There are nice big bookstores, regularly doing events (books, music and so) - Feltrinelli and Mondadori in piazza Duomo, for example - also the Fnac (the big French chain bookstores, present in Italy too) just five minutes from Piazza Duomo - and there is also a little group of writers, journalists and thriller/noir fans called "milanonera" - they run twice a week book events about thrillers, noir, "gialli" in a pretty nice bookstore owned by Mursia publishing house - just near a subway stop (helpful in Milano - and maybe not only in Milano...); and if you should ever plan to write a thriller set in Milano (I know, less charming than Venice, less history than Rome - and less known to Brit/American readers, except for the fashion and a Prime minister...) hey, it would be great!