Try this mystery/thriller challenge.  Thanks to Joy L. (vintagejoy) for encouragement to do this.  Note that most of Mary's great suggestions have been included.  Here goes for those who wish to participate.  Substitute wherever you wish.  It's your choice what to read.

1.  Mysteries written by women 
2.  Medical or legal mysteries
3.  Private eye, vintage or old time noir mystery
4.  Cozy or comic mystery like Stephanie Plum, for example
5.  Mystery that takes place in a country outside of the US and England
6.  Mystery with a hint of the supernatural (ghosts, for example)
7.  Mystery that takes place during a holiday, vacation or trip just anywhere
8.  Mystery by a new to you author                                                                                                                                                                          9.  Mystery by a favorite author
10. A category of your own

My place.  Surprise that I am finding books to fit these categories so quickly but I am happy that it is working out so well.

1.  Mysteries written by women  Sacrilege by S.J. Parris, 1/8/2019, 4 stars:  This novel is third in a series featuring Giordano Bruno who is on the run from the Catholic Church and the Inquisition.  His ideas and beliefs in his home country of Italy pitted him against those whose more rigid approaches and at risk for his life.   He meets an old acqaintenance, Sophia, who needs his help.  And, of course, there are murders to solve.  
2.  Medical or legal mysteries
3.  Private eye, vintage or old time noir mystery  The Black Mountain (Nero Wolfe, Bk 24) by Rex Stout, 3 stars. 1/26/2019.  When Marko Vukic, Nero Wolfe's best friend is killed, life as Wolfe and Archie Goodwin know it changes dramatically. Shot in front of his restaurant, neither Wolfe nor the police can find clues as to why and who killed the man. It is Wolfe's adopted daughter who gives him the first idea as to why he was killed. However, she doesn't know who only that it is connected with his involvement with an organization from his birth country.  And, the novel spins out in a unique way for Nero Wolfe.
4.  Cozy or comic mystery like Stephanie Plum, for example:  The Axe Factor (Jimm Juree, Bk 3) by Colin Cotterill, 6/11/2019, 3 stars.  This read is both humorous and serious.  Jimm Juree is a funny main character who becomes involved in searching for lost people.  The author leads the reader different ways as one tries to figure out what happened to the missing.  Many of the missing show up but it soon becomes obvious that there really was a murder and Jimm, herself, is almost a victim.  Jimm is a cook at the family resort and a free lance writer for a newspaper and is paid only for stories the editor likes.  Her friends, family and acquaintances are hilarious, too.  I found this an enjoyable read that made me laugh with a serious side that puts the life of the key character in danger.  A most unusual approach to a mystery.
5.  Mystery that takes place in a country outside of the US and England  The Bachelors of Broken Hill (Inspector Bonaparte) by Arthur W. Upfield, 3.5 stars, 2/2/2019, (New Zealand/Australia)   Visit Australia and the investigative talents of Detective Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte (known as Bony) whose talents are widely recognized.  He has an ego as big as his talents and he never gives up.  Follow him through his work as he determines who murders the bachelors in this area.  Clues are few and the murderer is clever so Bony has his work cut out for him.       

 The Snowman (Harry Hole, Bk 7) by Jo Nesbo, Don Bartlett (Translator) (Norway), 6/22/2019, 3.5 stars. L O N G!  Except for the length I would have rated this book four stars.  Yes, police investigations sometimes take a long time but this one found me ploughing through the read just to get to the end.  The beginning and the end held my interest completely.  But after about 300 pages my interest began to flag.   This is a good read but understand that it is a long one.

The author is a good writer and takes the reader on many side trips to finally capture the killer.  There are several suspects including a dermatologist, a journalist and a policewoman who is involved in the murder investigation.  The murders take place on the first snow day of each year and at the end we find why this is so as the author lets us into the mind of the murderer.  I like Harry Hole who is a determined and guttsy investigator.   There are other interesting individuals in this novel.  I liked Katrine Barr, Harry's fellow policemen investigators, Harry's girlfriend and her son, Oleg.  All in all this is a good, if lengthy, read.

6.  Mystery with a hint of the supernatural (ghosts, for example)
7.  Mystery that takes place during a holiday, vacation or trip just anywhere  The Music Lesson by Katharine Weber, 1/18/2019, 4 stars.  Interesting story about a woman who works in the art world and is conned by a young man to participate in an art theft.  She takes a leave to receive the stolen art in Ireland.  The tale ends with an interesting twist that made me chuckle.
8.  Mystery by a new to you author  The Judas Judge by Michael McGarrity, 5/1/2019, 4 stars:  Truly enjoyed this mystery and its location.  Complex and full of twists and turns, the key character, Keven Kerney, is accustomed to police work, even murders, but this one features a murder spree that gets under his skin.  As his team investigates the murders, it becomes obvious that the motive is linked to the murder of a judge.  Finding that motive and the murderer is difficult and time consuming.  Nothing seems to surface after dozens of interviews and potential leads.  When Kerney thinks that the spree may be linked to two earlier murders, the team begins to make slow progress.  The author does an outstanding job of describing the landscapes of New Mexico, an area I love.                                                                                                                                           9.  Mystery by a favorite author  The Interior (Red Princess, Bk 2) by Lisa See, 4 stars, 1/24/2019.  I like this series featuring Liu Hulan, a detective in Communist China's Ministry of Public Security, and U.S. Attorney David Stark whose love for each other keeps them linked over thousands of miles. The author builds a stark picture of China as it builds its economy on the backs of its people, particularly young women. This tale takes place largely in a toy factory where a murdered young woman worked before her death. Her death was staged as a suicide but her mother can't believe that her daughter would commit suicide. Her doubt is so strong that she writes Liu Hulan, a friend she hasn't seen for years. She begs Liu Hulan to help her find who killed her daughter and why.

