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Mothman: Sightings and Investigations of the Iconic Flying Cryptid
Two paranormal experts examine the history and sightings of one of America's favorite flying cryptids.
The world was officially introduced to the Mothman in 1966 when a sighting of a large black creature with glowing red eyes was reported in the Point Pleasant Register. Ever since, the winged humanoid has captivated the world.
Richard Estep and renowned Mothman researcher Tobias Wayland document first-hand witness accounts and conduct investigations of the sightings with the hope of seeing the famous flying cryptid themselves. Their discoveries include large concentrations of sightings in the Chicago and Lake Michigan area which allude to where the mysterious Mothman may reside and travel.
Mothman is a collection of creepy encounters of a large flying cryptid with menacing red eyes that every witness never forgets. Explore the fascinating files from investigators who have searched for the mythical Mothman.
The world was officially introduced to the Mothman in 1966 when a sighting of a large black creature with glowing red eyes was reported in the Point Pleasant Register. Ever since, the winged humanoid has captivated the world.
Richard Estep and renowned Mothman researcher Tobias Wayland document first-hand witness accounts and conduct investigations of the sightings with the hope of seeing the famous flying cryptid themselves. Their discoveries include large concentrations of sightings in the Chicago and Lake Michigan area which allude to where the mysterious Mothman may reside and travel.
Mothman is a collection of creepy encounters of a large flying cryptid with menacing red eyes that every witness never forgets. Explore the fascinating files from investigators who have searched for the mythical Mothman.
304 pages, Paperback
Published September 8, 2025
About the author
Richard Estep
78 books209 followersI'm a 48-year-old child who has no plans to ever actually grow up.
I make my living as a paramedic, clinical educator, for a busy hospital system and work as a street medic in a 911 system.
In my free time, I serve as the director of the Boulder County Paranormal Research Society, and investigate claims of haunted properties, people, and objects on both sides of the Atlantic. I love to read, particularly SF/Fantasy, history and historical fiction, the paranormal, and basically anything that piques my interest. I appear on the TV shows Haunted Hospitals, Paranormal 911, Paranormal Night Shift, Haunted Case Files, and several others.
I am an avid video gamer, table-top gamer, and love to build Lego. My wife and I are the proud humans of five adopted rescue cats and one smelly but adorable dog.
I make my living as a paramedic, clinical educator, for a busy hospital system and work as a street medic in a 911 system.
In my free time, I serve as the director of the Boulder County Paranormal Research Society, and investigate claims of haunted properties, people, and objects on both sides of the Atlantic. I love to read, particularly SF/Fantasy, history and historical fiction, the paranormal, and basically anything that piques my interest. I appear on the TV shows Haunted Hospitals, Paranormal 911, Paranormal Night Shift, Haunted Case Files, and several others.
I am an avid video gamer, table-top gamer, and love to build Lego. My wife and I are the proud humans of five adopted rescue cats and one smelly but adorable dog.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 1, 2026
I've been fascinated with Cryptids since I was a kid in the 70s. Bigfoot was my favorite to read about. I learned of The Mothman back when the 2002 film came out. I read the book at the same time.(The Mothman Prophecies)
I picked this up with high hopes. I was somewhat disappointed. The first part relies heavily on the original novel. Several of the encounters told here come from that original book.
As this book went on it did get more interesting. It's worth reading if you're a fan of the topic.
I picked this up with high hopes. I was somewhat disappointed. The first part relies heavily on the original novel. Several of the encounters told here come from that original book.
As this book went on it did get more interesting. It's worth reading if you're a fan of the topic.
