Ghoul of Grays Harbor: Murder and Mayhem in the Pacific Northwest

by C.J. March

Sailors trusted him with their money and their lives. That was a mistake. The lucky ones woke up with headaches in the holds of ships headed to China. The others never took another breath. Billy Gohl robbed, 'shanghaied,' and killed sailors across the Pacific Northwest. Grays Harbor in Aberdeen, Washington was so full of bodies that newspapers dubbed it a 'floaters fleet.' His trapdoor of death was famous. In his time, Gohl murdered over 100 people, making him one of the most prolific serial killers in American history. If you’re a fan of Erik Larson's Devil in the White City, Harold Schechter's Little Slaughterhouse on the Prairie, and Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood, you'll love Dead True Crime. Ghoul of Grays Murder & Mayhem in the Pacific Northwest is part of Dead True Crime, a series of historical true crime stories of serial killers, bizarre cases, and little-known murderers. Meticulously researched short reads, they’re the perfect length for a flight, the beach, or a sleepless night. C.J. March brings you a series of tales that will keep you turning the pages deep into the night.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction

92 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 27, 2019

About the author

C.J. March is the alter ego of three true crime enthusiasts who wanted to write the kind of juicy noir histories they like to read.

Between them they have: 2 MFAs, 3 arrests, 4 folk albums, 73 years of therapy, 1 stint working for "the artist formerly known as" which ended in a shoving match, 40 years of writing, 30 years of design, 3 dogs, and 1 overnight in a cell with a murderer.

Reviews

[Ursula Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apt Title, Ghol was a Ghoul

This was a short book about a little known serial killer during the early days of Andersen's Grays Harbor. While I knew about shanghaing, kidnapping sailors to work on ships and trying not to pay them, I had never heard of Billy Ghol. This monster was truly evil, kidnapping, robbing and essentially corrupting the town. Those who spoke up or tried to fight back, often went missing and killed. Eventually, he was caught, tried and convicted. A great short read about a man who killed more than several modern day serial killers.

[Joanna Martin · Rating 2 out of 5]

There seems to be significant controversy over whether Goul was a prolific serial killer and pyromaniac, or a labor union leader who was framed by powerful shipping magnates. This book takes the former position. Very basic introduction to the story.

[Beverly · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second in the True Crime books by C. J. March. A series of short reads detailing little known crimes (at least to me) of earlier years. This one was about a notorious shanghai expert, Billy Gohl, who lived in the Pacific Northwest in the early 1900's. By some accounts he killed as many as 150 men during his reign, bilked many seamen of all their money, committed arson when it suited him and shanghaied untold numbers of men. Interesting reading which proves that we've always had unscrupulous types taking every advantage they can think of.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cool to read about something near my hometown. Kind of boring I thought

[Roscoe · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had a hard time completing this book and the only reason I did is because I live in GHC.