Mercurius and the Shattered Mirror

by Neil Packer

‘Mercurius and the shattered mirror’, is the story behind the Haunted antiques paranormal research centre. I have intentionally not gone in to too much detail, especially with some of the items, as I want teams and individuals to find and experience things for themselves without being swayed by what I can say. Everything that I say is through my own experiences and my own opinions. Up at H.A.P.R.C you won’t see signs by the items stating the history or giving warnings like “Do not touch”, I don’t believe that is my place to tell people the information unless they ask for it. My place is to keep a record of what people experience at the centre, these form the basis for the research. If one person picks up on a name for instance, that’s their own experience, but when more and more people pick up the same thing, then that is getting even more interesting, and to me suggests that there is really something to it to work on. Starting from when I was young to where H.A.P.R.C is now, it gives the reader a glimpse in to the world of the paranormal through my eyes. H.A.P.R.C is my own journey in the paranormal and I have been very fortunate that there is so many people that have shown an interest in this journey and have now become an integral part of it with me. My huge thanks to each and every one of you.

246 pages, Paperback

Published May 21, 2021

About the author

Neil Packer is the illustrator of several classic books, including One Hundred Years of Solitude. His illustrations for The Odyssey took many years — "Nearly as long as Odysseus’s journey!" he says. He lives in London.

Reviews

[Rae Gee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an incredible stream of consciousness which follows the thought process behind opening what is probably the world's first, and only, haunted antiques paranormal research centre. Based in the tiny English town of Hinckley H.A.R.P.C (Hinckley Antiques Paranormal Research Centre) does pretty much what its name says. It's an old building full of antiques that may, or may not, have spirits attached to them. The centre's founder, Neil Packer, talks through how he came up with the idea, acquired the building, and then opened it just before Covid-19 hit. He talks about all that they house in the building along with photos and detailed descriptions of peoples experiences. And there are a lot.

This absolutely sounds like it could be a novel. But it's not. It's a real place in a real town run by real people. If you love true paranormal stories, pick this one up. And go and visit them if you get the chance. You never know who you'll meet!