Best of 2009

Dear readers,
Here are our recommendations for the best of 2009

1. BRUTAL TELLING, by Louise Penny
2. BRYANT AND MAY ON THE LOOSE, by Christopher Fowler
3. LANGUAGE OF BEES, Laurie King
4. THE FIRE, Katherine Neville
5. SWAN FOR THE MONEY, Donna Andrews

Look for our revamped new and improved web site in 2010.

Hope you have a very Happy New Year.

Happy Reading,
Kathy
http://www.mysterylovescompany.com/

Sherlock, Watson, Alice and Snow

Dear ones.
A poem for the season by Toni Kelner:

Sherlock and Dr. Watson by Toni Kelner
(To the tune of "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer")
You know Sam Spade and Kinsey
And Archie and Nero
VI Warshawski,
And old Hercule Poirot.
But do you recall
The most famous detectives of all?
Sherlock and Dr. Watson
Rode around in hansom cabs
Looking for thefts and murders
Sherlock even had a lab
All of the London coppers
Used to laugh and call them names
They never let our sleuths
Solve a crime along the Thames
Then one foggy Christmas Eve
Lestrade came to say
"Sherlock, with your keen insight
Won't you solve a case tonight?"
Then all the coppers loved them
And they shouted out with glee
Sherlock and Dr. Watson
You'll go down in mystery!

Former Bengal player McInally sold a copy of Alice in Wonderland inscribed to the real Alice, Alice Liddell by Lewis Carroll for $125.00. You can read about it here.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/oxfordshire/8416127.stm

Also I hope some of you saw the new version of "Alice" on the Sci Fi cable network last week. As an Alice lover, I really liked it.

Finally, if you are trying to reach us and can't over the weekend Dec 19-20th., we are probably snowed under. Please leave a message and if the phone gods are with us I'll get it or email me at mysterylovescompany at gmail.com
You can also place an order online at www.mysterylovescompany.com
This independent bookstore appreciates your support.
Hope you have a Merry Christmas,
Kathy
www.mysterylovescompany.com

BEST SELLERS THIS WEEK

Dear ones,

I thought you'd get some inspiration when making that list from what we have been selling in Oxford these days.

At number 5 IS EAT THIS NOT THAT : Restaurant Guide, my favorite pick for giving this year. This handsome book is a guide to healthful eating wherever you dine.

In at number 4 is BRYANT AND MAY ON THE LOOSE from that clever British author Christopher Fowler. The Peculiar Crimes Squad is no more, but eccentric and elderly Scotland Yard detectives Bryant and May don't know when to quit. You'll be charmed and very amused.

The number 3 book this week in Oxford is THE LINEUP essays by all your favorite mystery authors about their main characters.

THE MAN IN THE WOODEN HAT by Jane Gardem is our number 2 book this week. Love, childhood, home and exile in England's colonial past.

Finally at the top at number 1 is Easton's own Bill Shepard with THE SALADIN AFFAIR . Diplomat Robbie Cutler goes to Europe on his fourth adventure where he must defend the Secretary of State from terrorists and finds a fascinating antique desk with a secret document inside. We have signed copies.

Think of us as your own personal shopper this holiday season. We can advise you on that perfect gift for any age and order any in print book for you. Call us at 800-538-0042 to start making your life simpler. And don't forget our themed mystery book gift baskets starting at $25.00.

See our web site www.mysterylovescompany.com for more ideas.

Hope you holidays are merry and bright.

Kathy, Tom, Sammi, Nick and Nora.

Christmas on the Creek author signings

Dear ones,
Christmas on the Creek approaches. This weekend Dec 4-6 Oxford puts on its holiday garb and welcomes in the holiday season. Our special day at Mystery Loves Company Booksellers in Oxford is December 5th.

Sunday, Dec 5, 2009 (OXFORD) Christmas on the Creek old-fashioned Christmas celebration includes an author signing at Mystery Loves Company with Bill Shepard author of THE SALADIN AFFAIR, and J.M.E. Flowers, the Columbia MD author of SEARCHING FOR BLUE MERCURY.

There will also be events all over town including a house tour, an auction, caroling, events at the Fire House and the Oxford Community Center and special displays at the Oxford Museum. You can see a full schedule of Christmas on the Creek at www.portofoxford.com


Hope you can join us for this fun time.

