Haunted Southwest Florida by Christopher Balzano

Review by: Samantha M. Siciliano

Welcome, fellow spooky seekers and history lovers!

Thanks for joining me for this eerie adventure into the haunted corners of Southwest Florida! If you enjoy this review, don’t forget to follow, subscribe for updates, and share with your fellow ghost story enthusiasts. Your support keeps our haunted little book club alive—and maybe a little possessed. Drop a comment below; I love hearing your thoughts!

Quick Summary:

Step into the shadowy past of Southwest Florida, where curses have lingered since Hernando de Soto arrived in 1539 (and maybe before, since the First People lived there for many years). From Civil War specters and tragic love stories to spiritual leaders (or cult figures, depending on who you ask), this book is packed with tales that will send a chill down your spine. There’s even a ghostly lawman protecting departed children. Intrigued? Read on—if you dare.

The Review:

Christopher Balzano’s Haunted Southwest Florida is a must-read for anyone craving a supernatural road trip. Honestly, I wish I had this book back in 2020 when I visited Florida! We flew into Punta Gorda and stayed in Venice. Had I known about Mary Leah Sandlin’s haunted home, I would’ve made a detour! I was especially touched by the story of the Wynn family, who treated Mary Leah—who died at just 14—as one of their own kids a little under a century after her death. It’s rare to read about the living and the dead coexisting so peacefully.

And here’s a twist I didn’t see coming: a connection to Benton Harbor, Michigan—practically in my backyard! Tootie McGregor wanted a proper road in front of her home, so she hired Maurice Pearl from Benton Harbor to build one using macadam. But when his crew started digging for materials on a nearby island, they unearthed a staggering number of human bones—possibly over 100 bodies! If that island isn’t haunted, I’ll eat my EMF reader (I don’t have one, but I will buy one just for that excursion).

Balzano’s storytelling shines brightest in his exploration of how oral history evolves. He presents original versions of ghost stories and then shows how they’ve morphed over time. One example: the tale of a Vietnam War veteran who supposedly jumped from the Canopy Walk. Turns out, the timeline doesn’t add up—the Canopy Walk wasn’t even built yet! It’s a fascinating look at how legends adapt to fit our narratives and how they endure through later generations. 

While the stories were captivating, I did wish some of the photos were better lit—there were a few I wanted to examine more closely. Also, the chapter Who Plays at the Opera House felt somewhat scattered. In other chapters, I noticed some repeated information and minor typos throughout. These are small critiques and didn’t detract much from the overall experience. 

Despite a few hiccups, Haunted Southwest Florida is a delightful dive into the eerie and unexplained. Balzano’s laid-back, tour-guide style makes you feel like you’re walking alongside him through haunted halls and cursed lands. I give it a 4.3/5—a perfect pick for spooky season reading!

IN CONCLUSION, READ THE FRACKING BOOK!

I received this book from Arcadia Publishing in exchange for an honest review. 

If you enjoyed this review, don’t forget to follow, subscribe, and share with your fellow book lovers. Your support keeps our reading community alive (and maybe a little haunted)!

Up Next: Blank 12 by Aleeza Nelson