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We can hardly believe it. 31 years since we opened in a 600 square foot space on Main Street, corner of Marshall Way, and nearly opposite Malee's Thai Restaurant, on October 3, 1989
Main Street Scottsdale was then a major art capital. It thronged with visitors. Many of them were you and became customers or encouraged their family and friends to become customers.
We moved off Main Street to Goldwater Boulevard 21 years ago when our space on Main became too small. And here we are still.
We want to see you. Appointments are there for those who want certainty. They are there to be sure we are following capacity guidelines. Please drop by or phone ahead and as long as we aren't over the limit we'll be delighted to welcome you in to browse.
Here we are with one of our two bookstore dogs. This one is Julie's rescue dog getting love from Patrick. We all need extra affection, no?
And you can find Staff Picks and more in our Webstore
We do rely on your purchases to fund this range of activities. But we think of them as a service to authors too, something to share and expand.
Barbara and all The Pens
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Thank you for supporting The Poisoned Pen, frequently named Best Specialty Bookstore by the New Times and by the
Arizona Republic, one of 45 Great American Indie Bookstores 2013; Best Locally Owned and Operated Business: Scottsdale and more....
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Voting in Arizona
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 Only people who register before the deadline can vote in the Nov. 3 election for president, U.S. Senate and a host of other offices.
Two initiatives involving the legalization of recreational marijuana use and raising taxes for education funding also are on the Arizona ballot
Deadline to register to vote: Oct. 5
Early voting starts: Oct. 7
Last day to request mail-in ballot: Oct. 23
Election Day: Nov. 3
Not sure if you are registered? You can check your status using the Voter Information Portal managed by the Arizona Secretary of State's Office at my.arizona.vote
You can also find there info on polling places and hours, request a ballot by mail ASAP and track your ballot once you mail it in.
Given the USPS issues we recommend you request a ballot to mail ASAP and do not delay sending it in.
Not in Arizona?
program going that you can check out.
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Please Help!
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PLEASE HELP: Do Sign Up family and friends to our Enews.
It's free, and adds no daily clutter to your In Box.
And a Gift Certificate is a nice way to say Thinking of You to someone
It will also help expand coverage if you sign up for our
You Tube channel to watch videos. We will have some exciting news about videos coming along as well as for podcasts.
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Don't Be Shy
Just Call ahead or stop by if you are nearby
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We're delighted to welcome you during the hours listed below, with the caveat we sometimes have to block off an hour if we are videoing an event in the store.
Just stop by or call ahead, you might have a bit of a wait if there are more people in the store than guidelines allow.
If you feel more comfortable with certainly, please email [email protected] to request one
Appointments will be for 20 minutes on the hour and half hour, allowing us a short break in between to sanitize.
Appointment Hours 11:00-4:00 M-F, also 6:00-8:00 W & Thu; and 11:00-6:00 on Saturday.
The same hours apply for curbside pickup which is also available from 1:00-4:00 PM on Sundays.
For curbside pickup use 480-970-1534. And please call us to see if there is a space to come inside and browse. We must observe spacing guidelines but we want to see you!
For the best customer service other than curbside pickup please continue to email [email protected]
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An Author in the Store!
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(Kensington $26) yesterday on her publication day. We were so pleased to see her--and some of you.
Sadly very few authors are traveling and most events thus will remain virtual into 2021. But we hope for a few more like this where the author, staff, and you are masked up and ready for fun
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The October Booknews
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For you fans of historicals there is an excellent section reviewing across genres. And some comments looking ahead to October.
You can find our October Paperback Picks and Book of the Month Clubs Picks in the webstore also.
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More New Podcasts
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New podcasts post frequently. We can see you are  enjoying them by the over 40,000 downloads. Lots of conversations here! And with lots of authors!
For those who prefer not to stare at a screen but would like to enjoy our conversations with authors, these are for you.
Visit our new Podcasts Easy download links are provided. They are also available on ITunes and Google Music
Don't forget to search for a favorite author. There are many of them, often frequent visitors to The Pen, but some new to us.