Kathy
Mystery Loves Company
202 S. Morris St
Oxford MD 21654
800-538-0042

http://www.mysterylovescompany.com/

Price wars

Dear ones,
As you know, if you are not an ostrich, there is a price war going on for best-selling books.
John Grisham was on the Today Show and his interview with Matt Lauer is an interesting take on The War.
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/33603693/ns/today-today_books/

All of us suffer in the long run from these policies of 60% -70% discounts by the box stores and big online retailers (You know who they are). The printed word is cheapened and the royalties to authors and profits of publishers and booksellers will plummet. This is not good news for the book business in this economy.

The three retailers have limited the public to 2 or 3 copies, so bookstores can't even purchase the books from them instead of from publishers where they only receive 40- 45% wholesale.

If you don't think you make a difference, you are wrong.

Mr. Grisham believes that eventually publishers will stop publishing new authors, I believe this "censorship" resulting from this policy would be deadly.

Many purchases online are not charged sales tax. That is a loss to the local economy.

Think before you buy.

You can make a difference.

MYSTERY LOVES COMPANY WANTS TO THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL AND INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE. WHEN YOU BUY LOCAL AND INDEPENDENT, YOUR MONEY STAYS RIGHT HERE IN THE ECONOMY AND WE ALL BENEFIT.

I welcome your comments.

Best,
Kathy
Mystery Loves Company Bookstore
202 S. Morris St
Oxford Md 21654
1-800-538-0042

Anthonys announced , Halloween is coming

Dear ones,
The Anthonys were announced @ Bouchercon 2009
Best Novel: The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly
Best First Novel: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
Best Paperback Original: State of the Onion by Julie Hyzy
Best Short Story: "A Sleep Not Unlike Death" by Sean Chercover
Special Service Award: Jon and Ruth Jordan (CrimeSpree Magazine)
Best Critical Non-Fiction: Anthony Boucher: A Biography by Jeffrey Marks
Best Young Adult Novel: The Crossroads by Chris Grabenstein
Best Cover Art: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

Congrats to all the winners and nominees.

Halloween is coming and we are celebrating here in Oxford. We are one of the only towns in our area to have crowds of folks small and large trick and treat down our leafy streets. Our party starts at 5:30pm on October 31. Costumes are almost a requirement, so don your best and join us for some Halloween hot drinks and goodies sure to make you smile.

Happy Halloween,
Kathy

GHOSTHUNTING MARYLAND

Dear ones,
Coming up is a fun event at the store in Oxford.
Do you believe in Ghosts?? Do you have one in your house? Have you ever seen one? Well come to our store on Sunday, October 11 from 12-2pm, when author Michael Varhola will talk about and sign his new book Ghosthunting Maryland.
We'll have cider and donuts.
Other authors writing about ghosts have said they'd show up, so come along and talk ghosts with Michael and share your stories
That's Sunday October 10 at noon at 202 S. Morris St. in Oxford MD.
Call us at 800-538-0042 if you'd like more info or a signed copy and can't attend.
And don't forget our Halloween Trick or Treat evening October 31 from 5:30 - 7:30 pm.
Ghostly yours,
Kathy

Awards - Paul Auster and George Pelecanos

Hi,
I am just back from a one day trip to my old stomping ground, Baltimore, to attend the NAIBA meeting. The New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association, to those of you who might not know.
Any way they gave two awards to two worthy authors.
Paul Auster received the NAIBA 2009 Legacy Award for Invisible . In a speech Paul praised independents and gave us pause when he noted all the bookstores that had closed.

