# Books, books, books, and more books! **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Created:** [January 1, 2026, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-books-books-and-more-books/1026234 "2026-01-01T10:11:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2026, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-books-books-and-more-books/1026234/1 "2026-01-01T10:11:24Z")
We’re doing it with movies & TV, so I thought maybe books would be fun too. Propose a category, and after 10 entries, it’s done. Last entrant posts a new one. Since it’s books, please, no in-fighting. If poster 1 thinks it fits, it fits. In he case of blatant abuse of this non-rule, contact a mod. They can ask me, but mostly, I’m going bow to their judgment, mostly so it dovetails with the other category games. Please be nice, and do not post really obscure topics, even when you checked, and there are 10. First one is easy. **YA (ie, chapter books, but kids’ books) books that are “mysteries and detective stories.”** 1. _The Westing Game_ ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2026, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-books-books-and-more-books/1026234/2 "2026-01-01T11:23:33Z")
1. _The Westing Game_ 2. _A Wrinkle In Time_ ---
**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2026, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-books-books-and-more-books/1026234/3 "2026-01-02T06:09:32Z")
1. _The Westing Game_ 2. _A Wrinkle In Time_ 3. _The Flickering Torch Mystery_ The Hardy Boys ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2026, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-books-books-and-more-books/1026234/4 "2026-01-02T09:25:46Z")
1… 2… 3… 4. Firestarter ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2026, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-books-books-and-more-books/1026234/5 "2026-01-02T09:44:24Z")
Is _Firestarter_ a young adult book, that is a “mystery or detective story”? Let’s wait for @RivkahChaya to make a call on that one. In the meantime … **YA (ie, chapter books, but kids’ books) books that are “mysteries and detective stories.”** 1. _The Westing Game_ 2. _A Wrinkle In Time_ 3. _The Flickering Torch Mystery_ 4. _The Thirteenth Pearl_ Nancy Drew. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2026, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-books-books-and-more-books/1026234/6 "2026-01-02T11:10:40Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Is _Firestarter_ a young adult book, that is a “mystery or detective story”? Let’s wait for @RivkahChaya to make a call on that one. > > In the meantime … RivkahChaya has not read ii, however, she has a feeling that it is not shelved with the YA books in the library. I’m not saying a YA would never read it-- and most people reading from the “YA” section are 8-14-- just saying a librarian wouldn’t shelve it there. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2026, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-books-books-and-more-books/1026234/7 "2026-01-02T11:15:46Z")
Here’s two more-- one new, one classic, in case I picked a hard topic (I thought it was easy)[quote] **YA (ie, chapter books, but kids’ books) books that are “mysteries and detective stories.”** [/quote] 1. _The Westing Game_ 2. _A Wrinkle In Time_ 3. _The Flickering Torch Mystery_ 4. _The Thirteenth Pearl_ 5. _One of Us Is Lying_ 6. _Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective_ ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2026, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-books-books-and-more-books/1026234/8 "2026-01-02T11:24:13Z")
**YA (ie, chapter books, but kids’ books) books that are “mysteries and detective stories.”** 1. _The Westing Game_ 2. _A Wrinkle In Time_ 3. _The Flickering Torch Mystery_ 4. _The Thirteenth Pearl_ 5. _One of Us Is Lying_ 6. _Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective_ 7. _The Castle of Adventure_ By Enid Blyton; part of her “Adventure” series. It is a mystery I read as a young adult, so it should qualify. Thanks for the clarification, **Rivkah**. We’ll make it through this one, I’m sure. I must say, I do like the topic, as I love books. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2026, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-books-books-and-more-books/1026234/9 "2026-01-02T11:55:36Z")
**YA (ie, chapter books, but kids’ books) books that are “mysteries and detective stories.”** 1. _The Westing Game_ 2. _A Wrinkle In Time_ 3. _The Flickering Torch Mystery_ 4. _The Thirteenth Pearl_ 5. _One of Us Is Lying_ 6. _Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective_ 7. _The Castle of Adventure_ 8. _Ruby Redfort: Look Into My Eyes_ A slight stretch as it’s more sort of “YA spy story” but it’s basically a mystery/detective story anyway. And I’d recommend all six Ruby Redfort books by Lauren Childs. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2026, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-books-books-and-more-books/1026234/10 "2026-01-02T13:38:33Z")
**YA (ie, chapter books, but kids’ books) books that are “mysteries and detective stories.”** 1. _The Westing Game_ 2. _A Wrinkle In Time_ 3. _The Flickering Torch Mystery_ 4. _The Thirteenth Pearl_ 5. _One of Us Is Lying_ 6. _Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective_ 7. _The Vanishing Shadow_ 8. _The Castle of Adventure_ 9. _Ruby Redfort: Look Into My Eyes_ ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2026, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-books-books-and-more-books/1026234/11 "2026-01-02T15:48:05Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > A slight stretch as it’s more sort of “YA spy story” If you would find it in the card catalogue under “Mystery and Detective stories,” it’s fine. