The Witching Place: A Vanished Volume (A Curious Bookstore Cozy Mystery—Book 4)

By Sophie Love

“The perfect romance or beach read, with a difference: its enthusiasm and beautiful descriptions offer an unexpected attention to the complexity of not just evolving love, but evolving psyches. It's a delightful recommendation for romance readers looking for a touch more complexity from their romance reads.”
--Midwest Book Review (For Now and Forever)

THE WITCHING PLACE: A VANISHED VOLUME is book #4 in a charming new cozy mystery series by bestselling author Sophie Love, author of The Inn at Sunset Harbor series, a #1 Bestseller with over 200 five-star reviews.

When Alexis Blair, 29, is fired from her book publishing job and breaks up with her boyfriend on the same day, she wonders if life is urging her to make a fresh start. She decides it’s time to pursue her lifelong dream of opening a bookstore of her own—even if that means leaving Boston and accepting a job in a curious bookstore in a small seaside town an hour away.

When a mysterious stranger brings one of the rarest occult books in history into the shop, Montgomery is excited to acquire it—while Alexis wonders if it is too good to be true.

And when someone soon thereafter turns up dead, leaving Alexis framed for the crime, she quickly realizes that either this book is cursed—or someone is up to foul play.

Is this book what it seems to be? And why would someone kill for it?

A page-turning cozy, rife with the supernatural, mystery, secrets and love—and centered around a small town as odd and endearing as its shop—A VANISHED VOLUME will make you fall in love and keep you laughing out loud as you turn pages late into the night.

“The romance is there, but not overdosed. Kudos to the author for this amazing start of a series that promises to be very entertaining.”
--Books and Movies Reviews (For Now and Forever)

Book #5 in the series—A TAINTED TOME—is also available!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sophie Love
• Release date: Jun 15, 2021
• ISBN: 9781094372754

Book preview

T H E   W I T C H I N G   P L A C E:

A   V A N I S H E D   V O L U M E

(A CURIOUS BOOKSTORE COZY MYSTERY—BOOK 4)

S O P H I E   L O V E

Sophie Love

#1 bestselling author Sophie Love is author of THE INN AT SUNSET HARBOR romantic comedy series, which includes eight books; of the ROMANCE CHRONICLES series, which includes five books; of the new CANINE CASPER cozy mystery series, which includes six books; and of the new CURIOUS BOOKSTORE cozy mystery series, which includes five books (and counting).

Sophie would love to hear from you, so please visit www.sophieloveauthor.com to email her, to join the mailing list, to receive free ebooks, to hear the latest news, and to stay in touch!

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Copyright © 2021  by Sophie Love. All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior permission of the author. This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Jacket image Copyright  HelloSSTK, used under license from Shutterstock.com.

BOOKS BY SOPHIE LOVE

A CURIOUS BOOKSTORE COZY MYSTERY

THE WITCHING PLACE: A FATAL FOLIO (Book #1)

THE WITCHING PLACE: MURDER BY MANUSCRIPT (Book #2)

THE WITCHING PLACE: A PERILOUS PAGE (Book #3)

THE WITCHING PLACE: A VANISHED VOLUME (Book #4)

THE WITCHING PLACE: A TAINTED TOME (Book #5)

THE CANINE CASPER COZY MYSTERY SERIES

THE GHOSTLY GROUNDS: MURDER AND BREAKFAST (Book #1)

THE GHOSTLY GROUNDS: DEATH AND BRUNCH (Book #2)

THE GHOSTLY GROUNDS: MALICE AND LUNCH (Book #3)

THE GHOSTLY GROUNDS: VENGEANCE AND DINNER (Book #4)

THE GHOSTLY GROUNDS: SCANDAL AND SUPPER (Book #5)

THE GHOSTLY GROUNDS: DISASTER AND DESSERT (Book #6)

THE INN AT SUNSET HARBOR

FOR NOW AND FOREVER (Book #1)

FOREVER AND FOR ALWAYS (Book #2)

FOREVER, WITH YOU (Book #3)

IF ONLY FOREVER (Book #4)

