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Ghost stories to keep you up at night....... ghost stories and haunted houses in fiction and nonfiction are reviewed below for your scary pleasure! Just click on the book covers to see the full description at Amazon. (disclosure: this web site receives commissions on qualifying purchases)
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'The Broken Girls by Simone St. James
This is St. James' latest novel, her first, The Haunting of Maddy Clare is reviewed below on this page. She has written several inbetween all set in England right after WWI. This is set in the US and has parallel stories in two timelines, one in the 1950's and one present-day. Set in a small town and involving a very creepy former boarding school for troublesome girls this is both murder mystery and ghost story with wonderful ominous atmosphere. The pacing, character development and imagery are excellent. The back and forth between timelines was done well and it had the hallmark of a good book to me in that I was both anxious and sorry to reach the end.
This is St. James' latest novel, her first, The Haunting of Maddy Clare is reviewed below on this page. She has written several inbetween all set in England right after WWI. This is set in the US and has parallel stories in two timelines, one in the 1950's and one present-day. Set in a small town and involving a very creepy former boarding school for troublesome girls this is both murder mystery and ghost story with wonderful ominous atmosphere. The pacing, character development and imagery are excellent. The back and forth between timelines was done well and it had the hallmark of a good book to me in that I was both anxious and sorry to reach the end.
The Widow's House by Carol Goodman
Another suspenseful ghost story from the author of The Ghost Orchid, this novel follows Clare and Jess, financially strapped married writers leaving the city for more peace in a college town in the Hudson River valley where Clare is originally from. They end up moving into a large but decaying estate owned by their former professor and mentor as caretakers. While struggling with the state of their marriage Clare also starts hearing nonexistent infant cries and seeing visions of apparitions of a ghostly woman. A beautifully written gothic novel, it evokes many classics (Rebecca, The Turning of the Screw, Haunting of Hill House and The Yellow Wallpaper to name a few) as the reader is taken down many twisting paths along the way to the climax. Highly recommended. In e-book and paperback.
Another suspenseful ghost story from the author of The Ghost Orchid, this novel follows Clare and Jess, financially strapped married writers leaving the city for more peace in a college town in the Hudson River valley where Clare is originally from. They end up moving into a large but decaying estate owned by their former professor and mentor as caretakers. While struggling with the state of their marriage Clare also starts hearing nonexistent infant cries and seeing visions of apparitions of a ghostly woman. A beautifully written gothic novel, it evokes many classics (Rebecca, The Turning of the Screw, Haunting of Hill House and The Yellow Wallpaper to name a few) as the reader is taken down many twisting paths along the way to the climax. Highly recommended. In e-book and paperback.
True Ghost Stories: Jim Harold's Campfire 1 by Jim Harold
Jim Harold has been hosting podcasts for years on paranormal topics. The Campfire one is primarily about hauntings but includes some other strange stuff that his listeners have experienced. He has compiled tales told to him on his podcast shows into a series of books, currently up to number 5. I enjoy these types of books with different narrators of varied true encounters with the supernatural, some touching, some odd and some just truly creepy. In e-book or paperback.
Jim Harold has been hosting podcasts for years on paranormal topics. The Campfire one is primarily about hauntings but includes some other strange stuff that his listeners have experienced. He has compiled tales told to him on his podcast shows into a series of books, currently up to number 5. I enjoy these types of books with different narrators of varied true encounters with the supernatural, some touching, some odd and some just truly creepy. In e-book or paperback.
Gourmet Ghosts 2 by James T. Bartlett
This is a followup to the original Gourmet Ghosts. Both books are about haunted places to enjoy a meal or drinks in the LA area; Gourmet Ghosts 2 travels a little bit further afield including some sites (like the Hollywood Sign) that do not have food or drink offerings but have a sordid or eerie history. With lots of entries organized conveniently by geographic area, Bartlett provides detailed history on each location regarding crimes, murders and suicides. The level of paranormal activity varies widely from place to place with some being very active and some having hardly anything worth noting, yet anyone who lives in the LA area or is interested in its history will find this book quite interesting and worthwhile. Available in paperback and e-book.
