Ghosts Along the Texas Coast

by Docia Schultz Williams

A collection of strange occurences, this book brings to light tangible evidence and first-hand testimony to validate a wide range of ghostly tales. Whether they haunt the place of their death or a place they loved in their lives, these spirits are found up and down the Texas coast. Author Docia Williams brings us the best of these stories, where they happen, and provides some of the history surrounding these spooky spots.

Genres: Ghosts, Folklore, Nonfiction, Supernatural

248 pages, Paperback

First published April 25, 1998

Reviews

[Bobby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not really meant to be a scare-a-minute type of book, it's much more folklore oriented with plenty of local history surrounding each story. The author's enthusiasm comes through, and her own eerie poetry sets the stage in each chapter. All in all a fun book. Will revisit when I next travel to these areas.

[Emory · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book works a lot better as a travel guide and history of the Gulf Coast than as a book about ghosts. I felt bored by a lot of the stories but did enjoy the history that was included in each story.

[Belinda Elizondo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining book about familiar places and their ghost stories. Plenty of research done producing
this book. I've attended a class given by the Mrs. Williams about Central Texas and the colorful
history of its towns. She's an entertaining speaker.

[M.E. Logan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Collection of ghost stories set in TX -- legends, newspaper accounts, first person accounts and family stories.

[Debbie Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book reminded me a lot of a history book or a travel book. Not really a lot about ghosts.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've had this book forever and re-read it just about annually. It's not a particularly great book but it's a good book. If I wait long enough between readings, I vaguely recall the stories so they feel familiar... like a good legend or story maybe told to me by family or old friends.

I grew up in McAllen with family in Alice. I recognize some of the places mentioned because of family trips and vacations. Combined with my own memories, the stories don't require as much imagination to think about how it must have been to have lived when these stories first started.

I actually prefer this book to Docia Schultz Williams's Best of books. I've seen students reading from this series. Considering how dry these books are compared to the stuff teens and tweens normally read, I'm impressed.

[Daniel · Rating 1 out of 5]

Picked this up cheaply at Half Price Books because I've always enjoyed reading ghost tales and learning about the history of a city. But being Houston there is precious little actual respect for history unless it involves war or such, it seems, and much of the places in this near me at least seem to no longer exist.

Far more important though in terms of the book itself is that it is so superficial in its coverage. Written with a colloquial tone it doesn't come across as entertaining or detailed, no different than what you might find on a random website.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was given this book on a recent business trip to Texas. I am really into Ghost stories so a co-worker thought I would enjoy this book. Some stories were chilling, others were interesting, others were just ok. But all in all, I found it interesting. If you are into ghost stories and have any ties or interest in Texas you will probably enjoy this book.