FOREVER AND A DAY (Book #5)

FOREVER, PLUS ONE (Book #6)

FOR YOU, FOREVER (Book #7)

CHRISTMAS FOREVER (Book #8)

THE ROMANCE CHRONICLES

LOVE LIKE THIS (Book #1)

LOVE LIKE THAT (Book #2)

LOVE LIKE OURS (Book #3)

LOVE LIKE THEIRS (Book #4)

LOVE LIKE YOURS (Book #5)

CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE

CHAPTER THIRTY

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE

CHAPTER ONE

Lex stared at Montgomery David, her boss – and, she now considered, her friend. The revelation that he had known her missing father, Xander Blair, and had never told her was almost too much to take.

I think it’s time, he said, his voice echoing slightly from the wooden bookcases all around them in the bookstore. You deserve to know.

About what happened to him? Lex asked, her heart in her mouth.

No, Montgomery said. Well, yes, yes. But I mean – it’s time that I let you into the back room. It’s time that I take you behind the locked door. If you’re ready, that is.

He was taking a key out from around his neck. Lex didn’t need to hesitate. She’d wanted to know what was behind the mysterious upstairs vault door in A Curious Bookstore ever since she’d started working there. All this time, Montgomery had denied her entry, told her it was none of her business.

She had a feeling it was more her business than he had admitted.

I’m ready, she said, her heart thundering in her chest at a mile a minute.

Everything seemed to crystalize into absolute clarity around her as Montgomery led the way up the stairs. She glanced back into the bookstore, her second home since she had moved from Boston to get experience with selling used books. Hecate, Montgomery’s cat, was watching them go from the counter. Her tail was swinging lazily side to side, her bright golden eyes shining out from her black fur, narrowed to slits.

Lex looked up ahead of herself, where Montgomery was just emerging onto the first floor. He was dressed as always in an almost comically bright outfit: a bright red waistcoat the color of poppies over a shirt printed with tiny yellow bananas. She’d noted earlier that he’d matched it all with a pink and red bow tie, printed with hearts – probably something that was only supposed to be worn on Valentine’s Day. She found her hands were shaking as she reached for the end of the handrail, pulling herself up rather than stepping up onto the floor.

Montgomery paused, looking at her with a somber expression, his eyes glimmering darkly under his bushy white brows and gold-rimmed glasses. He brandished the key from around his neck, holding it up as if it was some kind of talisman, and approached the door.

The door. It had haunted Lex's dreams since she had arrived. At first, she had thought it was simply a case of an old man not quite trusting a new employee with the secrets of his trade. But since then, things had happened. Things that she couldn't explain. Like the man who broke into the room behind it, and somehow managed to knock out her boyfriend, Noah, when they tried to stop him from leaving. Strangest of all, he had done it all with a word and a gesture.

There were the weird books, always requested by the most eccentric customers. Things that changed hands for extreme sums of money. Books that contained good luck charms, supposedly, and darker things besides.

And now, she was finally going to see behind it herself.

Montgomery turned the key in the lock with a reverential movement, everything practiced and slow and studied. Once the key lock clicked, he very carefully let go of the key, leaving it in the lock. Then he reached for the handle, turning it slowly and pushing the door open. Finally, he paused by the opening, folding his hands together in front of himself.

After you, Miss Blair. After you.

For a brief moment, fear rose up inside Lex and stilled her tongue, filling her throat. Did she truly want to know what was back there? It seemed like the kind of thing you wouldn’t be able to just forget.

But she had come this far. She had wanted this for so long. And, if what Montgomery had said was true, then maybe the secret to finding her father also lay beyond this door.

So, Lex took a deep breath, and tucked her black bobbed hair behind her ears. Quelling her fears, she stepped inside.

On either side of the door, a narrow passageway was formed by shelves containing books wrapped in velvet, leather, or fur covers. Each of them was given its own space on the shelf, none of them touching one another, always isolated and alone. Like they were precious treasures, revered and respected. Lex did not doubt that this was the case. Even if there was nothing behind this door except the volumes, Montgomery was the kind of man to take very good care of them.

