A couple of times a year (probably more than that), I visit the thrift shops where I live; St Vincent de Paul, Lifeline, Salvos. Mostly people go in here to look for clothes, but I enter in search of books!
For an avid horror reader like me, living outside a major city, these places are veritable goldmines and often I’ve come away with a few gems.
Just this week I picked up four books for $6, namely The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold, nominated for the 2002 Bram Stoker Award for Best Novel (I’ve only ever seen the film and have been meaning to read the book); The Lord of the Flies by William Golding; Roofworld by Christopher Fowler and; Blue World by Robert R. McCammon (nominated for a Bram Stoker Award for Best Fiction Collection in ’89).That’s just this week, but over the years I’ve found well-loved copies of The Exorcist, The Great and Secret Show and even a few Graham Masterton novels.
The ironic thing is that the secondhand book store, which understandably has a lot of books, doesnt have much in the way of horror (but has a massive paranormal sparkly romance section!), which is disappointing, but thankfully the thrift shops always seem to deliver.Of course every year Lifeline hosts an annual book sale and usually I walk away with several arm fulls of horror novels, so I have plenty to read.
Most of the books though are from the 80’s and 90’s when horror was in its prime. It would be great to see some newer books at these events every now and then.
I’d love to know what gems you guys have found in a thrift shop or secondhand book shop. Do you go hunting for older novels like me, or do you prefer to buy new books online?
Darkscrybe 
Oooh, I love a good secondhand hunt. I collected a pretty mixed pile in my last trip, though the only names I remember are Jean M Auel and Juliet Marillier. I might even get around to reading them, soon. Hopefully before I bring more back, eh?
~Ashlee
http://ashleesch.com
http://theDragonsHoard.bigcartel.com
My wife and I have built a large collection of books simply from thrift stores and garage sales. We've found so many that quickly became favourites.
We're talking horror though, right? The best finds ever in a second hand store? Edward Lee's The House, Classic H.P. Lovecraft and a Clive Barker collection. Finding horror this was isn't easy but it feels so rewarding when you do.
Mr Grin
http://michealgrin.blogspot.com/
http://michealgrin.com
Glad you two are out hunting as well. It's like Christmas when you find a great book that hasn't seen print for a while.
Greg
Found an original paperback copy of Douglas Clegg's Goat Dance at a thrift store (I'd been looking a long time for that one). Some more good finds: The Dark Descent (great and comprehensive anthology, can't recall the editor), Dark Advent by Brian Hodge, Johnny Gruesome by Greg Lamberson… I've seen quite a few Gary Braunbeck novels at the local thrift store but I had all of them already since I love his work.