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This WWII true crime history reveals a shocking story of murder inside an Arizona POW camp—and the U.S. military’s controversial response.

Though Arizona was far from any theater of battle during World War II, the grim realities of combat were brought home with the construction of POW camps. Located outside Phoenix, Camp Papago Park became famous for its prisoners’ attempted escape through the Faustball Tunnel, but it also had a dark reputation of violence among its prisoners.

One casualty was Werner Drechsler, a prisoner who supplied German secrets to U.S. Navy authorities. Nazis held at Papago Park labeled him a traitor and hanged him from a bathroom rafter. Controversy erupted over whether the killing was an act of war or murder. Some also questioned the lack of protection Drechsler received for aiding in espionage. Ultimately, seven POWs were hanged for the crime.

Author Jane Eppinga examines the tangled details and implications of America’s last mass execution.

The founder of the Southwest Ghost Hunter’s Association guides readers through the supernatural history of the legendary Arizona town.

Once the rowdiest town in the Old West, Tombstone still holds echoes from those wild days of thieves, outlaws and gamblers.

The ghost of the Swamper is said to stalk Big Nose Kate's Saloon, afraid someone might find his stolen hoard of silver. The Brunckow Cabin played host to a string of mysterious murders in the late 1800s, and some say that a menacing specter remains. Pictures of cowboy Billy Clanton's headstone in the infamous Boot Hill Graveyard are frequently reported to have unexplainable apparitions.

From the ghosts of the O.K. Corral to the feuding prostitutes lingering in the Bird Cage Theatre, eerie wraiths live again in these stories.

Spectral miners and lingering spirits

Once Arizona's biggest economic base, mines and the towns that sprang up around them can be found scattered across the state. Stories of paranormal encounters in places like Jerome, Bisbee and Prescott persist, while ghost towns are rumored to host a multitude of lingering spirits. In Ajo, the dead are said to wander through the old Phelps Dodge Hospital, and legend has it that the shades of miners long gone still work the Vulture Mine, looking for the next big gold strike. Do the spirits of Geronimo and his warriors still roam the land they fought so hard to keep?

Join historian Parker Anderson and paranormal expert Darlene Wilson as they uncover the fascinating history and haunts of Arizona’s mining towns.

The spirits of the Old West are alive and kicking in Flagstaff.

Once home to outlaws and pioneers, many former residents of this small mountain town never left. Read about the ghosts of the Weatherford Hotel, where strange sightings and disturbing events aren't just confined to the Zane Grey Ballroom. Step inside the Hotel Monte Vista, where locals swear that the Grizzly Meat Man still roams the hallways. Discover the historic train depot, an eternal home to those departed souls that once worked the rails, including a ghostly former train conductor.

Join author Susan Johnson as she uncovers the supernatural side of Flagstaff's fascinating history.

Wandering spirits, vengeful ghosts, and unexplained sightings in Tucson, Arizona.

The benign, candle-carrying ghost of Mayor Levi Manning is reported to roam the halls of Manning House, while a frightening presence is said to lurk in the projectionist room at the Fox Theatre. In Room 242 of the Hotel Congress, guests have described a woman in white sitting at the end of the bed, while other spirits have been spotted in the halls. From the Mission San Xavier del Bac, built in 1700, to the grounds of the University of Arizona, stories of paranormal encounters abound. 

Join author Daryl F. Mallett and discover the thrilling and bone-chilling history of the Old Pueblo.

The New York Sunonce described Jerome as “the Wickedest Town in the West.

The area was once home to the largest copper mine in Northern Arizona, built on the steep terrain of Cleopatra Hill. The small town, population fifteen thousand at its peak, was shockingly nefarious. Diversions for the hardworking miners came by way of saloons, gambling and ladies of the evening. Shootouts and murders, violent accidents in the mines and smelters and fires and diseases scourged its denizens. Life was tough on the mountain—death came too soon for many. When the copper mine closed in 1953, Jerome was rendered a ghost town, and its spirits still lurk among the living. The stories in this book will convince you they are here for a reason.

Ghost stories from Arizona's Haunted Route 66 have never been so creepy, fun, and full of mystery!

Welcome to the spooky roads of Arizona's Haunted Route 66!

