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The Lunenburg Werewolf: And Other Stories of the Supernatural
Spanning the length and width of Nova Scotia, these 25 blood-chilling yarns make perfect campfire fare. Some stories are so terrifying that they have been told far and wide, such as the Ghosts of Oak Island or the haunting of Esther Cox. Others, including the Murder Island Massacre and the Caledonia Mills Spook, might be lesser known, but are no less scary. Written in Steve Vernon s unique style, these stories of the haunted, the supernatural, and the unexplainable are part history, part folklore, and a lot of old-fashioned, frightening fun.
160 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 15, 2011
2 people are currently reading
131 people want to read
About the author
Steve Vernon
247 books206 followersHi! 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
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
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
November 12, 2011
I had no clue--none--that Nova Scotia had a werewolf legend. This is why I appreciate Steve Vernon's work: he has an innate ability to dig up these folkloric gems and relay them through written word as if his audience is sitting round a campfire.
This book isn't just about a werewolf, though a novel about a Maritime lycanthrope would have been welcome. It's a collection of over twenty legends and local myths that lay scatted across this humble province's rocky shores. This is actually old hat for Steve with other collections already under his belt including Haunted Harbours, Wicked Woods, Halifax Haunts, and Maritime Monsters.
The stories stretch from the northern inlets of Cape Breton to the southern shores of Yarmouth. And, as a Nova Scotian, it's always a treat to stumble across a tale that reference not only a place you know, but a place that's walking distance. The stories also demonstrate the vibrant imaginations and superstitions that provide the roots for these local legends. Every region has their fair share, especially in history-rich rural sections of the landscape.
Three of my favorites from this collection would have to be: "Murder Island Massacre," a story of thousands of skeletons beached on Murder Island, with connections to my own hometown and a beguiling woman who may have played a darker role in the fates of those who died; "The Quit Devil," a coal miner’s deal with the Devil and a legacy left to his son; and "The Capstick Bigfoot," about a fabled beast roaming the Cape Breton wilderness and doing good deeds.
The stories are brief and to the point, at times begging for a broader canvas on which to be painted, allowing readers to whisk through a couple tales at a time on coffee breaks, or wading through the entire book in a couple of evenings. Any Canadian should read at least one of Steve's collections, and as far as the rest of the world is concerned these stories are a fantastic inroad to the culture and kookiness--and sincerity--in my region of the world.
This book isn't just about a werewolf, though a novel about a Maritime lycanthrope would have been welcome. It's a collection of over twenty legends and local myths that lay scatted across this humble province's rocky shores. This is actually old hat for Steve with other collections already under his belt including Haunted Harbours, Wicked Woods, Halifax Haunts, and Maritime Monsters.
The stories stretch from the northern inlets of Cape Breton to the southern shores of Yarmouth. And, as a Nova Scotian, it's always a treat to stumble across a tale that reference not only a place you know, but a place that's walking distance. The stories also demonstrate the vibrant imaginations and superstitions that provide the roots for these local legends. Every region has their fair share, especially in history-rich rural sections of the landscape.
Three of my favorites from this collection would have to be: "Murder Island Massacre," a story of thousands of skeletons beached on Murder Island, with connections to my own hometown and a beguiling woman who may have played a darker role in the fates of those who died; "The Quit Devil," a coal miner’s deal with the Devil and a legacy left to his son; and "The Capstick Bigfoot," about a fabled beast roaming the Cape Breton wilderness and doing good deeds.
The stories are brief and to the point, at times begging for a broader canvas on which to be painted, allowing readers to whisk through a couple tales at a time on coffee breaks, or wading through the entire book in a couple of evenings. Any Canadian should read at least one of Steve's collections, and as far as the rest of the world is concerned these stories are a fantastic inroad to the culture and kookiness--and sincerity--in my region of the world.
May 25, 2025
A collection of folklore tales from Nova Scotia, massaged into entertaining tall tales by this author.
Covers more than a rumoured werewolf or the typical ghosts; includes a Bigfoot type creature, selkies, lutins, mysterious fires, possible poltergeists, and so on.
