Book Review: Nevada Myths and Legends by Richard Moreno

Nevada Myths and Legends: The True Stories Behind History's Mysteries by Richard Moreno

Like lots of other folkloric books, Nevada Myths and Legends covers much of the area's history with some deeper focus on certain periods. Most of the stories are more recent with only a few legends from the days before Americans from the East moved in. Pueblo Native Americans and other people who lived even earlier provide a handful of intriguing tales.

The 1930s and 1940s saw a lot of growth in towns and the gambling industry, resulting in many stories of organized crime shenanigans, including mysterious deaths and bank robberies. The robberies date back even earlier, to the Wild West days, when maybe even Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid came through the area and caused trouble. 

Some ghost towns are covered as well as haunted houses in Reno. Even prehistoric, possibly fictional, creatures are still around, like giant snakes or lake-dwelling creatures in the vein of the Loch Ness Monster.

The book is a fun, light read that adds some color to the Silver State.

Mildly recommended.