Phyllis L. Carr
For all of you who love reading a good mystery, Sun Lakes Library has just what you are seeking—whether it is dark and sinister or a little less frightening. This month, we will share some authors and titles with you that will be perfect “Who Done It” reading.
You may wonder what the difference is between regular old mysteries and “cozy” mysteries. Mysteries center on solving a crime, nearly always a murder. They often entail uncovering secrets and determining which character actually is innocent and which is the murderer. Plot twists keep the reader going for just one more chapter in order to get closer to solving the crime. A great deal of suspense and tension is created by the author, along with descriptions of the crime itself, sometimes rather graphic. These novels often include a hardboiled detective who uses unusual methods to solve crimes.
Some of the most famous mystery writers of all time include Agatha Christie, Arthur Conan Doyle (of Sherlock Holmes fame), Raymond Chandler, P. D. James, Patricia Highsmith, Walter Mosely, Lee Child, Michael Connelly, and James Patterson, just to name a few. It is worth researching some of these older writers, including books such as The Killing of Roger Ackroyd (Agatha Christie), The Big Sleep and Farewell My Lovely (Raymond Chandler), and Devil in a Blue Dress (Walter Mosely). Many have gone from novel to film.
A list of the current top authors includes Freida McFadden’s The Housemaid, James Patterson’s Along Came a Spider, and Lee Child’s Killing Floor. These earlier titles by these well-known writers might get you started on the other books by these authors, but there isn’t enough space for the many writers who tell dramatic tales of intrigue and murder.
Cozy mysteries are for those who prefer a great plot without all the blood and violence. These novels usually have amateur detectives, community settings, and a crime often takes place “off the page” without the gruesome details. Some titles and authors in the genre include Louise Penny’s Still Life, Diane Mott Davidson’s Dying for Chocolate, Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club, and Nita Prose’s The Maid.
Sun Lakes Library is fortunate in having a large number of books in both these mystery categories, and we encourage you to spend some time browsing through the sections, which are clearly marked for your convenience.
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