What do you think?
Rate this book
Ghosts of the Wild West: Stories from Deadwood, Tombstone, and the Old Frontier
Read 21 chilling ghost stories with ties to the Wild West, based on actual accounts, as told by two paranormal investigators.
Too many lawmen and bandits met their ends on the streets of Deadwood, and their ghostly whispers still remain. In Tombstone, the infamous Bird Cage Theatre is haunted by the shadows of gamblers and painted ladies from long ago. The Wild West produced some of America’s most legendary characters—whose spirits might still roam among us. This collection of ghost stories unearths the creepiest, most surprising tales about old cowboys, outlaws, sharpshooters, prospectors, and more!
Authors Jessica Freeburg and Natalie Fowler are active paranormal investigators with a shared fascination for things that go bump in the night. The professional writers spent countless hours combing the country for the strangest and scariest run-ins with unexplained phenomena connected to the Old Frontier.
Horror fans and history buffs will delight in these 21 terrifying tales. They’re based on reportedly true accounts, proving that the Wild West sparked some of the most notorious and compelling ghostly tales ever told. The short stories are paired with brief retellings of each figure’s deeds while among the living and are ideal for quick reading. They are sure to captivate anyone who enjoys a good scare. Share them with friends around a campfire, or try them alone at home—if you dare.
Too many lawmen and bandits met their ends on the streets of Deadwood, and their ghostly whispers still remain. In Tombstone, the infamous Bird Cage Theatre is haunted by the shadows of gamblers and painted ladies from long ago. The Wild West produced some of America’s most legendary characters—whose spirits might still roam among us. This collection of ghost stories unearths the creepiest, most surprising tales about old cowboys, outlaws, sharpshooters, prospectors, and more!
Authors Jessica Freeburg and Natalie Fowler are active paranormal investigators with a shared fascination for things that go bump in the night. The professional writers spent countless hours combing the country for the strangest and scariest run-ins with unexplained phenomena connected to the Old Frontier.
Horror fans and history buffs will delight in these 21 terrifying tales. They’re based on reportedly true accounts, proving that the Wild West sparked some of the most notorious and compelling ghostly tales ever told. The short stories are paired with brief retellings of each figure’s deeds while among the living and are ideal for quick reading. They are sure to captivate anyone who enjoys a good scare. Share them with friends around a campfire, or try them alone at home—if you dare.
144 pages, Paperback
Published August 12, 2025
2 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 5, 2025
Book Review: Ghosts of the Wild West: Stories from Deadwood, Tombstone, and the Old Frontier by Jessica Freeburg & Natalie Fowler
Rating: 4.5/5
Jessica Freeburg and Natalie Fowler’s Ghosts of the Wild West is a spine-tingling love letter to the spectral underbelly of America’s frontier mythology. Blending meticulous historical research with campfire-tale theatrics, this collection of 21 paranormal accounts delivers equal parts chills and scholarly intrigue. As both a horror enthusiast and history buff, I found myself utterly engrossed—though occasionally wishing for deeper analytical depth.
Strengths & Emotional Reactions
The authors’ dual expertise as paranormal investigators and historians shines. Their retellings of hauntings tied to figures like Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane are visceral, weaving primary sources (newspapers, reports) with atmospheric prose. The chapter on Tombstone’s Bird Cage Theatre—where the ghosts of gamblers and sex workers allegedly linger—left me with palpable unease, its dialogue-driven narrative evoking the immediacy of an oral tradition.
What elevates this beyond typical ghost-story anthologies is its respect for historical context. Each tale opens with a succinct biography of the deceased, grounding the supernatural in real-world grit. The story of Eleanor the Chambermaid (a murdered servant haunting a Montana hotel) is particularly haunting, not just for its spectral lore but for its commentary on the vulnerability of women in the Old West. I appreciated the geographic diversity, too—from Colorado’s Cripple Creek to Nevada’s Yellow Jacket Mine—which underscores how widespread these legends are.