New: Brian Freeman with Karen; Anne Cleeves and Martin Edwards; Richard Osman with Mark Billingham; Margaret Mizushima and Scott Graham; James Rollins with me; and coming up, Joanne Fluke with me.
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Video Book Talks
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You can find some book talks, short recommendations, by me and on our Instagram courtesy of IGTV. Check out short videos by Patrick, Pat King,and John Charles of our staff as well.
You can also find book talk s on our Home Page
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Archer Mayor
Thursday 5:00 PM
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THURSDAY OCTOBER 1 5:00 PM
Archer Mayor discusses his new Joe Gunther Vermont thriller Orphan's Guilt (St Martins $27.99)
Signed books on sale Tuesday
I'm happy to say that there are fewer Trust No One domestic dramas this month.
I love police procedurals whether British or American or... and here is Mayor with another: "[A] fine police procedural, one with a heartrending backstory within its crystal-clear narrative." I've been a fan of Mayor for years and collect him, so I also know that he has actually worked nearly all the jobs in his Joe Gunther series: not medical examiner per se, but EMT, also fire, police, etc. His research into technology and procedure is impressive and impeccable. Which is why I personally collect Mayor's Joe Gunther series -- all 31!
This new investigation brings back a bit of the Tag Man and  certainly the man's impressive daughter Sally Kravitz who is a private investigator, as well as Vermont ME Beverly Hillstrom's daughter Rachel Reiling who is an ace reporter. They both end up in this case along with the usual Gunther squad. It begins with an innocuous DUI stop. Web designer John Rust is clearly over the limit. And not for the first time. Trooper Tyler Brennan experiences no resistance: indeed a compliant Rust explains he's drinking to get over the death of his brother Peter, a hydrocephalic deteriorating into vegetative state towards the end of his 28 years. Rust had provided uninterrupted meticulous care for Peter. Rust's lawyer, hoping to find some wiggle room for his client, hires Sally to dig in for possible extenuating circumstances. And then skeletons begin to surface, questions arise about Peter's condition, Rust disappears, and....
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Smith Henderson
Jon Marc Smith
with Patrick
Thursday 6:00 PM
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THURSDAY OCTOBER 1 6:00 PM
Smith Henderson & Jon Marc Smith discuss Make Them Cry (Ecco $27.99) with Patrick
Signed by Smith Henderson with a signed letter by coauthor Jon Marc Smith.
Patrick thinks this is a terrific novel and reviews:
The author of the award-winning novel Fourth of July Creek teams up debut author Jon Marc Smith to create this superb, intelligent thriller that will appeal to fans of Don Winslow and J Todd Scott.
Diane Harbaugh is a tough, no nonsense DEA agent who heads  down to Mexico for a private meet-up with Gustavo Acuña Cárdenas, a major player in the Cartel del Golfo. The gangster fears for his life after it becomes known that he is the last living person who knows the secret location of a border tunnel made by the cartel. Everyone else associated with the project has been assassinated. Cardenas hopes to make a deal with the DEA - protection and a new identity in the States in exchange for insider knowledge about cartel players and activities. On the ground in Tampico, however, Harbaugh discovers that she isn't the only one interested in Cardenas. Soon they find themselves on the run from just about everyone - the cartel, the global intelligence community, and perhaps even their own government. Highly recommended."
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Val McDermid
Saturday 1:00 PM
Join us on line to celebrate our 31st year
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SATURDAY OCTOBER 3 1:00 PM
Val McDermid, there from the beginning, joins us to discuss
Still Life (Grove $26), our October British Crime Book of the Month. Policing in Scotland, England, and Ireland in this gem
Here we have Police Scotland's Karen Pirie, an iconoclast not unlike Cleeves' Vera Stanhope, landing the case of a man found in the Firth of Forth... but not drowned. He was murdered. He has no  ID. Who is he? This unpromising start to a case in time-and this is what I find so engaging-requires Pirie, head of the Historic Cases Unit, and her team which includes a young protégé she wants to test, to work with English cops, and then Irish. So it's policing on a grand scale and includes a ruthless Assistant Chief Constable in Police Scotland determined to make Pirie the fall guy for what may prove to be a case that cannot be cracked.
