Hilary Davidson - Crime Readers Caught Reading Crime...

...in an indie bookstore.

As I sit here writing this today's reader is attending the Ellis Awards Banquet in British Columbia. Hilary Davidson's THE DAMAGE DONE was nominated for the best first novel Ellis Award and I'm crossing fingers and toes that she walks away with the skeleton.

It is my great pleasure to finish up this year's Get Caught Reading project with an author I admire and a person I in awe of.

Hilary is caught here at the BookHampton and here's what she has to say about the store:

Thanks to Linda Fairstein, I was lucky enough to be invited to BookHampton for the store’s annual “Mayhem at BookHampton” book festival. The store on East Hampton’s Main Street is stunning, but what impressed me most was the thoughtful staff, who seem to have read just about everything on their shelves and make wonderful recommendations. Linda Fairstein moderated a panel with me, Karen Bergreen (author of FOLLOWING POLLY), and Cara Hoffman (author of SO MUCH PRETTY) and I now want to read both of their books based on Linda’s high praise of them!

Sending good vibes up North (and West from me). Many thanks to Hilary for giving us a beautiful send off on the series.

Happy Reading!

Teresa Krueger - Crime Readers Caught Reading Crime...

...in and indie bookstore.

We're winding down this year's "caught reading" series. Today and tomorrow will be the final posts.

Today I welcome Teresa from Teresa's Reading Corner. Her favorite indie bookstore is Old Firehouse Books, where the slogan is "Saving the World One Book at a Time" and the building is actually an old historic firehouse! Old Firehouse Books is located in Fort Collins, Colorado. I love that we've had stores from all over the country represented this month! Who's ready for a bookstore tour of the U.S?

As for the book Teresa's been caught reading, she's indulging in Alexander McCall Smith's most recent No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency novel, The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party.

Many thanks to Teresa for hangin' out with us and being part of the "caught reading" fun! Tune in tomorrow for a fabulous grand finale!

Alafair Burke? - Crime Readers Caught Reading Crime...

...in an indie bookstore.

In April during Edgar's Week there was some SERIOUS crime fiction writing power hanging out at The Mysterious Bookshop. Ruth Jordan, one of the most amazing women I know on this planet, caught some of that writing power reading.

Yes! It's Alafair Burke and Michael Connelly. They are both checking out Michael's latest, THE FIFTH WITNESS.

However, Alafair didn't manage to hang on to that book very long. Look who else is enthralled in a little Mickey Haller, The Duffer!

And speaking of The Duffer, today kicks off Alafair Burke's Duffer Awards. I've been so psyched for these to start and I hope you'll check them out over at her website. Alafair says about these awards:

"Each day we will post a new poll featuring two beloved characters nominated for very, very serious award categories like Most Likely to Win a Hot Dog Eating Contest and Best Shoes. Post a comment beneath your vote, and you'll automatically be entered to win weekly prizes including signed copies of my books and $50 gift certificates to your favorite bookseller."

I also just found out that you can get a special ebook of ANGEL'S TIP right now for $1.99. So if you've been on the fence about reading Alafair...first, WHY? second, now you can take advantage of this great offer and not make a great investment. I will warn you that you'll be hooked after you try. For Nook owners, you can click here. For Kindle owners click here. If I find other links I'll share them too. You all know me. I adore Alafair's work and recommend it to so many people. This is a steal; take advantage of it. I have no idea what the time frame on the offer is, though. And then go buy a book from an indie store, please!

Happy Reading!

Linda Fairstein - Crime Readers Caught Reading Crime...

...in an indie bookstore.

I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend. I have a lot to share from my week at BEA and I'm organizing that all up for you, but first I have a few crime readers left to share with you. And while we're going to run into June, I think these are readers well worth sharing. So let's not waste any time.

Many of you who read here often know that I credit Linda Fairstein as one of the authors who hooked me on crime fiction. I thought of Linda regularly as I walked through New York City last week. Her books just bring the city alive for those of us who don't live there. Her most recent novel is SILENT MERCY.  This year I was finally able to meet her in person, and I know that Hilary Davidson is an author Linda is highly recommending to everyone, so I find it especially fitting that she is caught reading Hilary's debut, THE DAMAGE DONE at BookHampton.

Linda and Hilary are truly two of the most charming women I know. I'm very pleased to have them be a part of this feature. What have YOU been caught reading lately?

Alan Orloff - Crime Readers Caught Reading Crime...

