Yesterday I celebrated my mathematician father's 80th birthday with a look at math in the world of crime fiction. So it's only fair that I post a few words today about librarians in mysteries, seeing as how my mother is a retired librarian, and today is her birthday (not her 80th, I must hasten to add, since my father "robbed the cradle" and she's perpetually 39, anyway). Yes, my parents have back-to-back birthdays. And in two days, the hubster gets to star in his own bday fete, which is why I refer to July as my Month of Continuous Celebrations. Poor little VISA card.
As it turns out, there are SCADS of mysteries and crime fiction works that feature librarians and libraries in some fashion, which surprised me a bit. My mother might be disturbed to note the large number of mysteries in which a librarian is either murder victim or suspect, although it might make for some fun party fodder. As you might imagine, most of these novels fall into the cozy subgenre (fitting since that's Mom's favorite), but occasionally you'll find a librarian who actually finds his/her way into something a little darker. (Library Noir, anyone?)
Some of the most famous series authors on the list include Charlaine Harris, with her protagonist, the former librarian-turned-sleuth Aurora Teagarden; Charlotte MacLeod's Professor Peter Shandy and librarian wife, Helen, and the academic librarian Jacqueline Kirby, created by Elizabeth Peters.
You can find lists of librarian-oriented mysteries here and here, and a very long "BlblioMystery" listing here, which includes crime fiction involving not just libraries and librarians but books of all stripes.
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