A Curious Find in the Bookshop’s Old Storeroom

There’s a certain magic to old bookshops, isn’t there? The scent of well-loved pages, the quiet hum of a story waiting to be rediscovered, and, if you’re lucky, the occasional mystery tucked between the shelves.

Yesterday, while attempting to (finally) organize the back storeroom—an endeavor that has bested me more times than I care to admit—I stumbled upon something rather intriguing. Wedged behind a stack of dusty hardcovers and an old wooden crate was a small, leather-bound journal. Its cover, once embossed with gold detailing, has faded over time, and its pages are fragile, edged in the sort of soft wear that only comes from years of careful handling.

But here’s the curious part: there’s no name inside. No indication of who once owned it, nor how it found its way into the shop. The first few pages are filled with neatly penned notes, observations about Cowesport and its inhabitants—small details, little mysteries, fleeting moments that someone took the time to record. The handwriting is elegant, slanted, and precise.

And then, suddenly, the entries stop. Mid-sentence.

The rest of the book is blank.

Was it abandoned? Forgotten? Or was there a reason it was hidden away?

If there’s one thing I’ve learned since taking over The Fox & Thistle, it’s that this bookshop has secrets of its own. So, consider this mystery officially under investigation.

For now, the journal rests on the front counter, inviting speculation from our more inquisitive customers. If any longtime locals recognize the handwriting, do let me know—I have a feeling there’s a story here, just waiting to be uncovered.

And who knows? Perhaps there are more forgotten treasures waiting in the storeroom… if I can muster the courage to go back in.

From one mystery lover to another, until next time. – Cordelia