True Horror Stories

Terry Deary's Terribly True Stories

by Terry Deary

A collection of horror stories from around the world based on experiences which someone has claimed are factual.

Genres: Horror, Childrens, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Paranormal, Ghosts

264 pages, Paperback

First published July 16, 1993

About the author

A former actor, theatre-director and drama teacher, Deary says he began writing when he was 29. Most famously, he is one of the authors of the Horrible Histories series of books popular among children for their disgusting details, gory information and humorous pictures and among adults for getting children interested in history. Books in the series have been widely translated into other languages and imitated.

A cartoon series has been made of the series of books and was shown on CiTV for a period in 2002.

The first series of a live-action comedy sketch show of the same name was shown on CBBC in 2009 and a second series is due.

Terry is also known widely throughout children and adult reading groups alike for his True Stories series (see below for series list).

He received an Honorary Doctorate of Education from the University of Sunderland in 2000. His numerous accolades also include the Blue Peter "Best Nonfiction Author of the Century" Award in the U.K.

-Wikipedia

Reviews

[Yasamin Seifaei · Rating 4 out of 5]

یکی از داستاناشو داشتم سه شب می خوندم، و جالب اینجا بود اتفاقی هم که توی اون میوفتاد واسه ساعت 3 شب بود :| انقدر ترسیدم که بیخیال شدم رفتم خوابیدم :|
خدا وکیلی با وجودی که بزرگم ولی ترسیدم! :))

[Jason Harlow · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to give this a 4/5 as opposed to a 3, because this is far better than some of the other books I've read that feature "true" horror stories. What I liked most about this was that the stories here are actually true. Author Terry Deary included "fact files" at the end of each story, that recap the events and/or add more details to the story that allow the reader to formulate his or her own opinion on what really happened. The stories about Abraham Lincoln and The Amityville Horror were by far the most interesting. I loved the way the Amityville story was told in diary form, and the fact file for the Abe Lincoln assassination was completely bonkers. If it weren't for a few stories that missed the mark for me (the Ireland stories come to mind most of all), this would be a 4/5 for sure. Recommended for fans of stuff like this.

[Eowynselixure_book Love · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the author of Horrible Histories comes this incredibly creepy, flesh crawling collection of murders, ghost stories and super natural events.

‘But take care not to read them after dark! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!’

So, I read them in a day, within daylight hours and chilling is not the word. This book recounts tales of some pretty cold-hearted murders, body thieves, events behind the Amityville horror, Abraham Lincoln’s death and a possible curse aboard the titanic and much more besides.

As usual it was a gripping and interesting read and left me jumping at every strange noise. I loved it but I’m glad it’s over.

A notion that strikes me again and again, is the extraordinary amount of research that went into these fascinating books. They are so well documented and the sheer number of quirky facts you learn is amazing.

This wasn’t my favorite due to the subject matter but it was certainly one of the most atmospheric and evocative (shudder)

[SHANE ELLIS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliantly written; however, most of the stories are hardly what I'd call horror. They are more like crime stories. I think three stories can actually be called 'horror' - the Amytiville horror, for one. Stories about murders are crime not horror.
Also, these are stories you have heard a million times before. There was scarcely anything original in it.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A classic!
This book was my first introduction to true crime stories as a kid. The murder stories really caught my attention and I remember being very freaked out by them. Now I love true crime, horror, ghost stories as an adult and have this thoroughly enjoyable, well written and accessible collection of stories to thank!

[Mihi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I owe it to this book for getting me obsessed with true crime and horror at such a young age, lol! The stories were terrifying but so addictive — I couldn’t stop reading even when I knew I’d be sleeping with the lights on. It has that nostalgic, old-school horror vibe that really sticks with you. Definitely one of those books that sparked a lifelong love for creepy, real-life mysteries. 👻

[Toma Frell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Labai vidutiniška.

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this when I was a kid and adored it, I've spent years trying to find it again.

[Alex Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terry Deary's True Monster Stories was one of my favorite books as a kid. The way the stories were told and even for a book aimed at children they were suspenseful, the facts after each story made me love it, even now. When I saw this book, even now as an adult I had to read it, even for nostalgia reasons.
This book focuses on a mix of serial killers (like Lizzie Borden), pharaoh curses', vanishing villagers, body snatchers and haunted houses. Some of the stories are better than others, and some after checking have been completely disproved. But the way the 'accounts' are told are compelling and some of the facts are genuinely creepy. It doesn't talk down to kids or try to shy away from some of the more gruesome aspects. For kids interested in ghost/gory such stories, and even for adults looking for a quick read, it would be worth it.

[Xanthi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this on audiobook as I drove to and from work. It certainly made the traffic more bearable.
I wasn't all that keen on the narrator, for a reason I could not quite pin down. That aside, I still enjoyed the book. There were some stories that I had already heard about but a lot more that I hadn't.
My favourite parts of this book were the Fact Files, whereby the author injected some critique on the stories retold, and in effect, debunked quite a few.

[Andrés Morán · Rating 5 out of 5]

No puedo dejar de leerlo a pesar de los años.

[Azaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good bedtime story maybe not for children.

[marnie mills · Rating 1 out of 5]

i got this from my neighbour , idk why the book is called horror stories when the stories aren't even scary in the slightest