In the heart of REO Town, Lansing, lies Deadtime Stories: True Crime and Other Books bookstore, full of true crime and horror books and trinkets. The store has been open since 2021, and recently celebrated its fourth anniversary.
Just down the street from Michigan State University's campus is a shop that is "strange and unusual."
Jenn Carpenter brings spooky to the heart of downtown Lansing through her bookstore Deadtime Stories: True Crime and Other Books, located in REO Town.
Carpenter entered the world of horror as a "paranormal" tour guide with Demented Mitten Tours, a tour company based in mid-Michigan. However, due to COVID-19, their tours were indefinitely put on hold — which led Carpenter to decide she needed a different outlet to continue her work.
Carpenter has a love for both books and writing, and published "Haunted Lansing" in 2018. In her book, she combines chapters about the history of Lansing with thrilling ghost stories.
After publishing her book, she was persuaded to start a podcast with her friend, which they titled, “Violent End." It debuted in 2019 under the name "So Dead." In the podcast, she talks about true crime topics throughout the state of Michigan. With over 100 episodes released, she has covered topics ranging from murderers and ghosts to her personal favorite — the Courthouse Square Museum.
The Courthouse Square Museum, located in Charlotte, was an active courthouse for over 100 years, housing notable cases such as the first woman tried for murder in Michigan and the original trial for the East Lansing Murderer, Don Miller. It is now open to the public as a museum.
"We started with the plan to start with the Michigan stuff and local stuff and then expand when we ran out. But that is not a thing — there is just so much," Carpenter said.
Through all these different chapters in her life, Carpenter has been able to closely connect the things she loves through her bookshop.
After operating in the basement of Thrift Witch thrift shop for six months, "It became pretty clear that we were going to need a space of our own," Carpenter said.
From true crime books by popular authors like Stephen King, to a whole section dedicated to the haunts of Michigan, the store offers a wide selection of choices. Because of the tours and writing her book "Haunted Lansing," Carpenter knew about Michigan based true crime authors that she could showcase throughout the store.
The bookstore has done more than connect Lansing residents to the true crime and horror scene. It has brought them closer to Carpenter.
"They all have become friends," Carpenter said. "I’ve got customers who have taken their engagement photos here, and senior pictures here."
Some customers don’t just come for the books or trinkets, they come to see some unusual creatures in the Screamatorium.
There are two cats, Morrison and Hendrix, as well as spiders and other insects in the store, some of which are available for purchase.
Deadtime Stories has more oddities than your average bookstore, like "Psycho Killer Candles" and "Witches Brew Bath Ritual Kits." Even with the frightening decor and themes, Carpenter believes she has made the space fun and open for everyone.
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As they recently celebrated their fourth anniversary, a second location named Deadtime Stories: The Sequel will be opening in the Courthouse Square Museum this June. Carpenter posted on Facebook saying that younger her loved books, bugs and museum gift shops.
“The fact that I am opening a book, bug and gift shop inside a museum, a haunted museum no less, would make little Jenn's head explode,” Carpenter wrote on the store's social media pages.
Carpenter said that the second store is slated to open this June and that over 200 people have shown interest on social media.
"It's really wonderful to form those kinds of connections with people through common interests," Carpenter said.
