By Cassandra Rudolph
Checked Out
Happy Women’s History Month!
Looking for a great read this month with a strong female protagonist? How about a couple of cozy mysteries by Jesse Q. Sutanto? Consider “Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers” (2023) and “Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man)” (2025). Follow Vera, a well-meaning but nosy mother figure, who decides to be an amateur sleuth because no one can do a job better than Vera herself. Both of these books will have you laughing out loud and deeply moved by the perfectly woven storytelling done through multiple perspectives.
In the mood for a fantasy read? Check out author K. X. Song’s novels “The Night Ends with Fire” (2024) and “The Dragon Wakes with Thunder” (2025). The legend of Mulan inspired these books. Join Meilin on her adventures and secrecy to find her strength and place in her world. With a mix of magic-wielding power from a dangerous sea dragon spirit and a slow-burning love triangle to keep you guessing what will happen next, you won’t be able to put these books down.
Seeking some high-stakes tension and fast-paced suspense with a hint of paranormal elements? Try the supernatural thriller “Alchemy of Secrets” (2025) by Stephanie Garber. Main character Holland St. James finds herself in a predicament of trying to stop her own demise. To save herself, she must work through a tangle of folklore and legends that may be more real than most would like to believe.
Be sure to stop by the library and check out the 1920s, which we are featuring this March. As we walk through the year, we are highlighting a different decade each month in the ongoing celebration of our 125th Anniversary! Also continuing this month is our Community Reading Challenge. Every time our community reaches 1,901 books read (or listened to), we will have a prize drawing. Why 1901? Great question! We chose that number to honor the year your library opened to the public. Just a reminder that there are also monthly challenges to win Hutchinson Public Library swag by participating in library activities. Books and activities can be logged in the Beanstack app, or paper copies for tracking your progress are available at the service desks.
May you find your next great read at your Hutchinson Public Library and take the time to stop in and celebrate the 125th Anniversary with us. We would be glad to have you!
Cassandra Rudolph is the public services assistant supervisor at Hutchinson Public Library. She can be reached at cassandra.r@hutchpl.org.