XCLICK HERE to see the recent article in Minnesota Monthly about Minnesota's abundance of terrific crime fiction writers!

Pat and Gary at ONCE UPON A CRIME are informal, low-tech, and happy to provide the best customer service around. They carry thousands of new mysteries, thrillers, and crime fiction and also have a large collection of rare, used, and hard-to-get volumes. They can order almost any book. Feel free to call ahead to check to see if the book you want is in stock: 612-870-3785 or EMAIL. Please drop a note if you would like to be on the e-mail notification list for information about upcoming appearances.

This site is simple: if you CLICK HERE, you will be taken to a page with maps and information to find the store location. Call if you get lost!

Below you will find a rolling list of upcoming store events. Please stop by for any appearance or just to visit and check out the incredible collection!

Mon - Sat 11AM to 5:30PM
Closed Sundays
Open Late for Events

Independent Bookstores
for Independent MindS

(Readings/Events listed below)

CLICK HERE to see information about the amazing new ONCE UPON A CRIME anthology.
UPCOMING EVENTS: All readings/signings listed below are evening events unless otherwise indicated.

Thurs. Sep 2 - 7:00 Sara Paretsky "Body Work" - Signing and Q & A about the 15th V.I. Warshawski novel.

Tues. Sep 7 - 7:00 William Kent Krueger "Vermilion Drift" - Reception and signing (Minnesota author).

Wed. Sep 8 - 6:30 Mystery Book Club - Facilitator will be Michael Mallory, and the book for the night is "A Grave Denied" by Dana Stabenow.

Tues. Sep 14 - 7:00 Twin Cities Sisters in Crime meeting. Book for the night is Diane Mott Davidson 's "Dark Tort." Please note: This month the group meets a week later than usual - back to normal for October!

Thurs. Sept 16 - 7:00 Ron Handberg "Deadly Reunion" (Twin City Journalists #5) - Launch party and Refreshments.

Sat. Sept 18 - 1:00-3:00 Jan Dunlap "A Bobwhite Killing" - Signing only (Minnesota author).

Wed. Sept 22 - 7:00 John Sandford "Bad Blood" (Virgil Flowers)

Sat. Oct 2 - 12:00-2:00 Kathleen Ernst "Old World Murder" - Signing only for this Wisconsin author of a novel set in Wisconsin.

Tues. Oct 5 - 7:00 Twin Cities Sisters in Crime meeting. Book for the night is Deborah Crombie's "A Share in Death."

Thurs. Oct 7 - 7:00 Russel McLean "The Good Son"

Sat. Oct 9 - 12:00-2:00 Laura Childs "Fiber & Brimstone" (Scrapbooking Series) - Book Signing and Tea Party - CLICK HERE for more information.

Wed. Oct 13 - 6:30 Mystery Book Club - Facilitator will be Camille Hyytinen, and the book for the night is "The Lost Witness" by Robert Ellis.

Thurs. Oct 14 - 6:30 Vince Flynn "American Assassin" - Signing only.

Sat. Oct 16 - 10:00AM-5:00PM OUAC urges you to attend the Rain Taxi Book Fest at Minneapolis Tech College. It's an excellent venue for book lovers of all kinds. For more information, CLICK HERE.

Tues. Nov 2 - 7:00 Twin Cities Sisters in Crime meeting. Book for the night will be determined in the fall.

Wed. Nov 10 - 6:30 Mystery Book Club - Facilitator will be Lois Greiman, and the book for the night is "A Share in Death" by Deborah Crombie.

Mon. Nov 15 - 7:00 Reed Farrel Coleman "Innocent Monster"

Sat. Nov 20 - 1:00-3:00 Pete Hautman "Blank Confession" Young Adult

Tues. Dec 7 - 7:00 Twin Cities Sisters in Crime meeting. Book for the night will be determined in the fall.

Wed. Dec 8 - 6:30 Mystery Book Club - Facilitator will be Marilyn Victor, and the book for the night is "Florida Road Kill" by Tim Dorsey.

Sat. Dec. 11 - 12:00-2:00 Laura Childs "Bedeviled Eggs" (Cackleberry Club Mystery Series) - Book Signing and Holiday Cookie Party - CLICK HERE for more information.

Wed. Jan 26 - 7:00 Michael Allan Mallory & Marilyn Victor "Killer Instinct" - Launch Party.

Come meet your favorite authors and join the fun! Can’t attend? Call or email and we will reserve a signed and/or inscribed copy for you. RESERVES GET THE BEST COPIES! Signed/inscribed copies require a credit card.