The Watkins Book of Urban Legends

by Gail De Vos

A rich and unique collection of folktales and urban legends from around the world. Each story comes with an accompanying brief note to provide context. Including new tales reflecting new concerns; old tales repurposed for new audiences and new ways of telling.

The collection illustrates that these stories are now alive across many new media. This is the first such popular book to bring together stories with both traditional and digital media origins and to examine how the phenomenon of social media has affected both the spread of urban legends and their very nature.

• Features the uniquely modern manifestation of folk mythology and legend, now made ubiquitous by the internet; the conspiracy theory.
• Includes urban legends such as: The Pickled Hand, The Babysitter, The Sandman.
• Includes conspiracy theories such as: Wild Fires, Fifteen Minute Cities and Organ Theft.
• 40% of the stories originate in North America, 30% in Europe, 20% in Asia, 10% in Africa and elsewhere
• The book also shows how stories spread and change from the country of origin to become global.

Genres: Nonfiction, Folklore, Horror, Paranormal, History

320 pages, Hardcover

Published November 19, 2024

Reviews

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Watkins Book Of Urban Legends by Gail DeVoes, if anyone can describe the anatomy of a folktale and or an urban legend, it is the author. From her catalog It doesn’t take long to see she is well-versed in the subject, and after reading this book I can honestly say she’s a very talented writer as well. Something I cannot stand is a copy and paste book of stories that reads the same if you happen to find it in another book and that is not the case with this book. Not only does she tell us the urban legends but there origin stories. she even goes further to tell the different variations and whether there’s truth behind all of it. If you love, folk stories and urban legends then you will definitely enjoy this book. I certainly did. #NetGalley, #GailDeVos, #TheWatkinsBookOfUrbanLegends,

[Linnea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Watkins Publishing for giving me access to an eARC of this book.

I love reading about urban legends and other things that you might’ve read about or heard of yourself. This book did not disappoint. There’s a broad spectrum of different types and I can guarantee that something will be interesting for you as well.

It was also so fun to read about the Swedish haunted tunnel? I did not even know it existed until now.

The one thing that drags it down for me is the amount of information that is crammed into the chapters. I think I would’ve liked more chapters instead of having all these short “stories” all at ones. I had to take a reading break after each chapter to let my brain rest.
I also wish that some of the “stories” were longer. Nowadays I’m almost used to one story getting a chapter for itself, even though I know it’s impossible for this book due to the amount it has.

[IvyInThePages · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4.63 leaves out of 5
-Story: 3.5/5
-Writing: 5/5
Genre: Nonfiction, Paranormal
-Nonfiction: 5/5
-Paranormal: 5/5
Type: Ebook
Worth?: Eh

Hated|Disliked|Meh|It Was Okay|Liked|Really Liked|Loved

Want to thank Netgalley and publishers for giving me the chance to read this book.

I really liked reading the stories and am appreciative of the information we got with it. My only real complaint is the information given at once, but honestly that wasn't a big one!

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy from Watkins Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

If you love urban legends and hope to learn more, this might be the book for you! Inside, you will find a collection of urban legends across nine chapters based on how they’ve been categorized. It was so interesting to discover the inspiration behind some well-known fictional characters while reading this book! It was also really fun reading different versions of urban legends I grew up listening to. For example, the version I always heard of the babysitter and the man upstairs involved a clown statue that was actually a man dressed as a clown.

All in all, this was an excellent read. It’s very well researched and covers urban legends from around the world. While it can be information heavy at times, I don’t think it will be overwhelming for most people as long as they don’t try to read a large chunk of the book in one go. This reads as more of a text book than an anthology, so keep that in mind if you plan on picking this up.

[Katie Followell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gail De Vos' "The Watkins Book of Urban Legends" was a fun read that was well written and well researched. I really enjoyed the variety of urban legends from around the world and the history behind them.

My complaint about it was that sometimes I became overwhelmed at how much information was shoved into chapters. That's not a BAD thing necessarily, but as a reader, I had to read it in shorter spurts or I'd get burned out quickly.

This is definitely a great resource material for any fans of things that are seriously strange. I want to thank Netgalley for a copy of this book, and if you're interested in urban legends-- you can buy it in November of 2024!

