Haunted Inside Passage: Ghosts, Legends, and Mysteries of Southeast Alaska

by Bjorn Dihle

Uncover thrilling paranormal tales of Gold Rush ghosts, haunted hotels, shipwrecks, giant squid attacks, disappeared Russian explorers, a vanished bear hunter, Sasquatch, Kushtaka, and so much more. A collection of twenty stories showcasing the supernatural legends and unsolved mysteries of Southeast Alaska, with a focus on the region between Yakutat and Petersburg, where the author has lived his entire life, writing, teaching, guiding, commercial fishing, and investigating ghost stories. Each chapter is rooted in Bjorn’s own adventures and will intertwine fascinating history, interviews, and his reflections. Bjorn’s writing, sometimes poignant and often wickedly funny, brings to mind Hunter S. Thompson and Patrick McManus. Chapters touch on legends such as Alexander Baranov, Soapy Smith, James Wickersham, and the Kóoshdaa Káa (Kushtaka) to lesser known but fascinating characters like “Naked” Joe Knowles and purported serial killer Ed Krause. From duplicitous if not downright diabolical humans to demons of the fjords and deep seas and cryptids of the forest, Bjorn Dihle presents a lively cross-section of the haunter and the haunted found in Alaska’s Inside Passage.

Genres: Nonfiction

220 pages, Paperback

First published May 2, 2017

Reviews

[Wulfwyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting book about hauntings in Alaska's Inside Passage which includes Juneau, where I live. I was very happy to read the stories told by Renee Hughes, a Juneau local. All the stories were fun to read. Some I had heard of but did not know the full story. I loved reading the history about the sightings and the areas. Definitely a book you want to read if you are interested in ghost sighting and folklore in Southeast Alaska. I would recommend it!

[Mareth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great peek at some of the seedier history, unexplained happenings, and local folklore of Southeast Alaska, written by a local and experienced Juneau-based wilderness guide. When I first saw this on sale at Old Harbor Books in Sitka, I flipped through it, expecting to find a poorly-researched compendium of old stories designed to appeal to cruise ship passengers starved for a view of what Southeast Alaska is really like. This book is actually great - I especially appreciate the way Dihle cites his sources, and the tact he uses when writing about native Tlingit beliefs and culture. If you're looking for a good book of local Southeast Alaska history, I recommend this very highly.

[Chip · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the funnier, more intriguing books I have read in a long time. The author has an amazing ability to intertwine his adventures into the unsolved mysteries of SE Alaska. The stories flow together very well throughout the book and they are all incredibly well researched and thought out. I highly recommend this book to everyone, especially those with an affinity to laughing while hiding under their covers. I look forward to any and all future works by this author.

[☆ Raegan ☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good, creepy book that uses humor to help the story along through tedious parts.

[Adreanna · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

[earthshattering · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little disjointed and laborious, but it can be very funny and entertaining. The Bigfoot chapter is the one I found the funniest.

[Matthew Jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

As much about the author as it is Alaska. I like that about it.

[Lynnette Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some interesting information. However I found it hard to follow.

[Jennifer DeCuir · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF
I collect ghost histories from places I've visited. For the most part, they follow the same pattern. A little bit of history mixed with a little bit of supernatural and/or folklore of the area. But not this one.
At the beginning of this book, the author admits that he wanted to publish a nature book but had been rejected numerous times. So when he got a book deal to write a GHOST book, he did exactly that: used it to write the book of his heart, with a teenie bit of ghost research scattered throughout.
Seriously, if I were to get a Sharpie and cross out all the personal references, pages and pages of description of bear scat, wolf scat, etc, I'd have about ten pages of what *I* had bought this book for. If you're looking for a book to learn more about Alaska from a nature perspective? This is your book. If you want a native's perspective? Nailed it.
But if you are looking for a book to creep you out about local ghost legends? This book will drive you insane trying to find them. Remember Soapy Smith, Mr. Dihle? I think I bought a book from him in Ketchikan. And I want my money back.

[Esquejes Lunares · Rating 2 out of 5]

Si os gustan los misterios, las leyendas y las historias de fantasmas, no lo leáis; ya que Bjorn Dihle utiliza lo sobrenatural como mera excusa para contar sus narcisistas batallitas y chistes sin gracia, reduciendo su investigación a cuatro charlas con personas que han tenido algún contacto con lo inexplicable y a una extensa bibliografía que, muy probablemente, no se ha molestado en leer. En definitiva, un auténtico timo.

[Elise · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars - stories and experiences collected by the author during his lifetime in Southeast Alaska. The book is the most interesting when the author shares some of his own experiences and insights.