Richard Osman Reigns Supreme: Top Borrowed Author for Four Years Straight!

Richard Osman has once again become the most borrowed author in Staffordshire libraries, making it the fourth year in a row that his books have topped the charts. People in Staffordshire seem to really enjoy crime and thriller stories, as these genres continue to be the most popular among library visitors. Richard Osman’s latest murder mystery, We Solve Murders, was the most borrowed adult fiction book this year. His other book, The Last Devil to Die, which is the fourth in his Thursday Murder Club series, was also very popular and took the second spot on the list. Ann Cleeves, another well-known crime writer, returned to the top ten with her book The Dark Wives, which is part of her Vera Stanhope series. Lee Child, famous for his Jack Reacher novels, also made it back onto the list with In Too Deep. There were some new books on the list this year, including The Waiting by Michael Connelly, Precipice by Robert Harris, and You Are Here by David Nicholls. Richard Osman’s first book, The Thursday Murder Club, is still a favorite and was even turned into a Netflix film this year, starring famous actors like Sir Ben Kingsley, Pierce Brosnan, Dame Helen Mirren, and Celia Imrie.

When it comes to children’s books, Julia Donaldson is the clear favorite among young readers in Staffordshire. For the second year in a row, her book What the Ladybird Heard at the Seaside was the most borrowed children’s book. In fact, Julia Donaldson wrote five of the top ten most borrowed children’s books this year. Other popular titles by her include The Hospital Dog, The Singing Mermaid, The Baddies, and Tiddler. Bunny Vs Monkey and the Human Invasion! by Jamie Smart also made the list, along with Roald Dahl’s Fantastic Mr Fox, Jeff Kinney’s The Last Straw, and J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Julia Donaldson’s books are loved by many children, and she is often seen smiling with fans, sometimes even next to someone dressed as the Gruffalo, one of her famous characters.

Hayley Coles from Staffordshire County Council said that it is great to see so many people being inspired to read by their local libraries. She mentioned that crime and thriller novels are especially popular and capture the imagination of many readers. Hayley also said that libraries are important because they are at the heart of the community, offering not just books but also a welcoming space for everyone. She encouraged people to visit their local library, check out the activities happening there, and try reading some of the books that have been borrowed by so many others. Libraries are a wonderful place for people of all ages to discover new stories and enjoy reading together.