Whodunit?: Winnipeg's long-running mystery bookstore in business for 30 years

Whether obsessed with Poirot or hungry for Holmes, Winnipeg's mystery obsessives have been scouring the local area for more than 30 years in search of their latest page-turner.

To whom? Mystery Bookstore has been a fixture on Lilac Street since opening its doors in 1993.

Like many classic mystery tales, the story of Whodunit? It began in the high streets of London, in a smoky pub in England.

Not at all.

It began in the 90s on the equally exciting courts of the Taylor Tennis Center in Winnipeg. Frequent partners Henrietta Wilde and Gaylen Chestnut, two names borrowed from Agatha Christie thrillers, spent a lot of time discussing their shared passion for mystery novels.

At the time, Wilde was reading Carolyn Hart's Death on Demand series, which follows the escape of a mysterious bookstore owner who solves crimes. The series provided Wilde with inspiration for his next chapter.

“I thought it was really fun to own a secret bookstore,” he told CTV News Winnipeg in an interview from his home in British Columbia.

“There were no mystery bookstores in Winnipeg, and I didn't know of any in Canada.”

Inheriting a love of mysteries from Perry Mason-educated parents, Wilde found a shop on Lilac Street that was formerly a fancy children's clothing store. The rent was reasonable, and he thought the walking distance from nearby Corydon Avenue might be good for business.

He didn't want to take responsibility, so he decided to turn to an ally in court to become a partner in criminal commerce.

“I thought it sounded like a lot of fun,” Chestnut said of the proposal. “We were really green, but we had one rule in the partnership – our husbands had nothing to do with the store.”

Henrietta Wilde and Gaylen Chestnut pose with author Michael Connelly after a reading of whose book? Mystery Bookstore 2005 (Gaylen Chestnut)

So who? He was born in the summer of 1993.

What they lacked in experience and technical ability (they went from a digital inventory system to a manual card system), they made up for in passion.

“Our goal was to provide really good customer service, because in most bookstores, half the staff didn't know about the product, or most of them were just salespeople,” Chestnut said.

Although both owners are avid mystery readers, their knowledge of the genre is complementary, albeit different.

“I'm more into cozy mysteries and Gaylen is more gritty, so it worked out really well. All of our customers knew what we both liked, so they knew which of us to recommend,” Wilde said.

Over the years, the duo hosted dozens of author readings, brought in computers, wrote a monthly newsletter, and shared countless memories with other mystery obsessives who became their loyal customer base.

Henrietta Wilde and Gaylen Chestnut pose with author Ian Rankin in an author appearance at the 2004 Whodunit? Mystery bookstore. (Gaylen Chestnut)

The plot thickens in Whodunit?

By 2007, Wilde and Chestnut's husbands were nearing retirement, and the duo were ready to open their beloved bookstore.

They sold the business to married couple Jack and Wendy Bumstead, a university history professor and high school history teacher. The couple were loyal customers before taking it on.

“We bought it on a whim, I'll admit,” Wendy said. “We were big readers, and Jack was particularly good at mysteries, so that was an asset.”

Wendy and Jack Bumstead are shown in this undated photo outside who? Mysterious bookstore on Lilac Street. (Whodunit? Mystery Bookstore)

Today, who? offering more than just puzzles, it expanded into a neighborhood store.

Bumstead's son Michael also joined the team in 2014 after completing his PhD abroad.

While at the helm of the store, the family overcame many challenges, competing with giant e-commerce giants like Amazon or the many lockdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Covid has really expanded our online presence and since then we've done a lot more to sell books around the world now. We send books to Australia, Taiwan, Spain, Greece and all over the place,” said Wendy.

The pandemic has also been important, Michael said, in showing booksellers how supportive their customer base can be.

“It was very powerful in terms of feeling that the community supported us. “I don't read a lot of mysteries, but I want to support you so that you can be here later,” there were people from the neighborhood. They would buy our fiction or our biographies or our science fiction novels or what have you.”

Michael Bumstead is shown in an undated photo with a small portion of the store's extensive stock. (Whodunit? Mystery Bookstore)

“Closely connected to their communities”

Laura Carter, executive director of the Canadian Independent Booksellers Association (CIBA), says stores like Whodunit? faces a number of challenges to keep up with corporate competition, notably the ever-increasing costs of shipping across the country.

However, they can compete with the Amazons and chapters of the world because of their internal connection with their customers.

“They are deeply connected to their communities and interact with them on a daily basis,” he said.

“They can also pivot quickly to meet the changing needs of their customers. For example, during the pandemic, many of our stores quickly began offering curbside pickup and local delivery, which the bookstore staff do themselves, so that deep connection to the community is truly unparalleled.”

The ever-expanding inventory at Whodunit? Mystery Bookstore filmed on May 6, 2024. (Danny Halmarson/CTV News Winnipeg)

Celebrating decades of whodunit?

Back on Lilac Street, the Bumsteds are planning the store's belated 30th anniversary in November, while the family's 20th anniversary won't be celebrated until 2027.

Wendy and Michael can be found on Whodunit? many days. Sadly, Jack passed away in 2020 and is missed by many customers who came to rely on his expertise.

“They considered him an authority on the books,” Wendy said.

“Neither of us have time to shop like we did back then, so that makes it a bit more difficult.”

Who is shown in this undated photo of Jack and Wendy Bumstead? Mystery bookstore. The couple bought the business in 2007 as longtime customers. (Whodunit? Mystery Bookstore)

As for former hosts, Wilde and Chestnut both have fond memories of their days among the Whodunit stacks.

“I don't miss the store. “I don't miss work, but I miss people, our customers,” Kashtan said.

“I miss talking to people. Our clients have been amazing. “I can't believe how good those years were,” Wilde said.

The original Whodunit? owners Henrietta Wilde and Gaylen Chestnut are shown with author Lee Child in 2005. (Gaylen Chestnut)