Good Toronto bookstores?

October 1, 2008 7:21 PM

I will be traveling through Toronto (from Detroit area) on the way to Muskoka soon and I am looking for some good bookstores in the region. I am interested in everything, but I really have a yen for good mystery and crime fiction. Any ideas?
posted by cows of industry to travel & transportation (10 comments total)

BMV bookstores, with the biggest (and nicest) one on Bloor, near Spadina. Not sure about their selection of mystery and crime fiction, but it's well-stocked and cheap.
posted by pised at 7:43 PM on October 1, 2008

You'd probably get a kick out of the Sleuth of Baker Street.
posted by Newbornstranger at 9:20 PM on October 1, 2008

If it's mysteries you're after, you'll want Sleuth of Baker Street at 1600 Bayview Ave.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 9:20 PM on October 1, 2008

Bakka Phoenix is pretty great, too, if you're into speculative fiction.

I love browsing through the Cook Book Store, but maybe that's just me.

Also, if you're passing through in October, the many colleges of the University of Toronto all have their yearly book-sales around now. Check it out.
posted by Newbornstranger at 9:24 PM on October 1, 2008

Seconding BMV. Though they are both quite small, I'm also partial to She Said Boom for fiction and The Beguiling for comics and graphic novels. David Mirvish Books is across the street from The Beguiling if you like art or design books.

It's probably worth mentioning also the Worlds Biggest Book Store which is, actually, pretty big.
posted by tracert at 11:54 PM on October 1, 2008

Pages is my favourite Toronto bookstore - lots of amazing art and design stuff
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 12:35 AM on October 2, 2008

seconding pages
posted by ndicecco at 5:37 AM on October 2, 2008

thirding pages - can't believe I forgot it.
posted by Newbornstranger at 7:07 AM on October 2, 2008

Depending on the nature of your interest in mysteries, you may also be interested in visiting the Arthur Conan Doyle Collection at the Toronto Reference Library
posted by winston at 9:14 AM on October 2, 2008

Balfour Books in Little Italy has a decent selection of mysteries and pulps. It's open late, and it's a nice neighborhood to explore anyway (e.g. Soundscapes is one of the best record stores in the city, and refreshingly unpretentious).
posted by Beardman at 9:38 AM on October 2, 2008