This is a followup to the original Gourmet Ghosts. Both books are about haunted places to enjoy a meal or drinks in the LA area; Gourmet Ghosts 2 travels a little bit further afield including some sites (like the Hollywood Sign) that do not have food or drink offerings but have a sordid or eerie history. With lots of entries organized conveniently by geographic area, Bartlett provides detailed history on each location regarding crimes, murders and suicides. The level of paranormal activity varies widely from place to place with some being very active and some having hardly anything worth noting, yet anyone who lives in the LA area or is interested in its history will find this book quite interesting and worthwhile. Available in paperback and e-book.
Hollywood Paranormal Films: Fact & Fiction Hollywood Paranormal Films: Fact & Fiction by Jim O'Rear
As most of you, I've seen all the movies included in this book and thought it was going to be a dry rehash of the backstories, be they based at all in fact or complete hoaxes. Not at all! The author is a talented writer who made each entry interesting. Even the chapter about The Amityville Horror, with which I am very familiar regarding its being a total fabrication was good. I had thought I'd be skimming or even skipping it, but read the whole entry. There are 10 chapters/movies which include The Exorcism of Emily Rose, An American Haunting, Amityville Horror, The Entity, Dracula, The Changeling, The Exorcist, The Haunting in Conn., The Mothman Prophecies, and Audrey Rose. I was very surprised to find that The Changeling was actually written based on events experienced by Russell Hunter, a playwright, when he rented a mansion in Colorado! This is a very well done, entertaining book. It has many photos of both scenes and posters of the movies it covers. In paperback.
As most of you, I've seen all the movies included in this book and thought it was going to be a dry rehash of the backstories, be they based at all in fact or complete hoaxes. Not at all! The author is a talented writer who made each entry interesting. Even the chapter about The Amityville Horror, with which I am very familiar regarding its being a total fabrication was good. I had thought I'd be skimming or even skipping it, but read the whole entry. There are 10 chapters/movies which include The Exorcism of Emily Rose, An American Haunting, Amityville Horror, The Entity, Dracula, The Changeling, The Exorcist, The Haunting in Conn., The Mothman Prophecies, and Audrey Rose. I was very surprised to find that The Changeling was actually written based on events experienced by Russell Hunter, a playwright, when he rented a mansion in Colorado! This is a very well done, entertaining book. It has many photos of both scenes and posters of the movies it covers. In paperback.
In Stone by Kristel Smart
I rarely read the books about one person's experience living in a haunted house because the few I tried were poorly written and obviously largely exaggerated if not just made up. I was surprised at how well written this one was, and the author seemed pretty sincere and genuine. If you want to read about someone's firsthand experience that doesn't read like a high school student wrote it, and is actually creepy, this is a good choice. In paperback and e-book.
I rarely read the books about one person's experience living in a haunted house because the few I tried were poorly written and obviously largely exaggerated if not just made up. I was surprised at how well written this one was, and the author seemed pretty sincere and genuine. If you want to read about someone's firsthand experience that doesn't read like a high school student wrote it, and is actually creepy, this is a good choice. In paperback and e-book.
The Ghost Orchid (fiction) by Carol Goodman
Ellis Brooks is a writer invited to an artists' retreat at the long abandoned Bosco estate in the Adirondack mountains to write her first novel. Inspired by a pamphlet she fatefully discovered describing a seance that took place there in 1893, Ellis Brooks comes to Bosco to write about the tragedies that befell the Latham family and the role Corinth Blackwell, a spiritual medium, might have played. Bosco and its grounds seem to have never been able to shrug off the aura of tragedy and the past intermingles with the present to affect the people staying there now. The book travels back and forth between the past and the present. Events become more eerie and mysterious as the past seeps into the present. The pacing, dialogue and characters are all excellently done. A book I was sorry to reach the end of - a very good ghost story. In paperback and e-book.
