What was the most popular book borrowed from libraries last year?

We have the top 250 books according to book lending data from the Public Lending Right (PLR), which manages payments to authors. We don't have the number of loans but we do have the order of popularity.

The list is dominated by US author Dan Brown this year. Dan has overtaken James Patterson who topped the lending list the previous two years and has generally been very successful for a number of years.

John Dugdale notices that what's interesting about the list is what's missing in 2011. In his analysis Dugdale questions:

where is David Nicholls's One Day, Britain's No 1 bestseller in 2011 after making the top five in 2010? Like Dawn French's debut novel A Tiny Bit Marvellous, also a hit in both years, it's nowhere to be found. One inference would be that people are more likely to buy books they expect to read or refer to more than once.

This year PLR have provided some regional breakdown so we can see the popularity of books in different parts of the UK. This goes along with a little more detailed analysis of the authors popularity.

Download the data to get even more info - and see what you can do with it.

Authors whose books are most popular in libraries Click heading to sort table. Download this data Rank Author Position of Titles Total No of Titles 1 Dan Brown 1 , 27 2 2 Lee Child 2, 10, 21, 29, 91 5 3 James Patterson 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 18, 40, 46, 55, 67, 68, 70, 83, 84, 87, 100 17 4 Harlen Coben 6,34 2 5 Ian Rankin 9 , 25 2 6 Tess Gerritsen 11, 54 2 7 Stieg Larrson 12, 15, 23, 39 4 8 Rosamunde Lupton 14 1 9 Michael Connelly 16, 19, 61, 93 4 10 Danielle Steel 17, 33, 79 3 11 Jeffrey Deaver 20 1 12 Clive Cussler 22, 69 2 13 Josephine Cox 24, 88 2 14 John Grisham 26 1 15 Martina Cole 28, 64, 89 3 16 Lynda La Plante 30, 73 2 17 Julia Donaldson 31 1 18 Karin Slaughter 32 1 19 David Baldacci 35, 66, 86, 99 4 20 Jo Nesbo 36 1 21 Maeve Binchy 37, 51, 59 3 22 Joanna Trollope 38 1 23 Hilary Mantel 41, 94 2 24 Kathryn Stockett 42 1 25 Sam Bourne 43 1 26 Sebastian Faulkes 44 1 27 Susan Lewis 45 1 28 Kathy Reichs 47 1 29 Nora Roberts 48, 49 2 30 Jodi Picoult 50, 52 2 31 Patricia Cornwell 53, 90 2 32 Katie Flynn 56, 57 2 33 Claire Freedman 58 1 34 Peter Robinson 60 1 35 Francesca Simon 62, 96 2 36 Katherine Webb 63 1 37 Sarah Dunant 65 1 38 Peter James 71 1 39 Katie Fforde 72 1 40 Mary Higgins Clark 74 1 41 Sophie Kinsella 75 1 42 Lesley Pearce 76, 85 2 43 Val McDermid 77 1 44 Heather Gudenkauf 78 1 45 Sarah Waters 80 1 46 Nick Hornby 81 1 47 Anna Jacobs 82 1 48 Mark Billingham 92 1 49 Mo Hayder 95 1 50 Linwood Barclay 97 1 51 Michael Rosen 98 1

