Mysterious USA Reading Challenge

Posted on the 03 August 2013 by Lasesana @lasesana

by jchatoff, Flickr Creative Commons

Inspired 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:
    • Jack Kerley,
      • The Hundredth Man
    • Susan Wittig Albert,
      • The Darling Dahlias and the Cucumber Tree
    • DP Lyle,
      • Devil’s Playground,
      • Double Blind,
      • Stress Fracture
    • Bill Fitts,
      • He Needed Killing
    • Mike Stewart,
      • Sins of the Brother
  • Alaska:
    • Sue Henry,
      • Murder on the Iditarod Trail. Macavity Award for Best First Mystery Novel (1992), Anthony Award for Best First Novel (1992)
    • Dana Stabenow,
      • A Cold Day for Murder Edgar Winner (1993)
    • Eowyn Ivey,
      • Snow Child
    • Stan Jones,
      • White Sky, Black Ice
    • John Straley,
      • The Woman Who Married a Bear
    • Mike Doogan,
      • Lost Angel,
      • War Can be Murder Edgar Winner 2003
  • Arizona:
    • Tony Hillerman,
    • Sarah Atwell,
      • Through a Glass,
      • Deadly Agatha Award Nominee 2008
    • JA Jance,
      • Desert Heat
    • Jenn McKinlay,
      • Sprinkle with Murder
    • Sylvia Nobel,
      • Deadly Sanctuary
  • 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:
    • Michael Connelly,
      • The Lincoln Lawyer Edgar Nominee 2006,
    • Miles Corwin,
      • Kind of Blue
    • Robert Crais,
      • The Watchman, LA Requiem, Edgar Nominee 2000
    •  Sue Grafton,
      • A is fo Alibi Shamus Award Nominee for Best PI Hardcover (1983)
    • Laurie R King,
      • A Grave Talent Edgar Winner 1994
      • With Child Edgar Nominee 1997,
    • Walter Mosley,
      • Devil in a Blue Dress Edgar Nominee 1991
    • Lisa Lutz,
      • The Spellman Files,
      • Curse of the Spellmans Edgar Nominee 2006
    • Alex Abella,
  • Colorado:
    • Margaret Coel,
      • The Eagle Catcher
    • Diane Mott Davidson,
      • Catering to Nobody Anthony Award Nominee for Best First Novel (1991), Agatha Award Nominee for Best First Novel (1990)
    • Maggie Sefton,
      • Knit One, Kill Two Agatha Award Nominee for Best First Novel (2005)
  • Connecticut:
    • Stephen L. Carter,
      • The Emperor of Ocean Park, Anisfield-Wolf Book Award (2003)
    • Joyce Christmas,
      • This Business is Murder
    • Ron Goulart,
      • Groucho Marx, Master Detective,
      •  After Things Fell Apart Edgar Nominee 1971
    • Parnell Hall,
      • A Clue for the Puzzle Lady,
      • Detective Edgar Nominee 1988, Shamus Award Nominee for Best First PI Novel (1988)
  • Delaware:
    • Barbara Johnson
  • District of Columbia:
    • George Pelecanos,
      • The Night Gardener, Barry Award for Best Novel (2007),
      • Drama City Edgar Nominee 2006
    • Margaret Truman
      • Murder in the White House
    • Max Allan Collins
      • Bones Buried Deep
  • Florida:
    • Carl Hiaasen,
      • Hoot,
      • Flush Edgar Nominee for best juvenile 2006
    • Elmore Leonard,
      • Rum Punch,
      • La Brava Edgar Winner 1984
    • Randy Wayne White,
      • Sanibel Flats
  • Georgia:
    • John Berendt,
      • Midnight in the garden of Good and Evil, Exclusive Books Boeke Prize (1995), Lambda Literary Foundation Award for Gay Men’s Mystery (1995)
    • Kathy Hogan Torcheck,
      • Every Crooked Nanny
    • Mary Kay Andrews,
      • Summer Rental, Savannah BluesEdgar Nominee 2003
    • Stephanie Bond,
      • Body Movers
    • Takis and Judy Iakovou,
      • So Dear to Wicked Men
  • 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:
    • Barbara D’Amato,
      • Death of a Thousand Cuts,
      • Authorized Personnel Only Edgar Winner 2001
    • Sara Paretsky,
      • Indemnity Only
    • Michael Dymmoch,
      • The Man Who Understood Cats
    •  Marcus Sakey,
      • The Blade Itself Tähtifantasia Award Nominee (2010)
    •  Robert Goldsborough,
      • Murder in E Minor Nero Award (1986)
    • Michael Harvey,
      • The Chicago Way
    • James B Stewart,
      • Blind Eye Edgar Winner
  • 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:
    • Nancy Pickard,
      • The Scent of Rain and Lightning,
      • IOU, Edgar Nominee 1992,
      • The Virgin of Small Plains Edgar Nominee 2007
    • Scott Phillips,
      • The Ice Harvest Edgar Nominee 2001
  • Kentucky:
    • Lynn S. Hightower,
      • The Debt Collector, Edgar Nominee 2001
    • Barbara Taylor McCafferty,
      • Double Murder
    •  E. Joan Sims,
      • Cemetery Silk
    • Deborah Woodworth,
      • Death of a Winter Shaker
  • Louisiana:
    • Barbara Colley,
      • Maid for Murder
    • Jacklyn Brady (Sherry Lewis),
      • A Sheetcake Named Desire
    • Julie Smith,
      • New Orleans Mourning, Edgar Winner 1991
