A new bookstore focusing on romance and mystery novels is set to open in North Center this month. Partners In Crime, located at 4105 N. Lincoln Ave., will welcome readers starting February 21. The store features custom purple bookshelves with a selection of titles curated by owners Amanda and Jeff Morse.
“I’m an avid romance reader, and I love romance, but I also have this other side of me that’s like a true crime freak. When I sit down and need a mindless show I put on ‘Cold Case’ or ‘Forensic Files,’” Amanda Morse said. “With us being an indie bookstore, we also have a love of the indie author community and the indie community as a whole. We are a genre-specific, mystery, romance bookstore with a strong indie author presence.”
The name Partners In Crime reflects the couple’s shared interest in both genres. Inside the shop, romance books are organized by Amanda Morse on one side, while mysteries and thrillers are curated by Jeff Morse on the other.
“We wanted to create a place where, if you’re an avid romance or mystery reader, you’re going to walk in and find a book that you just didn’t expect to find,” Jeff Morse said. “You can go into Barnes and Noble and get the best sellers. But we want to have books that Barnes and Noble doesn’t carry, that all the other independent bookstore don’t carry, and have a bigger selection in these specific genres.”
The rear wall of the store includes seating beneath a mural painted by Chicago artist Joe Kraft.
Amanda and Jeff Morse were inspired to open their shop after Centuries & Sleuths in Forest Park closed in 2024. At that time, Jeff had started reading more mysteries while Amanda has been passionate about reading for years.
“I’ve been an avid reader my whole life and my husband got more into reading with the pandemic, just kind of looking for something to do. And we just sort of discussed it more and more, and were like, ‘You know what? Maybe now is the time to do it,’” she said.
To prepare for opening their business, they took small business courses and sought advice from local bookstore owners. After seeing many Chicago bookstores specializing in romance novels already existed, they decided to add mystery and thriller selections as well.
“If we do a bookstore, like a genre bookstore, it’s got to be different than everything else that’s out there already. And those are all great stores. But we felt like we just had to do something different if we’re going to make it in this competitive market,” Jeff Morse said.
The couple chose their location because it is close to North Center’s public plaza—home of the farmers market—and near John C. Coonley Elementary School at 4046 N. Leavitt St., which influenced their decision to stock some titles for middle school-aged children.
“Lincoln Square already has an amazing bookstore in the Book Cellar, so we wanted to give them space,” Amanda Morse said.
“There’s like 60 independent bookstores in Chicago. I think for us, we just happened to find this spot that’s in between, like evenly spaced between like five other bookstores,” Jeff Morse added.
Partners In Crime plans eventually include hosting author events for community engagement as well as potentially launching an independent press from within the shop itself.
“We have one upcoming event planned with Rob Osler, a queer mystery writer. We definitely plan to have as many events as we possibly can have once we get going,” Amanda Morse said.
More information about upcoming events can be found on Partners In Crime’s website.
