Your host:

• Welcome! I am a mystery enthusiast and pleased to serve as your host for this challenge. Here is my personal web page and my Mystillery blog. You can email me at rickmills9@gmail.com - Rick Mills

Instructions:

• Rent some ugly shoes, grab a slice of greasy pizza and a warm beer.
• You start with ten pins. The goal is to knock them all over, using as many books as you need. Knock over a pin by any of these methods:
  • Exact method: Read a book with that number in its title.

  • Addition: This requires reading one or two books, the sum being the desired pin number.

  • Subtraction: This requires reading one or two books, the difference being the desired pin number.

  • Multiply: This requires reading one or two books, which multiply to the desired pin number.

  • Divide: This requires reading one or two books, which divide to the desired pin number.

  • Wild Card: Read a book with a zero in the title. This book may be used to knock over any pin of your choice.

  • Wild Card: Read a book with eleven or greater in the title. This book may be used to knock over any pin of your choice.

  • Wild Card: Read a book with a fractional or decimal number in the title. This book may be used to knock over any pin of your choice.

  • Be creative: Figure out some other way to come up with the pin number!

• Ready? (submit once for each pin).
• NEW FOR 2025: No more multiple strings, you only get one. However, you can replace any completed pin with a different title(s) to improve your score. See Rule 6.
• Reviews are not needed, but if you include a URL a link will be provided.

Rules:

1. This game is seasonal, and is open now through March 31 2026 (it alternates with Abra Cadavers).
2. Any genres may be read, fiction or non-fiction.
3. Any reading done from Jan 1 2025 to March 31 2026 qualifies. Can't remember? Check your Medical Examiner clipboard or Six Shooter Gallery!
4. You can reread books from previous years.
5. You may use each book only once (if title has two or more digits or numbers in it, you may use it twice, and so on).
6. You can replace previous entries in order to maximize your score. Just submit the form for the pin again, the new info will replace the old info.
7. You can use books already used by others.
8. You can change or reorganize your books/pins. You may find this necessary to get all the pins down. Just submit the form for the pin again, the new info will replace the old info. If it is complicated, just email me.
9. You can use each of the methods as much as you like.
10. Print books, audio books, radio dramatizations, short stories, or e-books may be used.
11. Bloggers are welcome to any images for your blog.

FAQ:

• Does a variation of a number count? For example, Thrice for Three? Second for Two? Or does it have to be the actual number?
  Yes, any variation ihat indicates a quantity is OK. Here are some examples - there are certainly more:
  • for one: one, once, first, single, each, solo, etc.
  • for two: two, twice, second, double, both, twins, couple, duo, pair, etc.
  • for three: three, thrice, third, triple, trio, etc.

• Can I replace a previous entry with a new entry to increase my score?
  Certainly. Just resubmit the form for that pin. For example, you could replace Four Blind Mice with Valley of the Four Hundred to dramatically increase your score.

• My niece says 1 AND Zero makes 10. Does this ring true in the challenge under the "be creative"?
  This question flummoxed me for a bit until I realized she meant "spelling out" 10 with a 1 and 0. Certainly it is creative! Of course, you can use just the zero as a wild card to do the ten pin, and save the one for another pin too.

Archive:

• 2021-2022 Ten Pins Game
• 2022-2023 Ten Pins Game
• 2023-2024 Ten Pins Game
• 2024-2025 Ten Pins Game

Messaging:

If you wish to contact another challenger, first try the Goodreads message system:

1. Click on the Goodreads icon on the challenger's line on the main page. This brings you to their Goodreads profile.
2. Click the MORE button (with the down arrow)
3. Click MESSAGE. This - hopefully - brings up a message form. Just fill it out!
4. If the challenger does not have Goodreads, or is not accepting Goodreads messages, send an email to me (rickmills9@gmail.com) indicating who you wish to message. I will inquire of that challenger if they wish to message with you.

Policies and privacy:

• Inclusion: The Mystillery strives to value and respect every participant regardless of age, ability, race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, or spirituality. The Mystillery hopes to foster a sense of belonging and provide an uplifting, welcoming, safe space for all participants.
• Your name: You can choose how you wish your name to appear. If you wish to change how it is displayed, just let me know.
• Your image: You can choose your icon image. Initially, this is set to a publicly available image if available (Google account, Goodreads profile, etc.) If you do not wish your image to appear, an 'avatar', AI-generated, or other icon may be used. Just email your choice to me. Keep in mind they are tiny (50 px wide).
• Your preferred pronouns will be honored if provided.
• Your general location is encouraged, but is optional.
• Your email address is kept on file by the host, never posted, and not shared with other participants unless you specifically allow.
• Mystillery challenges are a politics-free zone.

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Back to the challenge page • Revised Sep 3 2025