How do YOU choose your next book?

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Lynne wrote: "Stephen wrote: "I use every means possible. Awards winners, Goodreads & sometimes just plan luck. I do not remember how I discovered Dept Q books but now I tell everyone to pick them up,"

All I co..."

Luck is right, in a lot of cases.

[OddModicum Rachel]

Rick wrote: "I use "psychic shopping" techniques. I enter a bookstore, join the thumb and first two fingers of either hand, and head off in the direction I'm drawn. Here comes an aisle, up there's a row, ..."

rofl... book dowsing! Gotta love divination as a great read finder. ;)

Tim, your 'twirl thrice and spin' method is fab, too.

Lynne, haven't had to consult the spirits to find a good read, yet, but I imagine they have one hell of a library beyond the veil. ;)

Stephen, off to check out 'Dept Q' books, as they're new to me. Thanks for rec!

Bill, I hope that Calibre thing works for you. I find it invaluable. I was trying to remember the name of The Night Watch series by Sergei Lukyanenko the other day when discussing best film adaptations of books. Night Watch and Day Watch were both made into phenomenally cool dark fantasy films about paranormal law enforcement, and I was dying to recommend them, but could not remember anything about the name of the series or author. Went into my snazzy Calibre software, and did a search for the tag 'Russian,' since that was about the only thing I could remember about the series. Found the books in 2 seconds. LOVE that, especially since my brain often resembles Swiss Cheese. ;) Crossing fingers it's handy for you, as well.

[Teresa]

It's the cover that attracts me first, then the summary on the back.

[Olivia "So many books--so little time.""]

If a book looks good in the store (cover, blurb on back) or online (synopsis) I'll buy it. As for after they're bought when I decide what to read it's based on what I'm in the mood for.

[Robert]

I'm looking to scratch a reading itch. It can be random or exact or anywhere in between. After that, it's all about the writing.

[Annie]

I have a notepad open most of the time with lists of authors and books which I want to check out. I get a huge number of good recommendations from Goodreads. Sometimes I just go on my library's Overdrive website and do a search with a keyword 'detective' or 'police' or 'inspector'.
I do miss brick and mortar bookstores. I have spent hundreds and hundreds of hours in bookstores all over the planet just browsing and sniffing the book molecules. The vast majority of the books I read these days are e-books. I was a true die-hard e-reader hater until my kids and husband bought me a Kindle Paperwhite. I've gone over to the dark side now, I'm afraid.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Annie wrote: "I have a notepad open most of the time with lists of authors and books which I want to check out. I get a huge number of good recommendations from Goodreads. Sometimes I just go on my library's O..."

I can spend hours roaming bookstores - especially where used books are sold. When I travel, I scope out used book stores within a 50-mile radius, and go a little crazy.

[Katherine]

I work in a library, so I keep up with the incoming books. I also read reviews both library related and popular. I look at lots of "Top 10" and "Best Books" lists. And I keep lists on little slips of paper - it's a mess. Now I have a tablet that I can buy books on when I see one I want to read (and like the price).

[Skye]

Rick wrote: "I use "psychic shopping" techniques. I enter a bookstore, join the thumb and first two fingers of either hand, and head off in the direction I'm drawn. Here comes an aisle, up there's a row, ..."
I love this~

[Skye]

I generally choose writers with whom I am familiar: I have many Michael Connelly, Lisa Gardner, Jonathan Kellerman, Faye Kellerman, Steig Larrson, Patricia Cornwell, Sue Grafton, Gillian Flynn, Carol O' Connell, SOME ( not all) Lisa Scottoline. However, joining Good reads, I have been purchasing, Karin Slaughter, Brian Freeman, John Sanford, and a few others; I am also enamored with non-thriller novels and various authors; Sebold, Ogilive, Mackiness, and of course, many of the classics. I must say that I am very interested in Tana French.

[Skye]

Saeed wrote: "1-author: if I find a book that I like by a certain author, I move to reading the other books by the same author
2-mood
3-goodreads recommendations"

YES

[John]

Definitely cover and blurb....then if the first page doesn't get my attention then I place it back....simple

[Skye]

John, I think that is a wise decision.

[Peter]

Once upon a time I used to visit bookshops. Now Kobo or Amazon or iTunes send me a constant stream of recommendations based on my previous choices. Generally, I click on the link and then start browsing through the list of other books people bought.....before making a choice....and call it all research.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Peter wrote: "Once upon a time I used to visit bookshops. Now Kobo or Amazon or iTunes send me a constant stream of recommendations based on my previous choices. Generally, I click on the link and then start bro..."

Love it!