[Ends of the Word · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book, Gail De Vos explores urban legends from around the world, grouping them according to their subject-matter. Many of these “contemporary folktales” are scary or unsettling stories, but the collection also includes surprisingly widespread conspiracy theories. The author’s background as a storyteller directs her approach. While the roots and context of each of the tales represented is explained in a scholarly manner, the retellings are also personal to the author, who also gives tips as to how these stories can be made new for younger generations. This underlines the fact that urban legends are part of a hallowed oral tradition, the modern-day equivalent of the legends of yore.

[Dave Musson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meticulously researched, and written in an accessible manner too, this was a fun reference book to dip into and feel spooky with. There were plenty of stories I recognised, but even more I didn’t and I had a good time exploring them.

Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy!

[thwipy · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Thank you to NetGalley and Watkins Publishing for the eARC of this book!!!**

The Watkins Book of Urban Legends is a collection of contemporary myths compiled by author and storyteller Gail De Vos. It focuses on modern tales with some emphasis on internet and social media culture.

I loved this book. I only have good things to say about it!

I love how the author encourages others to adapt these legends according to their own experiences. It really shows that she cares about legend itself as a high concept, as oral storytelling—a very popular way for legends to spread—leads into the creation of variation. I also like how it reads casually, with occasional little interruptions like the reader is listening to the author tell these stories in person as the author stated she has lots of experience with. I especially love the historical/cultural/psychological research that accompanies each legend to provide context. It’s fascinating to read how and why these legends are created and evolve (The fears of the microwave, for instance, changing from pets to phones).

It was interesting to see just how many of these legends I’d heard before. It was more than I’d expected, as I realized many times I’d just heard a different variation of them. There is one included about a KFC order being rat instead of chicken, and while I don’t think I’ve heard that tale specifically, I’ve seen memes of the same variety. A lot of these legends have been morphed by meme culture (and a surprising amount were only floating around my brain because of SpongeBob episodes specifically). Stories I thought originated as Creepypastas turned out to be significantly older. Storytelling and legends really show how humans have always been humans.

I enjoyed the legends from other parts of the world than North America. There were especially many from Eastern Asia, namely Japan.

As a lifelong reader of books like this one, I have to extend my recommendation. This collection is highly researched, accessible, and has to be my favorite I’ve read so far. I’ve looked so long for a centralized place with a list like this, and finally I’ve found it. The author, unlike many others in this genre, doesn’t treat her reader as if they’ve never heard of bigfoot (for example). You’ll never feel talked down to or babied. You WILL learn something in virtually every entry. If you’re into urban legends, cryptids, ghost stories, conspiracy theories, or even the history of legends and storytelling itself, this is a great piece to pick up from an author who clearly knows what she’s writing about.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book: The Watkins Book of Urban Legends
Author: Gail De Vos
Publisher: Watkins Publishing
ISBN: 9781786788559
Expected Publication: 12 November 2024
Capone’s Rating: 3 of 5⭐

You may see three of five stars and may assume I’m trying to discourage readers from picking up this volume. I am not. It’s a good book, but it has some glaring flaws that do it a disservice. But ignoring the book would be a disservice to you as a collector of modern myths and legends or as a horror reader or writer aiming to broaden your knowledge base. Folks in any of these situations would do themselves a favor by reading The Watkins Book of Urban Legends.

In this manuscript, Gail de Vos has grouped urban legends, myths, and false beliefs into broad categories (e.g. haunted places, common medical misconceptions, specific haunts not tied to particular places, etc.). The collection is pretty large—are there eighty stories in here? A hundred? A lot, in any case.

Some challenging aspects of de Vos’s approach will challenge any curious reader: is the author offering her best attempt at a true accounting of a rumor? or a true accounting of the common accounting of that rumor? Is the author trying to help us choose correctly morally in retelling others’ tales? Is she trying to correct common misconceptions of popular beliefs? The trouble is, there’s no particular focus here, and it’s sometimes tough to distinguish what thing among these the author is doing in a given section. Is the author offering us what she believes is the true story behind a tale folks have been retelling for ages—its origin? Or is she merely reporting one frequently told variant of the story? It's a challenge to distinguish what goal is being served by which section of text, and sometimes it seems to flip from one purpose to another from one brief tale to the next.

