It's no mystery: Book Sleuth has new digs

Call it “The Case of the Moving Bookstore.”

After 25 years in Old Colorado City, the Book Sleuth has moved from 2501 W. Colorado Ave. to 1519 N. Union Blvd., just north of Union and Palmer Park Boulevard. Though the shop specializes in tales of mystery, the reason for its move is no big secret.

“The rent was a little lower, that was the primary reason,” said owner Lyman Mark. Also, he said, “we have better visibility on the street, so I’m hoping the sales will be larger.”

The Book Sleuth opened in 1984. Mark, a longtime mystery fan, became a co-owner a few years later, then full owner. His mother, Helen Randal, followed the same path, buying part of the business from her son in 1991, then buying him out completely. Mark left for a time, then returned to help run the store. He became owner again after his mother’s death in 2007.

The shop opened in its new location last week. Since then, Mark has been busy unloading boxes of books and stocking shelves.

Along with approximately 15,000 books, the shop’s resident cat, Moriarty, made the move. The coal-black Moriarty, now approaching age 19 or so, came to the Book Sleuth as a kitten, continuing a tradition of in-store cats that began with Sherlock and Watson. At the old location, Moriarty was known to lounge on the front counter under a light.

“She’s kind of unhappy about the move,” Mark said, “but she’s still with us.”