Today’s New York Times has an article about American fans of Stieg Larsson who are willing to shell out big bucks for the third and final volume of the author’s posthumous murder mystery trilogy:
At a time of price wars and pressure from electronic books, a group of independent bookstores has found at least one way to lure customers into paying premium prices for a hardcover title: import an eagerly awaited book from Britain several months before its release in the United States and then jack up the price. …
Kizmin Reeves, co-owner of Partners & Crime, said she has sold close to 80 copies of the book. She bought them, as anyone can, on Amazon.co.uk. After adding shipping costs and a profit margin, she has been charging $45 for the 602-page hardcover.
I have two words for any independent booksellers looking to increase the profit margin, or anyone without an enterprising local bookseller who’s looking for the book: Book Depository. Or two different words, free shipping. Book Depository in the UK is selling the hardback version of The Girl Who Kicked a Hornet’s Nest for US $24.23, with free shipping (for all of its books to nearly 90 countries worldwide). The cheaper paperback edition, which was just published in October, is currently out of stock.
(Another very good book not available in the US but available from Book Depository: Bad Science by Ben Goldacre, a collection of Dr. Goldacre’s Guardian columns. Here’s the website, and here’s the missing chapter. An excellent stocking stuffer, and the cover is a appropriately seasonal shade of red.)
As for not irking Knopf, feh…
Farm School, Farm House 
Thanks for the Book Depository link. What a great resource!
I finally got The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo from the library — (I was on a long waiting list.) Once done, I may be among the desperate for the rest.
Thanks for the tip, Becky!
Hi Becky. Thanks for the link to Book Depository…I’ve already placed an order there!
I’ve been really missing your more regular posting this fall, although I completely understand the time and mind space it consumes to do it.
Happy Holidays!
I really enjoy your blog. I connected to the site that you suggested and was able to download some Hawthorne material. Having taught fifth grade and been raised on a farm, what you say rings true. Thanks again!