Loads of people like to read mysteries, crime novels, and thrillers, but do you know the differences between them?  Mysteries follow clues to reveal the person who committed a crime.  They can be standalone or part of a series.  Dorothy Sayers is a classic example of a mystery writer with a long-running series in her Lord Peter Wimsey books.  Within the mystery genre, there are several subgenres, including cozy mysteries like Jennifer Chow’s “Death By Bubble Tea,” hardboiled mysteries like those by author Walter Mosley, police procedurals such as “Wife of the Gods” by Kwei Quartey, and speculative mysteries that are set in a science fiction or fantasy setting.  Mystery novel themes include “proving one’s innocence,” “solving the puzzle,” featuring famous characters, and “rookie on the beat.”  “The Woman in the Library” by Sulari Gentill is a great example of a “solve the puzzle” mystery, while Stephanie Barron’s Jane Austen mysteries will appeal to Austen lovers out there.  You may like one of these mystery subgenres more than another, so don’t give up after just reading one mystery novel–you might not have found your subgenre yet!

Thriller subgenres include legal thrillers such as Robyn Gigl’s “Remain Silent,” psychological thrillers written by authors like Alyssa Cole, supernatural thrillers, and spy fiction.  “Shutter” by Ramona Emerson is a great example of a supernatural thriller, while “Prophet” by Helen Macdonald and Sin Blanche falls into the spy fiction subgenre.  Thrillers might feature unreliable narrators, like in Mara Dong’s “Liar, Dreamer, Thief.”  They might have a plot that seems “too good to be true,” like in Riley Sager’s “The House Across the Lake.”  Thrillers are often set “behind the Iron Curtain” or in a similar setting.  “The Apollo Murders” by Chris Hadfield is a great example of this theme.  Thrillers might also feature missing memories, as found in Brian Freeman’s “I Remember You.”  Again, one of these themes may appeal to you more than another, so you may need to try reading a few thrillers to really get a feel for what you like.

Crime fiction subgenres include rural noir, capers, organized crime, and “inspired by read events.”  S.A. Cosby’s “Razorblade Tears” is a great example of rural noir, while “Dr. No” by Percival Everett is a classic caper novel.  A recent example of organized crime is “The Plotters” by Un-Su Kim.  “Northern Heist” by Richard O’Rawe is inspired by real events.  Within the crime novel genre, popular themes include “on the run,” “criminal masterpieces,” “rural noir,” and “vengeance is mine.”  If you’re looking for a new “on the run” title, try “Burn It All Down” by Nicholas DiDomizio.  Another great rural noir title is “Barbed Wire Heart” by Tess Sharpe.  If you like the “vengeance is mine” theme, try “How to Kill Your Family” by Bella Mackie.

Never read a mystery and are looking to try one?  I recommend Jessa Maxwell’s “The Golden Spoon.”  Think Great British Bakeoff but with a murder to solve.  If you think a thriller might be what you need, “What Never Happened” by Rachel Howzell Hall fits the bill.  If you’re looking for a classic crime novel, try “Confidence” by Rafael Frumkin.  These are all great “first books to try” within these genres.

There are also lots of movies, TV, and podcasts tied to these genres as well.  In fact, thriller novels are often made into movies or TV shows.  Since these genres are some of my favorites, I’m also keeping an eye on what S.A. Cosby, Mia P. Manansala, Erin E. Adams, and Eli Cranor are writing.  These are some authors to watch when it comes to your mysteries, thrillers, and crime novels.

Visit our display area to find these titles and lots more.  Lists of featured titles are also below.

This is the time of year when food is a big part of our conversations and preparations–we’re talking about big meals we’re planning, we’re preparing what we’ll serve, we dream about our favorite holiday dishes.  What better way to celebrate our love of food then with some food-themed reading that AREN’T cookbooks.  These titles feature protagonists who work in the food industry, a specific dish that provides the overall theme of the book, or characters who love things savory or sweet.  You’ll find titles like “The Kitchen Front” by Jennifer Ryan.  Set in Britain during World War II, it features four women who are vying for a spot hosting a BBC wartime cookery program.  All set with World War II fiction?  Try “The Coincident of Coconut Cake” by Amy Reichert.  Chef Lou Johnson struggles to keep her beloved restaurant afloat and is visited by a food critic Al on the worst possible day.  When his review comes out, Lou is wallowing at a pub when Al walks in.  Lou accepts the Englishman’s challenge to show him the best of Milwaukee cuisine–before she knows who he is and what he wrote about her restaurant.  Can they overcome the past and “savor a future together?”  Grab the book and find out.    Looking for a book that features recipes?  Try “Black Cake” by Charmaine Wilkerson and try your hand at baking a Jamaican rum cake at home.

Visit our display area to find these titles and lots more food-themed fiction.  Lists of featured titles are also linked below.

Sometimes you read a book that wrecks you emotionally and it’s all you can talk about for weeks.  I finished Audrey Niffenegger’s “The Time Traveler’s Wife” on a commuter rail train and cried throughout the entire ride.  Who hasn’t read “The Lovely Bones” by Alice Sebold and sobbed?  And let’s face it–sometimes you just need a good cry.  That’s the intention behind our latest display, “Read With a Box of Tissues.”  These are books you’ll want to read with those tissues close by.  Some of them, like “The Time Traveler’s Wife” and JoJo Moyes’s “Me Before You” feature an overall theme that is heartbreaking.  Some have unexpected moments of laughter, like Trish Doller’s “Off the Map: A Novel.”  Many of them have movie or television adaptations that you could watch after reading: “The Green Mile” by Stephen King, “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck, and “The Color Purple” by Alice Walker.  Grab one of these titles, a favorite beverage, a box of tissues, and settle in for an emotional afternoon of reading.  Let the feelings catharsis begin!