Constructive Criticism
While the book excels in atmosphere, it occasionally skimps on critical analysis. For instance, the authors note that many tales stem from reported encounters, but a deeper exploration of why these stories persist—cultural trauma, tourism economies, or collective memory—would have added scholarly heft. Similarly, the campfire-style delivery, though engaging, sometimes veers into melodrama (if you dare provocations grow repetitive). A few stories also lean heavily on well-trodden myths (Jesse James’ ghost) without fresh angles.
Why It Matters
This book is a gateway drug for paranormal academia—ideal for:
-Horror fans craving historically rooted scares.
-Folklorists studying how legends calcify into “truth.”
-Travelers planning haunted-road-trip itineraries (the bibliography is a goldmine).
Freeburg and Fowler’s passion for preservation is infectious. Their refusal to sensationalize every tale (some conclude ambiguously, honoring the mystery) feels like an ethical choice in a genre often dominated by overstatement.
Thank you to the publisher AdventureKEEN and Edelweiss for the advance copy. This is the rare ghost anthology that leaves you both checking over your shoulder and reaching for history books.
Final Verdict:
Research: 5/5 (Impeccable sourcing, especially for obscure accounts.)
Atmosphere: 4.5/5 (Dusty saloons and phantom gunfights come alive.)
Originality: 4/5 (A few too many familiar faces, but lesser-known tales dazzle.)
Academic Value: 3.5/5 (More meta-commentary would’ve earned a perfect score.)
A must-read for anyone who suspects the Wild West’s most infamous outlaws never truly left—and a testament to how ghost stories keep history’s wounds (and wonders) alive.
Rating: 4.5/5
Jessica Freeburg and Natalie Fowler’s Ghosts of the Wild West is a spine-tingling love letter to the spectral underbelly of America’s frontier mythology. Blending meticulous historical research with campfire-tale theatrics, this collection of 21 paranormal accounts delivers equal parts chills and scholarly intrigue. As both a horror enthusiast and history buff, I found myself utterly engrossed—though occasionally wishing for deeper analytical depth.
Strengths & Emotional Reactions
The authors’ dual expertise as paranormal investigators and historians shines. Their retellings of hauntings tied to figures like Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane are visceral, weaving primary sources (newspapers, reports) with atmospheric prose. The chapter on Tombstone’s Bird Cage Theatre—where the ghosts of gamblers and sex workers allegedly linger—left me with palpable unease, its dialogue-driven narrative evoking the immediacy of an oral tradition.
What elevates this beyond typical ghost-story anthologies is its respect for historical context. Each tale opens with a succinct biography of the deceased, grounding the supernatural in real-world grit. The story of Eleanor the Chambermaid (a murdered servant haunting a Montana hotel) is particularly haunting, not just for its spectral lore but for its commentary on the vulnerability of women in the Old West. I appreciated the geographic diversity, too—from Colorado’s Cripple Creek to Nevada’s Yellow Jacket Mine—which underscores how widespread these legends are.
Constructive Criticism
While the book excels in atmosphere, it occasionally skimps on critical analysis. For instance, the authors note that many tales stem from reported encounters, but a deeper exploration of why these stories persist—cultural trauma, tourism economies, or collective memory—would have added scholarly heft. Similarly, the campfire-style delivery, though engaging, sometimes veers into melodrama (if you dare provocations grow repetitive). A few stories also lean heavily on well-trodden myths (Jesse James’ ghost) without fresh angles.
Why It Matters
This book is a gateway drug for paranormal academia—ideal for:
-Horror fans craving historically rooted scares.
-Folklorists studying how legends calcify into “truth.”
-Travelers planning haunted-road-trip itineraries (the bibliography is a goldmine).
Freeburg and Fowler’s passion for preservation is infectious. Their refusal to sensationalize every tale (some conclude ambiguously, honoring the mystery) feels like an ethical choice in a genre often dominated by overstatement.
Thank you to the publisher AdventureKEEN and Edelweiss for the advance copy. This is the rare ghost anthology that leaves you both checking over your shoulder and reaching for history books.