"The point being: Thank you all for what you are doing. Writers depend on you, readers depend on you, and the intellectual life of our country depends on you. To browse. What a beautiful word. To wander among books, to make discoveries, to be changed forever by an unknown volume pulled by impulse off a shelf. You, the independent booksellers, are the ones who make this possible.
Thank you so much for giving me this award. Paul Auster

And long time friend and great crime author George Pelecanos was there. It was great to touch base with him. George is working with David Simon on a TV special on Music in New Orleans after Katrina. Can't wait. Later in the evening George's book The Turnaround was chosen for the Hammett Prize:
The North American Branch of the International Association of Crime Writers is pleased to announce that The Turnaround, by George Pelecanos (Little, Brown), has been named the winner of the organization's annual HAMMETT PRIZE for a work of literary excellence in the field of crime writing.
Congrats to these two fine authors.
Thanks for your support of independent local bookstores.
Kathy Harig
Mystery Loves Company
www.mysterylovescompany.com

Heart Surgeon Dr. JOhn Elefteriades signs at our store

Dear ones,

Don't miss renowned Yale heart surgeon Dr. John Elefteriades signing his new thriller TRANPLANT at our store on Saturday Sept 26 from 1-3pm. Read a blog and interview with Dr. John about his book with Julie Compton on the thriller writers page

http://www.thrillerwriters.org/2009/04/transplant-by-john-a-elefteriades-md.html

Call for signed copies 800-538-0042 if you can't make the signing.

Best,

Kathy

Mystery Loves Company

202 S. Morris st

Oxford Md 21654

www.mysterylovescompany.com

Bearer of sad news

Dear readers,
It is with extreme sadness that I write of the death of Canadian author Lyn Hamilton at age 65 from a long bout with cancer. I will remember Lyn well from conferences at Malice, Bouchercon, and in Toronto. She and Rhys Bowen signed books at our store soon after Lyn's book The Celtic Riddle was made into a Murder She Wrote episode. Lyn's story of watching it for the first time was hysterical. She was critical about parts of the episode, but enjoyed seeing her work on screen. She was a warm delightful and funny person who was knowledgeable about what she wrote (archaeology and travel to exotic places) and wrote it entertainingly in her series featuring Lara McClintoch. I recommend the series highly. She will be greatly missed by us all. You can read more about the series at www.lynhamilton.com

Also we are informed that British author Celia Fremlin has also passed away earlier this summer. Her book the Spider-Orchid is a favorite of mine.

Best,
Kathy
www.mystrylovescompany.com

Ellen Crosby in Oxford Visit 4

Dear ones,

Well it is hot, really hot 99 degrees hot. But it sure looks cool here in Oxford MD on the Tred Avon with the boats sailing by my window.

We have cool news, though.

Ellen Crosby returns for her fourth visit to Mystery Loves Company this Saturday August 15 from 2-4pm when we will be hosting a free wine tasting with Ellen signing her Fourth Wine Country Mystery Riesling Retribution.

Ellen's Merlot Murders is our number one book of all time in Oxford. I just sold another one a couple of minutes ago.

Don't miss this opportunity to meet Ellen and find out what the buzz is all about. You'll taste some great wines, too.

As always, if you can't attend email us at mysterylovescompany at gmail.com

or call 800-538-0042.

Hope to see you in Oxford soon,
Kathy

ELLEN CROSBY'S RIESLING RETRIBUTION SIGNING

Dear ones of mystery,

Come one, come all to the wine event of the summer in Oxford. Ellen Crosby of Virginia will autograph her newest wine mystery RIESLING RETRIBUTION at our humble bookshoppe in Oxford MD (202 S. Morris Street, 1-800-538-0042) on Saturday August 15, 2009 from 2:00 -4:00 pm. Wine and appropriate faire will be served.

In this one, a storm gathers over the vineyards which are being used for a military re-enactment. Vineyard owner Lucy Montgomery has her hands and heart full with this one.

Here's Ellen web site for more information http://www.ellencrosby.com/

You'll enjoy every minute.

Call me at 800-538-0042 to order signed copies.

Hope to see you in Oxford.

Kathy

http://www.mysterylovescompany.com/

Donna Andrews's blog on our store, Oxford and fences

Hi,

I just wanted to thank best-selling author Donna Andrews for blogging about her new book Swan for the Money, our store and Oxford Maryland's Oxford Fence Project with pictures.

Read Donna's blog for August 2.

http://femmesfatales.typepad.com/

The Oxford Fences are a project of the Oxford Business Association and will be auctioned off on Saturday October 10 at the Oxford Community Center. If you would like to bid on a fence, see the OBA web site http://www.portofoxford.com/

When in Oxford don't forget to visit our bookstore Mystery Loves Company at 202 S. Morris St. and pick up you Oxford Passport. Get 5 stamps and be eligible for a drawing of $500 in Oxford Bucks on September 5th.