July 4, 2025
Book Review: Mothman: Sightings and Investigations of the Iconic Flying Cryptid by Richard Estep & Tobias Wayland (Foreword by David Weatherly)
Rating: 4.5/5
Reactions & Emotional Impact
As a West Virginia native familiar with the Mothman legend, I approached this book with equal parts skepticism and nostalgic curiosity—but emerged utterly captivated. Estep and Wayland masterfully balance scholarly rigor with the chilling thrill of a campfire tale. Their documentation of firsthand accounts (like the infamous Dufield Pond encounter) sent shivers down my spine, not just for their supernatural elements but for their psychological weight. The authors’ palpable enthusiasm—whether chasing leads in Chicago or analyzing wing-span physics—is infectious, transforming what could be dry cryptozoology into a human story about our need to explain the unexplainable. The foreword by David Weatherly grounds the work in broader folklore context, adding scholarly heft.
Strengths
-Methodological Rigor: The authors treat sightings as anthropological data, cross-referencing timelines, weather conditions, and witness credibility—a refreshing departure from sensationalism.
-Geographical Breadth: While honoring Point Pleasant’s legacy, they reveal startling Midwest clusters (Chicago/Lake Michigan), challenging the myth’s regional confines.
-Interdisciplinary Approach: Blends forensic analysis (e.g., red-eye glow explanations) with cultural studies (why Mothman endures as a modern archetype).
-Narrative Craft: Chapters oscillate between clinical reportage and pulse-quickening storytelling, mirroring the tension between myth and evidence.
Constructive Criticism
-Theoretical Gaps: A deeper dive into why certain communities spawn cryptid lore (e.g., post-industrial trauma in West Virginia) could enrich the sociological lens.
-Visual Aids: Maps of sighting hotspots or comparative illustrations of global “winged humanoid” myths would bolster the investigative narrative.
-Counterarguments: While thorough, the book occasionally leans credulous; a dedicated chapter debunking hoaxes would strengthen its academic balance.
Final Thoughts
This isn’t just a book about a monster—it’s a meditation on how fear and wonder shape collective memory. Estep and Wayland don’t demand belief; they invite engagement, making this essential for folklorists, paranormal enthusiasts, and anyone who’s ever glimpsed something inexplicable in the dark.
Gratitude:
Thank you to the Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd and Edelweiss for the gifted copy—this was a haunting homecoming to Appalachian mystery, and a testament to legends that refuse to die.
Why 4.5?
Docked slightly for craving more critical analysis, but Mothman soars as both a tribute to regional lore and a template for ethical cryptid research.
Related Themes for Further Study:
Cryptids as cultural coping mechanisms
The science of mass hallucination
Appalachian folklore’s intersection with industry
Media’s role in mythmaking (from 1966 newspapers to TikTok)
Comparative global “flying humanoid” legends (e.g., Indonesia’s Orang Bati)
Rating: 4.5/5
Reactions & Emotional Impact
As a West Virginia native familiar with the Mothman legend, I approached this book with equal parts skepticism and nostalgic curiosity—but emerged utterly captivated. Estep and Wayland masterfully balance scholarly rigor with the chilling thrill of a campfire tale. Their documentation of firsthand accounts (like the infamous Dufield Pond encounter) sent shivers down my spine, not just for their supernatural elements but for their psychological weight. The authors’ palpable enthusiasm—whether chasing leads in Chicago or analyzing wing-span physics—is infectious, transforming what could be dry cryptozoology into a human story about our need to explain the unexplainable. The foreword by David Weatherly grounds the work in broader folklore context, adding scholarly heft.
Strengths
-Methodological Rigor: The authors treat sightings as anthropological data, cross-referencing timelines, weather conditions, and witness credibility—a refreshing departure from sensationalism.
-Geographical Breadth: While honoring Point Pleasant’s legacy, they reveal startling Midwest clusters (Chicago/Lake Michigan), challenging the myth’s regional confines.
-Interdisciplinary Approach: Blends forensic analysis (e.g., red-eye glow explanations) with cultural studies (why Mothman endures as a modern archetype).
-Narrative Craft: Chapters oscillate between clinical reportage and pulse-quickening storytelling, mirroring the tension between myth and evidence.
Constructive Criticism
-Theoretical Gaps: A deeper dive into why certain communities spawn cryptid lore (e.g., post-industrial trauma in West Virginia) could enrich the sociological lens.
