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Dark Woods, Chill Waters: Ghost Tales from Down East Maine
Forgotten somewhere between Bar Harbor, Maine, and New Brunswick, Canada, lies the most remote and mysterious section of the Eastern Seaboard. It is a region rich in stark beauty―and supernatural lore. The harsh landscape, with its rocky seaside cliffs and thundering surf and miles of dark, mysterious forest farther inland, lends itself to the ghost story. Overlaying the ghost tales gathered in this book is a sense of unspeakable horror and malice.
224 pages, Paperback
First published August 16, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
May 29, 2017
This book just didn't do it for me; I feel like the information used for most of the chapters was much too new, and some research should have been done to find the earliest recording of stories that are supposed to be old or verify information on the properties involved. The first chapter is about a phantom hitchhiker, a widely-spread (in this age of television, radio, and mass-market books) and VERY common ghost-story trope. "Variants of Catherine's death are essentially the same, except the time period may be the 1960s or the 1950s. One account of the story is set in the 1920s... What do we make of such bewildering variations?" That each generation moves the origin of the story up or down in time to make it more compelling to them. It's how stories work.
The University of Maine at Machias is featured in one chapter, though to be fair the author does note that the urban legends common to many colleges and university (student trapped and forgotten for the summer, student who kills herself and lingers on) don't seem to have any factual basis at that school.
The devil in the dance hall story is even on Snopes, and is claimed to originate in the American southwest, but made its way to downeast Maine at some point.
The writing itself leaves a fair bit to be desired as well; each chapter seems to end with a sentence or two of cheesy, vaguely spooky text, and there's a fair bit of random-seeming speculation in some stories to try to make them fit together. The wildest was in the story of the woman who was found mysteriously strangled on the shore; clearly she was killed by her sea captain husband, who died in a completely different part of the world seven years prior, but who convinced her to meet him there on that night. What?
A final bit of wisdom: "Haunted beaches are particularly plentiful on islands." Yes, islands do have more than their fair share of beaches.
The University of Maine at Machias is featured in one chapter, though to be fair the author does note that the urban legends common to many colleges and university (student trapped and forgotten for the summer, student who kills herself and lingers on) don't seem to have any factual basis at that school.
The devil in the dance hall story is even on Snopes, and is claimed to originate in the American southwest, but made its way to downeast Maine at some point.
The writing itself leaves a fair bit to be desired as well; each chapter seems to end with a sentence or two of cheesy, vaguely spooky text, and there's a fair bit of random-seeming speculation in some stories to try to make them fit together. The wildest was in the story of the woman who was found mysteriously strangled on the shore; clearly she was killed by her sea captain husband, who died in a completely different part of the world seven years prior, but who convinced her to meet him there on that night. What?
A final bit of wisdom: "Haunted beaches are particularly plentiful on islands." Yes, islands do have more than their fair share of beaches.
May 7, 2013
A fairly dull collection of gruesome tales that seemed preoccupied with "evil" spirits and haunting. Even things that seemed fairly innocuous, or non-threatening were ascribed threatening or ominous properties. Some of the history was interesting, and I liked that the author talked a lot about the culture, and economics of the region. I think it gave people unfamiliar with the area a better idea of the setting these stories are grounded in. I think a little less sensational approach would have made the book feel a little more authentic, and less tabloid news story.
December 9, 2010
Loved it! Of course, I am from Down East Maine and there's nothing I love more than a good ghost story, so this book was right up my alley. :) I do, however, think anyone would enjoy this book no matter where they are from. The stories are short and interesting and LiBrizzi writes from a perspective of "believe" rather than "debunk" which, in my opinion is a lot more fun and a lot more frightening! [[GRINZ]]
October 11, 2022
A neat enough collection of Maine ghost stories. Most of the stories strike a decent balance between storytelling and research, and the few that do try too hard to play up the supernatural are balanced by a few going the extra mile to analyze and even debunk. (B+)
November 16, 2016
The beautiful state of Maine, so pristine and classically New England. Down East brings to mind crisp air, rocky shoreline, clam bakes, and sea-faring towns. Majestic lighthouses stand watch over rough coastline. And ghosts seem to loom around every corner. Author Marcus LiBrizzi gives us a look at another side of this historic state. Folklore has always been a part of the rich heritage of Maine, but is there any credibility to local legend and lore? Well, sometimes, where there's smoke, there's fire.
