British Crime Classics Challenge 2023

Announcement!! British Crime Classics Challenge is BACK!!

I am so excited to announce that British Crime Classics Challenge, a pet project I started way back in 2019 is BACK.

This is a (almost) no-rule challenge. As the title suggests, it’s all things British, Crime, and Classics. All you have to do is read Crime/Mystery Classics (published on or before 1965) written by British Authors.

I am setting the maximum year limit as 1965. You can go backwards up to any date – late 1800s, early 1900s, no problemo! As long as the author is British, and the genre is mystery/crime/thriller.

NOTE: As I announced this mid-year, the challenge begins on 1 July 2023. Starting from 2024, it will begin on 1st January.

What are the rules for this challenge?

Books you read for this challenge must satisfy two criteria:

1. Books must be written by a British Author
   NOTE: books by Brit author moved to other countries post birth/author born to Brit parents or during British rule are allowed
2. Books must be published on or before 1965
   NOTE: reprints are allowed

What about genres?

As the title suggests, this is British ‘Crime‘ Classics Challenge. Books of the genre Crime, Mystery & Thrillers are allowed.

Sub-genres and themes include:

1. Private Detectives & Investigators (e.g.: Hercule Poirot)
2. Police Procedurals (e.g.: Inspector Littlejohn, Inspector Alan Grant
3. Amateur sleuths (eg: Miss Marple, Father Brown)
4. Spy/Espionage Thrillers
5. Domestic & Psychological Thrillers
6. Legal Thrillers and courtroom drama
7. War-time mysteries
8. Hard-boiled Fiction

Monthly Themes

The British Crime Classics Challenge runs all year round. This means you can join the challenge at any time. Starting from 2023, I will be posting a monthly theme at the beginning of the month/last day of previous month. Participation is optional. The idea of introducing a special theme each month is to make your reading experience more interesting and enjoyable.

Have a look at the themes section of my previous BCCC post: BCCC 2021. Monthly themes will be based on something similar.

There will be special challenges on Author Birthday months. An upcoming special challenge would be in September celebrating Christie’s birthday.

BCCC Bingo

For those who like an extra challenge, there’s Book Bingo. Choose a Bingo of your choice: 3, 4, or 5 books. This too runs all year round. Combine your bingo list with monthly themes if you wish.

NOTE: I will be posting the bingo card next week. It will be available on the sidebar for future reference.

Where to post my review?

If you are a blogger, post your review on your blog and link it to the monthly BCCC page.

If you review on Goodreads, you can link your Goodreads review to the monthly BCCC page.

If you discuss books on microblogging platforms like Twitter, tag me at:

• Twitter

If you discuss books on Instagram, tag me at:

• Instagram

NOTE: At the beginning of each month, I will be posting a monthly BCCC page with linky tool so that readers can share their reviews as well as check those of other participants. A link to the monthly BCCC page will be available on the sidebar.

How many books can I read for this challenge?

As many as you can. 🙂

As this challenge doesn’t have any time frame, read a book a day or once in a fortnight or once a month.

Is cross posting allowed?

Yes. If you are reading a book for any other challenge and it so happens that it also ticks all the boxes for BCCC, then go ahead and include it in the monthly BCCC page.

Any other queries, don’t hesitate to ask. 🙂

I hope you are as excited as I am to participate in this challenge. Let me know in the comments if you are participating.

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