I’m reading an advanced reader copy of this text, and I really hope the editors get it together with the typos, missing words, and poorly phrased sentences. If they let it fly as is, the author—who by and large does an excellent job with this sort of thing—will be badly represented. While dreaming of things I wish were true, I also believe the book would be much better if written by one more accustomed to writing stories as opposed to telling them aloud to audiences in face-to-face scenarios. The word choices, pacing of telling, and written story construction generally is problematic throughout the volume. A writer focused more on craft would provide—well, a better written telling of those tales.

Another odd choice that I hope the publishers catch in a new phase of developmental editing is the decision to include medical misconstruals and myths. Including the section highlights people’s mistaken beliefs about medical practices and pharmacological truths, thereby stretching the notion of popular legends to the point of meaninglessness—any common confusion at all would qualify for inclusion in this volume, if this working definition holds. This section really ought to be dropped from the text in revision.

These challenges aside, I’m glad the author has chosen to collect these stories and offers them to the public domain for retooling and retelling, and I’m glad the publisher is releasing this collection. A lot of us out there in storyland would do well to read it.

Three stars.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to NetGalley and Watkins Publishing for an advance copy of this collection of legends, conspiracies, tourist traps, lore, and warnings, how we tell them, why we share them, and what they tell about us as humans.

My small town had a big house that was old, had a name, and was of course haunted. Deserted for years this place had ghosts that dated to some atrocity committed during the American Revolution. Slaves were mistreated, and their ghosts lit windows, and made strange noises, that scared people. Bootleggers hid hooch their during Prohibition, and one night a rival gang wiped them out, their ghosts singing and dancing to the thunder of the Thompson guns. Kids were known to disappear into a hole that led to hell. My Scout leader was also a member of the Historical society and he took us in one day. It was a big house built after the war, owned by a guy who owned a newspaper, and whose family died out probably forty years before it was torn down in the early nineties. No murders, no ghosts. But we all knew stories. The house was rickety, with a bad staircase, and things a kid could hurt themselves on, so that's maybe why the rumours started. Or the fact that no one wanted to pay for tearing the building down. Even if there had to be a cop stationed there on Halloween for curious teens. Every one knows a legend, a friend of a friend tale. They warn us, entertain us, confuse us, can be used as propaganda, or to bring in tourist dollars. And chances are Gail de Vos has heard them all. The Watkins Book of Urban Legends is the book I would have loved as a kid, a collection of stories from around the world, all told by a friend of a friend, for many different reasons.

This book is big in a lot of ways. There are lots and lots of tales, all drawn from around the world. Many will sound familiar. Ghost stories in some ways, stories used by parents to keep their children out of dilapidated houses, or make-out lanes. The hook on the car door handle, the call from inside the house, the reflection behind the couch. Many different stories that seem to make people come and spend money in far distant towns. Stories of conspiracies that seem almost quaint in comparison to what is going on now. de Vos will include many different versions of the story, showing how a myth has grown and expanded as time has passed, or social mores have changed. Some are quaint, some are really disturbing, and a few makes one wonder what was in the water that made people think that these stories could be possible.

As I said this is a big collection of stories. One of the most complete that I have read. In addition the commentary that de Vos is sometimes more interesting then the legend. How a story could come about, what was happening in the world that made this possible, and how it left the crib and became a major story, that even newspapers and television shows might cover it. de Vos looks at small town tales, ghost stories, Internet hoaxes, chain letters. Really there is little de Vos misses. Which is great as de Vos is a very good writer and story teller. de Vos is very nonjudgmental about certain things, and leaves the disbelief or belief to the reader.

I would have loved this book growing up. Also de Vos talks about giving readings at schools, and oh I would have loved that. One can tell that de Vos is a natural bard, sharing stories, including information and thoughts where these ideas might have arisen. I great book for people interested in urban legends, the supernatural and scary stories. Also a great source for writers, maybe as a prompt book, or role players, to add spice and ideas to an adventure.

