Unexplained: Ghosts

Adam Allsuch Boardman was born in a family of creatives in West Yorkshire. He studied BA Illustration at the Leeds Arts University and graduated in 2016. Following his degree, Adam served a year as the Students' Union President whilst simultaneously working as a freelance illustrator. Since then, Adam has worked for a variety of clients such as Apple, The Economist, Deloitte and Monocle.

5/5. This slim eye-catching nonfiction look at ghosts reads like it's written by an exacting and interested skeptic who's provided hip, digital graphics to engage and inform. Hot pink endpapers give way to a tidy collage of small spooky pseudo-photos, a table of contents, and a helpful introduction. Boardman then supplies definitions of ghosts, myths, legends, and hauntings, along with practical explanations for all these mysterious phenomena. Proceeding chronologically, he offers a look at ghosts and beliefs in ancient times before moving on to the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. All of this information is interspersed with micro-ghost tales, including stories about London's 18th century Cock Lane house, supposedly haunted by Fanny Lynes, and Calico Ghost Town in California. Boardman has collected unusual sightings all over the world and across time; although many are in England (his home country), there's also information about a haunted airport in Thailand and a spooky lighthouse in France. Other cultures' spiritual beliefs receive brief, respectful treatments, with Boardman employing a measured and scientific (but playful) tone throughout. Haunted possessions, transportation apparitions, phantom animals, and debunkings/ghostbusting efforts all receive two-page spreads. The sharp, neat infographic-style illustrations enhance the content immeasurably. The book closes with a helpful glossary and index. This book was an absolute joy to read or browse and students looking for solid information about ghosts and hauntings will love it, either as a recreational read or as a starting point for research