Data on the most borrowed items of 2025 has been released by Dunedin Public Libraries, and City and South Dunedin libraries manager Lynn Vare said it was no surprise "prolific" thriller author Lee Child led the adult fiction chart.
In top spot was Child’s In Too Deep, the 29th instalment in his Jack Reacher series, which was borrowed 180 times in 2025.
On Wednesday, Dunedin City Library’s 21 copies of the book — four audio, five large print and 12 general copies — were all checked out.
The Secret (148 borrows) and Safe Enough: And Other Stories (106), also by Child, both made an appearance in an adult fiction top 10 chart largely comprised of thriller and murder mystery books.
"We like a good murder," Ms Vare said.
"People like the style, and it’s just comfort food ... I can’t think of a better way to say that, really.
"They’re books that [readers] know that they’re probably going to really enjoy, and so they just churn through them, which is great."
Most authors on the adult fiction list were well-established international authors; Ms Vare said she would have liked to see New Zealand authors make an appearance.
However, New Zealand authors came to the fore in adult non-fiction, filling out seven of the top 10 spots.
"We like reading about ourselves," Ms Vare said.
Topping the young adult and children’s catagories were Sarah J Maas’ Throne of Glass and Andy Griffiths’ The 78 Storey Treehouse.
In the year to November 2025, Dunedin library-goers borrowed 859,636 physical and digital books.
Generally, local readers enjoyed a wide range of genres, Ms Vare said.
"It is such a great joy connecting with people, finding out what they like and helping them find new things.
"That’s the real joy."
Borrowing data was used to inform book-buying but it was not the "be all, end all" as the library had a commitment to New Zealand writers and literature, Ms Vare said.
"We wouldn’t just have only popular [books] — we have to have a breadth of stuff that’s quality and of interest and to represent [our readers].