Ellis Brooks is a writer invited to an artists' retreat at the long abandoned Bosco estate in the Adirondack mountains to write her first novel. Inspired by a pamphlet she fatefully discovered describing a seance that took place there in 1893, Ellis Brooks comes to Bosco to write about the tragedies that befell the Latham family and the role Corinth Blackwell, a spiritual medium, might have played. Bosco and its grounds seem to have never been able to shrug off the aura of tragedy and the past intermingles with the present to affect the people staying there now. The book travels back and forth between the past and the present. Events become more eerie and mysterious as the past seeps into the present. The pacing, dialogue and characters are all excellently done. A book I was sorry to reach the end of - a very good ghost story. In paperback and e-book.
The Supernaturals (fiction) by David L. Golemon
I love the traditional haunted house tale with real suspense and atmosphere. This book definitely met my high standards with everything from creepy setting, good characters and spooky happenings. A professor/paranormal investigator and some of his students explore Summer Place estate with disastrous results. Abandoning all things supernatural Prof. Gabriel Kennedy has never fully recovered from the trauma of that visit. Years later a TV network decides to do a live Halloween special at Summer Place and Kennedy is coerced into returning there for the event. His stipulation is that he has his own group of investigators that he hand selects. They are a motley and interesting crew who are at odds with the TV people. The Haunting of Hill House meets Ghost Hunters would best describe the plot. It moved right along with the suspense steadily ratcheting up. The preface should definitely not be skipped - I found it as creepy as the rest of the book! In paperback and e-book.
I love the traditional haunted house tale with real suspense and atmosphere. This book definitely met my high standards with everything from creepy setting, good characters and spooky happenings. A professor/paranormal investigator and some of his students explore Summer Place estate with disastrous results. Abandoning all things supernatural Prof. Gabriel Kennedy has never fully recovered from the trauma of that visit. Years later a TV network decides to do a live Halloween special at Summer Place and Kennedy is coerced into returning there for the event. His stipulation is that he has his own group of investigators that he hand selects. They are a motley and interesting crew who are at odds with the TV people. The Haunting of Hill House meets Ghost Hunters would best describe the plot. It moved right along with the suspense steadily ratcheting up. The preface should definitely not be skipped - I found it as creepy as the rest of the book! In paperback and e-book.
Pacific Northwest Haunts by Joe Teeples
If you're looking for a guide to haunted spots where you live or will be visiting, this book is the ideal style - tons of entries with pithy descriptions and lots of photos. Definitely more of a guidebook than a book to read for creepy narratives it accomplishes its goal very well. There's also an interesting section at the end that addresses graveyards and iconography of gravestones. Alaska only gets 3 pages, and Portland OR gets 11 - the book really is for those interested in Seattle or Washington state. 224pp. including tour and web resources and an index. In paperback.
If you're looking for a guide to haunted spots where you live or will be visiting, this book is the ideal style - tons of entries with pithy descriptions and lots of photos. Definitely more of a guidebook than a book to read for creepy narratives it accomplishes its goal very well. There's also an interesting section at the end that addresses graveyards and iconography of gravestones. Alaska only gets 3 pages, and Portland OR gets 11 - the book really is for those interested in Seattle or Washington state. 224pp. including tour and web resources and an index. In paperback.
Not Haunted (fiction) by Penny Page
Professor Tremaine is a curmudgeonly old man living alone in his house since his wife's death. Retired, with nothing to do but watch TV and addicted to yet angered by reality TV shows, he decides to bait one of them in order to expose them as a complete sham. (The show he targets,Entity Encounters, is a thinly veiled replica of The Dead Files on the Travel Channel.) Although strange things are happening he is convinced his house is not haunted, but that the TV people will say it is. Not only do there seem to truly be creepy happenings, but they escalate as his anger and denial increase. Fast, creepy and entertaining - an unusual and good haunted house book. You will never look at an electric stairlift chair the same way! Only in e-book.
