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Coal Region Hoodoo: Paranormal Tales from Inside the Pit
With Coal Region Hoodoo, Maxim W. Furek continues his exploration of high strangeness inside the Pennsylvania wormhole that gave birth to The Night of the Living Dead, The Blob, and The Philadelphia Experiment.
His journey takes us beyond the netherworlds of Centralia, Sheppton, Chestnut Ridge, and The Pennhurst Asylum. It looks into the eyes of demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren and the twisted souls of serial killer Gary Heidnik and con artist Richard Sharpe Shaver while exploring the preternatural secrets of Bigfoot, cryptids, Kecksburg, The Smurl Haunting, Pennsylvania Dutch Powwowing, and Roman Catholic Mysticism.
Miners claim that being trapped in the bottom of a coal mine is as close as one can ever get to being in Hell. Coal Region Hoodoo takes us even closer inside that forbidden, paranormal pit.
His journey takes us beyond the netherworlds of Centralia, Sheppton, Chestnut Ridge, and The Pennhurst Asylum. It looks into the eyes of demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren and the twisted souls of serial killer Gary Heidnik and con artist Richard Sharpe Shaver while exploring the preternatural secrets of Bigfoot, cryptids, Kecksburg, The Smurl Haunting, Pennsylvania Dutch Powwowing, and Roman Catholic Mysticism.
Miners claim that being trapped in the bottom of a coal mine is as close as one can ever get to being in Hell. Coal Region Hoodoo takes us even closer inside that forbidden, paranormal pit.
- GenresParanormal
325 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 19, 2023
20 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 8, 2024
There were three exceptionally well written and interesting chapters towards the end of the book, and those were Chapter 21 on Doc Santee; Chapter 22 on Richard Sharpe Shaver, Raymond Alfred Palmer, and hollow earth theory; and Chapter 23 on the Philadelphia Experiment. If you're interested in any of these things, this book might be worth it for these chapters alone. For example, I have a 2nd degree (out of 3 degrees max) in a coven descended from Santee's Coven of the Catta and I still found myself learning things about the man that I had either never known or long forgotten. Furek not only shares the facts, but also debunks some nasty rumors, and I have to thank him for that as Santee really wasn't some evil man worshipping Satan. Regarding Chapter 22, I was born and raised in Berwick, Pennsylvania and had never heard of Richard Sharpe Shaver (who was also born there according to this chapter). As far as Chapter 23 goes, I think Furek may have explained the Philadelphia Experiment in the most digestible way I've ever seen it explained. Instead of insisting on the truth of it or completely dismissing it as a hoax, he dives into the important details and sources.
That said, at times this book can be meandering or repetitive. There were sections where I found myself asking "What does this have to do with the chapter?" While there was always some connection, it wasn't always obvious enough to make total sense to me. I also stopped reading the captions of the photos altogether after too many instances of the caption appearing word for word in the main text shortly after. In cases, the information was far more in depth than I expected (or wanted, but I can't say tmi is a real complaint about a nonfiction book), in other cases (often times cases I was more interested in) there was only a fleeting mention and not even a full section. I would have appreciated a note about where to find more information at least - yes, I combed through the bibliography and now I have a very long reading list.
*Disclaimer: I know Max Furek personally, and in my attempts to avoid being bias towards him, it's possible I'm being too harsh. If I change my rating in the future, it's because I've let my thoughts settle more and realized this was the case.
That said, at times this book can be meandering or repetitive. There were sections where I found myself asking "What does this have to do with the chapter?" While there was always some connection, it wasn't always obvious enough to make total sense to me. I also stopped reading the captions of the photos altogether after too many instances of the caption appearing word for word in the main text shortly after. In cases, the information was far more in depth than I expected (or wanted, but I can't say tmi is a real complaint about a nonfiction book), in other cases (often times cases I was more interested in) there was only a fleeting mention and not even a full section. I would have appreciated a note about where to find more information at least - yes, I combed through the bibliography and now I have a very long reading list.
*Disclaimer: I know Max Furek personally, and in my attempts to avoid being bias towards him, it's possible I'm being too harsh. If I change my rating in the future, it's because I've let my thoughts settle more and realized this was the case.
April 23, 2023
Move over, California! Pennsylvania is giving you a run for your money as the weirdest state in the union. At least, that’s how it looks in Maxim Furek's latest book, Coal Region HooDoo-Paranormal Tales from Inside the Pit. And the author should know. He’s a Keystone State native son.
Furek has covered the 1963 Sheppton Mine disaster in previous books, but this time his obsession with that bizarre tale of entombed coal miners takes a slightly different turn. He dissects each element of the Sheppton story, (rife with humanoid visitations, a luminous image of the deceased Pope John XXIII, and astral projection), then fans out his paranormal antenna to the rest of the state, finding ghostly gold throughout the region. Witches, hexes, curses, evil poltergeists, exorcisms, you name it; Pennsylvania has it in spades.
