Lost Towns of North Carolina

by Heather Leah

Genres: Nonfiction

144 pages, Paperback

Published January 27, 2026

Reviews

[Jackson Banks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Lost Towns of North Carolina by Heather Leah. The depth of research is immediately clear, and the photographs woven throughout add a powerful visual layer that brought life to the stories. What stood out most to me were the interviews with people who had personal or family connections to some of these places, and the inclusion of oral histories gives the book heart and preserves voices that might otherwise be lost.

Leah’s writing is engaging and accessible without sacrificing detail, which makes the history feel alive rather than academic. My only real complaint is that I wanted more. I would have happily read additional chapters and even more ghost town stories. If you’re interested in North Carolina history, forgotten places, or the human stories tied to them, this is a fascinating and memorable read.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and the pictures were great. The writing was kind of odd, though: weirdly repetitious in parts and referring to things in later chapters as if they had been already read in others. I wish the book and the sections within it had been arranged in a more chronological order for clarity, and that there had been a map and an index.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bringing history to life is a daunting job but Heather's "voice" in her first book makes it sound easy. I have followed her online for years and still follow her social media. Can't wait to see what hidden history is next.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book about ghost towns in North Carolina and history of why they vanished. Informative and entertaining.