Our Story

At Undercover Books on Chicago's South Side, you'll find more than just shelves stacked with rare and used books. You'll discover the culmination of our lifelong dream– a vibrant cultural hub where community connections flourish and a touch of mystery and intrigue always lingers.

Our journey began in 1997, not in a bookstore, but on the stage! We met as actors in Chicago, a shared love for performance quickly blossoming into a collaborative spirit that led us to co-found the Billy Goat Experiment Theatre Company. Six years later, their paths aligned even further when we realized a mutual, long-held ambition: to open a used bookstore.

Life, as it often does, had its own script. Todd transitioned from acting to social work, then a long career in IT, while Lynn apprenticed as a private investigator, earning her license in 2002 and launching her own practice in 2011. Today, she's a full-time investigator with the Illinois Innocence Project, still pursuing private work on the side. Even with new careers and the joy of raising a son, their bookstore dream never faded.

Inspired by used bookstores like The Armadillo's Pillow, we began quietly collecting. The response was overwhelming and book donations began pouring in from friends, family, and even strangers near and far, transforming our Andersonville apartment into a literary labyrinth, overflowing with unique finds, many bearing margin notes, inscriptions, and even old photographs or other mementos tucked within their pages.

In 2007, we purchased the building in Washington Heights, and moved into the apartment above. The storefront. Between day jobs and raising our son, we took our time, filling a basement to the ceiling with our ever-growing collection and slowly building out the storefront.

When we finally opened our doors in October 2023, we quickly learned the ropes of running a bookstore. Our aim for Undercover Books has always been to be more than just a place to buy books; it's a vital social and cultural hub for our South Side neighbors. That's why our mobile, caged bookshelves allow for dynamic spaces allowing us to host a constant stream of engaging events.

And then there's the delightful twist: Lynn's private investigator office, right in the heart of the shop! Our custom round window even resembles a magnifying glass, a fitting detail relating to Lynn's profession.

-Todd and Lynn