Mr. LiBrizzi has assembled his own ghost-hunting team who set forth seeking regional, contemporary tales as witnessed by local residents. As I know from experience, mention ghosts, and people you'd never expect come out of the woodwork, eager to tell their own stories. The folks Down East are no exception. The team found plenty of great spooky, chilling tales.
Many classic legends have some basis in fact, although the exact details may be long lost. More impressive than simply researching these legends, the author has found first-hand accounts from people who can attest to having had encounters with these legendary specters themselves, with their own two eyes. Consider: It is rumored that a young woman haunts a desolate stretch of Route 182, asking for a ride to Bar Harbor. She has been encountered recently in two separate instances by people traveling that stretch of road at night. It has been said that the mysterious fog that rolls in over Fort Sullivan, Eastport, sweeps in with it the forlorn image of a long-ago soldier standing at attention, his musket by his side. He was witnessed several times by a husband and wife who live nearby. Recently, an invisible phantom left fresh footprints in the sand behind two women who walked alone on a deserted beach. The legend of this Roque Bluffs "follower" has been around for a long time.
In addition to legends with contemporary witnesses, Mr. LiBrizzi and his team have gathered many first-hand eye-witness accounts of unknown hauntings of all types from local residents. A haunted falls in Machias, a haunted painting in Columbia, and a ghost with a fetish for all things sharp in Milbridge are among the offerings. Most fascinating to me are the unearthly spirit orbs, white, blue, and green orbs of light, in and around the Addison area, which have been witnesses by dozens of people over the years, as recently as 2001. I've heard of spirit orbs before, even saw two small ones myself, but these are so well documented and frequent that they have been studied by the likes of the Federal Aviation Administration, The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, The National Weather Service, and the state's geologist & climatologist. They remain a mystery to science.
Many things about hauntings will always remain a mystery. Why do they stay? Some say tragedy or an untimely death keeps them here. Do they see us? Some evidence points to an affirmative answer. The young ones seem able to play with our children. They can call out our name. How much of an effect can they really have on us? They can instill dread, startle us, amuse us, and sometimes just really creep us out. They can even portend a death. But yet they will remain a mystery. Mr. LiBrizzi has given us a peek into the lives of those who regularly live with that mystery, for good or for bad. I am always excited to find a book like this: local hunter and team uncover loads of local haunts. One thing you won't find in this book is embellishment, making the stories that much more believable. I think Down East Maine can feel confident calling itself one of the most haunted places in New England. You may want to leave an extra light on while reading this one.
Mr. LiBrizzi has assembled his own ghost-hunting team who set forth seeking regional, contemporary tales as witnessed by local residents. As I know from experience, mention ghosts, and people you'd never expect come out of the woodwork, eager to tell their own stories. The folks Down East are no exception. The team found plenty of great spooky, chilling tales.
Many classic legends have some basis in fact, although the exact details may be long lost. More impressive than simply researching these legends, the author has found first-hand accounts from people who can attest to having had encounters with these legendary specters themselves, with their own two eyes. Consider: It is rumored that a young woman haunts a desolate stretch of Route 182, asking for a ride to Bar Harbor. She has been encountered recently in two separate instances by people traveling that stretch of road at night. It has been said that the mysterious fog that rolls in over Fort Sullivan, Eastport, sweeps in with it the forlorn image of a long-ago soldier standing at attention, his musket by his side. He was witnessed several times by a husband and wife who live nearby. Recently, an invisible phantom left fresh footprints in the sand behind two women who walked alone on a deserted beach. The legend of this Roque Bluffs "follower" has been around for a long time.
In addition to legends with contemporary witnesses, Mr. LiBrizzi and his team have gathered many first-hand eye-witness accounts of unknown hauntings of all types from local residents. A haunted falls in Machias, a haunted painting in Columbia, and a ghost with a fetish for all things sharp in Milbridge are among the offerings. Most fascinating to me are the unearthly spirit orbs, white, blue, and green orbs of light, in and around the Addison area, which have been witnesses by dozens of people over the years, as recently as 2001. I've heard of spirit orbs before, even saw two small ones myself, but these are so well documented and frequent that they have been studied by the likes of the Federal Aviation Administration, The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, The National Weather Service, and the state's geologist & climatologist. They remain a mystery to science.