Professor Tremaine is a curmudgeonly old man living alone in his house since his wife's death. Retired, with nothing to do but watch TV and addicted to yet angered by reality TV shows, he decides to bait one of them in order to expose them as a complete sham. (The show he targets,Entity Encounters, is a thinly veiled replica of The Dead Files on the Travel Channel.) Although strange things are happening he is convinced his house is not haunted, but that the TV people will say it is. Not only do there seem to truly be creepy happenings, but they escalate as his anger and denial increase. Fast, creepy and entertaining - an unusual and good haunted house book. You will never look at an electric stairlift chair the same way! Only in e-book.
The Restorer (the Graveyard Queen Series) (fiction) by Amanda Stevens
Amelia Grey is a graveyard restorer who lives in Charleston. She has been able to see ghosts all her life, and her father who was a graveyard caretaker has instilled in her the need to avoid them and rules to prevent them from communicating with her since they will prey on her life force (the opposite attitude of most/all of those reading this site!). While working in Oak Grove, a cemetery affiliated with a local university, Amelia becomes involved in a murder case when a murder victim's body is found in the cemetery. She has to deal with spirits and (no less scary) an attractive mysterious detective, John Devlin. I like this series, but Amelia's character seems like she would be more at home in a turn-of-the-20th-century setting - she seems old-fashioned and stilted much of the time (I wanted to like her more than I actually did). A good choice for those who like the gothic novel style of fiction. There are two more books in the series. Paperback and e-book.
Amelia Grey is a graveyard restorer who lives in Charleston. She has been able to see ghosts all her life, and her father who was a graveyard caretaker has instilled in her the need to avoid them and rules to prevent them from communicating with her since they will prey on her life force (the opposite attitude of most/all of those reading this site!). While working in Oak Grove, a cemetery affiliated with a local university, Amelia becomes involved in a murder case when a murder victim's body is found in the cemetery. She has to deal with spirits and (no less scary) an attractive mysterious detective, John Devlin. I like this series, but Amelia's character seems like she would be more at home in a turn-of-the-20th-century setting - she seems old-fashioned and stilted much of the time (I wanted to like her more than I actually did). A good choice for those who like the gothic novel style of fiction. There are two more books in the series. Paperback and e-book.
The Haunting of Maddy Clare (fiction) by Simone St. James
Set in England in the 1920s, Sarah Piper is an unemployed young woman who is looking for any kind of work. She is offered a temporary position as an assistant by Alistair Gellis - a very unusual position for he is a ghost hunter in need of a female aide for a specific case in a rural town. It is a good ghost story that also has a romantic subplot (though I wouldn't call it a Gothic novel). This book was well written with a good pace that escalated the mystery and eeriness, and had characters I cared about. In paperback and e-book.
Set in England in the 1920s, Sarah Piper is an unemployed young woman who is looking for any kind of work. She is offered a temporary position as an assistant by Alistair Gellis - a very unusual position for he is a ghost hunter in need of a female aide for a specific case in a rural town. It is a good ghost story that also has a romantic subplot (though I wouldn't call it a Gothic novel). This book was well written with a good pace that escalated the mystery and eeriness, and had characters I cared about. In paperback and e-book.
True Stories and Eerie Legends from America's Most Haunted Neighborhood by David Domine
Ghosts of Old Louisville and Phantoms of Old Lousiville were combined into one edition in this book. It is well written and interesting, about a unique neighborhood. Old Louisville KY, filled with Victorian structures was destined to fall to developer's bulldozers in the name of modernization when the whole area was made a protected Preservation District that covers several square miles. Mr. Domine has scouted out many ghosts who remain as well, and has written an entertaining book about his neighborhood which includes his own firsthand experience when he moved there. After each chapter the author adds some information about a historical site that relates to the episode described, and is also haunted. Worth reading for the history and tales. In paperback and e-book.
Ghosts of Old Louisville and Phantoms of Old Lousiville were combined into one edition in this book. It is well written and interesting, about a unique neighborhood. Old Louisville KY, filled with Victorian structures was destined to fall to developer's bulldozers in the name of modernization when the whole area was made a protected Preservation District that covers several square miles. Mr. Domine has scouted out many ghosts who remain as well, and has written an entertaining book about his neighborhood which includes his own firsthand experience when he moved there. After each chapter the author adds some information about a historical site that relates to the episode described, and is also haunted. Worth reading for the history and tales. In paperback and e-book.