Lex breathed in deeply, noticing the scent of the books. There was some mustiness, on top of that unique smell that old pages always seemed to have, unlike anything else. But there was also a hint of spice in the air, something like cloves or cinnamon. Lex couldn't put her finger on it. It certainly didn't seem to belong in a room full of books.

But as she moved forward, she saw that it wasn't only books held in this space. At the end of this corridor of shelves, there was another shelf that took up the whole of the back wall. To either side, more shelves were placed, creating a labyrinth of narrow corridors that ran through the upstairs room. Looking from side to side and glimpsing the tops of the shelves, Lex estimated there had to be at least three more stacks to the left and four to the right.

And there were objects stored here, too. Not books at all. To the left, Lex was sure she could see bottles of… something. She walked over slowly, somehow instinctively feeling that it was better to look with her eyes than her hands; there was no telling how expensive or delicate some of this stuff was.

There was a whole shelf containing just bottles, all of them holding liquids of different colors. Some were green, others red, and others yet an inky black that seemed to have a hint of sparkle in its depths. The bottles themselves were clearly old; some were plain glass, but so thick she could barely see the liquid through the greenish tint. Others were embellished with silver or copper flourishes, intricate designs that swirled around both the tops and the bottoms of the flasks.

If Lex had seen these items in a Halloween decor store, she would have called them potions. Now that she was faced with them in Montgomery's back room, she couldn't conjure a different word to come to her mind.

And it wasn't just the potions. The next shelf along held all kinds of trinkets, mostly pieces of jewelry set with darkly glimmering stones. There were small shallow dishes, larger bowls made from wood or ivory, even some pestles and mortars. Trinket boxes, too, in elaborate silver fretwork or carved ivory, holding who knew what. Looking closely at one of the examples, Lex felt herself shudder. She certainly hoped it was ivory - because it could have been bone.

Moving further along, she saw that the books on the next shelf were propped open in curious ways. They were settled onto wooden platforms, their own individual stands, some of them carved with the claws or hands of curious beasts. Some were open, set to certain pages that seemed to be covered in lines of text she could not read or understand. Others were firmly closed, their massive leather covers inscribed with words in gold ink.

One of them was titled with a single simple word: Grimoire.

Lex felt her heart pattering even faster in her chest, her breath coming fast and uneven. No. This was stupid. Montgomery purchased rare items and sold them to collectors, and that was all. Of course, there would be examples of items that dated back to a time when people believed in superstitions that were no longer held to be true. Especially here, so close to Boston. And Incanton had its own reputation, as a town of oddities with a long history.

Yes, when she thought about it like that, it all made sense. Collectors enjoyed unique and strange items. Books written by people who were purported to be witches, full of hokey spells, were certain to entertain. That was all this was. No one really believed any of it.

Did they?

Lex turned to see Montgomery watching her with a curious expression on his face, as if he was waiting on tenterhooks for her to say or do something. A movement at his feet made Lex look down, and she saw that Hecate had joined them. Even her luminous eyes were fixed on Lex at this moment, as if everyone was expecting her to do something special.

She cleared her dry throat, trying to find something to say.

Well, she said, at last, more to break the silence than because she had really found any words. I suppose collectors pay a lot for this kind of thing.

Montgomery regarded her closely for a long moment, then a gentle smile covered his face. Lex, who had known him long enough by now to read his moods, couldn’t help but think that it was fake. They do, indeed, indeed, he said. Many of the things you see here are worth more than – well, more than the building itself. That’s one of the reasons why we must be so careful with them.

One of the reasons, Lex thought. Just one.

She didn’t want to ask. She was afraid to hear it. But somehow, the words blurted out of her mouth before she had a chance to stop them.

What are the other reasons? she asked. She looked to the side, her gaze pulled by a silver necklace that she couldn’t seem to keep her eyes away from. It was a silver depiction of a rose on a stem, the whole thing delicately tangled in thorny silver vines to hold it loose inside the cage of a pendant.

I can’t tell you those just yet, Montgomery said, his voice quiet and soft.

