Most Popular Books by Dinah Williams

What secrets are buried within the crumbling walls of old asylums for the insane? Readers will get a glimpse of what these nightmare facilities were like before the dawn of the modern era. From the wretched overcrowding of London’s Bethlem Royal Hospital (which inspired the English word bedlam), where citizens could pay a penny for the pleasure of poking “lunatics” through the hospital’s bars with sticks, to Christian Church Hospital in Kansas City where Dr. Robert Patterson beat and chained patients and performed ice-pick lobotomies—this scary book will rivet young readers while also giving them an understanding of how far mental health care has come. Eleven asylums are explored, with tales of not only what they were like but of the spirits said to still haunt them. Abandoned Insane Asylums is part of Bearport’s Scary Places series.

Great medical triumphs have taken place at hospitals. But are these medical buildings also a great place to go looking for ghosts? According to some, they are. Ghost hunters believe that the spirits of dead people often linger in the locations where they spent their final moments. So what better place to look for these restless souls than in a hospital? Among the 11 hospitals in this book, children will discover a huge medical facility abandoned by everyone but the ghosts of long-dead patients; a hospital that is so creepy it was used as a set for horror movies; and a temporary hospital built on a Civil War battlefield that is now considered one of the most haunted spots in America. Chilling tales and the dark histories surrounding these medical buildings will keep readers eagerly turning the pages for more.

Morgues, funeral homes, and mortuaries are all places where the dead are kept before they reach their final resting place—the grave. Here, corpses are prepared for funerals or autopsied to find out the cause of death. According to some people, morgues are also places where ghosts reside long after the bodies of the dead have been removed from the building. What is legend and what is fact? Kids will have to read Monstrous Morgues of the Past and then decide for themselves. Among the 11 morgues in this book, readers will discover former funeral homes where the dead refuse to leave; a morgue in 19th-century Paris where over one million visitors came each year to view the dead; and a former disaster site in Chicago that is still haunted by a sobbing ghost called “The Gray Lady.” The chilling nonfiction text describing the dark histories surrounding these morgues will keep thrill-seeking readers eagerly turning the pages for more.

Most haunted houses were once the scenes of gruesome events or some deep human unhappiness. Rose Hall Great House in Jamaica is no exception. The mistress of the house, Annie Palmer, began her reign of terror at 18. As a girl, her parents had relocated from Ireland to Haiti and promptly died of yellow fever, leaving Annie in the care of a Haitian nanny rumored to be a voodoo priestess. It is said that she trained Annie in the occult. After marrying John Palmer in 1780, Annie reportedly murdered him by poisoning his coffee. Thereafter, she had numerous boyfriends murdered along with two more husbands. When Annie finally died, the slaves burned all of her possessions and buried her as deep in the ground as they could. The house is still said to be haunted by “The White Witch of Rose Hall,” and the story of Annie’s haunting is the basis for over a dozen gothic novels. This nonfiction account of a haunted house along with 10 other haunted house histories will keep young readers on the edges of their chairs, scarily awake! Haunted Houses is part of Bearport’s Scary Places series.

As the filmmaking capital of the world, Hollywood has produced lots of scary movies. Ghosts, monsters, and mummies from its studios have made unforgettable on-screen appearances. Yet what if this world-famous spot in southern California is itself haunted by ghosts? What if some of Hollywood’s most famous residents cannot bring themselves to leave the limelight? In Haunted Hollywood, children visit 11 of Tinseltown’s spookiest sights and meet its most legendary ghosts. Among them are an aspiring but unlucky actress who haunts the Hollywood sign, a horror-movie actor who is still seen on his old set, and a world-famous magician who seems to have escaped death. The haunting photographs and chilling nonfiction text will keep children turning the pages to discover more spooky stories.

Explores eleven of the world''s spookiest graveyards.

Discover the unsolved mystery of Bigfoot in this beautifully illustrated book for kids, accessible for all readers! Bigfoot is a large, hairy, ape-like creature said to live in the forests of North America. Many people claim they have seen Bigfoot. Some of them have even presented evidence including videos and footprints. But is Bigfoot real or just a hoax? This real unsolved mystery will unfold with simple text and exciting visuals. Decide for yourself with actual clues, facts, and photographs. ABOUT THIS SERIES: Take a deep dive into some of the most unbelievable but real unsolved mysteries from history with this brand-new series of books. Can someone just disappear? Is there such a thing as a buried treasure? Does Bigfoot exist? Each book in this series focuses on one unsolved mystery and describes its main events chronologically. Readers will follow along as the exciting narrative uncovers real historical clues. Multiple theories will be presented providing an opportunity for readers to draw their own conclusions. The most up-to-date facts and relevant modern-day discoveries will be included to allow for real-world connections. Perhaps you will be the one to solve an unsolved mystery!