Most popular books loaned from the library Click heading to sort table. Download this data Ranking Title Contributor Publisher Year 1 The lost symbol by Dan Brown Bantam 2009 2 61 hours Lee Child Bantam 2010 3 Private James Patterson Century 2010 4 9th Judgement James Patterson Century 2010 5 Worst case by James Patterson Century 2010 6 Caught Harlan Coben Orion 2010 7 Don't blink James Patterson & Howard Roughan Century 2010 8 The postcard killers : a novel by James Patterson and Liza Marklund Century 2010 9 The complaints by Ian Rankin Orion 2009 10 Worth dying for by Lee Child Bantam 2010 11 The killing place Tess Gerritsen Bantam 2010 12 The girl who kicked the hornets' nest Stieg Larsson ; translated from the Swedish by Reg Keeland MacLehose 2010 13 Swimsuit James Patterson and Maxine Paetro Century 2009 14 Sister by Rosamund Lupton Piatkus 2010 15 The girl with the dragon tattoo Stieg Larsson ; translated from the Swedish by Reg Keeland MacLehose 2008 16 Nine dragons Michael Connelly Orion 2009 17 Big girl : a novel Danielle Steel Bantam 2010 18 I, Alex Cross by James Patterson Century 2009 19 Nine dragons by Michael Connelly Orion 2010 20 The burning wire by Jeffery Deaver Hodder & Stoughton 2010 21 61 hours Lee Child Bantam 2010 22 The spy Clive Cussler and Justin Scott Michael Joseph 2010 23 The girl who played with fire Stieg Larsson ; translated from the Swedish by Reg Keeland MacLehose 2009 24 Blood brothers Josephine Cox HarperCollins 2010 25 Doors open Ian Rankin Orion 2008 26 Theodore Boone John Grisham Hodder & Stoughton 2010 27 The lost symbol Dan Brown Corgi 2010 28 Hard girls Martina Cole Headline 2009 29 Gone tomorrow Lee Child Bantam 2009 30 Blind fury by Lynda La Plante Simon & Schuster 2010 31 Gruffalo Julia Donaldson ; illustrated by Axel Scheffler Macmillan Children's 1999 32 Broken Karin Slaughter Century 2010 33 Family ties : a novel by Danielle Steel Bantam 2010 34 Play dead by Harlan Coben Orion 2010 35 Deliver us from evil by David Baldacci Macmillan 2010 36 The snowman Jo Nesbo ; translated by Don Bartlett Vintage 2010 37 The return journey Maeve Binchy Orion 2010 38 The other family by Joanna Trollope Doubleday 2010 39 The girl who kicked the hornets' nest Stieg Larsson ; translated from the Swedish by Reg Keeland MacLehose 2009 40 Alex Cross's trial by James Patterson Century 2009 41 Wolf Hall Hilary Mantel Fourth Estate 2009 42 The help Kathryn Stockett Fig Tree 2010 43 The chosen one Sam Bourne Harper 2010 44 A week in December Sebastian Faulks Vintage 2010 45 The choice Susan Lewis Arrow Books 2010 46 I, Alex Cross James Patterson Arrow 2010 47 206 bones Kathy Reichs Arrow 2010 48 Savour the moment by Nora Roberts Piatkus 2010 49 The Search by Nora Roberts Piatkus 2010 50 Picture perfect Jodi Picoult Hodder 2010 51 The return journey : and other stories Maeve Binchy Orion 2009 52 House rules Jodi Picoult Hodder & Stoughton 2010 53 The Scarpetta factor Patricia Cornwell Sphere 2010 54 Girl missing Tess Gerritsen Bantam 2009 55 Swimsuit James Patterson and Maxine Paetro Arrow 2010 56 In time for Christmas Katie Flynn Arrow 2009 57 Heading home Katie Flynn Arrow 2010 58 Aliens love underpants! Claire Freedman and Ben Cort Simon & Schuster Childre> 2007 59 Minding Frankie Maeve Binchy Orion 2010 60 Bad boy by Peter Robinson Hodder & Stoughton 2010 61 The reversal Michael Connelly Orion 2010 62 Horrid Henry and the abominable snowman Francesca Simon ; illustrated by Tony Ross Orion Children's 2007 63 The legacy Katherine Webb Orion 2010 64 The family Martina Cole Headline 2010 65 Sacred hearts Sarah Dunant Virago 2010 66 Deliver us from evil David Baldacci Pan 2010 67 You've been warned James Patterson and Howard Roughan Headline 2007 68 8th confession by James Patterson Century 2009 69 The silent sea Clive Cussler with Jack du Brul Michael Joseph 2010 70 Alex Cross's trial James Patterson & Richard Dilallo Arrow 2010 71 Dead like you Peter James Pan 2010 72 A perfect proposal by Katie Fforde Century 2010 73 Silent scream Lynda La Plante Pocket 2010 74 The shadow of your smile by Mary Higgins Clark Simon & Schuster 2010 75 Twenties girl Sophie Kinsella Black Swan 2010 76 Stolen Lesley Pearse Michael Joseph 2010 77 Fever of the bone Val McDermid Sphere 2010 78 The weight of silence Heather Gudenkauf Mira 2010 79 Southern lights Danielle Steel Bantam 2009 80 The little stranger Sarah Waters Virago 2010 81 Juliet, naked Nick Hornby Viking 2009 82 Beyond the sunset by Anna Jacobs Hodder & Stoughton 