Exhumed: Unearthing the History of the American Vampire

by Aaron Mahnke

From critically acclaimed podcaster and bestselling author Aaron Mahnke comes this engrossing and macabre exploration of the folklore and early medical practices that led to the New England Vampire Panic in the 1890s.

What would drive a man to exhume the body of his daughter and remove her heart? That question has haunted Aaron Mahnke, creator and host of the award-winning podcast Lore. Fueled by a decade of research, Mahnke excavates the past to understand the hysteria that fueled the ghastly exhumation of Mercy Brown in 1892, who like her mother and sister before her, succumbed to “consumption” at the age of 19.

With Exhumed, Mahnke presents a unique history of the intersection of folklore and science, and how pop culture and both genuine medical advancements and pseudoscience of the time shaped the perspectives of people in 19th century America. From the death of George Washington to Mary Shelley writing Frankenstein, Mahnke leads reads on a fascinating journey through history, touching on methods of mummification, the multifaceted role of executioners, medicine made from corpses, European folklore that traveled across the Atlantic, and so much more. He reveals that as shocking as Brown’s exhumation might seem, it also reflected surprisingly common attitudes and beliefs about the relationship between the dead and the living, the nature of science and magic, and the fate of a human soul. It all builds to a revelatory understanding of human behavior that continues to this very day.

Possessing an irreverent view of science, history, and the human condition, Exhumed is perfect for fans of Mary Roach’s Stiff, as well as readers of forgotten American histories like Brad Meltzer’s New York Times-bestselling The First The Secret Plot to Kill George Washington.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Vampires, Horror

368 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication August 4, 2026

About the author

One of the most successful podcast producers in the world, Aaron Mahnke began his career in 2015 with the launch of Lore, which went on to become a breakout hit.

Aside from racking up over 450-million downloads to date, Lore was adapted for two seasons of television on Amazon, and as a three-book set from Penguin Random House. Aaron has also toured extensively, delivering his trademark storytelling experience to thousands of people across the country.

In 2019, Aaron also published his first comic book series, Wellington, through IDW. And in 2021, he launched the first of a new slate of fiction podcasts, beginning with the breakout hit Bridgewater, starring Misha Collins, Melissa Ponzia, Karan Soni, Alan Tudyk, and Tricia Helfer.

Reviews

[Maeghan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yeah don't read this book if you want to know about the vampire hysteria in the US. I got over 20-ish % through this and only the introduction and prologue actually spoke about what the book is meant to be. It almost feels like they accidentally inserted another book starting at chapter 1 since the content is nothing to what the description and promotion of the book is.

While I thank Netgalley for this ARC, I'm not a happy camper.

--

My thought process while reading this book, which also acts as a summary of each chapter until I have up:

Introduction & Prologue: okay cool. I do love me a gothic vampire story, especially one that’s historical hysteria! Let’s get into it!

[Part 1]

Chapter 1: Why are we discussing George Washington, and why a zombie? What does this have to do with our vampire? And in the end Washington wasn’t a zombie? That’s click bait (read bait?)

Chapter 2: Okay so we’re on to Benny Franklin; is he a zombie too now? But no, we’re learning about electricity. How does this affect yon vampires? But now we’re learning about an Italian man born in the 1730s, but then it’s 1790 USA, but then it’s England, but then it’s back to the Italian in 1786. Where are the vampires?? So, the Italian man is Frankenstein, but with frogs? Oh, it’s the 1800s and now we’re archeologists looking for dinosaurs. But now we’re learning about Volta, c1780s; I didn’t realize this book was about time-travel. I’m so confused.

Chapter 3: It’s 2001, and we’re archeologists again. A Scottish bog. These dad jokes that break the narrative are getting out of hand. I’m not enjoying this, the writing is annoying. Greek Gods now, cool. I love the Iliad.

A direct quote from the book, which reaffirms how not vampire-related it all is: “both Pinocchio and the Gingerbread Man are horribly murdered.” Which of course is the perfect segway into now learning about this Brothers Grimm and their life stories. Oh, but then the rest of the chapter is about anti-Semitic writings.

Chapter 4: We’ve moved from “science” to ~magic~ and Darwinism? I didn’t think I’d ever see Robert Smith from the Cure, Lord Bryon and Mary Shelley in one sentence together in my life. If the author needs to write “Okay, stay with me here” you just know how unhinged things have gotten. Mary Shelley’s biography in a few paragraphs was kinda interesting; I won’t lie there.

[Part 2]

Chapter 5: We’re starting Part 2 with Sir Isaac Newton; I think it’s safe to say the history of the modern vampire is a footnote to this novel. I think whoever did the promo for this needs a demotion. The author too probably. I’m done I can’t do this.