Describes how reptiles and amphibians are used in delicacies and dishes around the world, including frog legs, rattlesnake chili, and turtle shell stew.

Few sounds are as chilling as the metal bars of a prison slamming shut. Often, criminals are locked up in cells with other murderers, thieves, and robbers—sometimes for years, sometimes for life. Yet what about being locked up with a ghost? Some people say that the souls of those who died in prison are unable to rest in peace. As a result, ghosts and other spirits are often reported to haunt jails and prisons around the world. Among the 11 prisons in this book, children will discover Alcatraz, the legendary prison that housed some of America’s most dangerous criminals, and which is said to still be home to some of their spirits; a Civil War prison where some people claim to hear the whispers of dead soldiers; and the Tower of London, where a headless queen haunts the hallways. The spooky photographs and chilling nonfiction text will keep children turning the pages to discover more creepy stories.

Discover the unsolved mystery of the Mary Celeste in this beautifully illustrated book for kids, accessible for all readers! The ship Mary Celeste was discovered drifting in the ocean without its 10 passengers in 1872. The cargo and everyone''s personal belongings were still on the ship, but the lifeboat was gone. Why were the missing passengers never found? Discover this unsolved mystery with real clues, facts, and pictures in the pages of this book. The story will unfold with easy-to-read text and exciting visuals. You can decide for yourself what you think happened to the Mary Celeste! ABOUT THIS SERIES: Take a deep dive into some of the most unbelievable but real unsolved mysteries from history. Is the Bermuda Triangle cursed? Do sea monsters exist? Can people just disappear? Each book in this series focuses on one unsolved mystery and describes its main events chronologically. Readers follow along as the exciting narrative uncovers real historical clues. Multiple theories are presented, providing an opportunity for readers to draw their own conclusions. The most up-to-date facts and relevant modern-day discoveries are included to allow for real-world connections. Perhaps you will be the one to solve an unsolved mystery!

A big, beautiful mansion sounds like a great place to live. But what if its many rooms hold only memories of pain and suffering? What if sad spirits haunt the hallways and ghostly screams echo out the large windows? No amount of money can stop a house like that from becoming a nightmare. Among the 11 mansions in this book, readers will discover a beautiful plantation where a ghostly hound howls on stormy nights; Manhattan''s oldest home where a spirit shushes schoolchildren; and an architect''s dream house that turned into a nightmare with the swing of an axe. Riveting true tales and full-color photos will keep children turning the pages to discover more spooky stories.

For most people, islands are a place to spend a relaxing vacation. Tourists often visit these beautiful locations to enjoy warm sandy beaches and rest by gentle ocean waves. Yet what if instead of sand and sun, an island is full of ghosts and other spooky creatures lurking in the shadows. Among the 11 creepy islands in this book, children will discover a ghostly pirate who continues to look for the gold he buried hundreds of years ago, a lighthouse keeper who haunts the building where he once worked, and a small island where all of the inhabitants mysteriously disappeared. The creepy photographs and chilling nonfiction text will keep children turning the pages to discover more spooky stories.

Scary stories of thrilling survival ... and restless spirits. Disasters can strike anytime, anywhere, leaving death and destruction in their wake. But what can also be left behind? Ghosts.In True Hauntings: Deadly Disasters, veteran ghost writer Dinah Williams explores the stories and alleged hauntings of some of the deadliest catastrophes in history, from lost souls left behind in the 2011 Japanese tsunami to a headless ghost frightening miners deep underground.With historical photos and sidebars that are equal parts educational and terrifying, readers will find that sometimes fact is even scarier than fiction.

