Week 1 – Whodunnit

Books for Adults DB 25990 Echoes in the darkness by Joseph Wambaugh Annotation: The policeman-turned-novelist describes the bizarre "Main Line" murder case of 1979. Susan Reinert, a teacher at Main Line High School in Upper Marion, Pennsylvania, is found murdered, and her two young children are missing. The skein of the murder is highly complex, focusing on Bill Bradfield, an amorous teacher and self-styled expert in Greek, and Dr. Jay Smith, Main Line's principal. Some strong language and some descriptions of sex. Bestseller 1987.

DB 84634 The Golden Age of murder: The mystery of the writers who invented the modern detective story by Martin Edwards Annotation: Study of an elite, mysterious social network of crime writers called the Detection Club, which began in 1930, and the group's continuing influence on print and film storytelling. Founding members Dorothy Sayers, Agatha Christie, and Julian Symons presided over the club for nearly forty years. 2015

DB 20196 The return of Martin Guerre by Natalie Zemon Davis Annotation: In 1560 a long-vanished French peasant, Martin Guerre, appeared before the court at Toulouse to denounce the man who for years had claimed his identity, property, and wife. The strange tale still survives in the memory of the villagers. It has inspired both a new French film and this study by an historian of early modern France.

DB 91424 Black Dahlia, Red Rose: the crime, corruption, and cover-up of America's greatest unsolved murder by Piu Marie Eatwell Annotation: The gruesome murder of hopeful starlet Elizabeth Short, in noir-tinged 1947 Los Angeles, has a permanent place in American lore as one of the most inscrutable of true-crime mysteries. Now, a relentless legal sleuth with unprecedented access to primary evidence explains how she cracked the case after seventy years. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2017. DB 94734 Murder by the book: The crime that shocked Dickens’s London by Claire Harman Annotation: A true crime story. In 1840, when Lord William Russell was murdered, the police suspected Russell's valet, Courvoisier. The clue was found in the book Courvoisier had been reading: William Harrison Ainsworth's Jack Sheppard, the story of an unrepentant criminal who escaped the gallows repeatedly. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2019

DB 91767 Halo for hire: The complete Paul Pine mysteries by Howard Browne Annotation: Hardboiled crime novels, written between 1946 and 1985, feature Chicago private eye Paul Pine. Includes Halo in Blood, Halo for Satan, Halo in Brass and The Taste of Ashes, as well as the unfinished novel The Paper Gun and the short story "So Dark for April."Some violence and some strong language. 1985.

DB 93217 Private justice: Newpointe 911, book 1 by Terri Blackstock Annotation: A dark shadow of fear has fallen over Newpointe, Louisiana. First one, then another of the town firefighters' wives has been murdered, and a third has barely escaped an attempt on her life. Mark Branning's marriage is troubled, but he is determined to keep his wife safe. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 1998.

DB 32657 The big sleep: Philip Marlowe Mystery, Book 1 by Raymond Chandler Annotation: A nightmare story of degeneracy in southern California, in which two Hollywood heiresses become mixed up in blackmail and murder. Strong language. DB 91372 Crime stories and other writings by Dashiell Hammett Annotation: Collection of stories by the author of The Thin Man (DB 16349). Includes short stories and novellas originally published in Black Mask magazine, including ones featuring his nameless detective, the Continental Op. Also includes an early version of The Thin Man. Some violence. 2001. DB 90637 I’ll be gone in the dark: One woman’s obsessive search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara Annotation: The late author's lifelong interest in true crime culminated in investigating the never-identified serial-killing rapist who plagued California in the seventies and eighties, whom she dubbed the Golden State Killer. This detailed telling of what she learned was completed posthumously by her researcher. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2018.

DB 93399 Knit to Kill: Black Sheep & Co., book 1 by Anne Canadeo Annotation: Murder interrupts the Black Sheep knitting group's island weekend away to relax before member Lucy Binger's wedding. A widely disliked man appears to have been helped over a cliff to the rocky coastline below. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2017.

DB 98502 Little comfort by Edwin Hill Annotation: Harvard librarian Hester Thursby knows that even in the digital age, people still need help finding things and she runs a side business tracking down the lost. Her new case is finding Sam Blaine, who--as a teenager--fled his small New Hampshire town after a haunting incident. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2018.

Books for Kids and Teens DB 10685 Police lab by Melvin Berger Annotation: Nine actual criminal cases demonstrate the work of police and FBI scientists using advanced equipment and techniques to solve crimes. For grades 5-8 and older interested readers.

DB 57838 They broke the law, you be the judge: True cases of teen crime by Thomas A. Jacobs Annotation: Juvenile-court judge presents twenty-one cases involving teenagers who came before him for punishment. Reviews each teen's background, details of the crime and arrest, mitigating factors, and penalty options so the reader can decide. Reveals actual sentence and offender's response in court and later. For junior and senior high and older readers. 2003.

DB 92483 Two truths and a lie: histories and mysteries by Ammi-Joan Paquette Annotation: Presents an assortment of unbelievable stories about people, places, and events. Encourages the reader to do research to determine which of the stories are false! For grades 4-7. 2018.

DB 90320 The Crims, book 1 by Kate Davies Annotation: When her notoriously inept family of criminals takes credit for a heist they are incapable of actually doing, reformed and clean Imogen--the only truly skilled criminal in the family-- uses her talents to try to clear their names. For grades 4-7. 2017.

DB 95500 Pete the cat and missing cupcakes by Kim Dean Annotation: Pete and his friends must solve a mystery when some of the cupcakes they have baked for a party go missing!Commercial audiobook. For preschool-grade 2. 2016.

DB 85244 The outliers, book 1 by Kimberly McCreight Annotation: When her best friend Cassie goes missing and then sends a cryptic note pleading for help, Wylie sneaks off to find her, with the help of Jasper, Cassie's boyfriend. What they discover is beyond their imaginations. Violence and strong language. For senior high and older readers. 2016.

DB 97560 Ali Cross by James Patterson Annotation: Ali Cross has always looked up to his father, homicide detective Alex Cross. When Ali's best friend goes missing and his wrongfully-accused father is on trial for a different crime, Ali searches for clues to find his friend. Commercial audiobook. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 2019.

DB 94644 The strangers: Greystone secrets, book 1 by Margaret Peterson Haddix Annotation: In a story told in separate voices, Chess, Emma, and Finn Greystone investigate why their mother went missing and uncover their family ties to an alternate world. Commercial audiobook. For grades 5-8. 2019.

DB 96668 We regret to inform you by A.E. Kaplan Annotation: When high-achiever Mischa is rejected from every college she applies to, she teams up with a group of hacker girls to find out who altered her transcript and try to set things right. Some strong language. For senior high and older readers. 2018.

DB 95073 One cut by Eve Porinchak Annotation: On May 22, 1995, in the tight-knit community of Agoura Hills, a group of teen boys got in a backyard brawl that left one dead. The author recounts the trial and media circus that followed. Some violence and some strong language. For senior high and older readers. 2017.