I'm not sure why I picked it up. I'd already read Bill Jessome's pair of Maritime Mysteries and was, despite some complaints, fairly satisfied with my new knowledge of the Maritimes' supernatural history. But I brought home a copy of Vernon Oickle's Ghost Stories of the Maritimes anyway and settled down to read.

Sorry, Jessome. Oickle has put together a superior collection of ghostly tales. His book is a more enjoyable read and he does a better job of putting the stories into a chronological and geographical context. I thoroughly enjoyed the read, which was suitably spooky and entertaining. Oickle has a pleasant conversational style, making the sailors, soldiers, fishermen and lost lovers come to life -- well, in a manner of speaking.

[ by Tom Knapp ]
Rambles: 26 January 2002