I have a constant struggle when selecting mystery novels. I have read so many of them at this point, and my taste in novels is pretty consistent. As a result, oftentimes i find myself perusing the mystery department at Duane Reade, or Barnes and Nobles, and selecting books that seem intriguing. After I pay and go home, I will eagerly settle in to read my new book, only to discover that I have already read this particular novel! I guess because I read at least 2 or 3 a week, sometimes more, they all meld together and I forget about some. 

The disappointment I feel when things like this happen is so intense. I was excited to read THAT particular book, but now that I read the first couple of pages the entire plot has come back to me and the story is no longer fun. I will have to put aside my desire to read for the day and revisit the bookstore another time. 

After making this mistake more times than I would care to admit, i always read the first few pages in the store to make sure I don't already own the book. However, I have to wonder if this is a larger problem within the mystery novel industry, or if it is my own personal plight. Are all the mystery novels so similar in plot that they are forgettable? Or do i simply read too much of the same genre to really appreciate it anymore?