Terms of service
Terms of Service
Last updated: October 18, 2026
Welcome to What the Sleuth!? — Suspiciously Good Books.
We’re an independent online mystery bookstore based in Santa Monica, California, operated by What the Sleuth LLC.
These Terms of Service explain the conditions for browsing our website, placing orders, and using our bookstore’s services.
Please read them before purchasing.
Overview
What the Sleuth LLC operates the online bookstore known as What the Sleuth!? at https://whatthesleuth.com, including its online storefront, content, product listings, shopping features, customer services, and related activities (collectively, the “Services”).
Throughout these Terms of Service, “What the Sleuth LLC,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to the legal business entity What the Sleuth LLC, which operates under the customer-facing brand name What the Sleuth!?.
Our storefront is powered by Shopify, which provides technology supporting our ecommerce operations.
These Terms of Service (“Terms”), together with applicable policies referenced below, govern your use of our Services.
By accessing or using our website, you agree to these Terms to the extent permitted by applicable law. When you place an order, these Terms form part of your purchase agreement with What the Sleuth LLC.
If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not place an order or use features requiring your acceptance.
Our Privacy Policy separately explains how we collect, use, and protect personal information. Nothing in these Terms requires you to waive privacy rights granted by law.
1. Eligibility and Customer Accounts
You must be at least 18 years old, or the age of legal majority where you live, to make purchases independently through our website.
Minors may browse our website under appropriate parental or guardian supervision. Purchases made on behalf of minors must be completed by a parent, guardian, or other legally authorized adult.
When placing an order or creating an account, you agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information, including your contact, billing, payment, and shipping details.
If you create an account, you are responsible for safeguarding your login credentials and promptly notifying us of suspected unauthorized access.
You may not sell, transfer, or allow unauthorized use of your customer account.
We may suspend accounts involved in fraud, abuse, or material violations of these Terms, subject to applicable law.
2. Products and Book Descriptions
What the Sleuth!? sells a curated selection of mysteries, thrillers, suspense novels, true crime, graphic novels, and related merchandise through What the Sleuth LLC.
We make reasonable efforts to provide accurate product information, including titles, authors, editions, formats, prices, and availability.
However, product images and descriptions may contain minor differences from the physical items received.
For example:
- Book cover artwork may vary between printings or editions.
- Colors may appear different depending on your device or display.
- Publishers may make changes to packaging, cover designs, or other nonessential details.
- Product availability may change without notice.
We do not intentionally substitute a materially different edition or format without appropriate notice.
If an item’s description is materially inaccurate or you receive a product different from what you ordered, please contact us so we can review the issue and provide any remedy required by law.
We reserve the right to update product descriptions, discontinue products, and establish reasonable purchase quantity limits.
These changes do not eliminate rights associated with orders we have already accepted.
3. Orders and Order Acceptance
When you submit an order through What the Sleuth!?, you are making an offer to purchase the selected products from What the Sleuth LLC at the prices and terms displayed during checkout.
An automated order confirmation acknowledges receipt of your order but does not necessarily guarantee that every item can be fulfilled.
Orders remain subject to reasonable verification of payment, inventory availability, and fulfillment requirements.
What the Sleuth LLC may decline or cancel orders for legitimate reasons, including:
- Items being unavailable or out of stock.
- Incorrect pricing or material listing errors.
- Suspected fraudulent or unauthorized transactions.
- Invalid or incomplete shipping information.
- Orders exceeding reasonable quantity limits.
- Shipping restrictions or other legal limitations.
If we cancel an order after payment has been collected, we will provide a refund of the applicable amount to the original payment method, unless another lawful arrangement is agreed upon.
We will make reasonable efforts to notify you of significant order changes using the contact information provided at checkout.
We do not cancel or refuse orders for unlawful discriminatory reasons.
4. Order Changes and Cancellations
Please review your order carefully before submitting payment.
If you need to change or cancel an order, contact What the Sleuth LLC promptly at:
contactus@whatthesleuth.com
Include your order number and requested change.
We will make reasonable efforts to accommodate changes before fulfillment begins. However, once an order has been packed, shipped, or otherwise committed to fulfillment, cancellation may no longer be possible under our ordinary cancellation procedure.