Coal Region HooDoo even delves into horror films produced in the high strangeness of the Pennsylvania countryside, and there were quite a few, including classics like Night of the Living Dead and The Blob. The book is as entertaining as it is educational, a paranormal potpourri that culminates with the Philadelphia Experiment and its time traveling Naval destroyer.
The only place I part ways with Furek is his take on Berwick, PA native, Richard Sharpe Shaver. Furek describes him as a clever con artist and huckster. This has been a persistent historical meme, due to the fact that The Shaver Mystery bears Shaver’s name. But the man controlling the levers behind the so-called mystery, the true huckster, was Shaver’s editor, Raymond A. Palmer, the P.T. Barnum of the pulp era.
Palmer created, branded, and hyped The Shaver Mystery, not Shaver the true believer. Palmer cleverly mined the raw material of Shaver’s schizophrenic experiences and used them to sell magazines. Essentially, Palmer took advantage of Shaver, who, in the end, was unhappy with the way he’d been treated.
But, Shaver aside, Coal Region HooDoo deserves a five star rating for the author’s fantastic research and clever puzzling together of Pennsylvania’s paranormal past, present, and potential future. It’s a thought-provoking and fun read!
Furek has covered the 1963 Sheppton Mine disaster in previous books, but this time his obsession with that bizarre tale of entombed coal miners takes a slightly different turn. He dissects each element of the Sheppton story, (rife with humanoid visitations, a luminous image of the deceased Pope John XXIII, and astral projection), then fans out his paranormal antenna to the rest of the state, finding ghostly gold throughout the region. Witches, hexes, curses, evil poltergeists, exorcisms, you name it; Pennsylvania has it in spades.
Coal Region HooDoo even delves into horror films produced in the high strangeness of the Pennsylvania countryside, and there were quite a few, including classics like Night of the Living Dead and The Blob. The book is as entertaining as it is educational, a paranormal potpourri that culminates with the Philadelphia Experiment and its time traveling Naval destroyer.
The only place I part ways with Furek is his take on Berwick, PA native, Richard Sharpe Shaver. Furek describes him as a clever con artist and huckster. This has been a persistent historical meme, due to the fact that The Shaver Mystery bears Shaver’s name. But the man controlling the levers behind the so-called mystery, the true huckster, was Shaver’s editor, Raymond A. Palmer, the P.T. Barnum of the pulp era.
Palmer created, branded, and hyped The Shaver Mystery, not Shaver the true believer. Palmer cleverly mined the raw material of Shaver’s schizophrenic experiences and used them to sell magazines. Essentially, Palmer took advantage of Shaver, who, in the end, was unhappy with the way he’d been treated.
But, Shaver aside, Coal Region HooDoo deserves a five star rating for the author’s fantastic research and clever puzzling together of Pennsylvania’s paranormal past, present, and potential future. It’s a thought-provoking and fun read!
June 9, 2023
Max Furek has covered the 1963 Sheppton Mine disaster in previous books, but this time his obsession with that bizarre tale of entombed coal miners takes a slightly different turn. He dissects each element of the Sheppton story, (rife with humanoid visitations, a luminous image of the deceased Pope John XXIII, and astral projection), then fans out his paranormal antenna to the rest of the state, finding ghostly gold throughout the region. Witches, hexes, curses, evil poltergeists, exorcisms, you name it; Pennsylvania has it in spades.
Coal Region HooDoo even delves into horror films produced in the high strangeness of the Pennsylvania countryside, and there were quite a few, including classics like Night of the Living Dead and The Blob. The book is as entertaining as it is educational, a paranormal potpourri that culminates with the Philadelphia Experiment and its time traveling Naval destroyer.
The only place I part ways with Furek is his take on Berwick, PA native, Richard Sharpe Shaver. Furek describes him as a clever con artist and huckster. This has been a persistent historical meme, due to the fact that The Shaver Mystery bears Shaver’s name. But the man controlling the levers behind the so-called mystery, the true huckster, was Shaver’s editor, Raymond A. Palmer, the P.T. Barnum of the pulp era.
Palmer created, branded, and hyped The Shaver Mystery, not Shaver the true believer. Palmer cleverly mined the raw material of Shaver’s schizophrenic experiences and used them to sell magazines. Essentially, Palmer took advantage of Shaver, who, in the end, was unhappy with the way he’d been treated.
But, Shaver aside, Coal Region HooDoo deserves a five star rating for the author’s fantastic research and clever puzzling together of Pennsylvania’s paranormal past, present, and potential future. It’s a thought-provoking and fun read!
Coal Region HooDoo even delves into horror films produced in the high strangeness of the Pennsylvania countryside, and there were quite a few, including classics like Night of the Living Dead and The Blob. The book is as entertaining as it is educational, a paranormal potpourri that culminates with the Philadelphia Experiment and its time traveling Naval destroyer.
The only place I part ways with Furek is his take on Berwick, PA native, Richard Sharpe Shaver. Furek describes him as a clever con artist and huckster. This has been a persistent historical meme, due to the fact that The Shaver Mystery bears Shaver’s name. But the man controlling the levers behind the so-called mystery, the true huckster, was Shaver’s editor, Raymond A. Palmer, the P.T. Barnum of the pulp era.
Palmer created, branded, and hyped The Shaver Mystery, not Shaver the true believer. Palmer cleverly mined the raw material of Shaver’s schizophrenic experiences and used them to sell magazines. Essentially, Palmer took advantage of Shaver, who, in the end, was unhappy with the way he’d been treated.
But, Shaver aside, Coal Region HooDoo deserves a five star rating for the author’s fantastic research and clever puzzling together of Pennsylvania’s paranormal past, present, and potential future. It’s a thought-provoking and fun read!
August 17, 2024
"Coal Region Hoodoo" is a delightful exploration of Pennsylvania’s high strangeness, delving deep into the mysteries of the Appalachian Coal region and beyond. It’s better than any Weird PA book I’ve read so far. Maxim Furek’s research is thorough, and his writing is deft, covering everything from Bigfoot and UFOs to demons, witch doctors, and even a spectral visit from a Pope to two trapped coal miners.
As Furek concludes in the book, "Some things are destined to remain unknown. Seekers of the truth continue to scrutinize anomalies that fall beyond the grasp of science and the failure of words."
While words may fail, this book is a resounding success.
Maxim W. FurekCoal Region Hoodoo: Paranormal Tales from Inside the Pit
As Furek concludes in the book, "Some things are destined to remain unknown. Seekers of the truth continue to scrutinize anomalies that fall beyond the grasp of science and the failure of words."
While words may fail, this book is a resounding success.
Maxim W. FurekCoal Region Hoodoo: Paranormal Tales from Inside the Pit
October 12, 2023
As a resident of the coal region in Pennsylvania, I found this book very intriguing, especially the account of the Sheppton Mine Disaster of 1963. Although I was aware of the incident, I was unaware of the supernatural aspects of the tragedy. Maxim Furek goes into great detail about that event and covers other interesting things like the Philadelphia Experiment, UFOs, the filming of "Night of the Living Dead", Centralia and the underground fires and introduces people I had not heard of before, but are curious characters in their own right. You don't have to be from Pennsylvania to enjoy this book. Highly recommend.
June 25, 2024
Not an Encounter Story Book
This book was not what I expected. I thought it would be a series of encounters with cryptids and the paranormal of the region. Instead, it covers notable events and lore from the region. This includes films, actors, shows, famed scientists, doctors, cryptids, witchcraft and more. Its not for the faint of heart and the first section is particularly gruesome, covering horror porn. It was well researched and covered a lot of information. The audio book is read by virtual voice.
This book was not what I expected. I thought it would be a series of encounters with cryptids and the paranormal of the region. Instead, it covers notable events and lore from the region. This includes films, actors, shows, famed scientists, doctors, cryptids, witchcraft and more. Its not for the faint of heart and the first section is particularly gruesome, covering horror porn. It was well researched and covered a lot of information. The audio book is read by virtual voice.
July 18, 2023
Informative reading
A highly informative book of all sorts of paranormal activities. It was interesting to read and a treasure trove of information. Highly recommend as an addition to your home library.
A highly informative book of all sorts of paranormal activities. It was interesting to read and a treasure trove of information. Highly recommend as an addition to your home library.
September 6, 2023
Paranormal investigator Maxim Furek has earned his seat at the table. Coal Region Hoodoo is well documented and absorbing. It is as good as anything written by fellow researchers Stan Gordon, Tim Renner, or Charles Adams. A very informative read.
February 14, 2024
Informative captivating read
Maxim furick takes us on a deep dive in what fascinates us about the mysterious and macabre in coal region hoodoo. I found this book extremely informative and captivating.
Maxim furick takes us on a deep dive in what fascinates us about the mysterious and macabre in coal region hoodoo. I found this book extremely informative and captivating.
April 2, 2023
If you've ever wondered about the strange paranormal activities in the Pennsylvania coal region, you'll be intrigued and entertained by this book!
September 14, 2023
This is a breakneck journey into all things paranormal in PA. From a mine that held a miracle to the skies over Kecksburg that created a conspiracy.
September 19, 2023
This was nice! My dad visited the coal region and brought back to Italy this book. I found it really interesting, expecially the chapters talking about Sheppton and the Bigfoot!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews