Booklists Indexed by Genre

NEBRASKA AUTHORS | MYSTERY | SCIFI/FANTASY | ROMANCE | WESTERN | HORROR
CHRISTIAN/INSPIRATIONAL | HUMOROUS | ADVENTURE/THRILLER | CLASSICS | MULTICULTURAL | POETRY | YA/TEEN | NON-FICTION & BIOGRAPHIES

The following is an index — by genre — of the various Booklists, Booktalk Booklists, Award-Winner lists, Reader Lists and “If You Like…” lists compiled by the Readers Advisory staff of the Lincoln City Libraries system. “Hotlinked” titles within these booklists will connect you to the holdings screens in our catalog, so that you can check on the availability of individual books. Titles which are not hotlinked in many of these lists, might not be owned by the Lincoln City Libraries but appear in these lists as recommendations you may wish to pursue through our Interlibrary Loan service, or through other sources.

— New addition to this site within the past two months
— Updated with new entries within the past two months

Last updated: December 2023

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Nebraska and Nebraska’s Authors

This first group of booklists in this index features lists of material primarily or exclusively by authors from Nebraska or with strong ties to Nebraska

• African American Stories in Nebraska (a Heritage Room booklist featuring African American stories set in Nebraska, by Nebraska authors – both fiction and non-fiction)
• Authors I’ve Met, Books I’ve Loved (Courtyard Book Chats, July 21, 2009) [Kit Keller]
• Books by Nebraska Authors (Bethany Branch BookTalks, March 24, 2023) [Diane W.]
• Books Considered for the Non-Fiction Nebraska Book Award 2015 (Bethany Branch Bookstalk, September 18, 2015) [Mary S.]
• Crime and Mystery Fiction by Nebraska Authors
• A Crop of Words (Nebraska Poets)
• Frogs, Frogs…More Frogs…And a Little Nebraska (Bethany Branch BooksTalk, February 16, 2018) [Meredith M.]
• The Good Life — Nebraska Authors (Bethany Branch BooksTalk, February 8, 2008] [Meredith M.]
• Heart Land (romance novels by Nebraskans and other mid-west authors)
• Heritage Room Highlights – 2011 (Bethany Branch BooksTalk, September 30, 2011 and Gere Branch BooksTalk, October 24, 2011) [Meredith M.]
• A History of The University of Nebraska Press (UNP) (Bethany Branch BooksTalk, April 13, 2016) [Mary S.]
• The John H. Ames Reading Series – 30 Years and 200+ Readings by Nebraska Authors (a comprehensive list (alpha order) of the first 30+ years of The John H. Ames Readings)
• The John H. Ames Reading Series – 30 Years and 200+ Readings by Nebraska Authors by Date (a comprehensive list (chronological order) of the first 30+ years of The John H. Ames Readings)
• Loren Eiseley: A Biographical Note and A Representative Checklist of Materials (updated in 2014)
• Mysterious Nebraska (mysteries written by Nebraska authors or set in Nebraska)
• Native Voices (fiction and non-fiction written by members of Native American tribes, including several in Nebraska)
• Nebraska Author Jonis Agee (a list of this general fiction author’s novels and short story collections)
• Nebraska Author Bess Streeter Aldrich (general fiction)
• Nebraska Author Willa Cather (general fiction)
• Nebraska Author Dan Chaon (general fiction/short stories)
• Nebraska Author Mary Connealy (Christian/Inspirational romances)
• Nebraska Author Richard Dooling (mystery-thrillers, general thrillers, op-ed pieces)
• Nebraska Author Sean Doolittle (mystery-thrillers)
• Nebraska Author Mignon Eberhart (mysteries)
• Nebraska Author Kenneth C. Flint (fantasy and historical fiction)
• Nebraska Author Tom J. Frye (general fiction, Young Adult fiction, fantasy)
• Nebraska Author Terry Goodkind (epic fantasy saga)
• Nebraska Author Twyla Hansen (Nebraska State Poet — poetry and other writings)
• Nebraska Author Kent Haruf (a list of this authors fiction and essays)
• Nebraska Author and Illustrator Ruth Rosekrans Hoffman (childrens picture books and non-fiction book illustrations)
• Nebraska Author and Illustrator Paul Johnsgard (a list of this famed ornithologist’s 100+ books)
• Nebraska Author Julie Kaewert (mysteries set in London publishing industry)
• Nebraska Author Stephanie Kallos (general fiction/short stories/essays)
• Nebraska Author Alex Kava (mysteries/FBI thrillers)
• Nebraska Author Weldon Kees (general fiction, poetry, reviews and essays)
• Nebraska Author Lorraine “Margaret” Keilstrup (a.k.a. M.K. Lorens, a.k.a. Margaret Lawrence) (mysteries and general fiction)
• Nebraska Author William Kloefkorn (Nebraska State Poet — poetry collections, novels and memoirs)
• Nebraska Author Harley Jane Kozak (mysteries)
• Nebraska Author Tosca Lee (a list of works by this Christian historical fiction author, who also writes Christian suspense/thrillers)
• Nebraska Author Jeff McArthur (a list of works by this Fiction/Non-Fiction multi-focus author, originally from Nebraska, now living in California)
• Nebraska Author Lise McClendon (mysteries)
• Nebraska Author Patricia McGerr (mysteries)
• Nebraska Author Wright Morris (general fiction, non-fiction, photography)
• Nebraska Author John G. Neihardt (Nebraska State Poet — general fiction, poetry, non-fiction)
• Nebraska Author Tillie Olsen (general fiction, non-fiction)
• Nebraska Film-Maker Alexander Payne (quirky films, frequently about characters facing pivotal moments in their lives)
• Nebraska Author Mary Pipher (non-fiction, psychology, cultural influences)
• Nebraska Author Robert Reed (science fiction and fantasy)
• Nebraska Author William J. Reynolds (a list of this mystery authors novels and some of his short stories)
• Nebraska Author Rainbow Rowell (general and YA fiction)
• Nebraska Author Brandon Sanderson (fantasy)
• Nebraska Author Timothy Schaffert (general fiction)
• Nebraska Author Lori Van Pelt (western fiction and essays)
• Nebraska Author Roger Welsch (folklore, humor and essays)
• Nebraska Author Stephanie Grace Whitson (inspirational romance fiction — both historical and contemporary)
• Nebraska Author David Wiltse (suspense/thriller novels, and plays)
• Nebraska Author Don Winslow (mysteries/thrillers)
• Nebraska Authors, Quilt Reads and Resources at Lincoln City Libraries (a special list composed by the staff of the Heritage Room and Gere Library for a special Quilts program)
• Nebraska Authors Who Write for Children and Young Adults  (alpha order by community, compiled by the staff of the Heritage Room of Nebraska Authors)
• Nebraska Authors Write About Baseball (a special list composed by the staff of the Heritage Room for a baseball display)
• Nebraska Authors Write About Sports (a special list composed by the staff of the Heritage Room)
• The Nebraska Book Awards (books by Nebraska authors, published in Nebraska, or about Nebraska)
• 2017 Nebraska Book Award Winners & 2018 One Book One Nebraska Finalists (Bethany Branch BooksTalk, October 20, 2017) [Erin W.]
• Nebraska Trivia! (Gere Branch BooksTalk, January 13, 2020) [volunteer Meredith M.]
• NET – All About Books (a list of the titles discussed on this Nebraska Public Media Radio show — frequently including Nebraska authors!)
• Once Upon a Crime: Cornhusker Crimes: True Crime Cases in Nebraska  (Once Upon a Crime BooksTalk, October 13, 2021) [Maddie O.]
• One Book One Nebraska (annual statewide reading program – not a Lincoln City Libraries-sponsored event)
• 3000+ Nebraska Authors Z to A (2014) (sampling of some of the 3000+ authors represented in the Heritage Room of Nebraska Authors)
• Titles By and About Nebraska Science Authors (2014 – includes Loren Eiseley, John Janovy Jr. and Paul Johnsga
• Works for Children and Young Adults by Nebraska Authors  (compiled by the staff of the Heritage Room of Nebraska Authors)