Many things about hauntings will always remain a mystery. Why do they stay? Some say tragedy or an untimely death keeps them here. Do they see us? Some evidence points to an affirmative answer. The young ones seem able to play with our children. They can call out our name. How much of an effect can they really have on us? They can instill dread, startle us, amuse us, and sometimes just really creep us out. They can even portend a death. But yet they will remain a mystery. Mr. LiBrizzi has given us a peek into the lives of those who regularly live with that mystery, for good or for bad. I am always excited to find a book like this: local hunter and team uncover loads of local haunts. One thing you won't find in this book is embellishment, making the stories that much more believable. I think Down East Maine can feel confident calling itself one of the most haunted places in New England. You may want to leave an extra light on while reading this one.
September 25, 2022
The "real ghost stories!" types of books can end up fascinating to skeptics when lots of research is done to showcase everything known about the event. They can even make skeptics like myself wonder if we are wrong. The opening scrawl confirming this book was written by a college professor made me assume this would be the case, but frankly this is a very undercooked and sensational read.
That has it's audience and even it's place, but nothing ever ended up sticking out to me and seeing the appendix at the end for research and seeing there were never more than three sources for a story, sometimes only one, made me feel way more could have been done. Especially for someone with a small collection of these types of books just from the New England area alone.
It's hard to recommend it even for the crowd that unquestionably beliefs every story, but as that's not what I look for I have no idea if that's my own bias talking.
That has it's audience and even it's place, but nothing ever ended up sticking out to me and seeing the appendix at the end for research and seeing there were never more than three sources for a story, sometimes only one, made me feel way more could have been done. Especially for someone with a small collection of these types of books just from the New England area alone.
It's hard to recommend it even for the crowd that unquestionably beliefs every story, but as that's not what I look for I have no idea if that's my own bias talking.
November 14, 2017
Just like Marcus LiBrizzi’s book “ Ghosts of Acadia “ this one gave me chills all ghost books give me the chills because I feel like a ghost is watching me while I read about their story for example the chapter “ The headless specter of black woods “ I knew about the story and I knew about most of the story I just learnt more facts about it.
July 16, 2023
An interesting look at how local legends can influence a region. Each story is short enough to read in a few minutes, but still leave you satisfied with a look into some unexplained and unsettling phenomena.
May 27, 2024
If you live in Maine or at least have visited downeast Maine you need to own this book!! His book will be displayed as a talking piece in my home. Each chapter is a different story so it’s very easy to stay interested! There were 4 ares where I knew the exact location these hunting were local.
May 31, 2023
The subject matter is unique and calls to my love of downeast Maine, but the writing was simple and disjointed.
May 28, 2025
This collection of down east Maine folklore starts out strong with some interesting and creepy stories but devolves into simple historical presentations toward the end.
November 22, 2025
Page numbers not listed on this listing. This edition has 152 pages.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 5, 2008
Marcus is my advisor at the University of Maine at Machias, so I've heard quite a bit about this from him. His research and gathering of data was quite extensive - it should be a good read. :)
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This vibrant little collection of ghost stories centers around the paranormal in Down East Maine. Dark Woods, Chill Waters is a little on the campy side, yet it also is quite capable of invoking that scared-to-pieces feeling in its readers.
For hundreds of years, New England has been hailed and ridiculed for the supernatural activity that takes place there, and this book taps into some of the most frightening and remarkable tales from the Down East Maine region. Having lived in Maine all my life, I can attest to the fact that I have heard many of these tales over and over again - but never have I heard them the way that LiBrizzi tells them. LiBrizzi, through the use of colorful language and macabre, relays these old stories in a hauntingly delicious fashion. The stories make a reader want to lay the book down out of chilling fright at times (especially when reading along at night), and yet, it is probable that said reader will not lay it down because of the gripping nature of the storytelling.
Ghost tales aside, this novel also brings to light the cultural diversity and regional identity of Down East Maine. Many of these tales have been passed down, generation to generation, and they lend credence to the old art of storytelling in Maine. They also speak to the way of life in Down East Maine - both past and present - and to the variety of beliefs and traditions.