This does not affect statutory cancellation, refund, or other consumer rights, including rights associated with delayed or unfulfilled orders.
If an order has already shipped, applicable returns are handled according to our Return & Refund Policy.
5. Pricing, Discounts, and Payment
All website prices are displayed in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated.
What the Sleuth LLC makes reasonable efforts to ensure that advertised prices are accurate.
Product prices, promotional offers, discounts, and availability may change without advance notice. Changes generally apply to future orders, not purchases already accepted at an agreed price.
The amount charged for your purchase will be shown during checkout, including applicable taxes and any shipping charges.
Promotions and Discounts
What the Sleuth!? may offer promotional pricing, automatic discounts, limited-time sales, or other special offers through What the Sleuth LLC.
Promotions may have additional eligibility requirements, expiration dates, quantity limits, or exclusions disclosed with the offer.
Unless otherwise stated, promotional offers cannot be combined beyond the discounts permitted by our checkout system.
Discounts have no cash value and may not be applied retroactively to completed purchases unless required by law or expressly authorized by us.
Payment Authorization
By completing checkout, you confirm that you are authorized to use the selected payment method and agree to pay the total amount presented.
Payments are processed through Shopify and applicable payment service providers on behalf of What the Sleuth LLC.
We may cancel or hold an order when payment authorization fails or when additional verification is reasonably necessary to prevent fraud.
Pricing Errors
If a material pricing or product information error is discovered, we may contact you to offer the corrected terms or cancel and refund the affected order.
We will not charge a higher amount than the amount you authorized without obtaining any additional consent required by law.
6. Shipping, Delivery, and Local Pickup
What the Sleuth LLC aims to prepare and fulfill orders promptly and accurately.
Shipping options, delivery destinations, shipping charges, and applicable promotional offers are presented through our website and checkout.
U.S. Shipping
We advertise free U.S. shipping for eligible orders, subject to any clearly disclosed restrictions or exclusions.
Any shipping charges that apply will be displayed before you complete your purchase.
Shipping and Delivery Estimates
Shipping and delivery estimates are provided for planning purposes and are not guarantees unless expressly stated otherwise.
Delivery may be affected by carrier disruptions, weather conditions, incorrect addresses, transportation problems, or other circumstances beyond our reasonable control.
However, our responsibility to address shipping delays remains subject to applicable consumer-protection laws.
If we cannot ship your order within the advertised shipment period—or within the legally applicable period where no shipment timeframe was provided—we will provide any legally required notice, cancellation options, and refunds.
We will not require customers to accept indefinite shipping delays in violation of applicable law.
Lost, Missing, or Damaged Shipments
If an order arrives damaged, is missing items, or appears lost during transit, please contact us as soon as reasonably possible.
Provide your order number, relevant tracking information, and photographs of damage when available.
We may review tracking records, delivery confirmation, carrier information, and other relevant evidence.
We will work with you to determine an appropriate resolution under applicable law and our published policies.
Risk of loss and transfer of ownership are determined by applicable law and the shipping terms validly agreed upon for the order. Nothing in these Terms eliminates mandatory consumer protections.
Customers are responsible for providing accurate delivery information. Additional costs resulting from customer-requested address changes or incorrect address information may be the customer’s responsibility where legally permitted and appropriately disclosed.
Local Order Pickup
Where available, customers may select local pickup during checkout.
Pickup is by arrangement and subject to the instructions provided with the order.
Please wait until you receive confirmation that your order is ready before arriving.
Our Santa Monica location is not a general walk-in bookstore. In-person browsing is not available unless a specific event or arrangement is expressly advertised.
7. Returns, Refunds, and Exchanges
Purchases made directly through What the Sleuth!? are transactions with What the Sleuth LLC and are subject to our published Return & Refund Policy:
https://whatthesleuth.com/policies/refund-policy
That policy explains:
- Which items qualify for returns.
- The applicable return request period.
- Product condition requirements.
- Return shipping responsibilities.
- Final-sale exclusions.
- Refund processing.
- Damaged, defective, and incorrect orders.
Please review the policy before purchasing.
Certain items, such as signed books, limited editions, or other merchandise specifically marked as final sale, may be subject to restrictions disclosed before purchase.
Final-sale restrictions do not eliminate remedies required by law for defective, materially misdescribed, or incorrectly fulfilled products.
