Appeal of mysteries often all about the settings, and other thoughts about choosing a good book

When I'm choosing fiction, especially mysteries, to read I often follow kinds of threads or themes: the threads may not be obvious to anyone else but me, but they help me choose when I'm spoilt for choice.

At the moment I am reading books that have to do with zoos. I have just finished Alexandria by Lindsey Davis, which is a mystery in which there are multiple murders in the Museion in Alexandria in the time of Vespasian, the Roman Emperor. The Museion was a center of ancient learning which contained not only The Great Library of Alexandria but also a zoological garden. Find Alexandria in our catalog.

I am following Alexandria with another mystery, this time more of a traditional cozy mystery, called The Anteater of Death. This looks like it is going to be the first one in a new series by author Betty Webb, and features zookeeper Theodora "Teddy" Bentley, a feisty, independent heiress turned working girl in order to thwart the matchmaking ambitions of her socialite mother. I think the series will be a great success because of the likeability of "Teddy" and because of all the careful background details about the zoo. Find this book in our catalog.

If you are having trouble finding a good book to read, you can go to My Next Good Book, a book recommendation service provided by Harford County Public Library on its website. You can create a free user account, log on, and search for books similar to something you have just read and enjoyed. My Next Good Book can be found here.

My Next Good Book - a new service of HCPL and ReadersPlace

FIND A GOOD BOOK, SHARE WHAT YOU ARE READING, TAKE PART IN DISCUSSIONS, MEET AUTHORS, CREATE BOOKSHELVES

Readers Place has just launched a new interactive service for HCPL customers looking for their next good book to read. My Next Good Book is both an interactive source of reading suggestions and a place to participate in book discussions, with over 6 million books to choose from!

My Next Good Book lets readers either just browse for book suggestions, or, after login, compile any number of personal bookshelves, leave comments on the books, or share the shelves with others.

My Next Good Book is customized. My Next Good Book is tailored to HCPL needs. My Next Good Book is part of ReadersPlace on the Harford County Public Library website, and has links direct to our catalog from the recommended titles.

Most important, My Next Good Book is personalized for each account holder. That’s why it is called, “My Next Good Book!”

My Next Good Book has a special area for reading suggestions from Harford County Public Library staff. Featured are lists for new fiction and large print on order for HCPL, with links to the catalog for each title. HCPL Director, Audra Caplan has posted a list of books she has read recently. Readers have given us their favorites from Winter Reading for you to browse.

Our intended audience is adults, though there is a book discussion group specially for teens. The book discussions are listed by topic. Click on the Book Discussions button at the top of the page. Also at the top of the page is a Meet Authors button. Meet 3 to 6 different authors a week.

Click on the “About” page to see all the ways you can use My Next Good Book. Check out the My Next Good Book page on ReadersPlace.