I asked myself, why are there so many Maine mystery writers? “Look around,” I said to myself. “Maine has 3,478 miles of coastline, 4,600 islands, numerous rivers, lakes and ponds. A writer looks out at the cold Atlantic Ocean, his eyes suddenly catching site of a small boat tossing and turning in the turbulent sea. Sea gulls are flying overhead. No one is on board. Who was on the boat and where are they?”

Maine is 90 percent forest. Can you imagine a writer who sees 17.7 million acres of undeveloped woods? Perhaps he sees a Game Warden hiking toward a circling of ravens. He discovers bones unearthed by scavengers. Are they animal or human?

One third of Maine's population live in Portland. Your chance of being a victim of a violent crime here is 1 in 340. The city relies on its police force and local sheriffs to solve these crimes. A writer creates a police detective to investigate and study a crime scene. Who was the victim and why was he/she murdered?

It’s no wonder that mysteries are a favorite subject of Maine authors!

Three of my favorite Maine mystery authors are Linda Greenlaw, Paul Doiron and Bruce Coffin.

Greenlaw, both captain of a swordfish boat and writer, often uses a particular sea-men's knot as the title of her Jane Bunker series. Her latest, “The Bimini Twist,” was published in June of this year.

Paul Doiron is the former editor in chief of Down East Magazine. His protagonist is Game Warden Mike Bowditch. “The Poacher's Son” was the first book in this series, and the most recent, “Stay Hidden,” was published in July. You’ll have to get in line to read that one, though — there are currently 258 holds on 80 copies in our library system!

Bruce Coffin, a retired Portland Police Department detective sergeant, writes the Detective Byron Mysteries. His latest, “Beyond the Truth,” is scheduled to be published at the end of October.

Other mystery subjects in Maine might include a knitter's club, an antique dealer, a candy maker, mysteries of the deep, and so on.

Here is a list of additional Maine authors that are popular among our patrons: Tess Gerritsen, Lea Wait, Sarah Graves, Gerry Boyle, Joe Hill, Julie Spencer-Fleming, Kate Flora, and Kaitlyn Dunnett.

And there are so many more! Check for Maine author labels on or book spines or ask one of the staff to help you find one.

Happy reading mystery lovers!

Upcoming events

Minecraft Club: Wednesdays, 2-3 p.m.

Hallowell Community Band: Thursdays through Sept. 6. 7:30 p.m., Lawn.

Friday Story Hour: Hear a story, make a craft, and sing a song with Miss Harolyn. 10:15 a.m., ages birth to 5.

Maine Burning: The Ku Klux Klan Invasion: Wednesday, Sept. 19, 6 p.m., Great Room.

Climate Change and the Sea: Wednesday, Sept. 26, 6 p.m., Great Room.

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