The Readers' Advisory Guide to Mystery

by John Charles, Candace Clark, Joanne Hamilton-Selway, Joanna Morrison

Overview

Something sinister is afoot out there—and this newly updated readers’ advisory has all the clues to help librarians solve the mystery of which titles readers should check out next. Equally useful for novice librarians and seasoned gumshoes, this handbook * Summarizes the history of mystery fiction, highlighting key figures in its development * Covers the latest and most popular classic titles in the genre, as well select suspense and thriller fiction with crossover appeal * Offers examples of how library staff can help readers move back and forth from fiction to nonfiction * Suggests ways to conduct an effective reference interviewWith several well-chosen booklists, practical programming ideas, and a brand new compendium of print and web-based resources, your only crime would be not adding this guide to your collection!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780838911136
Publisher:	American Library Association
Publication date:	01/09/2012
Series:	ALA Readers' Advisory Series
Edition description:	Second Edition
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Since 1991, John Charles has worked for the Scottsdale (AZ) Public Library system as a reference librarian. Charles is the co-author of several readers' advisory books. In 2002, he was selected as the Romance Writers of America’s Librarian of the Year. He has reviewed nonfiction titles for Library Journal, and romance fiction for Booklist and the Chicago Tribune.

Candace Clark worked for the Scottsdale Public Library System from 1975 until May 2009. She served as a Youth Librarian for 25 years. She was heavily involved in youth programming, material selection, and booktalking for all ages. Clark was Chair of the Children's Services Roundtable of the Arizona State Library Association and has presented many programs on booktalking for librarians. From 1991 to 2009 she co-hosted Booktalk, a city cable monthly book review and author interview program in Scottsdale.

Table of Contents

Series Introduction Joyce Saricks Neil Wyatt vii

Preface ix

Acknowledgments xiii

1 Detecting the Enduring Appeal of the Mystery Novel 1

2 The History of Mystery 5

3 A Crash Course in Mystery Readers' Advisory Work 11

4 Amateur Sleuths

Where's Jessica Fletcher When you Need Her? 19

5 Private Investigators

Well-Worn Trench Coats, Smoking Gats, and Deadly Dames 41

6 Police Procedurals

They Got the Beat 53

7 Historical Sleuths

Crime through Time 69

8 Genre-Blended Mysteries

Torn between Two Genres 81

9 The Mystery Readers' Advisory Interview 91

10 Mystery Resources 105

11 Collection Development 119

12 Merchandising Your Mystery Collection 127

Appendixes

A Mysteries for a Book Discussion 139

B Twenty-Five Mystery Movies 142

C Twenty-Five Mystery Television Series 146

Selected Bibliography 153

Index 159