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Book Reviews of Christmas at The Mysterious Bookshop

Christmas at The Mysterious Bookshop
Christmas at The Mysterious Bookshop
Author: Otto Penzler (Editor)
ISBN-13: 9781593156176
ISBN-10: 1593156170
Publication Date: 10/12/2010
Pages: 256
Rating:
  • Currently 3.5/5 Stars.
 26

3.5 stars, based on 26 ratings
Publisher: Vanguard Press
Book Type: Hardcover
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

5 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

drgldy76 avatar reviewed Christmas at The Mysterious Bookshop on + 125 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
It was an interesting read, but a couple of the stories bored me. I liked the fact that the shop actually exists. Some of the stories felt for real though.
pateiwah avatar reviewed Christmas at The Mysterious Bookshop on + 57 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I liked the stories and the running christmas theme at the same book store. I kept thinking I could live there,all those books.
this was a nice cozy read. I liked the short stories, some were not what I would have read in a stand alone book,but that is the beauty of short stories, a taste and if you like it alot you can find more by the same person.
reviewed Christmas at The Mysterious Bookshop on + 15 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Great book to cozy up with. Wonderful collection of stories from some of the great mystery writters. Loved it!
MKSbooklady avatar reviewed Christmas at The Mysterious Bookshop on + 948 more book reviews
Some are good, some aren't.
cathyskye avatar reviewed Christmas at The Mysterious Bookshop on + 2262 more book reviews
From the Introduction: As a way of thanking our customers for their support, I have commissioned an original story from some of the finest mystery writers in America each Christmas season for the past 17 years.


As owner of fabled The Mysterious Bookshop in New York City, Penzler laid out a few ground rules for these stories:

The story must be a mystery/crime/suspense story.
It must be set during the Christmas season.
At least some of the action must take place in The Mysterious Bookshop.

In their entirety, this collection of short stories has a lot to say about The Mysterious Bookshop and its owner. I would love to pay a visit there to see how closely fiction resembles truth.

There are seventeen stories in this book written by famous mystery writers and some who may not be quite as famous, but are just as skilled. As a whole, it's a strong collection that any mystery reader should enjoy.

For me, the strongest stories in the book had humor, irony and the occasional touch of poignancy. Stories like Ron Goulart's "Murder for Dummies," Ed McBain's "I Saw Mommy Killing Santa Claus," "The Grift of the Magi" by S.J. Rozan, and "Christmas Spirit" by Michael Malone.

Any way you serve it up, Christmas at the Mysterious Bookshop is a perfectly murderous way to put yourself in the holiday spirit!