‘Murder by Degrees’ chosen as ‘A Novel Idea’ 2025 Community Read
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- More than 150 community members gathered Saturday night to uncover the mystery of Deschutes Public Library’s A Novel Idea… Read Together selections.
The evening led to more intrigue, as Ritu Mukerji’s debut mystery novel, Murder by Degrees, was revealed as 2025’s community-wide read. Alongside it, the youth edition novel was announced: Sarvenaz Tash’s The Queen of Ocean Parkway, promising an engaging journey for readers of all ages.
“The wait is finally over, and now readers must crack a case of a mistaken identity alongside an intrepid heroine and an investigator with a heart of gold,” said Deschutes Public Library Events Supervisor Liz Goodrich. “In the past 22 years, this is the first mystery novel we’ve shared together as a community, and I’m looking forward to conversations sparked by themes in both of these books.”
Murder by Degrees is a historical mystery set in 19th century Philadelphia, following a pioneering female doctor as she investigates the disappearance of a young patient who is presumed dead. Mukerji’s debut novel whisks you away for an adventure-solving mystery with a female protagonist with incredible knowledge of science and the human anatomy.
“These two books—Murder by Degrees and The Queen of Ocean Parkway—will captivate readers with just the right amount of mystery, intrigue, and memorable characters,” said Goodrich. “Both authors, who are first-generation Americans, bring a unique perspective through their dynamic character development and rich storytelling, addressing themes of social divides and identity.”
Now in its’ 22nd year, A Novel Idea continues to bring fresh, compelling narrative to readers in Central Oregon, with new participants joining every year. The concept behind A Novel Idea is simple: pick a great book, engage with community through thought-provoking and relevant programming, and wrap up the project with free and accessible author visits.
Mark your calendars for April 2025 when programming for A Novel Idea kicks off. Throughout the month, readers can explore ideas found in Murder by Degrees and The Queen of Ocean Parkway. A Novel Idea programming culminates with the final author event on Saturday, May 3, 2025 at Summit High School, and a visit from the youth edition author on Saturday, April 26 at the Downtown Bend Library. All programs, including the authors’ presentations, are free of charge thanks to the support of the Deschutes Public Library Foundation.
Copies of Murder by Degrees (Simon and Schuster) and The Queen of Ocean Parkway (Penguin Random House) can be checked out from the library or purchased from local bookstores.
About the Book: Murder by Degrees
Philadelphia, 1875: It is the start of term at Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania. Dr. Lydia Weston, professor and anatomist, is immersed in teaching her students in the lecture hall and hospital. When the body of a patient, Anna Ward, is dredged out of the Schuylkill River, the young chambermaid’s death is deemed suicide. But Lydia is suspicious and she is soon brought into the police investigation. Aided by a diary filled with cryptic passages of poetry, Lydia discovers more about the young woman she thought she knew. Through her skill at the autopsy table and her clinical acumen, Lydia draws nearer the truth. Soon a terrible secret, long hidden, will be revealed. But Lydia must act quickly before she becomes the next target of those who wished to silence Anna.
About the Author: Ritu Mukerji
Ritu Mukerji was born in Kolkata, India, and raised in the San Francisco Bay area. From a young age, she has been an avid reader of mysteries, from Golden Age crime fiction to police procedurals and the novels of PD James and Ruth Rendell. She received a BA in history from Columbia University and a medical degree from Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. She completed residency training at the University of California, Davis and has been a practicing internist for fifteen years. She lives in Marin County, California, with her husband and three children.
About the Book: The Queen of Ocean Parkway
Eleven-year-old Roya is the superintendent’s kid in her regal Brooklyn apartment building, so she knows pretty much everything there is to know about its residents. An aspiring reporter, she even hosts a secret podcast about the lives of the building’s tenants. It’s a good distraction from the problems in her own life. But when Katya Petrov, one of her favorite tenants, goes missing, Roya discovers an eerie connection to Grandmother’s Predictions, an antique fortune-telling machine at Coney Island. “Grandmother” has been linked to multiple disappearances in the Petrov family over the last century. Now, with the help of a new friend who’s just moved in, it’s up to Roya to make her own headlines as she searches for Katya and attempts to break the Petrov curse once and for all.
About the Author: Sarvenaz Tash
Sarvenaz Tash was born in Tehran, Iran, grew up on Long Island, and graduated with a BFA in Film and Television from NYU. She is the author of eight novels (and counting) for kids, young adults, and adults including The Geek's Guide to Unrequited Love, A Whole Song and Dance, and The Queen of Ocean Parkway. Though her books run the gamut of genres and age groups, they’re tied together by her strong voice and affinity for joyful, diverse, humorous stories with heart. She has dabbled in all sorts of writing including screenwriting, copywriting, and professional tweeting for the likes of Bravo and MTV. Sarvenaz currently lives in Brooklyn with her family.
For more information about A Novel Idea, please contact Liz Goodrich at (541) 312-1032 or lizg@deschuteslibrary.org. Check out the A Novel Idea website at www.deschuteslibrary.org/novelideafor event listings as they are scheduled and for author information.