-Visual Aids: Maps of sighting hotspots or comparative illustrations of global “winged humanoid” myths would bolster the investigative narrative.
-Counterarguments: While thorough, the book occasionally leans credulous; a dedicated chapter debunking hoaxes would strengthen its academic balance.
Final Thoughts
This isn’t just a book about a monster—it’s a meditation on how fear and wonder shape collective memory. Estep and Wayland don’t demand belief; they invite engagement, making this essential for folklorists, paranormal enthusiasts, and anyone who’s ever glimpsed something inexplicable in the dark.
Gratitude:
Thank you to the Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd and Edelweiss for the gifted copy—this was a haunting homecoming to Appalachian mystery, and a testament to legends that refuse to die.
Why 4.5?
Docked slightly for craving more critical analysis, but Mothman soars as both a tribute to regional lore and a template for ethical cryptid research.
Related Themes for Further Study:
Cryptids as cultural coping mechanisms
The science of mass hallucination
Appalachian folklore’s intersection with industry
Media’s role in mythmaking (from 1966 newspapers to TikTok)
Comparative global “flying humanoid” legends (e.g., Indonesia’s Orang Bati)
September 11, 2026
This was a good read, I enjoyed it, even with debating with the book both internally and out loud throughout. I think I would like to become a Mothman scholar -- but, this book's engaging and educational run-down of all of the evidence shows that there really isn't a whole lot of sighting material that is valid... the small body of work that IS evidence, though, you can't make up. It's big. I'm a believer-- but not in all of the sightings. Pretty much only the earliest sightings in the 60s. Imo, in all likelihood, this was one creature that has long since perished. The book presents the information, and presents their thoughts and the thoughts of many people on the topic, and I have beef with parts of both. It's to the credit of the book that I even have the tools to carry out those debates.
What I take issue with in the authors' presentation of the sighting material is that they give credence to, explore, and even suggest the idea that the creature could be mixed up with an owl. They're like, "there are owls in the region, so it's possible," in the same breath as outlining that all of the sightings are clear on the point of Mothman's height being 6 feet tall at minimum and 12 feet tall maximum, with the most consistent description being about 7 feet tall. Erego, since 7 foot tall owls aren't a thing, the notion that it could be an owl should be straightforwardly discussed as being a problem. Only a gigantic condor (not native to the region, but perhaps an illicit exotic animal escapee) would be in the running for that mix-up, and even then, there aren't any nocturnal condors or vultures. Even if it was both an illegal exotic escapee AND sick to be flying around at night, I'm pretty sure all people would describe it as a hunched, gargoylish, small man with wings like the Wizard of Oz flying monkeys -- not an exceptionally large, upright and imposing man with wings. Ditch the bird theory.
The other beef I have with their thoughts and musings, more in the realm of personal opinion, is that the theory that Mothman is an interdimensional being is also kooky. I'm confident there are probably interdimensional beings, but this guy has pretty straightforward biological traits which are interesting. The glowing eyes suggest a reflective tapetum like many nocturnal animals have (the authors seem not to know that tidbit from college bio-anth). All of the early credible sightings are clear on the point of its very specific physical traits and physical body. That's precisely why it's interesting. Wouldn't all interdimensional beings then be just as physically corporeal? No one ever threw a rock through Mothman and saw it pass through or anything. There's even a smell associated?
Another critique of the book is that I could have done without the filler content about lots of other completely unrelated paranormal claims or stories. I found maybe one out of all of those to be relevant, mildly interesting, or have any crossover with the topic on the point of similarities and being in a similar region. All the rest seem to be just summarizing John Keel's (kooky frickin') book that has no credence, which was also about a ton of different unrelated paranormal claims.
