Written by Katherine Poole

It’s no mystery that McIntyre’s Books at Fearrington Village in Pittsboro is the place to go for thrillers—the shop, which has been around since 1989, has an entire room dedicated to all things suspenseful. So when brainstorming ideas on how to build on the overwhelming success of its children’s book festival, Whirlikids, book buyer Pete Mock says it made perfect sense to host a mystery book event. The first ever Crime Scene Mystery Bookfest will be held February 8 and the lineup is killer. “We have one of the best mystery and thriller selections in the South, and we have enough of a reputation that we were able to get an amazing group of authors,” says Mock, who’s also the shop’s resident mystery guru. “It’s pretty loaded.” The roster of 20+ whodunnits include Edgar Award winners, The New York Times bestsellers, internationally renowned and local writers like William Boyle, Martin Clark, Gregg Hurwitz, Jamie Mason, Thomas Perry and S.J. Rozan.

The festival kicks off Friday, February 7 at the Barn at Fearrington with Killer Cocktails, an exclusive, ticketed event. Mix and mingle with the authors in an intimate setting, get books signed and enjoy hors d’oeuvres and drinks. Tickets are $75 and include two drink tickets and a $20 gift card. 

Return to the scene of the crime Saturday for a full day of panel discussions, author readings and book signings held at McIntyre’s, the Barn at Fearrington and the Belted Goat, Fearrington’s casual dining spot. The event will culminate with the announcement of the winner of the third annual Beltie Mystery Prize. The bookfest is free and open to the public. Visit the website for a full schedule and list of attending authors.

For more information, fearrington.com/mcintyres-books/