Even though I’ve decided to take a break from almost all reading challenges in 2015, the Vintage Mystery Bingo Challenge at My Reader’s Block is one of my exceptions!

Participants in this challenge are asked to read mysteries — which includes everything from cozies to spy novels, thrillers to police procedurals — written before 1960 (the Golden Age) or between 1960 and 1989 inclusive (the Silver Age). Further, every book should correspond with a square on one of the Bingo cards provided:

As you can see, I’m going to use the Golden Age card for my Bingo attempts. I’ll count myself successful if I can complete one straight-line Bingo (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally), but I’m hoping to read a lot more than six vintage mysteries! Here are some of the books I might read:

• Nicholas Blake, A Question of Proof (1935)
• Alice Tilton, The Cut Direct (1938)
• Dorothy L. Sayers, Unnatural Death (1927)
• E.C. Bentley, Trent’s Last Case (1913)
• Elizabeth Daly, Evidence of Things Seen (1943)
• Elisabeth Sanxay Holding, The Innocent Mrs. Duff (1946) and/or The Blank Wall (1947)
• Mary Roberts Rinehart, The Circular Staircase (1908)
• Rex Stout, The League of Frightened Men (1935)
• Georgette Heyer, No Wind of Blame (1939)

This is always a really fun challenge for me, and I definitely encourage other mystery lovers to sign up! (Bonus: there’s a chance for prizes!) Click here for more info.