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Pirate Ghosts and Phantom Ships
by Thomas D’Agostino

Pirate Ghosts & Phantom Ships, by Thomas D’Agostino, is a collection of dozens of tales regarding seagoing spectres and maritime tragedy. And, at least by some accounts, every word of it’s true.

Pirate Ghosts is an easy, interesting read, with each chapter being its own short story regarding some aspect of the restless dead, with firm roots in folklore and coastal legend. Not all the tales directly involve pirates, although many do (I skipped around to read those chapters first), and readers will be delighted to see more than a few familiar names, including Blackbeard, Sam Bellamy, Captain Kidd, and Black Bart.

This book is written from a strong “I want to believe” perspective, seeking to entertain and share the legends moreso than debunk. Direct meetings with full on aparitions would seem a frequent occurance according to this book, and skeptics may find themselves full of unanswered questions regarding the exact nature of the eyewitness accounts that led to the historical documentations of these strange occurances. But those looking to enjoy a good spooky tale full of shipwrecks, vengeful sailors, and earthbound pirate spirits should find this a highly enjoyable read.