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2026, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-books-books-and-more-books/1026234/12 "2026-01-02T15:56:21Z")
**YA (ie, chapter books, but kids’ books) books that are “mysteries and detective stories.”** 1. _The Westing Game_ 2. _A Wrinkle In Time_ 3. _The Flickering Torch Mystery_ 4. _The Thirteenth Pearl_ 5. _One of Us Is Lying_ 6. _Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective_ 7. _The Vanishing Shadow_ 8. _The Castle of Adventure_ 9. _Ruby Redfort: Look Into My Eyes_ 10. _The Shrieking Staircase_ **First Books in a Fantasy Series** 1. _The Color of Magic_ - Terry Pratchett’s _Discworld_ series ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2026, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-books-books-and-more-books/1026234/13 "2026-01-02T16:03:15Z")
**First Books in a Fantasy Series** 1. _The Color of Magic_ - Terry Pratchett’s _Discworld_ series 2. _Storm Front_ - Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files series ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2026, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-books-books-and-more-books/1026234/14 "2026-01-02T16:08:29Z")
> [@Misnomer](#): > > **First Books in a Fantasy Series** 1. _The Color of Magic_ - Terry Pratchett’s _Discworld_ series 2. _Storm Front_ - Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files series 3. _Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone_ - JK Rowlings Harry Potter series ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2026, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-books-books-and-more-books/1026234/15 "2026-01-02T16:23:02Z")
**First Books in a Fantasy Series** 1. _The Color of Magic_ - Terry Pratchett’s _Discworld_ series 2. _Storm Front_ - Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files series 3. _Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone_ - JK Rowlings Harry Potter series 4. _The Book of Three_ - Lloyd Alexander’s _The Chronicles of Prydain_ series ---
**Author:** ![Bayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bayaker/32/3454_2.png) [@Bayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2026, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-books-books-and-more-books/1026234/16 "2026-01-02T16:35:46Z")
**First Books in a Fantasy Series** 1. _The Color of Magic_ - Terry Pratchett’s _Discworld_ series 2. _Storm Front_ - Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files series 3. _Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone_ - JK Rowlings Harry Potter series 4. _The Book of Three_ - Lloyd Alexander’s _The Chronicles of Prydain_ series 5. _Into the Storm_ - Taylor Anderson’s Destroyermen series ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2026, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-books-books-and-more-books/1026234/17 "2026-01-02T16:37:35Z")
**First Books in a Fantasy Series** 1. _The Color of Magic_ - Terry Pratchett’s _Discworld_ series 2. _Storm Front_ - Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files series 3. _Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone_ - JK Rowlings Harry Potter series 4. _The Book of Three_ - Lloyd Alexander’s _The Chronicles of Prydain_ series 5. _Into the Storm_ - Taylor Anderson’s Destroyermen series 6. _A Wrinkle in Time_ - Madeleine L’Engle’s _Time Quintet_ If it was good enough for the first round, it’s good enough for this one. ---
**Author:** ![themapleleaf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/themapleleaf/32/14349_2.png) [@themapleleaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/themapleleaf)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2026, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-books-books-and-more-books/1026234/18 "2026-01-02T16:41:08Z")
**First Books in a Fantasy Series** 1. _The Color of Magic_ - Terry Pratchett’s _Discworld_ series 2. _Storm Front_ - Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files series 3. _Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone_ - JK Rowlings Harry Potter series 4. _The Book of Three_ - Lloyd Alexander’s _The Chronicles of Prydain_ series 5. _Into the Storm_ - Taylor Anderson’s Destroyermen series 6. _A Wrinkle in Time_ - Madeleine L’Engle’s _Time Quintet_ 7. _Elric of Melniboné_ - Michael Moorcock’s _Elric_ series ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2026, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-books-books-and-more-books/1026234/19 "2026-01-02T16:51:11Z")
**First Books in a Fantasy Series** 1. _The Color of Magic_ - Terry Pratchett’s _Discworld_ series 2. _Storm Front_ - Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files series 3. _Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone_ - JK Rowlings Harry Potter series 4. _The Book of Three_ - Lloyd Alexander’s _The Chronicles of Prydain_ series 5. _Into the Storm_ - Taylor Anderson’s Destroyermen series 6. _A Wrinkle in Time_ - Madeleine L’Engle’s _Time Quintet_ 7. _Elric of Melniboné_ - Michael Moorcock’s _Elric_ series 8. _The Curse of Chalion_ - Lois McMaster Bujold’s _Chalion_ series ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2026, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-books-books-and-more-books/1026234/20 "2026-01-02T17:35:14Z")
My apologies. I clearly misunderstand how this works Y’all carry on. I’ll just follow along, silently 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-books-books-and-more-books/1026234.md?page=2)