The Black Orchid Anniversary Party

Larry and I attended the big anniversary party for New York's legendary mystery bookstore, the Black Orchid last week.

So did half the mystery universe. Michael Connelly, Lee Child, Laura Lippman, Megan Abbott, Charles Ardai, Otto Penzler, Reed Coleman, Margery Flax, Jane Clelland, Harlen Coben, Sarah Weinman, Anthony Rainone, Bob Knightly and many more.

It was a beautiful summer evening and the party spilled out onto the sidewalk of East 81st Street as usual. Bonnie and Joe were charming as always. Lots of their regular customers -- die-hard mystery fans -- were there as well. It was, as always, a great party.

But there was a sad sub-text -- Black Orchid is closing this fall -- and it will be badly missed.

Personally, Bonnie and Joe have been mentors, supporters and friends. When Larry got his first book, TOO RICH TO LIVE published, we stopped in to meet them. They couldn't have been more gracious. They were welcoming and kind. We stopped back about a million times and asked a million questions and they were absolutely wonderful. They helped us in more ways than I can relate. Tips on how things get done. Looking over publicity materials and giving advice. And selling tons of books!

We had the launch party there for Larry's second book, FEAR AND GREED and for the thriller we wrote together, LADYKILLER. Both times we had over 70 people -- friends, colleagues, family, authors, everybody!

It was our policy -- and our pleasure -- to never leave the store empty handed. We bought books by the dozen, discovering new authors, reading books by people we had met. And as we got to be friends, Bonnie and Joe started coming to our place or we would go out for a meal together. There's nothing better than a summer dinner party in our garden (yes, Manhattan does have some) drinking cocktails, grilling dinner, eating under the stars and talking to assorted authors, agents, reviewers, publishers and friends.

And, naturally, we won't give that up! It's just that we'll miss the bookstore. We'll miss going to the book parties and signings. We'll miss stopping by on weekends to talk to them and their regular customers -- many of whom became friends, too. We'll miss haveing a bookseller who knows our taste and recommends new authors and digs up old ones we shouldn't miss.

Damn it, we'll miss the Black Orchid! It's lucky that we'll still have dear friends Bonnie and Joe to reminisce about it with.