Jun 29

BOTNS Books Podcast #84: Death Among the Books

By Michael Kindness Podcasts Add comments

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 22:31 — 12.9MB)

Libraries vs. bookstores: which do you use when, and why? We explore several of the many mysteries set in libraries, bookstores and other outposts of the book world, and we end by recommending Mr. Peanut by Adam Ross and Kraken by China Mieville.

Borrow vs. Buy

Jason, from western New York, emailed us asking about buying books from bookstores and taking books out of the library. Ann and I share our “methodology” for library use, including Ann’s daughters trying out new series. We’d love to hear what all of you think!

Biblio-Mysteries (6:28)

Talking about libraries got us thinking about books set in libraries or other book-ish sites. Thankfully, the Manchester CT public library did most of the work for us when they created Death Among the Books, a very comprehensive list with a title that we shamelessly stole! From the list, we mention Miss Zukas Shelves the Evidence by Jo Dereske and The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie. Ann talks about Lawrence Block’s Bernie Rhodenbarr series, featuring a bookstore owner who is also a cat burglar. I also have fond memories of bookstore owner character: Cliff Janeway, the protagonist in John Dunning’s Bookman series which began with Booked to Die. Moving out of libraries and bookstores, Blind Submission by Debra Ginsberg is a mystery set in the office of a literary agent and features an anonymous manuscript being sent in chapter by chapter. The problem is that the story seems to mirror the life of Angel, our main character, and the latest chapter ends in murder.

Two Books We Can’t Wait For You to Read (12:10)

Ann recommends Mr. Peanut by Adam Ross. It’s difficult to describe, but features a murder investigation and homages to Hitchcock, M.C. Escher and The Fugitive. There’s a can of peanuts in there too and they just might be the murder weapon. Equally hard to describe is my book: Kraken by China Mieville. A giant squid has gone missing from London’s Natural History Museum, tank and all. It has been taken a sect of squid worshipers who believe it has the power to bring about the end of the world. I’ve only read the first chapter, but it grabbed me right away!

  • http://www.aaronsbooksonline.com Sam D.D.

    There is a great mystery series set in a fictional town that is ALL INDIE BOOKSTORES! Main character owns the mystery shop, with her cat Miss Marple. How can you go wrong with that premise for a cozy series?? It’s our best selling series at the store for the 2nd (maybe 3rd) year…. love putting these books into the hands of book and mystery lovers. “Booktown” series by Lorna Barret, begins with Murder is Binding, and #4 comes out 1st week of August.

  • http://www.aaronsbooksonline.com Sam D.D.

    There is a great mystery series set in a fictional town that is ALL INDIE BOOKSTORES! Main character owns the mystery shop, with her cat Miss Marple. How can you go wrong with that premise for a cozy series?? It’s our best selling series at the store for the 2nd (maybe 3rd) year…. love putting these books into the hands of book and mystery lovers. “Booktown” series by Lorna Barret, begins with Murder is Binding, and #4 comes out 1st week of August.

  • http://www.booksonthenightstand.com Ann Kingman

    Thanks, Sam — I will look for it, it sounds wonderful! I used to read a lot of “cozy” mysteries, but have gotten away from it for the past several years. Might be time to start again with your recommendation.

    P.S. – For those of you in the Lancaster, Pennsylvania area, Sam is owner of Aaron’s Books in Lititz. Check it out if you have a chance!

  • http://www.booksonthenightstand.com Ann Kingman

    Thanks, Sam — I will look for it, it sounds wonderful! I used to read a lot of “cozy” mysteries, but have gotten away from it for the past several years. Might be time to start again with your recommendation.

    P.S. – For those of you in the Lancaster, Pennsylvania area, Sam is owner of Aaron’s Books in Lititz. Check it out if you have a chance!

  • Denise

    I loved the library as a kid and visited frequently (still do). It kept me sane during summer vacation. We even had a summer bookmobile visit our neighborhood. On June 27, there was an article in the Wisconsin State Journal about the Dane County bookmobile, which is still going strong and even has wireless internet service now! It said that there are only 9 bookmobiles left in Wisconsin.

  • Denise

    I loved the library as a kid and visited frequently (still do). It kept me sane during summer vacation. We even had a summer bookmobile visit our neighborhood. On June 27, there was an article in the Wisconsin State Journal about the Dane County bookmobile, which is still going strong and even has wireless internet service now! It said that there are only 9 bookmobiles left in Wisconsin.

  • http://myflutteringheart.blogspot.com Aimee

    I’ve heard very conflicting views about Kraken so far..but the storyline is just too interesting to miss! I have The City, the City on my shelf, so i’ll read that one first to get a bit of a feel of China Mieville’s wild “genius”.

  • http://myflutteringheart.blogspot.com Aimee

    I’ve heard very conflicting views about Kraken so far..but the storyline is just too interesting to miss! I have The City, the City on my shelf, so i’ll read that one first to get a bit of a feel of China Mieville’s wild “genius”.

  • http://booksonthenightstand.com Allyson

    I, too, am a heavy user of the library. In fact, my husband says that if someone wanted to punish me, there’s no point in taking away my credit card; he/she should take away my library card instead!

