The Poisoned Pen Bookstore marks 35th years of mystery and thrillers

Join us in celebrating the 35th anniversary of The Poisoned Pen, the iconic bookstore in Old Town Scottsdale that has captivated mystery and thriller enthusiasts for decades. Founded by Barbara Peters, this beloved literary haven has become a cornerstone for fans of suspenseful fiction.

On this special occasion, Barbara Peters shared the rich history of The Poisoned Pen on “Arizona Horizon,” offering insights into how the store has evolved over the years while maintaining its unique focus on mystery and thriller genres.

Discover what has made The Poisoned Pen a cherished destination for readers and authors alike, and how it continues to thrive in the heart of Scottsdale.

“I opened the store as a hobby, it was never intended to be a business.” Peters said.

She thought it would be fun as she used to be a librarian a the the Library of Congress. She didn’t expect the business to grow as it did.

“Old Town Scottsdale in 1989 was all art galleries and tourists. On day three I realized that no one local was going to come in, so I got out a yellow pad and said ‘Sign here and I will write to you,’ and I have written a newsletter to our customers every month since November of 1989.” Peters said.

The success of the store has been driven by the community it has created.

“Our new mission is to become more of a community bookstore. I think every independent bookstore needs to reflect its community and also we made a conscious decision not to be political. We have a great staff and all of us read differently and are different people, but we decided to be a place of entertainment and fellowship and conversation and everybody could come there and feel safe.” Peters said.

The Poisoned Pen has given many authors their first bit of exposure.

“It’s kind of become our thing to be a starter. There are probably 100 best-selling authors that are currently publishing who started, did their first event, or we were on their first book tour” Peters said.

For 35 years the Poisoned Pen has been a community staple and a place where the input of the customers is just as crucial as the input of the staff and authors.