The Haunted Bookshop

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

—

Title

The Haunted Bookshop

Language

en

Book source

Global Grey

Description max 80 words

Set in a Brooklyn bookshop haunted by literary ghosts, this charming mystery blends wit and suspense. As advertising agent Aubrey Gilbert investigates suspicious visitors and a missing volume, he falls for the shop's spirited employee, Titania. A delightful early 20th-century tale exploring the magic of books, coded messages, and the romance of the written word.

Summary up to 500 words

In Christopher Morley's *The Haunted Bookshop*, the narrative unfolds in Brooklyn's Gissing Street, centering on Roger Mifflin, the eccentric proprietor of 'Parnassus at Home.' This second-hand bookstore is famously haunted by the spirits of great literature, creating a unique atmosphere where customers browse in silence amidst tobacco smoke and the company of literary ghosts. Mifflin rejects conventional advertising, believing that the books themselves serve as the best promotion for his trade. The plot intensifies with the arrival of Aubrey Gilbert, a young advertising agent from the Grey-Matter Agency. Initially there to pitch services, Aubrey becomes convinced that the shop is being utilized by German spies to pass coded messages. His suspicion focuses on a specific edition of Thomas Carlyle's *Cromwell*, which he believes contains hidden instructions. Driven by both intrigue and his growing affection for Titania Chapman, the shop's lively assistant, Aubrey moves into lodgings across the street to investigate. Aubrey's sleuthing uncovers a complex espionage plot involving a German chef named Weintraub and a bomb concealed within a book. The narrative balances these high-stakes elements with the cozy, eccentric charm of the bookshop. The tension culminates in a dramatic confrontation where the bomb is neutralized, exposing the spies' clumsy infiltration attempts. In the aftermath, the community rallies around the protagonists. Titania's father, Mr. Chapman, provides the financial backing necessary to realize Roger Mifflin's dream of a traveling fleet of book-wagons, bringing literature to the countryside. The story concludes with a tender romantic moment between Aubrey and Titania, underscoring the enduring power of books to heal minds and connect hearts.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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https://www.globalgreyebooks.com/ebooks2/christopher-morley_haunted-bookshop.epub

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data/epubs/url-976c98b2a8f02d10.epub

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2026-06-30 06:03 UTC

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