Mystery Ink Bookstore

How is it possible that Mystery Ink has no Unilocal reviews? It’s such a great little bookstore, and I know it’s been around for a while. I met owner Debbie M. in 2013, when my first book came out. She was a bookseller at the L.A. Times Festival of Books and set up my very first signing, at the Mystery Ink booth. I’ve signed at her booth the last two book festivals, too, and she’s been the bookseller at at least a couple other events I’ve participated in around town. She’s a busy woman, very dedicated, a great friend of readers and writers alike.
I finally made it down to the store in Huntington Beach for my most recent book tour, with my friend Lisa Brackmann (whose books I highly recommend). I was totally charmed by the place. It was tucked away in a corner of a giant strip mall, with the easiest parking situation possible. The store was small, with a main area where we had our event, and two adjoining rooms, walls crammed with books. I had a great time browsing. There was a $ 1 rack and tons of first editions, the store’s specialty, many of them signed. I got to hold a first edition of Raymond Chandler’s Farewell, My Lovely, which was a bit out of my price range. I did buy three first edition hardcovers, none of them marked up from their original prices – Megan Abbott’s first novel, Lauren Groff’s first novel, and Out of Sight by Elmore Leonard. Pretty decent haul.
The event was fun, and Debbie put out cheese and crackers and wine, which was nice. I had a great time, and was very pleased with my bookstore experience, both as author and reader. Mystery Ink is a wonderful part of Southern California’s crime fiction landscape, and I hope to swing back many more times in the years to come.