A father-son duo preserving literature’s rarest treasures
BY LA Stories Staff Los Angeles
PUBLISHED 5:00 AM PT Dec. 22, 2025
Harvey Jason’s life has been shaped by an unbroken love affair with books, a passion rooted in his childhood in London and nurtured by a mother who read to him constantly.
After achieving success as an actor on stage and in Hollywood, he ultimately walked away from the spotlight to pursue something more meaningful.
On the latest episode of LA Stories with Giselle Fernandez, he shares how, with his son Louis, he built Mystery Pier Books, a sanctuary on the Sunset Strip where first editions and literary treasures are lovingly preserved.
As Harvey reflects on the life he’s created, he calls it nothing short of a blessing.
“Being surrounded by the world’s great literature in the first edition, working with my son,” he said, “it’s a dream come true.”
Inside their enchanting, jewel-box bookstore, Harvey and Louis curate some of the rarest works in existence: from Shakespeare to Steinbeck, from Anne Frank to signed scripts from Hollywood legends.
They say their philosophy is rooted in integrity, perfection and reverence for the written word. For the Jasons, each book carries history, humanity and irreplaceable truth at a time when literature is increasingly under threat.
To Harvey, holding these masterpieces is nothing less than sacred. “Literature is a treasure,” he said. “It’s an untold treasure — priceless treasure.”
Now nearly three decades into their partnership, Harvey and Louis have built far more than a business—they’ve built a legacy.
Their devotion to preserving original texts has drawn collectors, celebrities, scholars and even young TikTok fans. As book bans rise and classic works face revision or removal, the Jasons see their role as stewards of authenticity and guardians of culture.
Louis captures the magic that fuels their mission every day: “There’s nothing like holding a book or handing someone a book from the 1700s and seeing their eyes light up.”