  • 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:
    • Laura Lippman,
      • What the Dead Know, Barry Award for Best Novel (2008), Macavity Award for Best Mystery Novel (2008), Anthony Award for Best Novel (2008),
      • Baltimore Blues, Shamus Award Nominee for Best First PI Novel (1998)
      • Charm City Edgar Winner 1991
    • Sujata Massey, (Edgar Nominee 1999, 2004)
    • Virginia Lowell,
      • Cookie Dough or Die
  • Massachusetts:
    • Robert Parker,
      • The Godwulf Manuscript,
      • Promised Land Edgar Winner 1977
    • Dennis Lehane,
      • A Drink Before the War,
      • Live by Night, Edgar Winner 2013
    • Linda Barnes,
      • A Trouble of Fools Edgar Nominee 1988
  • Michigan:
    • Steve Hamilton,
      • The Lock Artist, Edgar Winner 2011
    •  Harry Dolan,
      • Bad Things Happen, Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Nominee (2008)
  • Minnesota:
    • William Kent Krueger,
      • Iron Lake Barry Award for Best First Novel (1999), Anthony Award for Best First Novel (1999), Dilys Award Nominee (1999)
    • John Sanford,
      • Dark of the Moon
  • Mississippi:
    • Ace Atkins,
      • The Ranger Edgar Nominee 2012
    • Greg Iles,
      • The Quiet Game
    • Carolyn Haines,
      • Them Bones Barry Award Nominee for Best Paperback Original (2000)
    • Peggy Webb,
      • Elvis and the Dearly Departed.
    • Bill Fitzhugh,
      • Pest Control
  • Missouri:
    • Francis M. Nevins,
    • Robert J Randisi,
    • Paige Shelton
  • Montana:
    • Peter Bowen,
    • James Crumley,
      • The Last Good Kiss
    • Sharon Dunn,
      • Death of a Garage Sale Newbie
  • 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:  
    • Jane K Cleland,
      • Consigned to Death Macavity Award Nominee for Best First Mystery Novel (2007), Agatha Award Nominee for Best First Novel (2006) Dorian Yeager
  • New Jersey:
    • Janet Evanovich,
      • One for the Money Edgar Nominee 1995
    • Dorothy Gilman,
      • The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax
    • Ed Lin,
      • Waylaid
  • 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:
    • Lawrence Block,
      • Sins of the Fathers,
      • A Dance at the Slaughterhouse Edgar Winner 1992
    • Michele Martinez,
      • Most Wanted
    • Henry Chang,
      • Chinatown Beat
    • Ed McBain,
      • Cop Hater,
      • Money, Money, Money, Edgar Nominee 2002
    •  Carol, O’Connell,
      • Mallory’s Oracle, Edgar Nominee 1995
    • Andrew Vachss,
      • Flood Anthony Award Nominee for Best First Novel (1986), Shamus Award Nominee for Best First PI Novel (1986)
  • North Carolina:
    • Ellen Adams (Jennifer Stanley),
      • Stirring up Strife
    • Donna Ball,
      • Smoky Mountain Tracks
    • Jessica Beck,
      • Glazed Murder
  • North Dakota:
    • Joel C. Rosenberg
  • 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:
    • Tamar Myers,
      • Too Many Crooks Spoil The Broth
    • Tawni O’Dell,
      • Back Roads
    • Lisa Scottoline,
      • Final Appeal Edgar Winner 1995
    • Kathleen George,
      • Taken,
      • The Odds Edgar nominee 2010
    • Mark Graham,
      • The Killing Breed,
      • The Black Maria Edgar Winner 2001
  • Rhode Island:
    • Mark Arsenault,
    • Bruce DeSilva,
      • Rogue Island, Edgar Winner 2011
    • Alice Kimberly,
      • The Ghost and Mrs. McClure
    •  Mary Kruger,
      • Died in Wool
  • 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:
    • Steven Womack,
      • Dead Folks’ Blues Edgar Winner 1994
    • James Sallis,
      • Cypress Grove
    • Riley Adams (Elizabeth Spann Craig),
      • Delicious and Suspicious
    • Jefferson Bass,
      • Carved in Bone
    • Gregory McDonald,
      • Fletch Edgar Winner 1975
  • 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:
    • Archer Mayor,
      • Open Season
    • Barbara Bretton,
      • Just Desserts
    • Melissa Glazer (Tim Myers),
      •  Innkeeping With Murder   Agatha Award Nominee for Best First Novel (2001)
  • 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:
    • Jo Dereske,
      • Miss Zukas and the Library Murders
    • Mary Daheim,
      • Just Desserts Agatha Award Nominee for Best First Novel (1991)
    • Ann Littlewood,
      • Night Kill
  • West Virginia:
    • Julia Keller,
      • A Killing in the Hills
    • Lauren Carr,
  • Wisconsin:
    • Sandra Balzo,
      • Uncommon Grounds Macavity Award Nominee for Best First Mystery Novel (2005), Anthony Award Nominee for Best First Novel (2005)
    • Laura Alden,
      • Murder at the PTA, Agatha Award Nominee for Best First Novel (2010)
  • Wyoming:
    • Craig Johnson,
      • The Cold Dish Dilys Award Nominee (2006)