...in an indie bookstore.

Today's crime reader/writer is also a regular reader here at the blog. I'm always so flattered to hear that. Alan Orloff made quite a splash last year with his debut novel, DIAMONDS FOR THE DEAD, which was nominated for an Agatha Award.  This year he's kicked off a new series with his book KILLER ROUTINE.

But today Alan's kicking back at a new bookstore with an old friend.

There’s a new indie bookstore in North Arlington, VA, called One More Page Books, and it’s a welcome newcomer to the scene. Led by owner Eileen McGervey, the entire staff is friendly and fun-loving, and ready to recommend a great book. And what goes well with books? Wine and chocolate, of course, both carried by the store (yes, they stock bacon chocolate!). They’ve been very supportive to the local mystery community and really know how to sponsor a great author event. I had a tough choice to make, but I finally settled on Edge by master storyteller Jeffery Deaver. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a book to read…

Shhhh, Alan's reading! So now would be a good time for you to read as well! Many thanks to Alan for participating with us this month and sharing a great bookstore as well as a great author.

Hope everyone's having a great reading week. Happy Reading.

Molly Weston - Crime Readers Caught Reading Crime...

...in an indie bookstore.

Today I welcome a mystery reader who is an invaluable part of the community...she's a media escort. In other words, she makes sure our authors get to their appearances. She's often setting up those appearances, too. Molly Weston is the blogger at Meritorious Mysteries and she reads in the area of 200 mysteries a year. - I'm so jealous!

I'm tickled pink to have Molly join in the indie bookstore love today:

Quail Ridge Books and Music has been in Raleigh for more than 20 years. I've had a close relationship with the owner, Nancy Olson, for many of those years and have enjoyed traveling to mystery conferences with her. The store is large, the staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and the chairs comfy.

I was lucky to get an early copy of Sarah Shaber's Louise's War just out from Severn House. This World War II mystery features young widow Louise Pearlie, just arrived in Washington and working as a clerk for the OSS. When she recognizes the name of a college friend while filing documents, Louise is drawn into a deadly situation.

Sarah is an incredible writer and I hope this will be the first of many in this World War II series. I know she's already hard at work on the next. Why can't our favorite authors write as fast as we can read?

That's a great question! However, I do need the time to read everything that comes out, so...

Thank you Molly, for taking time to show some love to Quail Ridge Books and Music as well as Sarah Shaber. So thrilled to have you join in the fun.

Happy Reading everyone!

Bill Cameron - Crime Readers Caught Reading Crime...

...in an indie bookstore.

Today we have another crime writing Bill. This one is on the opposite side of the country from Bill Loehfelm. Bill Cameron, author of the Skin Kadash series, has a new book coming out soon. How does he have time to be reading in an indie store? Shouldn't he be out promoting or something? Just kidding. But not about the new book. Bill's next installment in the Skin Kadash series is COUNTY LINE and is out next month.

In the meantime we have this OUTSTANDING picture of him from Murder by the Book in Portland, Oregon.

Here I am at Murder by the Book, Portland, Oregon, reading One Was A Soldier by Julia Spencer-Fleming. Julia's work is always wonderful, but she's really outdone herself with this one. I was chatting with Jean, one of the owners of Murder by the Book, and we agreed One Was A Soldier is one of Julia's best. Thoughtful, engrossing from the first page, with layers upon layers of intrigue and humanity. I love it!

Murder by the Book is one of my all-time favorite bookstores. In the mystery community, we have been blessed with some truly amazing shops (including other great "Murder by the Books" in other cities). Portland's MBTB is run by some of the smartest, most fun, and funny women in the bookselling biz. They've taken great care of me during my still young career, and every other writer I know who's visited feels the same way. When you come to Portland, you have to include Murder by the Book in your itinerary.

I was just commenting the other day how much I've enjoyed this series because I've been able to discover so many new indie bookstores. The love everyone has shown them has been inspiring. Thanks so much to Bill for giving us a glimpse of Murder by the Book, Portland.

I think it's a great time to show your indie store how much you appreciate them. Go forth and find a new book, then Happy Reading!

Bill Loehfelm - Crime Readers Caught Reading Crime...

...in an indie bookstore.