[Ola G · Rating 2 out of 5]

5.5/10 stars

Another case of unfulfilled, or perhaps misplaced, expectations, De Vos’s book is not an insightful analysis of urban legends, along the lines of Vladimir Propp’s Morphology of the Folktale, that I was hoping to get, but rather a magpie-like collection of disparate items haphazardly put into half-functional categories. Had this been a scientific text I’d been tasked with reviewing, it would not get a pass mark from me. The approach “I see and describe, and I’m done” had been vaguely considered scientific in the 18th century, but certainly not anymore.

However, this is not a scientific text, and it does not pretend to be one.

It is a gathering of urban legends from all over the world, with special emphasis put on the U.S. and Canada. This is not surprising, since the author is Canadian, self-described as storyteller first and foremost, with a degree in Education and Legal Studies (at least that’s what the internet thinks M.L.S. stands for). The urban legends she describes range from ghost stories to conspiracy theories, from the 19th century to today. The “urbanity” of the legends is somewhat questionable, it seems like De Vos is simply intrigued by the infinite human capacity for stories – their creation, modification, diffusion, reenactment. She groups the many stories into more-or-less functional categories and tries to provide as many examples as she can. The Watkins Book of Urban Legends has consequently a feel of an info dump at times – there are many, many stories included in this collection, some very short, perhaps a page of text, and some quite long. De Vos does a solid job of retelling them, adding enough detail to make them interesting and sometimes revealing her storytellers’ tricks in a little meta commentary. While this is certainly not a book to consume in one sitting, and the repetitiveness of the format does get tiresome after a while, it does contain some interesting stories, kernels of modern folk tales, at times with strikingly similar structure and meaning.

For someone interested in learning a bit of contemporary folklore or appropriating some of these stories as a base for their own, this is a veritable treasure trove. For someone who is more interested in the origin of these stories, the constant human need for creating, retelling, modifying and disseminating them, or perhaps in the social foundations of storytelling-related behaviors, this book is not what you’re looking for.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I don't read nonfiction very often, but this was right up my alley! This book covered all different types of urban legends that have been around for generations as well as ones that were born from the start of the internet.

The format was super satisfying to read, it was really organized and referenced back to previous stories when needed. It also makes it easy for the reader to find what they're most interested in learning about!

I absolutely loved all of the little anecdotes and ways the author told each legend when she did. A lot of them brought back memories from when I was a kid and was either told these stories or told them myself. When I started reading the story and it felt familiar I was like "OMG I REMEMBER THIS ONE" and it got me so excited to see the differences in the way it was told.

A lot of these legends had back stories related to cultures and it was refreshing to hear them explained when I only knew the modernized versions. The author also would tell the legend multiple times in different ways if it appeared different for each culture. She would explain how the story developed differently in different parts of the world which I think was fascinating.

I took a star off only because a few of the legends I had to look up to get a better idea of. The descriptions of creatures or monsters, etc were lacking sometimes. The other reason I took a star off was more my personal preference: I did not care for some of the contemporary legends in the beginning, like the phone scams. I felt like some of them just didn't fit the rest of the book.

Overall, it took me awhile to get through this because each story was quick and I was always able to read them completely. So I was never really compelled to pick it back up again, but I think that's just an informative nonfiction thing for me. I really enjoyed this as a whole and it'd be such a cool book to own and reference or show to guests!

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Watkins Publishing as well as the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
#NetGalley #WatkinsPublishing #GailDeVos #TheWatkinsBookofUrbanLegends

Title: The Watkins Book of Urban Legends
Author: Gail De Vos
Format: eBook
Publisher: Watkins Publishing
Publication Date: November 19, 2024
Themes: Non-Fiction, urban legends, psychology, rumors,
Trigger Warning: paranormal, ghosts and haunting, death, tragedy, fictional tales, child death

I love, love, love every word in this book!! I’ve always loved urban legends and this book was a real treat to read. Each chapter explored a different urban legend. Many that I’d heard of and many that I hadn’t. I enjoyed hearing the origin and back story of each. I also enjoyed hearing the different iterations of some of them. I have heard of the legend of The Hook, as have most people, I assume. I’ve only ever heard one version of it though. I read several more fun iterations in this book. I learned similar things about the game in which the object is to summon Bloody Mary in the mirror. There are different ways to do it and different reasons. Very interesting and enjoyable. I felt like I learned a lot of history in the process. One of the chapters talks about haunted tunnels, one in particular that’s located in Sweden taught me some history of Sweden and its culture.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in urban legends, ghost stories, or history. The chapters have a lot of information in them, but they’re compulsively readable. I recommend this book for some fun holiday reading. Grab your favorite blanket, curl up by a fire, and enjoy.