My favorite book at the moment are THE ANGEL'S GAME by Carlos Luis Zafron. Looking forward to reading the MERRY MISOGYNIST by Colin Cotterill and loved the advanced reading copy of Charles Finch's third book THE FLEET STREET MURDERS. But that's a no-brainer. That's Fleet Street in London not Baltimore. The book debuts in November 2009.

Best and keep cool from Oxford,

Kathy

Thanks and Happy cool summer reading.

Donna Andrews and Ellen Crosby to sign

Kathy here from Mystery Loves Company in Oxford, MD with two great events at our store this summer.

Donna Andrews, the funniest mystery author alive signs

Swan for the Money Sunday July 26 from 1-3pm at our store Mystery Loves Company @202 S. Morris St., Oxford Md 21654.

Check out the black and white farm!

Refreshments will be served during the signing.

Ellen Crosby will be with us at the store in Oxford on Saturday August 15 to sign her fourth Virginia Wine Country mystery Riesling Retribution from 2-4pm. Wine and cheese will be served. Lots of intrigue and suspense in this one.

Call 410-226-0010, 800-538-0042 or email us at mysterylovescompany at gmail.com if you would like personalized copies.

That's about it for now.

Happy Summer reading and thank you for your loyal support of our independent mystery bookstore.

Kathy Harig

http://www.mysterylovescompany.com/

Evelyn David stops in July 1

Dear Mystery Readers,
Evelyn David, author of Murder Takes the Cake drops in to Mystery Loves Company 202 S. Morris St in Oxford MD on July 1st , 2009 at noon to sign books. Come and meet this delightful author and learn more about her Sullivan Investigations series. "Cake" is her second book in the series. Call us if you'd like to have signed copies.

Don't forget Donna Andrews signs her new Meg Langlow mystery Swan for the Money July 26 at our store from 1-3 pm

And Ellen Crosby signs Reisiling Retribution at our store on August 15 from 2-4 pm with a wine and cheese reception.

As always, call us 800-538-0042 or email if you'd like signed copies.

Happy summer from Oxford,

Kathy Harig

Agatha Winners

Hi,
I am back from Malice Domestic and here are the Agatha Award Winners. We have limited amounts of copies so email us at mysterylovescompany at gmail.com if you would like them.
I'll post the Edgar award winners next.
Without further ado and congrats to all,
Kathy

THE AGATHA WINNERS
Best Novel
THE CRUELEST MONTH by Louise Penny
Best First Novel
DEATH OF A COZY WRITER By G. M. Malliet
Best Non-Fiction
HOW TO WRITE KILLER HISTORICAL MYSTERIES by Kathy Lynn Emerson
Best Short Story
'THE NIGHT EVERYTHING CHANGED" by Dana Cameron from WOLFSBANE & MISTLETOE
Best Children's/ Young Adult
CROSSROADS by Chris Grabenstein

Laura, Life Sentences and Syd

Hi,

Laura Lippman will be lecturing and signing Life Sentences at the Pratt Library 400 Cathedral Street in Baltimore March 10 at 7pm. Hope to see you there. If you want a signed copy email me at

mysterylovescompany at gmail dot com

One of the oldest and dearest friends of Mystery Loves Company died this week, Syd Goldfield. Syd was also loved by Laura Lippman who wrote about him on her blog.http://www.journalscape.com/LauraLippman/2009-03-06-06:43/

****

The beginning of which goes:

It may come as a surprise to the people who read this careless little blog that it takes some planning to file every day, something I do only when I have a new book coming out. I can't remember what I intended to write for today, however. Whatever plan I had, it was out the window when I received some bad news: Syd Goldfield died yesterday. Hardcore regulars here know his wife June from the comments section and I think Syd even slipped in here once or twice. I met Syd soon after I began publishing and he mentioned that he had a admirable goal: He wanted to read 10,000 books in his lifetime. Eventually, I decided to write about his quest... Mrs. Goldfield said to him the other night: "I hope you hit 10,000 and beyond." He's not taking anything for granted, but he knows if he hits 10,000, the next day he'll pick up 10,001. "Maybe it sounds kind of egotistical," he says, "but I'm doing this for myself. I just like to read."