Lone Star Spooks: Searching for Ghosts in Texas by Nate Riddle
Not your typical haunted places entry style book, this is more a physical and intellectual exploration by the author regarding the nature and existence of ghosts. He has a chapter at the beginning of the book where he interviews a professor of parapsychology, and then a later chapter where he interviews a skeptic. Both are very interesting and raise questions for the author (and hopefully the reader as well). While I could have done without the lengthy chapter on an urban legend style local haunting, I liked his account of his stay at the Menger Hotel with his wife and his brother. It was not just about paranormal experiences, but he recounts much of his stay as if he were talking to you at a barbecue, telling you about the whole trip. One problem I did have with this book is the chapter where he consults a psychic. He has given her some questions ahead of time, and though she gets no answers correct and gives him "cold reading" guesses that I could have come up with (eg name of a family cat, "I'm getting the word 'scat' in connection with it..." and never came up with a name close to a real name) Mr. Riddle writes that she had been "unusually accurate." Okay, I won't get started on this aspect... Other than that chapter I liked this book for its different style and approach where the author "thinks out loud" about the issues involved in believing or disbelieving in ghosts. In paperback.
Not your typical haunted places entry style book, this is more a physical and intellectual exploration by the author regarding the nature and existence of ghosts. He has a chapter at the beginning of the book where he interviews a professor of parapsychology, and then a later chapter where he interviews a skeptic. Both are very interesting and raise questions for the author (and hopefully the reader as well). While I could have done without the lengthy chapter on an urban legend style local haunting, I liked his account of his stay at the Menger Hotel with his wife and his brother. It was not just about paranormal experiences, but he recounts much of his stay as if he were talking to you at a barbecue, telling you about the whole trip. One problem I did have with this book is the chapter where he consults a psychic. He has given her some questions ahead of time, and though she gets no answers correct and gives him "cold reading" guesses that I could have come up with (eg name of a family cat, "I'm getting the word 'scat' in connection with it..." and never came up with a name close to a real name) Mr. Riddle writes that she had been "unusually accurate." Okay, I won't get started on this aspect... Other than that chapter I liked this book for its different style and approach where the author "thinks out loud" about the issues involved in believing or disbelieving in ghosts. In paperback.
Haunted Highways: the Spirits of Route 66 by Ellen Robson and Dianne Halicki
If you're even thinking of traveling along Rte. 66, this book is for you. It has (not coincidentally?) 66 listings of spooky stops you can make as you travel. This guide has great maps, both general of the whole Route, and for each state so you have a very good idea of where these sites are. Each ghostly entry is 2-3 pages, with a good photo, description and directions. The book is paperback, 190pp including an index. In paperback.
If you're even thinking of traveling along Rte. 66, this book is for you. It has (not coincidentally?) 66 listings of spooky stops you can make as you travel. This guide has great maps, both general of the whole Route, and for each state so you have a very good idea of where these sites are. Each ghostly entry is 2-3 pages, with a good photo, description and directions. The book is paperback, 190pp including an index. In paperback.
Seattle's Market Ghost Stories by Mercedes Yaeger
This book is as much about the history of Pike Place Market in Seattle as it is about its haunted sites. The author grew up there and her family has been intricately involved with the Market for decades - that emotional connection runs strongly through this collection. The descriptions of the hauntings are interesting and strongly set in historical context. I should note that the author is co-owner of Market Ghost Tours, and if visiting Seattle consider adding it to your activities. E-book edition. |
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The Ridge (fiction) by Michael Koryta
Set in eastern Kentucky, in this book the haunted spot is Blade Ridge its woods so creepy and dangerous that the town drunk/eccentric actually set up a light house to keep the dark at bay. Unfortunately, several events are set to coincide that greatly disturb the shaky status quo that has been achieved. When the light house owner is found dead, and the owner of a wild cat sanctuary relocates their 67 large cats there Deputy Sheriff Kimble is drawn into the mysteries that inhabit those woods. The pace is good, with the creep factor increasing steadily. I had tried one of this author's previous books and found it slow, but this one was hard to put down. Good characters, plot and writing make this one I highly recommend. In paperback and e-book.