Did any prisoners ever escape Alcatraz? Discover the unsolved mystery in this beautifully illustrated book for kids, accessible for all readers! Alcatraz, once the world''s most secure prison, is located on a small island in San Francisco Bay. Throughout its operation, many attempted to escape. In June 1962, three prisoners managed to break out, but they were never heard from again. What happened to them? Discover this unsolved mystery with real clues, facts, and pictures in the pages of this book. The story will unfold with easy-to-read text and exciting visuals. You can decide for yourself what you think happened during this mysterious escape from Alcatraz! ABOUT THIS SERIES: Take a deep dive into some of the most unbelievable but real unsolved mysteries from history. Is the Bermuda Triangle cursed? Do sea monsters exist? Can people just disappear? Each book in this series focuses on one unsolved mystery and describes its main events chronologically. Readers follow along as the exciting narrative uncovers real historical clues. Multiple theories are presented, providing an opportunity for readers to draw their own conclusions. The most up-to-date facts and relevant modern-day discoveries are included to allow for real-world connections. Perhaps you will be the one to solve an unsolved mystery!

There is something both sad and creepy about an abandoned amusement park. Perhaps it’s because a place that was once packed with fun seekers has become slowly choked with weeds. Or maybe it’s because the sound of kids’ excited laughter has been replaced with the quiet creaking of rusted rides. When the only visitors are the spirits of those who died there long ago, an amusement park can be a scary place to visit. Among the 11 amusement parks in this book, children will discover a roller coaster left to rot after nearly killing its passengers, a theme park that is now home to alligators and snakes, and the ghost of a man who is still trying to take a ride on a Ferris wheel that stopped working years ago. The haunting photographs and chilling nonfiction text will keep children turning the pages to discover more spooky stories.

Discover the unsolved mystery of Captain Kidd’s treasure in this beautifully illustrated book for kids, accessible for all readers! Captain Kidd was a famous pirate. Legend says that, before Kidd was captured, he buried a sizable treasure of silver, gold, and precious gems. But it''s never been found. Is there such a thing as Captain Kidd''s buried treasure? This real unsolved mystery will unfold with simple text and exciting visuals. Decide for yourself with actual clues, facts, and photographs. ABOUT THIS SERIES: Take a deep dive into some of the most unbelievable but real unsolved mysteries from history with this brand-new series of books. Can someone just disappear? Is there such a thing as a buried treasure? Does Bigfoot exist? Each book in this series focuses on one unsolved mystery and describes its main events chronologically. Readers will follow along as the exciting narrative uncovers real historical clues. Multiple theories will be presented providing an opportunity for readers to draw their own conclusions. The most up-to-date facts and relevant modern-day discoveries will be included to allow for real-world connections. Perhaps you will be the one to solve an unsolved mystery!

Terrible But True invites readers to explore some of the weird, fascinating, scary, and altogether strange stories from America''s past. Think American history is all boring battles and snooze-worthy old dudes? Think again!Welcome to Terrible But True, where you''ll dig deep into America''s forgotten past to uncover some creepy, disgusting, and just plain bizarre stories. From America''s first serial killers and deadly vampire-like diseases to haunted ghost ships and vicious river pirates, our nation''s history is weirder than you could have ever imagined. So dive in and prepare to be shocked, because sometimes the truth is even stranger than fiction.

Discover the unsolved mystery of Amelia Earhart’s disappearance in this beautifully illustrated book for kids, accessible for all readers! Amelia Earhart is famous for being the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. On July 2, 1937, while attempting to fly around the world, she vanished. Can someone just disappear? Decide for yourself with actual clues, facts, and photographs. This real unsolved mystery will unfold with simple text and exciting visuals. ABOUT THIS SERIES: Take a deep dive into some of the most unbelievable but real unsolved mysteries from history with this brand-new series of books. Can someone just disappear? Is there such a thing as a buried treasure? Does Bigfoot exist? Each book in this series focuses on one unsolved mystery and describes its main events chronologically. Readers will follow along as the exciting narrative uncovers real historical clues. Multiple theories will be presented providing an opportunity for readers to draw their own conclusions. The most up-to-date facts and relevant modern-day discoveries will be included to allow for real-world connections. Perhaps you will be the one to solve an unsolved mystery!

Introduces edible seafood such as sea cucumbers, sea urchins, shark meat, eels, and baby octopus, including a map showing the countries where seafood dishes are eaten.

Chilling tales of vicious battle . . . and vengeful spirits. A bloody soldier who disappears into thin air. Flickering orbs floating over a military cemetery.History is filled with brave fighters cut down in the heat of battle. But what if they aren''t resting in peace?True Hauntings: Battlefield Ghosts revisits deadly clashes from the past and the ghosts they left behind, from a headless horseman galloping through the night to restless spirits rising from sunken ships, searching for revenge.In this second volume of haunted history, find out how true stories can be some of the most terrifying of all.