2010 83 Run for your life by James Patterson Century 2009 84 8th confession James Patterson Arrow 2010 85 Stolen Lesley Pearse Penguin 2010 86 True blue David Baldacci Pan Books 2010 87 The quickie James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge Headline 2007 88 Blood brothers Josephine Cox Harper 2010 89 Hard girls Martina Cole Headline 2010 90 The Scarpetta factor Patricia Cornwell Little Brown 2009 91 Gone tomorrow Lee Child Bantam 2010 92 Bloodline Mark Billingham Sphere 2010 93 The scarecrow Michael Connelly Orion 2010 94 Wolf Hall Hilary Mantel Fourth Estate 2010 95 Gone Mo Hayder Bantam 2010 96 Horrid Henry and the football fiend Francesca Simon ; illustrated by Tony Ross Orion Children's 2006 97 Fear the worst Linwood Barclay Orion 2010 98 We're going on a bear hunt Michael Rosen + ill Helen Oxenbury Walker 1989 99 True blue by David Baldacci Macmillan 2009 100 Sail James Patterson Century 2008 101 The book of tomorrow Cecelia Ahern Harper 2010 102 Heart and soul Maeve Binchy Orion 2008 103 The monster in the box Ruth Rendell Hutchinson 2009 104 Worst case James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge Arrow 2010 105 A change in altitude Anita Shreve Abacus 2010 106 Picture perfect Jodi Picoult Hodder & Stoughton 2009 107 Girl missing by Tess Gerritsen Bantam 2009 108 Long time coming Robert Goddard Corgi 2010 109 The confession by John Grisham Century 2010 110 The scarecrow Michael Connelly Orion 2009 111 Nothing to lose Lee Child Bantam 2008 112 Ellis Island Kate Kerrigan Pan 2009 113 Little darlings by Jacqueline Wilson Doubleday Children's 2010 114 Cross fire James Patterson Century 2010 115 Crossfire Dick Francis and Felix Francis Michael Joseph 2010 116 Born bad Josephine Cox Harper 2009 117 Cross Country by James Patterson Century 2008 118 Lost river by Stephen Booth HarperCollins 2010 119 Genesis Karin Slaughter Arrow 2010 120 The winter ghosts Kate Mosse Orion 2010 121 A week in December Sebastian Faulks Hutchinson 2009 122 Play dead by Harlan Coben Orion 2010 123 Tigerlily's orchids Ruth Rendell Hutchinson 2010 124 206 bones Kathy Reichs William Heinemann 2009 125 Long lost Harlan Coben Orion 2010 126 The price of love Peter Robinson Hodder & Stoughton 2009 127 The man who disappeared by Clare Morrall Sceptre 2010 128 Long time coming by Robert Goddard Bantam 2010 129 Even money Dick Francis and Felix Francis Michael Joseph 2009 130 Her fearful symmetry Audrey Niffenegger Vintage 2010 131 One day at a time Danielle Steel Corgi 2010 132 From the dead Mark Billingham Little Brown 2010 133 The Complaints Rankin, Ian Orion Publishing Co 2010 134 Fear the worst Linwood Barclay Orion 2010 135 Cross country James Patterson Arrow 2009 136 In time for Christmas Katie Flynn Arrow Books 2009 137 Where the wild things are story and pictures Maurice Sendak Red Fox 2000 138 At home : an informal history of private life Bill Bryson Doubleday 2010 139 Dead like you by Peter James Macmillan 2010 140 The red queen by Philippa Gregory Simon & Schuster 2010 141 Spartan gold Clive Cussler with Grant Blackwood Michael Joseph 2010 142 Cutting for stone Abraham Verghese Vintage 2009 143 The collaborator Gerald Seymour Hodder 2010 144 The queen of new beginnings Erica James Orion 2010 145 Play to kill PJ Tracy Michael Joseph 2010 146 Port mortuary Patricia Cornwell Little Brown 2010 147 War torn by Andy McNab with Kym Jordan Bantam 2010 148 Southern lights Danielle Steel Corgi 2010 149 Silent scream Lynda La Plante Simon & Schuster 2009 150 Once in a lifetime Cathy Kelly HarperCollins 2009 151 Bloodline by Mark Billingham Little Brown 2009 152 The first rule by Robert Crais Orion 2010 153 The queen of new beginnings Erica James Orion 2010 154 Fever of the bone by Val McDermid Little Brown 2009 155 Past imperfect Julian Fellowes Phoenix 2009 156 7th heaven James Patterson with Maxine Paetro Century 2008 157 Eat your peas Kes Gray [text] & Nick Sharratt [ill] Red Fox 2001 158 A mistletoe kiss Katie Flynn Arrow 2010 159 Horrid Henry robs the bank Francesca Simon ; illustrated by Tony Ross Orion Children's 2008 160 Mortal remains Kathy Reichs Heinemann 2010 161 The perfect man by Sheila O'Flanagan Headline Review 2010 162 The white queen Philippa Gregory Pocket 2010 163 This body of death Elizabeth George Hodder & Stoughton 2010 164 Ford County : stories John Grisham Century 2009 165 The cobra Frederick Forsyth Bantam 2010 166 The brass verdict Michael Connelly Orion 2008 167 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows J.K. Rowling Bloomsbury Publishing PLC 2007 168 The other family Joanna Trollope Black Swan 2010 169 Breaking dawn Stephenie Meyer Atom 2008 170 The white queen by Philippa Gregory Simon & Schuster 2009 171 Licence to dream Anna Jacobs Severn House 2010 172 Don't tell Karen Rose Headline 2010 173 Long lost Harlan Coben Orion 2009 174 A good woman Danielle Steel Corgi 2009 175 Hetty Feather Jacqueline Wilson Doubleday Children's 2009 176 Through rose-coloured glasses Anne Baker Headline 2009 177 Take a chance on me by Jill Mansell Headline Review 2010 178 Run for your life James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge Arrow 2009 179 Rough justice Stephen Leather Hodder & Stoughton 2010 180 The associate John Grisham Century 2009 181 A mistletoe kiss by Katie Flynn Arrow 2010 182 I can see you Karen Rose Headline 2010 183 Sail James Patterson & Howard Roughan Arrow 2009 184 Leaving the world Douglas Kennedy Arrow 2010 185 The love verb Jane Green Michael Joseph 2010 186 The 6th target James Patterson and Maxine Paetro Headline 2007 187 A secret in the family Lyn Andrews Headline 2009 188 Born bad Josephine Cox HarperCollins Pub. 2009 189 The last 10 seconds Simon Kernick Corgi 2010 190 Legacy Danielle Steel Bantam Press 2010 191 Last night at Chateau Marmont by Lauren Weisberger Harper 2010 192 Stick man by Julia Donaldson ; illustrated by Axel Scheffler Alison Green 2008 193 Dark blood by Stuart MacBride HarperCollins 2010 194 Don't look twice by Andrew Gross Harper 2009 195 This year it will be different Maeve Binchy Orion 2007 196 Cherry Tree Lane Anna Jacobs Allison & Busby 2010 197 Soldier girl by Annie Murray Pan 2010 198 Found wanting Robert Goddard Corgi 2009 199 Keeping the dead Tess Gerritsen Bantam 2008 200 The business Martina Cole Headline 2008 201 Matters of the heart Danielle Steel Bantam 2009 202 Horrid Henry wakes the dead Francesca Simon ; illustrated by Tony Ross Orion Children's 2009 203 The wolf at the door Jack Higgins HarperCollins 2009 204 Whispers of love Rosie Harris Arrow 2010 205 Martha's journey by Maureen Lee Orion 2010 206 Roadside crosses Jeffery Deaver Hodder 2010 207 Shark in the park! Nick Sharratt David Fickling 2007 208 The killing place Tess Gerritsen Bantam 2011 209 The brightest star in the sky Marian Keyes Michael Joseph 2009 210 All the colours of darkness Peter Robinson Hodder & Stoughton 2008 211 Peace at last Jill Murphy Macmillan Children's 2007 212 Horrid Henry and the bogey babysitter Francesca Simon: ill Tony Ross Dolphin 2002 213 Where's Spot? Eric Hill Puffin 1983 214 The fort by Bernard Cornwell HarperCollins 2010 215 And thereby hangs a tale Jeffrey Archer Macmillan 2010 216 Heartstone by C J Sansom Mantle 2010 217 The woodcutter Reginald Hill HarperCollins 2010 218 Reckless Andrew Gross Harper 2010 219 Kiss of evil Richard Montanari Arrow 2009 220 When will there be good news? Kate Atkinson Black Swan 2009 221 Room by Emma Donoghue Picador 2010 222 Started early, took my dog Kate Atkinson Doubleday 2010 223 Keeping the dead Tess Gerritsen Bantam 2009 224 Complicit Nicci French Michael Joseph 2009 225 The wrecker Clive Cussler and Justin Scott Michael Joseph 2009 226 Girl Friday Jane Green Michael Joseph 2010 227 Exit wound Andy McNab Corgi 2010 228 The last ten seconds Simon Kernick Bantam 2010 229 Never look away Linwood Barclay Orion 2010 230 House rules Jodi Picoult Hodder 2010 231 The last child John Hart John Murray 2010 232 Roadside crosses Jeffery Deaver Hodder & Stoughton 2009 233 Exit wound Andy McNab Bantam 2009 234 Tick tock by James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge Century 2011 235 Skin Mo Hayder Bantam 2009 236 The Judas gate Jack Higgins HarperCollins 2010 237 Folly Alan Titchmarsh Hodder & Stoughton 2008 238 Edge Jeffery Deaver Hodder & Stoughton 2010 239 The overlook Michael Connelly Orion 2007 240 No time for goodbye Linwood Barclay Orion 2008 241 Horrid Henry meets the Queen Francesca Simon ; illustrated by Tony Ross Orion 2004 242 Handle with care Jodi Picoult Hodder Paperbacks 2009 243 The bodies left behind Jeffery Deaver Hodder 2009 244 The last straw by Jeff Kinney Puffin 2009 245 Solar Ian McEwan Jonathan Cape 2010 246 The associate John Grisham Arrow 2009 247 Silent scream Karen Rose Headline 2010 248 The long song Andrea Levy Headline Review 2010 249 Genesis Karin Slaughter Century 2009 250 A darker domain by Val McDermid HarperCollins 2008

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