Set in eastern Kentucky, in this book the haunted spot is Blade Ridge its woods so creepy and dangerous that the town drunk/eccentric actually set up a light house to keep the dark at bay. Unfortunately, several events are set to coincide that greatly disturb the shaky status quo that has been achieved. When the light house owner is found dead, and the owner of a wild cat sanctuary relocates their 67 large cats there Deputy Sheriff Kimble is drawn into the mysteries that inhabit those woods. The pace is good, with the creep factor increasing steadily. I had tried one of this author's previous books and found it slow, but this one was hard to put down. Good characters, plot and writing make this one I highly recommend. In paperback and e-book.
The Ghost in the Basement (fiction) by Sue Fine
Hannah Taylor returns to her home town in Ohio when she inherits her grandfather's house, but there are strange conditions attached - she has to share the house with Detective Donovan Kane and his young son for one year or else the house goes to Kane. Meanwhile, Det. Kane has received instructions from Hannah's grandfather to “find the diaries, open the house, and send the wandering spirits on their way.” This book is "gothic-lite" and reads quickly. I'd compare it to the "cozy" genre within mystery novels. In e-book.
Hannah Taylor returns to her home town in Ohio when she inherits her grandfather's house, but there are strange conditions attached - she has to share the house with Detective Donovan Kane and his young son for one year or else the house goes to Kane. Meanwhile, Det. Kane has received instructions from Hannah's grandfather to “find the diaries, open the house, and send the wandering spirits on their way.” This book is "gothic-lite" and reads quickly. I'd compare it to the "cozy" genre within mystery novels. In e-book.
Green Mountain Ghosts, Ghouls & Unsolved... by Joseph A. Citro
This book covers all kinds of oddities in Vermont, not just ghosts. It is organized by type of story, with major headings such as: Vermont's Ghostly Gallery, Here Monsters Dwell, Alien Skies, and Lingering Mysteries. I found this book well written, intriguing and fun to read. Mr. Citro has published another book, Passing Strange which covers all kinds of strangeness throughout New England and was also very entertaining. In paperback and e-book.
This book covers all kinds of oddities in Vermont, not just ghosts. It is organized by type of story, with major headings such as: Vermont's Ghostly Gallery, Here Monsters Dwell, Alien Skies, and Lingering Mysteries. I found this book well written, intriguing and fun to read. Mr. Citro has published another book, Passing Strange which covers all kinds of strangeness throughout New England and was also very entertaining. In paperback and e-book.
Ghosts (fiction) by Noel Hynd
On Nantucket newly arrived Detective Timothy Brooks investigates two murders and then finds links to bizarre paranormal happenings in the home of a resident celebrity, actress Annette Carlson. Brooks enlists the help of his buddy George Osaro who is a minister and knowledgable of the paranormal. As events escalate, so does the risk to the residents of the island. New 2014 edition available only on Kindle.
On Nantucket newly arrived Detective Timothy Brooks investigates two murders and then finds links to bizarre paranormal happenings in the home of a resident celebrity, actress Annette Carlson. Brooks enlists the help of his buddy George Osaro who is a minister and knowledgable of the paranormal. As events escalate, so does the risk to the residents of the island. New 2014 edition available only on Kindle.
PSIence: How New Discoveries in Quantum Physics and New Science May Explain the Existence of Paranormal Phenomena by Marie Jones
Don't let the subtitle of this book scare you - it is made very readable and easy to understand by the author. This is truly the most fascinating book on the paranormal that I have read in ages. I have long believed that many "unexplainable" phenomena have some scientific basis that we just don't know about yet. This book opens so many possibilities and new ways to view paranormal phenomena. I have no background in physics at all and found the basic tenets of quantum physics mind blowing and so intriguing. One thing I liked about this book is that it does not offer pat explanations for everything, but offers plausible reasons for many events while raising more "hmmm...so then what if...?" questions for me to chew on at the same time. I would categorize this book as a MUST for anyone seriously interested in the paranormal. In paperback and e-book.
