Readers can peruse all the clues at Cloak & Dagger bookstore.
By: George Frey
Has it been killing you trying to find your favorite sleuth author at the chain stores?
Has it been murder for you to find other mystery gifts and even favorite mystery authors on occasion?
Your case is solved!
The Cloak & Dagger, "a shop for the mystery genre," has opened in downtown Princeton, and it’s a place where you should be able to find all of those things without being much of a detective yourself.
"I wanted to open a mystery bookstore since I read Nancy Drew books when I was a kid," said Aline Lenaz, the store’s owner. "Lo and behold, here I am. Be careful what you wish for."
The shop at 349 Nassau St., near Harrison Street, has been open for several months, and is something Ms. Lenaz and her husband both trained architects have been working on for years.
The shop opened after Ms. Lenaz spent 21 years planning and overseeing building projects for Princeton University. All the while though, she knew the mystery bookstore was what she wanted to do.
"I’ve always loved mysteries, so I’m like a kid in a candystore here," she said. "If I had a choice, I’d read a mystery."
The store offers a variety of products beyond the 5,000 book titles, such as audio tapes, videos, puzzles and other mystery gifts.
Ms. Lenaz says it has been a busy summer for the shop. Many people like herself read only mysteries, she said, and have become repeat customers in the short time the store’s been open.
Ms. Lenaz said she also is pleasantly surprised by the number of children who come into the store to buy mysteries. The Cloak & Dagger has books for children from the second grade through teen-age levels.
She especially credits Harry Potter books for fostering an overall reading Renaissance among children.
"This town forces children to read at a young age," which is a great thing, Ms. Lenaz added.
"I think it’s great," Bob Iles, a mystery writer who was in Princeton on Friday from Kansas City, Kan. for his daughter’s wedding, said of the store.
"I’ve been in a number of bookstores which don’t give people the feel of relaxation or of being able to browse around the place," he said.
Mr. Iles said he would be in contact with Ms. Lenaz and may eventually come back to the store to be a part of future book signings.
"We’ll see if people have cause to come in here to meet Bob Iles someday," he said.
Ms. Lenaz said she will be hosting a number of mystery events around Halloween and other holidays along with other author events like book signings.
Her next guests to sign copies of their latest books will be at the Cloak & Dagger at 1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 1. Those writers will be Lee Harris, whose current book is "The Mother’s Day Murder," Lora Roberts, whose last book was "Murder Follows Money," Jonnie Jacobs, whose current releases include "Motion to Dismiss" and Valerie Wolzien, who will soon release "Death at a Discount."
Ms. Lenaz said she has events planned with both the Princeton Public Library and The Arts Council of Princeton.
For more information on the store or events, call (609) 688-9840, or visit the store’s Web site at www.thecloakanddagger.com.

