Buy the books: Store’s specialty is murder ink

Murder by the Book is located on Bissonnet Street, between Kirby and Greenbriar.

Named after a Rex Stout novel with the same name, it features predominantly crime fiction, including espionage, mystery, and paranormal mystery and fantasy books. There are used books available for sale, as well as a children's corner. Murder by the Book hosts book signings frequently and stays open late on nights when it hosts author events.

ADDRESS: 2342 Bissonnet Street, Houston

HOURS: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday

PHONE: 713-524-8597; 888-424-2842

WEBSITE: www.murderbooks.com

OWNER: McKenna Jordan

WHAT YOU'LL FIND: A staff that loves to read and is always on the lookout for new releases and older, undiscovered series, as well as providing a "personal, community-oriented" experience for the customers.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: "Our future goals are to keep doing what we're doing as best we can, and try to change and adapt with the way the (publishing) market's changing. Within the last year, we've started selling eBooks through our website … to keep up with the way that the industry's changing."--John Kwiatkowski, publicity manager