R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril IX - aka R.I.P 9 Reading Challenge

(Art used for banners is the property of the wonderful Abigail Larson)

The book blogosphere is all abuzz with the 9th R.I. P. challenge hosted by Carl at Stainless Steel Droppings. It runs from 1 September through to 31 October and involves reading from the following categories: Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Dark Fantasy, Gothic, Horror, Supernatural...or anything sufficiently moody that shares a kinship with the above.

Most years I skip this challenge because I figure I have enough on my plate, reading-wise, but I do like spooky (not too spooky, though!) reading in the fall, so I decided to take the plunge and sign up for Peril the First (which is just 4 books to be read by Oct. 31).

Here's my list:

1. Whatever the Tuesday Book Talk group at GoodReads votes on for Oct.  It's looking like 77 Shadow Street, by Dean Koontz.  That's what I voted for since I haven't read any Koontz yet.

2. Touch Not the Cat, by Mary Stewart and/or The House on the Strand, by Daphne du Maurier--it'll be a reread but that's okay.  I read it >40 years ago!

3. The 39 Steps, by John Buchan - I have it, it's a classic, I've been wanting to read it since it started cropping up on everyone's blog last year.  Perfect timing.

4. The Daylight Gate, by Jeanette Winterson - I got this as a Christmas present last year and I want to read it this year.  Here's the Amazon blurb:

After the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, every Catholic conspirator in England fled to a wild, untamed place far from the reach of London law. On Good Friday, 1612, deep in the woods of Pendle Hill, amid baptismal pools and low, thick fog, a gathering of thirteen is interrupted by the local magistrate. Two of their coven have already been imprisoned for witchcraft and are awaiting trial, but those who remain are vouched for by the wealthy and respected Alice Nutter.

I have a lot of books underway already, but most are on fairly long reading schedules so I think I can squeeze in these mostly short (not 800 pages at least) books.