The Midnight Bookseller

The Midnight Bookseller is an indie bookstore on North Street in Salem dedicated to fantasy, dark literature, gothic romance, horror, folklore, and dark academia. If you’ve ever felt like a book should come with an atmosphere, this is your place. We just opened in June and are about a five-minute walk from the commuter rail station. We’re super easy to get to from Boston and easy to stumble across if you’re already wandering the neighborhood.

Our shelves are carefully curated, with bestsellers alongside hidden gems, special editions you won’t find anywhere else, and titles that just feel right for Salem. We’re not trying to stock everything but we are trying to stock the right things- things that focus on everything dark and moody.

Not sure what to read next? That’s kind of our favorite question. Every staff pick comes with a handwritten note about why we loved it, and we’re always happy to make a recommendation if you tell us what you’re in the mood for; a slow-burn gothic novel, a folklore-heavy fantasy, something genuinely unsettling for the train ride home. Whatever it is, we’ll find you something. And if you’re not sure exactly, try picking one of our blind dates with a book- they are all personally curated books we’re obsessed with.

We also carry candles, bookmarks, literary gifts, fantasy-inspired merchandise, and seasonal finds: the kind of things that are hard to walk past without picking up.

Throughout the year we will be hosting author events, book clubs, game nights, themed events, and more! Follow us on Instagram or check our website to see what’s coming up. If you’re local, these are worth keeping an eye on.

Salem draws a specific kind of person; readers, wanderers, people who like their history a little haunted. We built this store for them. Come in, take your time, and find your next great read at the Midnight Bookseller.