Jeff and Amanda Morse combined their love for the mystery and romance genres by creating a bookstore that specializes in both.
Partners in Crime opened at 4105 N. Lincoln Ave. earlier this year
“Since there are so many bookstores in Chicago, we wanted to do something unique,” Jeff said. “It’s worked out really well for us because we get to stock the books that we want to read and focus on the genres that we’re most passionate about.”
Both of the genres feature familiar structures and are known for grabbing readers’ attention.
“They’re books that just keep rolling, you don’t really run into slow spots,” Amanda said. “There’s always something to look forward to, and you know that in the end, you’ll get a resolution in a thriller or you’ll get a happy ending with a romance.
Right now, the shop is full of books that take place during the summer, from beachfront mysteries to romantic road trips.
If you’re looking for a thriller, Jeff recommended “The Last Ferry Out” by Andrea Bartz, a twist-y thriller in which a woman travels to the remote island where her fiancé died in a tragic accident in order to uncover what happened to him.
If romance is more your style, Amanda suggested “Pot Shot” by Laura Piper Lee, which came out earlier this year and “had me giggling.” It follows a chronically ill woman who’s about to open a cannabis dispensary when she’s rudely interrupted by her next-door neighbor, a doctor with a lifelong vendetta against weed.
“I love that we specialize in two genres that are really meant to be an escape, they’re just meant to be fun to read,” Jeff said. “There’s no pressure to overthink, but you can still explore so many different topics.”
