The Houston Bookstore Crawl: Murder by the Book

 

I was delighted to participate in the Second Annual Houston Bookstore Crawl #HTXBookCrawl25 in April. Here is a map I made of the twenty-five indie bookstores in the Houston area.

How it worked: I picked up a crawl card at Then & Now Bookstore in Galveston, one of the 25 participating stores. I got my card stamped or signed by each of the stores I visited through the end of April. Once I visited 10, I submitted my card to any of the participating bookstores to be entered into a raffle for gifts. Every store I hit after the first 10 counts as an additional entry. The cards had to be turned in by the end of business on April 30.

April 26 was Indie Bookstore Day, and indie bookstores all over the US hosted events. Take a look at the map here to see what events were held in April.

Say hello to the Participating Bookstores:

Basket Books & Art · Blue Willow Bookshop · Books Abound · The Book Attic · Books by the Bay · The Book Readers Venue · Brazos Bookstore · Buy the Book · Candescent Books · CLASS Bookstore · Copperfield's Books · Dreamers Books + Culture · Good Books in the Woods · Good on Paper Books and Stationery · Gulf Coast Cosmos Comics · Houston Book Warehouse · Kaboom Books · Katy Budget Books · Kindred Stories · LIT bookbar · LIT Java Coffee & Books · Mossrose Bookshop · Murder by The Book · Then & Now Bookshop · Village Books

I visited twelve bookstores in April. 

Here is my eleventh bookstore:

One of the largest and oldest mystery specialty bookstores in the US is Murder by the Book, originally established in 1980.  There are over 25,000 books -- new & used, hardbacks & paperbacks, first editions, collectibles, gift items, and more.  The store hosts more than 200 of the biggest mystery, crime, and fantasy authors for book signing events every year.  In the past, Murder by the Book has  hosted Dick Francis, P.D. James, Sue Grafton, Robert Crais, Michael Connelly, Patricia Cornwell, James Lee Burke, and Daniel Silva. 

Murder by the Book

2342 Bissonnet

Houston, TX 77005

I visited Murder by the Book as the event was winding down on a Tuesday morning. 

What a clever sign.

The store is very inviting, and has, of course, every mystery out there, but it also has more than mysteries.

My friend Cindy loves mysteries, and she shared a couple of her favorites.

I was astounded to see all the old Ann Cleeves mysteries that are available for the first time in the US.

So many upcoming store events.

Look at the diversity of staff picks.

Who knew?

I chose one of the old Ann Cleeves mysteries, this one set in High Island near me.