Jack Read-er: What Hawke's Bay residents borrowed the most from libraries in 2020

Tom Cruise has played private investigator Jack Reacher in two film adaptations to date. Photo / Supplied

Hawke's Bay readers can't get enough of Jack Reacher if the number of loans from our public libraries in 2020 are anything to go by.

Lee Child's 2019 addition to the thriller series Blue Moon was borrowed from the Napier and Taradale Libraries 175 times, more than any other book.

Blue Moon was also the most borrowed book from the Central Hawke's Bay District Libraries (Waipawa and Waipukurau) in 2020, and the second-equal most borrowed book from the Hastings District Libraries (Flaxmere, Hastings and Havelock North).

Hastings readers love their mysteries. Photo / File

It was equal with JD Robb's Golden in Death on 21 circulations, and behind only another of Lee Child's Jack Reacher novels – Night School on 25 circulations.

Further books from the series The Midnight Line, Past Tense and Personal, were also in the top 10 most-borrowed lists for the Napier Libraries (Napier and Taradale), and Hastings District Libraries.

A Hastings District Council spokesperson said it was interesting to see the top 10 were all fiction titles, mostly from the mystery collection.

"Only one children's title, Dog Man – no surprises there," they said.

"The number of circulations is quite high given the libraries were closed for two months during the Covid-19 lockdown and items are issued for 28 days at a time."

The Central Hawke's Bay District Libraries numbers were impacted by the Waipukurau Library being closed for about nine months for earthquake strengthening.

Napier Libraries

1. Blue Moon by Lee Child – 175 loans

2. Still Me by Jojo Moyes – 138 loans

3. The Testaments by Margaret Atwood – 129 loans

4. When It All Went to Custard by Danielle Hawkins – 126 loans

5. The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes – 122 loans

6. You'll Never See Me Again by Lesley Pearce – 121 loans

7. Grown Ups by Marian Keyes – 105 loans

8. The Other Wife by Michael Robotham – 104 loans

9. The Midnight Line by Lee Child – 101 loans

10. The Sun Sister by Lucinda Riley – 101 loans

Hastings District Libraries

1. Night School by Lee Child – 25 circulations

2=. Golden in Death by JD Robb – 21 circulations

2=. Blue Moon by Lee Child – 21 circulations

4=. The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult – 19 circulations

4=. Past Tense by Lee Child – 19 circulations

4=. Cilka's Journey by Heather Morris – 19 circulations

7. Personal by Lee Child – 18 circulations

8. Texas Outlaw by James Patterson – 16 circulations

9. Hideaway by Nora Roberts – 15 circulations

10=. Hidden in Plain Sight by Jeffrey Archer – 14 circulations

10=. The Goodbye Man by Jeffrey Deaver – 14 circulations

10=. Dog Man 1-6 boxed set by Dav Pilkey – 14 circulations

10=. Long Road to Mercy by David Baldacci – 14 circulations

10=. The Late Show by Michael Connelly – 14 circulations

Central Hawke's Bay District Libraries

1. Blue Moon by Lee Child – 33 issues

2. The Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley – 25 issues

3. The Shadow Sister by Lucinda Riley – 24 issues

4=. Into the Fire by Gregg Hurwitz – 23 issues

4=. Return to Stringybark Creek by Karly Lane – 23 issues

4=. She's Out by Lynda La Plante – 23 issues

4=. The Storm Sister by Lucinda Riley – 23 issues

4=. The Sun Sister by Lucinda Riley – 23 issues

9=. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Wrecking Ball by Jeff Kinney – 22 issues

9=. The Pearl Sister by Lucinda Riley – 22 issues