KATE MATTES: R.I.P.

From Hallie Ephron comes the sad news of the passing of Kate Mattes, proprietor of Kate's Mystery Books in Cambridge, MA, and a big supporter of mysteries. I was privileged to meet her several times at Malice Domestic and Bouchercon. And, as I remember, she wanted to put in a Boston bid for Bcon, but couldn't find the right venue. That was all a long time ago. I will add to this post and link to tributes as they come in.

From Hallie Ephron on Facebook:

Sad news: Kate Mattes died yesterday. The news comes from her sister Emily McAdoo via Thomas Lyons: "Kate passed away yesterday in Vermont. It was a sudden cardiac event, and she had been in poor health and getting weaker all along." A memorial/reflection will be planned.)

Here's a bit from a blog I wrote when the bookstore closed: "Kate’s Mystery Books closed its doors after more than 20 years as New England’s premier mystery bookstore. Scores of authors and readers showed up to help Kate pack up, as in true Kate’s style she threw a packing party. It was as hard to get to an empty packing box as it was to get to the wine at one of her famous Xmas parties. I scored a cat at the yard sale.

"Every New England mystery author I know launches his or her books at Kate’s, and looking at the table of signed books (which we were specifically told NOT to pack), it was clear how Kate’s has been a stopping point for the crème de la crème of crime fiction writers. Just a few of the megastars I’ve met at Kate’s: Sue Grafton, Sarah Paretsky, Robert B. Parker, Dennis Lehane, Katherine Hall Page, Jane Langton...."