Meanwhile David Stark has problems of his own. With his work regarding a Chinese gang wrapping up a good friend is killed as they walk from a dining engagement. Believing that he, David, was the target, he contacts the FBI and is assigned body guards. His FBI friends urge him to make himself unavailable and encourage taking a job in China. He doesn't hesitate as he wants to be with Liu Hulan again. When he arrives he finds his beloved deeply involved in investigating the death of her friend's daughter.

One reviewer notes how well the author describes the work and political scene in China. I agree as the author details both the life of the poor who survive on small plots and the life that Hui Hulan leads where she is constantly watched by political adversaries. The story puts both David and Hulan in danger as they work at their jobs. It's a tense situation as David is working for the firm who is finalizing sale of the toy factory while Hulan is investigating it and the current owners.

10. A category of your own
 

I'm in, have already read several this year that fit the categories.... guess I read a lot of mysteries!

1. Mystery series by woman author:  Jane and the Madness of Lord Byron by Stephanie Barron

2. medical or legal mystery                                                     

3. private eye/vintage or old time noir mystery: Killers of the Flower Moon (true story of the Osage Indian murders and the founding of Hoover's FBI)

4. cozy or comic mystery: Look Alive 25 by Janet Evanovich 

5.takes place in country outside US or England : The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (takes place in Spain mostly)                      

6. supernatural (ex: Ghosts):  One More Day by Kelly Simmons

7.holiday/vacation/trip mystery-- 'hen party' weekend in northern England, that is a bachelorette  party to us! : in a dark, dark, wood by Ruth Ware

8. new to you author: What She Knew by Gilly MacMillan                                        

9. By a fave author: Murder at the Washington Tribune by Margaret Truman

10. your own category-- teen centric mystery: The Lying Game by Ruth Ware

  I often end year with one category unread so I'm jazzed to be this far along.

My spot

Try this mystery/thriller challenge.  Thanks to Joy L. (vintagejoy) for encouragement to do this.  Note that most of Mary's great suggestions have been included.  Here goes for those who wish to participate.  Substitute wherever you wish.  It's your choice what to read.

1.  Mysteries written by women 

• Death Waits in the Dark by Julia Buckley done 5/10

2.  Medical or legal mysteries
3.  Private eye, vintage or old time noir mystery
4.  Cozy or comic mystery like Stephanie Plum, for example

• Murder with Collard Greens by 
• Death in an English Village by Jessica
• Killing in C Sharp Alexia Gordon

5.  Mystery that takes place in a country outside of the US and England

• Flask of the Drunken Master by Susan Spann Japan
• All Colors of Cattle by Alexander McCall smith Botswana

6.  Mystery with a hint of the supernatural (ghosts, for example)
7.  Mystery that takes place during a holiday, vacation or trip just anywhere
8.  Mystery by a new to you author                                                                                                                                                                          9.  Mystery by a favorite author

1. Frost Fair by Edward Marston
2. The American Agent by Jacqueline Winspear

10. A category of your own Mysteries set in the UK

• A Lady's Guide to Eitquette and Murder by Dianne Freeman
• Death comes to School by Catherine Llyod
• The Hanging Psalm by Chris Nickson

Above I have Posted my reads so far.

Oh, neat! Just seeing this now (yeah, I'm not on the forums much at all anymore) so might as well play along. I didn't sign up for any other challenges this year except the usual Goodreads "how many books to read" one. I think I can cross several of these off already. 

1.  Mysteries written by women Rock With Wings by Anne Hillerman (Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito, 3 stars)
2.  Medical or legal mysteries Rescued by David Rosenfelt (#17 Andy Carpenter, 2.5 stars)
3.  Private eye, vintage or old time noir mystery A Man Without Breath by Philip Kerr (#9 Bernie Gunther, 4.5 stars)
4.  Cozy or comic mystery like Stephanie Plum, for example Murder in the Queen's Wardrobe by Kathy Lynn Emerson (#1 Mistress Jaffrey; 2 stars)
5.  Mystery that takes place in a country outside of the US and England The Resistance Man by Martin Walker (#6 Bruno, Chief of Police--set in France, 4 stars)
6.  Mystery with a hint of the supernatural (ghosts, for example) The Hanging Tree by Ben Aaronovitch (#6 PC Peter Grant, 5 stars)
7.  Mystery that takes place during a holiday, vacation or trip just anywhere
8.  Mystery by a new to you author     No Cure For the Dead by Christine Trent (#1 Florence Nightingale, 4.5 stars)                                                                                                    

9.  Mystery by a favorite author The Moth Catcher by Ann Cleeves (#7 Vera Stanhope, 5 stars)
10. A category of your own

Cheryl

Better late than never!

1.  Mysteries written by women Mallets Aforethought - Sarah Graves 1/29 4 stars
2.  Medical or legal mysteries
3.  Private eye, vintage or old time noir mystery
4.  Cozy or comic mystery like Stephanie Plum, for example
5.  Mystery that takes place in a country outside of the US and England Acqua Alta - Donna Leon 3/28 (Italy) 4 stars
6.  Mystery with a hint of the supernatural (ghosts, for example)
7.  Mystery that takes place during a holiday, vacation or trip just anywhere
8.  Mystery by a new to you author                                                                                                                                                                          9.  Mystery by a favorite author
10. A category of your own

updated my list above