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MYSTERIES

• Africa – The Dark Continent  (Gere Branch BooksTalk, May 2, 2011 and Bethany Branch, May 13, 2011) [Donna G.]
• The Agatha Awards (traditional mystery fiction — cozies, amateur detectives)
• The Anthony Awards (traditional Mystery fiction)
• The Aunt Dimity mystery series  (Bethany Branch BooksTalk, February 4, 2005)
• Biblio Mysteries  (Bethany Branch Bookstalk, April 12, 2019) [Mary S. – former LCL employee, now with the Nebraska Library Commission]
• The Black Detective (mysteries featuring African-American sleuths)
• Booked to Die! – Mysteries featuring Libraries or Librarians (Courtyard Book Chats, June 26, 2007) [Julee H.]
• Books for the Dog Days of Summer  (Courtyard Book Chats, downtown, June 20, 2006 — mysteries in a cold climate)
• Books That Lead You to More Books  (Bethany Branch BookTalk, October 25, 2013 and Gere Branch BooksTalk, December 9, 2013) [Scott C.]
• Charlotte’s Eclectic Selections – 2012/13  (Bethany Branch BookTalk, May 10, 2013) [Charlotte M.]
• Christian Mysteries and Thrillers  (A Reader List submitted by BookAngel – January 2008)
• Civil War Mysteries (recent mystery novels set in the U.S. Civil War period)
• Classic Mystery/Adventures Worth a Second Look  (A Reader List submitted by BookMan – November 2007)
• Conventionally Speaking  (Gere Branch BookTalk, May 13, 2013 and Bethany Branch BooksTalk, May 17, 2013) [Scott C.]
• Cooking Adoptive Royal Killers  (Courtyard Book Chats…in the Garden!, June 24, 2008; Bethany Branch, September 5, 2008; Gere Branch, November 3, 2008) [Charlotte M.]
• Crafts and Hobbies in Fiction  (Bethany Branch BooksTalk, January 22, 2010 and Gere Branch Booktalk, February 22, 2010) [Sandy W.]
• Crafty Reads (Gere Branch Summer BooksTalk, July 14, 2008) [Pam B. (volunteer)]
• Crime and Mystery Fiction by Nebraska Authors (2016 update)
• Culinary Crimes! (mystery/thriller/suspense novels — often series — with a culinary setting or sleuth)
• The Dilys Award (mysteries as voted on by mystery bookstore owners)
• Donna’s Favorite Authors — 2016  (Bethany Branch BooksTalk, May 5, 2016 and Gere Branch BooksTalk, May 9, 2016) [Donna G.]
• Donna’s Recent Reads — 2022 (South Branch BookTalks, October 20, 2022) [Donna G.]
• East Coast Crime  (Bethany Branch BooksTalk, May 11, 2009; Gere Branch BooksTalk, May 22, 2009; Courtyard Book Chats, June 9, 2009)
• The Edgar Allan Poe Awards (Mystery fiction/non-fiction by American authors)
• Elementary… (Follow-ups, parodies and pastiches featuring Sherlock Holmes and Holmes-like characters)
• Enough Mysteries to Go Around (the World) (Bethany Branch, March 21, 2014 and Gere Branch, March 24, 2014) [Evelyn D.]
• Forensic Fiction (mystery or suspense/thriller novels featuring scientific crime solving)
• Four Mysteries and a Memoir  (Bethany Branch BooksTalk, February 16, 2001)
• Genealogical Mysteries (mystery novels with a genealogy theme or background)
• The Good, the Gritty, a Sure Thing and the Witty  (Bethany Branch BooksTalk, April 4, 2008 and Gere Branch Booktalk, April 7, 2008) [Evelyn D.]
• The Goodreads Choice Awards (around 20 categories, nominated and voted on by users of Goodreads)
• Graphic Novels (adult stories told in a graphical format (non-superhero))
• The Gumshoe Awards (for mystery and thriller fiction)
• The Dashiell Hammett Prize (Crime Writing by North American authors)
• Happy Homicide – 2013 (mysteries with a Christmas theme] [Bethany Branch Booktalk, December 13, 2013) [Marcy G.]
• Haunting Homicides (mysteries set during Halloween or the “harvest time” in Autumn)
• The Hillerman Prize (mystery fiction of the Southwestern U.S., as typified by Tony Hillerman)
• Hitch! (A Reader List submitted by Amanda A.)
• If You Like…The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time  (an autistic boy goes out on his own to try to uncover the truth about the death of a neighborhood dog)
• If You Like…The Da Vinci Code  (thrillers/mysteries involving history, secret societies, art and/or religion)
• If You Like…The Flavia de Luce series  (1950s-era British mysteries featuring a youthful scientific sleuth)
• If You Like…The Woman in the Window  (tense psychological suspense featuring an unreliable narrator)
• If You Like…Patricia Cornwell  (forensic mysteries/thrillers)
• If You Like…Janet Evanovich  (humorous, mystery/adventure novels with female protagonists)
• If You Like…Sue Grafton  (mysteries with female protagonists)
• If You Like…Carl Hiaasen  (humorous thrillers with bizarre characters)
• If You Like…Craig Johnson  (the Walt Longmire western-set mystery series)
• If You Like…Louise Penny  (the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache mystery series, featuring strong sense of place, and a great deal of character relationship growth)
• If You Like…Ruth Rendell  (mysteries with strong psychological suspense elements)
• It’s Academic (mysteries with an academic setting)
• Just Desserts – 100th Meeting – All-Time Favorite Mysteries (March 31, 2016)
• Just Desserts – Hard Case Crime  (Just Desserts Book Share) (March 30, 2017)
• Just Desserts – Mystery Anthologies & Collections  (Just Desserts Book Share) (January 26, 2017)
• Just Desserts – Series Share 2016 (June 2016)
• Just Desserts – The First Nine Years (the first 85+ mystery novels read by the Just Desserts discussion group – pdf document)
• Just Desserts mystery discussion group handouts – all in pdf format
  • Mystery Continuations (mystery/thriller/suspense series continued by subsequent authors after the original authors passed away)
  • The Alex Delaware Series by Jonathan Kellerman (up through 2016)
  • The Alexandra “Alex” Cooper Series by Linda Fairstein  (through 2014 — contemporary, set in New York City)
  • The Anna Pigeon mystery series by Nevada Barr  (through 2010 — contemporary, featuring a U.S. Park Ranger, set in various different National parks)
  • The Aunt Dimity mystery series by Nancy Atherton  (through 2011 — contemporary British “cozy”, featuring a busy-body ghost)
  • The Benni Harper mystery series by Earlene Fowler  (through 2012 — California-set folk art mystery series)
  • The Bess Crawford WWI Mystery Series by Charles Todd  (through 2014 — WWI-set mysteries featuring a British nurse)
  • The Billy Boyle WWII Mystery Series by James R. Benn (through 2021) — WWII-set mysteries featuring a Boston cop in various WWII wartime locations
  • The Bubbles Yablonsky mystery series by Sarah Strohmeyer  (through 2009 — light-hearted contemporary mystery series, similar to Evanovich)
  • The Camel Club series by David Baldacci  (5 volumes between 2005 and 2010 — contemporary political thrillers)
  • The Carpenter and Quincannon Series by Marcia Muller and Bill Pronzini (up through 2016)
  • The Cat Who… Mystery Series by Lilian Jackson Braun  (entire series, 1966-2007 — contemporary amateur sleuth with assistance from a cat)
  • The Charlie Parker thriller series by John Connolly (up through 2019) (pdf document created for the Just Desserts discussion group)
  • The Chet and Bernie mystery series by Spencer Quinn  (through 2011 — light private eye mysteries narrated by Chet – a dog)
  • The China Bayles mystery series by Susan Wittig Albert  (through 2012 — ex-attorney and Texas herb-shop owner stars in this “amateur detective” series)
  • The Cork O’Connor mystery seriess by William Kent Krueger  (through 2011 — contemporary police procedural set in rural Minnesota)
  • The Dave Robicheaux mystery series by James Lee Burke (pdf document created for the Just Desserts discussion group)
  • The D.D. Warren series by Lisa Gardner  (through 2013 — contemporary mystery series set in Boston)
  • The Death on Demand series by Carolyn G. Hart  (through 2014 — contemporary “amateur detective” series featuring South Carolina bookstore owner Annie Laurence Darling)
  • The Doc Ford series by Randy Wayne White (up through 2015 – contemporary “mystery/thriller” series set mainly in Florida, with an ex intelligence operative and current marine biologist getting pulled into mystery plots)
  • The Dorothy Martin series by Jeanne M. Dams  (through 2017 – contemporary “cozy” series, set in small English village, but written by an American author)
  • The Dortmunder series by Donald E. Westlake  (through 2009 — caper/thriller series)
  • The Dublin Murder Squad series by Tana French  (through 2013 — contemporary mystery series set in Ireland)
  • The Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James series by Deborah Crombie  (through 2014 — contemporary British police procedural)
  • The Easy Rawlins series by Walter Mosley (up through 2021 — historical L.A. detective stories with an African-American focus)
  • The Elvis Cole/Joe Pike series by Robert Crais  (through 2012 — contemporary mystery/thrillers mainly set in L.A., featuring a P.I. and an ex-mercenary)
  • The Eve Dallas/”In Death” mystery series by J.D. Robb (a.k.a. Nora Roberts)  (through 2016 — near-future police procedural series)
  • The Fiction of Anthony Horowitz (several adult mystery/suspense series, as well as YA/Middle-school series, and stand-alones)
  • The Flavia de Luce mystery series by Alan Bradley  (through 2011 — British historical mysteries featuring quirky juvenile main character)
  • The Gabriel Allon thriller/espionage series by Daniel Silva
  • The Gaslight Mystery series by Victoria Thompson (through 2021 — late 1800s/early 1900s amateur detective stories set in New York City)
  • The Gideon Oliver mystery series by Aaron Elkins (through 2012 — contemporary series – starting in late 1980s – featuring Columbia University anthropology professor)
  • The Hannah Swensen mystery seriess by Joanne Fluke (through 2013 — contemporary mystery series featuring a baker in a small Minnesota town; includes recipes)
  • The Harry Bosch mystery series by Michael Connelly (through 2012 — contemporary police procedural series featuring L.A. cop/P.I. Harry Bosch)
  • The Harry Hole mystery series by Jo Nesbo (through 2016 — dark contemporary police procedural set in Norway)
  • Hercule Poirot Fictional Canon | Hercule Poirot with Descriptions both by Agatha Christie (mysteries set between the 1920s and 1960s, frequently in England, featuring Christie’s legendary Belgian sleuth)
  • The Holmes on the Range mystery series by Steve Hockensmith  (through 2008 — humorous historical mysteries set in the American west)
  • The Home Repair is Homicide mystery series by Sarah Graves  (through 2011 — contemporary “amateur sleuth” series featuring a home renovator)
  • The Horse Racing mysteries of Felix Francis (through 2018 — contemporary novels, mostly non-series, set in the world of professional horse racing)
  • The Inspector Banks mystery series by Peter Robinson (through 2013 — contemporary police procedural set in England’s northern Yorkshire district)
  • The Inspector Armand Gamache mystery series by Louise Penny  (through 2019 — contemporary police procedural set – mostly – in small-town Canada)
  • The Inspector Lynley mystery series by Elizabeth George  (through 2011 — contemporary British police procedural)
  • The Inspector Rebus mystery series by Ian Rankin (up through 2009 — serious Scottish police procedural mystery series)
  • The Jack McEvoy series by Michael Connelly (up through 2020 — contemporary investigative journalist)
  • The Jack Reacher thriller/mystery series by Lee Child
  • The Jack Swyteck legal thriller series by James Grippando (pdf document created for the Just Desserts discussion group)
  • The Jade Del Cameron mystery series by Suzanne Arruda (historical mysteries set in 1920s Africa, featuring a female American adventurer)
  • The Jane Ryland/Jake Brogan mystery series by Hank Phillippi Ryan (up through 2014 — contemporary, set in Boston)
  • The Jesse Stone mystery series by Robert B. Parker (up through 2008, including books and DVDs)
  • The Joe Grey mystery series by Shirley Rousseau Murphy
  • The Joe Guenther mystery series by Archer Mayor
  • The Joe Leaphorn-Jim Chee mystery series by Tony Hillerman
  • The Joe Pickett mystery series by C.J. Box
  • The Kate Burkholder mystery series by Dana Stabenow (up through 2016 — contemporary series set in Amish country)
  • The Kate Fox mystery series by Shannon Baker (up through 2018 — contemporary series set in the Nebraska Sandhills) (pdf document created for the Just Desserts discussion group)
  • The Kate Shugak mystery series by Dana Stabenow (up through 2010 — Alaska-set mystery series)
  • The Kay Scarpetta series by Patricia Cornwell (up through 2016 — contemporary series featuring brilliant coroner and forensics expert)
  • The Kevin Kerney mystery series by Michael McGarrity (up through 2009 — set in contemporary New Mexico)
  • The Kinsey Milhone mystery series by Sue Grafton (up through 2010 — female California private investigator)
  • The Lincoln Rhymes series by Jeffery Deaver (up through 2014 — forensic suspense novels featuring paraplegic investigator)
  • The Lucas Davenport mystery/thriller series by John Sandford (up through 2016 — psychological suspense/procedurals, set mainly in the Twin Cities region)
