Westerly Sun Column | Find a Nice Mystery Novel at the Library

If the spectacle surrounding the Karen Read trial tells us anything, perhaps it is this: people love a good mystery. Obviously, my use of the term “good” is not synonymous with “positive,” because there is nothing positive about the case; I simply mean that folks are drawn to it in the same way they are drawn to mystery and thriller novels, which are some of our most popular book genres. There is drama. Intrigue. Conspiracy theories. Twists and turns. It doesn’t hurt that it takes place semi-locally, in Boston, either. Dave Wedge’s book about the case, entitled “Cop Town,” is set for release in 2026, but if you’re looking for more crime tales to keep you busy in the meantime, check out what we have at the library.

I read “American Predator: The Hunt for the Most Meticulous Serial Killer of the 21st Century” by Maureen Callahan earlier this year … and by “read,” I mean “devoured in 2 days.” It’s the story of Israel Keyes, perhaps the most prolific serial killer you’ve never heard of. Over the course of about a decade, Keyes is suspected to have killed 11 people, burglarized 20 to 30 homes, and robbed several banks, all the while completely evading police capture. He had no MO — his victims were all ages and sexes, from states ranging from Alaska to New York, chosen at random. The story is undoubtedly dark, but it’s a fascinating and well-written account of an unhinged man that is difficult to put down.

For something slightly less dark, but with that local appeal, I recommend “Hunting Whitey: The Inside Story of the Capture and Killing of America’s Most Wanted Crime Boss” by Casey Sherman and Dave Wedge. The book recounts the life, crimes, pursuit, and eventual capture of South Boston Mob Boss James “Whitey” Bulger, who went into hiding and evaded police for more than 16 years. The police finally caught up with him in 2020, prior to the release of the book.

If you are a literary lover who isn’t quite sure the true-crime genre is for you, I suggest you try “Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee” by Casey Cep. The book revolves around the trial of a serial murderer in Alabama in the 1970s, a trial that Harper Lee attended with the intention of using it as the basis of a book. She ended up abandoning the project, but Cep takes over where she left off, telling the story of the trial in tandem with Harper’s own story.

Of course, even the most hard-core of true-crime fans are bound to get burned out. If you find you need a palate cleanser, Thomas Christopher Greene’s “Notes from the Porch: Tiny True Stories to Make You Feel Better about the World” may help renew your faith in humanity. For something completely different, we have several seasons of “The Great British Baking Show” available, which never fail to improve my mood!

by Cassie Skobrak, Adult Services Librarian