Boon Island by Andrew Veitze and Stephen Erickson

The wreck of the Nottingham Galley on Boon Island and the resultant rumors of insurance fraud, mutiny, treason, and cannibalism was one of the most sensational stories of the early 18th century. This is the kind of tale that makes you grateful for modern navigation—and maybe a little queasy about what humans will do to survive.

Shortly after departing England with Captain John Deane at the helm, his brother Jasper and another investor aboard, and a skeleton crew, the ship encountered French privateers on her way to Ireland, where she lingered for weeks picking up cargo. They eventually headed into the North Atlantic later in the season than was reasonably safe and found themselves shipwrecked on the notorious Boon Island, just off the coast of Maine—a barren rock that became their prison and, for some, their grave.

Here’s where it gets interesting: Captain Deane offered one version of the events that led them to that desolate outcrop. His crew told a very different story. Who was lying? What really happened during those desperate weeks? The mysteries endure to this day.

In the hands of skilled storytellers Andrew Vietze and Stephen Erickson, this becomes a gripping historical adventure-mystery that will appeal to readers of South and The Perfect Storm. It’s a deeply researched, thoroughly engaging dive into one of New England’s most harrowing maritime disasters—a story that’s been whispered about for centuries but never fully told until now.

Perfect for history lovers, armchair adventurers, and anyone who’s ever wondered just how far desperation can push the human spirit.

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