  • The Maggie Hope mystery series by Susan Elia MacNeal (up through 2016 — WWII era amateur detective mysteries, featuring highly capable young woman)
  • The Maisie Dobbs mystery series by Jacqueline Winspear (up through 2010 — British historical mystery series (post WWI))
  • The Marcus Didius Falco series by Lindsey Davis (up through 2018 — historical mysteries featuring a private investigator in Ancient Rome; also a second series with his daughter)
  • The Meg Langslow series and The Turing Hopper series by Donna Andrews (up through 2019 – both contemporary amateur detective series)
  • The Midnight Louis mystery series by Carole Nelson Douglas   (up through 2006)
  • The Mike Bowditch mystery series by Paul Doiron (up through 2017 — contemporary featuring Maine Game Warden)
  • The Myron Bolitar mystery series by Harlan Coben (up through 2012 — sports agent/investigator solves mysteries, often with quirky friends’ help)
  • The Nero Wolfe series by Rex Stout (complete — classic series featuring Nero Wolfe, gourmand and orchid grower and Archie Goodwin, legman) (pdf document created for the Just Desserts discussion group)
  • Nikki Heat and Other Works by “Richard Castle” (legitimate mystery/thrillers ostensibly written by the writer character “Richard Castle” on TV’s Castle, up through 2014)
  • No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall-Smith   (up through 2006)
  • The Novel series of Margaret Frazer (three different historical mystery series, all set in medieval times – Dame Frevisse, Player Joliffe, Bishop Pecock)
  • The Novels of Alice Feeney (2017 through 2023)
  • The Novels of Liane Moriarty (up through 2018)
  • The Paul Madriani series by Steve Martini (up through 2016 — contemporary legal thriller series, with elements of politics)
  • The Peculiar Crimes Unit (a.k.a. “Bryant & May”) series by Christopher Fowler (up through 2016 — quirky British police procedural set in various time periods)
  • The Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus mystery series by Faye Kellerman (up through 2012 — police procedural series featuring L.A. cop Peter Decker and his wife Rina Lazarus, with strong Jewish cultural elements)
  • The Philip Marlowe series by Raymond Chandler (classic pulp/noir detective mysteries from 1939 to 1958)
  • The Phryne Fisher mystery series by Kerry Greenwood (up through 2008 — Australian historical mystery series)
  • The Rabbi David Small mystery series by Harry Kemelman – complete (published 1964-1996)
  • The Rizzoli and Isles mystery series by Tess Gerritsen (up through 2013 — contemporary mystery series featuring a detective and cororner, set in Boston)
  • The Rosato and Associates mystery series by Lisa Scottoline (up through 2012 — legal thrillers featuring an all-female cast of attornies and investigators at a Philadelphia law firm)
  • The Ryder Creed and Maggie O’Dell series by Alex Kava (up through 2016 — O’Dell (FBI profiler) began 2000, Creed (vet/K9 trainer) began 2015)
  • The Series and Stand-Alone Novels of Deanna Raybourn (including two Victorian-era mystery series)
  • The Spellman Family mystery series by Lisa Lutz
  • The Suspense Novels of Ruth Ware (up through 2021)
  • The Teashop Mysteries by Laura Childs (up through 2012 — cozy/amateur detective series featuring the employees of a Charleston S.C. tea shop)
  • The Temperance Brennan mystery series by Kathy Reichs
  • The Thomas and Charlotte Pitt mystery series by Anne Perry (up through 2012 — Victorian-era England, with a strong wife who assists her police inspector husband)
  • The Thursday Murder Club series by Richard Osman (up through 2023 – contemporary light British series featuring sleuths living in a retirement community)
  • The Tony Hill and Carol Jordan series by Val McDermid (up through 2019 — contemporary British thrllers about a profiler assisting a police investigator with serial killings) (pdf document created for the Just Desserts discussion group)
  • The V.I. Warshawski series by Sara Paretsky (up through 2016 — contemporary, featuring a strong female private investigator in the Chicago area)
  • The Vera Stanhope mystery series by Ann Cleeves (up through 2019 – contemporary British police procedural; also includes other series by Ann Cleeves through 2019)
  • The Walt Longmire mystery series by Craig Johnson
  • The White House Chef mystery series by Julie Hyzy (up through 2015 — contemporary, set in Washington, D.C., with a culinary theme)
  • The Wind River mystery series by Margaret Coel  (up through 2012 — mystery series based around the Wind River Arapaho Indian reservation)
  • The Works of Dashiell Hammett (a list of his novels, with descriptions)
  • The Works of Dennis Lehane  (up through 2017 — suspense/thriller novels, some in series, some standalone; some contemporary, some historical)
  • The Works of Donna Leon (particularly the Commissario Guido Brunetti series)  [up through 2012 — mystery series based set in the Italian city of Venice)
  • The Works of Elly Griffiths (up through 2021 — three different series – two contemporary, one 1950s)
  • The Works of G.M. Malliet (up through 2018 — contemporary British amateur sleuth series by an American author, both series set in small English village)
  • The Works of John Grisham (up through 2022 — four series plus multiple stand-alones, mainly legal thrillers)
  • The Works of John Le Carre (the Smiley series and stand-alones)
  • The Works of Melinda Leigh (up through 2021 — five different contemporary series)
  • The Works of P.D. James
  • The Works of Patricia Highsmith (psychological suspense)
  • The Works of John Grisham (up through 2022 — four series plus multiple stand-alones, mainly legal thrillers)
  • The Works of John Le Carre (the Smiley series and stand-alones)
  • The Works of Ruth Rendell (Inspector Wexford series – contemporary British procedural, and around 30 stand-alone psychological suspense)
  • The Works of S.A. Cosby (up through 2023 – gritty contemporary stand-alones)
  • The Works of Silvia Moreno-Garcia (up through 2022 — various genres)
  • The Works of Stuart Woods (particularly the Stone Barrington series)  [up through 2014 — mostly contemporary, set in various locales)
• Kickbutt Female Characters From Literature (Bethany Branch, February 7, 2015) [Carrie R.]
• Left Coast Crime Awards  (mysteries, particularly humorous mysteries, set in the western North America region)
• Legal Thrillers (noteworthy examples of the “legal thriller/courtroom drama” genre)
• Lighthearted Mysteries to Read This Summer! (2020 Summer Reading Challenge Video – South Branch, July 2020) [Marcy G.]
• A Little Bit of This  (Gere Branch BooksTalk, October 2, 2006) [Pam B.] (includes several World War I mysteries and quilt mysteries)
• Love & Danger: Gothics! (Gothic Romances and/or Gothic Suspense novels)
• The Macavity Awards (for mystery fiction)
• Marcy’s Recent Cozy Reads (and More!) (South Branch BooksTalks, April 21, 2022) [Marcy G.]
• Marcy’s Reading List (Gere Branch BooksTalk, March 20, 2017 & Bethany Branch BooksTalk, March 31, 2017) [Marcy G.]
• Mary and Michael’s Recent Reads  (Bethany Branch BooksTalk, May 24, 2013) [Mary S. and Michael S., of the Nebraska Library Commission.]
• The McIlvanney Prize (for Best Scottish Crime Book of the year)
• Medieval Mysteries (Gere Branch, October 17, 2016) [Robyn H.]
• Miscellaneous Mysteries – 2014  (Gere BooksTalk, May 12, 2014 and Bethany BooksTalk, May 16, 2014) [Donna G.]
• Mistletoe Mysteries (mysteries set during the Christmas, Hanukkah or New Years holidays)
• Murder by Gaslight (mysteries set in the Victorian Era)
• Murder by Gaslight: Victorian Mysteries – A Booktalk (Courtyard Book Chats, August 28, 2007) [Rayma S.]
• Murder Multiplied (mysteries/thrillers with Serial Killer plots)
• Murder on the Menu (mysteries with a culinary theme)
• Murder With a Green Thumb (mysteries featuring gardening or gardeners as sleuths)
• My Life of Crime  (Bethany Branch BooksTalk, September 3, 2010 and Gere Booktalk, November 1, 2010) [Erin I.]
• Mysteries by New Authors  (Bethany Branch BooksTalk, May 15, 2006, Gere Branch Booktalk, May 18, 2006, Courtyard Book Chat, August 1, 2006)
• Mysteries Set in Latin America  (Bethany Branch BooksTalk, May 20, 2011)[Rayma S.]
• Mysteries With a British Accent  (A Reader List (of DVDs) submitted by Paige Turner – December 2007)
• Mysterious Nebraska (mysteries written by Nebraska authors or set in Nebraska)
• Mystery and Adventure Around the World (Bethany Branch BooksTalk, February 13, 2015 and Gere Branch BooksTalk, October 19, 2015) [Donna G.]
• Mystery Fiction by Category (recommendations in 10 popular mystery sub-genres)
• Mystery, Music, Murder, Mayhem (murder mysteries with a musical theme)
• The Mystery of Agatha Christie (biographical booktalk about the Queen of Crime) [Scott C.]
• The Name is Bond…James Bond (The history of iconic spy James Bond in print and on film)
• Nebraska Author Sean Doolittle (mystery-thrillers)
• Nebraska Author Mignon Eberhart (traditional classic mysteries)
• Nebraska Author Julie Kaewert (mysteries set in London publishing industry)
• Nebraska Author Alex Kava (mysteries/FBI thrillers)
• Nebraska Author Lorraine “Margaret” Keilstrup (a.k.a. M.K. Lorens, a.k.a. Margaret Lawrence) (a list of this mystery and general fiction author’s works)
• Nebraska Author Harley Jane Kozak (mysteries)
• Nebraska Author Lise McClendon (mysteries)
• Nebraska Author Patricia McGerr (mysteries)
• Nebraska Author William J. Reynolds (a list of this mystery authors novels and some of his short stories)
• Nebraska Author David Wiltse (suspense/thriller novels, and plays)
• Nebraska Author Don Winslow (mysteries/thrillers)
• A New Look at Vintage Sleuths  (Bethany Branch BookTalk, March 24, 2017 & Gere Branch BookTalk, March 27, 2017) [Fay M.]
• New Mysteries – 2010-2011  (Bethany Branch Booktalk, September 23, 2011 and Gere Branch, October 17, 2011) [Marcy G.]
• New Mysteries – 2014 (Bethany Branch BooksTalk, September 5, 2014) [Marcy G.]
• New Mystery Authors to Check Out – 2015 (Bethany Branch, February 19, 2016 and Gere Branch, March 21, 2016) [Marcy G.]
• 1920s Mystery Fiction (a checklist of some of the most popular 1920s and early 1930s “Golden Age” mystery novelists)
• Nordic Noir  (Scandinavian mystery fiction, similiar to the novels of Stieg Larsson)
• The Not-So-Quiet Countryside  (Courtyard Book Chats, May 22, 2007 — mysteries with a rural setting)
• OLLI 2021 Course: A Mosaic of Mystery Fiction Resources (originally for members of a Summer 2021 OLLI class — six sessions, each with a specific mystery fiction focus)
• Once Upon a Crime: And You Thought Your Copay Was Bad: Medical Crimes (Once Upon a Crime BooksTalk, September 14, 2021) [Hillary U.]
• Once Upon a Crime: Cornhusker Crimes: True Crime Cases in Nebraska  (Once Upon a Crime BooksTalk, October 13, 2021) [Maddie O.]
• Once Upon a Crime: Don’t Be Yourself: Identity Crimes (Once Upon a Crime BooksTalk, November 9, 2021) [Wyatt P.]
• Passport to Peril (Gere Branch, May 12, 2008; Bethany Branch, May 16, 2008; Courtyard Book Chats, June 10, 2008) [Donna G.]
• Rainbow Reads: Mysteries  (LGBTQ-themed mysteries)
• Remembering…Stephen J. Cannell
• Remembering…Elmore Leonard
• Remembering…Ed McBain
• Remembering…Mickey Spillane
• Ripper! (horror, mystery and/or non-fiction titles looking at Jack the Ripper)
• Science Fiction and Fantasy Murder Mysteries
• A SciFi Fan Dabbles in Mysteries and Thrillers (a 2022 Bethany BookTalk)
• The Scribe Awards (media tie-in novels, both original and adaptations)
• Senior Sleuths (mysteries featuring sleuths in their retired years)
• Serious Reading (Bethany Branch BooksTalk, April 15, 2019) (pdf document) [Lisa Kelly – guest presenter from the Nebraska Library Commission]
• The Shamus Award (mystery fiction featuring Private Eyes)
• The Sleuth Said “Woof!”  (mysteries prominent featuring dogs as heroes or sidekicks)
• Some Classic First Mysteries  (Heritage Lunchtime BooksTalk, Gere Branch, February 21, 2012) [Layne P.]
• Stop…You’re Killing Me! (Bethany Branch BooksTalk, September 18, 2009) [Marcy G.]
• Sweetgrass and Desert Sage (mystery novels featuring Native American sleuths)
• Tales From the Cryptographer  (Gere Branch BooksTalk, September 21, 2009) [Erin I.]
• Tartan Noir (Scottish mystery fiction in styles similar to Ian Rankin or Val McDermid)
• Tempting, Tantalizing, Enticing Tales (Bethany Branch BooksTalk, May 29, 2009 and Courtyard Book Chats, July 14, 2009) (Rianne S. – general fiction and mysteries)
• The Thriller Award (mystery fiction with a suspense/thriller theme)
• A Tub of Tomes for 2010  (Bethany Branch BooksTalk, March 19, 2010) [Lisa V.]
• TV Tie-Ins (original fiction based on popular mystery tv series)
• Unholy Mysteries (Gere BookTalk, April 11, 2011) [Pam B.]
• Watching British Mysteries Beyond Christie and Doyle  (A Reader List (of DVDs) submitted by BookMan – December 2007)
• A Wedding and a Murder (Bethany Branch BookTalks, February 17, 2023) [Marcy G.]
• Whodunit? New Mystery Authors!  (Courtyard Book Chats, July 24, 2007) (Marcy G. – a selection of new mystery writers)
• Whodunnit Mysteries – Old Classics and New Favorites (South Branch BookTalks, September 8, 2022 and Bethany Branch BookTalks, September 9, 2022) (Jen J.)

