Downtown Booksellers

Downtown Bookseller's, located on University Road in downtown Rochester, is a store that I stumbled upon by chance. While walking around downtown Rochester, I spotted the Used Books sign from a distance away and practically ran towards the store.

Downtown's was, of course, filled with books, as most used book stores are. The store features old, new, and rare books. To me, what set the store apart from others was its vast collection of old books. And these books weren't just old, they were late 1800s/early 1900s old. Most of them were history collections, like war volumes and encyclopedia sets, but the amount of old books was astounding. There were also old editions of classics- like Jane Austen and Charles Dickens novels. Downtown's also featured a big section of just poetry books- both old and new books.

While the classic and rare book shelves were filled to the brim, the general fiction sections- divided into hardcover and paperback categories- were full as well. There was a decent variety- even the entire series of James Bond books as well as the entire Alex Cross series. Other featured genres that I rarely see at used book stores included religion, sports, and celebrity memoirs. The store also had a combined children's and teen's section, which was small.

The atmosphere of Downtown’s was pleasant. Quiet, classical music- which seems to be the popular background music of used book stores- allowed for peaceful browsing. The service was kind and helpful. Prices were not listed on all the books, so most had to be inquired upon. The prices that were listed varied on the condition and rarity of the book, though many were on the expensive side for used books. The store did offer sale prices on some series that had all or most of the books.

On to Nancy Drew, the books featured at Downtown's were the classics. There were about 20 books from the original series. Many of them were from early in the series; two of them had unique covers that I have not seen before. These covers- which were plain blue with an orange silhouette of Nancy- were from the books published between 1932 and 1937. The insides of these editions also feature four pages of glossy hand drawn illustrations that depict certain scenes from the story. The editions available at Downtown's were missing their dust jackets. So while they were not as valuable as those with dust jackets, they were still an interesting find.

Nancy Drew is well known for going hand-in-hand with the Hardy Boys- the boy detectives to Nancy's girl detective. Downtown's held a large stock of Franklin W. Dixon's The Hardy Boys series. This included copies from the original publishing date-1927.

Downtown Bookseller’s was a pleasant surprise to find. It is conveniently located close by and easy to visit while on the run to other places. While the selection at Downtown’s was unique, I did not find any books that were worth adding to my collection. There is, though, a chance that I will return to Downtown Booksellers sometime in the future.

Charlin's Book Nook

Charlin's Book Nook, a small shop in Frankenmuth, was among one of the most exciting used book store trips I've had. I visited in the summer, but the store is worth an honorable mention now. On my first trip there, I found a British edition of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. So, when I returned to Frankenmuth in the summer, I made a special trip to Charlin’s. The store is located in downtown Frankenmuth's River Place, a great stop on a bigger shopping trip.

Charlin's is relatively small, but the selection is good. The shelves are many- stacked high and full of countless books. The majority of the books were no older fifteen years, but there were a few old ones if you looked hard enough. Genre wise, there was a good variety, appealing to most reading interests. There were the usual genres, along with a rather large children’s and young adult’s section. In fact, these two sections were in a small room of their own- separate from the rest of the store. Prices depend on the condition of the book, how new or old it is, and if it’s rare or not. For the most part, the books ranged between a reasonable two to ten dollars.

I liked that the store featured a small area for browsers to sit and read. There were a few comfortable chairs, an electric fireplace, and a babbling fountain. Charlin's was peaceful- perfect for a used book store. Not only could I get lost in the stacks, but I could take a seat and read a little, something that I find helps me decide which books to buy.

Nancy's Mysterious Letter copyright 1932

When I came across the Nancy Drew selection, I was shocked. The number of Nancy Drew books was enormous. There had to at least have been twenty-five books, if not more. There were a few recently published copies, but the majority of them were older books- from the original Girl Detective Series. There was a mix of the old and new yellow books; both the early published editions and the re-published editions from the 2000s. My excitement came upon my finding of a Nancy Drew book that had been published in the 1930s. I found Nancy's Mysterious Letter which was published in 1932 for the first time. One of these copies is not necessarily rare, as some old books are, but I was excited to be able to add an early edition onto my list of found books. The second book that I found was The Secret in the Old Attic which was published in 1944, also the original publishing date, though book came later in the series. Both of these books are now members of my own personal collection.