Don't let the subtitle of this book scare you - it is made very readable and easy to understand by the author. This is truly the most fascinating book on the paranormal that I have read in ages. I have long believed that many "unexplainable" phenomena have some scientific basis that we just don't know about yet. This book opens so many possibilities and new ways to view paranormal phenomena. I have no background in physics at all and found the basic tenets of quantum physics mind blowing and so intriguing. One thing I liked about this book is that it does not offer pat explanations for everything, but offers plausible reasons for many events while raising more "hmmm...so then what if...?" questions for me to chew on at the same time. I would categorize this book as a MUST for anyone seriously interested in the paranormal. In paperback and e-book.
So, There I Was.... More Confessions of Ghost Hunters by Troy Taylor & Len Adams
I liked this book which gives the "behind the scenes" happenings for Troy Taylor and his colleagues who make up the American Ghost Society in Illinois. Taylor and Adams each write their own chapters with their personal anecdotes from their being guides for ghost tours and their investigations. Written in a relaxed, comfortable manner, it's fun to hear what the "experts" experienced or thought as they pursued their fascination with the paranormal. At times Troy Taylor gets a little TOO into the history and background of sites (there was more information than I wanted/needed to know about the Lemp Mansion and the U.S penal system/Eastern State Penitentiary) but in general I enjoyed this book. In paperback.
I liked this book which gives the "behind the scenes" happenings for Troy Taylor and his colleagues who make up the American Ghost Society in Illinois. Taylor and Adams each write their own chapters with their personal anecdotes from their being guides for ghost tours and their investigations. Written in a relaxed, comfortable manner, it's fun to hear what the "experts" experienced or thought as they pursued their fascination with the paranormal. At times Troy Taylor gets a little TOO into the history and background of sites (there was more information than I wanted/needed to know about the Lemp Mansion and the U.S penal system/Eastern State Penitentiary) but in general I enjoyed this book. In paperback.
Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper (fiction) by JL Bryan
This book features a ghost investigator/trapper who is a likable character with attitude that stops short of being snarky. The book moves quickly with lots of ghostly happenings. I am leery of the whole "trapping" ghosts thing, but it works as a plot device in this novel. My one complaint is that the climactic scene was a little over the top and like something out of a "c" horror movie, but it didn't prevent the book from being an entertaining read overall. This is the first entry in a new series - there are at least three more out now. In paperback and e-book.
This book features a ghost investigator/trapper who is a likable character with attitude that stops short of being snarky. The book moves quickly with lots of ghostly happenings. I am leery of the whole "trapping" ghosts thing, but it works as a plot device in this novel. My one complaint is that the climactic scene was a little over the top and like something out of a "c" horror movie, but it didn't prevent the book from being an entertaining read overall. This is the first entry in a new series - there are at least three more out now. In paperback and e-book.
Floating Staircase (fiction) by Ronald Malfi
Travis Glascow is haunted by the traumatic death of his younger brother when Travis was 13 years old. When he and his wife Jodie move from London to Maryland to live near his brother Adam, the psychological ghost of his brother Kyle is joined by what seems to be a true haunting in their new home. This novel is as much about obsession and a mystery thriller as it is about paranormal events. The writing style and the fact that the main character is an introspective writer remind me a lot of Stephen King's works. It took me quite a while (about 130 pages of skimming) to get into this book, but it did keep me reading to the end to find out what happens. I don't know if the reader is supposed to feel sympathetic toward Travis but I found him irritating and not very likable. If you like Stephen King's style and books that are as psychologically explorative as they are plot driven, you will enjoy reading this novel.