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SCIENCE FICTION and FANTASY

• Alternate Histories (mainstream fiction with an “alternate history” twist)
• The Best of Peter David  (A Reader List submitted by BookMan – November 2008)
• Books That Lead You to More Books  (Bethany Branch BookTalk, October 25, 2013 and Gere Branch BooksTalk, December 9, 2013) [Scott C.]
• Conventionally Speaking  (Gere Branch BookTalk, May 13, 2013 and Bethany Branch BooksTalk, May 17, 2013) [Scott C.]
• Cruel and Unusual: Some Twists on Standard Genre Fiction (Courtyard Book Chats, August 14, 2007) (genre books that don’t necessarily go where you expect)
• Dark Futures: Cyberpunk Stories (novels or anthologies in the Cyberpunk science fiction subgenre)
• A Day Full of Graphic Novels (all ages from children through adults)
• The Dragon Awards (for Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror, in Literature and Film/TV)
• Dystopian Novels (Bethany Branch, February 7, 2014) [Layne P.]
• The Essentials of Classic Science Fiction  (Twenty essential authors of classic writing contemporary Science Fiction.)
• The Essentials of Modern Science Fiction  (Twenty of the essential authors of classic Science Fiction)
• Everything Neil (Gaiman) (a look at the adult and juvenile works of contemporary fantasist Gaiman)
• Fantasy Fiction with Female Characters (Courtyard Book Chat, August 4, 2009) [Lisa V.]
• A Few of My Favorite Books (Gere Branch Booktalk, September 15, 2008 and Bethany Branch Booktalk, September 19, 2008)
• Fiction With a Twist  (Gere Branch Booktalk, October 25, 2013) [Wyatt P.]
• Game On! (fiction and non-fiction titles that should appeal to fans of online gaming and role-playing games — on our Teen “Hey Read This” Page)
• The Goodreads Choice Awards (around 20 categories, nominated and voted on by users of Goodreads)
• Graphic Novels (adult stories told in a graphical format (non-superhero))
• Great Scot – Scottish Sci-Fi  (Bethany Branch Booktalk, March 12, 2010)
• Here There Be Dragons (Dragons in popular literature, from antiquity to the modern era)
• The Hugo Award (Science Fiction & Fantasy – selected by readers)
• Hugo Award and Nebula Award Winners  (Bethany Branch Booktalk, October 14, 2005 & Gere Branch Booktalk, October 17, 2005)
• If You Like…Ray Bradbury  (character-driven science fiction, fantasy and horror with a strong sense of place)
• If You Like…Lois McMaster Bujold  (science fiction sagas featuring military action and political intrigues)
• If You Like…Laurell K. Hamilton  (fantasy/horror/mystery/romance with strong female protaganists)
• If You Like…The Handmaid’s Tale  (dystopian exploration of women’s roles in a patriarchal/theocratic near-future setting)
• If You Like…the Harry Potter series  (young adult “coming-of-age”, featuring magic and fights between Good and Evil)
• If You Like…Terry Pratchett  (humorous, satirical fantasy, bordering on parody)
• If You Like…Stranger Things  (TV series that pays homage to early 1980s geeky references, including SF, horror and mystery in literature, movies and TV)
• If You Like…Superheroes in Film and TV  (DVDs and digital streaming versions of Superhero movies and TV series)
• In Space No One Can Hear You Laugh… (science fiction or fantasy which is humorous, satiric or parodies)
• Kickbutt Female Characters From Literature (Bethany Branch, February 7, 2015) [Carrie R.]
• A Long Time Ago…A Star Wars Book Talk (Courtyard Book Chats, May 29, 2007) [Corey G.]
• Make Your Own Wand (fantasy fiction) (2020 Summer Reading Challenge Video – Bennett Martin Public Library) [Cait L. and Rio B.]
• Mary and Michael’s Recent Reads  (Bethany Branch BookTalk, May 24, 2013) [Mary S. and Michael S., of the Nebraska Library Commission.)
• The Mean Magical Streets: Contemporary Urban Fantasy (Courtyard Book Chats…in the Garden! July 1, 2008) [Scott C.]
• Nebraska Author Kenneth C. Flint (fantasy and historical fiction)
• Nebraska Author Tom J. Frye (general fiction, Young Adult fiction, fantasy)
• Nebraska Author Terry Goodkind (epic fantasy saga)
• Nebraska Author Robert Reed (science fiction)
• Nebraska Author Brandon Sanderson (fantasy)
• The Nebula Award (Science Fiction & Fantasy – selected by authors)
• The Otherwise Award (Science Fiction & Fantasy focusing on Gender Issues)
• The Philip K. Dick Award (Science Fiction & Fantasy first published in paperback format)
• The Prometheus Award [Libertarian Science Fiction that focuses on themes of personal freedom]
• Rainbow Reads: Science Fiction  (LGBTQ-themed science fiction novels)
• Rainbow Reads: Young Adult Fantasy  (LGBTQ-themed fantasy novels for teens)
• Science Fiction and Fantasy Murder Mysteries
• Science Fiction with Nathan (Bethany Branch Booktalk, November 19, 2021) [Nathan H.]
• The Scribe Awards (media tie-in novels, both original and adaptations)
• Sean’s Grab-Bag 2008 (mixture of fantasies and thrillers] [Gere Branch Booktalk, May 19, 2008) [Sean S.]
• Selections From a Sci Fi Reading Group  (Bethany Branch Booktalk, March 26, 2010 & Gere Branch Booktalk, March 29, 2010)
• The Sidewise Award (For works of Alternate History)
• Somewhere in Time (time-travel romances)
• Speculative Fiction (South Branch BooksTalk, March 17th, 2022 & Bethany Branch BooksTalk, March 18, 2022) [Garren H.]
• Star Trek: The Reading List
• Star Wars: The Reading List
• Star Wars: The New Official Canon (a condensed list of the “official Star Wars novels” in the canon since 2014)
• Teen Book Club Books – 2012  (Bethany Booktalk, November 16, 2012) [Sarah D.]
• Time Enough at Last: Time Travel Novels or Short Stories  (Bethany and Gere Branch Booktalks, November 2004)
• Time is Relative (science fiction novels with Time Travel plots)
• Time Travel  (A Reader List submitted by Major Babs – May 2009)
• To Boldly Go…A Star Trek 50th Anniversary BooksTalk (Bethany Branch, November 4, 2016 and Gere Branch, November 14, 2016) [Scott C.]
• TV Tie-Ins (original fiction based on popular science fiction tv series)
• The Works of J.R.R. Tolkien  (Gere Branch BooksTalk, March 18, 2013) [Kristen A.]
• The World Fantasy Award (Fantasy and Supernatural)
• The World Next Door (novels featuring Alternate History storylines)

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ROMANCE

• Charlotte’s Eclectic Selections – 2012/13  (Bethany Branch BookTalk, May 10, 2013) [Charlotte M.]
• The Colors of Love (ethnic/Afro-American and interracial romance fiction)
• Cruel and Unusual: Some Twists on Standard Genre Fiction (Courtyard Book Chats, August 14, 2007) (genre books that don’t necessarily go where you expect)
• Fangs a Lot! (horror and/or romance novels featuring vampires or vampiric themes)
• The Goodreads Choice Awards (around 20 categories, nominated and voted on by users of Goodreads)
• Graphic Novels (adult stories told in a graphical format (non-superhero))
• Heart Land (romance novels by Nebraskans and other mid-west authors)
• If You Like…Jo Beverley   (historical romance)
• If You Like…”Bridget Jones’s Diary”   (“Chick Lit”)
• If You Like…Eleanor Hibbert (a.k.a. Victoria Holt)  (Gothic Romances)
• If You Like…Colleen Hoover  (contemporary romance and suspense)
• If You Like…Beverly Lewis  (Amish Christian fiction — mostly romances)
• If You Like…Sidney Sheldon & Danielle Steel  (contemporary emotional dramas featuring rich and powerful people)
• If You Like…Danielle Steel & Sidney Sheldon  (contemporary emotional dramas featuring rich and powerful people)
• If You Like…Alison Weir  (historical fiction, usually focused on royal romantic intrigue)
• If You Like…Zane   (contemporary urban romance, bordering on erotica)
• In Want of More Jane Austen (sequels, prequels and other novels tied-in to Jane Austen’s original works)
• Jazz Albums for Romance Reading (a selection of Jazz music albums recommended to accompany the reading of romance fiction)
• Love & Danger: Gothics! (Gothic Romances and/or Gothic Suspense novels)
• Love Stories of All Kinds  (Bethany Branch BookTalk, February 14, 2014 and Gere Branch BooksTalk, February 24, 2014) [Fay M.]
• Mary and Michael’s Recent Reads  (Bethany Branch BookTalk, May 24, 2013] [Mary S. and Michael S., of the Nebraska Library Commission.)
• Nebraska Author Mary Connealy (a list of this Christian romance author’s novels and anthologies)
• Nebraska Author Stephanie Grace Whitson (inspirational romance fiction — both historical and contemporary)
• Not Your Mama’s Romance Novels (South Branch BooksTalks, April 14, 2022) [Alicia G.]
• Oh, Horrors!…Gothic Novels (Bethany Branch BooksTalk, November 7, 2008) [Rayma S.]
• Regency Romances (a look at the difference between Traditional Regencies and Historical Regencies)
• Remembering…Belva Plain
• Remembering…Kathleen Woodiwiss
• The Rita Award (Romance Fiction)
• Romance — Absolute Favorites!  (Gere Branch Booktalk, February 14, 2005)
• Romance Fiction for Beginners  (Bethany Branch Booktalk, February 11, 2005)
• Somewhere in Time (time-travel romances)
• ‘Tis a Tale Too Sweet: Medieval Romance (Courtyard Book Chats, July 17, 2007) [Layne P.]
• Vampire Romance  (A Reader List submitted by BookWorm – August 2009)

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WESTERNS

• Best Westerns
• Cowboys, School Marms and a Good Horse  (Bethany Branch Booktalk, November 16, 2007 and Gere Branch Booktalk, November 26th, 2007) [Rayma S.]
• The Essentials of Western/Frontier Fiction  (Twenty-one essential authors of classic Western or “frontier” fiction)
• Nebraska Author Mary Connealy (a list of this Christian romance author’s novels and anthologies – she specializes in “Cowboy romances”)
• Nebraska Author Lori Van Pelt (western fiction and essays)
• The Spur Award (Westerns)
• TV Tie-Ins (original fiction based on popular tv series, including westerns)
• Western Anthologies to Check Out  (A Reader List submitted by Spurs – March 2010)
• Westerns on Film and Television (a DVD booklist)

