Henrietta Verma

Maps, atlases, gazetteers, and more pull readers into landscapes across the earth and sky, onto modern roads, and into history.

In our annual crime fiction preview, LJ explores trends and presents 74 forthcoming titles to add to the collection.

Books of lists, lists of books, collections of music, art, movies, and more (so much more) offer multiple pleasures for browsers, list makers, and the endlessly curious.

An always popular genre, crime fiction continues to grow and evolve, keeping its core readership solidly engaged but also attracting new readers. In our 2022 preview, looking at books publishing through the fall, we have found that storytelling is king, across subgenres, as authors build cases with even more attention to characterization, with a character’s psyche, family, and motivations all powering the story. Already popular cozies—light, nearly violence-free mysteries—are going strong.

Wondering if a book is a cozy? Take this quick quiz, and give yourself five points for every time you answer "yes."

LJ asked Kellye Garrett, author of Like a Sister (Mulholland, Mar.) and the acclaimed “Detective by Day” mysteries, to discuss new developments in the crime fiction genre. The “Detective by Day” opener Hollywood Homicide won the Anthony, Agatha, Lefty, and IPPY for best first novel. It’s also one of BookBub’s “Top 100 Crime Novels of All Time.” The second, Hollywood Ending, was featured on the TODAY show’s Best Summer Reads of 2019 and was nominated for both Anthony and Lefty awards. Garrett serves on Sisters in Crime’s national board and is a cofounder of Crime Writers of Color. Learn more at KellyeGarrett.com.

For over 75 years, the librarians of CODES have annually selected the best books to share with readers and add to collections. Here, five members, representing various committees, celebrate a few of the many excellent reads showcased across the 2020 award lists.