And here are some details from The Mystery Company Bookstore, which is closing up shop.

The process of closing the store is difficult, emotional and, inevitably, slow. We've sold lots of books, but we still have lots more in the store. Most of our remaining new book stock is now listed on this page:

www.mysterycompany.com/clearance.htm

For online orders, we're offering 40% off everything listed here, and free shipping to any address in the US. In store, we're also offering 40% off everything for payment by credit card or 50% off for payment by cash or check.

We also still have lots of used books on our shelves. We are continuing to excavate our back room, and have added several hundred "new" used books to our shelves. Lots of good titles that you just don't see every day; hope you'll have a chance to come in and see for yourself.

If you shop in store, we invite you to pick up one or two advance reading copies of recent, current and forthcoming titles. We've set these out in the middle of the store, and they're free with any purchase.

We'll be open at least parts of each day now through Wednesday; check our clearance page for specific times. It's possible that we'll need additional time beyond Wednesday; we'll keep you posted if we add any more hours. We're also selling fixtures, furniture and supplies, and will soon be putting together some kind of list of what remains.

If you still have a Mystery Company gift card, we hope you'll use it for an online, telephone or in-store purchase. But if you're not able to make a final purchase, please send it back to us, and we'll get a refund check to you.

So many of you have already helped us find good homes for so many of the books here, and we're also grateful for your all your support and your kind words and wishes. The comments on my blog -- at mysterycompany.typepad.com -- have been totally overwhelming. It's impossible to thank all of you for all of your many kindnesses, but I will express our gratitude to Linda Lugar for the wonderful farewell party she organized for us, and to Louise Penny for sending flowers and champagne. Pictures from the party are posted online. It was a lovely and spectacular way to celebrate our time here together.

Thank you!

Yours in mystery,

Jim

p.s. We will be at the Carmel Clay Public Library on Tuesday, February 9, for the launch of Jeff Stone's final Five Ancestors novel, Dragon. We'll email separately with details.