    I purchase books I can’t obtain at the library (i.e. obscure titles) or that I want to mark up with notes (i.e. classics). I borrow books I intend to read one time, such as mysteries or the latest bestsellers.

    I also pay $45 per year to use the library in the next county. They are a terrific resource. Shhh, I’d pay twice that fee if I had too. I love the Durham Public Library that much.

  • http://booksonthenightstand.com Allyson

    I, too, am a heavy user of the library. In fact, my husband says that if someone wanted to punish me, there’s no point in taking away my credit card; he/she should take away my library card instead!

    I purchase books I can’t obtain at the library (i.e. obscure titles) or that I want to mark up with notes (i.e. classics). I borrow books I intend to read one time, such as mysteries or the latest bestsellers.

    I also pay $45 per year to use the library in the next county. They are a terrific resource. Shhh, I’d pay twice that fee if I had too. I love the Durham Public Library that much.

  • http://www.columibactlibrary.org/adult.htm CarolK

    Like Ann & Michael I have lots of books at my disposal. I work in a public library and am responsible for the adult collection. I get to choose the books, open the packages (like the best birthday ever) and then hand them to cataloging. I just want to read them all. So do I buy books? Of course! I buy books for gifts, I buy books that aren’t in our collection, I buy books in support of independent booksellers, I buy books I hear about on programs like BOTN, I buy books at flea markets, used books stores, online, because that’s what I do. I use our library heavily. Thank heavens or I’d be permanently broke! I swap books too but I only swap books that I truly loved.

  • http://www.columibactlibrary.org/adult.htm CarolK

    Like Ann & Michael I have lots of books at my disposal. I work in a public library and am responsible for the adult collection. I get to choose the books, open the packages (like the best birthday ever) and then hand them to cataloging. I just want to read them all. So do I buy books? Of course! I buy books for gifts, I buy books that aren’t in our collection, I buy books in support of independent booksellers, I buy books I hear about on programs like BOTN, I buy books at flea markets, used books stores, online, because that’s what I do. I use our library heavily. Thank heavens or I’d be permanently broke! I swap books too but I only swap books that I truly loved.

  • http://www.columibactlibrary.org/adult.htm CarolK

    It was nice to hear that the title for this podcast came from a booklist done by one of our local libraries, Manchester Public. Connecticut is fortunate to have so many wonderful libraries.

    Another place to find a great list of bibliomysteries is Mystery Reader’s Journal, Volume 21, No. 3, Fall 2005, It is not available for purchase but is available online at http://www.mysteryreaders.org/Issues/Biblio.html

  • http://www.columibactlibrary.org/adult.htm CarolK

    It was nice to hear that the title for this podcast came from a booklist done by one of our local libraries, Manchester Public. Connecticut is fortunate to have so many wonderful libraries.

    Another place to find a great list of bibliomysteries is Mystery Reader’s Journal, Volume 21, No. 3, Fall 2005, It is not available for purchase but is available online at http://www.mysteryreaders.org/Issues/Biblio.html

  • Michelle

    The book “Lethal Legacy” by Linda Fairstein is a murder mystery/crime novel that takes place in and around the New York Public Library. It is part of the Alex Cooper mystery series. There is a lot in the book about the history of the library and rare book restoration, which I found really interesting.

    Just wanted to pass that along!
    Michelle

  • Michelle

    The book “Lethal Legacy” by Linda Fairstein is a murder mystery/crime novel that takes place in and around the New York Public Library. It is part of the Alex Cooper mystery series. There is a lot in the book about the history of the library and rare book restoration, which I found really interesting.

    Just wanted to pass that along!
    Michelle

  • http://jaynesbooks.blogspot.com/ Melissa W.

    Because I am on a limited income and because I have limited space, I often borrow my books from the library, especially since I take awhile before I actually read the books I own. I currently have 4 library cards and because I live in a certain lending area, I was able to get three of them for free (the other one is from the local regional library branch that is hq’d in my town) and I have relative easy access to at least one or two more library systems. I mainly use 1 of the extra cards to get books that my local library system doesn’t have and I am not one to wait to get my hands on a book (my local library system doesn’t allow users to request Inter-library loans and for the most part, I can get my hands on the book that I wish to get in a relative short period). It definitely helps being near a major population center as it does decrease the amount of money that I spend on my books.

  • http://jaynesbooks.blogspot.com/ Melissa W.

    Because I am on a limited income and because I have limited space, I often borrow my books from the library, especially since I take awhile before I actually read the books I own. I currently have 4 library cards and because I live in a certain lending area, I was able to get three of them for free (the other one is from the local regional library branch that is hq’d in my town) and I have relative easy access to at least one or two more library systems. I mainly use 1 of the extra cards to get books that my local library system doesn’t have and I am not one to wait to get my hands on a book (my local library system doesn’t allow users to request Inter-library loans and for the most part, I can get my hands on the book that I wish to get in a relative short period). It definitely helps being near a major population center as it does decrease the amount of money that I spend on my books.

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