Reviews of A Dangerous Fiction: A Mystery, The Fame Thief: A Junior Bender Mystery, and False as the Day Is Long: A Keegan Shaw Mystery, plus a fill list of mystery titles from the May 1 issue.
Following the Digital Clues: Mystery Genre Spotlight
By on April 12, 2013
The world of mystery is ever-popular and ever-evolving. Whether a classic “whodunit,” a cozy, a police procedural, or something in between, crime fiction still draws readers nationwide. In a brief survey of 232 public libraries conducted by LJ, 55% of respondents reported that mystery continues to be the most popular genre in terms of circulation. The survey also found that in print fiction collections, 24.1% of materials are mysteries.
What is new this year is that mystery titles make up over 20% of library ebook collections. And like their print counterparts, the highest circulating subgenres in mystery ebooks are police procedurals and cozies. However, 57% of the survey respondents do not purchase e-original mysteries (perhaps owing to a lack of review coverage and issues of discovery?); chief e-mystery purchase influencers are high-demand titles, user requests, and cost.
The Game is Afoot: Spring Mystery Announcements
By on January 21, 2013 1 Comment
Tuesday, February 19, 2013, 3:00-4:00 PM ET Learn about spring’s forthcoming mystery titles during this Library Journal webcast. Mystery columnist and moderator Terry Jacobsen and representatives from Oceanview Publishing, Soho Press, Severn House, and Titan books will discuss market trends, exciting authors, and help you discover new books for your crime readers. Need help finding fresh titles for your collection? Archive now available!
Librarian Brings Bouchercon to Cleveland—and $1M+ to Its Economy
By on November 5, 2012 Leave a Comment
Librarians attend book related conferences whenever they can, and Bouchercon, the oldest and largest mystery convention, always has a few librarian attendees. But Marjory Mogg, readers’ advisory librarian at Euclid Public Library in an inner ring suburb of Cleveland, OH, decided to take things a step further by bringing the conference to Cleveland.
Prior Misconduct: Historical True Crime | Collection Development
By on September 4, 2012
While abhorrent to some, the appeal of historical true crime is not so difficult to imagine: vivid eras are brought to life in these accounts, many of which are assiduously researched, footnoted, and indexed. Furthermore, the story lines offer readers many compensations—the satisfaction of the compulsion to face the worst in human nature; the assurance that justice has been done; and, certainly not least, the chance to empathize with and offer witness to the victims in their hours of need.
Fall Mystery Announcements
By on July 30, 2012 Leave a Comment
Thursday, August 30, 2012, 2:00-3:00 PM ETJudging from current trends in mystery and suspense, no place in the world is safe from crime. Mysteries span the globe from Scandinavia to India, new series dive into the near and distant past, police procedurals still walk their beat, political thrillers hit the campaign trail, and cozies continue to puzzle and comfort. The archive is no longer available.
Fall Mystery Announcements 2011
By on September 13, 2011
Love mystery novels? Check out this webcast sponsored by AudioGO, Severn House/Crème de la Crime, Kensington Publishing, Oceanview Publishing, and Library Journal to learn about forthcoming titles. Archive now available!
