Visiting Once Upon a Crime for the first time, the Minnesotan Mystery Bookstore

By IASP. 

Once Upon a Crime. It's dinner time. A room packed with wealthy people. Tonight is the one we were waiting for. The host is serving this three-course meal. From glass to glass, the finest wine runs out as small talks become heated arguments just like bowling water. Then, lights off. Someone next to me screams amid the confusion, I guessed. When the light is finally back, the sight of a sharp knife stabbed on the back of the host's corpse shock us all. Yes, finally, everyone is satisfied for what we were craving for. Once Upon a Crime, the book shop specialized in mystery books located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

Saturday morning. I was on my way home when I found one of the most exciting spots in the Twin Cities. Unexpected. To encounter a specialized mystery bookshop in uptown was just unbelievable. I couldn't stop taking pictures to be sent to my friend Tomas Toro, a great novelist from Chile, who's also into this sort of literary genre. 

A few pictures after -yes, we're reaching the part where I actually write about the bookstore, my apologies-, I entered the shop. The nicest clerk welcomed me. I was intoxicated in excitement for the whole place. Bookshelf after bookshelf. All mysteries waiting to be solved like puzzles for starving readers. I was starving. I haven't read a good mystery book for a while. 

- "What's this place?" I inquired in frenzy. "How long have you been here? 

- "It's been over 30 years already. Quite in fact, we are one of few remaining mystery specialized bookstores in the whole United States. Twelve to fifteen are left, perhaps." She responded. 

Once Upon a Crime is an independent mystery bookstore. A family, Dennis Abraham and Meg King-Abraham bought the store in 2016 and led a successful crowdfunding campaign to keep the place alive. This shows the significant contribution of Once Upon a Crime to our community of specialized award-winning mystery book seekers.   

After some digging to write this entry, I found out how active and engaging is this bookstore. Multiple events hosted every month (also advertised on the Instagram page). The owners work hard to keep mystery alive in Minnesota. The customer service at the store was fantastic. I got incredible book recommendations on local mystery writers from Minnesota that I have no idea about. I didn't even know it was a thing. In fact, there was a whole section of them! Many of those had national and international awards and recognition. It was impossible not to buy something. 

The Twin Cities and North Shore are, in my opinion, the perfect stage for a great mystery tale. I'm so glad I found this place. With three books in my bag, I made a mental note to come back as soon as I unravel the mystery of my new books from Once Upon a Crime. 

Once Upon Crime is located at 604 W 26th Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55405. Their website is https://onceuponacrimebooks.indielite.org/