349 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ

A brief review for a small bookshop, but one worth investigating by intrepid book hunters seeking mystery, crime, and noir.

The shop is on the quiet end of Princeton’s main drag, Nassau Street, close to the intersection with Harrison Street. There’s free parking in the back, which is a boon in a town where so much street parking is metered, even on weekends. Like so many of the homes and shops in town, this one is aesthetically quaint with hints of old Dutch architecture. This shop itself is in a smaller building, just a couple rooms with shelves, displays, a fireplace, a big reading chair, and a large bay window overlooking the street. It’s a cozy little shop, and I imagine it’s even more so on a rainy day or in the fall.

As for the books, you know what you’re getting here. The assortment covers cozy mysteries, procedurals, noir thrillers, Victorian whodunits, and modern crime collections from all over the globe. I found a small selection of mystery books for kids and teens too. The shop had a number of mystery dinner games, some DVDs, audiobooks, and gifts that fir the theme. The big front window display also had some books with a nautical theme, and a glass case wall display with more older and interesting titles.

I walked away with a Chicago crime novel I’ve been meaning to read, but I saw plenty of others worth grabbing. If you’re in the Princeton area and looking for a mystery, be sure to stop in.

Atmosphere — A small two-room shop, clean and tidy, adorned with a fireplace, reading chair, and a big bay window. It almost feels like someone’s private reading lounge!

Quality — There are older editions mixed in with new, so there’s a range of quality as far as editions, but everything is in very good shape, no duds to be found in here.

Quantity — It’s not a huge shop but there’s a solid amount for what space is available, large shelves and displays, nooks and glass cases.

Diversity — This shop is going after mystery, crime, and some noir. A little nautical and a few children’s books, but they still fit the theme.

Affordability — The books were all fairly priced, some discounted and others with typical prices for newer books.

Amenities — There’s a chair and games, but it’s a tight little shop so not much in the way of extras. Free off-street parking is a boon!

Location — On Nassau Street near Harrison, close enough to walk to the center of town.

Customer Service — The gentleman at the desk was friendly and quick to ring me up.

Overall — This shop may be small but fills a niche for mystery lovers, with used and newer books alike. If you’re in Princeton, it’s well worth a visit!