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HORROR

• Bloody Good Reading — Vampire Fiction  (Bethany Branch Booktalk, September 16, 2005)
• Boo!  (Gere Branch Booktalk, October 24, 2005)
• Boo! – 2008  (Bethany Branch Booktalk, October 31, 2008)
• The Bram Stoker Award (Horror)
• A Day Full of Graphic Novels (all ages from children through adults)
• The Dragon Awards (for Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror, in Literature and Film/TV)
• The Essentials of Horror Fiction  (Twenty essential authors of Horror Fiction.)
• Fanged Fiction (horror and/or romance novels featuring vampires or vampiric themes — on our Teen Cafe Page)
• Fangs a Lot! (horror and/or romance novels featuring vampires or vampiric themes)
• The Goodreads Choice Awards (around 20 categories, nominated and voted on by users of Goodreads)
• I Thought With a Shudder…The Works of H.P. Lovecraft  (Gere Branch BooksTalk, April 30, 2012) [Gordon A.]
• If You Like…Ray Bradbury  (character-driven science fiction, fantasy and horror with a strong sense of place)
• If You Like…Laurell K. Hamilton  (fantasy/horror/mystery/romance with strong female protaganists)
• If You Like…The Handmaid’s Tale  (dystopian exploration of women’s roles in a patriarchal/theocratic near-future setting)
• If You Like…Stephen King  (contemporary horror)
• If You Like…Stranger Things  [TV series that pays homage to early 1980s geeky references, including SF, horror and mystery in literature, movies and TV]
• Oh, Horrors!…Gothic Novels (Bethany Branch Booktalk, November 7, 2008) [Rayma S.]
• Pandemics & Plagues in Fiction, DVDs and Non-Fiction
• Queer Horror (a Top 10 list of LGBTQ+-themed horror fiction)
• Ripper! (horror, mystery and/or non-fiction titles looking at Jack the Ripper)
• Scary and Spooky and Weird, Oh My! (and other stuff) (Bethany Branch, October 31, 2014 [Charlotte M.]
• The Scribe Awards (media tie-in novels, both original and adaptations)
• The Shirley Jackson Awards [for psychological suspense, horror and the dark fantastic]
• Tales of Terror and Horror (Gere Branch Booktalk, October 10, 2005)
• TV Tie-Ins (original fiction based on popular horror tv series)
• Vampire Romance  (A Reader List submitted by BookWorm – August 2009)
• Zombies — The New Vampires!  (A Reader List submitted by BookMan – October 2009)

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CHRISTIAN/INSPIRATIONAL FICTION

• Biblical Figures in Adult Fiction
• Christian Mysteries and Thrillers (A Reader List submitted by BookAngel – January 2008)
• The Christy Award Winners
• Gotta Luv a Series  (A Reader List submitted by Inkie – June 2009)
• If You Like…Jan Karon (contemporary “gentle” reads)
• If You Like…Beverly Lewis  (Amish Christian fiction — mostly romances)
• If You Like…The Left Behind Series (Adventure thrillers with a strong religious bent, featuring spiritual warfare between the forces of Good and Evil)
• Nebraska Author Tosca Lee (a list of works by this Christian historical fiction author, who also writes Christian suspense/thrillers)
• Nebraska Author Stephanie Grace Whitson (inspirational romance fiction — both historical and contemporary)

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HUMOROUS FICTION (and NON-FICTION)

• And Now For Something Completely Different…  (materials by and about the Monty Python comedy troupe)
• A Day Full of Graphic Novels (all ages from children through adults)
• The Goodreads Choice Awards (around 20 categories, nominated and voted on by users of Goodreads)
• Graphic Novels (adult stories told in a graphical format (non-superhero))
• High Fashion and High Society Fiction  (Courtyard Book Chats, July 10, 2007) [Jessica H.]
• If You Like…Janet Evanovich  (humorous, mystery/adventure novels with female protagonists)
• If You Like…Carl Hiaasen  (humorous thrillers with bizarre characters)
• If You Like…Terry Pratchett  (humorous, satirical fantasy, bordering on parody)
• If You Like…P.G. Wodehouse  (farcical romps that poke fun at class differences)
• If You Like…Bridget Jones’ Diary  (light-hearted contemporary “chick lit”)
• If You Like…Marley & Me  (humorous, sentimental look at the relationships between humans and the pets who adopt them / non-fiction)
• In Space No One Can Hear You Laugh… (science fiction or fantasy which is humorous, satiric or parodies)
• Live From New York…It’s Saturday Night! (a Reader List)
• Nebraska Author Roger Welsch (a list of this folklorist, humorist and essayist’s extensive body non-fiction books — and a couple of novels)

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ADVENTURE and THRILLERS

• Anchors Aweigh! Naval Adventure Fiction
• Books for the Dog Days of Summer  (Courtyard Book Chats, downtown, June 20, 2006 — mysteries and thrillers in a cold climate)
• Books to Keep You Up at Night! (Bethany Branch, October 2003) [Marcy G.]
• The Camel Club series by David Baldacci (pdf document created for the Just Desserts discussion group)
• Christian Mysteries and Thrillers  (A Reader List submitted by BookAngel – January 2008)
• Classic Mystery/Adventures Worth a Second Look  (A Reader List submitted by BookMan – November 2007)
• Cruel and Unusual: Some Twists on Standard Genre Fiction (Courtyard Book Chats, August 14, 2007) (genre books that don’t necessarily go where you expect)
• The Dashiell Hammett Prize (Crime Writing by North American authors)
• Graphic Novels (adult stories told in a graphical format (non-superhero))
• If You Like…The Da Vinci Code  (thrillers/mysteries involving history, secret societies, art and/or religion)
• If You Like…The Woman in the Window  (tense psychological suspense featuring an unreliable narrator)
• If You Like…Lee Child’s “Jack Reacher” series  (suspense-thrillers — lone-hero — lots of violence)
• If You Like…Tom Clancy  (techno-thrillers)
• If You Like…Robin Cook  (medical thrillers)
• If You Like…C.S. Forester  (the “Horatio Hornblower” naval adventures)
• If You Like…Carl Hiaasen  (humorous thrillers with bizarre characters)
• If You Like…Colleen Hoover  (contemporary romance and suspense)
• If You Like…The Left Behind Series  (Adventure thrillers with a strong religious bent, featuring spiritual warfare between the forces of Good and Evil)
• If You Like…Robert Ludlum  (dense conspiracy-based political/espionage thrillers)
• If You Like…James Patterson  (fast-paced, violent thrillers with crime/mystery elements)
• If You Like…Ruth Rendell  (mysteries with strong elements of psychological suspense)
• Legal Thrillers  (noteworthy examples of the “legal thriller/courtroom drama” genre)
• Love & Danger: Gothics! (Gothic Romances and/or Gothic Suspense novels)
• Murder by Gaslight (mysteries set in the Victorian Era)
• My Life of Crime  (Bethany Booktalk, September 3, 2010 and Gere Booktalk, November 1, 2010) [Erin I.]
• Mystery and Adventure Around the World (Bethany Branch BooksTalk, February 13, 2015 and Gere Branch BooksTalk, October 19, 2015) [Donna G.]
• The Name is Bond…James Bond (The history of iconic spy James Bond in print and on film)
• Nebraska Author Sean Doolittle (thrillers)
• Nebraska Author Alex Kava (mysteries/FBI thrillers)
• Nebraska Author Tosca Lee (a list of works by this Christian historical fiction author, who also writes Christian suspense/thrillers)
• Nebraska Author David Wiltse (suspense/thriller novels, and plays)
• Nebraska Author Don Winslow (mysteries/thrillers)
• The Not-So-Quiet Countryside  (Courtyard Book Chats, May 22, 2007 — mysteries with a rural setting)
• Oh, Horrors!…Gothic Novels (Bethany Branch Booktalk, November 7, 2008) [Rayma S.]
• Pandemics & Plagues in Fiction, DVDs and Non-Fiction
• Remembering…Tom Clancy (pdf document)
• The Scribe Awards (media tie-in novels, both original and adaptations)
• Sean’s Grab-Bag 2008 (mixture of fantasies and thrillers] [Gere Branch Booktalk, May 19, 2008) [Sean S.]
• The Shirley Jackson Awards [for psychological suspense, horror and the dark fantastic]
• Tales From the Cryptographer  (Gere Branch Booktalk, September 21, 2009) [Erin I.]
• The Thriller Awards  (for thriller and suspense novels and screenplays)
• TV Tie-Ins (original fiction based on popular adventure tv series)
• War Stories (military fiction set during wars from 1200 B.C. to the present)
• The Works of John Grisham (up through 2022 — four series plus multiple stand-alones, mainly legal thrillers)
• World War II Era (Mostly) Fiction (Gere Branch, February 25, 2013) [Fay M.]

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MULTICULTURAL / MULTI-ETHNIC

• African American Stories in Nebraska (a Heritage Room booklist featuring African American stories set in Nebraska, by Nebraska authors – both fiction and non-fiction)
• The Asian American Literary Award (for fiction, non-fiction, poetry and stage and screenplays by Asian American writers)
• Asian Themes  (A Reader List submitted by Inkie – January 2009)
• Authors From Other Countries (Gere Branch Bookstalk, March 16, 2009 and Bethany Branch, March 20, 2009) [Julie B.]
• The Black Detective (mystery novels featuring African American sleuths)
• Black History Month – Collected Booklists (a page listing six new 2021 BHM lists, plus all past booklists associated with Black Authors and Black History)
• The Booker Prize (including both the Man Booker and International Man Booker Prizes)
• Books Against Borders (Bethany Branch BooksTalk, March 7, 2003) [Rebecca A.]
• Chica Lit (A Reader List submitted by Library Lass)
• The Colors of Love (ethic, African-American and interracial romances fiction)
• The Coretta Scott King Book Awards (for African-American writers and illustrators of books for youth and teens)
• Dan’s Celtic New Year’s BooksTalk (Bethany Branch BooksTalk, October 28, 2016) [Dan D.]
• A Day Full of Banned and Challenged Books (all ages from children through adults)
• A Day Full of Graphic Novels (all ages from children through adults)
• Erin Go Bragh! (Bethany Branch Booktalk, March 14, 2008 and Gere Branch BooksTalk, March 17, 2008) [Erin I.]
• Faraway Places With Strange Sounding Names (Gere Branch Booktalk, June 12, 2006) [Barbara R.]
• Fiction Set in China and Japan (A Reader List submitted by Library Lass)
• The Goodreads Choice Awards (around 20 categories, nominated and voted on by users of Goodreads)
• Graphic Novels (adult stories told in a graphical format (non-superhero))
• If You Like…Louise Erdrich  (contemporary fiction, often focusing on the lives of modern day Native Americans in North Dakota)
• If You Like…Beverly Lewis  (Amish Christian fiction — mostly romances)
• If You Like…Zane   (contemporary urban romance, bordering on erotica)
• Indigenous Authors Write About Residential Schools (material for both juvenile and adult readers related to the Residential School System attempting to indoctrinate Native Americans in the U.S. and Canada)
• International Authors (fiction and non-fiction from a variety of cultures)
• Irish Authors (Bethany Branch BooksTalk, February 5, 2016 & Gere Branch BooksTalk, March 7, 2016) [Jodi R.]
• Irish Authors  (Gere Branch BooksTalk March 13, 2017 & Bethany Branch BookTalk March 17, 2017) [Jodi R.]
• The Kiriyama Prize (works by Pacific Rim and South Asia authors)
• Lincoln’s Gayest Booktalk (Bethany Branch BooksTalk, October 19, 2018) [Lane G.]
• Lincoln’s Gayest Booktalk – 2019 (Gere Branch BooksTalk, May 20, 2019 [Lane G.]
• Living Black in America – A Topical Booklist
• The Man Booker Prize Nominees – 2016 (Bethany Branch BooksTalk, September 16, 2016 & Gere Branch BooksTalk, September 19, 2016) [Jodi R.]
• The Man Booker Prize Nominees – 2017 (Gere Branch BooksTalk, October 23, 2017 & Bethany Branch BooksTalk, October 27, 2017) [Jodi R.]
• Modern Irish Authors – 2019 (Gere Branch BooksTalk, March 11, 2019) [Jodi R. – volunteer]
• Native Voices (contemporary Native American writers)
• Queer Horror (a Top 10 list of LGBTQ+-themed horror fiction)
• Rainbow Reads (a collection of six LGBTQ-themed booklists for adults and teens, both fiction and non-fiction)
• Rainbow Reads – 2022 (New LGBTQ+ Books for Kids, Young Adults & Adults)
• Rainbow Reads – 2023 (New LGBTQ+ Books for Kidd, Young Adults & Adults)
• Read for Change (compiled in 2020 in connection with the Read Woke Challenge and the Together, One Lincoln website)
• The Stonewall Book Award (fiction and non-fiction books shown to have exceptional merit relating to the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender experience)
• Sweetgrass and Desert Sage (mystery novels featuring Native American sleuths/settings)
• A Trip to Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day (Gere Branch BooksTalk, March 17, 2014) [Marcy G.]
• What is Your Favorite Book/Author – 2023 Pride Festival Booth
• Women in Islam (Bethany Branch BooksTalk, April 18, 2008 and Gere Branch, April 21, 2008) [Vicki W.]
• Word Weavers: A Multicultural List of Fiction by Women (fiction and non-fiction from a variety of cultures)

