Tucked a couple of blocks off Old Town Scottsdale's main drag is the Valley's most distinctive bookstore, The Poisoned Pen. The homey little store draws a crowd of mystery, suspense and thriller fans. Though genre-specific, the store's decor and gifts provide amusement to any reader. The Poisoned Pen is the spot in Arizona for mystery writers when they pass through town, as the store regularly holds readings and meet-and-greets with rabid fans looking to meet their favorites in the murder-mystery scene. Even the employees are die-hard mystery fans, with an entire shelf dedicated to their personal picks.
4014 N. Goldwater Blvd., Suite 101, Scottsdale, (480) 947-2974, poisonedpen.com
Runners-up:
1. Barnes & Noble
2. Borders
3. Changing Hands
