Books & Publishing
Stories Rooted in New Bern
The New Bern Story celebrates books inspired by the history, people, places, and character of New Bern and eastern North Carolina.
Featured Book
A Ben Mercer Mystery — Book One
Verdicts of the Neuse
A legal suspense novel set in historic New Bern, North Carolina, Verdicts of the Neuse draws readers into the courthouse world, law enforcement, and the streets of one of North Carolina’s most historic towns.
Written by Jesse Pittman, a retired Craven County law enforcement officer with nearly three decades of experience, the novel blends authentic law-enforcement and courthouse detail with mystery, suspense, and a strong sense of place.
Discover the mystery. Walk the streets. Experience New Bern through the pages of the Ben Mercer series.
Buy Verdicts of the Neuse →
New Bern History
The Pharmacist of New Bern and the Drink That Changed the World
At the turn of the twentieth century, a New Bern pharmacist named Caleb Davis Bradham created a drink that would grow from a small-town pharmacy favorite into one of the most recognized beverages in the world. The Pharmacist of New Bern and the Drink That Changed the World tells the remarkable story of Bradham, his New Bern roots, the creation of Pepsi-Cola, and the community where it all began. It is a story of ambition, innovation, success, hardship, and the enduring connection between one of the world’s best-known brands and historic New Bern, North Carolina.
Buy The Pharmacist of New Bern →