FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Your next story begins with an invitation.

Browse our collection and choose the invitation that calls to you. Each invitation is linked to a specific book, carefully selected and kept secret until it reaches you.

Place your order, and we'll prepare your mystery with care, ready for its journey to you. The title, author, cover and genre remain a secret until your book arrives.

All that's left to do is choose your invitation, settle in, and let the story find you.

Our books may be new or pre-loved, depending on the individual listing.

Every book is checked before it makes its way to you, and its condition will be clearly stated on the product page. Pre-loved books may show some signs of previous reading, such as light shelf wear, minor creasing, or yellowing pages.

No, that’s part of the magic.

The title, author, cover and genre remain a secret until your book arrives. You choose the invitation, and we choose the book.

All essential details, including the book’s condition, whether it’s standalone or part of a series, and any relevant content notes, will be provided before you buy.

Each invitation is designed around a particular mood or reading experience, rather than revealing a specific genre.

Please read the product description and content notes before ordering. If you have particular content you want to avoid, contact us before purchasing and we’ll let you know whether we can accommodate your request.

We want your next read to feel like an adventure, not an unpleasant surprise.

Sometimes, a story has already found you once. That doesn't mean your next discovery has to end there.

If you've already read the book you've received, you can request a Mystery Book Swap. Simply contact us before returning your book, and we'll guide you through the process.

You'll be able to choose a new invitation from our specially selected swap collection, curated separately from The First Haunting. Once we've received your original book and confirmed it meets the swap conditions, we'll send your replacement.

Return postage and postage for your replacement book are your responsibility. Your replacement will be carefully packaged for its journey, although it won't include the full original mystery unboxing experience.

Our swap service is limited to one swap per order. It is a voluntary service and does not affect your rights if a book arrives damaged or isn't as described.

Because even when a story isn't the right one, there's always another waiting to find you.

Absolutely. You can optionally share a link to your Goodreads or Fable profile when placing your order.

We'll use your accessible reading history to help identify whether you've already read the book linked to your chosen invitation. If we spot a likely match, we'll contact you before dispatch with three alternative invitations to choose from.

You don't need to use either platform to order from us. If you don't share a profile, we'll prepare the book linked to your chosen invitation as usual.

We can't guarantee that every previous read will be identified, but every little clue helps us make your mystery more personal.

UK delivery is £3.65 per order, sent via Royal Mail Tracked 48.

Your order will carefully be prepared and dispatched within 2-3 working days from the original order date, delivery then usually takes around 2–3 working days following this. However, please allow a little extra time during busy periods or if postal delays occur.

We'll make sure your mystery is safely packaged and ready for its journey to you. Once it's on its way, you can look forward to discovering the story waiting inside.

If your mystery hasn't arrived when expected, don't worry, we're here to help.

First, check your Royal Mail tracking for the latest delivery updates. If your parcel still hasn't arrived or the tracking hasn't updated, please get in touch with us at thehauntedbookshelfco@gmail.com with your order number.

We'll look into the tracking and contact Royal Mail where needed to help locate your parcel. If it appears to be lost, we'll work with you to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.

We're so sorry if your mystery arrives worse for wear. We take care when preparing every order, and we want your book to reach you safely.

If your parcel or book arrives damaged, please contact us at thehauntedbookshelfco@gmail.com with your order number and photographs showing the damage. This helps us understand what has happened and work out the best way to help.

We'll review the issue and get back to you with the next steps as soon as possible, because even the most unexpected stories should arrive in good shape.

If you have a question about an order, need a little help choosing your invitation, or simply want to get in touch, we'd love to hear from you.

You can reach us through our website's contact page or email us at thehauntedbookshelfco@gmail.com. We'll get back to you as soon as we can.

Every story begins somewhere, and we're always happy to help you find your way