CLICK HERE to get all the scoop on the Write of Spring where we had nearly five dozen authors in attendance!

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!

Sisters in Crime meets the first Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m., excluding July and August. The Crime Fiction Reading Group meets the second Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. except June, July & August.

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

UPCOMING EVENTS: All readings/signings listed below are evening events unless otherwise indicated.

Thu. May 8 - 7:00 John Sandford “Phantom Prey.”

Sat. May 10 - 12:00-2:00 Anthony Neil Smith “Yellow Medicine” MN author - Reception/Signing.

Mon. May 12 - 7:00 Robert Alexander “The Romanov Bride” - Launch party/Signing.

Wed. May 14 - 6:30 Mystery Book Club meeting. Book for the night is: A Perfect Evil by Alex Kava.

Thu. May 15 - 7:00 David Housewright “Madman on A Drum” - Launch party/refreshments/signing. CLICK HERE to read a review about the book.

Sat. May 17 - 12:00-2:00 Kathleen Hills “The Kingdom Where Nobody Dies.”

Tues. May 20 - 7:00 Terri Persons “Blind Rage.”

Thu. May 22 - 7:00 Ellen Hawley “Open Line” (non-mystery with a starred review from Publishers Weekly) from a favorite local author now living in England.

Tues. May 27 - 7:00 C. J. Box “Blood Trail.”

Tues. Jun 3 - 7:00 Twin Cities Sisters In Crime meeting. (Last meeting until September.) Book for the night is: The Last Lessons of Summer by Margaret Maron.

Wed. June 4 - 7:00 John Connolly “The Reapers” in the Charlie Parker Series.

Thu. June 5 - 7:00 Craig Johnson “Another Man’s Moccasins.”

Sat. June 21 - 12:00-2:00 Julie Hyzy “State of the Onion” and Michael Black “Random Victim.”

Sat. June 28 - 12:00-2:00 Jess Lourey “August Moon.”

Thu. July 10 - 7:00 Victoria Houston “Dead Hot Shot.”

Tues. July 15 - 7:00 Julie Kramer “Stalking Susan” MN author debut.

Sat. July 19 - 12:00-2:00 Brent Ghelfi “Volk's Shadow” Signing/Refreshments.

Thu. Aug 28 - 7:00 Carl Brookins “The Case of the Deceiving Don” Launch party/refreshments.

Tues. Sep 2 - 7:00 Twin Cities Sisters In Crime meeting. Book for the night is: Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn.

Wed. Sep 3 - 7:00 William Kent Krueger “Red Knife” Publication 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.