I think my last beef is that I think it's immensely relevant that this creature is originating at a TNT depot and government weapons facilities. I personally don't need to look any further than that for explanations of what Mothman is. I mean, that's low hanging fruit. To me, Mothman seems to straightforwardly be related to that somehow. A government attempt at a bioweapon, a lab experiment gone wrong or accidentally released. Those are hugely documented areas of the government's real practices, especially at that time in history when the US and Russia were engaged in mutually increasingly bizarre and inhuman projects to race each other. And this book never once goes there. It just glazes over the fact that this is happening at such a site, only using that fact to describe the basic geography. Are you kidding? Silence on that matter is even more evidence that that's the real story. The government wants to keep it kitschy and campy to bury the truth, just like with Roswell. Fight me!
What I take issue with in the authors' presentation of the sighting material is that they give credence to, explore, and even suggest the idea that the creature could be mixed up with an owl. They're like, "there are owls in the region, so it's possible," in the same breath as outlining that all of the sightings are clear on the point of Mothman's height being 6 feet tall at minimum and 12 feet tall maximum, with the most consistent description being about 7 feet tall. Erego, since 7 foot tall owls aren't a thing, the notion that it could be an owl should be straightforwardly discussed as being a problem. Only a gigantic condor (not native to the region, but perhaps an illicit exotic animal escapee) would be in the running for that mix-up, and even then, there aren't any nocturnal condors or vultures. Even if it was both an illegal exotic escapee AND sick to be flying around at night, I'm pretty sure all people would describe it as a hunched, gargoylish, small man with wings like the Wizard of Oz flying monkeys -- not an exceptionally large, upright and imposing man with wings. Ditch the bird theory.
The other beef I have with their thoughts and musings, more in the realm of personal opinion, is that the theory that Mothman is an interdimensional being is also kooky. I'm confident there are probably interdimensional beings, but this guy has pretty straightforward biological traits which are interesting. The glowing eyes suggest a reflective tapetum like many nocturnal animals have (the authors seem not to know that tidbit from college bio-anth). All of the early credible sightings are clear on the point of its very specific physical traits and physical body. That's precisely why it's interesting. Wouldn't all interdimensional beings then be just as physically corporeal? No one ever threw a rock through Mothman and saw it pass through or anything. There's even a smell associated?
Another critique of the book is that I could have done without the filler content about lots of other completely unrelated paranormal claims or stories. I found maybe one out of all of those to be relevant, mildly interesting, or have any crossover with the topic on the point of similarities and being in a similar region. All the rest seem to be just summarizing John Keel's (kooky frickin') book that has no credence, which was also about a ton of different unrelated paranormal claims.
I think my last beef is that I think it's immensely relevant that this creature is originating at a TNT depot and government weapons facilities. I personally don't need to look any further than that for explanations of what Mothman is. I mean, that's low hanging fruit. To me, Mothman seems to straightforwardly be related to that somehow. A government attempt at a bioweapon, a lab experiment gone wrong or accidentally released. Those are hugely documented areas of the government's real practices, especially at that time in history when the US and Russia were engaged in mutually increasingly bizarre and inhuman projects to race each other. And this book never once goes there. It just glazes over the fact that this is happening at such a site, only using that fact to describe the basic geography. Are you kidding? Silence on that matter is even more evidence that that's the real story. The government wants to keep it kitschy and campy to bury the truth, just like with Roswell. Fight me!
October 1, 2025
Is there more to Mothman than a string of midcentury sightings in Point Pleasant, WV? What can the larger winged humanoid phenomena tell us about the nature of the paranormal?
In Mothman: Sightings and Investigations of the Iconic Flying Cryptid, Richard Estep and Tobias Wayland take readers in search of high strangeness throughout the United States exploring John Keel’s theories alongside new and old winged humanoid sightings. A welcome addition to the Mothman literature, this book is perfect for readers new to the phenomenon with an excellent introduction to Forteana and comprehensive overview of the traditional Mothman story. But researchers familiar with the phenomenon will also find it full of new information and connections to other phenomena around the United States, including widespread sightings in the Chicagoland area. Estep and Wayland expertly weave together Mothman lore with lesser-known phenomenon like the Van Meter Visitor and leave readers with an excellent foundation in Forteana alongside and interviews with Joshua Cutchin and ?Ken Gerhard. It’s hard to overstate just how much was packed into this little book.