[Tintaglia · Rating 4 out of 5]

La Storia come dovrebbe essere raccontata! Ricca di curiosità (spesso macabre e, quindi, ancora più attraenti XD), vivace, con spunti su spunti da approfondire. Un viaggio spumeggiante che, sebbene nei capitoli iniziali possa sembrare troppo frammentario, si rivela per quello che è: uno studio sull'eterna umana fascinazione del confine tra la vita e la morte.
Un vero piacere da leggere.

[Jessica Sandman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok, so here's the deal... this book should totally be for someone like me. It (so I thought) meets at the intersection of thanatology/death studies, history, culture, medical humanities, and American folk stories. I've read books that are similar conceptually in the past, and they really stuck with me.

Unfortunately, that just wasn't the case for me with this book.

I'm not necessarily a "vampire person", but I can appreciate a good story when it is grounded in history and the evolution of how we see medicine, illness, and (un)death. One of my biggest issues with this book is that I felt that it took FOREVER to get anywhere. Yes, I understand that the author mentioned this at the beginning, saying that "context" would be very important, but it's not until 200+ pages in when it says "and now for the vampire stuff." Then it took something like another 20 pages to get to the actual vampire stuff? Anyway, not for me. The "context" went so far that it made the actual topic of the book seem like an afterthought. There were times I was reading and I would go back to look at the title to remind me what this was actually about...or at least what it was promising to get to eventually.

I really hate writing bad reviews. I don't like giving books anything less than 3 stars. That being said, this book was legitimately hard for me to finish. It took me about 2 weeks to read, which is unheard of for a book of this size. It's not that it was dense or particularly complex, because it wasn't...but it was just so all over the place. I guess I also just didn't care for the writing style.

I don't know Aaron Mahnke, or any of his podcasts, but there were times that I felt this would've been better as a podcast. There were times when the author tried to throw in anecdotes and asides that I felt would've worked better in that format.

If you are a fan of his stuff already, you'll love this book. This book is for you, not for me. I can say that based on the sources and endnotes at the end, this book was incredibly well-researched. Maybe too well-researched? For a book that was about 90% "context," it could've used more focus.

Despite all of my issues with this book, I will round it up to a 2-star rating. There were some interesting factoids and anecdotes, and the reference section alone has a lot of good material. Once again, this wasn't for me, but that doesn't mean it won't be for you. Maybe if there's an audiobook version it will seem less meandering.

Thank you to NetGalley, Aaron Mahnke, and Running Press for the ARC. This is my honest review.

[martyn benny]

Exhumed: Unearthing the History of the American Vampire is a fascinating blend of history, folklore, medical science, and cultural anthropology that explores one of America's strangest historical episodes with intelligence, curiosity, and remarkable storytelling. Aaron Mahnke once again demonstrates why he has become one of the most respected voices in narrative history and the supernatural.

Rather than treating the New England Vampire Panic as a collection of bizarre anecdotes, Mahnke carefully reconstructs the social, medical, and psychological landscape that allowed such beliefs to flourish. By examining the tragic story of Mercy Brown alongside the broader history of tuberculosis, early medicine, European folklore, and nineteenth-century anxieties surrounding death, he transforms what could have been a niche curiosity into a compelling study of human behavior.

One of the book's greatest strengths is its refusal to sensationalize its subject. Instead, Mahnke approaches these historical events with empathy and intellectual honesty, helping readers understand why ordinary people facing devastating loss sought explanations that today may seem unimaginable. In doing so, he reminds us that fear, grief, and uncertainty have always shaped the stories societies tell themselves.

I especially appreciated the way the narrative moves effortlessly between historical investigation and cultural commentary. Discussions of medical misconceptions, corpse medicine, religious belief, Gothic literature, and the emergence of scientific thinking all combine to create a richly layered portrait of an era caught between superstition and modernity.

Mahnke's writing remains engaging throughout, balancing meticulous research with the pacing of an excellent mystery. His gift for storytelling ensures that every historical thread contributes to a larger understanding of how folklore evolves and why myths continue to influence contemporary culture.

Ultimately, Exhumed is about far more than vampires. It is an insightful exploration of humanity's enduring search for meaning in the face of disease, death, and the unknown. Readers interested in history, folklore, medicine, or the origins of popular horror will find this an absorbing and thought-provoking read.

[Jifu · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Note: I received an advanced reader copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley)

I already knew a little of Mercy Brown, the “vampire” of Exeter, Rhode Island - or at least, I thought that I did. However, Exhumed has successfully opened my eyes not just on her (in)famous tale, but a wide array of related topics in the surrounding orbit, including revenant lore, blood and its relation to ideas of the soul, reanimation, and that’s just only a sampling of what was explored.

