Expand Your Horizons

Mystery and suspence is one of the most widely circulated genres in the public library. The stories are fantastic and allow us a bit of the drama and danger we avoid bringing into our personal lives.

Some of America's most highly acclaimed authors are turning out books left and right to keep up with the demand. Author James Patterson has released several novels in the past year, including the titles Toys, Tick Tock, Cross Fire, Don't Blink, The Postcard Killers, and 9th Judgement. Many people are eagerly awaiting his newest installment in the Women's Murder Club mysteries, 10th Anniversary, and Now You See Her.

Browse our online catalog at http://pac.jgrls.org/TLCScripts/interpac.dll?SearchForm?Directions=1&Config=pac&Branch=0 for books by our most trendy authors. Popular titles include Cold Wind by C.J. Box, Live Wire by Harlan Coben, Love You More by Lisa Gardner, Silent Mercy by Linda Fairstein, and A Cold Day For Murder by Dana Stabenow.

Taking into consideration that these mystery and suspence thrillers comprise a large portion of book circulation an the library, staff have made a concentrated effort to expand the collection by purchasing new authors, and highlighting those that remain unknown. Below are several new additions to the system that we encourage you to try!



Naked Heat / Richard Castle

Coming Back / Marcia Muller

Valley of Dry Bones / Priscilla Royal

Assassins of Athens / Jeffrey Siger

A Lonely Death / Jeffrey Todd

Cold Shot to the Heart / Wallace Stroby

The Identity Man / Andrew Klavan



For more information on upcoming titles and new authors available in the Jackson-George Regional Library System visit your local library branch.

Mystery Skeleton Uncovered

An intact skeleton was discovered protruding from the side of a cliff in Cyprus, a small Mediterranean island. Researchers believe the skeleton could date to the fourth century and is one of the oldest inhabitants found on the island. The discovery is reminiscent of three skeletons uncovered in the 1980s that were likely victims of a strong earthquake in 365 B.C.

The news is so fascinating because Cyprus has such strong connections to the ancient world. The patron goddess of the island was the Phoenician Astarte, later known by the Greeks as Aphrodite. Evidence suggests the cult that followed the goddess, Astarte, was by the far the most central and powerful religious group during ancient times. Amulets suggest other gods such as Anat, Baal, Hathor, and Ptah were honored as well.

The island was heavily influenced by Egyptian culture due to a brief period of domination under Pharaoh Amasis. The Egyptian influence was quickly done away with in as the people fell under sway of the Greeks. Evidence from uncovered statues, amulets and pottery that Cyprus was heavily influenced by Crete and Persia as well. In essence, Cyprus was the "melding pot" of the ancient world, much as America is in current times.

Try these books on the subject:

Ancient Cyprus: 7,000 Years of Art and Archeology / Bassos Karageorghis

Cyprus/ Mary Virginia Fox

Cyprus/ Michael Spilling

Freedom Trap/ Robert Elmer

Small Wars: a novel/ Sadie Jones