Photo Essay: A tour of Mumbai's book haunts

Secondhand books have the tantalising aroma of a spicy Goan fish curry.

Browsing through books is half the pleasure. Buying them doesn't always have to be the happy ending. I have spent much of my reading life doing little more than scanning bookshelves, admiring covers, flipping through pages, reading blurbs, searching for forgotten bookmarks, and envying what other people find. Which means I get as much satisfaction from browsing as I do from buying. Of course, there have also been times when I've walked away empty-handed, only to regret leaving behind a coveted title or an out-of-print book. I've even returned the next day, only to find it gone. 

Old or new, in shops or on footpaths, books have been my companions ever since I started my reading journey with the Hardy Boys. Here are some of my favourite book haunts, mostly in South Mumbai, where I have browsed far more than I have bought. A few of these photographs have appeared on the blog before, but most were taken specifically for this post.

The footpath booksellers of Flora Fountain (Hutatma Chowk)

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Books by Weight in South Mumbai, as far as the eye can see.

Abraham Lincoln in not-so-strange company.

My pick from the box: Jack Higgins, my favourite author.

A pavement bookseller opens for the day.

The suburban bookshop where I browse—and board a bus home.

The English historical novelist on my TBR list.

Fiction rubs spines with self-help in South Mumbai.

Waiting for customers: This footpath bookseller knows his books.

British crime writer Martina Cole at Books by Weight.

A close-up of a footpath bookseller on Mahatma Gandhi Road.

Heavyweights jostle for space at a suburban bookshop.

Take your pick or toss a coin, at Books by Weight.

Spy novelist Craig Thomas is an old friend.

Books in a haystack near the old Central Telegraph Office.

This photo essay was first published in October 2017 and has been lightly updated in June 2026 with revised text and links to related posts. Some of these book haunts may have changed over the years, while others continue to welcome browsers and collectors. But the joy of browsing secondhand books remains the same.

© All photographs by Prashant C. Trikannad

Book Review: Sniff the Detective by Richard Scarry

Sniff is a detective.
He helps people find things.
He helps catch bad people.
He thinks with his head.
And he smells with his nose.

Every now and then I like stepping outside my reading comfort zone. That's how I ended up reading Sniff the Detective (Golden Books, 1988), a delightful children's mystery by the late American author and illustrator Richard Scarry. It was my first children's detective story in middle age, and I enjoyed it far more than I expected.

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The illustrated book contains two stories—Sniff Catches the Robber and Sniff's Best Case Ever—set in a world of anthropomorphic animals who talk, work and solve crimes just like humans. They're impossible not to like.

In the first story, Chief Hound asks Sniff to investigate the mysterious disappearance of Mrs. Jewel's precious bracelets. Since the elderly pig has neither left her home nor received any visitors, Sniff spends the night there, hoping to catch the thief in the act.

The second story begins on a rainy day with Sniff happily staying in bed until duty calls from another city. It's almost his birthday and he'd rather be home eating cake and ice cream, but detectives don't always get holidays. His train journey introduces a few suspicious-looking passengers carrying violins and wearing dark glasses, making for an entertaining mystery.

The stories are simple, funny and gently suspenseful, while Richard Scarry's colourful illustrations and large typeface make the book ideal for reading aloud to young children. I especially liked Sniff's approach to detective work. He relies on observation, common sense and, naturally, an excellent nose.

Children's mystery, YA mystery or adult crime fiction—a good detective story is still a good detective story. You're never too young or too old to enjoy one.

Note: Writer-blogger Patti Abbott is hosting Friday's Forgotten Books over at her eclectic blog Pattinase, where you will read some fine reviews of forgotten or overlooked books.