It’s a sure fact that when I go back to Frankenmuth, I will visit Charlin’s again. I had a great and exciting experience there, finding the two Nancy Drew books. I am very excited to see what I will find on the shelves next.

Barnes & Noble Sale Annex

I have visited the used book section of Rochester's Barnes and Noble many times, but it is such a great place that I couldn't resist writing about it. Not many Barnes and Noble stores have a used book section- in fact, the Rochester location is the only one in my area that I know of. The Sale Annex is a large area in the even larger store. Whenever I get the chance to visit, I am always astounded by the vast selection and the fact that my arms always end up filled with more books than I can afford.

The used section of the store is set up the same as the rest of the store. Organized by category, alphabetical order, etc. The only difference is that all the books are used rather than new, obviously. On Tuesdays and Thursdays the store give customers the opportunity to sell their used books back to the store. A unique aspect of used books as opposed to the usual "trade in" that smaller stores offer. With this practice, the store has the chance to swap out books more often. When I visit, I always notice that the stock is different from the last time.

Each of the sections are large and well stocked. I was pleased to see a good variety of books during this visit, including graphic novels. The store even features special edition and collectible used books. Some of these are even signed by the author. Many of the paperback books are priced at five dollars, with the exception of shorter children's chapter books, which are either one or three dollars. Hardcover books are between seven and ten dollars. Though prices are on the expensive side for used books, there are tables in the middle of the used book section that sell books at fifty percent off.


Twenty six was the magic number of Nancy Drew books at the Sale Annex. The store has the first eight books of the Nancy Drew Girl Detective books. This series is the newest and is currently still published. There were also three copies of Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys Mysteries- which I love. The team ups between the savvy sleuth and the detective brothers are always good for a humorous, yet fantastic mystery.

Though I didn't buy anything on this trip to the Barnes and Noble Sale Annex, you can guarantee that I will return to browse again.

BYOB - Bring Your Old Books

BYOB- it's not what you think. In this case, it stands for Bring Your Old Books. This store offers buying, trading, and selling of used books. BYOB, located in Shelby Township, is more than one would expect from a typical used book store.

At first glance, BYOB is a typical book store. Neat rows of shelves lined with books, a quiet atmosphere for browsing, signs promoting book trades. But then you look to the right. Comic book galore. That's right, BYOB also sells comic books and related paraphernalia. That part of the store alone was enough to release my inner geek, but along with the great selection of books, going to BYOB was a stellar experience.

Selection wise, BYOB has books that I don't see in every store. The books were in great condition- even the ones with older publishing dates. The children and young adult books were together, neatly alphabetized. From a large collection of Harry Potter to old Judy Blume novels, I could have spent hours in just that section. BYOB also had the entire Series of Unfortunate Events novels, tied together with a ribbon- part of their package sales.

The other books were categorized by genre- horror, romance, self-help, etc. I was impressed by their religious section, a fairly large mix of bibles, which something you don't see in many used book stores. The selection was not dominated by popular romance novels, nor was it overflowing with used James Patterson books, the norm of other stores. I got to see unusual titles, like a series of James Bond books and a section devoted to dream interpretation. The graphic novel section held many Marvel and DC comics, as well as Manga and The Walking Dead series.

Prices at the store were affordable. Books ranged anywhere from one dollar to five. If you bring a book to trade, it is one dollar off the price of another book. The store also allows patron to keep trade-in credits.

BYOB had a few Nancy Drew novels, including a few eighty page Nancy Drew Notebooks. Among the usual yellow-spined reprints, I found a reprint of The Bungalow Mystery. This copy was part of a short lived arc of special books reprinted in 1991 with the original covers. The Bungalow Mystery reprint featured a few pages of special artwork from the original artist, as well as a brief history of Nancy Drew withing the first few pages. In my opinion, this book was a great find.

