Mystery Reader's Advisory: The Librarian's Clues to Murder and Mayhem

by American Library Association

In this handy reference, you'll find an introduction to the world of mystery, a step-by-step guide on how to interview readers in order to match their tastes with stories, programming ideas, marketing strategies, and collection development tips on the sticky issues of weeding, paperbacks, and obtaining out-of-print titles. The second half of the book presents two winning booklists organized by themes (e.g., Classic, Ecclesiastical, Cozy) and subgenres (e.g., Private Investigator, Legal Thrillers, True Crime). And a where-to-go guide for more specifics includes reference information, review literature, specialty publishers, and Websites. Packed with information, this user-friendly book will help you to: -- Develop your understanding of the mystery world -- its awards, popular publications, hot authors, and more

-- Build an enticing mystery collection

-- Make insightful mystery recommendations to curious readers

-- Organize discussion groups and author programs

-- Market the library and its mystery center

If you'd like to create a dynamic mystery center in your library but don't know where to start, solve the puzzle using the clues in The Mystery Readers' Advisory.

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, Mystery

227 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2001

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Published in 2002, I fully understand that the books/authors that are mentioned are going to be significant in popularity. However, the 3 authors of this genre do a great job of 1) making each subgenre easy to understand (even if the authors have been backdated to the earlier times in their careers, i.e. Evanovich...) 2) Demonstrating very clearly how to do the RA interview, 3) how to do genre-blending, 4) displays, 5)little bit on programming (mostly book-group) 6) reminding reader's advisors about intellectual freedom.
The authors also forewarn the readers of the book: 'Hey this stuff may be outdated. We tried to blend the many mainstream authors who are still popular, as of 2002, with classics and even more obscure ones, both current at the time of publication and from 1938.

The other part that I think was interesting about THIS book, was that, this book, and not the horror-genre book which was published 4 years later, included websites, and other reader's advisory resources whereas the horror genre guide did not. Just saying.
I would suggest this book to any librarian who needed an intro into the world of mysteries and thrillers. Even if you don't think that you read this genre, you'd be surprised how many titles from various subgenres you probably have read or read in school.

[Captain Curmudgeon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good lists, mediocre otherwise.