You can find these titles and many more in our display area.  Lists of featured titles are also linked below.

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the “first celebration using the term Veterans Day occurred in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1947.  Raymond Weeks, a World War II veteran, organized “National Veterans Day,” which included a parade and other festivities, to honor all veterans.”  Originally called “Armistice Day,” it began as a celebration of the allied forces’ victory during World War I.  It was renamed Veterans Day in 1954.  Did you know that there is no apostrophe in “Veterans Day”?  This is to suggest that the day doesn’t belong to veterans, but honors their service.  While Memorial Day specifically recognizes military servicepeople who died while serving, Veterans Day is dedicated to veterans of all wars.

During World War II, the military faced a shortage of available men, and the services began accepting women who served in all branches of the military except the Air Force.  In June 1948, President Harry S. Truman signed the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act allowing women to serve in all branches of the service.  Prior to and during World War II, women also provided medical care to soldiers.

If you’re looking for a great story about these veterans, soldiers, and war nurses, check out our newest display.  You’ll find a huge range of options, from female centered books like “The Librarian Spy” by Madeline Martin and “Sisters In Arms” by Kaia Alderson.  There are classics like “Catch 22” by Joseph Heller and “A Farewell to Arms” by Ernest Hemingway.  One of my modern favorites is “Matterhorn” by Karl Marlantes.  Don’t let the length of this book intimidate you: the plot will draw you in and keep you reading until you’ve finished.  “Matterhorn” tells the story of Waino Mellas, a young Marine lieutenant, and his fellow Marines in Bravo Company who are dropped into the mountains of Vietnam.  They are fighting both the North Vietnamese and the horrors of the jungle: monsoon rain, mud, animals, disease, lack of food, and the tension within the group itself.  The book culminates in a battle that changes the Marines forever.  I read the book when it was released in 2010 and remember both the epic combat scenes and the havoc that mud creates for these men as they traverse the country.  “Matterhorn” is an excellent choice for a historical fiction novel set in the Vietnam War.

You’ll find these books and many others in our Veterans Day display area.  You can also find links to the books featured here:

It’s October, which might mean that it’s time for a seasonal spooky read!  Check out the display area for some suggestions that range from scary to haunting to sweet.  There are lots of options for a wide variety of readers, including some Halloween-themed romance titles.  One of my favorites up on the display is a book called “Into the Drowning Deep” by Mira Grant.  If I were to describe this book in two words, I’d choose “mermaid horror.”  Not convinced?  Try this: a team of scientists embarks on an expedition to the Mariana Trench.  They are searching for clues about another expedition that mysteriously vanished seven years before.  For our main character, Victoria Stewart, this mission is personal: her sister was on the ship that disappeared.  Things get weirder the closer the team gets to the Trench, and then one by one, people start to disappear from the boat.  Where are they going?  And who—or what—is taking them?  This book is a campy delight from start to finish.  If it’s already checked out, you can request it quickly from another MVLC library.

Looking for something a little lighter?  Try “The Ex Hex” by Erin Stirling or “The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches” by Sangu Mandanna.  “The Golden Spoon” by Jessa Maxwell is a good choice if you’re willing to read a murder mystery but not interested in a lot of gore.  If you want a classic horror novel, try “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” by Robert Louis Stevenson.  And if you’re looking to read something by the King of Horror himself, Stephen King, I recommend starting with his first novel, “Carrie.”  It’s a great introduction to the genre.

Don’t need a book recommendation?  Why don’t you join us for our Intro to Tarot program?  This workshop is designed for teens or adults and is a fun way to learn the art of Tarot.  Tarot reading is a practice of divining guidance through a particular spread (or layout) of Tarot cards.  Contrary to popular belief, Tarot cards do not tell you your fortune but are meant to help you tap into your own intuition.  Our presenter, Laura Campagna, will lead us through a fun workshop designed to boost our confidence in reading for ourselves and our friends.  This workshop will take place on Thursday, October 19^th from 6:30-8 PM.  Registration is required and can be found at:

https://chelmsfordlibrary.libcal.com/event/11189219

We hope you can celebrate any aspect of spooky season with us!  Feel free to reach out with questions or for more recommendations.

Fall Bingo has arrived here at the Chelmsford Public Library!

If you’re looking for a way to challenge yourself to read a little more or to broaden your reading horizons, why not grab a Fall Bingo card and jump right in?  Some of the boxes are easy: “Recommend a book to someone you know” or “Read a book outdoors or by a window.”  Others are a little more challenging: “Read a cozy mystery by a non-white author” or “Read a book that features baking or includes a recipe.”  For these more specific boxes, we’ve done the work for you!  Check out our “Fall Bingo” display on the first floor where you will find books that meet the requirements.  We’ve got #BookTok recommendations, books with “fall” in the title, and books written by Indigenous authors.  You can check some of the boxes without doing any reading—sharing this bingo with someone you know checks a box, as does commenting or liking one of our social media posts.  There’s even a free square if you have a library card OR sign up for one.

Once you’ve completed a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal line or checked off each of the four corner squares, drop off your completed card at the Reader Services desk or snap a photo and send it to jiatron@chelmsfordlibrary.org.  The deadline to complete your card is November 22^nd, and we’ll be awarding prizes after that.  Fall is a great time to make a new or renewed commitment to reading, and Fall Bingo is a fantastic way to freshen up that TBR pile.  We can’t wait to help you with recommendations and receive your completed card!

If you want to print the card at home, here’s the link:

https://www.libraryaware.com/1291/Documents/CurrentThumbnail/5353175