The entire back of the store held messy stacks of yet-to-be shelved books. I'm certain that when I return to BYOB I'll see many new books upon the shelves.

Books Connection

My first stop was Books Connection, located in Shelby Township. Books Connection is a humble little store with a unique take on used books. This store offers patrons the opportunity to bring in their own used books in exchange for a reduced price on a book that they purchase. Prices are 40% off the list price and 60% off if you bring in a trade book.

     
Upon entering the store I was greeted with warmth and welcome. Classical music played softly through the speakers, easing me into comfort- which I always seem to find among books- as I began to browse the stacks. The shelves of Books Connection are close together and filled with books. When browsing, I like to always start with the children’s books and work my way around the store. In this case, the children’s section was located on the bottommost shelves throughout the store. The selection was decent. I spotted many familiar titles and authors.

     
From there I found the young adult books- a section smaller than the children’s- with a fair selection. Bigger selections were home to genres such as mysteries, sci-fi, and classics. There were even many, many copies of Cliff Notes, along with books by local authors.

     
The biggest section, by far, was romance, taking up multiple isles from floor to ceiling. Anyone who is a big romance novel reader should check out Books Connection.

     
Fiction was not the sole classification, though. Non-fiction books and magazines were available as well.

     
Books Connection carried both old and new books. Popular best sellers are available at a reduced price. They also offer the ability to order books that aren’t on the shelves.

     
The store had a great atmosphere. It was friendly and cozy. The hour I spent in the store flew by without my notice.

     
In terms of my sleuthing progress, Books Connections was home to five copies of Nancy Drew. Three were from the classic series, but printed in 2000. One was from the 1986 The Nancy Drew Files and the other from 2003’s Girl Detective series. They were each titles that I was familiar with, but I was not inclined to purchase any of the five.

     
Books Connection holds great potential and I look forward to visiting again to see if the selection grows.

The Secondhand Sleuth

Secondhand Sleuth here and I’m on the case to hunt down used books. I’m ready to track down what I deem valuable in abundances of old novels and stories. Stick with me to crack the case as I solve the mystery of the best used book stores in the metro-Detroit area.

There is something about an old, beat-up, dog-eared book that has more value than an expensive, brand new novel. Browsing through a used bookstore is a mystery. You never know what forgotten book will show up on the shelf next. It may be an early edition of a treasured classic or simply a beloved childhood favorite.

Ever since I was young, I have been an avid reader.  I can easily get lost in the twisting plot of a novel. The words on a page have the ability to draw me in to the magic of the story. Devouring stories was my favorite way to pass the time. As I get older, my search for a good read grows, as does my collection of books. Most recently, the newest additions to my collection are, in fact, old.

The world of used books is very exciting. I intend to dive into this world with enthusiasm and passion. Not only will I browse through the stacks, I will give my honest overall rating of the store. I will base my rating on experience, stock, and bargains. The best book store visit will end with me walking away with a new read. A review is not the only thing I will provide, though. I will record all my exciting adventures in the shelves- the books I find and the people I meet.

On my quest, I will sleuth for any and every edition of the Nancy Drew series, by Carolyn Keene. Nancy Drew is one of my all-time favorite characters. The savvy detective has always sparked my interest and now it is my turn to be the sleuth. The series was first published in the 1930’s and has been in circulation ever since. Over 80 million different copies and editions have been printed and sold over the years. Multiple spin-off series, as well as movies and computer games, has kept Nancy and her mysteries relevant and thrilling. With this said, the original, yellow-spined books are a prize to come across. I hope to find old, new, and in-between copies to add to my growing collection about the girl detective.

Used book stores hold excitement and adventure in every turn of the page. After all, books hold some of the most important clues to life.

In the words of Virginia Woolf, “Second hand books are wild books, homeless books; they have come together in vast flocks of variegated feather, and have a charm which the domesticated volumes of the library lack.”

Wish me Happy Sleuthing!