Lex jerked her eyes back to his. You told me it was time, she protested. You said you would show me everything!

I said I would allow you to see behind the door, Montgomery said. There was something of sadness in his tone, as if she had disappointed him. Like she’d failed some kind of test she hadn’t been aware she was taking.

What are these things? Lex demanded, panic rising up in her chest. She’d come so far. She’d thought she had finally broken through. Now he was going to shut her out, again?

You aren’t ready to hear the answer to that, Montgomery said. You’re not ready to take this seriously. He breathed a deep sigh, then turned to walk slowly back towards the door.

For a moment, Lex considered staying put or going deeper into the shelving. She could do some real damage here, if he left her alone with all these valuable things. If he wouldn’t tell her what she wanted to know, she could start knocking bottles off shelves or smashing some of the brightly colored crystals she had glimpsed on the other side. If he wasn’t going to trust her…

But, no. She couldn’t do that. She knew she couldn’t. It was wrong, for a start – and it was also terrifying. Something about these objects made all the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. If she was to deliberately break some of them, she couldn’t shake the feeling that it would be bad for her, not for Montgomery.

She rushed after him, following him towards the exit, the massive vault door that she had wanted so badly to pass beyond.

Montgomery, she said, her voice rising in her throat now that it was looking like she would never get the answers she wanted. Please. You were going to tell me something – about my Dad. Don’t shut me out now.

I can tell you about your father, he said, and sighed, shaking his head. But… Miss Blair. It’s not so simple, not so simple. I need you to believe.

To believe in… what? Lex asked, her eyes blooming wide as she realized what he was saying. In… in all of this?

Montgomery opened his mouth to answer, but there was a chime from downstairs that cut him off. All the way up here, even though it should have been impossible, the bell over the entrance to the store rang as loudly as though it were right next to their heads.

I have to go, Montgomery said. We have a customer.

Lex rushed forward after him, determined not to let him get away with leaving her questions unanswered.

CHAPTER TWO

Lex stumbled down the stairs just as Montgomery was greeting the customer, only just managing to catch up with him in spite of his age. They were already talking; she couldn’t interrupt and yell at Montgomery now. It would be unprofessional, and besides, she had the rest of the day.

The rest of her life, if it would take that. She wasn’t going to leave this alone.

Actually, I’m not looking to buy anything today, the new customer said, in answer to Montgomery’s question. I’m here to sell.

Lex crept forward, moving to join Montgomery at the counter. She curiously watched the stranger, who was standing on the threadbare rug that covered most of the worn floorboards in the main room. He had that kind of face that was difficult to determine in age; he could have been thirty or fifty, his eyes seemingly full of experience and yet his skin relatively unlined. He had dark hair cut in a nondescript, average kind of style. He looked… well, normal.

No elaborate clothing, no eccentric mannerisms or old-fashioned way of talking. He wasn’t at all like the majority of customers who came to A Curious Bookstore. Was he a rare book dealer? Lex wondered.

Let’s take a look, then, Montgomery suggested, with a boyish excitement. He clapped his hands together as the stranger reached into a satchel he was carrying, drawing out a book-shaped object wrapped in plain black cotton.

I believe it’s quite valuable, the stranger warned. I’ve been careful to keep it out of sunlight when possible, and I don’t believe it should be touched.

Naturally, naturally, Montgomery replied, pressing one of the hidden switches on the side of the counter. Lex was always surprised at just how many there were. It opened a small compartment next to him, from which he drew a packet of unopened, clean archival gloves.

The stranger placed the book down on the counter, with exaggerated care. With the customer watching closely, Montgomery used his newly gloved hands to unwrap the cotton shroud piece by piece, until the book itself lay before him on the counter.

The cover was unmarked, and Lex stared at it for any kind of indication of exactly what they were looking at. From her position at the end of the counter, she wasn't quite close enough to see it in full detail. She waited impatiently as Montgomery made a humming noise under his breath, then took just the very edge of the cover and slowly and carefully laid it open.

There were no words on the interior page that was now revealed, but only