[Sofia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did enjoy this book, this brought so many memories from my childhood, and I mean that from before the internet, some of the stories shared in this book, I’ve heard some sort of similar story, and keep in mind that I am not from America, I am from Portugal, and I have heard the same kind of urban legends, so, does that mean a Mandela effect?, maybe not, before it was someone heard someone saying something about someone one, for instance that you shouldn’t look to your back seat when you pass some road or when driving by the cemetery, maybe all countries have that kind of stories…

but enough of rambling, I believe the end version of this book will be so much better than the e-book I was given for, pdf books in kindle always look a bit rubbish, and I say that with lots of love for this book, let me explain, all the stories, had links and maybe also pictures to help the reader understand better the stories, my version had the raw version, so I was missing the pictures and the links would not work, If I wanted to see more or even “click” the links I had to manually write those down in a browser.

I did enjoy diving into the stories told in this book, and like I said before, I knew some of the stories already, well maybe not the full story as introduced here, I enjoyed the experience and I will definitely recommend this book.


Thank you NetGalley and Watkins Publishing, for the free ARC and this is my honest opinion.

[Krystelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

I really enjoy a good urban legend, and there's definitely more than enough out there in the world to fill more than a couple of volumes. I didn't mind this book, and it had a good focus on a more 'narrative style' of presenting the information about the legends. This approach was not my favourite, unfortunately, and I found myself slightly bewildered by this version of urban legends. In terms of a large anthology, generally the expectation would be fully factual - and the approach taken didn't really connect with me as well as I would have hoped.

I did struggle as well with the inclusion of some and the exclusion of others, to a point where sometimes the selections felt a bit odd. Japanese Yokai, for instance, were touched on, but some left out, and stories not expanded on quite as well as they could have been. I just felt like this book could have stood to be a little better in places, but with that said, as an entry level book on urban legends, it was definitely an interesting one. Adding to the list of other Watkins anthologies on similar topics, this one will fit neatly on the bookshelf along with other myths, legends, and tales of the bizarre.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Storyteller, librarian and former teacher, Gail De Vos has several books on folklore under her belt and this latest collection is required reading for those with an interest in urban legends.

Gail covers a multitude of areas, with sizeable portions of her book covering supernatural legends. By charting the evolution of stories which range from the chilling to the downright humorous, we can see how certain tales were altered as they were passed from one generation to the next, mixing the ancient with the modern. For me, one of the most fascinating parts covered the famous '27 Club' where famous musicians and singers passed way before their time, and there were several fascinating theories; some of which I'd heard and one which really caught my breath.

If haunted tunnels, highway ghosts, curses generated by social media and a good few stories that have influenced motion pictures.

The only section that disappointed me just a little concerns conspiracy theories: I did hope for more comprehensive coverage of conspiracy theories. That's just me being picky though. Overall, this is a fine collection, beautifully written and offering real value for multiple reads.

[Anabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the mother of all rabbit holes!

Do you like urban legends?
Where you obsessed with the "How is made" show?
Discovery channel?
Do you enjoy podcasts, rabbit holes, and conspiracy theories?
Cryptids? Internet lore?
If you answered yes to any of these, this book/audiobook is just for you!

As someone who enjoys podcasts of the occult, random copy pastas, and love reading and hearing about folklore from different cultures, this was the most fun non-fiction book I've ever read/heard. With a plethora of information, facts, and lore it provided, it took me down a rabbit hole for weeks, where I had to stop, Google the facts given to me to learn more from it!

It's filled with urband legends, myths, and word of mouth stories that range from local lore like the wendingo, the headless horseman, big foot, and aliens, among other other occult lore to Q-Annon, the Kennedy assassination and other conspiracy theories. It was a fun as hell ride!

