Ships have been sailing the Great Lakes for the past three centuries. In that time, more than 6,000 have met untimely ends. In his new book, Ed Butts tells the true and tragic tales of eight doomed vessels and ­explores some of the fishier stories of Great Lake monsters.

Most chapters start slowly: Butts ­describes the geography of a voyage, introduces the captain and other key players, and weaves in facts such as the size and provenance of the ship and its cargo. While there are plenty of interesting historical facts, readers are morely likely to be drawn in by talk of ghost ships than recitations of geographic data. However, if readers persevere through the dry openings, they’ll find stories filled with plenty of high drama, danger, and adventure.

Surprisingly, while the book includes photos of the doomed ships and drawings of the sea monsters, there are no maps – a glaring omission in a work that refers to many obscure locations and shipping routes that could be better understood with the help of visual aids. As well, a glossary would’ve been useful for readers unfamiliar with nautical terms such as “scuttle,” or who may not know a “shoal” from a “reef.”