Genre Book Club : Mystery

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie

The Crime Brulee Bake Off by Rebecca Connolly

Still Life by Louise Penny

The Lost Boy of Santa Chionia by Juliet Grames

The Body in the Back Garden by Mark Waddell

We Solve Murders by Richard Osman

Lavender House by Lev AC Rosen

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

How to Choose Your Next Read

How RRPL Librarians and Staff are breaking into their own TBR lists and suggestions for you:

  • Reading whatever comes next from library holds – especially audiobooks from the Libby app, where you can place holds on free ebooks, audiobooks, even magazines with your library card
  • A preview reading – start reading and if you don’t like the book, put it down!
  • Taking on challenges – Book Riot’s Read Harder Challenge, PopSugar’s Reading Challenge
  • Reading what’s trending – following bookshops, libraries, and book influencers online
  • Rereading favorites in anticipation of new releases
  • Following favorite authors and their latest releases
  • Having a new hobby that lends to learning from nonfiction books
  • Book club reads – at the library we lead : True Crime Wednesday, Black Fiction Book Discussion, LGBTQIA+ Book Discussion, and Adult Rocky River Readers Book Group (check out all our book discussion groups on page 9 of the Inside View)
  • Mood reading – books chosen depending on the current mood of the reader, often from their physical stockpile of books at home

Most used TBR trackers & list makers:

  • Our very own catalog – log into your RRPL account and create your own Lists straight from the catalog!
  • Fable – a free, interactive, social media like app with book clubs, challenges, reading streak tracker, and a rating system for you to use when you’re finished with a title
  • The Storygraph- loved for it’s stats keeper, this app will even help pick your next read based on your reading history and it’s also loved by mood readers
  • Tertulia – free to use but will direct you towards lists made up by book lovers and links to purchase books listed

To DNF or not to DNF:

  • The spectrum of readers who DNF (do/did not finish) their books goes from one end of being self proclaimed completionists, unable to put down a book even if it’s not that great, to the other end where readers decide there are too many books and too little time to spend on a bad one.

Whatever your reading style may be this year we encourage an overabundance of holds and checkouts from your local library!!

Taylor’s Top Ten Reads of 2024

A peek into the books I’ve been reading this year and a few that I dip into every year! I expanded my horizons this year genre-wise and although I’d have a critique for each, they were all thoroughly enjoyable. Here you’ll find lightly spooky, lightly fantasy, heavy on love, and the I’ve-got-a-sweet-tooth kind of reads. Each title is linked to the catalog where you can put a hold on the book, ebook, or even audiobook. Happy Reading!

Silver in the Wood by Emily Tesh
If you’re in need of a little escapism, this romance set amongst an ancient forest with fae will sweep you away with the fantastical story telling of Emily Tesh.

Drowned Country by Emily Tesh
Oh, look! Silver in the Wood is a duology! Enjoy!

Fairy Tale by Stephen King
If you’ve never read a Stephen King novel (like me before this book) I double dare you to read it before reading a summary. I’ve been told if you have read Stephen King you may find this a little out of the ordinary for his writing. Knowing that King rules the horror genre this book keeps you wondering when the other shoe will drop… or will it?

Dead of Winter by Darcy Coates
A wintery, claustrophobic murder mystery perfect for your next snow day read.

Gallant by V.E. Schwab
Be sure to check out the physical copy of this beautifully haunting YA book, the illustrations really drive home the spooky atmosphere of this story.

The Gentlemen’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
Maybe it was my love of Bridgerton, maybe it was growing up reading and being enamored with the adventurous spirit of the “Bloody Jack” series that had me consuming this book and it’s subsequent novels in a matter of no time.

An American in Scotland by Lucy Connelly
My first ever cozy mystery read! Set in a small idyllic town in Scotland, a widowed American becomes the towns new doctor and is immediately faced and accused of murder. She finds friendship, foes, and not so much help from the constable (who is obviously in love with her…maybe?) along the way to solving the mystery. If you love it, this book is also the first of a series.

Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo
A story set in 1950s San Fransisco, it portrays the life and story of Lily Hu, a seventeen year old Chinese American finding who she is and where she belongs – in a time when being exactly who she is was met with hate and disapproval. This book will break your heart and lift you up, prepare for an emotional rollercoaster.

The Secret Lives of Color by Kassia St. Clair
A book you can dive into over and over again. In its pages you’ll find delightful descriptions and origin stories of the colors we see everyday, and some we don’t.

Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar by Isa Chandra Moskowitz
Tis the season to be baking, so I figured I’d share my favorite cookie recipe book that I refer to each year during the holiday season.