Maritime Murder

by Steve Vernon

In his uniquely homespun style, sinister storyteller Steve Vernon digs up the dirt on Maritime murders from 1770 to 1929—along with a few bodies along the way.

Unearthing historically buried, and occasionally unsolved, violent crimes from across Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, Vernon's versions of these 19 macabre tales will chill you to the bone.

Featuring a bevy of questionable characters from the darkest recesses of Maritime history, Maritime Murder divulges a diverse array of bygone crimes, trials, and the eerie aftermath. From botched executions and poisonous tea, to axe-murders and curious cover-ups, bear witness to the villains and victims of some of the dastardliest deeds this side of the Atlantic.

Genres: Crime, Historical, Horror, True Crime

200 pages, Paperback

First published September 12, 2012

About the author

Hi! I'm Steve Vernon and I'd love to scare you. Along the way I'll entertain you. I guarantee a giggle as well.

If I listed all of the books I've written I'd bore you - and I am allergic to boring.

Instead, let me recommend one single book of mine.

Pick up SUDDEN DEATH OVERTIME for an example of true Steve Vernon storytelling. It's hockey and vampires for folks who love hockey and vampires - and for folks who don't!

For more up-to-date info please follow my blog at:
http://stevevernonstoryteller.wordpre...

And follow me at Twitter:
@StephenVernon

yours in storytelling,

Steve Vernon

Reviews

[Veronica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a fan of true crime especially historical true crime so I was very surprised that i had not heard of most of the cases detailed in this book. I found the book to be very well researched and entertaining as well. Highly recommended.

[Gef · Rating 4 out of 5]

No matter where you go in the world, you're going to hear stories about the darker side of that place's history. The Maritimes, the three provinces nestled along the east coast of Canada--and my own stomping grounds--are such picturesque and quiet places that it's hard to imagine they could serve as the backdrop for mayhem and murder. But, oh yes, we've had our fair share of sin committed here, and folklorist extraordinaire, Steve Vernon, has drudged up some of the grizzliest murders in this region's history.

Take "A Bitter Harvest", the first tale in this collection, for instance. In 1873, a grizzly and astonishingly dimwitted murderer led his wife into the woods while their three children stayed home. In the quiet wilderness of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, a murder seems like an easy enough affair to get away with provided you don't draw too much attention to yourself. Mailman apparently wasn't that bright, or just didn't think anybody else in Lunenburg was, as he sloughed off questions from his children about their mother went with flimsy stories that she had gone to work on a neighboring farm. Never mind the fact he started gallivanting around the countryside with another woman, even sleeping with her while the kids were in the house. Asking the neighbor to see if he'll corroborate the story seems like a really big detail left out of Mailman's plans, and one that ultimately led to his conviction. Mailman's unsophisticated and truly bumbling efforts to kill someone and get away with it are not the only ones shown in this book though, as more than a couple killers are revealed to be simpletons in the ways of murder and deception.

Another murder occurred not that far from where I grew up. "A Crime of Cold Passion" takes place in Bear River, with a cowardly sailor kills a young girl he lusts after while he parents are away. While I lived down there, I never really had an appreciation for the area's history, so kudos to Steve Vernon for digging up this tale that just made my skin crawl as I read it. In fact, the lengths taken to scrounge up facts and little details about each of these murders and the subsequent investigations is even more astounding than the crimes committed. Stolen babies, botched hangings, revenge killings, and more.

Each story may only weigh in at a few pages, but Steve infuses his own style to bring the real-life characters off the page with a theatrical flare. The dialogue he adds, whether he's somehow discovered some of it through his research or simply invested to include pieces of information, feels very storybook in nature. Maybe it's a way of capturing the era of each story, but it certainly feel like the kind of dialogue I'd hear these days. Almost declamatory at points.

Just like Halifax Haunts and The Lunenburg Werewolf, and Steve's other folklore titles, Maritime Murder holds an indelible charm despite the grim subject matter. Tempered with humor and round-the-campfire quality, I'd recommend it to anyone who might be interested. I'm not so sure it would work as a tourism brouchure, though. Then again, maybe it would.

[Carla · Rating 2 out of 5]

I chose this book because of it's connection to my home country of Canada. This author has written a another adult book, one YA book, and a children's book. While researching a horror book he was writing, he came across quite a few tales, and information about Maritime murders in Canada. All the stories are prior to 1936. The author states that he stayed away from more recent sensational murders, thus the early time period. It's like reading a young persons book report. Very factual, little or no emotion. Each story was told in a basic fashion, who were the people, who committed the murder, who stood trial, how they were sentenced. Boring.

[Cara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book because it didn't the portrait the writers feelings towards the victims or the accused. Even though some have complained of the book report style this book is written in, I feel the style best represented the stories. The reader is given the information and then they can decide if they feel the verdict passed by the judges or accusers was valid. It also gives a small glimpse into what life was like in the Maritimes before technology.

[Alana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it! An nice easy read, and full of old time murder dating back to the late 1700's. Would recommend it for sure.

[Francine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this! Apparentally where I live was quite the dangerous area at one time and we hung anything that moved. Love colourful local history.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great local read