Ian Richardson & Ashleigh McKoy
As a newer addition to the Hopkinton community, Ian works in both the Human Resources and Town Clerk departments. In this position, no two days are the same as he supports day-to-day personnel functions, onboarding, and administrative processes on the HR side while also assisting with official town records, licensing, elections, and resident services in the Town Clerk’s office. This work reflects a strong commitment to helping others and building community through ensuring meaningful support for residents and town employees alike.
When asked to serve as a guest librarian, Ian was excited to share some of his favorite recommendations, but knew he wanted to include his fiancée, Ashleigh, since they read nearly everything together. Together, they love getting lost in a good story, and while they occasionally branch out into other genres, they always find themselves returning to horror. They are drawn to stories that stay with you long after you finish them, whether they’re unsettling, emotional, creepy, or oddly captivating. If they found themselves thinking or debating about a book after it’s finished, it made its way onto their list! They love stories that make the reader feel something and give things to talk about long after the last chapter.
Although they physically read a fair amount, they are primarily audiobooks fans as it allows them to continue the story without stopping daily tasks. They are always sharing recommendations and looking for books that are atmospheric, memorable, and impossible to put down. Horror has always been their favorite genre because the best stories can be scary, emotional, and deeply human all at the same time.
Ian and Ashleigh recommend:
- Bazterrica, Augustina. Tender is the Flesh
- Brom, Gerald. Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery
- Cassidy, Nat. Mary: An Awakening of Terror
- Fanu, Joseph Sheridan Le. Carmilla
- Hendrix, Grady. The Final Girl Support Group
- Hendrix, Grady. How to Sell a Haunted House
- Hill, Joe. 20th Century Ghosts (especially The Black Phone)
- Jackson, Shirley. We Have Always Lived in the Castle
- King, Stephen. Salem’s Lot
- Kingfisher, T. What Moves the Dead
- Mayberry, Jonathan. Rot & Ruin
- Malerman, Josh. Incidents Around the House
- Moreno-Garcia. Silvia. Mexican Gothic