The Craft of Being Mysterious

Old Town Books is a new independent bookstore in Alexandria, VA. We host author events, bookclubs, weekly story time, and more! We're a bookshop on a mission to be a community hub for all things literary.

Old Town Books

Join us for an author panel focused on the art of mystery writing with Jennifer Murphy, Jenny Adams and Lacey Dunham.

Calling all mystery and historical fiction fans!Join us on Thursday, April 30, at 7 pm for a special author panel focused on the craft of writing a good mystery! Jennifer Murphy (<a href="https://oldtownbooks.com/item/ymASTSSKIbYRg42zoj41PA" title="https://oldtownbooks.com/item/ymASTSSKIbYRg42zoj41PA" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">THE GHOST WOMEN</a>), Jenny Adams (<a href="https://oldtownbooks.com/item/f2sk6vqOmR9BPZFYP07KAw" title="https://oldtownbooks.com/item/f2sk6vqOmR9BPZFYP07KAw" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">A DEADLY ENDEAVOR</a>) and Lacey Dunham (<a href="https://oldtownbooks.com/item/gQpiPqSJBXjkKXmo7YnAbQ" title="https://oldtownbooks.com/item/gQpiPqSJBXjkKXmo7YnAbQ" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">THE BELLES</a>) will join us in the bookstore to share a behind-the-scenes look at their processes, how they develop compelling stories no matter the time period, and to answer audience questions.Your ticket includes $5 store credit that can be used at the event or on a later date. Copies of each author’s books will be available for purchase and signing.About the authorsJennifer Murphy holds an MFA in painting from the University of Denver and an MFA in creative writing from the University of Washington. She is the recipient of the 2013 Loren D. Milliman Scholarship for creative writing and was a contributor at the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference from 2008 through 2012. In 2015, her acclaimed debut novel, I Love You More (Doubleday, 2014), won the prestigious Nancy Pearl Fiction Award. Her love of art led her to start Citi Arts, a public art and urban planning company that has created public art master plans for airports, transit facilities, streetscapes, and cities nationwide. She hails from a small beachfront town in Michigan and has lived in Denver, Charlotte, Seattle, and Charleston. She currently lives in Houston, Texas.Jenny Adams has always had an overactive imagination. She turned her love of books and stories into a career as a librarian and Agatha Award-nominated novelist. She holds degrees in Medieval Studies and Library Science from The Ohio State University and Drexel University, and currently lives in Alexandria, Virginia with her family.Lacey N. Dunham’s novel THE BELLES (2025, S&amp;S/Atria) was named a Best Book of 2025 by Library Journal and Crime Reads. A Poets &amp; Writers Magazine 2025 Writer to Watch, Dunham has received writing fellowships from the Elizabeth George Foundation, the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, the Sewanee Writers Conference, and Catapult. Her forthcoming novel FALL OF THE HOUSE OF GRAYSTONE (2027, S&amp;S/Atria) is a sapphic southern gothic Grey Gardens set against an early-90s backdrop of moral panics. She lives in Washington, DC with too many books, but only two cats. Find her at <a href="http://laceyndunham.com/" title="http://laceyndunham.com/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">laceyndunham.com</a>.

Our {communityGuidelinesLink} describe the sort of content we prohibit on Eventbrite. If you suspect an event may be in violation, you can report it to us so we can investigate.

To report other categories of prohibited or illegal content, submit {link}

The Craft of Being Mysterious

More events from Old Town Books

Discover more events from Old Town Books, from Hobbies to other experiences you might love.

Still looking for the right event?

Explore all events in Alexandria and filter by date, category, and more to find the perfect fit.

The Craft of Being Mysterious

More events from Old Town Books

Discover more events from Old Town Books, from Hobbies to other experiences you might love.

More Hobbies events

Browse more Hobbies events with different dates, prices, and formats to find your next great experience.

Still looking for the right event?

Explore all events in Alexandria and filter by date, category, and more to find the perfect fit.