And makes a wonderful choice for our October British Crime Book of the Month... toss in a missing politician, art forgery, and secret identities, and a leisurely pace that lets you savor it all. You need not have read a previous Pirie to enjoy this investigation.
Our few Signed UK firsts are shown in the left hand column of this Enews. Only 5 left.
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The Brad Thor Near Dark Discussion Club
October 8 6:00 PM
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Who knew that our webstore does not want to "sell" a free event?
A surprise to us. Please ignore the link I posted yesterday in the October calendar. It wont work.
 So instead!
We will email your zoom link to you on October 7
Read the book first or suffer spoilers
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A Writers Workshop
with Joe Ide
October 10 9:00 AM
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SATURDAY OCTOBER 10 9:00-10:00 AM
A writing workshop with Joe Ide
WRITING THE KILLER CRIME NOVEL or How to Increase Your Odds of Getting Published
Limited to 25
Fee: $10 which will be donated to The Poisoned Pen Foundation to fund various projects in support of authors
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Our October Books of the Month
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First, thank you for your response to The Pen's Books of the Month. The rise in membership means we can do a better job securing signed and unsigned books for you. It's not too late to join one or more clubs--or to give a club membership or more as a holiday gift to start in December or January.
OUR OCTOBER BOOKS OF THE MONTH
International Crime Book of the Month One Unsigned hardcover or paperback per month
SciFi/Fantasy Book of the Month One hardcover or paperback per month signed when possible.
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Our October Calendar
Check back for updates
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THURSDAY OCTOBER 1 5:00 PM
Archer Mayor discusses his new Joe Gunther Vermont thriller Orphan's Guilt (St Martins $27.99)
Signed books available
THURSDAY OCTOBER 1 6:00 PM
Smith Henderson & Jon Marc Smith discuss Make Them Cry (Ecco $27.99) with Patrick
Books signed by Henderson with a letter signed by Smith available
SATURDAY OCTOBER 3 1:00 PM
Our 31st birthday
Val McDermid, there from the beginning, joins us to discuss
Still Life (Grove $26), our October British Crime Book of the Month. Policing in Scotland, England, and Ireland in this gem.
Signed UK copies link in the left hand column.
MONDAY OCTOBER 5 6:00 PM Virtual Book Launch
Lee Child and Heather Martin in conversation
They discuss The Reacher Guy (Pegasus $29.95), Martin's authorized biography of Child that includes 16 pages of photos, most never before seen
Our copies come with a custom designed bookplate that features the Coventry skyline (the city where Lee was born) and hides clues to all 24 sole-authored Reacher books. This limited edition print is shared exclusively with us by Kenilworth Books in Warwickshire. It is signed by both Lee Child and Heather Martin
TUESDAY OCTOBER 6 5:00 PM Virtual Book Launch
Dean Koontz discusses his new novel Elsewhere (Thomas & Mercer $28.99)
Signed copies available
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 7 6:00 PM Virtual Book Launch
Signed copies available
THURSDAY OCTOBER 8 12:00 PM
THURSDAY OCTOBER 8 1:30 PM
Signed bookplates. And for the first dozen orders, a nifty tote bag
THURSDAY OCTOBER 8 6:00 PM
Brad Thor hosts a discussion club for his latest Scot Harvath thriller Near Dark
This event is free but you must register to join the webinar
Please email [email protected] to register Read the book first or suffer spoilers
FRIDAY OCTOBER 9 4:00 PM 
Lisa Unger in conversation with Karin Slaughter
Our October Crime Book of the Month
Signed copies available for both authors
SATURDAY OCTOBER 10 9:00-10:00 AM
A writing workshop with Joe Ide
WRITING THE KILLER CRIME NOVEL or How to Increase Your Odds of Getting Published
You must REGISTER for this event. Or call 888-560-9919
Fee: $10 which will be donated to The Poisoned Pen Foundation to fund various projects in support of authors