Here, Aareo Mahnke employs a format of going all in on providing as much context as is possible, and only then does he fully address the incident that took place in a New England graveyard in January 1892. It’s a setup that I’ve never encountered before, but ended up enjoying it very, very much with all that I was able to learn. Mahnke does an expert job of making sure he doesn’t overwhelm, and successfully avoid going an overly dry, academic route. Also, despite the morbid nature of much of what was discussed, he still manages to keep the reading experience mostly gripping in its deeply informative way, and even a bit light at times too. His narrative is thickly and unapologetically infused with his own personality and wit, and although he’s not above tossing around jokes, these are largely self-deprecating in nature. He never pokes fun or shames his past subjects - instead he fosters an open-minded attitude and tries his best to make the reader see that what might appear ignorant or barbaric to us in the present day was part of our ancestor’s best and sincere efforts to make sense of the world around them.

Overall, this was a deeply, deeply fascinating read that grabbed my attention from the get-go, and successfully prevented me from putting it down for any sizable period of time. In fact, I started this on a Saturday afternoon, and finished it Sunday morning the next day. I hope that Mahnke decides to pursue this format of meticulously exploring all related context for other subjects in future publications. In the meantime, I declare this to be one of the most memorable nonfiction reads of the year for me so far.

[Dani Moth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is undoubtedly one of the best nonfiction books I've ever read.

I've been a fan of Aaron Mahnke (and Lore) since the beginning, so it's reasonable to expect a certain amount of bias in my feelings toward this book. But I'm also a folklorist, and I can be incredibly critical about research in particular, but also citations and how the information is laid out and presented in nonfiction. When I say that this book is as close to perfect as one could possibly get, I say that having read the book as a folklorist, not just as a fan. At no point did I feel like I was reading a 300+ page book. Everything is laid out so intuitively and cohesively, and I didn't want to put it down.

Part of that is certainly Mahnke's writing style. Anyone who's heard his podcasts or his narration on the Lore television series knows his cadence, and he writes just like he speaks, making for a deeply engaging, conversational, and approachable narrative. I can't remember the last time I've laughed this much or had this much fun reading a nonfiction book (if ever). Part of that is also how he chooses to lay out the information in the book. Individual aspects of the main story are laid out, one piece at a time, steadily building on the section before it and flowing seamlessly into the section that follows until all the pieces are laid out and the full story can be understood, almost at a glance. There's no need to guess or assume or try to tie the pieces together yourself, either, because Mahnke pauses at exactly the right moment to stitch those threads together for you. Lastly, the humor in this book is really just the cherry on top. I love a good pun. I love some silly wordplay. I got plenty of both from this book, and it made the reading experience so much fun.

Despite the title, this isn't just a book for fans of vampire folklore or people who are interested in the strange moments of American history. The folklore stretches far both globally and historically, and includes a fair bit of cultural, religious, literary, linguistic, and medical history as well. It's kind of amazing how easily all those pieces come together, too.

[Krystelle (based on the novel by Stephen King) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

I have been a fan of ‘Lore’ since it first aired on the podcast airwaves in 2017. Many a night was spent on the treadmill listening to episode after episode of the show, and I have a special place in my heart for it. I bring this up because Mahnke has a very specific format for that show, and that is getting a bunch of seemingly unrelated threads, then slowly weaving them in to come together for the crux of the episode.

This book follows a very similar process. For a good 3/4 of the book, you wonder how all these things are connected, and then they are beautifully drawn together to pull a picture of American folklore and vampirism. It’s worth remembering the subtitle of this specifies that it is about the ‘history’ of American vampires, not about them just in isolation.

I love learning about folklore and all the things that influence it, and I definitely learnt a lot from this book as a whole. We are taken on a journey through resurrection and religion, Eastern European folklore, and so much more. It never feels like a chore reading a book like this- you just have to trust the process.

When we finally get to the American vampire components, everything is pulled together really well. I did wish there was a little more about the further history and implications of the Mercy Brown story, but I feel that the journey was well worth the payoff.

[Bennett T · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for the advance copy.

Exhumed is a book from Aaron Mahnke that really feels like a long-form episode of the Lore podcast. This book weaves together different stories from history in Mahnke’s signature style, complete with the witty (and dark) humor that makes Lore so entertaining.

An easy recommendation for Lore fans, and a great entry point if you’re new to Mahnke’s world

[H. Woodward · Rating 4 out of 5]

The research that went into telling this story is meticulously done. The endnotes will be a treasure trove for anyone interested in the history of the American vampire. Stir in grisly rituals and a killer disease (tb), it makes for good history. But it does need to be subject you’re interested in, because the author goes deep. I can imagine my students reading excerpts of this, but I don’t think it would keep their interest over the length of the book.

[Patti]

From the prologue the author makes it clear that the book he’s written is very little to do with what was blurbed
Saying we have to be patient to get to the promised story
That there will be four entire sections before he gets to it

There are only five sections in this book

No. Absolutely not.
(Dnf)