Final Verdict:
Research: 5/5 (Impeccable sourcing, especially for obscure accounts.)
Atmosphere: 4.5/5 (Dusty saloons and phantom gunfights come alive.)
Originality: 4/5 (A few too many familiar faces, but lesser-known tales dazzle.)
Academic Value: 3.5/5 (More meta-commentary would’ve earned a perfect score.)
A must-read for anyone who suspects the Wild West’s most infamous outlaws never truly left—and a testament to how ghost stories keep history’s wounds (and wonders) alive.
November 30, 2025
Rating: 4* of five
The Publisher Says: Read 21 chilling ghost stories with ties to the Wild West, based on actual accounts, as told by two paranormal investigators.
Too many lawmen and bandits met their ends on the streets of Deadwood, and their ghostly whispers still remain. In Tombstone, the infamous Bird Cage Theatre is haunted by the shadows of gamblers and painted ladies from long ago. The Wild West produced some of America’s most legendary characters—whose spirits might still roam among us. This collection of ghost stories unearths the creepiest, most surprising tales about old cowboys, outlaws, sharpshooters, prospectors, and more!
Authors Jessica Freeburg and Natalie Fowler are active paranormal investigators with a shared fascination for things that go bump in the night. The professional writers spent countless hours combing the country for the strangest and scariest run-ins with unexplained phenomena connected to the Old Frontier.
Horror fans and history buffs will delight in these 21 terrifying tales. They’re based on reportedly true accounts, proving that the Wild West sparked some of the most notorious and compelling ghostly tales ever told. The short stories are paired with brief retellings of each figure’s deeds while among the living and are ideal for quick reading. They are sure to captivate anyone who enjoys a good scare. Share them with friends around a campfire or try them alone at home—if you dare.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.
My Review: Nothing in here will scare anyone over thirteen, at least not of average maturity level. I'd give it happily to an advanced twelve-year-old for a long, dull car trip or flight.
Adults? If they like the ghost hunter shows, sure, but not just because. Someone without that interest won't much enjoy the read...plus, like all compendiums like this, don't gulp...sip.
What it looks like.
I though these were more interesting:
Utilitarian, made for a purpose and serves it.
The Publisher Says: Read 21 chilling ghost stories with ties to the Wild West, based on actual accounts, as told by two paranormal investigators.
Too many lawmen and bandits met their ends on the streets of Deadwood, and their ghostly whispers still remain. In Tombstone, the infamous Bird Cage Theatre is haunted by the shadows of gamblers and painted ladies from long ago. The Wild West produced some of America’s most legendary characters—whose spirits might still roam among us. This collection of ghost stories unearths the creepiest, most surprising tales about old cowboys, outlaws, sharpshooters, prospectors, and more!
Authors Jessica Freeburg and Natalie Fowler are active paranormal investigators with a shared fascination for things that go bump in the night. The professional writers spent countless hours combing the country for the strangest and scariest run-ins with unexplained phenomena connected to the Old Frontier.
Horror fans and history buffs will delight in these 21 terrifying tales. They’re based on reportedly true accounts, proving that the Wild West sparked some of the most notorious and compelling ghostly tales ever told. The short stories are paired with brief retellings of each figure’s deeds while among the living and are ideal for quick reading. They are sure to captivate anyone who enjoys a good scare. Share them with friends around a campfire or try them alone at home—if you dare.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.
My Review: Nothing in here will scare anyone over thirteen, at least not of average maturity level. I'd give it happily to an advanced twelve-year-old for a long, dull car trip or flight.
Adults? If they like the ghost hunter shows, sure, but not just because. Someone without that interest won't much enjoy the read...plus, like all compendiums like this, don't gulp...sip.
What it looks like.
I though these were more interesting:
Utilitarian, made for a purpose and serves it.
January 4, 2026
I didn’t find it “terrifying” as the synopsis suggests, and I don’t believe many would. However, for someone with an interest in the famed characters of the Wild West, I think the book serves its purpose. I will likely stock it at our store as it does stand out.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews