Backyard History: Mysterious Stories From Atlantic Canada's Past

by Andrew MacLean

Atlantic Canada is full of stories. Its past rich with mysteries.

Follow along as real people stumble into the unknown: A detective without a name rolls into a village to solve a murder. Travel writer Clara Dennis takes a wrong turn and finds an abandoned town. Reporter Ian Sclanders chases whispers of wartime spies. A ship arrives, but her crew has vanished. A cow falls down a hole, sparking a treasure hunt. Not exactly Sherlock Holmes, but when was Atlantic Canada ever traditional?

Blending classic Maritime storytelling with deep-dive research and told with curiosity, humour, and heart, this fourth Backyard History book chases the faint trails of folk songs, ghosts, buried treasure, missing explorers, and lost films to explore mysteries that have faded through time, reminding us that history isn’t just what happened, but what we choose to remember.


"In Backyard History, Andrew MacLean unearths and shares unique stories as only he can, reflecting the extraordinary region from which these tales emerged."
-Susan Holt, Premier of New Brunswick


"Indispensable, essential and endlessly quotable. Andrew MacLean has done it again. Another blisteringly entertaining and jaw-droppingly researched tome packed with gripping stories from Atlantic Canada's chequered and forgotten past."
-James Mullinger, Award-winning author and comedian

282 pages, Paperback

Published September 10, 2025

About the author

Andrew MacLean is the creator of Backyard History, a popular long form Atlantic Canadian history column appearing in 19 newspapers, the host of the Backyard History Podcast, and the author of two books, also called (you guessed it) Backyard History!

Backyard History puts the story into history, digging deep into forgotten and obscure moments in Maritimes history and fashioning them into fascinating tales.

Mixing academic research with the human touch Maritimers are known for, MacLean’s Backyard History has been featured by media outlets across Canada.

Support this author and order a book at backyardhistory.ca/book

Reviews

[June Savoie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite this being his fourth book, Andrew didn’t disappoint!

[Andrew MacLean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, I may be biased as the author, but I think this is my best book yet. Combining my love of mystery novels with deep dives into historical archives, the 22 stories in this collection follow a cast of eccentric, fascinating characters as they investigate real-life mysteries. Using primary sources like letters and diaries, the past comes alive as we explore everything from an abandoned village and a ghost ship, to an unsolved murder, an alleged German spy ring, a disguised Marilyn Monroe visiting the Miramichi, and even a pyromaniac ghost in a farmhouse. I had a blast writing it, and I hope you have just as much fun reading it!