Banff Public Library Just Shared The Most Borrowed Books in 2025

Curious what Banff locals were actually reading in 2025, we reached out to Kelly Turpin, Assistant Director at the Banff Public Library, to see which titles were borrowed most often this past year. A clear pattern emerged: readers gravitated toward mystery and crime, alongside a handful of character-driven fiction and book-club favourites, pointing to a strong appetite for fast-moving plots.

1. Murder in My Backyard

• Author: Ann Cleeves

• Genre: Crime, Mystery

Set in a quiet English community, this mystery follows a woman whose ordinary life is disrupted when a body is discovered close to home. As secrets surface and familiar neighbours become suspects, the investigation reveals how little people truly know about those around them. The novel blends a slow-burn police procedural with a strong sense of place and psychological depth.

2. Locked In

• Author: Jussi Adler-Olsen

• Genre: Crime, Thriller, Nordic Noir

When a high-profile politician is found guilty of a brutal crime, the case appears closed. Years later, cracks begin to show in the conviction, drawing investigators back into a cold case filled with corruption and hidden motives. Tense and morally complex, the story explores power, justice, and the consequences of rushing to judgment.

3. The House of Cross

• Author: James Patterson

• Genre: Thriller, Crime

Detective Alex Cross faces one of his most personal and dangerous cases yet when violence strikes close to his own world. As he hunts a ruthless enemy, Cross must balance family, duty, and survival. Fast-paced and suspenseful, the novel delivers short chapters, escalating stakes, and the high-octane storytelling Patterson is known for.

4. Red Rising

• Author: Pierce Brown

• Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian

In a future society rigidly divided by colour-coded classes, Darrow is a lowborn worker who infiltrates the elite ruling class to spark rebellion from within. What begins as a mission of revenge evolves into a brutal fight for freedom and identity. The novel combines political intrigue, intense action, and a ruthless examination of power.

5. Lessons in Chemistry

• Author: Bonnie Garmus

• Genre: Historical Fiction, Contemporary Fiction

Set in the 1960s, this novel follows Elizabeth Zott, a brilliant chemist whose career is derailed by sexism and circumstance. Unexpectedly becoming a television cooking show host, she uses science to empower women to think differently about their lives. Sharp, funny, and heartfelt, the story blends social commentary with an unconventional heroine.

6. Nobody’s Fool

• Author: Harlan Coben

• Genre: Thriller, Mystery

When a ghost from the past resurfaces through a shocking online revelation, a man is forced to confront secrets he believed were long buried. As truth and deception collide, the investigation spirals into danger. Twisty and propulsive, the novel explores how technology, memory, and lies can upend lives in an instant.

7. All the Light We Cannot See

• Author: Anthony Doerr

• Genre: Historical Fiction

Set during World War II, the novel interweaves the lives of a blind French girl and a German boy conscripted into the Nazi army. Their paths converge amid the devastation of war, revealing moments of beauty, kindness, and moral struggle. Lyrical and deeply human, the story examines how people endure darkness and loss.

8. Funny Story

• Author: Emily Henry

• Genre: Romance, Contemporary Fiction

After a broken engagement leaves her stranded in an unfamiliar town, Daphne unexpectedly ends up living with her ex’s new partner’s former boyfriend. What begins as an awkward arrangement turns into a slow-burn romance filled with humour and vulnerability. The novel explores heartbreak, friendship, and the messy process of rebuilding a life.

9. The Story She Left Behind

• Author: Patti Callahan Henry

• Genre: Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction

This novel follows a woman drawn into a literary mystery connected to a lost manuscript and a reclusive author. As she uncovers the past, she confronts grief, love, and the enduring power of stories. Atmospheric and emotionally rich, the book weaves together timelines to explore how words can shape lives long after they’re written.