Ready to dive into a literary landscape where crime reigns supreme? Staffordshire libraries have unveiled their most-borrowed books of 2025, and the results are in! Councillor Hayley Coles (R) is encouraging everyone to rediscover the joy of reading at their local library, suggesting, "have a read of some of the books that so many of our visitors have been borrowing." It's clear that crime and thriller novels continue to captivate readers.
For the fourth consecutive year, Richard Osman has secured the top spot. This year's winner is his 2024 murder mystery, We Solve Murders. Osman's popularity doesn't stop there; his The Last Devil to Die, from the Thursday Murder Club series, claimed the second position.
Joining Osman in the top ten are familiar faces and new contenders. Ann Cleeves' crime novel, The Dark Wives, part of the Vera Stanhope series, secured third place, while Lee Child's In Too Deep brought Jack Reacher back into the spotlight. New additions to the list include The Waiting by Michael Connelly, Precipice by Robert Harris, and You Are Here by David Nicholls.
But here's where it gets interesting...
Children's literature also has its champions, with best-selling author Julia Donaldson dominating the children's list. For the second year running, Donaldson's What the Ladybird Heard at the Seaside (published in 2020) takes the lead.
Hayley Coles, Cabinet Member for Communities and Culture at Staffordshire County Council, shared her enthusiasm: "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."
Here's the breakdown of the top ten most-borrowed adult fiction books:
- Richard Osman - We Solve Murders
- Richard Osman - The Last Devil to Die
- Ann Cleeves - The Dark Wives
- Lee Child - In Too Deep
- Michael Connelly - The Waiting
- Richard Osman - The Thursday Murder Club
- Richard Osman - The Bullet That Missed
- Richard Osman – The Man Who Died Twice
- Robert Harris – Precipice
- David Nicholls – You Are Here
And here's the list of the top ten most-borrowed children’s books:
- Julia Donaldson - What the Ladybird Heard at the Seaside
- Julia Donaldson - The Hospital Dog
- Julia Donaldson - The Singing Mermaid
- Jamie Smart - Bunny Vs Monkey and the Human Invasion!
- Julia Donaldson - The Baddies
- Julia Donaldson – Tiddler
- Roald Dahl – Fantastic Mr Fox
- Jeff Kinney - The Last Straw
- Jamie Smart - Bunny Vs Monkey
- J.K. Rowling – Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
And this is the part most people miss...
It's fascinating to see the consistent popularity of certain authors and genres. Do you think the dominance of crime and thrillers reflects a broader trend in reading preferences, or is it simply a local phenomenon? Share your thoughts in the comments – do you agree with the top picks, or were there any books you expected to see on the list?
