Mystery books were first popularized in ancient Egypt. Many Egyptians loved to use mysterious riddles to pass on stories to generations. In recent centuries, mysteries have morphed into what we now call "detective stories" or "whodunits." As a genre, used mystery books are exciting, engaging, and just plain fun! Detective work wasn't really used in the mystery writing genre until the early 19th century in America. Edgar Allan Poe is credited for writing the first of these sorts of books. In addition, books like The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle experienced unrivaled popularity among mystery fans at this time as well. Vintage used mystery books are often collectible. Original Poe or Sir Arthur Conan Doyle original novels and signed first editions sell for hundreds of dollars, even in poor condition. However, the vast majority of used mystery books bought and sold are simply good reads! Authors such as Margaret Truman, Anne Perry, Sara Pareteski, and Ellis Peters continually reinvent the genre and surprise readers with plot twists that leave heads scratching and pages turning. Mysteries for Young People
With the success of mystery-magic hybrid fiction for young readers, reading has again become a popular pastime among a generation known for spending copious amounts of time sitting in front of the TV. More people own Harry Potter books than they do any other book in the world, with the exception of the Bible. Billions of copies of this and other mystery books are available all around the world. | 
