Taiwan bookstore bets on mystery thrillers to revive business

TAIPEI - A human skeleton hangs on the wall above a creepy plastic baby head. A smiling doll stares down at the customers from a high shelf. A gramophone blasts eerie music.

In Tommy Tan's Murder Ink bookstore, everything exudes a mysterious vibe. The store is located in a quiet alley in downtown Taipei and is one of the few bookstores in Taiwan that focuses mainly on detective novels.

"I launched the bookstore because I wanted to help the detective genre take root in Taiwan," Tan, 47, says. "I have always loved detective books, and it makes my life more meaningful if people can share the joy of literature with me."