By Katie Oborn

Copyright manchestereveningnews

A best-selling author, whose latest mystery novel has been described as a ‘quick and fun read’, has revealed her top five favourite books of all time, spanning various genres. Patricia Crisafulli, a New York Times best-selling author, has received glowing reviews on GoodReads for her most recent novel, The Secrets of Still Waters Chasm, with one reviewer likening it to a blend of ‘Da Vinci Code and Murder She Wrote’. The acclaimed author, who returned to education at the age of 52, transformed her distinguished thesis into a series of mystery novels, fulfilling a childhood dream. Hailing from Oswego, New York, Patricia has embarked on a trilogy of novels and when she’s not penning her own stories, she enjoys reading ‘eclectically across all genres’. The successful author has now shared her five favourite books of all time, explaining why she adores these particular reads and how they have inspired her, reports the Express . Now 65, Patricia has an array of exciting novels in the pipeline. The inspirational writer, who embarked on her novelist career later in life, continues to captivate readers with her tales – and her top five reads have played a significant role in motivating her. Patricia’s favourite books span all genres, which she admits makes choosing favourites challenging, but here are some of the best novels she’s read so far. Patricia is particularly fond of this novel, which features an octopus as a main character, observing ‘through the glass of the aquarium with running commentary about the humans on the other side’. A woman navigates her way through the male-dominated field of chemistry, educates a nation on preparing dinner, works through deep grief, and adores her daughter immeasurably. Patricia said: “This was the first book I read in the author’s in the Inspector Gamache series (it’s actually #12–so I started in the middle). “Amid the mystery and the investigations, both old and new, the author gives us a poignant glimpse of what “home” really means.” “This is a novel about trees, through generations and geographies, but it’s also about life and interconnectedness from roots in the forest to entire communities”, Patricia said. This tale, another of Patricia’s top picks, weaves together ‘botany, ecology, Indigenous wisdom, planetary peril’ in a memoir from an author who combines her Potawatomi heritage, scholarly research, and lessons from the natural world. Patricia discussed her approach to crafting her own novels: “I wrote The Secrets of the Old Post Cemetery, the third book in my Ohnita Harbor Mystery series, twice. “Initially, I completed a draft in roughly nine months, and put it to one side whilst I promoted my second novel (The Secrets of Still Waters Chasm). “When I picked the novel up again, I saw so many more areas to deepen the narrative and heighten the tension. That rewrite took about six months. Most important was the gap in between. “I have written three novels in my Ohnita Harbor Mystery series, plus a short volume for Hallmark of short stories and short essays, three nonfiction books in leadership, and my very first book in nonfiction/self-help for women who have lost their mothers.” At 52, Patricia returned to education to pursue her Masters of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in creative writing from Northwestern University in Chicago – a five-year programme. She explained: “I was a little nervous at first (for one thing, I was nearly twice the age of some of my classmates) and I wondered how I would ever find the time, given that I am a full-time corporate communications consultant. “But I loved the experience. What I learned in the MFA program completely changed my writing trajectory, in fact, my creative thesis became the basis of my first novel, The Secrets of Ohnita Harbor.” Patricia’s latest published work, The Secrets of Still Waters Chasm, has garnered rave reviews and features meticulously developed characters readers will adore, including lead character Gabriela Domenici, a ’40 year old single mom’. The character was forced to return to her birthplace and grieves the end of her “dream life” and her “dream job” in New York City. Patricia said: “Gabriela is very relatable, she’s edgy, has trust issues, and fiercely loves her son and her mother (even though they clash regularly). “Gabriela is surrounded by quirky characters, and her interactions with them bring her to life, her Italian-born mother, Agnese, always good for some comic relief. “Mike Driskie, the custodian of the library, who gets the better of Gabriela from time to time and yet is incredibly loyal to her and the library. “Another character, Daniel Red Deer, is the love interest who Gabriela doesn’t see right away – and readers are screaming for her to open her eyes.”