Madison’s favorite independent bookstore has turned a gentle corner in its storied history. As of January 2, 2025, Hannah Davidson and Hilary Burg took over as owners of Mystery to Me, from founder Joanne Berg, who retired to Arizona.

I call it a gentle corner that’s been turned, Dear Reader, because long-time patrons of the cozy shop at 1863 Monroe Street are not likely to notice jarring departures from past custom. The two young women, new mothers and former employees at the store, are interested in making the shop’s magic continue to happen. They expect to “build upon Mystery to Me’s success by introducing a variety of new in-store events, strengthening partnerships with local organizations and schools, and prioritizing personal recommendations to connect more readers with books they’ll love.” Both new owners were MTM employees before becoming prinicpals.

This store and its staff have a special place in Your New Favorite Writer’s heart not only as a bookstore but as the locus of my two successful book launch parties—one for the original edition of The Price of Passage in 2022 and the other to launch Izzy Strikes Gold! in 2024. The booksellers at Mystery to Me really know how to treat an author. In each case they arranged to have award-winning journalist and author Doug Moe interview me about my book, and they facilitated a joyous celebration/book-buying/autographing party.

Not because I’m so special, Gentle Reader. They do this for everybody. At least, for local authors with good books to pitch. 

Despite the store’s name, it’s a full bookstore that caters to a broad variety of tastes across multiple genres. It includes a prominent children’s book section, developed a few years ago with the aid of a grant by author James Patterson.

Mystery to Me dates back to 2013, when founder Joanne Berg retired from a career with the University of Wisconsin and purchased the inventory and shelves of Booked for Murder, a specialized bookstore on University Avenue. She moved the whole operation to Monroe Street, changed its name, and began to expand its scope. Soon the store was playing host to a wide variety of author events. 

Mystery to Me puts a lot of time and energy into hosting authors. This hospitality, overseen by Events Coordinator Elizabeth Walsh, is a great boon to struggling artists like me. And not only me. Famous authors including Hank Phillippi Ryan, Donna Leon, and James Patterson have been known to appear at Mystery to Me. 

One of my personal favorites is my friend Kashmira Sheth, a prolific children’s book author formerly from Madison but now living in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. Kashmira will showcase her new middle-grade novel, I’m From Here, Too tonight (Tuesday, April 8).

If you live anywhere in the Madison area, be sure to swing by Monroe Street and check out Mystery to Me, this fabulous local independent store that is such a central part of our literary scene.

Blessings,

Larry F. Sommers

Your New Favorite Writer