One of the saddest parts of being a Spy editor for so long is having to write obituaries for beloved downtown businesses as they come and go. None leave me bluer than saying goodbye to the independent bookstores of the Mid-Shore.
When I started the Chestertown Spy in 2009, the town had three thriving bookstores. Today, only one remains, The Bookplate, thanks to the sustained leadership of its owner, Tom Martin.
The first to go was Corsica Books, which opened in Chestertown as a branch of its greatly beloved Centreville “flagship” store. This was where one picked up the latest New York Times bestseller, along with thoughtfully selected works of fiction, poetry and, of course, cookbooks. More importantly, it was where one could find the latest book by a recent Washington College lecturer.
The second was Gerry Cataldo’s Old Book Company, which the Spy highlighted many times. Someone could walk in on a Saturday afternoon and discover a first edition of The Catcher in the Rye while also finding one of the beautifully produced books published by Gerry and Chestertown Spy publisher Jim Dissette. Among those was Homer’s The Odyssey, which we revisited a few weeks ago amid Hollywood’s renewed interest in the classic.
The same sad fate eventually befell the News Center in Easton, shortly after I became editor of the Talbot Spy. From the outside, it might have looked like a Hallmark card store, but its 10,000 square feet also housed a serious bookstore. Local and nationally known authors gave readings there, while its staff carefully selected books to meet the interests of an increasingly sophisticated community of readers.
During those years, the Spy also began working with Mystery Loves Company in Oxford. Kathy Harig had realized her dream of owning a bookstore in 1990 and moved Mystery Loves Company from Baltimore’s Fells Point to Oxford in 2004. There, she transformed the historic bank building beside Oxford Park into her personal temple to the mystery genre.
If you knew Kathy, the move wouldn’t have surprised you. A trained librarian who spent much of her career at Baltimore’s Enoch Pratt Free Library, she had devoted her adult life to books and possessed the charming idiosyncrasies that make independent bookstores so much fun. She would inevitably sit in a chair beside the cash register, offering endless commentary on new releases and recommending where newcomers should begin. She also served for several years on the Talbot County Free Library’s board of trustees, work that grew naturally out of the same devotion.
Over the years, the Spy worked closely with Kathy. We interviewed many of the writers she supported, promoted their books, covered their appearances, and watched as Mystery Loves Company became an important gathering place for writers and readers from across the Eastern Shore and well beyond.
One of our last projects with Kathy was an interview with the hugely popular Baltimore author Laura Lippman, who was coming to Oxford to promote her latest book. A signing and reception were held at Doc’s, and the sight of more than 200 fans arriving from near and far was stunning evidence that Kathy knew her audience.
In the years following that event, author appearances became less frequent. Mystery Loves Company had always kept limited weekday hours, but during my trips to Oxford I began to notice that it was no longer open even on weekends, the prime time for visitors and book buyers.
Kathy Harig died on April 11, 2025, at the age of 78, with her husband of 55 years, Thomas, at her side. Her obituary, published by the Star Democrat, appeared that May, and a memorial service and celebration of her life were held in Oxford that spring.
And yet it took me far too long to learn any of this. I discovered it the way one learns the truth in a mystery novel, by stumbling upon a small clue and working backward. A faded notice still taped inside the window of the shuttered bookstore told me that Kathy Harig had died.
For a woman who spent her life making sure her readers never missed a good story, it seems fitting, and a little sad, that the final chapter of her own life had to be pieced together in much the same way.
Obituaries for bookstores rarely end happily, and this one is no exception. In an age dominated by Amazon and e-books, it seems unlikely that another Kathy Harig will appear to reopen Mystery Loves Company and carry on her work.
Still, I hope Oxford finds a way to honor Kathy’s contribution as the historic bank building that housed Mystery Loves Company begins its next chapter. Her bookstore may be gone, but the remarkable community of writers and readers she created should not be allowed to fade away with the notice in the window.
9 Responses
Sad but true that especially Used Bookshops are becoming a thing of the Past..Luckily Unicorn and Vintage Books and Fine Art remain along withe Bookplate..Years ago I closed my Lazy Moon Bookshop in Linkwood as the floors slumped from the weight of the books..I still have 60,000 Books on Amazon though..Have seen hundreds of bookstores closed since I started in 1974 in Silver Spring
In was also heart broken. Ms. Kathy was amazing and told me how I would like Louise Penny- start with book 4. I did and a super fan was born. Laura Lippman and acquaintance and favorite author of mine her visits to Mystery always were a grand time. Honestly, Ms.Kathy would alway message me to let me know of the date and saved me a spot! I go to Oxford often and get a Little sad every time I pass her beloved store. My kids have recently left home for college and grad school and at the same time our favorite book store- home of so many important family memories of my kiddos childhood is also gone.
Kathy and my late wife Marti attended elementary school together in Painesville, Ohio. It wa a joy to see them reconnect after so many years. Now, they’re probably back to discussing the merits of Agatha Christie vs. Arthur Conan Doyle! RIP, ladies. We miss you.
Thank you for your nice article about Kathy. She was a special person. I’m not sure how she managed to get so many books in that small space, but she did. Not a whole lot of room to roam, especially if there were others in the shop. I would order books from her online, but always picked them up at the bank building as purusing her collection was a rare treat. She certainly knew her mysteries and was a wonderful source of recommendations. She also supported book events throughout our community. Her passing was a loss to Oxford and the greater literary community of the Shore.
I recently learned about a book by a World War 2 veteran’s experiences about serving a s a copilot on a B-24 Liberator during during World War Two. The book title is The Mighty Eighth. The Air War in Europe as told by the Men who Fought it.
My father was also a Mighty Eighth B-24 co pilot. Like so many of the “Greatest Generation” he very rarely talked about his experiences. When he did his usual reply was “It was no big deal. I was just doing my job for my country”.
I have no doubt there is a lot he never wanted to talk about, including a crash landing in France after he and his crew successfully dodged a barrage of firings from ground based anti – aircraft guns.
I called the Flying Cloud Bookstore in Easton about ordering a copy of the aforementioned book. The response was great. They researched it’s availability and ordered it. I suspect it may cost more than ordering from Amazon but it is important for all of us to support book sellers who are local and who provide exceptional customer service.
Wonderful article Dave about dear friend and colleague Kathy Harig. She is deeply missed. 💕🙌📚
I am not on the Eastern shore anymore, but knew that this bookstore had closed sometime ago. I’m not sure I knew that Kathy had died. I’m very sad. The first time I walked in there, I thought oh my goodness what have I walked into. But this wonderful woman knew where absolutely everything was. She ordered some books for me. She found some treasures for me and at the end she offered hundreds of books for free for the Dorchester Library Friends Book Cellar.. What a very generous and wonderful woman. The bookstore was a treasure. And she and the store are missed.
I miss Kathy Harig and her book store. She ran a mystery book club, either at the store or at her condo in Oxford. They were always very informative. She knew everyone (it seemed) in the mystery book world and could provide more background than you would every find searching online.
What I loved about Kathy’s literary outlook was that mystery loves company not only in who-done-its, but in so many facets of life. What a lovely mind!