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CLASSICS

• Anchors Aweigh: Naval Adventure Fiction
• Classics Revisited (A Reader List submitted  by BookMan)
• Classics With a Twist
• The Essentials of English Literature
• If You Like…To Kill a Mockingbird
• In Want of More Jane Austen
• Lincoln Community Playhouse Booklist: Pride and Prejudice (October/November 2022)
• Time Magazine’s Top 100 All-Time Novels (1923-2005)

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POETRY

• A Crop of Words (Nebraska Poets)
• The Good Life — Nebraska Authors (Bethany Branch, February 8, 2008) [Meredith M.]
• The Goodreads Choice Awards (around 20 categories, nominated and voted on by users of Goodreads)
• 150 Years of Nebraska Poetry  (Gere Branch BookTalk, May 8, 2017 & Bethany Branch, May 12, 2017) [Erin W.]
• Native Voices (contemporary Native American writers – including poets)
• Nebraska Author Twyla Hansen (a list of this Nebraska State Poet’s poetry collections and other writings)
• Nebraska Author Weldon Kees (general fiction, poetry, reviews and essays)
• Nebraska Author John G. Neihardt (a list of this Nebraska State Poet’s general fiction, poetry, non-fiction)
• Nebraska Poet William Kloefkorn (a list of this Nebraska State Poet’s poetry collections, novels and memoirs)

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BOOKS FOR YOUNG ADULTS / TEENS

• The Alex Awards – 2015 (Gere Branch, December 14, 2015) [Mindy P. and Wyatt P.]
• Books for Young People (Gere Branch, February 5, 2007) [Sarah D.]
• A Day Full of Banned and Challenged Books (all ages from children through adults)
• A Day Full of Graphic Novels (all ages from children through adults)
• The Dragon Awards (for Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror, in Literature and Film/TV)
• Golden Sower Award Nominees From the Past (Dawes Middle School, April 26, 2004) [Susan S.]
• Good Reads for Teens – 2017  (Bethany Branch, April 21, 2017) [Susan S.]
• The Goodreads Choice Awards (around 20 categories, nominated and voted on by users of Goodreads)
• Graphic Novels and More (Library Virtual BooksTalk, March 26, 2021) [Traci G.]
• If You Like…John Green
• If You Like…Colleen Hoover  (contemporary romance and suspense)
• Kickbutt Female Characters From Literature (Bethany Branch, February 7, 2015) [Carrie R.]
• Make Your Own Wand (fantasy fiction) (2020 Summer Reading Challenge Video – Bennett Martin Public Library) [Cait L. and Rio B.]
• Most Popular Titles of 2022 (adult, young adult, and children’s)
• Nebraska Author Rainbow Rowell (a list of this general and YA fiction author’s novels)
• The Newbery Award Winners (for outstanding Fiction for Youth)
• Notable Youth Non-Fiction 2006 (March 2, 2006) [Vicki W.]
• 100 Best Young Adult Novels (an overview of recommended YA fiction, both classic and contemporary as of 2021)
• Queer Horror (a Top 10 list of LGBTQ+-themed horror fiction)
• Rainbow Reads: Young Adult Fantasy  (LGBTQ-themed fantasy novels for teens)
• Rainbow Reads: Young Adult Fiction  (LGBTQ-themed general fiction for teens)
• Rainbow Reads – 2022 (New LGBTQ+ Books for Kids, Young Adults & Adults)
• Sarah’s Selections – 2010 (Bethany Branch, February 5, 2010 & Gere Branch, February 8, 2010) [Sarah D.]
• Sarah’s Suggestions – 2013 (Bethany Branch, November 8, 2013) [Sarah D.]
• Sarah’s Teen Booklist – Spring 2008 (May 2008) [Sarah D.]
• Sarah’s Teen Read Week List – October 2010 (October 2010) [Sarah D.]
• Sarah’s TeensRead List – Summer 2010 (June 2010) [Sarah D.]
• School Shootings – Fiction & Non-Fiction (Bethany Branch, December 14, 2018 and Gere Branch, January 7, 2019) [Tracy T.]
• Selections From Susan S. – 2007 (Courtyard Book Talks, July 3, 2007) [Susan S.]
• 75 Young Adult Novels Every Adult Should Read [Carrie R. and Susan S.]
• Susan’s Award Winners Talk – 2018  (Gere Branch, April 16, 2018) [Susan S.]
• Susan’s Selections 2004 (Culler Middle School, May 17, 2004 & Teen Read Week 2004) [Susan S.]
• Susan’s Selections 2005 (various schools, March 2005) [Susan S.]
• Susan’s Selections – Bethany – Fall 2012 (Bethany Branch, November 29, 2012) [Susan S.]
• Susan’s Selections – Bethany – Fall 2013 (Bethany Branch, November 22, 2013) [Susan S.]
• Susan’s Selections – Bethany – Spring 2013 (Bethany Branch, May 3, 2013) [Susan S.]
• Susan’s Selections – Gere – Fall 2012 (Gere Branch, September 24, 2012) [Susan S.]
• Susan’s Selections – Gere – Spring 2013 (Gere Branch, March 25, 2013) [Susan S.]
• Susan’s Selections – June 2009 (Courtyard Book Chats, June 30, 2009) [Susan S.]
• Susan’s Selections – March 2009 (Gere Branch, March 9, 2009) [Susan S.]
• Susan’s Selections – May 2009 (Bethany Branch, May 1, 2009) [Susan S.]
• Susan’s Selections – November 2009 (Bethany Branch, November 20, 2009) [Susan S.]
• Susan’s Selections, Spring 2008 (Gere Branch, February 11, 2008 & Bethany Branch, May 2, 2008) [Susan S.]
• Susan’s Selections, Winter 2008 (Bethany Branch, November 14, 2008) [Susan S.]
• Susan’s Selections – Winter 2015 (Gere Branch, December 7, 2015 & Bethany Branch, December 11, 2015) [Susan S.]
• Susan’s Summer Reading List 2010 (June 2010) [Susan S.]
• Susan’s Teen Read Week Booklist 2005 (October 2005) [Susan S.]
• Susan’s Teen Read Week Booklist 2008 (various schools, September and October, 2008) [Susan S.]
• Susan’s Teen Read Week Booklist 2009 (October 2009) [Susan S.]
• Susan’s Teen Read Week Booklist 2010 (October 2010) [Susan S.]
• Susan’s Teen Read Week Booklist 2011 (October 2011) [Susan S.]
• Susan’s Teen Read Week Booklist 2012 (October 2012) [Susan S.]
• Susan’s Teen Read Week Booklist 2014 (October 2014) [Susan S.]
• Susan’s Teen Read Week Booklist 2015 for High School (October 2015) [Susan S.]
• Susan’s Teen Read Week Booklist 2015 for Middle School (October 2015) [Susan S.]
• Susan’s Teen Read Week Booklist 2018 (October 2018) [Susan S.]
• Susan’s 2021 TeenTober Book List (October 2021) [Susan S.]
• Susan’s 2022 TeenTober Book List (October 2022) [Susan S.]
• Teen Book Club Books – 2012 (Bethany Branch, November 16, 2012) [Sarah D.]
• Top 100 Novels for Youth – 2020 Edition | also as a printer-friendly double-sided trifold brochure
• Young Adult Booktalks – Spring 2004
• Young Adult, Entertaining and Style (Gere Branch, January 28, 2008 & Bethany Branch, February 1, 2008) [Sarah D.]
• Youth Non-Fiction Titles (Gere Branch BooksTalk, February 12, 2018) [Sandy W.]
• Youth Non-Fiction Titles – 2019 (Gere Branch Bookstalk, April 1, 2019) [Sandy W.]