[Marian]

I use to purchase books of the few authors that I really like and have done that for years.I have my classics thou..thats a given.I have to have my classics:)But since being a member here on goodreads..boy,have I changed..lol!I think in a good way as well.Its not so much I have branched out in different genre's..I have found some new authors that I have never heard of,thanks to you guys and now Im just having fun,reading them.2 of them comes to mind,that has left an impression me..Linda Castillo,and Greg Huwritz,,etc.Thank you Goodreads:)

[Barb]

For me, it depends on the mood. Then - depending on the mood I will look for recommendations on Goodreads and also just go from author to author and looking at the books they have written to see if it is something i would be interested in. If you want people to read your book a good thing to do is offer read to reviews and general advertising to get it out there.

[Sandysbookaday (taking a step back for a while)]

With great difficulty! There are always so many I want to read.....sometimes it's a case of eeny, meeny, miney, mo!
Having BOTM makes it easier though, because if it is something I have in my TBR list - I just select that.
Other times, it will be just because something takes my fancy completely randomly.....

[Robert]

Yeah, there's always more to read than time to read them. I'm another in the mood crowd. Usually I'm looking to scratch an itch: a laugh, an experience, a sense of a style, theme or place. Then I go looking for a voice/idea that suits.

[S.M.]

I often go into the library, look at the new books section and pick something I would probably never get. Sometimes I just put the genre into the library or book store website and see what pops up.

[Zoe]

^^ I agree that's how I go about finding a new book and even a different genre :P however much I love crime and mystery sometimes you just have to be brave and get into a different genre :P

[Stephen]

Another trick I used was to buy every "Soho Crime" imprint book I could find in used book stores. Soho is a publishing house that specializes in mysteries from around the world. The spine of a "Soho Crime" is very distinctive and easy to spot.

[Michael]

Reviews and lists of "best reads" by reviewers and journals are really helpful. A good source is Deep South Magazine, which just released its list of the best eleven mysteries to read in October.
http://deepsouthmag.com/2014/10/10-my...

[Kenneth]

So I'm new here and just came across this thread. Does anyone use BookBub? For those unfamiliar, you subscribe by selecting the genres of interest and receive a daily email of books in your preferences. All books offered are marked down significantly from their opening price for a period of time.
I'll usually track the books back to Amazon, read the blurb and then read the negative reviews. If the negatives are "hard" observations like spelling, formatting, word errors then I skip. If they are more subjective, such as character development, settings, action scenes, then I'm more likely to give them consideration.

[Jo Ann]

If I'm in the middle of a series that I have several books left to read and I just don't want to quit yet, the choice is easy, next please but if I'm not then I decide what kind of book I'm in the mood to read then I check my TBR list. If nothing hits my fancy I will just go on my Kindle and browse until something jumps out at me. If all else fails I fall back on a favorite and re-read it.

[Fatema]

Teresa Scott wrote: ' It's the cover that attracts me first, then the summary on the back.'....I agree with the summary part.:-)

[Ashley]

I choose based on what mood I'm in or what the cover/summary is. Sometimes I just feel the need to read a good mystery and then I'll search for something that jumps out at me.

[N]

I have books I MUST read, usually a series or an Author I'm loyal to! The books I buy from shops are generally what grabs me at the time, a cover and a good blurb gets me every time! In a good junk shop I just grab whatever I see and have found some really brilliant authors that way :)

[Zoe]

I am in agreement with you N.

[Marian]

Sometimes its like a spur of the moment thing.

[Jesse]

I'll go to Goodwill, Salvation Army or discount book stores and pick up a box full of hardbacks that look interesting to me for about $2 apiece. Then, with over 500 at home now, I just pick whichever strikes my fancy at the moment I finish the previous one. Unless I have started a series then I must read the series through before changing to a new one.

[Yawatta]

I usually skim the 'customers also bought' section on Amazon once I purchase something. If the cover looks cool, then I'll read the description and buy. Reviews don't mean that much to me unless there's a bunch of one-stars b/c that usually means no editing or formatting issues.

[Don]

I don't have time to write and read, so I listen to books on the library app on my phone at work. I like humor and mystery with a bit of suspense thrown in. My guilty pleasure is the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich. Since I write about a woman P.I. I can get way with it, being a man. Lately, I decided to give Veronica Mars http://www.amazon.com/Veronica-Mars-O... a shot (written by Rob Thomas) because of the TV show, which I'd only seen commercials for. Was surprised. It was well written and a good plot. A little slow at the wrapup but otherwise good read. Then I watched a TV episode. Not as good.

[Sandysbookaday (taking a step back for a while)]

With great difficulty! I decide i want to read something, put it on my bedside table, then get sidetracked by something someone has recommended ...or I see something at the library that takes my fancy (or like yesterday 5 somethings at the library).....

[Michael]

One great way to find books to read is to check out the books that are being featured at mystery conventions, like Bouchercon, being held in Long Beach, Calif. Nov. 14-16. Check out the website and books here:
http://www.bouchercon2014.com/