USA Fiction Challenge Update

In October 2013, I joined a challenge to read books for all 50 states in the USA, plus the District of Columbia. I did not keep up with how many states I had completed over time, so now I am doing that.

The challenge is hosted by Kerrie at Mysteries in Paradise. The challenge is ongoing, not limited to a timeframe. If you are interested you can read about the challenge at the USA Fiction Challenge site.

In order to identify the states I looked through all blog entries after October 2013. It amazes me that I read so many mysteries that are set outside of the United States. I haven't kept stats at all but as I look at books reviewed for each month, the great majority of books are set in the UK. I also read a good number of books set in Canada. Plus a lot of European countries, some Asian countries,and some Central and South American countries. And even when I read books set in the US, a large number are set in California or New York.

I have now read novels for nearly one third of the states (plus the District of Columbia). I initially decided to stick with crime fiction novels that are set in the state. If I have trouble getting to the total of 51 books I may eventually start adding novels from outside the crime fiction genre.

Below is the list of states and the books I have read so far. Later, I may include multiples if the books are really good examples of the setting.

1. ALABAMA
2. ALASKA
3. ARIZONA
4. ARKANSAS
5. CALIFORNIA:  Jasmine Trade by Denise Hamilton
6. COLORADO
7. CONNECTICUT
8. DELAWARE
9. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: Cast a Yellow Shadow by Ross Thomas
10. FLORIDA:  Don’t Lose Her by Jonathan King
11. GEORGIA
12. HAWAII
13. IDAHO
14. ILLINOIS:  Sleeping Dogs by Ed Gorman 
15. INDIANA
16. IOWA:  Eleven Days by Donald Harstad
17. KANSAS:  The Ice Harvest by Scott Phillips
18. KENTUCKY
19. LOUISIANA:  The Indigo Necklace by Frances Crane
20. MAINE
21. MARYLAND
22. MASSACHUSETTS:  The Hanging Judge by Michael Ponsor
23. MICHIGAN:  Motor City Blue by Loren D. Estelman
24. MINNESOTA
25. MISSISSIPPI:  The Last Clinic by Gary Cusick  
26. MISSOURI
27. MONTANA
28. NEBRASKA
29. NEVADA
30. NEW HAMPSHIRE
31. NEW JERSEY
32. NEW MEXICO:  Ride the Pink Horse by Dorothy B. Hughes
33. NEW YORK:  Death of a Butterfly by Margaret Maron
34. NORTH CAROLINA:  Time’s Witness by Michael Malone
35. NORTH DAKOTA:  See Also Murder by Larry D. Sweazy
36. OHIO
37. OKLAHOMA
38. OREGON
39. PENNSYLVANIA:  Concrete Angel by Patricia Abbott
40. RHODE ISLAND
41. SOUTH CAROLINA:  In the Heat of the Night by John Ball
42. SOUTH DAKOTA
43. TENNESSEE
44. TEXAS:  Too Late to Die by Bill Crider
45. UTAH
46. VERMONT
47. VIRGINIA
48. WASHINGTON
49. WEST VIRGINIA
50. WISCONSIN
51. WYOMING