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Situated along the South Carolina coast between Georgetown and Charleston, Bull Island is not just any barrier island but has been described as the "crown jewel" of the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge. Known for its matchless natural beauty, the human history of this isolated coastal isle has for the most part gone unexplored. Exploring Bull Island: Sailing and Walking Around a South Carolina Sea Island is at once a personal and informative narrative, as well as a guide to the natural wonders of this storied and often mysterious sea island. Embarking on a quest to sail the island's connecting waterways and walk the aging roads and trails accomplished sailor and nature enthusiast Bob Raynor set out to truly discover and understand the fascinating natural and cultural history of Bull Island. Armed with a keen eye for his surroundings, a natural curiosity to discover the unknown and his boat--the Kingfisher--Bob guides the reader through the natural and historical passages of this truly unique Sea Island.

As anyone who has ever crossed over the Folly River onto Center Street can tell you, Folly Beach is a place like no other. For Charleston writer Bill Bryan, Folly is another world that has drawn him back time and again. In Folly Beach: Glimpses of a Vanished Strand, Bryan takes a wistful look back at Folly during a special time in its history, when the dark days of war were over and everyone just wanted to have fun. Through these charming, historical vignettes, enjoy a moonlit dance on the pier, take a ride on the Ferris wheel at the carnival, grab a bite to eat at the Pavilion or comb the Washout for driftwood.

Standing on the banks of the Black River, Mansfield Plantation is a living testament to antebellum rice plantations. In 1718, it started as a five-hundred-acre land grant near the upstart village of Georgetown. The main house was built around 1800, and the plantation soon grew to nearly one thousand acres. John and Sallie Middleton Parker returned the property to the Man-Taylor-Lance-Parker family, a line of ownership dating back 150 years. Ongoing preservation projects ensure that future generations can explore and appreciate one of the most well-preserved rice plantations in America. Plantation historian Christopher C. Boyle captures the spirit of Mansfield Plantation and unravels the many mysteries of its past.

Perhaps Charlestonian James Louis Petigru said it best when he declared in 1861 that "South Carolina is too small for a republic, but too large for an insane asylum." South Carolina has consistently been one of the most violent places in American history, and Charleston has served as much a hotbed of criminal mayhem as a "holy" city. While many books explore the illustrious past of this national treasure, few delve into this darker and equally fascinating side of its past. With this new book, historian Pat Hendrix takes a look at the history of crime in the Holy City. Starting with a war that nearly extinguished the fledgling city, he moves through the centuries, bringing to light such sordid tales as the Six Mile House murders, the Dutartre family cult, the murder of newspaper publisher Frank Dawson and the horrific discovery of South Carolina's first serial killer. Murder and Mayhem in the Holy City is an eye-opening foray into Charleston's underworld that calls into question the sanitized, celebrated history often told today and offers an enjoyable romp through more than three centuries of human drama.

Douglas Bostick, historian and former director of Save the Light, Inc., recounts the stories of the many lightkeepers and their families who braved meager provisions, low pay and grueling conditions living on a small island at the entrance to Charleston Harbor.