Uncle Edgar’s Mystery Bookstore

Uncle Edgar’s Mystery Bookstore is the best spot in Minneapolis if you are looking for a mystery book of some sort. They have shelf upon shelf of books devoted solely to the subject of whodunnit. It was probably the butler. With the candlestick.
One mystery you might want to solve while here is who died in the bathroom. It was clearly the scene of a crime. I’m not sure if someone was murdered in there, but a struggle definitely ensued. I propose you don’t step foot in the bathroom. In fact, I’m going blame the entire bathroom problem on Uncle Edgar’s unkempt little brother Uncle Hugo (the science fiction bookstore connected to it).
Anyway, it’s nice to walk into a place that isn’t trying to shove their latest tablet down your throat or ask you if you have their reader’s reward card when you check out. To find an employee who is passionate about books and knows what you are looking for. A place that isn’t tracking and selling your metrics and data to other places. Plus I’m a big fan of supporting local places, and this spot definitely qualifies. So if you want a bookstore around that has more than just 2000 copies of 50 Shades of Gray, you should definitely go here.

I spent years in Uncle Hugo’s Sci Fi bookstore, completely ignoring Uncle Edgar’s mystery books. Forgive me Edgar! I have seen the light, and shall never stray from your dusty depths again. Whether you’re looking for a specific title or (even better) want to find a new gem you can find no better resource than Uncle Edgar’s shelves and boxes, and incredibly knowledgable (and usually not cranky) staff.

This is the companion bookstore to Uncle Hugo’s, same location. Uncle Edgar’s carries tons of mystery books and even books for kids. If you read mystery books — this is a great bookstore.

For all you youngsters out there, or at least those who read a couple of mysteries, and started getting withdrawl symptoms, til you get the next one in your hands, this is a good place to start a collection. You can call ahead if you’re looking for a book too. For most books, there is never a need for paying full price. I’ve started many collections just from browsing here. Men may like to start with authors i.e. Lawrence Block, Ed Gorman, Joe R. Lansdale, and Thomas Perry. Women, pick your genre: hair, cooking, coffee/​tea, sewing/​knitting, bed and breakfast, witches, writers, therapists. Lots of food ones for all Unilocalers. I’m into almost all of these, and have invested a small fortune. Very knowledgable and committed staff. They also have a british import section that’s more expensive. Many trade paperbacks, for when your eyes start going from reading so many. They have all the trendy authors too, Patterson, Kellerman, Crihton, etc. Hard case crime is popular too. You can buy a 10% discount card for 4 bucks, that cover 3 months. I don’t come as often, since I’ve been collecting for 20 years. They also have a newsletter. Once someone tried to rob them overnight and got stuck in the chimney. You can’t buy publicity like that.

I’m more of a scifi nerd than a mystery nerd, but I still took a look through here every so often when I was visiting Uncle Hugo’s.
This is the other half of the same bookstore as Uncle Hugo’s, but they share the same entrance and, I suspect, some of the supporting staff.
The people working here are really serious about mystery books. They know all there is to know about them.
If you like reading mysteries, you will love a visit to this store.