The return policy applicable when you make a purchase governs that transaction, subject to applicable law and any later changes expressly agreed to by the customer.
Purchases from third-party marketplaces are generally handled through the marketplace’s applicable procedures, without limiting any statutory rights you may have against the seller.
8. Third-Party Services and External Links
Our website may provide links to outside websites, publishers, audiobook platforms, payment services, marketplaces, and other independently operated services.
These may include platforms such as Bookshop.org, Libro.fm, social media websites, and other book-related partners.
Third-party websites operate under their own terms, privacy policies, payment arrangements, and customer service procedures.
A transaction completed on another company’s website is generally governed by that company’s applicable terms and the identity of the seller identified during checkout.
What the Sleuth LLC is not responsible for the independent operations or content of third-party websites that we do not control, except where applicable law provides otherwise.
We encourage customers to review third-party policies before completing transactions.
9. Relationship with Shopify
The What the Sleuth!? online storefront is powered by Shopify, which enables What the Sleuth LLC to provide the Services to you.
However, any sales and purchases you make directly through our Store are transactions between you and What the Sleuth LLC, operating under the brand name What the Sleuth!?.
By using the Services, you acknowledge and agree that Shopify is not responsible for any aspect of sales between you and What the Sleuth LLC, including any injury, damage, or loss resulting from purchased products and services, except to the extent applicable law provides otherwise.
To the extent permitted by applicable law, you expressly release Shopify and its affiliates from claims, damages, and liabilities arising from or related to your purchases and transactions with What the Sleuth LLC.
Nothing in this section removes rights or remedies that cannot lawfully be waived.
10. Privacy and Customer Information
What the Sleuth LLC respects customer privacy and handles personal information according to our Privacy Policy and applicable law.
Our Privacy Policy:
https://whatthesleuth.com/policies/privacy-policy
Our website is powered by Shopify, which processes certain personal information to provide storefront, checkout, account, security, analytics, and related services.
Shopify also maintains its own privacy disclosures:
Shopify Consumer Privacy Policy:
https://www.shopify.com/legal/privacy/consumers
Shopify Privacy Portal:
https://privacy.shopify.com/en/
For questions about how What the Sleuth LLC handles your information, contact:
contactus@whatthesleuth.com
11. Intellectual Property
Unless otherwise indicated, the original content and design elements created for What the Sleuth!? are owned by What the Sleuth LLC, its licensors, or other authorized rights holders, as applicable.
These may include:
- Our bookstore name and branding.
- Original logos, graphics, and promotional materials.
- Original website design elements and editorial content.
- Original photographs, written recommendations, and marketing materials.
- Other content created specifically for our bookstore.
Book covers, publisher descriptions, author names, third-party trademarks, and other licensed materials remain the property of their respective rights holders.
You may browse and use our website for lawful personal purposes.
You may not reproduce, commercially exploit, distribute, or republish protected original content belonging to What the Sleuth LLC or its licensors without permission unless your use is otherwise permitted by law.
Purchasing a physical book or other merchandise does not transfer copyright or trademark ownership.
Nothing in these Terms restricts rights you may have under copyright law, including lawful quotation, commentary, criticism, or fair use.
12. Customer Reviews, Feedback, and Submissions
What the Sleuth!? welcomes honest customer reviews, suggestions, questions, and feedback.
By submitting content for publication through our website or related Services, you confirm that you have the right to submit that content and that it does not knowingly violate another person’s rights or applicable law.
You grant What the Sleuth LLC a nonexclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, display, and reasonably format submitted content for operating, presenting, improving, and promoting our Services.
This license does not transfer ownership of your original content to us.
We may moderate or remove submissions that contain unlawful material, threats, harassment, spam, unauthorized personal information, intellectual property violations, or other material reasonably prohibited by these Terms.
We do not prohibit customers from sharing truthful reviews or legitimate criticism.
We will not require customers to submit positive reviews as a condition of receiving services or unlawfully suppress negative reviews.
If a review or endorsement is incentivized, any disclosure required by applicable law must be made.
Customer feedback does not create an obligation for What the Sleuth LLC to provide compensation unless we have expressly agreed otherwise.
13. Prohibited Activities
You agree to use our website and Services lawfully and responsibly.