SATURDAY OCTOBER 10 2:00 PM
A Lady Sherlock Mystery
SATURDAY OCTOBER 10 3:00 PM Cozy mini-Con
Verity Kent Mystery
Gilded Age Newport Myster
SUNDAY OCTOBER 11 1:00 PM Virtual US Launch Party 
Inspector Rebus
Signed UK edition available A Song for the Dark Times (Orion $45)
MONDAY OCTOBER 12 12:00 PM
Lisa Jewell in conversation with Clare Mackintosh
Signed books available
MONDAY OCTOBER 12 6:00 PM
Signed Books available
TUESDAY OCTOBER 13 5:00 PM
Our International Crime Book of the Month
Signed books available for Molloy 
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 14 12:00 PM
John Grisham in conversation with Ace Atkins
Signed books available
Ace's November Spenser is postponed to January 12
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 14 2:00 PM
David Rosenfelt discusses Silent Bite (St Martins $25.99)
A Christmas Andy Carpenter and canine adventure
Signed books available
THURSDAY OCTOBER 15 5:00 PM
Mark Salter in conversation with distinguished foreign correspondent, columnist, and Pulitzer Prize winner Jim Hoagland of the Washington Post discussing Salter's
This is not a political event
FRIDAY OCTOBER 16 7:00 PM
Rebecca Roanhorse discusses Black Sun (Saga Press $27.99)
Our October SciFi/Fantasy Book of the Month
Signed books available
SATURDAY OCTOBER 17 10:30 AM
MONDAY OCTOBER 19 5 PM A Poisoned Pen Press Duo
Mary Anna Evans discusses Wrecked (Poisoned Pen $15.99)
Faye Longchamp Archaeological Mystery
Alexa Glock Forensic Mystery (set in New Zealand)
THURSDAY OCTOBER 22 7:00 PM
Hardboiled Crime discusses John Gregory Dunne,
MONDAY OCTOBER 26 5:00 PM
Andrew and Lee Child in conversation
They discuss The Sentinel (Bantam $30), the new Jack Reacher
Signed book available plus a special letter to our customers from Lee Child
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 28 1:00 PM
Might be one or two Signed UK editions left: Dirty South (Hodder $44)
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 28 5:00 PM
A debut historical likened to Nero Wolfe/Archie Goodwin mysteries
Our October Historical Fiction Book of the Month
HAPPY HALLOWEEN
We close at 5:00 PM so our staff can enjoy it too
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Mystery-of-the-Month Club
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Looking for something new to read each month and aren't sure what to choose? Let us help... And it makes a great gift
The Mystery-of-the-Month Club is individually tailored to each customer's specific tastes. Just let us know what kinds of mysteries you enjoy, whether your looking for signed hardcover books or paperbacks, and we'll take it from there!
For more information, drop Patrick King a line at
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We Don't Want to Lose You!
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If you change your email address you will disappear from our Enews mailing list automatically. We can't tell unless you either
Go to the very bottom of any Enews and Click on
UPDATE PROFILE or go here and fill in the form. You can choose whether to get the Enews alone or the Enews and Event invitations.
or Email us your new Email address so we can input it for you into The Enews list. Please tell us that's what you want because we cannot just subscribe you.
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Buy Poisoned Pen Gift Cards Online
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The Poisoned Pen
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Email any requests to [email protected]. It's all part of the experience. Thank you for supporting The Poisoned Pen. Winner, 2001 Raven Award from the Mystery Writers of America! Winner,
2012 The Arizona Republic and the New Times Best of Phoenix and Best of Scottsdale, Best Bookstore! 2013 Arizona Republic's Critics' Choice and Reader's Choice Best Specialty Bookstore
12-time Nominee, Publishers Weekly's Bookseller of the Year
Winner, James Patterson Page-Turner Award
Poisoned Pen Press, Winner, The 2010 Ellery Queen Award from The Mystery Writers of America
Member of the Crime Writers of Canada, British Crime Writers Association, The American Booksellers Association,
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available on our 