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True Haunting
This is the story of a true haunting. It was the first ever filmed and televised by NBC in 1971. A young couple purchases a building that was built and occupied by a single family that refused to relinquish their hold, even after death. Investigated and verified by experts, this residence brought chaos to the lives of those who chose to reside there. Unlike a horror novel, this chronicles what a real ghostly experience would resemble. Long before the laws of disclosure, a young couple winds up in the midst of strange occurrences prior to the term ‘paranormal’ becoming a common description.
Only a little known organization came to their aid. Author Tom Valentine, brought in a nationally known psychic, Joseph DeLouise, who then asked assistance of an exorcist from England, Reverend William Derl-Davis. Together, they gave their best effort at exorcising the multiple spirits inhabiting the building and disrupting the lives of the living. Events were filmed by NBC, who sent their most prominent Chicago journalist, Carole Simpson, to cover the event.
Follow a young couple with a newborn as they attempt to cope with inexplicable events, experience denial, plead for help from their Church, and step into the world of the paranormal. Understand why ghosts cannot be exorcised and a true example of their strong sense of domain, even after death. Learn what experts and gifted people did in a failed attempt to assist this desperate couple.
Learn many of the various manifestations that can be common in haunting. Ghosts can be seen and heard. They can propel objects and interrupt utilities. They can affect your moods and feed off of your emotions. They can appear as solid as you and me. They can react and become hostile if threatened or violated. There are certain subtle occurrences you may find the most frightening, because you just might relate and recognize them. If so, guess what? You may have a ghost!
Only a little known organization came to their aid. Author Tom Valentine, brought in a nationally known psychic, Joseph DeLouise, who then asked assistance of an exorcist from England, Reverend William Derl-Davis. Together, they gave their best effort at exorcising the multiple spirits inhabiting the building and disrupting the lives of the living. Events were filmed by NBC, who sent their most prominent Chicago journalist, Carole Simpson, to cover the event.
Follow a young couple with a newborn as they attempt to cope with inexplicable events, experience denial, plead for help from their Church, and step into the world of the paranormal. Understand why ghosts cannot be exorcised and a true example of their strong sense of domain, even after death. Learn what experts and gifted people did in a failed attempt to assist this desperate couple.
Learn many of the various manifestations that can be common in haunting. Ghosts can be seen and heard. They can propel objects and interrupt utilities. They can affect your moods and feed off of your emotions. They can appear as solid as you and me. They can react and become hostile if threatened or violated. There are certain subtle occurrences you may find the most frightening, because you just might relate and recognize them. If so, guess what? You may have a ghost!
187 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 27, 2011
81 people are currently reading
805 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
January 14, 2012
This book became an instant Best Seller on Amazon. It holds Kindle's Best Sellers at #1 for nonfiction parapsychology. It is a must read! A true ghost story certified and so realistic, it strikes home.
November 6, 2018
I was a little apprehensive about adding my review for this book on here, as when I first read it back in August 2012 I left my review on Amazon (where I purchased it) and the abuse I got for doing so was relentless; the author actually contacted me, some of his (what I assume were) friends and family did as well as random people. As a result I changed my review (after a week of constant abuse I'd had enough). However, I then realised what was occurring was bullying and I refuse to be bullied by anyone so I've added my review here, in it's entirety, just as I wrote it on Amazon originally.
I bought this book due to the rave reviews; as a result I will never again purchase a book based on what other people have said about it. I am sorry but I could not disagree more with the other readers of this book. I should have known when it was called True Haunting, and the fact I had never before heard any part of it that I wasn't really going to enjoy it. I did notice that of the 14 reviews a large proportion of them have only ever left 1 review - that review being for this book - and several have only ever reviewed books by this author. Maybe that should have raised a few suspicions, but I carried on regardless and purchased the book hoping for a truly spine chilling, exceptionally well written piece of true historical haunting. If only I'd known then what I know now.
The highest grade I got in my English exams back in the day was a 2, which is why I am surprised so many people have said how well written it is; I know nothing when it comes to this sort of thing, but aside from the grammar being really bad, there is no flow to the story at all. The dialogue is actually quite hard to follow as it's literally all part of the same sentence.
I don't want to give any of the story away but so many of the things I read, have either been told to me before as folklore or I have seen a movie / read about them somewhere else. The locked room in the basement. Really? Not just a touch of The Goonies (Sloth being locked in a basement room)? The priest having a funny turn (Exorcist and Amityville - odd that he actually mentions both of these books in his story - even more so if this book was meant to be written at the time (1971) yet the Amityville didn't happen until 1975) The phone line constantly playing up (again Amityville)? The oiuja board in the cupboard (ooh what kids spooky tale hasn't had one of those)? Look out for the "Crazy lady" with mental health issues too. All very atypical traits, and characters needed for a story about hauntings. It's the way he speaks about this lady that really annoys me too. In one sentence he's calling her a "crazy old witch" and in the next saying how sorry he feels for her as she obviously has "mental health issues". Talk about contradictions. He also states 'except on Sunday, when we would typically go shopping'. I thought Sunday trading was unheard of in the early 70's? More so in the US than over here (I could be wrong on that one). Thinking the cat being below on the patio after the bedroom window has been left open is paranormal, is actually laughable. I've had to put opening security bars up at my own upstairs windows where my cats kept falling out if I had them open. Also stare in to any cats eyes and they will stare back; nothing paranormal about that at all. It's just a common cat trait.
