Staffordshire County Council have conducted an investigation into the top borrowed books in Staffordshire libraries, with crime and thriller writers continuing to be a huge hit amongst readers. 

Established writers like Lee Child, Ann Cleeves and Val McDermid were joined by Richard Osman and his gentle and humorous Thursday Murder Club series. 

Sarah Winman's Still Life also made the top ten and is something quite different. The Sunday Times bestseller was profiled on the BBC series Between the Covers and tells the tale of two people who meet in Florence towards the end of the Second World War and follows their developing friendship in the capital of culture. 

'The Night She Disappeared' by Lisa Jewell (Sarah Garner).

Lisa Jewell's The Night She Disappeared was also a popular read.

Funny stories continued to be the most popular reads for children. 

Jeff Kinney's Wimpy Kid series dominated the children's issues over the last 12 months by Harry Potter continued to be enjoyed by lots of children. 

Roald Dahl's eternal appeal continued too, with Matilda and George's Marvellous Medicine making the top 10 most popular titles again. 

Cheadle Library, High Street, Cheadle (Sarah Garner).

Victoria Wilson, Cabinet Member for Communities and Culture at Staffordshire County Council said: "Compiling our list of top ten fiction books is always an interesting time for our libraries and staff.

"Over the years crime and thrillers have been a big hit and it seems they are as popular as ever.

"Libraries will usually have multiple copies of the most popular books, so they are a good way of getting your hands on the latest titles so why not pop along to your local library and see what's available."

Top 10 adult fiction titles issued by Staffordshire Library Service in 2022:

1. The Thursday Murder Club – Richard Osman
2. Still Life – Sarah Winman
3. The Night she Disappeared – Lisa Jewell
4. The Darkest Evening – Ann Cleeves
5. Better off Dead – Lee Child
6. 1979 – Val McDermid
7. The Sentinel – Lee Child
8. The Heron's Cry – Ann Cleeves
9. The Long Call - Ann Cleeves
10. Blue Moon – Lee Child

Top 10 children's fiction titles issued by Staffordshire Library Service

1. The Ugly Truth – Jeff Kinney
2. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone – J.K. Rowling
3. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Greg Heffley's Journal – Jeff Kinney
4. Rodrick Rules – Jeff Kinney
5. Dog Days – Jeff Kinney
6. The Third Wheel – Jeff Kinney
7. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets – J.K. Rowling
8. Matilda – Roald Dahl
9. Brilliant World of Tom Gates – Liz Pichon
10. George's Marvellous Medicine – Roald Dahl

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