in the title –
- #2 Author’s birth month – The Shakespeare Murders by A. G. MacDonnell (1929)
- #3 Primary action takes place in this month – When the Wind Blows by Cyril Hare (1949)
- #4 Thanksgiving –
- #5 Other November Holiday [Armistice Day] – A Dangerous Language by Sulari Gentill (2020)
- #6 Original publication month – Inspector French and the Sea Mystery by Freeman Wills Crofts (1928)
- #7 Book title with a word starting with “N” – Night Train to Paris by Manning Coles (1952)
- #8 Month related item in the cover – The Art Fiasco: Poppy Denby Investigates by Fiona Vetch Smith (2020) “Poppy” Denby
- # 9 Family relationships play major role – The Ponson Case by Freeman Wills Crofts (1921)
- December
- #1 Month in the title –
- #2 Author’s birth month – Dead Man’s Music by Christopher Bush (1931)
- #3 Primary action takes place in this month – Seven Keys at Baldpate by Earl Derrs Biggers (1913)
- #4 Christmas – Murder to Music by Margaret Newman (1959)
- #5 Other December Holiday [Boxing Day] – Who Killed the Curate by Joan Coggins (1944)
- #6 Original publication month – Board Stiff by Robert James (1951)
- #7 Book title has a word starting with “D” – Case for Three Detectives by Leo Bruce (1936)
- #8 Month-related item on cover [snow/winter scene] – Murder At Beechlands by Maureen Sarsfield (1948)
- #9 House Party important – The Murders Near Mapleton by Brian Flynn (1929)
Feature Image from Detective Tales, Sep 1950. Artist Unknown. Obtained from https://archive.org/details/DetectiveTalesV46N02195009