Travis Glascow is haunted by the traumatic death of his younger brother when Travis was 13 years old. When he and his wife Jodie move from London to Maryland to live near his brother Adam, the psychological ghost of his brother Kyle is joined by what seems to be a true haunting in their new home. This novel is as much about obsession and a mystery thriller as it is about paranormal events. The writing style and the fact that the main character is an introspective writer remind me a lot of Stephen King's works. It took me quite a while (about 130 pages of skimming) to get into this book, but it did keep me reading to the end to find out what happens. I don't know if the reader is supposed to feel sympathetic toward Travis but I found him irritating and not very likable. If you like Stephen King's style and books that are as psychologically explorative as they are plot driven, you will enjoy reading this novel.
Haunted Missouri: A Ghostly Guide to the Show-Me State's Most Spirited Spots by Jason Offutt
As the author says in his afterword, he spent a year driving thousands of miles and had a few unexplained experiences and still isn't sure if he believes in ghosts. This isn't a surprise - his attitude is to be open with some skepticism in a pleasant down to earth way. The book is written in a manner that feels like the author is talking to you. He does devote a lot of space to history, and his love of this subject is apparent especially in his section on Civil War sites.
As the author says in his afterword, he spent a year driving thousands of miles and had a few unexplained experiences and still isn't sure if he believes in ghosts. This isn't a surprise - his attitude is to be open with some skepticism in a pleasant down to earth way. The book is written in a manner that feels like the author is talking to you. He does devote a lot of space to history, and his love of this subject is apparent especially in his section on Civil War sites.
Haunted Lakes: Great Lakes Ghost... by Frederick Stonehouse
In this book Stonehouse writes about all sorts of paranormal phenomena of the Great Lakes. After many years of compiling maritime history about the lakes, Stonehouse realized he had amassed many odd tales and set them down in their own volume. He writes about haunted lighthouses, ghostly ships, sea serpents, superstitions and more. This book is very well written, with interesting tales and information about what life was and is like on the lakes. In paperback.
The Dead Room (fiction) by Philip Henry
Emma is the TV producer of a show filmed in Belfast Ireland featuring a psychic, all faked of course. When during a taping the real thing seems to occur (shocking everyone), one of the audience members appears to be hiding something. Emma ends up taking a crew to that woman's house, which she and her husband have bought to renovate and open a B & B. They believe that they may actually get some evidence of The Real Thing. Unfortunately for Emma, the house is in the town where she grew up and associates with tragedy and pain. What is real and what isn't in the house? And if it IS haunted, by who and why? Threaded through the plot is Emma's poor recovery from a broken relationship which adds a little depth to her character. I found this to be a quick read that moved right along, keeping my interest to the end. In Paperback and e-book.
Emma is the TV producer of a show filmed in Belfast Ireland featuring a psychic, all faked of course. When during a taping the real thing seems to occur (shocking everyone), one of the audience members appears to be hiding something. Emma ends up taking a crew to that woman's house, which she and her husband have bought to renovate and open a B & B. They believe that they may actually get some evidence of The Real Thing. Unfortunately for Emma, the house is in the town where she grew up and associates with tragedy and pain. What is real and what isn't in the house? And if it IS haunted, by who and why? Threaded through the plot is Emma's poor recovery from a broken relationship which adds a little depth to her character. I found this to be a quick read that moved right along, keeping my interest to the end. In Paperback and e-book.
Five Mile House (fiction) by Karen Novak
After a personal trauma, Detective Leslie Stone's husband accepts a job to undertake a restoration in a small New England town. It turns out that his project, Five Mile House, was the home to a family in the 19th century in which the mother, Eleanor Bly, killed her seven children then herself. The novel parallels the stories of the two women as Leslie becomes obsessed with the former occupant and murderer, and comes to believe the truth may differ from the accepted legend. Only in e-book.
After a personal trauma, Detective Leslie Stone's husband accepts a job to undertake a restoration in a small New England town. It turns out that his project, Five Mile House, was the home to a family in the 19th century in which the mother, Eleanor Bly, killed her seven children then herself. The novel parallels the stories of the two women as Leslie becomes obsessed with the former occupant and murderer, and comes to believe the truth may differ from the accepted legend. Only in e-book.