Mystery discussions take place at Maze Branch Library in Oak Park

Mysteries are one of the most popular genres at Oak Park Public Library. Rarely a day goes by when we are not asked a question about mysteries such as "What's the next book in the 'Maisie Dobbs' series?" or "I've read all of Anne Perry, what else might I like?" or "Is it important to read the Inspector Lynley books in order?" or "Can you recommend a mystery without a lot of gruesome detail?" All Oak Park librarians are happy to show you websites that will answer these and many more questions about your mystery reading. You might want to start with StopYoureKillingMe.com.

At the Maze Branch Library we've undertaken a study of the mystery genre. Since September 2011 our mystery discussions have looked at the great detectives of the Golden Age of mystery writing, which occurred in the 1920s and 1930s. We've explored the Queens of Crime including Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers, Margery Allingham, and Ngaio Marsh. We've investigated the originators of detective fiction including Edgar Allen Poe, Wilkie Collins, and Arthur Conan Doyle. We've seen many detectives at work: the amateur (Miss Marple, Lord Peter Wimsey); the private investigator (Hercule Poroit, Sherlock Holmes); and the policeman (Inspector Alan Grant, Sgt. Cuff).

Beginning in February 2013, our mystery discussions will explore mysteries set in different places throughout the world, to see how "location" is woven into the mystery. On Tuesday, February 5, we will look at Donna Leon's Death at La Fenice set in Venice. On March 5, it is The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency set in Botswana. On April 2 we'll travel to a Navaho reservation for Tony Hillerman's Skinwalkers. On May 7 it's up to Quebec for Louise Penny's Still Life.  All discussions take place on the first Tuesday of the month from 12:00 to 1:00 pm at the Maze Branch Library, 845 Gunderson Avenue. Feel free to bring your lunch or just enjoy our coffee and cookies while we talk.

Other themes will be developed going forward including American Crime Noir, Mysterious Short Stories, and the Mysterious History of England. These and other book discussion series hosted at the Maze Branch Library can be found on our Goodreads page. Join Goodreads at www.goodreads.com and become a "Maze Branch friend."

We hope to see you on Tuesday, February 5 at noon for Death at La Fenice by Donna Leon. Join us!

written by Donna Krier Ioppolo, Library Assistant, Maze Branch