Stay alert! Ghosts lurk around every corner. Even the most unexpected places might be haunted by wandering phantoms. 

Did you know Arizona's famously haunted Route 66 is swarming with ghosts? On this spooky roadtrip, you'll meet the spirits of many travelers who tragically met their end along this legendary route, thanks to untimely accidents, mishaps . . . and even murder! Like aspiring actress, Leorena Shipley, whose career was cut short by tragedy. Or the ill-fated tourists who checked in at the Monte Vista Hotel, and never checked out! Just make sure, if you stop for lunch in the spooky town of Oatman, that you remember to tip your ghostly waitress . . . or else you, too, could wind up wandering these roads for all eternity!

Pulled right from history, these spooky tales will change the way you see Arizona's Haunted Route 66 forever, and have you sleeping with the light on! 

Founded in 1876, Globe was once a wild and wooly mining camp, and its robberies, murders and mayhem left a dark impression.

Tucked at the base of the Pinal Mountains, this historic landmark is a quintessential old western town. Make a stop at the Globe Train Depot and discover why so many spirits have made it their last whistle-stop along the rails. Explore the courthouse and the Old Gila County Jail, where sinister spirit Kingsley Olds is said to still be doing time. Visit the Globe Cemetery where bandits, cowboys and upstanding citizens mingle.

Tag along with author and paranormal historian Debe Branning as she digs through some of Globe's deepest secrets and reveals wicked tales.

Terror in the Tri-Cities

Built along the 33rd Parallel, rumor has it that the cities of Chandler, Mesa, and Tempe are magnets for the unexplained. Mysterious tales of a cursed Ouija Board, restless pioneer spirits, and specters lurking in underground tunnels are just a few of the unsettling stories attributed to this phenomenon. Whispers about the accidental death of Santa Claus haunt Mesa, while in Chandler, spirits continue to celebrate in their favorite bars and lurk in the San Marcos Hotel. At the university campus in Tempe, ghosts of former staff and students are said to appear in the library and dorms. 

Author Debe Branning explores the spooky side of the Tri-Cities.

Some of the most notorious characters in American history once called Cochise County home.

From the well-known shootout at the OK Corral to the Greenway Manor, Southeastern Arizona is haunted by the shades of its violent past. Go beyond the tales of the restless spirits buried at Boothill, and discover an abandoned train tunnel plagued by a tragic death. In Douglas, the ghost of young Mabel haunts the halls of the Avenue Hotel, hoping someone will solve her murder, while the spirit of a Bisbee fireman still works tirelessly to save lives.

Join author and paranormal historian Francine Powers as she uncovers the stories behind the hauntings, banshees and apparitions of Cochise County.

Does Charles P. Stanton deserve the title of Arizona’s Most Notorious Villain?

For generations, Arizonans have been fascinated with the story of Charles P. Stanton. The alleged crime boss and mass murderer oversaw a reign of terror in the small mining town that bore his name. Driven by greed, he stole ore, swindled mines away from their owners and bribed his way out of justice. Those who crossed him usually ended up dead. But are the legends actually true? Relying on original source material, including court documents and newspapers, Arizona historian Parker Anderson reveals the true story of Stanton for the first time and broaches the possibility that the mysterious Irish Lord may not have been guilty of the terrible crimes that folklore has attributed to him.

Built on top of ancient burial grounds or over forgotten cemeteries, schools like the Lee Williams High School seem to attract spirits who wander the halls long after the final bell. In Ruby and Vulture City, the old wooden schoolhouses where the town’s children used to gather are said to be haunted by the shades of those unaware their lessons have ended. Even Old Main at the University of Arizona, with its beautiful stone facades, is plagued by whispers of ghostly professors gliding across the marble floors.

Join author and paranormal historian Debe Branning as she explores the spooky side of Arizona’s schools.

Ghost stories from America's Valley of the Sun have never been so creepy, fun, and full of mystery!

Welcome to the spooky streets of Phoenix, Arizona!

Stay alert! Ghosts lurk around every corner. Even the most unexpected places might be haunted by wandering phantoms.

