"Thrilling Tales: A Story Time for Grown-ups" is comprised of gripping short stories for a grown-up audience that are expertly read aloud from 12:05 p.m. to 12:50 p.m. on select Mondays of the month at The Seattle Public Library, Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave., Level 1, Microsoft Auditorium, 206-386-4636 .

Library programs are free and open to the public. Registration is not required. Parking is available in the Central Library garage at the regular rates. Brown bag lunches and knitting are welcome. Doors open at 11:40 a.m. Stories start at 12:05 p.m. and are finished no later than 12:50 p.m.

This month's stories will include:

12:05 p.m. to 12:50 p.m. Monday, May 1 - "Dead Man" by James M. Cain. They called him "Lucky," but this hobo's luck just ran out. Classic 1930s noir.


12:05 p.m. to 12:50 p.m. Monday, May 15 - "Dead Men" by David Ely. A serial killer is on the loose, the bodies are piling up and Inspector Bates can't discern any pattern to lead him to the murderer. Yet, the answer is staring him in the face.