I knew a few of these stories already. Lizzie Borden, for instance, is a tale everyone knows. I'm familiar with the tragic fate of accused Salem witch Giles Corey, and I'd previously read of pirates "Black Sam" Bellamy and Ned Low. Maybe a couple of others.

But most of the people featured in Matthew P. Mayo's compelling book, Bootleggers, Lobstermen & Lumberjacks, were new to me. And their stories were completely, utterly fascinating to read.

Subtitled "Fifty of the Grittiest Moments in the History of Hardscrabble New England," the book certainly lives up to its name. Filled with misfortune, the stories center around instances of war, crime, natural disasters and simple bad luck. The people in each chapter face their fates with grim, unflinching New England fortitude ... although that might be more a reflection of Mayo's writing than the actual course of events.

Mayo discards the notion of a dry narrative, instead inserting dialogue and action that -- while entirely fictional -- add color to the tales. Sure, we don't know what these folks said or were thinking moments before their terrible deaths, but it certainly makes the events more enjoyable to read.

"Enjoyable" might be an odd label for these stories, given that most end in dire circumstances, but the writing is good and the anecdotes are fascinating. I'll stick by the description. I plowed through this collection with relish, and closed the book wishing there were more.

Each chapter ends with a bit of historical perspective that explains the aftermath of the events Mayo described. Readers should come away with a better appreciation of life (and death) in New England over the last few centuries.