Max

Staff Picks MaxHi! I'm Max, a.k.a the Mysterious Bookseller. As the nickname suggests I love anything and everything that involves mystery, ranging from true crime to Sherlock Holmes. I have been a bookworm since 3rd grade and my love for books has only grown since. My mystery obsession started when my Nana would babysit and let me watch her Scooby Doo VHS tapes. Scooby doo grew into Murder She Wrote, Forensic Files, and any mystery media I could get my hands on. I am now a Biology major who hopes to switch to Forensic Science! While mysteries are my bread and butter, I also love books on american history, cooking, biographies, horror, and anything inbetween. My current interest is the history of the American Mafia, so be on the lookout for some books on that in my staff picks! My undying love for jazz music heavily influences the time periods I enjoy reading about, in fact, you'll likely find me listening to my Ella Fitzgerald or Billie Holiday records while I am lost in a book. Hopefully I'll see you at the store! 

See my older staff picks here! 

Max's Staff Picks:


Staff Pick Badge
The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels: A Novel By Janice Hallett Cover Image
$28.99
ISBN: 9781668023396
Availability: Coming Soon - Available for Pre-Order Now
Published: Atria Books - January 23rd, 2024

Bookseller: Max

Title: The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels

Comments: 

Finished this masterpiece in a day. The rollercoaster this story took me on was like nothing I’ve ever read. Some twists were quick, others were slowly built, but all of it impeccably done.

Told only through texts, emails, transcribed conversations, letters, and a movie script, the mystery is built quickly and you are pulled in just as fast. You feel like you are studying this case, every word on the page is important and you don’t want to miss a thing.

Hallett deserves every ounce of praise she is going to receive when this gem of the genre hits the shelves.


Staff Pick Badge
Kid Noir: Kitty Feral and the Case of the Marshmallow Monkey (Turner Classic Movies) By Eddie Muller, Jessica Schmidt, Forrest Burdett (Illustrator) Cover Image
$18.99
ISBN: 9780762481682
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Running Press Kids - September 19th, 2023

Bookseller: Max

Title: Kid Noir: Kitty Feral and the Case of the Marshmallow Monkey

Comments: 

There is nothing to be worried about when Kitty Feral is on the case! 

I never thought I would see a kids noir book, and I didn't know how much I needed it until now! So fun, so mysterious, so cool! This is such an entertaining read for the parents as much as the kids. I hope we see more of Kitty Feral and Mitch the Mutt!


Staff Pick Badge
Skeletown: Sí. ¡No! By Rhode Montijo Cover Image
$17.99
ISBN: 9780316464932
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers - August 1st, 2023

Bookseller: Max

Title: Sí. ¡No!

Comments:

A fun story told through two simple words.. Si. No! 

Words cannot express how in love I am with the illustrations and limited color pallette. I want to live in Skeletown! Whenever I walk by this book I always end up stopping and flipping through the pages. Just gorgeous! 


Staff Pick Badge
Inside The Mind of Sherlock Holmes By Cyril Lieron, Benoit Dahan (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Cyril Lieron, Benoit Dahan (Illustrator)
$24.99
ISBN: 9781787738911
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Titan Comics - November 14th, 2023

Bookseller: Max

Title: Inside The Mind of Sherlock Holmes

Comments: 

Sherlock is on the case, and this time, we get to see the inner workings of his mind!

Every page is a work of art. The attention to detail, color palette, and comic layout are all incredibly done. The mystery itself was great too. I loved every part of it. This is a graphic novel I will suggest to those who see them as "just a comic book." so well done. 


Staff Pick Badge
Where's Randolph? By Marianna Coppo (Created by) Cover Image
By Marianna Coppo (Created by)
$12.99
ISBN: 9782408046194
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Twirl - October 3rd, 2023

Bookseller: Max

Title: Where's Randolph 

Comments: 

"I love Randolph!... even if he isn't the best at hide and seek! I can only imagine all the giggles this story will bring, so fun!"


Staff Pick Badge
Pikachu Loves (Pokémon: Monpoké Board Book) By Scholastic Cover Image
$8.99
ISBN: 9781339005874
Availability: NOT ON HAND, but usually Ships in 2-7 Days
Published: Scholastic Inc. - October 31st, 2023

Bookseller: Max

Title: Pikachu Loves

Comments: 

I'm buying this and I don't have kids...It's so cute I can't handle it. I can't wait for all the nerds to read this to their babies (aka the next generation of Pokémon trainers!!)


