Mary Higgins Clark has a strong following in Davis County, according to a "most popular author" election recently conducted by the county library.
At least in the opinions of the 2,000 people who cast ballots, Clark was the most popular author overall. Stephen King was second, and there was a three-way tie for third among Michael Crichton, John Grisham and Gerald Lund.So, was library director Pete Giacoma disappointed that the most popular author wasn't a bit more high-brow - say a Dostoyevsky or a Mel-ville?
"I'm rather indifferent," he said. "We are looking for the most popular, not that anyone's saying they're the very, very best in terms of literary quality or anything."
Actually, Giacoma expected another author to take the top prize.
"John Grisham," he said. "In terms of holds put on books he's the going-away champ."
J.R.R. Tolkien took first in fantasy, Agatha Christie in mystery, Isaac Asimov in science fiction, Danielle Steel in romance and Gerald Lund among Utah authors.
The vote was held as part of the Davis County library's 50th anniversary celebration.
"We just thought we would take the reading pulse of our community," Giacoma said.