Centuries & Sleuths Bookstore is the perfect place to look for that special history volume, biography, or mystery you need for stimulation, inspiration, information, escape &/or laughter.

The atmosphere is warm and friendly with oak bookcases labeled with the historical era or subject matter of the books on the shelves. There are two windsor chairs, a rocking chair, and a church pew to sit on while reviewing books prior to your purchases, all set on a portion of Bruce plaid carpet framed with forest green carpeting.

Not only that, but C&S also has discussion groups in history & mystery where you can share your opinion about a given book & possibly argue in defense of your view on a given author, book, or topic.

Check out this great video about the new title, "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter", by Seth Grahame-Smith.

Also, there is a good chance that you can discuss your opinion about a book with the author who caused your joy, thoughtfulness, queries, & maybe anger. That is because C&S has frequent signings for authors of histories, biographies, & mysteries, for both adults & children. In some cases, we have visits from the famous (e.g. Napoleon, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Luther, Twain, Elizabeth I, Joan of Arc, Isabella of Castile, F.D.R., etc.) who have "passed on" who you can argue with when they appear. They are portrayed by members of C&S's History Discussion Group in our Meeting of Minds series. Finally, it's the bookstore that makes the tomes you read come alive.

The latest item we are carrying is a bust of Sherlock Holmes (5-5/8"H, 3-1/2"W, 2-3/4"D) exclusively commissioned by Centuries & Sleuths Bookstore and designed by local artist, Glenn Braun to Augie Aleksy's specifications (November 27, 2004). They are for sale in plaster @ $29.99/ea and resin @ $49.99/ea plus shipping/handling & insurance USPO.

Centuries & Sleuths was listed as one of the Ten Best Bookstores in Chicago in the Tempo section of the Chicago Tribune on June 8, 2007 by Patrick Reardon (Remember, fame is fleeting.)

We've got some great events coming up, 11/16 at 2PM we author, Sara Paretsky and Cook County Court sketch artist, Andy Austin for Writing in An Age of Silence, Bleeding Kansas and Rule of 53: Capturing Hippies, Spies, Politicians, & Murderers in an American Courtroom; 11/22 at 2PM authors, Michael Black & Sam Reaves for their latest mysteries, Windy City Knights (2nd Ron Shade) & Mean Town Blues (Tom Mc Lain, Iraq War vet in a Chicago Gang War); 11/23 at 2PM authors and editors, Richard Cahan and Michael Williams will discuss their collection of rare American photographs in their books, Richard Nickle's Chicago Photographs of the Lost City; Chicago: City of the Move, and their latest opus, Who We Were: Snapshot History of America and then we start the New Year with J.A. Jance on 1/16/09 at 7PM for her 4th Ali Reynolds mystery, Cruel Intent. Page to Screen. Its a new book club you read a book that's been made into a movie. Then view movie and discuss the transition... good, bad, ridiculous? You decide.LOOK AT "STORE EVENTS" FOR MORE..

PLEASE NOTE: THAT UNLESS IT IS MARKED WITH BOLD PRINT "AUTHOR SIGNING AND DISCUSSION" THERE IS NO 'SIGNING EVENT'. ALSO TITLES YOU FIND FROM "BOOKSENSE" MAY NOT NECESSARILY BE IN STOCK OR CARRIED BY CENTURIES & SLEUTHS

Title of Event: On This Day...
When: Monday, March 22, 2010 11:00 PM
Location: Centuries & Sleuths Bookstore, 7419 W. Madison St., Forest Park, IL 60130
Description: 1846: Birthday of English artist, illustrator, and pioneer in creating picture books for children, Randolph Caldecott. In 1937, American publisher, Frederick G. Melcher asked the American Library Association to select the most distinguished children's picture book published in the United States each year. This selected book is then awarded the Randolph Caldecott Award.
(Read More!)

Big City, Bad Blood by Chercover, Sean A disillusioned newspaper reporter turned private detective, Ray Dudgeon isn't trying to save the world. He just wants to do an honest job, and do it well. But when doing an honest job threatens society's most powerful and corrupt, Ray's odds for survival make for a sucker's bet. . . . While working on a movie in Chicago, Hollywood locations manager Bob Loniski saw something he shouldn't have. Now he's a prosecution witness against a suspected member of the Chicago Outfit. Petrified, he comes to Ray for protection. Ray's mob contacts insist that they have no interest in Loniski, so he takes the bodyguard gig. Then people start dying and everything goes to hell. Ray's investigation leads to a stash of blackmail files involving the sex trade, Washington political corruption, and a deadly power struggle among Chicago's organized crime bosses--setting the FBI, the Chicago police, and the mob on his tail. He now holds evidence against top-ranking cops and politicians . . . but with the line between good and bad blurring, he doesn't know who he can trust. If he does the right thing, Ray is sure to die. But if he doesn't, how can he live with himself? From the back alleys of Chicago to the man-sions of Beverly Hills to the corridors of power in Washington, D.C., Sean Chercover's "Big City, Bad Blood" propels readers relentlessly forward on a bullet-fast, adrenaline-pumping ride they will not soon forget.