Staff Pick Badge
Not He or She, I'm Me By A. M. Wild, Kah Yangni (Illustrator) Cover Image
By A. M. Wild, Kah Yangni (Illustrator)
$18.99
ISBN: 9781250818607
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) - October 17th, 2023

Bookseller: Max 

Title: Not He or She, I'm Me

Comments: 

a simple day in the life of a non-binary child. They brush their teeth, comb their hair, and go to school like any other child... because they ARE like any other child, wonderful and unique in their own way.  


Staff Pick Badge
Walter the Whale Shark: And His Teeny Tiny Teeth: And His Teeny Tiny Teeth By Katrine Crow, Hazel Quintanilla (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Katrine Crow, Hazel Quintanilla (Illustrator)
$8.99
ISBN: 9781486719631
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Flowerpot Press - November 14th, 2023

Bookseller: Max 

Title: Walter the Whale Shark And His Teeny Tiny Teeth

Comments: 

Oh Walter, I love your teeny tiny teeth! After seeing how different he was from his classmates, Walter did everything he could to try and change himself. Luckily, with a little help from Mama, Walter learns that he has teeny tiny teeth for a reason, and most importantly, he is perfect just the way he is!

An important message told in a fun, endearing way? Count me in! 


Staff Pick Badge
I'll Be Your Dog By P. Crumble, Sophie Hogarth (Illustrator) Cover Image
By P. Crumble, Sophie Hogarth (Illustrator)
$7.99
ISBN: 9781338789935
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Orchard Books - April 5th, 2022

Bookseller: Max 

Title: I'll Be Your Dog

Comments: 

I want them all! 

Meet the magnificent pups of this pound! Will you choose...:

-Peter the Pug?
-Matt the Maltese?
-Winnie the Wolfhound? 

All of them are unique in their own special way! 


Staff Pick Badge
Madame Badobedah By Sophie Dahl, Lauren O'Hara (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Sophie Dahl, Lauren O'Hara (Illustrator)
$18.99
UNAVAILABLE-Possible Reasons: Backordered, Out-of-Stock, or Out-of-Print (But email us to search for a copy.)
ISBN: 9781536210224
Published: Walker Books US - April 7th, 2020

Bookseller: Max

Title: Madame Badobedah

Comments: 

I felt such a warmth in my chest while reading this book. I kept thinking how much I wished I could turn back time and have this be my bedtime story. It reads like a classic. You will want to dive into the Mermaid Hotel and never leave. I haven't read a book that has made me feel this way in a long time.


Staff Pick Badge
Zigzag By Julie Paschkis Cover Image
$18.95
ISBN: 9781592704026
Availability: NOT ON HAND, but usually Ships in 2-7 Days
Published: Enchanted Lion Books - September 19th, 2023

Bookseller: Max 

Title: Zigzag

Comments: 

To Zigzag, words taste amazing! Harmonica tastes like honey, flinch is sharp and bitter, tambourine is juicy like an orange but with some added mystery, that is... until he swallowed all the vowels. Now all his favorite words taste dull and bland. Can Zigzag find some vowels to fix all his tasty words? 

Such a fun story with a classic feel. The illustrations are museum level quality too. 


Staff Pick Badge
Fraser the Forest Ranger By Matthew Schufman Cover Image
$18.99
ISBN: 9780593648278
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Random House Studio - November 14th, 2023

Bookseller: Max 

Title: Fraser the Forest Ranger

Comments: 

Fraser loves the forest, he has everything he could ever need!... except a friend. So, Fraser decides to go out and find one! The illustrations are lovely, another world I want to jump right into. A great bedtime read for any forest ranger!


Staff Pick Badge
Copydog (Fuzzy Friends) By Zachariah OHora Cover Image
$18.99
ISBN: 9781419765018
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Harry N. Abrams - November 14th, 2023

Bookseller: Max 

Title: Copydog

Comments: 

This is your classic sibling game of copyca... sorry, I mean copyDOG! (and a middle child, I think I am Elise and Rosemont!) It's a super fun, colorful story with an important message for all siblings!