Most Bostonians can view several of the harbor islands as they look eastward. However, to visit the islands requires a pass on one of the water shuttles that leave daily from Long Wharf. Anyone visiting these island must find a copy of this book. (Now out of Print). An easy, short read on the 300 yrs of legends and facts built on these islands.

While the anecdotes Rowe relates in this book are entertaining enough, the treatment of them is very superficial. And (with the exception of the background into Captain Kidd) you don't get a sense of much historic background. In fact, Rowe likes to repeat popular myth about this figures that he knows to be false in a very confusing way, so that it's almost unclear that he knows it's false.

The selection of folk tales and history ranges from the history of the life-savers to pirates to sunken gold ships to ghosts. An entertaining enough read for a vacation or a Sunday afternoon. Also useful as a pointer to myths and histories worth following up in more depth.