If you haven’t yet heard about the Mainley Murders Bookstore in Kennebunk Maine, it’s a wonderful little independent specialty mystery bookstore that carries used suspense, crime, and detective fiction!
But my favorite thing about this shop… They record “want lists” for their customers and will keep an eye out for any book that you are trying to find, whether that’s a copy you can’t seem find to finish your collection or if you want to upgrade your mass market copy to a first edition. How amazing is that?!
Well, after seeing so many Murderino’s posting about visiting this spot, I finally made a trip up!
Let’s dive in!
Mainely Murders Bookstore in Kennebunk, Maine
Alex and I found prime parking on the main street and crossed the road. At the intersection, there’s a little sign pointing the way.
A bit further in, you’ll see another sign. Of course, we stopped and Alex snagged a picture of me. It was FREEZING but I promise that I was so excited to be there!
The shop is located just around the corner from this sign. The shop itself is housed in a converted carriage house that is adjacent to the owners’ home.
So as you walk up the driveway, you are greeted by a few book carts and shelves with discounted books. When we were there for this trip, they were featuring canine and feline crimes! (Barb and Laurie, I thought of you both immediately!)
Next up, we entered the shop. It is just one little room, but there are books everywhere!
I loved that the books were organized by region or genre. Of course, some of the more prolific writers were all grouped together. For example, Agatha Christie had two shelves on one bookcase dedicated to her work. There was also a small True Crime section as well as a small recent releases section.
Alex and I spent some time in the shop speaking with a woman that was there. I believe she was one of the owners, but I was silly and didn’t ask! She was wonderful and so friendly! She took the time to talk about my reading interests (which I am horrible about explaining!) and then guided me toward an Agatha Christie novel that I cannot wait to dive into.
I ended up leaving the shop with two books, The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie and Grave Descent by John Lang (Michael Crichton).
Thanks for reading!
If you’re ever in the southern Maine area, I highly recommend making the trip to Kennebunk to visit Mainley Murders Bookstore! The shop is located at 1 Bourne Street, Kennebunk, Maine.
It’s a must visit for all my fellow Murderinos!
That bookstore looks AMAZING! I’d love to own a bookstore myself one day..
Dream big is what they say right?
It’s so perfect! I would love to see more specialty shops pop up here and there! 🙂 And YES!! That would be amazing!
That place looks amazing! I’ll have to stop there the next time where visiting Maine.
<3 It's so neat!! Definitely worth popping in! It's not too far off the highway if you're traveling North!
Wow that’s an awesome bookstore!
I love how they decorated the store with yellow crime scene tape. 🙂
Any other bookstores on your bucket list?
Right?! I loved it so much!! I actually have a whole sticky note on my phone with shops in New Hampshire & Maine that I’d like to visit! 🙂
Their shelves and layout are so organized. I’d love to visit the store!
I definitely recommend it if you’re ever in the area!
Gorgeous bookstore looks like a very cool place to visit.
It sure was!! I definitely recommend making a trip if you’re ever in the area! 🙂
I have wanted to visit Maine in general but now I really want to go!
There are SO many great shops in Maine! A bunch of my favorites are in Portland, right in the Old Port! 🙂
So jealous of your visit! I’m not “down south” very often so it’s still on my must-visit list! 😆
<3 It's so cute! Definitely worth a stop if you're headed south!
I wish there were more bookshops here especially genre specific! I’d LOVE to visit a bookshop in the UK that did only horror and thriller books! It’s hard to get any horror in second hand bookstores unless it is old stuff from 70’s and 80’s!
It’s SO neat!! I hope to see more shops like this popping up! 🙂
How cool! I love that they focus on just a couple genres!
Right?! It was so neat to see!
My daughter goes to college in Maine and I am hoping to stop by the store on one of our visits this spring. Thanks for the tip! I had no idea it was there!
That’s awesome!! I hope you do get to stop in!! Enjoy! 🙂
Shops like these are my favorites. And you got some great pictures. You know me very well. I could have just walked the whole cart up to the counter right?
100%!!!! 😀
I just love little niche book shops like this. Thanks for sharing.
Me too! They’re so wonderful to visit!
Thank you so much for this little find. I am always on lookout for great independent stores and will definitely add this to the list!
<3 I hope you get to visit soon!!
I have a copy of The Body in the Library that I hope to read soon. This bookstore looks like my kind of place!! And I love the idea of that “wants” list. How nice.
<3 Right?! It's such a neat little shop!
I’ve had Maine on my to visit list for years but I think it just went up to the top of the list. That bookstore looks amazing!
<3 Maine as SO much you can go see!! If you start planning a trip, I'd be happy to give you more recommendations! :)
So awesome! Next time I’m in Maine I’ll have to look it up! 🙂
Yes!!! It’s such a neat spot!!