I always enjoy taking part in R.I.P. (Readers Imbibing Peril), but I’ve been particularly looking forward to it this year because I feel as though I’ve done very little reading recently. Moving house and some big changes at work (including an office move and a new manager) have made this quite a busy and stressful summer for me and I’m not really sorry to see it come to an end. Having completely failed with my 20 Books of Summer list – more on that next week – I’m happy to put that challenge behind me for now and start a new one.
R.I.P. is now in its fourteenth year and I’ve been joining in since year five! The rules are very simple – from 1st September to 31st October we will be reading books that fit into any of the following categories:
Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Dark Fantasy, Gothic, Horror or Supernatural.
As usual, there are different levels to choose from and I will be aiming for Peril the First, which is:
Read four books, any length, that you feel fit (our very broad definitions) of R.I.P. literature. It could be Stephen King or Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Shirley Jackson or Tananarive Due…or anyone in between.
I have put together a list of possible reads, though I’m certainly not expecting to read all of these – and will probably end up reading books that aren’t on the list at all, which is what usually happens!
The first three books are on my NetGalley shelf so I would be reading them soon anyway; the rest are a mixture of unread books from previous years’ lists, library books and other review copies.
The Art of Dying by Ambrose Parry
Death on a Quiet Day by Michael Innes
The Anarchists’ Club by Alex Reeve
The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell
The Printer’s Coffin by MJ Carter
A Gathering of Ghosts by Karen Maitland
The Mystery of the Peacock’s Eye by Brian Flynn
Tombland by CJ Sansom
The Sussex Downs Murder by John Bude
Bone China by Laura Purcell
The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
The Turn of the Screw by Henry James
The Mummy Case by Elizabeth Peters
The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper
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Are you planning to take part in R.I.P. this year? What will you be reading?
She Reads Novels 
I just noticed this was starting Thursday and brought home some mysteries from the library. Of course, I’m always reading mysteries anyway. I also received a ghost story, at least I think it’s one, so I will read that, too. Even if I weren’t doing Reading Imbibing Peril, I always read something suitably scary for the end of October.
I like to read mysteries all through the year too, but the RIP challenge is a good excuse to read more of them. 🙂 I hope you enjoy your library books and the ghost story.
It turned out not to be a ghost story but a good, atmospheric mystery.
I don’t know if I’ll be participating in R.I.P. this year yet, or not; although most of the books I read do fit in nicely with it. Good luck…and happy reading! 🙂
Yes, I think you read a lot of books that would count towards R.I.P. anyway. And thank you…happy reading to you too, whether or not you decide to participate in this!
I’ve never joined in with this one – yet. I’ve only read The Sussex Downs Murder and The Turn of the Screw from your list.
I’ve been meaning to read The Turn of the Screw for years as I seem to keep reading modern books that are inspired by it! The Sussex Downs Murder has been on my shelf for a while – I’m not sure why I still haven’t read it yet.
That’s a great list! Enjoy your reading!
Thank you, Robin! Enjoy yours too. 🙂
Great list, Helen! I loved The Turn of the Screw, and I am curious about The Silent Companions… Happy RIP reading 🙂
Thanks! I’m glad you loved The Turn of the Screw. The Silent Companions was on my RIP list last year but I didn’t have time for it, so I definitely want to read it this year.
I’m taking part too – and hope I’ll actually read some of the books I’ve listed as possibles! I’ve read some of the books on your list, The Art of Dying, Tombland, The Woman in Cabin 10, The Turn of the Screw, and The Dark is Rising – the only one I thought that wasn’t as good as the others is The Woman in Cabin 10.
I always seem to get distracted by other books and read hardly any of the ones on my original list! I’m glad you’ve enjoyed some of those books, though I’m sorry you didn’t think The Woman in Cabin 10 was as good as the rest. I’ll be interested to see what I think of it, as I enjoyed the last Ruth Ware book I read, The Turn of the Key.
I have The Dark is Rising ready to open in September anyway, so that’s an excellent start. And several others that would work for this challenge. Assuming that I join in. I tell myself not to join these great challenges as I’m so unreliable when it comes to writing the reviews and then, along comes another one and I can’t resist. Ah well! Hope the coming autumn is a little more settled for you, Helen 🙂
Thank you – I certainly hope it will be. I can never resist these challenges either, although I don’t always manage to complete them. I hope we both enjoy The Dark is Rising. 🙂
I’ve only read two of the titles on your list (the James and the Cooper) but they look good! I won’t be officially joining in this year, though I had considered it, as I’ve felt a bit constrained by recent reading events, but I’ve no doubt I shall try one or more spooky titles and might even reach level one without too much effort! Good luck with yours, especially as you sound to be smarting from not quite managing 20 Books of Summer… 😁
Well, you can’t take part in everything no matter how tempting all of these events and challenges sound! The good thing about this particular challenge is that the requirements aren’t too high and I usually have plenty of books on the TBR that would fit into one or more of the categories anyway.
I hope the autumn proves to be less stressful for you.
I have read the two Laura Purcell books and I was left a little underwhelmed. I think I was supposed to be scared by the strange goings on and I really don’t think my brain is programmed that way and my more logical side overtakes. However I will say they are well written books and I can see will sit right with a number of readers.
Thank you, Jo. I hope so too! Sorry to hear your thoughts on the Laura Purcell books. I don’t like to be too scared, though, so maybe that won’t be a problem for me. I’m glad you think they are well written anyway.
I love The Dark is Rising! I often re-read it around Christmas. Otherwise, most of the books on your list are new to me, so I’ll look forward to hearing more about them.
I can’t wait to read The Dark is Rising! I read Over Sea, Under Stone earlier this year and enjoyed it, so I’m looking forward to continuing with the series.
Happy Reading! I love your list of potential reads. The Silent Companions is on mine too!
Thank you! I hope we both enjoy The Silent Companions. 🙂
Yes, I agree! Enough with stressful times. The Dark is Rising is great! I have a bunch of Patricia Highsmith novels to catch up on so I will do that.
I hope September will be less stressful for us both, Judy! I can’t wait to read The Dark is Rising. It does sound great. 🙂
I am with you on seeing Summer end! It was quite stressful for me for similar reasons minus the house move! I am glad to see it end; but I will have to bypass RIP as well as work continues to be exhausting, but here’s hoping you have a great read! P.S. I love everything by Sansom!
I’m sorry you’ve had a stressful summer too, Cirtnecce. I hope work gets less exhausting for you soon. I have loved everything I’ve read so far by Sansom – I can’t wait to read Tombland!
As you know, I enjoyed The Silent Companions immensely. You could also read The Doll Factory for this challenge, and hopefully you won’t be disappointed.
Yes, I remember that you enjoyed The Silent Companions – I’m looking forward to reading it myself. I hadn’t thought about putting The Doll Factory on my RIP list, so thanks for the suggestion!
I’m participating. I notice you are reading the Dark is Rising. I am enjoying this series very much and have one more to go. I am also reading The Turn of the Screw. Good luck with your list!
Thanks! I hope we both enjoy The Turn of the Screw. I can’t wait to read The Dark is Rising.
Helen, I too didn’t do very well with my 10 Books of Summer this year, which puts me off taking on another reading challenge. However this isn’t really a challenge, when it encompasses all the genres I love best to read in autumn. Taking part may also help boost my mood. 🙂
No, I never really think of this as much of a challenge either. Autumn is a great time for reading books from these genres, so I would probably be reading some anyway even if I didn’t officially take part. I hope joining in will help lift your mood! 🙂
Thank you 🙂