Swansea has long been a place of magic and mystery. Ruined castles with ghostly inhabitants dot the landscape, while the golden sands of Gower are steeped in Arthurian mythology and seafaring tales of smugglers and pirates. Yet it has also seen much upheaval and destruction, from the early Viking invaders to the Luftwaffe’s devastating ‘three-nights’ blitz’ during the Second World War. Paranormal Swansea and Gower takes the reader on a spine-chilling journey to dozens of supposedly haunted locations, ranging from well-known tourist destinations to more secluded spots off the beaten track, each with its own eerie tale to tell. These include the spirits of ancient soldiers who wage war on the beaches at dusk, the Gothic ruins guarded by the most terrifying of apparitions, the family home where the wraith of a murderer returned to haunt his former neighbours, the Swansea Devil, a ‘cursed’ work of art which lurks in the museum, and the workaholic miller who refuses to down tools at an historic watermill long after shuffling off this mortal coil.

Paranormal Swansea invites sceptics and believers alike to delve into these uncanny accounts of ghosts and spirits from across the city and county, guiding them through the mysterious and unknown. These tales of haunted places, supernatural happenings and weird phenomena will delight the ghost hunters, and fascinate and intrigue everybody who knows Swansea and Gower.

'Mark Rees – who has established himself as something of a specialist in Welsh folklore and the supernatural, with several books on the subject already under his belt – has created probably the best 90+ pages that have ever been written on this particular subject, and the beautiful photography that accompany the stories only enhances the whole experience. Brush up on your local knowledge this Halloween and scare yourself silly in the process, with this very entertaining book.' * Buzz Magazine, October 2024 *

Mark Rees is a journalist and author based in south Wales. For more than fifteen years he has published articles about the arts in some of Wales’ best-selling newspapers and magazines. His roles have included arts editor and what's on editor for the South Wales Evening Post, Carmarthen Journal, Llanelli Star and Swansea Life. He has written about and spoken widely on Halloween in the press and media, including appearing as a guest expert on the BBC documentary Halloween in Wales (2024). He is currently completing a PhD in Gothic visual culture, which includes a focus on Halloween traditions.