******

June, I hope to see you at Laura's signing at the Pratt Library. You and Syd missed very few of Laura's signings. If I don't see you, I'll send you a note. We really will miss him. I wish they could, like another person mentioned in Laura's blog, clone Syd. Perhaps the book business would be booming. If only there could be more Syds.

Best,

Kathy

Agatha Nominations Announced

Hi there,
Here are the just announced Nominations for Agatha Awards. Congrats to all the nominees. The Agatha winners will be announced @ the Awards banquet May 2 in Crystal City at the Malice Domestic Conference.
The Agatha Award is given in several categories for the best traditional mystery in 2008. Mystery Loves Company will be one of the dealers at Malice this year. If you would like more information you can visit their web site http://www.malicedomestic.org/
We have all of these books in our store. Just check out our web site below and click on
"MLC Store."
Best,
Kathy
http://www.mysterylovescompany.com/

2008 Agatha Nominees
Best Novel:Six Geese A-Slaying by Donna Andrews (Minotaur Books)A Royal Pain by Rhys Bowen (Penguin Group)The Cruelest Month by Louise Penny (Minotaur Books)Buckingham Palace Gardens by Anne Perry (Random House)I Shall Not Want by Julia Spencer-Fleming (Minotaur Books)

Best First Novel:Through a Glass, Deadly by Sarah Atwell (Berkley Trade)The Diva Runs Out of Thyme by Krista Davis (Penguin Group)Pushing Up Daisies by Rosemary Harris (Minotaur Books)Death of a Cozy Writer by G.M. Malliet (Midnight Ink)Paper, Scissors, Death by Joanna Campbell Slan (Midnight Ink)

Best Non-fiction:African American Mystery Writers: A Historical & Thematic Study by Frankie Y. Bailey (McFarland & Co.)How to Write Killer Historical Mysteries by Kathy Lynn Emerson (Perseverance Press)Anthony Boucher, A Bibliography by Jeff Marks (McFarland & Co.) Edgar Allan Poe: An Illustrated Companion to His Tell-Tale Stories by Dr. Harry Lee Poe (Metro Books)The Suspicions of Mr. Whitcher by Kate Summerscale (Walker & Co.)

Best Short Story:"The Night Things Changed" by Dana Cameron, Wolfsbane & Mistletoe (Penguin Group)"Killing Time" by Jane Cleland, Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine - November 2008"Dangerous Crossing" by Carla Coupe, Chesapeake Crimes 3 (Wildside Press)"Skull & Cross-Examinations" by Toni L.P. Kelner, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine - February 2008"A Nice Old Guy" by Nancy Pickard, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine - August 2008

Best Children's/Young Adult:Into the Dark by Peter Abrahams (Harper Collins)A Thief in the Theater (A Kit Mystery) by Sarah Masters Buckey (American Girl Publishers)The Crossroads by Chris Grabenstein (Random House Children's Books)The Great Circus Train Robbery by Nancy Means Wright (Hilliard & Harris)

BICENTENNIAL POE

Dear readers,

You may have heard that January 19 is a very special day. Wedged in by inauguration festivities is an anniversary near and dear to our hearts, the Bicentennial celebration of the birth of Edgar Allen Poe, the originator of the detective story.

A special stamp will be issued and there will be events scheduled in the five places which have a claim to EAP, Baltimore, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Richmond. The Poe Toaster will return once more to Westminster Church in Baltimore with a bottle of cognac and three roses. This scene is at the center of the plot of Laura Lippman's novel In a Strange City.

You can also celebrate by ordering our exquisite EAP earrings. Go to http://www.mysterylovescompany.com/, click on MLC store and then jewelry.

You can read up on Poe with four wonderful books THE POE SHADOW by Matthew Pearl, THE PALE BLUE EYE by Louis Bayard, THE BEAUTIFUL CIGAR GIRL by Dan Stashower, and THE POE PAPERS by Nancy Zaroulis.

You can find out more about festivities at http://www.nevermore2009.com/

But as we say in Baltimore, other cities may claim him, but we have The Poe house, The Poe Room at the Central Enoch Pratt Free Library, his football team (The Ravens), his mascot ("Poe") and most importantly, we have his body.

Happy Bicentennial,

Kathy

That said, "Go Ravens, and Go Poe."