'Ghosts of Salem' author heads to Wicked Good Books on Oct. 7

Heading to Salem for Haunted Happenings? Wicked Good Books, located at 215 Essex Street, is hosting "Ghosts of Salem: Haunts of the Witch City" author Sam Baltrusis on Tuesday, Oct. 7 from 7-9 p.m.

  
Books are literally flying off the shelves of this new kid on the block. Salem-based lawyer Denise Kent opened Wicked Good Books in the spot formerly occupied by Derby Square Bookstore's mile-high stacks. When she started renovations last June, the skeptic was approached by locals asking: Is this the haunted bookstore? Kent reached out to New England Ghost Project investigator Ron Kolek who searched for paranormal activity in the mysterious tunnels beneath the shop uncovered during renovations.

Kent says the Ghost Project team did pick up on a benign presence: "We did have the crew of Ghost Chronicles Radio come in, including two psychics and an investigator," Kent says. "One of the psychics, Maureen Wood, did pick up on a presence, a benign one."

It's possible that the original bookstore owner may have made postmortem return. "I wonder if it’s the original bookstore owner? The Munroe family owned the bookstore for 39 years before we bought it," says Kent, adding that she placed the children's section in the same spot as the original owner.  

"One of our employees did indeed get 'creeped out' while working a recent Sunday night, and considered bringing her dog with her for her next shift," Kent continues.

Yep, the bookstore may have a few ghostly skeletons from Salem's wicked past lingering in the tunnel beneath the Essex Street haunt. 

Learn about Salem's haunted history from the "Ghosts of Boston: Haunts of the Hub" author on Tuesday, Oct. 7 at 7 p.m. ... if you dare.