I get to welcome a new face to Jen's Book Thoughts with today's crime reader/writer. Bill Loehfelm, author of THE DEVIL SHE KNOWS, was caught hanging out at the Garden District Book Shop in New Orleans. When we cornered Bill, this is what he had to say for himself:

Jason Goodwin's Inspector Yashim series, set in Ottoman era Istanbul, is a favorite of my wife and I. We're excited about the recently released, AN EVIL EYE, the fourth in the series. We love Goodwin's work for its portrait of the inelegant, mystical, and sensual Turkish city as much as for Yashim's adventures. We buy Jason's books, and all the rest of our books, at the Garden District Book Shop, only a short walk from our home in the neighborhood. Britton, Ted, Amy, and the crew couldn't be more knowledgeable and are extremely supportive of local writers, large or small. 

My many thanks to Bill for being a great sport and hanging out with us. He's introduced me to a book, an author and a bookstore I was unaware of. I think he should come around more often! I don't know if you can see Bill's shirt very well in this picture here, but it's fantastic. It's the bookstore's shirt, with signatures all over it and the tag line to the store is "New Orleans Signature Bookstore." I totally want one!

I'm in NYC this week for BEA, so feel free to talk amongst yourselves. I'll be tweeting when I can and I plan to bring back a lot of fun pictures and stories. Happy Reading!

Kay Stewart - Crime Readers Caught Reading Crime...

...at an indie bookstore.

Today we conclude our Poisoned Pen love fest with a devotedly regular reader here at Jen's Book Thoughts. Kay Stewart, blogger at My Random Acts of Reading, not only visits regularly, she also stops to chat regularly. So, I am over the moon that Cathy Cole from Kittling Books caught Kay reading for this project! Here's what Kay had to say about Poisoned Pen and her choice of books:

I'm sitting in one of my favorite places in the world - The Poisoned Pen Bookstore in Scottsdale, AZ. Unfortunately, the only time I can have this pleasure is when my husband and I are on vacation, as we live in Austin, TX. Is it crazy to say that I plan some of my vacations around author events and mystery shopping? On this visit, I'm dipping into Donis Casey's latest Alafair Tucker book, Crying Blood. If you haven't read this historical mystery series, set in early 20th century Oklahoma, pick up the first one soon. It has a great title, The Old Buzzard Had It Coming. Crying Blood is very special because we get to know more about Alafair's husband, Shaw Tucker, and his background including an unsolved mystery. And, if you haven't visited the Poisoned Pen Bookstore, get thee to AZ quickly and see what you've been missing. Barbara Peters and her staff have a wonderful setting in which to display the vast amount of mysteries they carry. Specializing in great author events, hard to find British mysteries, and signed first editions, a person could spend hours just scanning the shelves for treasures. Another treat on this trip, meeting and visiting with Cathy from Kittling: Books. Cathy graciously took my picture and I thank her for that. We both had a successful treasure hunt in the Poisoned Pen and we had the bulging book bags to prove it!

Well Kay, when I went to New York City last month, we visited three different bookstores and when I was in Houston in February I finally got to visit Murder by the Book, so I wouldn't say you're crazy to plan your vacations that way.  I'm hoping that one day soon I'll be in Arizona visiting Lesa Holstine and we can visit Poisoned Pen together. Very glad you got to experience this bookstore trip with Cathy. Thanks for sharing the fun!

Next week I'll be in New York for BEA. I plan to still have readers caught reading while I'm out of town, so be sure to check back!

Happy Reading!

Patrick Millikin - Crime Readers Caught Reading Crime...

...at an indie bookstore.

Patrick Millikin is not only a crime reader, he is also a crime seller! Even though he's supposed to be managing The Poisoned Pen, he seems to have found some time to sneak away and work on Craig McDonald's latest in the Hector Lassiter series, ONE TRUE SENTENCE.

The Poisoned Pen is pretty important to Patrick. According to his staff profile he was a "literary snob" before his position at this renowned indie introduced him to crime fiction. He says, "I devoured these books...like the flea that found its dog, and I've never looked back since." See the difference an indie bookstore can make?

Check in tomorrow for our final fan of The Poisoned Pen Bookstore!

Keith Rawson - Crime Readers Caught Reading Crime...

...at an indie bookstore.

Today we continue the indie love for The Poisoned Pen Bookstore in Scottsdale Arizona. Keith Rawson, writer/editor/publisher/social media guru, takes some time out from his many different responsibilities to indulge in Don Winslow's SATORI, a prequel to Trevanian's SHIBUMI. I know I, for one, have been singing the praises of this book all year. I'm not surprised Keith is enjoying it as well.

Stop back tomorrow and see who else found a corner of The Poisoned Pen to read in.

Joe Lansdale - Crime Readers Caught Reading Crime...

...at an indie bookstore.

I received quite a bit of indie love for The Poisoned Pen in Scottsdale, Arizona, so this week will be a bit of a hat tip to them. It's also a great example of the array of book lovers who show up in the store.

Our first reader caught at The Poisoned Pen this week is the multi-talented, multi-award-winning author Joe R. Lansdale who Keith Rawson caught reading CRIMES IN SOUTHERN INDIANA by Frank Bill.

Check out who else we find visiting The Poisoned Pen tomorrow...
 

Crime Readers Caught Reading Crime...

...at an indie bookstore.

Jennifer Lawrence is a fellow blogger at Jenn's Bookshelves and a fellow crime fiction fan. So I am thrilled to have caught her reading crime at her favorite indie bookstore, One More Page Books, in Arlington Virginia.

Jenn has been "caught reading" A Drop of the Hard Stuff by Lawrence Block in One More Page Books and More in Arlington, VA.  One More Page is Jenn's second home, just opened after the beginning of the year.  In addition to books, the store sells wine, chocolate & coffee, a combination impossible to pass up! Probably not the best location for Scuder who is attempting to achieve the twelve steps toward sobriety! We'll pull him away from the wine & serve him a nice strong cup of Fair Trade coffee instead!

O.k., I'm putting this store on my list to visit! Thanks to Jenn for participating and celebrating crime fiction and indie bookstores with us this month.

Check back and see who we catch next. You never know who might show up here...

Happy Reading!

Sara J. Henry - Crime Readers Caught Reading Crime...

...at an indie bookstore.

Ah ha! Today we've caught Sara J. Henry deep in a book at her indie bookstore of choice, Mysteries & More in Nashville, Tennessee. Sara's debut novel, LEARNING TO SWIM, came out earlier this year. In her shady spot at Mysteries & More, Sara's enjoying HAILEY'S WAR by Jodi Compton. This is what Sara has to say about book and bookstore:

I love this book partly for the crisp, seamless writing and partly for the kick-ass heroine with a deep internal struggle who also happens to ride a bicycle, and am greatly looking forward to the sequel, Thieves Get Rich, Saints Get Shot, coming out in July. And I love Mysteries & More because I adore the owners, Greg and Mary Bruss, who always have time to chat and have tea or coffee, and their delightful, comfortable, cozy bookstore.

Many thanks to Sara and her photographer, Christine McCann. This beautiful sunny day setting is making me very envious. I'm ready to be reading out on MY porch!

Check back for more in the Crime Readers Caught Reading Crime at an indie bookstore series. And as always...happy reading!

Kathy Roberts - Crime Readers Caught Reading Crime...

...at an indie bookstore.

Kathy Roberts is the wonderful book blogger at BermudaOnion's Weblog. On Twitter you can find her as bermudaonion. Today, however, we find her at the Fiction Addiction indie bookstore in Greenville, South Carolina, and she's reading the debut novel from Marcia Clark, GUILT BY ASSOCIATION.

Here's what she has to say about both bookstore and book:

My favorite bookstore is Fiction Addiction in Greenville, SC.  The store may be small in size, but the staff is friendly and knowledgeable, so it's a great place to visit and talk books.  They host awesome author events so they're attracting more and more well known authors.  They'll order any book I need and ship books as well.  I was excited to see that Guilt by Association by Marcia Clark is one of their staff picks.  I loved the book because of the great mystery and the fabulous characters.  Rachel Knight, the main character, is tenacious and just a little bit snarky, and I can't wait to read more about her.  If you like legal thrillers, Guilt by Association is a must read!

Let's hear it for another outstanding indie bookstore! Can you see that selection of books there behind Kathy? Looks to me like a fantastic bookstore. Thanks for introducing us to Fiction Addiction, Kathy. And I'm with you 100% on Marcia's book.

More book and bookstore recommendations are coming your way, so be sure to check back tomorrow! Happy reading.

Craig McDonlad - Crime Reader Caught Reading Crime...

...at an indie bookstore.

Last week we caught Brian Freeman reading Craig McDonald's HEAD GAMES, and this week we've caught Craig McDonald reading - wait! I see a stack of his ONE TRUE SENTENCE books; is he supposed to be doing a signing? Is he slacking on the job? Well, if he is, he's at least chosen a great book for slacking. Craig's dipped into a classic, James Crumley's THE WRONG CASE. And Craig's indie store of choice happens to be Foul Play Books located right here in the Buckeye State! Westerville, Ohio, to be precise. I've been fortunate enough to visit Foul Play myself several times. They are a renovated Victorian home and it's a very fun store.

