Retired Member Round Table 5th Sunday Book Club, March 29, 2026

How does the RMRT book club work? It's actually a book club that librarians can enjoy! We would love to have you join us.

We have all read and discussed the same book but feel that with prompt we have a better discussion and get everyone involved. We discuss many books and post titles. The discussion is on Zoom on the 5th Sunday of the month in the afternoon (typically 4:00pm Eastern Time).

The prompt for March is Thrillers.  The interpretation of the prompt is up to each individual, and the discussion consists of all aspects of the book: theme, plot setting, characters, style, tone ... you get the idea.  

It is a fun, intelligent, interactive group! Laughing and reminiscing make this book club an excellent way to enjoy new and old friends from several different regions of the world.
 

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Diving Into the Dark: RMRT’s March 2026 Thriller Challenge

As winter settles in and the sky turns that familiar shade of bleak gray, many of us find ourselves craving a story that jolts the senses—a narrative that pulls us out of the quiet and into something pulse‑quickening. For the March 2026 RMRT Book Club discussion, Ann Marie Pipkin has offered the perfect antidote to the late‑season doldrums: read a thriller.

And not just any thriller. This year’s prompt encourages readers to explore a sub‑genre they haven’t tried before, opening the door to everything from twisty legal dramas to eerie haunted‑house tales.

A Genre With Endless Corridors

Thrillers are far from monolithic. As Ann Marie notes, even a quick browse through The New York Times 2025 recommendations under the “thriller” tab reveals a buffet of sub‑genres:

• Twisty legal thrillers
• Private‑eye mysteries
• Haunted house tales

Goodreads expands the field even further, categorizing thrillers into psychological, legal, spy, mystery‑driven, and more. For readers who want to push beyond their comfort zone, this prompt is an invitation to wander into a new corner of the genre.

A Personal Reading Trail

Ann Marie shares a glimpse into her own reading history—one that leans toward psychological suspense and character‑driven mysteries. Her Goodreads list includes modern staples such as:

• The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
• Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
• The Girl on the Train and The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins
• The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
• The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
• The Guest List by Lucy Foley

A pattern emerges: stories that burrow into the minds of their characters, especially those whose emotional instability adds an extra layer of tension. It’s a sub‑genre that has exploded in popularity—and the data backs that up.

Why Psychological Thrillers Are Booming

An AI‑generated summary from Bing highlights just how dominant psychological thrillers have become within the broader Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense category:

Market Trends & Sales

• Search interest has doubled in the last five years for “psychological thriller books.”
• The category ranks as the third highest‑selling among more than 7,000 Kindle categories.
• In the U.S., 12.5% of all adult books sold fall within the thriller genre—about 23.6 million print units in 2022 alone.
• Some titles have become cultural landmarks:
  • And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie has sold over 100 million copies.
  • The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown has reached 80 million copies sold.

Who’s Reading Them?

• Although thrillers were once considered a male‑dominated genre, women now make up more than two‑thirds of mystery/crime readers.
• 32% of books in the genre are written by women, and 26% feature a female detective.
• Younger readers are a smaller slice of the audience:
  • Only 14% are between 18–29
  • Just 4% are between 13–17

A Genre on the Rise

The data paints a clear picture: psychological thrillers aren’t just popular—they’re surging. Their blend of suspense, emotional complexity, and mind‑bending twists continues to attract new readers and inspire authors. As Ann Marie notes, this growth reflects broader shifts in reader preferences and market dynamics, making psychological thrillers a powerful force in today’s literary landscape.

Join the Conversation

As March approaches, RMRT members are encouraged to pick a thriller—familiar or new, classic or contemporary—and join the discussion. Nann will distribute the Zoom link closer to the meeting date, but the conversation has already begun.

If you’re staring out at the winter sky and craving a story that grips you from page one, this is the perfect moment to dive into something dark, twisty, and unforgettable