“So many mysteries are part of a series. But I don’t want to commit to an entire series because I won’t have time to read the other books on my list!” exclaimed Kremmling Library branch manager, Emily Pedersen, to a patron.

Inspired to find her such a book, I chose “stand-alone mysteries” as the spring genre for the Genre Explorers Book Club. Surprisingly, single-title mysteries that tell an entire story are not as plentiful as a series of books that follow the same character in multiple titles. However, book club members rose to the challenge and sought stand-alone mysteries to try.

So, here we offer you a smorgasbord of themes to fit your different moods. Some titles are traditional crime mysteries, while others simply weave a mysterious element into the storyline.

What type of stand-alone mystery are you in the mood to read? There’s bound to be one that piques your interest.

Classic Murder Mysteries: A collection of unfamiliar yet superbly written short-story mysteries in “The Penguin Book of Murder Mysteries”.

Sherlockian Adaptation: Fans will relish this Holmes and Watson spinoff in “The House of Silk” by Anthony Horowitz.

Page-turners: Thrilling stories will keep you hooked and engaged. “The Day Shelley Woodhouse Woke Up” by Laura Pearson and “Then She Was Gone” by Lisa Jewell.

Humorous Detectives: Light mysteries with hysterical characters — “Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers” by Jesse Q. Sutanto, “What Rose Forgot” by Nevada Barr, and “Old Girls Behaving Badly” by Kate Galley.

Mysterious Adventures: Experience wilderness adventure in “The River” by Peter Heller (fiction) and “Dead Mountain: The Untold True Story of the Dyatlov Pass Incident” by Donnie Eichar (nonfiction).

Neurodivergent & Bittersweet: An autistic boy investigates a dog’s murder in “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time” by Mark Haddon.

Tragic & Chilling: Savor hauntingly moving reads that are wonderfully written. Try “The Lindbergh Nanny” by Mariah Fredericks, “Ordinary Grace” by William Kent Krueger, or “The Berry Pickers” by Amanda Peters.

Historical Mysteries: Well-developed female characters take the stage in “The Frozen River” by Ariel Lawhon and “The Briar Club” by Kate Quinn.

Plot Twist: Longing for a surprise ending? Read “The Bootlegger’s Daughter” by Nadine Nettmann.

Cute & Predictable: For a cozy and gentle mystery, try “The Gardener’s Plot” by Deborah J. Benoit.

Creepy & Haunting: If Gothic is your style, read “My Darling Dreadful Thing” by Johanna van Veen.

Summer is underway and so is the library’s Summer Library Program. This year’s theme is “Color Our World” with a focus on creative art activities. Visit your local library to request a log and join the fun!

For artistic reading suggestions, follow the Genre Explorers Book Club on Facebook or browse the summer reading suggestion lists in the library’s catalog titled “Inspire Your Creativity” and “Color Our World”.

We want to hear about your artistic endeavors! Join us at a book club party at the Kremmling Library on August 11 or the Hot Sulphur Springs Library on August 13. Contact these libraries for party details.

For more information about book suggestions, contact the author at smathis@gcld.org.