Did you know that the booming, modern metropolis of Phoenix is a city filled with ghosts? Like the spirits who haunt the Smurthwaite House, which sits on the grounds of Phoenix's oldest cemetery? Or the restless souls who linger within the walls of Phoenix’s Mystery Castle, old train depots, and eerie historic mansions? Can you believe the mysterious Hohokam tribe, whose people once inhabited the Pueblo Grande Ruins and later vanished, may not have vanished after all?  

Pulled right from history, these ghostly tales will change the way you see Phoenix forever, and have you sleeping with the lights on!

Ghost stories from America’s Old Wild West have never been so creepy, fun, and full of mystery!

Welcome to the spooky streets of Tombstone, Arizona!

Stay alert! Ghosts lurk around every corner. Even the most unexpected places might be haunted by wandering phantoms. 

Did you know that Tombstone is home to the most infamous shootout in Wild West history? Or that those rowdy outlaws are now gunslinging ghosts? Can you believe there’s a secret tunnel below Tombstone’s streets and saloons…that just might lead to a haunted silver mine?  

Pulled right from history, these ghostly tales will change the way you see Tombstone, and have you sleeping with the light on! 

Despite its early law enforcement presence, Prescott’s place in the violent history of Yavapai County is written in blood. .

The jealousy, greed and pure meanness of some of its citizens produced shocking trails of destruction and death. The Keystone Saloon couldn’t keep a proprietor—a series of owners was found dead with gunshot wounds. A driver-for-hire was brutally assaulted and his car stolen in Prescott’s first homicidal carjacking. Two nurses conspired to poison a rich patient in their care. From the shootout that began Virgil Earp’s career to knifings and dynamite attacks, Prescott history blogger Drew Desmond and Whiskey Row historian and author Bradley G. Courtney tell rarely heard stories that once rocked the town.

The true stories of the lost queens of vice

Territorial Arizona was a rough-and-tumble place, but three resilient women carved out places for themselves on the Western frontier. Minnie Powers, a former Mormon, ruled early Phoenix’s red-light district, while "Dutch May" Prescott’s scandalous Flagstaff sex show drew in crowds from miles around. In Jerome, "Belgian Jennie" Bauters lost her brothel to fire more than once, but she rose from the ashes every time. Their grit and determination to make the best of their new homes weren’t the only things they had in common. They might have survived the local gossip and notoriety with aplomb, but all three were gunned down in cold blood. Where their scandalous livelihoods once dominated headlines, now they’re remembered, if at all, for their sensational murders.

Author Merry Gordon delves into the lives—and deaths—of three of Arizona’s most infamous madams.

Welcome to Arizona! Parent and child eastern collared lizards tour Arizona in best-selling author-illustrator Martha Day Zschock's Hello! board book series for children. In Hello, Arizona! join the pair as they explore the Grand Canyon, Tucson, Phoenix, and Slide Rock State Park. Along the way, saddle up at a dude ranch, paint at the museum, visit an old pueblo home, and peek at the stars at the Lowell Observatory! For ages 0-3. Made in the USA.

Welcome to Grand Canyon! Parent and child abert's squirrels tour Grand Canyon in best-selling author-illustrator Martha Day Zschock's Hello! board book series for children. In Hello, Grand Canyon! join the pair as they hike, hunt for fossils, and become junior rangers at the national park. Along the way, ride a mule to the bottom of the canyon, raft in the Colorado River, and learn about Native American history. For ages 0-3. Made in the USA.

Ghost stories from Bisbee, Arizona have never been so creepy, fun, and full of mystery! 

The haunted history of Prescott comes to life—even when the main players are dead. Visit the Loretto Academy, but keep your eye out for the ghosts of students from long ago. Or walk into Zacatecas Canyon and risk bumping into the Woman in White. Dive into this spooky chapter book for suspenseful tales of bumps in the night, paranormal investigations, and the unexplained; just be sure to keep the light on.

When snow-loving Kyle gets a plane ticket to see his Grandma in the desert, he’s not so sure what to expect. But after a rip-roaring road trip around Arizona—through Tucson, Bisbee, Winslow, across dams and lakes and the grandest of canyons—Kyle may just have become a convert to the warm air and dark skies. After all, when you’re with Grandma Rose, everything’s an adventure!

