Mystery

Mysteries revolve around a puzzle...a seemingly unexplainable or unresolved set of circumstances with some sort of crime element. The main character of a mystery novel is actively involved in solving the mystery. He/she may be an amateur who happened to stumble upon the crime scene and takes matters into their own hands or a police detective or private investigator who has been called in to investigate and solve the case. The focus of the novel then becomes the introduction of possible suspects and clues as the detective and the reader piece the information together to solve the puzzle. The Bloomington Public Library has a collection of mysteries. They are shelved in their own area.

Looking for new mysteries? Here’s a direct link to searching the library’s catalog.

Click on the author's name to find books the library owns. Some mystery authors you’ll find in this area include:

• Lawrence Block
• Lillian Jackson Braun
• Carol Higgins Clark
• Michael Connelly
• Arthur Conan Doyle
• Joanne Fluke
• Dick Francis
• Sue Grafton
• J. A. Jance
• Stuart Kaminsky
• Robert Parker
• Dorothy Sayers

Trying to find that next favorite mystery author or detective?
Try some of these titles for ideas:

• Make Mine a Mystery: A Reader’s Guide to Mystery and Detective Fiction
  by Gary Warren Niebuhr (READER’S CORNER 016.8NIE)
• Murder in Retrospect: A Selective Guide to Historical Mystery Fiction
  by Michael Burgess (READER’S CORNER 823.0872BUR)
• Reference and Research Guide to Mystery and Detective Fiction
  by Richard Bleiler (READER’S CORNER 016.80883BLE)
• The Subject is Murder: A Selective Subject Guide to Mystery Fiction
  by Albert J. Menendez (READER’S CORNER 813.0872MEN)
• Good Reads Online Form
  If you still can't find what you're looking for get personal suggestions from a librarian! Simply fill out the form for recommendations within 24 business hours.

Looking for more sources for mysteries?
Try some of these web sites:

• ClueLass
  

  A treasure trove of events and much more related to the mystery genre. Website is maintained by Kate Derie, assistant editor of the Mystery Readers Journal.

• Dagger Awards
  

  Awarded by the Crime Writers’ Association for the best of crime fiction, nonfiction, and author’s lifetime achievement in the genre. Previous winners include Elmore Leonard, Lawrence Block, and Jeffrey Deaver.

• Edgar Award
  Named after Edgar Allan Poe, the patron saint of Mystery Writers of America, this award is given to authors of distinguished work in various categories of the genre.
• Macavity Award
  

  Members of Mystery Readers International nominate and vote for their favorite mysteries in several categories. Award is named after the “mystery cat” of T. S. Eliot.

• Stop You're Killing Me
  

  A one-stop site for mystery genre lovers. Look for titles by your favorite author, find out which books your favorite character appears in, or find books or series that are similar to ones you enjoy.  

• Mystery Bookletters
  Subscribe to the library's mystery e-newsletter, or view it online each month and see what new titles the library added to the collection.