Many thanks to Craig, as well as to this photo's photographer, Leslie Miller. And we'll be back tomorrow to catch another crime reader. See you then! Happy Reading!

**please note: you can order online from Foul Play Books, but for whatever reason, when I added the direct links, they didn't work properly, so I included book links to Mystery Lovers Bookshop. But Foul Play does have online search and order. PLUS, you receive free shipping with any order over $50.

Lutz & Hayward - Crime Readers Caught Reading Crime...

...at an indie bookstore.

Today's readers caught in the act are Lisa Lutz and David Hayward. I met Lisa last year, but had the chance to meet David in February. They are both incredibly fun, extremely witty, and very talented. Together they managed to write HEADS YOU LOSE.

Here we caught them at Uncle Edgars Bookstore in Minneapolis getting frisky with Sophie Kelly's newest, CURIOSITY THRILLED THE CAT.

Hopefully Uncle Edgars survived the duo's visit. Many thanks to Lisa and David. I'm looking forward to seeing them both again at Bouchercon.

Happy Reading!

Michael Wiley - Crime Readers Caught Reading Crime...

...in an indie bookstore. We're off to a great start with this feature and today Michael Wiley, author of the Joe Kozmarski series, helps us keep the book love going. This time at Chamblin Bookmine. I love the name of this store! If you ever wonder why I completely adore Michael Wiley, you pretty much just have to read what he says about his book choice and store choice:

"I’m re-reading Keith Thomson’s Once a Spy at Chamblin Bookmine, Uptown, in Jacksonville, Florida. Why am I not reading Thomson’s new book, Twice a Spy? Because the moment I bought it, my wife disappeared with it and I haven’t seen it since. So, until she forks over Twice a Spy, I’m making do with the thrilling ride of the first book, which, I’ve been promised, becomes only more thrilling in the second. And why Chamblin Bookmine? Because it’s one of the best independent bookstores I’ve visited. Ever. They carry mostly used books – displaying over 55,000 square feet of them and warehousing about an equal number. In all, they have more than 2,000,000 books. Ron Chamblin and his staff seem to know the titles of most them, and they’re friendly and generous with their time and knowledge. Besides, Chamblin is a good place to hide since my wife keeps disappearing with my own books."

And while Michael fights his wife for TWICE A SPY, I'm patiently waiting for Michael's third Joe Kozmarski novel, A BAD NIGHT'S SLEEP, which will be out next month!

Kaye Barley - Crime Readers Caught Reading Crime...

...at an indie bookstore. Today I'm excited to share a photo from my good friend and fellow blogger, Kaye Barley. Take it away, Miss Kaye:

Here I am at my favorite Indie Book Store in Boone, NC - Black Bear Books -  where they not only have a super selection of books (including crime fiction, of course), but coffee, free WiFi, a comfy reading room with big squishy chairs AND a yarn room where you can buy yarn and sit and knit.  This is a dream store come true.

The book I'm reading is Hallie Ephron's newest - COME AND FIND ME.  It tells the story of a recluse who works and lives online and has to work up the courage to brave the “real world” when her sister goes missing.  I am loving it!

Be sure to stop by Kaye's blog, Meanderings and Muses, and say "hi." But wait until you have plenty of time. You won't want to leave.

Get Caught Reading Month

May is "Get Caught Reading" month. If you recall, last year we had "Crime Writers Caught Reading Crime." This year, I decided to put a new twist on it. 2011 brings you "Crime Readers Caught Reading Crime...in and Indie Bookstore." I have asked readers near and far - authors included - to submit a pictures of themselves reading crime novels at independent bookstores.

I am kicking off the series with a picture of an author I will be meeting in person this week, Brian Freeman. And I think this is a fitting start because Brian is reading Craig McDonald's HEAD GAMES at this year's Raven Award-winning bookstore, ONCE UPON A CRIME in Minneapolis.

Brian's most recent book is THE BONE HOUSE, which I happen to be reviewing later this week. I'm also excited to be meeting Brian this week when he makes his way to Cleveland for two library events.

Thanks for kicking off "Crime Readers Caught Reading Crime...at an Indie Bookstore" Brian!