The booming, modern metropolis of Phoenix is a city filled with the ghosts of its past.

Discover the legend of the mysterious Hohokam tribe, whose people once inhabited the Pueblo Grande Ruins and later vanished. Learn about the spirits of the Smurthwaite House, which sits on the grounds of Phoenix’s oldest cemetery. Hear the tales of the Pioneer Living Museum, a collection of historic buildings relocated from every corner of Arizona—and the spirits of the former residents that came along too. Take a peek inside the Mystery Castle, old train depots and eerie historic mansions. Author and paranormal historian Debe Branning delves into the history and mysteries of these desert tales.

Ghost stories from Prescott, Arizona have never been so creepy, fun, and full of mystery! 

The haunted history of Prescott comes to life—even when the main players are dead. Visit the Palace Saloon, but be sure to watch out for bottles thrown by phantom hands! Or attend a show at the Elks Opera House, but prepare to be distracted by wandering specters. Dive into this spooky chapter book for suspenseful tales of bumps in the night, paranormal investigations, and the unexplained; just be sure to keep the light on.

Facts, Fiction & Tales of the Town Too Tough to Die

The desert oasis of Tombstone has reinvented itself many times over the course of the last century. From the boomtown heyday in the 1880s to its decline and reinvention as an icon of the Wild West, its reputation was built on colorful characters and even more colorful stories.

At its height, Tombstone was a town full of swinging saloons, bawdy brothels, and miners hanging their futures on extracting silver from the unforgiving landscape. Following close behind them were cold-blooded outlaws like the Cowboy gang and the legendary lawman Wyatt Earp, whose exploits live on in both myth and memory.

Doc Holliday’s outsized reputation was forged in part by Tombstone and the iconic gunfight in which he took part, and beneath Big Nose Kate’s Saloon, the ghost of the Swamper, who secretly dug into the mine shafts to steal the silver for himself, still roams.

Even the naming of Tombstone is linked to the larger-than-life story of prospector Ed Schieffelin. A soldier once mocked him with the words "all you'll find out there is your tombstone,” but in 1877, when Ed struck it lucky in the Arizona desert, a legend was born.

Join author Richard Estep as he untangles the truth from fiction in Tombstone.

Ghost stories from Flagstaff, Arizona have never been so creepy, fun, and full of mystery! 

Welcome to spooky Flagstaff! 

Stay alert! Ghosts lurk around every corner. Even the most unexpected places might be haunted by wandering phantoms.

Did you know a phantom bellboy haunts the Hotel Monte Vista? Or that long-departed souls who once worked the rails still linger at Flagstaff's historic train depot? Can you believe that when the sun goes down over this quiet mountain town . . . the spirits come alive?

Pulled right from history, these ghostly tales will change the way you see Flagstaff forever, and have you sleeping with the lights on!

Sometimes the coolest places are right outside your front door. Learning about the Grand Canyon’s interesting and unique culture has never been so super fun!

Did you know that the Grand Canyon is home to more than 400 animal species? Or that the oldest rocks in the Canyon, called gneiss, were formed 1.8 billion years ago? What about the fact that President Theodore Roosevelt made the entire Grand Canyon a Game Reserve, protecting it for generations to come? From the North Rim to the South, Super Parks! Grand Canyon covers it all, and is sure to engage any reader with fun facts about the history, culture, and people who make this city great. See Havasu Falls, learn about Arizona’s indigenous peoples, and make your way across the SkyWalk, all right here. Take a peek inside to learn more about the impressive, unusual, super history of the Grand Canyon!

A rowdy red-light district, secret tunnels, and scathing newspaper editorials. 

Once home to sheep herders and ranchers, the railroad brought a new breed of pioneer to Flagstaff. Entrepreneurs and outlaws alike flocked to the growing town, some finding success and others finding their end at Greenwood Cemetery. When saloons and bawdy houses rebelled against new blue laws, quick-thinking mayor Thomas E. Pollock found a compromise that appeased most locals. Incorrigible characters like Commodore Perry Owens and Ben Doney could be found in town at the Parlor Saloon, while Dutch May Prescott kept the red-light district in the black. 

Author Susan Johnson uncovers the weird and wicked side of Flagstaff.