To be very truthful, this book would probably be best received by readers that either live in Maine or have done so at some point. If you have stood on the bridge over Bad Little Falls, travelled through Blacks Woods at night, or driven through Dennysville in the darkest hours, you will understand what I mean by that statement. Only readers who have experienced Maine lore and tradition will be able to fully and truly appreciate that which is contained within its pages.
One of my favorite passages is found in Chapter 16, on page 113:
"The place stands out as the epitome of the haunted house. Its secrets may be lost to time, but its legacy is still with us, brooding over a town, and pointing to the thinness of the veil between the living and the dead."
The veil between worlds in thinner than some choose to believe. If you don't come away from LiBrizzi's novel with that tiny thought playing and dancing in the back of your mind, then you learned nothing from it.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
This vibrant little collection of ghost stories centers around the paranormal in Down East Maine. Dark Woods, Chill Waters is a little on the campy side, yet it also is quite capable of invoking that scared-to-pieces feeling in its readers.
For hundreds of years, New England has been hailed and ridiculed for the supernatural activity that takes place there, and this book taps into some of the most frightening and remarkable tales from the Down East Maine region. Having lived in Maine all my life, I can attest to the fact that I have heard many of these tales over and over again - but never have I heard them the way that LiBrizzi tells them. LiBrizzi, through the use of colorful language and macabre, relays these old stories in a hauntingly delicious fashion. The stories make a reader want to lay the book down out of chilling fright at times (especially when reading along at night), and yet, it is probable that said reader will not lay it down because of the gripping nature of the storytelling.
Ghost tales aside, this novel also brings to light the cultural diversity and regional identity of Down East Maine. Many of these tales have been passed down, generation to generation, and they lend credence to the old art of storytelling in Maine. They also speak to the way of life in Down East Maine - both past and present - and to the variety of beliefs and traditions.
To be very truthful, this book would probably be best received by readers that either live in Maine or have done so at some point. If you have stood on the bridge over Bad Little Falls, travelled through Blacks Woods at night, or driven through Dennysville in the darkest hours, you will understand what I mean by that statement. Only readers who have experienced Maine lore and tradition will be able to fully and truly appreciate that which is contained within its pages.
One of my favorite passages is found in Chapter 16, on page 113:
"The place stands out as the epitome of the haunted house. Its secrets may be lost to time, but its legacy is still with us, brooding over a town, and pointing to the thinness of the veil between the living and the dead."
The veil between worlds in thinner than some choose to believe. If you don't come away from LiBrizzi's novel with that tiny thought playing and dancing in the back of your mind, then you learned nothing from it.
May 30, 2008
While there's nothing amazing about the way they were written, some of the tales themselves have managed to make the hairs on my arms stand straight up. (And, I'm not ashamed to admit, made me glad I'm not alone tonight.)
I couldn't put the book down, but I think more than anything it's because these stories are about the area where I grew up.
A fast read, started and finished in about two hours.
I couldn't put the book down, but I think more than anything it's because these stories are about the area where I grew up.
A fast read, started and finished in about two hours.
Read
March 11, 2009With Dark Woods, Chill Waters, Marcus LiBrizzi offers the reader a unique look into ghost stories from Washington County, the United States' Easternmost coastal communities. Some of these tales are just as hair-raising as any I have ever heard (or read), and I can tell much research went into this book. Highly recommended!
May 8, 2011
I read this book in 1.5 hours..it is an incredibly quick read that I think is all of 140 readable pages. What I didn't like about this book is that it is a series of short stories, which I tend not to like..thus my 3 star rating..problem is that most ghost stories are that way so I just have to suck it up!
October 22, 2022
To enhance the understanding & appreciation of readers who are not familiar with the region, the author may want to consider a couple of maps when printing future editions--one that shows the location of Wash Co w/i the context of the State of Maine and nearby NB & another of the towns & roads mentioned.
October 26, 2009
Fairly dull. Reading it streaight through isn't recommended. Most chapters warn of grisly or ghastly tales that shouldn't be read alone. My interest was barely peaked. The only reason I gave it two stars is because it did give some information about Down East Maine's geography.
November 21, 2014
For a book about ghost stories this was a little dull. It didn't talk as much about the story behind the story as much as it talked about what the possibilities could be. I really wanted a little more history and fact, and a little less supposition.
October 27, 2009
great book and the stories are true!
January 18, 2015
A decent collection of ghost stories from Downeast Maine.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews