By many accounts, independent bookstores are a dying breed. But
some are bucking trend. And in Oakmont, Mystery Lovers Bookshop
celebrates 25 years this weekend — a testament to the fact that, more than just where you buy your books, bookstores can also be staples of a community.
Mystery Lovers Bookshop opened in 1990, and was honored by the Mystery Writers of America with a Raven award in 2010. The store carries new copies of a wide variety of crime, thrillers and espionage fiction, and hosts an annual Festival of Mystery.
The store celebrates its longevity with a free event tomorrow from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. The event includes a special edition of its Coffee & Crime series, with local mystery author Nancy Martin, at 11 a.m. Martin will speak about her newest book,
Miss Ruffles Inherits Everything (Minotaur Books), which will be available for purchase before its official Nov. 3 release.
Founders Mary Alice Gorman and Richard Goldman then arrive for a meet-and-greet, and to make a special announcement. (The store's current owners, married couple Natalie Sacco and Trevor Thomas, took the place over this past May.)
The annual $0.10 book sale follows. Proceeds will be donated to a local charity that has yet to be announced.
Mystery Lovers Bookshop is located at 514 Allegheny River Blvd., in Oakmont. Light refreshments will be provided, and costumes are encouraged.
Click
here for more info.