Creepy Florida: Phantom Pirates, the Hog Island Witch, the Demented Doctor at the Don Vicente and More

by Mark Muncy, Kari Schultz

The sweltering heat of the Florida sun breaks as a chill runs down your spine. A dark shadow looms from a nearby tourist trap - you didn't expect to find this kind of shade in Florida.
If only there was some sort of travel guide to steer you through the spookier locales. Well, you're in luck. Check in at The Biltmore in Coral Gables to spot the ghost of slain Fatty Walsh roaming the thirteenth floor. Sit down for a meal with the spirit of Ethel Allen at Ashley's Restaurant in Rockledge. Visit haunted graveyards, museums, parks and battlefields. Hear macabre stories of spectral pirates, gangsters, witches and madmen. From phantasmagoric packs of Madam McCoy's girls on Pensacola streets down to the ghostly clacking of Hemingway's typewriter in the Keys, Mark Muncy and Kari Schultz lead brave readers through the darkest locations in the Sunshine State.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Paranormal

144 pages, Paperback

Published September 30, 2019

Reviews

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast, interesting read.

[Will · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this book thinking it was going to be a fun and interesting read and, you can call it the editor in me, but the vast amounts of misspellings and wrong locations and directions in this book are glaring and unprofessional. This book needed a proofreader like a chef needs ingredients to cook with!

This is the list of errors that need to be corrected immediately:

1) On p. 48, the writer mentions “Henry Morgan Flagler”. That middle name is wrong. It’s Henry Morrison Flagler.

2) On p. 53, the writer mentions the Ron Jon Surf Shop in “Daytona Beach”. That shop is NOT located in Daytona Beach. It is located in Cocoa Beach!

3) On p. 58, when reading about Cassadaga and Sanford, the writer when writing about the locations of Lake Mary and Sanford, he wrote that both cities are “farther east.” Those two cities are farther SOUTH from Cassadaga, not East.

4) On p. 103, when he writes about the haunted locations in Delray Beach, he writes “Following the rail line south,” the rail line south would take you to Boca Raton, not Delray.

5) On p. 105, in the caption under the Colony Hotel photo, the writer said that the hotel is located in Palm Beach, when in reality it is located in Delray Beach.

6) On p. 116, when writing about the Pinewood Cemetery in South Miami and how it used to be named the “Cocuplum Cemtery”, that right there is an obvious error. It’s Cocoplum Cemetery!

I’m a student of Florida history and I’m a grammar freak and these errors kill me every time.

What frightened me the most about this book weren’t the ghosts, witches or skunk apes, but the grammatical errors! Ahhhhhhh!!!!! 🤯

[Steph · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book could have been interesting, but is in dire need of an editor. The geography is way off in several chapters (Bermuda is now off the coast of Florida east of the Bahamas, and Delray Beach is now located south of Boca, among others) There are stories told that are misrepresented, which could’ve been prevented with quick internet search (like that of Cooley Landings in Fort Lauderdale). There are many short anecdotes that don’t have any real story or history behind them and don’t add anything to the book, maybe just used to stretch the pages. Florida has enough ghostly legends to make an interesting read, this just isn’t it.

[Kirsty Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have enjoyed the authors previous works 'Freaky Florida' and 'Eerie Florida' respectively. This series of books delves deep into Florida history and folklore and is a fun and fascinating read. I've learned a lot about my state through these books and would encourage anyone who is interested in history and the paranormal to take a gander.

[Annie Erwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finally finished it!

I started this a while ago, and kept putting it to the side. It was an interesting read. I was born and raised in Florida, so some of the stories I am familiar with ( especially the Keys, we have family ties with the area, regarding the first original bridge)

I also remember meeting the author and his wife. Very nice couple, ready to share their stories. I have another book of theirs that I will read. Both books are signed.

I will also say that I love the images in this book.
( I definitely would have been done with this book sooner....reading slumps...got to love them)

[Annie Erwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finally finished it!

I started this a while ago, and kept putting it to the side. It was an interesting read. I was born and raised in Florida, so some of these stories I am familiar with ( especially the Keys, we have family ties with area, regarding the first, original bridge)

I also remember meeting the author and his wife. Very nice couple, ready to share their stories. I have another book of theirs that I will read.

I will Also say that I love the images in this book.

( I definitely would have been done with this book sooner....reading slumps..gotta love them).

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining and interesting facts about many places around Florida I know of or have been too. I loved the Tampa Bay area best as I know many of the places. Look forward to reading their other books.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quite chilling and very interesting read about my new home state. Eye opening and very historic.😊👻💀👍

[Doti Haviland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very poorly written. It felt like I was just reading a brochure. Lots of mistakes also in the book that should have been caught with a proof read.

[Kelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very quick and interesting read. I only wish there were pictures for each of the stories.

Also— the Tampa chapter REALLY blew my mind— the story about the doctor’s son?! 👀

[Shinyfluff · Rating 3 out of 5]

some cool florida ghost stories. i felt that incidences of racism were glossed over which I didn't like.