Did I mention that I was at the Mystery Writers of America’s gala dinner and banquet recently? And that I was a contributor to a book nominated for an Edgar award? Well I
believe perhaps I did. At the event I met the legendary Otto 
Penzler, who was charming and delightful. He is the most knowledgeable and influential person in the crime fiction world, and – he has a specialist mystery bookstore in his house. Or else, he lives in the crime bookshop. Either way, surely this is the secret dream ambition of all mystery fans?I had already planned a trip there, but this made it even more compelling – it is the largest mystery specialist bookstore in the world. It is in the Tribeca district, and is so perfect and so beautiful that I could have spent the whole day there. The staff are friendly and helpful and knowledgeable, and I spent ages talking to them. (I forgot to ask them why it was a bookshop, which I think of as British, rather than a bookstore, which seems more likely in America.)
Of course, I found some books to buy – just a handful, bearing in mind the size of my suitcase.
The one at the top of the post, Fashioned for Murder, seems as though it was actually written for Clothes in Books, and here are some of the others.
The John Dickson Carr was a slight disappointment: I thought ‘oh great I haven’t come across that one before’, but once I started reading it I realized it was actually Seat of the Scornful under its US title of Death Turns the Tables. And that when I blogged on Scornful, I had clearly explained that it had a different name in the US – my memory is not what it was.
But no blame attaches to this wonderful shop, which I hope to visit again many times.
He lives in a bookshop? Swoon . . . And you actually went there. Moira, I am so envious that I am not sure our friendship can survive this . . .
ReplyDeleteI think if I'd written an Ideal Life essay when I was 14, I would have said ' when I grow up I would like to live in a bookshop'. Crime bookshop - even better. Visiting it in New York is the next best thing - I am living the dream! I don't blame you for your envy... you will have to go there...
DeleteOh, lucky, lucky you, Moira! What a wonderful trip that must have been! Thanks for sharing a bit of it with us. I want to live in a bookshop...
ReplyDeleteWe should have a bookshop co-op where we all live together, fighting over the advance copies of our favourite authors!
DeleteOn the top floor, which will of course have skylights and a view.
DeleteYes.Exactly.
DeleteFond memories of The Mysterious Bookshop. Last time I went to New York, I got a first edition of Carr’s Captain Cut-throat. They were very helpful, humouring me as there were both the U.K. and US editions and they helped me check which was published first...
ReplyDeleteThey are so knowledgeable and relaxed, it is a lovely place. To be fair, I didn't ask them about the Carr, it was entirely my own responsibility!
DeleteRrrrr. I hate it when American sellers re-name British books. I've wound up buying a couple of duplicates because I didn't recognize them under the new names.
ReplyDeleteBut that bookstore sounds like a wonderful place to while away an afternoon, or two, or three.
Yes, it is not the first time this has happened to me. And actually, it's not the couple of dollars I resent, it's my thinking I had a great new book to read and it was all-too-familiar!
DeleteJoin us in our bookshop co-op, see comment to Margot above.
I am envious of your book store visit also, Moira. And that book...Fashioned for Murder... does sound ideal for you. I have bought a couple of books from the Kent Murdock series by Coxe because the protagonist is a photographer, but have not tried either of them.
ReplyDeleteOh that's interesting Tracy, I thought the name sounded familiar, but can't see that I have ever read anything by him. I will have to research him further. I love that picture...
DeleteI thought I commented but it apparently didn't stick. Definitely a place to visit if I get to New York. I might have to repeat the trick from my only visit to the US - posting a large box of books back to myself!
ReplyDeleteI know - it was wrenching to leave all those books behind. And, at the Edgars event, publishers were giving away books in their hundreds, there were multiple tables full of stacks of them, it broke my heart to confine myself to a handful!
DeleteMoira: You are incredibly disciplined. I have a hard time restraining myself in mystery bookstores. To have publishers giving away books would have been irresistible. I would have been searching for bags or boxes to haul them away. We might have had to buy another suitcase. It would be cheaper to pay for a suitcase and baggage surcharge then to mail a box of books home to Canada.
ReplyDeleteI've been regretting it ever since, thinking why didn't I just grab, and then buy, and find a way to get the books home later!
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