Having recently read Keel’s Mothman Prophecies, this was an excellent expansion on that formative work and further convinced me of the need to pick up a copy of The Eighth Tower. Having finished Estep and Wayland’s book, I’m even less sure how to explain Mothman, but as Cutchin says, “[with Forteana] there is a certain resistance to categorization and conclusion that [isn’t] seen across a lot of other modern paranormal thinkers.”
5🪰/5 seriously cannot recommend this one enough.
Thank you to Llewellyn Books for the review copy!
In Mothman: Sightings and Investigations of the Iconic Flying Cryptid, Richard Estep and Tobias Wayland take readers in search of high strangeness throughout the United States exploring John Keel’s theories alongside new and old winged humanoid sightings. A welcome addition to the Mothman literature, this book is perfect for readers new to the phenomenon with an excellent introduction to Forteana and comprehensive overview of the traditional Mothman story. But researchers familiar with the phenomenon will also find it full of new information and connections to other phenomena around the United States, including widespread sightings in the Chicagoland area. Estep and Wayland expertly weave together Mothman lore with lesser-known phenomenon like the Van Meter Visitor and leave readers with an excellent foundation in Forteana alongside and interviews with Joshua Cutchin and ?Ken Gerhard. It’s hard to overstate just how much was packed into this little book.
Having recently read Keel’s Mothman Prophecies, this was an excellent expansion on that formative work and further convinced me of the need to pick up a copy of The Eighth Tower. Having finished Estep and Wayland’s book, I’m even less sure how to explain Mothman, but as Cutchin says, “[with Forteana] there is a certain resistance to categorization and conclusion that [isn’t] seen across a lot of other modern paranormal thinkers.”
5🪰/5 seriously cannot recommend this one enough.
Thank you to Llewellyn Books for the review copy!
February 2, 2026
Great intro into the topic of Mothman! The only chapter out of place is the High Strangeness Man. Perhaps it would have been better at the beginning? I’m not sure. Where it stands as chapter 7 broke the momentum of the book for me though. It felt like an unexpected intermission or commercial break, before resuming Mothman accounts once more. Other than that, this was a very intriguing book from start to finish.
February 10, 2026
Parts of the book were interesting, but for me the first couple of chapters that focused on Keel and Fort were boring and dry. I enjoy reading about cryptids and was pleased to receive a free copy from the publisher. There were a number of eyewitness accounts that I had not read previously that alone made reading this worthwhile. I will be checking out other titles by these authors.
December 31, 2025
More questions
February 14, 2026
This did introduce me to some new things! Also was very exciting to find out the authors were at the Mothman Festival the same time I was!!!
June 13, 2026
Very basic storytelling that lacks depth or interest. Weird that it is written by Estep and Wayland but they are continually talked referred to in third person.
July 14, 2026
This book was an unexpected delight. Found it at the library but now I think I need a copy for myself. First, it was a nice size. I know that's superficial but I loved it, and the clever little illustrations at the beginning of each chapter. At first I was a little lost in the chapters explaining Fort, Keel, and the Fortean perspective, but that's a relatively small portion of the book and I think it's necessary to understand where the authors are coming from. I learned that I myself have a Fortean perspective when it comes to the unexplained, I just didn't know there was a name for it.
The rest of the book is highly readable, and the authors come off as rational and objective. They are not trying to convince you that there is a literal human-sized moth out there. I hope they write more books either on this same topic, other cryptids, or other anomalous phenomena in the future.
The rest of the book is highly readable, and the authors come off as rational and objective. They are not trying to convince you that there is a literal human-sized moth out there. I hope they write more books either on this same topic, other cryptids, or other anomalous phenomena in the future.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews