By Elsa Rowe

Photo: Writers Richard Cass, Barbara Ross, and Kate Flora

Scarborough Public Library readers love a good mystery. In 2024, library patrons checked out an astounding 3,465 mystery books—and that’s just the paper copies! From historical whodunits to modern thrillers, from “fair play” to unreliable narrators, the library’s shelves are stocked with page-turning suspense, with even more available as e-books and audiobooks. But a big mystery remains – can we tell you where you left off in that fantastic mystery series you like? Nope! Once books are returned, we have no way of knowing your reading history unless you tell us. We think it’s important to allow people to have their own little mysteries as well, and what you read is one of them.

The most popular mystery title of the past year was from Scarborough’s own Paul Doiron. His latest, Pitch Dark, was checked out 61 times! Harlan Coben’s Think Twice followed with 36 checkouts, and James Patterson’s The 24th Hour, co-authored with Maxine Paetro, rounded out the top three with 33 checkouts. All three authors hail from the Northeast, and it seems to have inspired their writing. As cold nights and gray days stretch into what we affectionately label “Mud Season,” there’s something about the cold and quiet of New England that makes the allure of a good mystery even stronger.

New England has a long and storied tradition of mystery and horror writing. From Nathaniel Hawthorne’s eerie House of the Seven Gables (1851) to the terrifying tales of Stephen King, the region’s landscape – filled with winding woods and foggy nights – provides a perfect backdrop for dark stories. Whether it’s the shadowy forests or the isolation of our coastal towns, there’s no shortage of inspiration for local writers.

At Scarborough Public Library, a mystery writer with a brand-new shiny book is among our very favorite things. Our love for the genre is about the entire experience – we love to guess who did it and quiz the authors about their process and technique. We leave no clues behind. The library has hosted debut authors and seasoned crime writers, all eager to share their craft with local readers.

One of the highlights from last year was the Make Your Own Mystery program, which was so well received that it’s already in the works to return. The event invited participants to create and solve a mystery collectively, with characters, murder weapons, a red herring, and various motives. Never has a murder plot turned out as ridiculous!

But the library is far from stopping there. A thrilling event on the horizon promises to be an unforgettable night for local mystery fans. Later this year, Scarborough Public Library will host a Murder Mystery Night. This immersive event will feature actors, a silent auction, raffles, and prizes for sleuths who can crack the case. We’ve rewritten a classic Ann Cleeves story to work for us. She has offered a few mystery packages for free for library use, and we’re twisting her words to make it unique to Scarborough. We’re placing it in the late 1980s, so get those shoulder pads and Members Only jackets ready! It is a fundraiser, so ask yourself what clues we’ve given so far as to its purpose. Here’s a hint: This event will be too big for our Meeting Room.

Now go grab a good mystery from the library and get ready for the next adventure!

Elsa Rowe is Scarborough Public Library’s Community Engagement Manager.