Richard Osman remains top read at Staffordshire libraries

Councillor Hayley Coles (R) urges residents to visit their local library and "have a read of some of the books that so many of our visitors have been borrowing."

For the fourth year running, author Richard Osman tops the list, this time with his 2024 murder mystery We Solve Murders. Osman’s fourth instalment of his Thursday Murder Club book series, The Last Devil to Die, also took the second spot.

Alongside Osman, Ann Cleeves returns to the top ten list in third place with her crime novel The Dark Wives, the latest instalment in the author’s Vera Stanhope series, while Lee Child makes a return to the list with his Jack Reacher novel In Too Deep.

New additions to the list include The Waiting by Michael Connelly, Robert Harris’ Precipice and You Are Here by David Nicholls.

Meanwhile, best-selling children’s author Julia Donaldson claims half the list of the top ten most borrowed children’s books this year. For the second year in a row, Donaldson’s 2020 book What the Ladybird Heard at the Seaside claims the top spot.

Hayley Coles, Cabinet Member for Communities and Culture at Staffordshire County Council, said:

“It’s great to see our libraries inspiring so many readers and once again it’s crime and thriller novels that are capturing people’s imaginations.

“Libraries are at the heart of our communities, offering both books and a welcoming space for everyone.  We’d encourage people to visit their local library, check out the amazing things going on there and have a read of some of the books that so many of our visitors have been borrowing.”

The top ten adult fiction borrowed books are as follows:

1. Richard Osman - We Solve Murders
2. Richard Osman - The Last Devil to Die
3. Ann Cleeves - The Dark Wives
4. Lee Child - In Too Deep
5. Michael Connelly - The Waiting
6. Richard Osman - The Thursday Murder Club
7. Richard Osman - The Bullet That Missed
8. Richard Osman – The Man Who Died Twice
9. Robert Harris – Precipice
10. David Nicholls – You Are Here

The top ten borrowed children’s books include:

1. Julia Donaldson - What the Ladybird Heard at the Seaside
2. Julia Donaldson - The Hospital Dog
3. Julia Donaldson - The Singing Mermaid
4. Jamie Smart - Bunny Vs Monkey and the Human Invasion!
5. Julia Donaldson - The Baddies
6. Julia Donaldson – Tiddler
7. Roald Dahl – Fantastic Mr Fox
8. Jeff Kinney - The Last Straw
9. Jamie Smart - Bunny Vs Monkey
10. J.K. Rowling – Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

Further information on Staffordshire County Council’s Libraries and Arts service is available on the county council webpage, or on their Facebook page here.