---

NON-FICTION & BIOGRAPHIES

• Ada Lovelace Day: Celebrating Women in STEM (Science, Techology, Engineering and Maths)  (Gere Branch BookTalk, October 10, 2016) [Kristen A.]
• Africa – The Dark Continent  (Gere Branch, May 2, 2011 and Bethany Branch, May 13, 2011) [Donna G.]
• ALA Notable Books 2006/2007 – A Selection  (Courtyard Book Chats, June 12, 2007) [Pat L.]
• ALA Notable Books 2008 – Selected Titles  (Booktalk for Nebraska Literary Heritage Association, September 17, 2008; Gere Branch, November 17, 2008; Bethany Branch, December 5, 2008) [Pat L.]
• ALA Notable Books 2009  (Gere Books Talk, November 30, 2009 and Bethany Books Talk, December 18, 2009) [Pat L.]
• ALA Notables – 2010 books  (Bethany Books Talk, December 16, 2011) [Pat L.]
• ALA Notable Books List – 2016  (Bethany BookTalk, November 18, 2016 & Gere Branch, November 7, 2016) [Pat L.]
• ALA Notable Books – 2018 (various 2018 and 2019 talks) [Pat L.]
• Allure of the Outdoors: Travel and Nature Writings
• Alzheimer’s Reading List  (non-fiction, fiction, and youth materials on the topic of this memory-destroying disease)
• Amber’s Biographies Book Talk (Gere Branch Booktalk, April 14, 2008) [Amber N.]
• American Inventions  (Gere Branch BookTalk, March 6, 2017) [Sandy W.]
• And Now For Something Completely Different…  (materials by and about the Monty Python comedy troupe)
• The Art of Collage (books about collage crafting) and Hinged Memories (handout on creating a collage project) (2020 Summer Reading Challenge)
• The Art of the Heist (Bethany BooksTalk, December 7, 2018) [Shannon K.]
• The Bancroft Prize  (for non-fiction about American History and Diplomacy)
• Banchan of Books  (Korean culinary titles) (Bethany BooksTalk, February 23, 2018) [Kathryn K.]
• Banned or Challenged Non-Fiction (a Banned Books Week list – celebrated Non-Fiction titles that have been either banned or challenged at U.S. libraries)
• Barack Obama’s 2017 Reading List Recommendations  (A Reader List submitted by 44 – December 2018)
• Barack Obama’s 2021 Reading List Recommendations  (A Reader List submitted by 44 – December 2021)
• Before CSI: The Birth of Forensic Science  (Gere Branch BookTalk, April 8, 2013) [Sandy W.]
• Best of Non-Fiction Book Tasting  (Gere Branch BookTalk, February 17, 2017) [Brenda E. and Pat S.]
• Bethany Non-Fiction Booktalk (Bethany Branch BooksTalk, December 12, 2014) [Shannon K.]
• Biographies, Memoirs & Historical Fiction  (Gere Branch BookTalk, May 2, 2016) [Mindy P.]
• Biographies and Memoirs  (Bethany Branch Booktalk, February 18, 2005)
• Biographies and Memoirs (Gere Branch, March 12, 2012) [Katie M.]
• Biographies & Memoirs: A Short List  (Courtyard Book Chats, August 7, 2007) [Vicki W.]
• Book Tasting: The Best of Non-Fiction 2017 (Gere Branch BooksTalk, February 20, 2017) [Brenda E. and Pat S.]
• Books About Books  (Bethany Branch Booktalk, April 15, 2005)
• Books About Books with Pam B.  (Gere Branch Booktalk, October 22, 2012) [Pam B.]
• Books About Natural Disasters in the U.S. (Gere Branch BooksTalk, September 23, 2013] [Marcy G.]
• Books About the 1930s (Gere Branch Booktalk, May 5, 2008 and Bethany Branch Booktalk, May 30, 2008) [Rayma S.]
• Books for the Dog Days of Summer  (Courtyard Book Chats, downtown, June 20, 2006 — mysteries, thrillers and true-life adventures in a cold climate)
• Books Fall Open, You Fall In – 2018 (Bethany Branch BooksTalk, September 28, 2018 & Gere Branch BooksTalk, October 22, 2018) [Marcy G.]
• Books in Pairs  (Bethany Branch Booktalk, April 13, 2007, Gere Branch Booktalk, April 16, 2007) [Vicki W.]
• Books on My “To Be Read” Pile – Fall 2022 (South Branch BookTalks, September 15, 2022) [Marcy G.]
• BookTalk With Meagan M. — Fall 2022 (South Branch BookTalks, October 6, 2022) [Meagan M.]
• The Brain…and What Can Go Wrong With It  (Courtyard Book Chats, July 28, 2009) [Vicki W.]
• Business and Leadership 2008 (Courtyard Book Chats…in the Garden!, June 3, 2008) [Julie B.]
• Checkmate! (Bethany Branch Booktalk, February 29, 2008 and Gere Branch Booktalk, April 28, 2008) [Jim W.]
• Clothes Make the (Wo)Man! (Gere Branch BookTalk, February 22, 2016) [Pam B.]
• Convergences and Divergences: A Married Librarians BookTalk  (Bethany Branch Booktalk, March 30, 2012, and Gere Branch Booktalk, April 2, 2012) [Becky W.C. and Scott C.]
• Cooking Adoptive Royal Killers  (Courtyard Book Chats…in the Garden!, June 24, 2008; Bethany Branch, September 5, 2008; Gere Branch, November 3, 2008) [Charlotte M.]
• Creature Comforts  (A Reader List submitted by Paige Turner – December 2008)
• Crochet Trends  (Bethany Branch BooksTalk, March 4, 2016) [Kolette S.]
• A Crop of Words (poetry by Nebraska poets)
• Dark Academia (South Branch BooksTalks, April 7, 2022) [Maddie O.]
• A Day Full of Banned and Challenged Books (all ages from children through adults)
• A Day Full of Graphic Novels (all ages from children through adults)
• Death in the White House  (Gere Branch BooksTalk, November 18, 2013) [Sandy W.]
• Dog Training and Drawing  (Bethany Branch Booktalk, September 10, 2010 and Gere Branch Booktalk, October 18, 2010) [Marcy G.]
• Earth Day Non-Fiction: 2022
• East of Eatin’: Tastes and Travels With an Asian Flavor (Bethany Branch BooksTalk, May 30, 2014) [Kathryn K.]
• Easter Fiction and Non-Fiction (Gere Branch BooksTalk, March 31, 2014) [Layne P.]
• Eat, Drink and Be Merry  (Gere Branch Booktalk, March 30, 2009)
• Eat, Drink and Be Merry, Part Deux  (Gere Branch Booktalk, March 30, 2009)
• Emotions!  (Bethany Branch Booktalk, May 21, 2004)
• En Passant: A Selection of Chess Materials (fiction and non-fiction about chess)
• The Essential Photographers (Twenty essential photographers of the 19th through 21st centuries)
• Explorers and Explorations  (a Books, Movies & More booklist from Dec 2011)
• Fall 2011 Book Blurb (Gere Branch, Fall 2011) [Barbara Rixstine – guest presenter]
• A Few of My Favorite Books (Gere Branch Booktalk, September 15, 2008 and Bethany Branch Booktalk, September 19, 2008) [Shannon K.]
• Food, Glorious Food!  (Gere Branch BookTalk, September 27, 2010) [Pam B.]
• Four Mysteries and a Memoir  (Bethany Branch BooksTalk, February 16, 2001)
• Frogs, Frogs…More Frogs…And a Little Nebraska (Bethany Branch BooksTalk, February 16, 2018) [Meredith M.]
• From the Librarian’s Library  (Bethany Branch Booktalk, October 2004)
• Funny, Silly and Sometimes Weird Books  (Bethany Branch Booktalk, November 13, 2009)
• Get Real!  (Bethany Branch Booktalk, January 29, 2010) [Kimberly S.]
• Getting Personal: Memoirs and Biographies – 2014 (Bethany Branch, April 18, 2014) [Katie M.]
• The Gilded Age (non-fiction about the U.S. history era of the 1870s to the early 20th century, plus some novels and movies/TV-series set in that period)
• The Good Life — Nebraska Authors (Bethany Branch Booktalk, February 8, 2008) [Meredith M.]
• The Goodreads Choice Awards (around 20 categories, nominated and voted on by users of Goodreads)
• Graphic Novels (adult stories told in a graphical format (non-superhero))
• HerStory: Books About Women Heroes of WWII (a mixture of non-fiction and fiction about noteworthy women involved in WWII)
• Historical Fiction and Non-Fiction with Caitlin L. (Gere branch, March 5, 2018) [Caitlin L.]
• History as Narrative: The Writings of Barbara Tuchman  (Gere Branch Booktalk, May 3, 2004)
• A History of the Victorian Age Will Never Be Written…  (Bethany Branch Booktalk, January 16, 2009 and Gere Branch Booktalk, February 2, 2009) [Marcy G.]
• Hitch!  (A Reader List submitted by Amanda A. – May 2008)
• Hot Non-Fiction Titles of 2008 (a selection of popular non-fiction titles added to the libraries’ collection in 2008)
• A House Divided  (a Books, Movies & More booklist from Apr 2011)
• How to Find Out About New Music Titles at the Lincoln City Libraries/Polley Music Library (Bethany Branch BookTalks, February 24, 2023) [Scott S.]
• Human Ecology: The Books of Jared Diamond  (Bethany Branch Booktalk, February 3, 2006 and Gere Branch Booktalk, February 27, 2006)
• The Ides of March  (Bethany Branch Booktalk, January 18, 2008, Gere Branch Booktalk, March 3, 2008) [Layne P.]
• If You Like…Marley & Me  (sentimental look at the relationships betweens humans and the pets who adopt them)
• If You Like…The Perfect Storm  (gripping look at “Man vs. Nature” experiences, mostly non-fiction)
• If You Like…Superheroes in Film and TV  (DVDs and digital streaming versions of Superhero movies and TV series)
• In Praise of H2O (Gere Branch BooksTalk, April 15, 2013) [Pam B.]
• In the End, We’re All Stories: Extraordinary American Lives (2020 Summer Reading Challenge Video) [Lisa V.]
• Indigenous Authors Write About Residential Schools (material for both juvenile and adult readers related to the Residential School System attempting to indoctrinate Native Americans in the U.S. and Canada)
• Inspiring Reads  (Bethany Branch Booktalk, April 26, 2013) [Kimberly S.]
• International Authors (fiction and non-fiction from a variety of cultures)
• Into the Wild (additional reading recommendations for those who enjoyed the Jon Krakauer book about Chris McCandless)
• Introduction to Parenting (a variety of parenting materials from pregnancy through the teenage years)
• It’s All About Me: Self-Help and Self-Improvement  (Courtyard Book Chats, August 21, 2007) [Kimberly S.]
• It’s Criminal! True Crime with Jen (Bethany Branch BooksTalk, September 17, 2021 and South Branch BooksTalk, September 23, 2021) [Jen J.]
• The James Beard Foundation Awards for Books (publishing in the Culinary field)
• Karen’s Kitchen Talk…and More!  (Bethany Branch BooksTalk, September 25, 2015) [Karen M.]
• Latest & Greatest Non-Fiction  (Bethany Branch BooksTalk, October 7, 2016) [Shannon K.]
• Latest & Greatest Non-Fiction – 2018  (Bethany Branch BooksTalk, March 2, 2018) [Shannon K.]
• Lisa’s Cooking, Food & Foodies BooksTalk (Library Virtual BooksTalk, February 12, 2021) [Lisa V.]
• Literary Cookbooks  (Gere Branch BooksTalk, November 3, 2014) [Brenda E. and Pat S.]
• Literary Cookbooks Part 2  (Gere Branch BooksTalk, November 13, 2017 and Bethany Branch BooksTalk, November 17, 2017) [Tracy T.]
• A Little Bit of This  (Gere Branch Booktalk, October 2, 2006] [Pam B.] [includes several non-fiction titles)
• Live From New York…It’s Saturday Night!  (A Reader List submitted by BookMan – December 2008)
• Living Black in America – A Topical Booklist
• Looking to Score — Biographies  (Courtyard Book Chats…in the Garden!, July 29, 2008) [Sean S.]
• Love for Sale! (Bethany Branch Booktalk, February 15, 2008) [Lisa V.]
• Makerspaces (encouraging youth and adults to explore their creativity, particularly with technology)
• Marcy’s Bag of Books  (Bethany Branch Booktalk, January 11, 2008 and Gere Branch Booktalk, January 14, 2008) [Marcy G.]
• Memoirs  (Gere Branch BookTalk, April 29, 2013) [Katie M.]
• Model T. Memories  (Bethany Branch, October 11, 2013) [Sandy W.]
• Model T Memories (revised)  (Gere Branch, 2014) [Sandy W.]
• Most Frequently Banned or Challenged Titles in the 21st Century (a 2014 Banned Books Week list – celebrating the titles most frequently banned or challenged at U.S. libraries or schools)
• Mostly About Theatre  (Bethany BooksTalk, March 9, 2018) [Lisa V.]
• Mostly Biographies…But Some Other Goodies Too  (Bethany Branch Booktalk, April 6, 2012) [Charlotte M.]
• Mostly the Truth…Sometimes Not!  (Gere Branch Booktalk, November 19, 2007, Bethany Branch Booktalk, November 30, 2007) [Deanne J./Carol S.]
