Detective fiction bookshop's appeal is no mystery

SHANGHAI — In the realm of detective fiction, the truth often lies shrouded in enigmas, with both the characters within the pages and the authors who pen these tales of suspense working to unveil them. Shi Chen, a detective novelist born in 1987, has not only penned 15 gripping detective novels but also founded a bookstore dedicated to the genre, called Mystery Books.

With its pure white exterior and gray-black cement floor, the minimalist industrial design of Mystery Books mirrors the essence of detective fiction.

Within its 60-square-meter space, a meticulously curated collection of hundreds of books awaits readers. The shelves are adorned with works by writers such as Edgar Allan Poe, Agatha Christie, Keigo Higashino and many others. Shi's own acclaimed titles, Liangshan Hunter and The Obsidian Mansion Murder, are also among the tomes.