Good news!
If you're reading this column, it means your newspaper has been delivered, and you are not yet trapped in a lodge or cabin, cut off from civilization by a winter storm.
When you work at a library, it really hits you how frequently this seems to happen. If you are familiar with "Murder on the Orient Express" or "The Shining," you may already know about this all-too-common issue: If you go anywhere for the winter, odds are high that you will get snowed in and something scary, mysterious or romantic will happen to you.
Based on a thorough analysis of the literature, it is unfortunately most likely to involve murder - but, there's also a chance you'll wind up married to a duke!
Here are some of our librarians' favorite examples of blizzards and avalanches wreaking havoc on winter excursions.
• "One by One" by Ruth Ware
Guests at a ski chalet begin to disappear after an avalanche hits in this modern twist on the classic mystery setup. An "Unwanted Guest" by Shari Lapena (takes place at an inn), "The Overnight Guest" by Heather Gudenkauf (at a farmhouse), as well as "The Hunting Party" by Lucy Foley and "The Christmas Guest" by Peter Swanson (both at British country estates) all feature guests solving - or causing - mysteries in various snowy settings.
• "Seduction on a Snowy Night" by Madeline Hunter, Sabrina Jeffries and Mary Jo Putney
Three popular romance writers offer wintry tales of secret heiresses, rakish barons, colonels, corsairs and costume balls.
• "The Terror" by Dan Simmons
An Arctic expedition goes awry in this chilling, (heavily) fictionalized account of a real 1800s event. In "The Thing," the 1982 film based on the 1938 novella "Who Goes There?" a sinister alien presence brings death and paranoia to the other side of the globe at an Antarctic research base.
• "The Gold Rush" (1925 film)
Charlie Chaplin wrote, produced, directed and starred in this silent comedy. Chaplin's character is searching for gold when a blizzard strikes and causes chaos.
• "The Bear and the Nightingale" by Katherine Arden
This award-winning historical fantasy novel takes place in medieval Russia and incorporates the rich folklore of that time and place.
• "The Long Winter" by Laura Ingalls Wilder
This classic autobiographical children's novel, part of the "Little House" series, recounts the seven months of blizzards that hit the Dakota Territory in 1880.
These titles and many others can help you prepare for the inevitable disruption to your wintertime travel plans (or help you pass the time in between murders once you are snowed in).
But once the cold, hard reality sets in - you won't be coming back to Hinsdale for a long time - you may want a little more variety in your reading and listening material.
Fear not! You can access thousands of titles remotely from your phone, tablet or computer. We recommend two essential apps for all Hinsdale patrons: Hoopla and Libby. Download these apps and set up an account using your library card to download audiobooks, ebooks and more with ease.
Just like you might need multiple streaming apps to watch all your favorite shows, different books are available on different platforms; between Hoopla and Libby, you'll be able to find most of what you want. Most of the digital titles cardholders can access appear in our catalog, which you can access through hinsdalelibrary.info or the new and improved Hinsdale Public Library app.
Safe travels and happy reading to all this holiday season! We hope to see you back at the library as soon as your rescue party arrives or your mystery is solved.
- John Kokoris is marketing and outreach manager at the Hinsdale Public Library.