• Music for the Eye: A Sampling of Music Videos in the Lincoln City Libraries  (Gere Branch Booktalk, February 22, 2010) [Carolyn D. of the Polley Music Library]
• Native Voices (contemporary Native American writers – including poets)
• Nebraska Author and Illustrator Paul Johnsgard (a list of this famed ornithologist’s 100+ books)
• Nebraska Author Weldon Kees
• Nebraska Author John G. Neihardt
• Nebraska Author Mary Pipher (non-fiction, psychology, cultural influences)
• Nebraska Author Lori Van Pelt (western fiction and essays)
• Nebraska Author Roger Welsch (a list of this folklorist, humorist and essayist’s extensive body non-fiction books — and a couple of novels)
• Nebraska Authors Write About Baseball (a special list composed by the staff of the Heritage Room to accompany a baseball-themed display)
• Nebraska Authors Write About Sports (a special list composed by the staff of the Heritage Room)
• The Nebraska Book Awards (books by Nebraska authors, published in Nebraska, or about Nebraska)
• Nebraska Trivia! (Gere Branch BooksTalk, January 13, 2020) [volunteer Meredith M.]
• Never Again  (books about the Jewish Holocaust in WWII] [Bethany Branch, October 22, 2010 and Gere Branch, April 18, 2011) [Jim W.]
• The New York Times Book Reviews’ 10 Best Books of 2011 (A Reader List submitted by BookMan – January 2012)
• The New York Times Book Reviews’ 10 Best Books of 2012 (A Reader List submitted by BookMan – January 2013)
• The New York Times Book Reviews’ 10 Best Books of 2020 (A Reader List submitted by BookMan – January 2020)
• The New York Times Book Reviews’ 10 Best Books of 2021 (A Reader List submitted by BookMan – December 2021)
• The New York Times 100 Notable Books of 2011  (the 100 most noteworth fiction/non-fiction titles of 2011)
• The New York Times 100 Notable Books of 2013 (100 noteworthy books, fiction and non-fiction, for 2013)
• The New York Times 100 Notable Books of 2018 (100 noteworthy books, fiction and non-fition, for 2018)
• New(er) Non-Fiction (Gere Branch BooksTalk, December 12, 2016) [Meagan M.]
• Newer Non-Fiction and Other Delights (Bethany Branch BooksTalk, November 1, 2019 and Gere Branch BooksTalk, November 4, 2019) [Meagan M.]
• Newer Non-Fiction and Other Factual Delights (Gere Branch BooksTalk, October 15, 2018) [Meagan M.]
• Noteworthy Biographies  (Bethany Branch Booktalk, February 17, 2006)
• November 22 1963 – The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy (a list of all library materials on the Kennedy assassination, on the 50th anniversary of that event)
• A Nutshell History of Western Theatre  (Bethany Branch Booktalk, May 7, 2010 and Gere Branch Booktalk, May 10, 2010) [Jim W.]
• Once Upon a Crime: All in the (Manson) Family: Cult Crimes (Once Upon a Crime BooksTalk, May 17, 2022) [Maddie O.]
• Once Upon a Crime: And You Thought Your Copay Was Bad: Medical Crimes (Once Upon a Crime BooksTalk, September 14, 2021) [Hillary U.]
• Once Upon a Crime: Blood Red Carpet: Hollywood Crimes  (Once Upon a Crime BooksTalk, April 12, 2022) [Maddie O.]
• Once Upon a Crime: Campus Crimes: Crimes on College Campuses (Once Upon a Crime BookTalk, September 13, 2022) [Maddie O.]
• Once Upon a Crime: Cornhusker Crimes: True Crime Cases in Nebraska  (Once Upon a Crime BooksTalk, October 13, 2021) [Maddie O.]
• Once Upon a Crime: Crimes of Passion, Part 2 (Once Upon a Crime BookTalk, February 14, 2023) [Maddie O.]
• Once Upon a Crime: Crimes of the Jazz Age (Once Upon a Crime BookTalk, December 10, 2022) [Maddie O.]
• Once Upon a Crime: Don’t Be Yourself: Identity Crimes (Once Upon a Crime BooksTalk, November 9, 2021) [Wyatt P.]
• Once Upon a Crime: March Madness: Irish Crimes (Once Upon a Crime BooksTalk, March 10, 2022) [Maddie O.]
• Once Upon a Crime: National Park Crimes (Once Upon a Crime BookTalk, April 11, 2023) [Maddie O.]
• Once Upon a Crime: Satanic Panic (Once Upon a Crime BooksTalk, August 9, 2022) [Maddie O.]
• Once Upon a Crime: Serial Killers (Once Upon a Crime BookTalk, October 11, 2022) [Maddie O.]
• Once Upon a Crime: Stranger Than Fiction – True Stories Behind Movie Crimes (Once Upon a Crime BookTalk, May 9, 2023) [Maddie O.]
• Once Upon a Crime: To Err is Human, But to Arr is Pirate: Pirate Crimes (Once Upon a Crime BooksTalk, June 14, 2022) [Maddie O.]
• Once Upon a Crime: True Crime and Indigenous Justice (Once Upon a Crime BookTalk, January 10, 2023) [Maddie O.]
• Once Upon a Crime: Wicked Women (Once Upon a Crime BookTalk, March 14, 2023) [Jen J.]
• Once Upon a Crime: With Friends Like These: Friends Who Kill (Once Upon a Crime BooksTalk, July 12, 2022) [Maddie O.]
• Ornery Old Men  (biographies of +50 men who lived colorful lives)
• Pandemics & Plagues in Fiction, DVDs and Non-Fiction
• People Magazine’s Top 10 Books of the Year – 2007  (A Reader List submitted by BookMan – January 2008)
• People Magazine’s Top 10 Books of the Year – 2008  (A Reader List submitted by BookMan – January 2009)
• People Magazine’s Top 10 Books of the Year – 2009 (A Reader List submitted by BookMan – January 2010)
• People Magazine’s Top 10 Books of the Year – 2010 (A Reader List submitted by BookMan – January 2011)
• People Magazine’s Top 10 Books of the Year – 2011 (A Reader List submitted by BookMan – January 2012)
• People Magazine’s Top 10 Books of the Year – 2012 (A Reader List submitted by BookMan – January 2013)
• People Magazine’s Top 10 Books of the Year – 2013 (A Reader List submitted by BookMan – January 2014)
• People I Wish I Had Known  (Gere Branch Booktalk, February 4, 2008) [Pam B.]
• Polley Picks – March 2009  (Bethany Branch, March 27, 2009) [Carolyn D.]
• Polley Picks – May 2009  (Gere Branch, May 18, 2009) [Carolyn D.]
• Polley’s Play-Along Adventures  (Courtyard Book Chats, August 11, 2009) [Carolyn D.]
• Presidential Bios  (A Reader List submitted by BookMan – June 2009)
• Rainbow Reads: Memoirs  (a list of LGBTQ-themed biographies or memoirs)
• Rainbow Reads – 2022 (New LGBTQ+ Books for Kids, Young Adults & Adults)
• Rainbow Reads – 2023 (New LGBTQ+ Books for Kidd, Young Adults & Adults)
• The Real Horse Whisperer and Other True Tales (South Branch BooksTalks on Zoom, February 10, 2022) [Monica K.]
• Recent Reads From a Retired Librarian  (Gere Branch, April 30, 2018) [Richard Miller]
• The Red Hat Society  (Gere Branch Booktalk, January 31, 2005)
• Remarkable Women  (Bethany Branch BooksTalk, February 15, 2013) [Lisa V.]
• Remember the Ladies  (A Reader List submitted by S. Luddington – February 2008)
• Remember the Past  (Bethany Branch BooksTalk, November 15, 2013 and Gere Branch BooksTalk, November 25, 2013) [Shannon K.]
• Ripper! (horror, mystery and/or non-fiction titles looking at Jack the Ripper)
• Robert Kolker’s Recommended Reading List (from a One Book – One Lincoln discussion on Zoom on October 26, 2021) [author Robert Kolker]
• A Salmagundi of Good Reading  (Gere Branch, May 7, 2007) [Pam B.]
• Sarah’s Recent Recommendations – 2022 (South Branch BooksTalk on Zoom, January 13, 2022) [Sarah D.]
• School Shootings – Fiction & Non-Fiction (Bethany Branch, December 14, 2018 and Gere Branch, January 7, 2019) [Tracy T.]
• Set Sail to New Worlds  (Bethany Branch, October 17, 2008) [Erin I.]
• Shannon’s Non-Fiction Booktalk – 2017  (Bethany Branch, September 22, 2017) [Shannon K.]
• Shannon’s Non-Fiction Booktalk – 2019 (Bethany Branch, March 22, 2019) [Shannon K.]
• Shannon’s Spring Booktalk 2017 (Bethany Branch, March 3, 2017) [Shannon K.]
• The Sinking of the Lusitania (Gere Branch BooksTalk, February 8, 2016) [Sandy W.]
• Slate’s Best Reads of 2009  (A Reader List submitted by BookMan – May 2010)
• Spunky Old Ladies  (biographies of +50 women who lived their lives without regrets)
• The Stonewall Book Award (fiction and non-fiction books shown to have exceptional merit relating to the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender experience)
• Strange But True!  (Bethany Branch Booktalk, January 6, 2005 and Gere Branch Booktalk, April 10, 2006)
• Summer Olympics Reading List (2021)
• The Super Bowl and the World of Pro Football (2022)
• Tales From the Cryptographer  (Gere Branch Booktalk, September 21, 2009) [Erin I.]
• A Taste of Chicago  (Bethany Branch Booktalk, January 13, 2006)
• Tender Vittles — A Culinary Book Talk  (Gere Branch Booktalk, November 5, 2007)
• Time Magazine’s Top 10 Fiction and Non-Fiction Books of 2009 (A Reader List submitted by BookMan – January 2010)
• Time Magazine’s Top 10 Fiction and Non-Fiction Books of 2010 (A Reader List submitted by BookMan – January 2011)
• Time Magazine’s Top 10 Fiction and Non-Fiction Books of 2012 (A Reader List submitted by BookMan – January 2013)
• Time Magazine’s Top 10 Fiction and Non-Fiction Books of 2013 (A Reader List submitted by BookMan – January 2014)
• Time Magazine’s Top 10 Fiction and Non-Fiction Books of 2021 (A Reader List submitted by BookMan – January 2022)
• Time Magazine’s Top 100 All-Time Novels (1923-2005)
• Titles By and About Nebraska Science Authors (2014 – includes Loren Eiseley, John Janovy Jr. and Paul Johnsgard)
• Top 10 Celebrity Bios from People Magazine, April 30, 2009  (A Reader List submitted by BookMan – April 2009)
• Top 10 Challenged Books of the 2000s (A Reader List submitted by BookMan)
• Travel the World From Your Armchair  (Bethany Branch BooksTalk, March 8, 2013 and Gere Branch BooksTalk, March 11, 2013) [Shannon K.]
• Truth be Told — Some Non-Fiction Favorites  (Gere Branch Booktalk, April 26, 2010) [Lisa V.]
• A Tub of Tomes for 2010  (Bethany Branch Booktalk, March 19, 2010) [Lisa V.]
• A Very Short Bibliography on First Ladies  (Bethany Branch Booktalk, April 16, 2004 and Gere Branch Booktalk, May 10, 2004)
• Wacky (?) Crafts (Bethany Branch BooksTalk, October 24, 2014) [Sandy W.]
• The War in Europe (Bethany Branch Booktalk, May 23, 2008) [Karen M.]
• Weird History (Library Virtual BooksTalk, February 19, 2021) [L.G.]
• What Shannon Has Been Reading — History (Bethany Branch BooksTalk, November 13, 2015) [Shannon K.]
• What Shannon Has Been Reading – Spring 2015 (Bethany Branch, February 7, 2015) [Shannon K.]
• What Shannon’s Been Reading – 2016 (Bethany Branch BooksTalk, February 26, 2016) [Shannon K.]
• Who Knew? (Gere Branch, February 7, 2011) [Sandy W.]
• Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story? (A Hamilton: An American Musical-inspired non-fiction reading list)
• Winter Olympics Reading List (2022)
• Women’s Adventures (BookTalk, May 2005)
• Word Weavers: A Multicultural List of Fiction by Women (fiction and non-fiction from a variety of cultures)
• Wordsome Wonders and Marvelous Miscellany (Bethany Branch BooksTalk, January 29, 2016 & Gere Branch BooksTalk, February 1, 2016) [Becky W.C.]
• Write? Right!  (Bethany Booktalk, October 21, 2011 and Gere Booktalk, November 14, 2011) [Scott C.]
• Young Adult, Entertaining and Style  (Gere Branch Booktalk, January 28, 2008, Bethany Branch Booktalk, February 1, 2008) [Sarah D.]
• Youth Non-Fiction Titles (Gere Branch BooksTalk, February 12, 2018) [Sandy W.]
• Youth Non-Fiction Titles – 2019 (Gere Branch Bookstalk, April 1, 2019) [Sandy W.]

For a master index to all of the traditional printed (i.e. not on this website!) booklists available from the Reference Department at the Bennett Martin Public Library downtown, click: Alphabetical Index of past printed booklists. For a master index, arranged by subject matter, click: Subject Index to past printed booklists. [Both of these indexes are PDF documents.]