Iowa City Author Pens New Murder Mystery Novel

Lisa Avelleyra's latest book "Shelved" draws inspiration from her time working at a small bookstore in Madison, Wisconsin.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 2:33am

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Lisa Avelleyra, an author from the Madison, Wisconsin area, has written a new murder mystery novel titled "Shelved" that is inspired by her eight years working at a small bookstore in the late 1990s. Avelleyra has since returned to Iowa City, where she currently lives and works. The book is set in 1999 and features characters loosely based on the people Avelleyra worked with at the bookstore.

Why it matters

Avelleyra's decision to set the book in the late 1990s, before the widespread adoption of cell phones and computerized inventory systems, provides an interesting historical backdrop that highlights how technology has transformed the bookselling industry. Her focus on writing about "ordinary people" rather than celebrities or the wealthy also makes the story more relatable for readers.

The details

In the novel "Shelved", Avelleyra draws on her personal experiences working at a small bookstore in Madison from around 1997 to 2005. She says the characters in the book are loosely based on the people she worked with during that time. Avelleyra chose to set the story in 1999 to capture the technological and cultural differences of that era compared to the present day, such as the lack of cell phones and computerized inventory systems.

  • Avelleyra worked at the Madison bookstore from around 1997 to 2005.
  • The events of "Shelved" are set in 1999.

The players

Lisa Avelleyra

An author from the Madison, Wisconsin area who previously worked at a small bookstore for eight years, which inspired her new murder mystery novel "Shelved". She has since returned to live and work in Iowa City.

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What they’re saying

“Absolutely. While I lived in Madison, Wisconsin, I worked at a tiny bookstore for eight years. We bought and sold books to the public. I thought it was such a rich setting. There were so many good characters I could draw on. So many of the characters are loosely based on people I worked with.”

— Lisa Avelleyra, Author

“Well, I worked there from around 1997 to 2005, and set the book in 1999. There are a lot of things that were different in that time frame that set it apart, I think. In writing it, I had to remember people weren't using cell phones like they are now, even with our store we had a computer but you couldn't just look up and type what you were looking for in the inventory.”

— Lisa Avelleyra, Author

What’s next

Avelleyra is currently working on another book, though she has struggled with maintaining consistent writing habits. She plans to continue drawing inspiration from her own life experiences to craft relatable stories for readers.

The takeaway

Avelleyra's decision to set her new murder mystery novel in the late 1990s provides a unique historical backdrop that highlights how technology has transformed the bookselling industry. By focusing on the lives of ordinary people rather than celebrities or the wealthy, she aims to create a more relatable story for readers.