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6 Meccas for Mystery Lovers

These indie mystery bookstores across the country invite you to snoop through their shelves and unleash your inner sleuth.

mysterious bookshop mystery bookstores

Do you love to search through the stacks for your next thrilling case? We know just where to go, gumshoe. From New York to Arizona, these indie mystery bookstores invite you to snoop through their shelves and unleash your inner sleuth.

The Mysterious Bookshop

58 Warren St, New York, NY

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  • Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Book lovers visit the downtown Manhattan shop to ogle floor-to-ceiling shelves of mystery, suspense, espionage, and crime fiction tomes arranged with utmost precision. Adventurous types scurry up ladders to reach their next great read, and curious collectors chat with experts on staff about signed first editions and under-the-radar authors.

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Related: The Richest Crime & Mystery Authors 

Mystery Lovers Books

514 Allegheny River Blvd, Oakmont, PA

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  • Photo Credit: Mystery Lovers Bookshop / Facebook

For the last 24 years, this specialty shop–located in a Pittsburgh suburb–has stocked the latest mystery, crime, and thriller titles. Planning a trip to Pennsylvania in May? Mark your calendar for the shop’s annual award-winning Festival of Mystery, where you can pick up new paperbacks, meet a slew of authors, and win raffle prizes.

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Mystery on Main Street

119 Main St, Brattleboro, VT

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  • Photo Credit: Max Boot / Twitter

As you approach Mystery on Main Street, the Poe-like Raven hovering ahead will assure you you’re in the right place. Although in Vermont, the store is located quite close to the Massachusetts and New Hampshire borders, making it a perfect day trip for anyone in the New England area. Swing by in October for peak foliage and the Brattleboro Literary Festival, a perfect time to experience a mystery and a hike.

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Mystery to Me, 

1863 Monroe St, Madison, WI

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  • Photo Credit: Mystery to Me Facebook

Although Mystery to Me offers a collection of “Something Other Than Mystery”, their focus on mystery is unparalleled. Need a new recommendation? Owner Joanne excels at finding the perfect mystery for each visitor.

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The Poisoned Pen

4014 N Goldwater Blvd, Scottsdale, AZ

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  • Photo Credit: Poisoned Pen / Facebook

With a calendar brimming with more than 200 events a year, the infamous husband and wife-owned store is the number one place for mystery lovers to catch a glimpse of their favorite authors in the Southwest. Eleven book clubs, including British Crime and Historical Mystery, and a wide list of shelved titles cater to every interest.

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Related: The Detection Club: 10 Rules for Writing a Mystery 

Mysterious Galaxy

7051 Clairemont Mesa Blvd, San Diego, CA

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  • Photo Credit: Mysterious Galaxy / Facebook

The Southern California mainstay specializes in a mix of paranormal (sci-fi, fantasy), murder, and suspense. Two locations (San Diego and Redondo Beach) allow for double the in-store author events and secure the shop’s spot at the nation’s most famous Comic-Con.

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Featured photo: Garrett Ziegler / Flickr (CC); Additional photos: Mystery Lovers Bookshop / Facebook; Poisoned Pen / Facebook ; Mysterious Galaxy / Facebook