Because of the history of Nova Scotia, there are strong elements of Gaelic folklore, and some French as well. The original residents of what is now called Nova Scotia, the Mi'kmaq, also had a name for the Bigfoot character —"Se'skwetew" — which translates as "one who screams loudly."
This Bigfoot creature is said to have soulful eyes, which is a sweet detail.
Covers more than a rumoured werewolf or the typical ghosts; includes a Bigfoot type creature, selkies, lutins, mysterious fires, possible poltergeists, and so on.
Because of the history of Nova Scotia, there are strong elements of Gaelic folklore, and some French as well. The original residents of what is now called Nova Scotia, the Mi'kmaq, also had a name for the Bigfoot character —"Se'skwetew" — which translates as "one who screams loudly."
This Bigfoot creature is said to have soulful eyes, which is a sweet detail.
March 3, 2016
I love a good ghost story, and The Lunenburg Werewolf: And Other Stories of the Supernatural by Steve Vernon is full of exceptionally good ghost stories, plus fabulous tales of monsters, pirate gold, fairy folk, demons and devils. It’s positively oozing those “creepy tales to tell around the campfire” and the “keep the lights on while you read” scary moments, yet it still maintains a black and whimsical sense of humour.
The book is darkly delightful. My fellow Nova Scotian, Steve Vernon, has collected an odd assortment of horrific tales, from the far corners of our fair province of Nova Scotia, and woven them into a first-rate and entertaining book of folklore. Between the covers you will find the ghostly Lady in Blue, the Phantom Ship of the Northumberland (my favourite ghost story), a Phantom Artist, a Black Cat that lingered after death, Beasts, Selkies, and of course the aforementioned Lunenburg Werewolf.
The author knows how to spin a satisfying yarn, weaving fact, history and folklore into a compelling read. Be the tales truth, fiction or a little bit of both, The Lunenburg Werewolf may leave you believing in ghosts. Or at least loving their stories. I can give The Lunenburg Werewolf: And Other Stories of the Supernatural a high recommendation; just be sure to leave all the lights on when you read it.
The book is darkly delightful. My fellow Nova Scotian, Steve Vernon, has collected an odd assortment of horrific tales, from the far corners of our fair province of Nova Scotia, and woven them into a first-rate and entertaining book of folklore. Between the covers you will find the ghostly Lady in Blue, the Phantom Ship of the Northumberland (my favourite ghost story), a Phantom Artist, a Black Cat that lingered after death, Beasts, Selkies, and of course the aforementioned Lunenburg Werewolf.
The author knows how to spin a satisfying yarn, weaving fact, history and folklore into a compelling read. Be the tales truth, fiction or a little bit of both, The Lunenburg Werewolf may leave you believing in ghosts. Or at least loving their stories. I can give The Lunenburg Werewolf: And Other Stories of the Supernatural a high recommendation; just be sure to leave all the lights on when you read it.
March 5, 2017
Not something I would normally read. I think this is my first collection of short stories based on Folklore, and I actually enjoyed it. I like Steve Vernon's writing, and the idea that this collection was put together based on what local's believe in and pass down through generations is fascinating.
Very slow paced, which is nice for a change, and I found many of the stories interesting and emotional. I've spent a fair amount of time in the Maritimes, but I was young and wasn't interested in the local culture, after having read this I wouldn't mind going back and absorbing something other than alcohol and good food.
Very slow paced, which is nice for a change, and I found many of the stories interesting and emotional. I've spent a fair amount of time in the Maritimes, but I was young and wasn't interested in the local culture, after having read this I wouldn't mind going back and absorbing something other than alcohol and good food.
October 23, 2022
Awesome stories
December 9, 2011
The Lunenburg Werewolf is a collection of supernatural tales from Nova Scotia, a Canadian province rich in folklore. Not only is there a werewolf, but a Bigfoot-like creature, Selkies, and lots and lots of ghosts.