I want to thank NetGalley for allowing me to read and listen to this ARC e-book.

[A Broken Zebra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NETGALLEY and Watkins Publishing for eARC

"Contemporary legends are defined as a fictional story about something that supposedly really happened , usually to a friend of a friend (FOAF), in a setting that is familiar and usually in close proximity to the teller and listener." - Gail De Vos

NOTE: Not compatible with Kindle, I recommend reading this in the NG app.

This book has 10 chapters and a plethora of urban legends, which I appreciated and soaked up. Just, it has a very strange, weird flow, and honestly, it's not completely what I was expecting. Still worth reading? Absolutely, though possibly a library rent for some, a must buy for others. Since this was an eARC, mine had a lot of typos, and just ended without the usual (author's note, index, etc), so I don't know what the end of the book will look like. And if any images are included in the final product, and I really, really hope there are, mine was without. :c

3.5 ★ Learned some things, was reminded of others.

[John Cochrane · Rating 1 out of 5]

The reviews for this book have got to fall into the urban legend category themselves, for it is such a poor and cringeworthy read, consisting of childish stories, naivety and mundane copy and pastings of ghost stories and reviews of sites where to see ghosts that don't exist.
It's reminiscent of the cheap books you used to see in discount book stores, such as 'the world's greatest ghosts' and 'the top 100 myths of all time'
Poorly researched and quite patronising.
The well known urban legends are briefly covered early on, the hook, the caller in the house, poisoned Halloween candy.
The rest consist of tales told in the playground at primary school.
The author has a love in with big pharma, government and the MSM, which she rams down the reader's throat. She's quite fond of fact checkers too. Talk about red flags.
Such a tedious and hard to read book, utterly mundane and makes what should be interesting subject matter dull and tedious.
If a book was an energy vampire, this would be it.

[Lia's Haunted Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. While I'm already fascinated by topics like urban legends, myths, and hauntings, I didn't expect reading about them to be so captivating. The author does an excellent job of providing background and various versions of the stories covered. When I started naming my favorites, I realized I was mentioning almost every section, so I had to narrow it down for this review. My favorite sections were about haunted paintings, ghost tourism, ghost lore, cryptids, and creepypastas, especially since they mention one and provide an accurate history of my country. There was one section that didn’t resonate with me due to cultural differences, but it was still well-written and interesting. Overall, this book offers something for everyone, especially if you're into mysterious, paranormal, or curious phenomena. I loved the whole book.

Thank you netgalley for giving me the opportunity to review this book.

[Ella Droste · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is seriously fascinating! It's like this mega collection of urban legends from all over the globe, plus conspiracy theories and all that juicy stuff. Gail De Vos totally knows her stuff when it comes to these tales, and she dives deep into their origins and how they've evolved, especially in the age of social media.

I was totally hooked by how she connects these stories to our modern lives, like how the internet has totally changed how these legends spread. It's not just spooky tales—there's legit psychological and cultural insights packed in here. Plus, she covers everything from haunted paintings to creepy conspiracy theories.

While I loved diving into all these stories, I gotta say, it's a lot to take in at once. I found myself needing breaks to process all the info jammed into each chapter. Still, if you're into paranormal mysteries or just love a good spooky tale, this book is a gold mine.

Thanks a bunch to NetGalley for the ARC—it's been a wild ride!

[Realms of Magic Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a must-have for all lovers of urban legends. It serves as a mini encyclopaedia of urban legends from around the world. While reading it, I was surprised to discover how many of these legends have travelled globally. In fact, I recognised many of them, even though they originated thousands of miles from my country. Some of these were the very stories we used to tell around the campfire during summer nights with friends by the beach—tales that made you jump, question every shadow and sound in the dark, and sprint halfway to your front door in fear.

It’s a wonderfully eerie book to keep in your home library for reference. The only downside is that it can be a bit repetitive, with the same legends appearing in multiple categories. At times, it feels more like a description of the legend rather than an actual telling of the story, which can be a bit frustrating. Overall, though, it’s a spooky must-have!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a fun and unique book!