You may not:
- Use the Services to commit fraud or other unlawful acts.
- Provide intentionally false transaction or identity information.
- Attempt unauthorized access to customer accounts or website systems.
- Introduce malware or malicious code.
- Interfere with website operations or security protections.
- Misuse payment systems or engage in fraudulent transactions.
- Harvest personal information without authorization.
- Infringe intellectual property rights.
- Threaten, harass, or unlawfully impersonate others.
- Use automated systems to evade security controls or engage in abusive access.
- Reproduce or commercially exploit protected website content without authorization or another lawful basis.
What the Sleuth LLC may take reasonable protective action, including restricting accounts or access, where we have a legitimate basis to believe these Terms have been materially violated.
Such action will not eliminate refunds or other rights required by law.
14. Automated Agents and Artificial Intelligence Tools
Automated agents, bots, and AI-assisted software may interact with websites for purposes such as searching, browsing, comparing products, or helping customers complete authorized tasks.
For purposes of this section, an “Agent” means software that acts autonomously or semi-autonomously on behalf of a person or organization.
Agents interacting with the Services operated by What the Sleuth LLC must comply with applicable laws, our security controls, and these Terms.
Agents must:
- Identify automated requests truthfully, including by using an appropriate Agent/[agent name] identifier in the HTTP user-agent string where applicable.
- Avoid misrepresenting automated activity as human activity.
- Not circumvent CAPTCHAs, access restrictions, or other technical security measures.
- Respect requests or technical controls limiting automated access.
- Avoid excessive requests or conduct that disrupts our website.
- Act only within the authority granted by the customer or organization represented.
What the Sleuth LLC may use reasonable technical measures to limit unauthorized or harmful automated activity.
This section does not prohibit lawful accessibility tools or activities protected by applicable law.
15. Book Club, Events, and Community Activities
What the Sleuth!? may offer book club gatherings, pop-up market appearances, editorial programs, giveaways, and other community activities organized or supported by What the Sleuth LLC.
Participation may be subject to additional event-specific requirements that will be disclosed when applicable.
Meeting dates, venues, availability, and event details may change.
We will make reasonable efforts to communicate significant changes through appropriate channels.
Any paid events, registrations, merchandise purchases, or promotional offers will be subject to their applicable disclosed terms and legal requirements.
Participation in community activities does not require customers to surrender rights granted by law.
16. Product Availability and Website Errors
What the Sleuth LLC works to maintain accurate product listings, prices, inventory information, and website content for the What the Sleuth!? storefront.
Occasionally, technical errors or outdated information may occur.
If we discover a material error, we may correct the information and take reasonable steps to resolve any affected order.
We may contact customers to explain the issue, obtain agreement to a correction, or cancel an affected order with an appropriate refund.
We will not use a website error as a basis to impose unauthorized charges or eliminate legally required customer remedies.
17. Disclaimer of Warranties
What the Sleuth LLC aims to provide a reliable website and accurately described products.
However, website functionality and informational content are provided on an “as available” basis.
We do not guarantee uninterrupted website availability or that every feature will always operate without errors.
To the extent permitted by law, we disclaim warranties concerning website functionality that are not expressly provided.
Nothing in these Terms excludes, restricts, or modifies any warranty, guarantee, or other consumer right that cannot lawfully be excluded.
Customers retain applicable statutory rights relating to products that are defective, materially misdescribed, or otherwise fail to meet legal requirements.
Any express warranties or legally required implied warranties remain enforceable according to applicable law.
18. Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, What the Sleuth LLC, including its members, managers, employees, agents, and service providers, is not responsible for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from use of our website or Services where such limitations are legally enforceable.
These limitations may include certain claims involving lost profits, business interruption, or losses arising from the use of independent third-party services.
We do not attempt to exclude liability for:
- Fraud or intentional misconduct.
- Gross negligence where liability cannot lawfully be limited.
- Personal injury or other claims that applicable law prohibits us from excluding.
- Legally required refunds or remedies.
- Breaches of nonwaivable consumer rights.
Where applicable law permits contractual limitations on monetary liability, What the Sleuth LLC’s liability for a claim arising from a specific purchase will not exceed the amount paid for the affected purchase, except where a greater remedy is required by law or this limitation is otherwise unenforceable.
Nothing in this section limits rights or remedies that cannot lawfully be waived.
19. Indemnification
To the extent permitted by law, you agree to indemnify What the Sleuth LLC against reasonable third-party claims, liabilities, and costs arising from your unlawful conduct, material violation of these Terms, or infringement of another party’s rights.
This obligation applies only to the extent that your conduct legally supports such responsibility.
It does not require you to indemnify What the Sleuth LLC for its own unlawful conduct, negligence where prohibited by law, or violations of nonwaivable consumer protections.
We will provide reasonable notice of an indemnifiable claim and an opportunity for appropriate participation in its defense, subject to applicable law.
20. Suspension and Termination
What the Sleuth LLC may restrict or terminate access to our website or customer accounts for legitimate security, fraud-prevention, legal, or material Terms violations.
Termination does not eliminate obligations already incurred under lawful purchase agreements.
It also does not remove statutory refund, privacy, warranty, or other rights that continue after termination.
Provisions that reasonably need to survive termination, including intellectual property rights, limitations of liability, and dispute-related provisions, will continue to apply to the extent legally enforceable.
21. Governing Law and Disputes
These Terms, governing the Services operated by What the Sleuth LLC, are governed by the laws of the State of California, United States, except where applicable conflict-of-law rules or mandatory consumer-protection laws require otherwise.
Subject to applicable law, disputes arising from these Terms may be brought in courts of competent jurisdiction in Los Angeles County, California.
This provision does not eliminate access to another court or forum where applicable law grants a consumer a nonwaivable right to bring a claim.
Nothing in these Terms prevents customers from contacting consumer-protection authorities, exercising applicable statutory rights, or pursuing remedies available under law.
Resolving Concerns
Before initiating formal proceedings, we encourage customers to contact What the Sleuth LLC so we have an opportunity to address the issue.
Email: contactus@whatthesleuth.com
Please include relevant order information and a description of the concern.
Contacting us first is encouraged but is not a mandatory condition of exercising legal rights.
22. General Legal Provisions
Severability
If a court determines that any provision of these Terms is unlawful or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue to apply to the extent permitted by law.
No Waiver
What the Sleuth LLC’s failure to enforce a provision on one occasion does not automatically waive its right to enforce it later.
Entire Agreement
These Terms and the applicable policies expressly incorporated into them constitute the agreement governing use of our Services, subject to order-specific information, legally binding representations, and applicable law.
Assignment
You may not transfer contractual rights or obligations to another party without our consent, except where applicable law permits otherwise.
What the Sleuth LLC may assign its business-related rights and obligations in connection with a lawful business transfer, merger, or reorganization, provided that applicable legal requirements and customer protections are respected.
Headings
Section headings are provided for convenience and do not change the meaning of these Terms.
Mandatory Legal Rights
If any part of these Terms conflicts with a consumer protection that cannot legally be waived, the mandatory legal protection controls.
23. Changes to These Terms
What the Sleuth LLC may revise these Terms to reflect changes in our business, website, policies, technology, or legal obligations.
Updated Terms will be posted on this page with a revised “Last updated” date.
Material changes will be communicated when required by law.
Unless otherwise lawfully agreed, changes will apply prospectively and will not retroactively remove rights associated with purchases already made.
Continued use of the Services after updated Terms become effective may constitute acceptance where legally permitted and where appropriate notice or other requirements have been satisfied.
24. Contact Information
Questions about these Terms, purchases, shipping, returns, or other bookstore matters may be directed to:
Legal Business Name:
What the Sleuth LLC
Storefront and Brand Name:
What the Sleuth!?
Independent Online Mystery Bookstore
Business Mailing Address:
610 Santa Monica Boulevard, Suite 215
Santa Monica, CA 90401-1647
United States
Email:
contactus@whatthesleuth.com
Website:
https://whatthesleuth.com
Return & Refund Policy:
https://whatthesleuth.com/policies/refund-policy
Privacy Policy:
https://whatthesleuth.com/policies/privacy-policy
Please note that our Santa Monica location is primarily a business and order-pickup location, not a traditional walk-in retail bookstore.
What the Sleuth!?
Suspiciously Good Books.
Thank you for supporting an independent mystery bookstore.