Author Steve Vernon not only tells these tales with all the verve and enthusiasm of a born storyteller but he also gives their background, the stories behind the stories if you will. These tales range from very sad to laugh-out-loud funny; some are clearly based on true happenings but with a little of the supernatural thrown in to enhance the stories; some are based on old tales brought over by the original French and Irish settlers including one or two Acadian; and some, like the last one in the book, are written, I suspect, just for this anthology.
If you are looking for tales of horror, this is not for you. However, if you enjoy fairy tales, myths and folklore with a little 'reality' thrown in, this might just be the perfect fix for that dark and stormy night. But, beware, at the end you might just find you have an almost irresistible urge to visit Nova Scotia to do a little treasure or ghost hunting.
Author Steve Vernon not only tells these tales with all the verve and enthusiasm of a born storyteller but he also gives their background, the stories behind the stories if you will. These tales range from very sad to laugh-out-loud funny; some are clearly based on true happenings but with a little of the supernatural thrown in to enhance the stories; some are based on old tales brought over by the original French and Irish settlers including one or two Acadian; and some, like the last one in the book, are written, I suspect, just for this anthology.
If you are looking for tales of horror, this is not for you. However, if you enjoy fairy tales, myths and folklore with a little 'reality' thrown in, this might just be the perfect fix for that dark and stormy night. But, beware, at the end you might just find you have an almost irresistible urge to visit Nova Scotia to do a little treasure or ghost hunting.
December 20, 2016
Whenever my husband and I travel to new places, we always try to a) find a local ghost walk to take because it’s a great way to find out about a city’s history and b) pick up at least one locally written book of local ghost stories. Such is Steve Vernon’s "The Lunenburg Werewolf and Other Stories of the Supernatural," covering Nova Scotia, Canada, and a lovely volume it is. There are tales well-known (“The Ghosts of Oak Island,” detailing the search for a long and much-rumoured buried pirate treasure) and those not well-known but specific to location (most of the rest of the stories in the book). Vernon is a good story-teller, you can tell his oral retellings are excellent by the cadences of the written forms, and all of these are fun. I like that he includes versions of tales from the Mi’kmaq as well as those of European settlers. I especially liked the last story in the book, “Liam and the Lutin,” which brings together all the other characters in all the other stories in a quite wonderful way. Fans of this type of work, amongst whom I include myself, will enjoy this; visitors to - and residents of - Nova Scotia will get a kick out of it too; recommended!
January 9, 2012
I really enjoyed this book. I liked the author's style of writing and the actual stories, and I loved the Canadian content. My only complaint about the book is that the stories are not long enough. Each story in this book is like a little teaser. You learn just enough about the origins of each story but none of them go into great detail. Most are only a few pages long. I would have preferred less stories with more "meat on their bones". Some of the stories made me want to learn more about the original legends, and perhaps I will. This book is worth reading, just keep in mind that the stories are like introductions and you may be left wanting more. Still, it is a great collection of Canadian lore and a good introduction to the subject.
September 20, 2011
I knew that Canada is full of different kinds of folklore but I didn't know about the werewolf legends in the East. I love reading books by Canadian authors. I highly recommend this book.
I won this free book from GoodReads.
I won this free book from GoodReads.
November 30, 2016
Perfect collection to read on a plane to or from the Atlantic. Or...anywhere, really.
August 27, 2018
The Lunenburg Werewolf was published soft cover by Nimbus Publishing in 2011. This book includes 25 spooky stories, each with individual titles and subtitles. Depending on the length of each story, there can be up to seven subtitles. Strong organization within a short story book is often impressive, and improves public speaking quality when these stories are read aloud. The length of the stories is successful in the sense that readers are never bored, nor could lose interest in their audience when reading around the campfire. The most impressive and appropriate portion of the book, in my opinion, is the contents section. Beside each story listing, is the location in Nova Scotia, in which the tale occurred.
Vernon has clearly challenged Helen Creighton with the publishing of this book. These stories are fresh, written clearly and surely not lacking the scare factor, opposed to the commonly known, Bluenose Ghosts, circa 1957. This novel can be recommended to Nova Scotian folklorists who are interested in a more recent rendition of supernatural storytelling—with less dialogue and more narration.
With lore like the Oak Island mystery and the Lunenburg Broken Heart, this book is a must have for readers interested in the classic Scotian stories. In addition to the well-known stories, The Lunenburg Werewolf also includes the more local stories, ones heard by the children raised in Nova Scotia on street corners. ‘The fires of Caledonia Mills’ and ‘The Haunting of Esther Cox,’ among others in this compilation have shocked maritime youth for years, and is finally published in a portable book!
Backed with accurate information on the settling and populations of Nova Scotia, the stories found in this book refuse to be put down. What makes this book different than an average campfire story is that of two things:
1. The relationship to local Nova Scotian history provides a personal connection to the reader, and conveys our history in an interesting way for all ages!
2. The quality of Author Steve Vernon. The mysterious and humorous tones of Vernon create an atmosphere for readers to learn and have fun at the same time!
The interesting mix of fact, fiction, and apparition makes the novel unique compared to generic ghost stories. If you have already read The Lunenburg Werewolf and Other Stories of the Supernatural by Steve Vernon, we recommend the following titles:
• Maritime Murder by Steve Vernon
• Bluenose Ghosts by Helen Creighton
• Ghost Stories of Nova Scotia by Vernon Oickle
Vernon has clearly challenged Helen Creighton with the publishing of this book. These stories are fresh, written clearly and surely not lacking the scare factor, opposed to the commonly known, Bluenose Ghosts, circa 1957. This novel can be recommended to Nova Scotian folklorists who are interested in a more recent rendition of supernatural storytelling—with less dialogue and more narration.
With lore like the Oak Island mystery and the Lunenburg Broken Heart, this book is a must have for readers interested in the classic Scotian stories. In addition to the well-known stories, The Lunenburg Werewolf also includes the more local stories, ones heard by the children raised in Nova Scotia on street corners. ‘The fires of Caledonia Mills’ and ‘The Haunting of Esther Cox,’ among others in this compilation have shocked maritime youth for years, and is finally published in a portable book!
Backed with accurate information on the settling and populations of Nova Scotia, the stories found in this book refuse to be put down. What makes this book different than an average campfire story is that of two things:
1. The relationship to local Nova Scotian history provides a personal connection to the reader, and conveys our history in an interesting way for all ages!
2. The quality of Author Steve Vernon. The mysterious and humorous tones of Vernon create an atmosphere for readers to learn and have fun at the same time!
The interesting mix of fact, fiction, and apparition makes the novel unique compared to generic ghost stories. If you have already read The Lunenburg Werewolf and Other Stories of the Supernatural by Steve Vernon, we recommend the following titles:
• Maritime Murder by Steve Vernon
• Bluenose Ghosts by Helen Creighton
• Ghost Stories of Nova Scotia by Vernon Oickle
January 7, 2020
Loved reading about the local folklore. I only heard about one or two of these stories previously. This book reminds me of the times when I went camping as a kid and we told each other spooky stories late at night. This book should be read on a rainy night by candlelight.
March 22, 2020
This was fine, I really liked that it explored the folklore of Nova Scotia. However, I did not like the writing at all; I just don’t think it worked for me. It’s also possible that I just don’t like reading ghost stories as much as I did when I was a kid.
November 15, 2017
An interesting collection though laid out a bit oddly.
August 4, 2019
Bought this while I was in Lunenburg. Some of the stories were good but most were not entertaining and over the top.
October 27, 2019
Enjoyable read for October. My Nova Scotia heritage makes me more interested reading the folklore of the province.
February 3, 2024
I am interested in Nova Scotia folklore, so I decided to find some books. As it turns out Steve Vernon is one of a few who is constantly putting out great books and collections!
October 10, 2024
3.5 🌟 not because it was bad, I enjoyed reading the stories but it’s a hard book to rate because it’s just a bunch of short ghost stories.
June 10, 2025
Interesting lore.
I liked it.
I liked it.
July 11, 2018
Loved that all these stories are local (to me). Well written, bought another from him because I really enjoyed this one!
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews