The Rules
1. The challenge runs from January 1 to December 31, 2026. All books should be read during this time period. You can sign up at any time. If you have a blog, please post about the challenge. Then sign up via the challenge post form and please make the url link to your challenge post and not your home page. If you don't have a blog, links to an online list (Goodreads, Library Thing, etc.) devoted to this challenge are acceptable OR you may skip that question.
2. All books must be mysteries. Humor, romance, supernatural elements (etc.) are all welcome, but the books must be mysteries/crime/detective novels first.
3. Twelve books, one representing each month, are required for a complete challenge.
4. To claim a book, it must fit one of the categories for the month you wish to fulfill. Unless otherwise specified, the category is fulfilled within the actual story. for instance, if you are claiming the book for December and want to use "Christmas" as the category, then Christmas figure in some in the plot.
5. Books may only count for one month and one category, but they may count for other challenges. If it could fulfill more than one category or month, then you are welcome to change it at any time prior to the final wrap-up.
6. Books do not have to be read during the month for which they qualify. So--if you're feeling like a little "Christmas in July" (or May or...), then feel free to read your book for December whenever the mood strikes. Whew! This is freeing.
7. A wrap-up post/comment/email will be requested that should include a list of books read and what category they fulfilled. [Example: January: The House of Sudden Sleep by John Hawk (original pub date January 1930)]
8. The headquarters link in the left-hand sidebar of the challenge post will be updated in January for 2026 for easy access to this original challenge post, monthly review link-ups, and the final wrap-up.
9. If you post on Facebook, Instagram, or other social media to log a book, please use this hashtag: #CalendarOfCrime2026.
