Friday, January 09, 2009

Murder One closing: did we commit this crime?

The loss of one of Charing Cross Road's best bookshops is as much down to customer neglect as the economic climate...

Read on...

This might seem an odd link to put on a romance writer's blog, but the closing of a great independent bookshop is always cause for regret and Murder One did not just sell the biggest collection of crime novels available anywhere in Britain, it also stocked a huge range of imported romance titles. This was the one place where readers could find their favourite American writers, such as Barbara Samuels and Rosemary Laurey, unobtainable anywhere else in the UK.

I'm as guilty as the next woman of clicking onto the internet to buy books. I live way out in the country and don't have access to an independent bookseller. Even a visit to a chain means taking half day off and "one-click" has revolutionised my book buying. But Murder One was always on my list of must-visit when I made my rare forays into London and I'll miss it.

Scroll down for the HERE COME THE GROOMS competition -- there are three prizes of three books up for grabs.

2 comments:

Michelle Douglas said...

This is such a shame, Liz. Murder One was on my London must-visit list too.

It's a reminder, though. My nearest independent book shop is 15 mins away, the nearest chain is 5 mins away. I think I might start adding an additional ten mins to all future book buying forays.

Snookie said...

It is sad when a bookshop goes under... been watching independent booksellers go under here. The chain stores here offer a much bigger variety though and they will bring almost anything in that you request with no shipping charges... so it makes it much easier for me to shop (and I hate shopping!) Even though I don't like chain and big box stores becaue it puts the little guys out of business, it seems that's the only place you can find what you need anymore. We're losing all our little mom and pop stores :(