If you've visited the Main Library, chances are you've browsed our Staff Picks shelves and found something great to read that you might not have otherwise picked up. Our hope is that this list will be a good substitute!

In the mood for a deliciously spooky gothic thriller? Didn't know I was until I read the 2020 Edgar Award winner for best novel, The Stranger Diaries by Elly Griffiths. Louise Penny and A.J. Finn loved it too. - C.D.

The Third Rainbow Girl is a true crime story of a double murder in West Virginia whose investigation spanned many years. Eisenberg does a great job investigating the story, taking a look into gender and class, paralleling it with her own time in Appalachia. If you like stories about Appalachia and true crime, you'll love this title! - E.P.

What happens to a beauty queen when she finds herself stranded on a deserted island with nothing but her ingenuity and her fellow contestants to help her survive? She slides on her lip gloss, rolls up her sleeves, finds food, builds shelter and maybe starts to ask who she is off the runway! She may even start wondering what the link is between the beauty industry and economics and how far "The Corporation" will go to protect its prize assets.

Need I say more? This book is a hoot and a holler, besides an incisive commentary on the beauty industry and what it can do to young women. - A.J.P.

This graphic novel follows an architect as he investigates a mystery at a resort in the Swiss Alps. It's a magic door noir, and is moody, puzzling, and totally engrossing. -J.E.

If you can name two things cooler than ninjas and skateboards then I'll eat this collection of comics by Jim Rugg and Brian Maruca. Read it fast or Jesse Sanchez, the titular Street Angel, might beat you to it. -J.E.

Love Star Wars? Read the novel that inspired many aspects of George Lucas’ epic franchise. Full of betrayal, intergalactic conflict, and giant sandworms, Dune remains one of the most influential science fiction novels of all time. - K.O.

Russell Kirk is a new ghost story author for me. The writing is so clear and vivid, it feels as though I am actually walking in the places he describes.  Then for the surprise that involves the ghost – Wow! – what an artist.  I recommend this to anyone who wants a case of the shivers! - P.S.

You know those times when everything just feels way too crazy and all the books on your to-read list are completely apocalyptic and you need something smart and fun that takes you back to the best part of your youth? Look no further. Zentner’s tale of two teen hosts of a campy creature feature show is just the thing to lift your spirits and warm your heart. - L.C.