Mystery Bookstore News

Great Bookstore News! 

From Shelf Awareness:

1. Once Upon a Crime, the Minneapolis, MN mystery bookstore, has been sold. The new owners, Dennis Abraham and Meg King-Abraham, will be the fourth owners of the store and take possession on April 1.

Pat Frovarp and Gary Shulze, who bought the store in 2002, put it up for sale last July. In an e-mail, Shulze commented: "We naturally have mixed emotions. We'll miss the store, but plan to be there on a regular basis for several months for training purposes. Just thinking about all the details and bookselling wisdom we need to provide and impart makes our heads spin. How did we do this for nearly 13 years?"

Abraham is an operations manager at Medtronic, and King-Abraham teaches elementary technology in St. Paul. Devin Abraham, their daughter, will be the primary staff. A University of Wisconsin graduate, she is also a voracious reader.

2. Seattle Mystery Bookshop's campaign to raise $50,000 to "get to a stable financial footing" has succeeded, raising $51,852 by its deadline yesterday  (and it's higher today!).

On the store's GoFundMe page, "the crew" wrote: "We're humbled and touched and completely in awe of your kindness, generosity and support. There really are no words to convey how grateful we truly are."

The money will go toward building inventory, paying outstanding bills and "making sure the rent is completely paid off."

Borderlands Books, San Francisco

Borderlands Books (San Francisco's premiere science fiction, fantasy and horror specialty bookstore) announces its new mystery section.  Borderlands does not believe in doing anything by half measures, and the mystery section is no exception. The store has been completely rearranged and many additional shelves have been added to accommodate a serious foray into this new genre.

Alan Beatts, the owner, commented that, "Mysteries are a perfect match to our existing specialties and to our customers.  Many readers and authors of science fiction, fantasy and horror are enthusiastic about mysteries and crime fiction.  I'm really looking forward to introducing our existing customers to some of my favorite authors as well as meeting all the new customers who'll be coming in."

The new mystery section has a comprehensive selection of in-print hardcover, trade paperback and mass market books.  From classics to brand new titles, from cozies to crime fiction, Borderlands has it all. Borderlands' knowledgeable staff of booksellers is eager to begin recommending their favorite mysteries -- both to Borderlands current customers, and to the many under-served mystery fans throughout the Bay Area.  For the first time since the closure of the San Mateo's renowned M is for Mystery in 2011, the San Francisco peninsula has a store dedicated to mysteries.

About the company:  Borderlands Books is one of the world's largest science fiction, fantasy and horror specialty bookstores.  Since 1997 Alan Beatts and his staff have built an outstanding reputation throughout the US and overseas for their encyclopedic knowledge, outstanding customer service, and participation in numerous events including SF in SF, San Francisco's LitQuake festival, the World Fantasy Convention (which honored Mr. Beatts and the company's General Manager, Jude Feldman, with a nomination for the World Fantasy Award in 2008) and many others.  In 2009 Borderlands Books opened a 1500 square-foot cafe next door which has been a hit with existing customers as well as providing an unequaled venue for author appearances and special events.

Borderlands Books, 866 Valencia St., San Francisco  CA 94110
415 824-8203

Mysteries to Die For to Close

After 19 years in business, Mysteries to Die For in Thousand Oaks, CA will close this Saturday. Alan Chisholm, who has owned the small bookshop since 2008, told the Ventura County Star that customer responses to news of the impending closure "really took me by surprise. This store stirs up a lot of feelings because this is where they go to meet their need."

He cited the financial toll of dwindling sales and the cost of necessary improvements among factors leading to his decision. "I always said I'd do this as long as I don't lose money," he said. "I don't know how to keep it going."

Posted on the Mysteries to Die For Bookstore website:

Mysteries to Die For is closing after a long and wonderful run of nineteen years. 

Thanks to all of you who have graced the store with your attendance and all of those special mail order customers who have supported the store over the years. 

We are humbled and appreciative of the countless e-mails, phone calls, and letters we have received in response to the news. 

The last day of business will be Saturday, July 28. 

Good-bye and Good Luck to all of you.

Take Your Child to a Bookstore Day: Make it a Mystery Bookstore

Today is National Take Your Child to a Bookstore Day, and for me that means a mystery bookstore! If you can't make it to a Mystery Bookstore, take your child to an independent bookstore.

Mystery Readers Journal has a great List of Mystery Bookstores around the World arranged by state and country. Let me know if I've forgotten one of your favorites or if the list needs updating!


Have a great Day at the Bookstore! Of course, any day at a bookstore is a great day. Take your Children!

Photo: Chris Grabenstein, children's (and adult) mystery author, at Aunt Agatha's Mystery Bookstore in Ann Arbor, MI