The Watkins Book of Urban Legends is a collection or legends and folklore from around the world. Included is a brief historical and social examination of the legends.

It's a very detailed book, looking at around 200 legends. The urban legends range from childhood games to copypasta internet rumors that get circulated every few years or so. While reading the book, it really became a game of "I remember that" or "ooh, so that's how it went." It found it quite enjoyable and it was really fun to add a bit of trivial knowledge in my life.

The book is well organized, and the details about the legends are written clearly.

This would be an excellent book for anyone who would like to tell others "I told you so" or would like to add a bit of trivial knowledge in their lives.

[Bexa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This has many urban legends that are well known and obscure. Each story tells a little bit behind the legend and what the legend actually is. While De Vos is well known and well versed in legends and folklore, a lot feels missing in these short descriptions of each tale. Take for instance the Halloween candy one, there was a case of a dad who used the legend to try and kill his son, but because he wasn't the cause of the legend they don't mention it at all. This reminded me of the "Just a Story" podcast that was around a few years ago (still miss it and wish them well but want them back), but each episode really deep dived into each legend. This is more like a primer, gives you a basic overview and then moves on. Still, if you're trying to remember that legend you were once told as a kid, it's probably in here and worth checking out.

[karla JR · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a perfect read for the spooky season! I want to express my gratitude to Watkins Publishing for granting me access to this audiobook. I find myself imagining the author as a mystical figure within the community, someone who shares and passes down stories and legends, captivating the kids with thrilling tales. One of the remarkable aspects of this book is how many of the stories feel familiar, yet they still manage to be quite scary. It’s an excellent choice for anyone who loves the supernatural and urban legends. I thoroughly enjoyed all the parts of the book and appreciated how it was constructed and organized. It has quickly become one of my favorite reads of the year. Additionally, the narrator did a fantastic job bringing the stories to life!

[Cara Norris · Rating 5 out of 5]

From chilling tales to internet-fueled conspiracy theories, The Watkins Book of Urban Legends is a fascinating deep dive into the stories that haunt and captivate us.

Gail De Vos masterfully compiles urban legends and folktales from around the globe, giving each tale historical context and analyzing its evolution in the age of social media. From classics like "The Babysitter" to eerie modern myths about organ theft and wildfires, this collection shows how folklore adapts to reflect our fears and anxieties.

Richly researched and highly entertaining, this book is a must-read for anyone fascinated by how stories spread, evolve, and shape cultures.

[Destini Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun read but I honestly don’t think this is a book that you decide to read from start to finish. I feel like it’s one where you read a chapter here and a chapter there, if that makes sense? I love how there’s a section of stories that are appropriate for even younger readers. I was able to read a few of the urban legends to my almost 9 year old and I loved getting to include her!! I do agree with a few other reviews that there’s a lotttt of information packed into each chapter, which sometimes was really hard for me to stay focused at times. All in all I enjoyed it!

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was really interesting and definitely satisfied my craving for something a little spooky. It was fun to learn about the origin of urban legends that I told or was told myself as a kid. It was maybe just a little too overwhelming and felt quite info dumpy which meant that I took quite a bit longer to finish it than I would have liked.

Overall it was a very fun, very interesting read but I wouldn't recommend reading it alone at night!

Thank you Watkins Audio and Netgalley for the audio arc ❤️

[Ava · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for a free ARC!

I really enjoyed reading about the historical context of urban legends, some of which I'd never heard before, as well as learning about the longevity of some of the legends and how they've changed over time. I'm very interested to see how the last couple genres included in the book, conspiracy theories and online legends/creepypastas, develop over time -- and what future genres will be created. The author is also a very enjoyable storyteller, which makes sense given the folklore background.

[Paul Moynihan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 10 of 2025 complete! Gail De Vos' collection of classic and modern urban legends is a brilliant addition to the subject, featuring such well-known legends as Bloody Mary and The Vanishing Hitchhiker and also new theories on more modern urban myths such as the Illuminati craze and the 5G conspiracy. I've been obsessed with urban legends for years and have always enjoyed reading and collecting books on the subject and this one is a worthy addition. Highly recommended to anyone who has heard a weird story that's too good to be true about a friend-of-a-friend two towns over!