The other thing I don't understand is how he had the power to evict his sister who was living in the building, yet he chose to let her carry on living there after he moved out. If he was that concerned about her - or the ghosts and demons haunting the place - he would have given her no choice but to leave.
The need to put peoples names in a paragraph constantly when it is obvious to anyone who he is talking about I find really off-putting; not only does this get annoying, it also made the flow of reading hard going. He's already said there was just him and (insert name of whoever is with him) in the building at the time, so why he has to keep using their name in the same sentence/paragraph is beyond me. I also don't like the way he refers to people; Martha is the 'Heavy lady', Ben the 'old reprobate', Myra is any number or derogatory terms he can use for her including the 'old hag, nasty old witch and crazy woman'. There's no need at all for him to keep re-iterating these names. He has already described them and their personalities when he first introduced these characters. His disrespectful beration of them also really annoyed me.
Stating that he didn't consider his friend an invalid, yet at every opportunity he mentions his blindness, was infuriating; this whole exploration of their friendship needs a chapter of its own too - just being plonked in the middle of another part of the story took away from what I believe he was trying to achieve (that he thought a lot of his friend).
I also found his constant reference to "I didn't believe in ghosts, but do now" or "I wouldn't know the place was haunted, then the ghosts showed themselves" really detracted from the story. Had he not kept doing this then the story could have developed and built up to it. There would have been an expectation and some great tension, without a knowing, as it is by the time he does get round to mentioning he thought they were haunted, I was bored with the whole thing. His meetings with "psychic" Joe DeLouise and Tom Valentine didn't add any credence to the story at all; the introduction of the Priest Rev.Derl-Davis and his exorcism actually made the whole thing farcical. The fact TV crews got involved does nothing to add weight to the story, it just shows how clever Joe DeLouise was at self promotion, for he gained a lot more notoriety out of it than anyone else.
I think my biggest issue is that as someone who resides in a haunted property I was expecting a lot more from the story teller; I expect details. I don't expect things like - the dog woke me up barking, I turned the light on - then have the story jump straight to next day. I expected to read that he'd searched the building to see if the dog made a noise in other rooms; anyone who lives in a haunted property is able to give details. This writer gives none whatsoever. The first investigators he called in took up a minimal amount of paragraphs. Basically they arrived, they set up their equipment, a door opened, the telephone moved, they left. Yes he really does write it that quickly. There is are no details, no mention whether anything was caught on the cameras they set up; did their dictaphones pick up sound of any kind? Someone dealing with - or who has had dealings with the paranormal, l would be only too willing to share these details - he gives away nothing making me feel he is not writing from any kind of memory.
The author (who I have since learned has written several other books and short stories based around paranormal stuff - all works of fiction) claims this story was written as it happened - and just after - back in the early 70's and yet so often he will say "you have to remember back then" or "things have changed since those days" suggesting it has been written in more recent times. It certainly wasn't written as a diary of events that's for sure.
Anyone that has ever dealt with or studied paranormal behaviour would also understand the massive amount of energy that would be needed for the *ghosts* to be able to do half the things they're supposed to have done in this house and yet no batteries are drained, no massive power outages are reported in the neighbourhood. It's as if they are the only spirits in the history of spirits that are able to do these things without any kind of energy at all. Even a living human would need to draw on some kind of energy; these spirits don't possess a physical body so would need all the power they could get.
All in all I can't tell you that you're not going to enjoy the story; some of you may even believe it to be true - some of you may not - but I think in the balance of fairness I had to share my experience of this book. I feel bad in a way I couldn't rate it higher, but in my opinion - please note before any of you start bombarding me with angry messages that this is just MY Opinion - it just doesn't warrant anything higher than 1 star (if I'm totally honest I wouldn't have given it that much).
I bought this book due to the rave reviews; as a result I will never again purchase a book based on what other people have said about it. I am sorry but I could not disagree more with the other readers of this book. I should have known when it was called True Haunting, and the fact I had never before heard any part of it that I wasn't really going to enjoy it. I did notice that of the 14 reviews a large proportion of them have only ever left 1 review - that review being for this book - and several have only ever reviewed books by this author. Maybe that should have raised a few suspicions, but I carried on regardless and purchased the book hoping for a truly spine chilling, exceptionally well written piece of true historical haunting. If only I'd known then what I know now.
The highest grade I got in my English exams back in the day was a 2, which is why I am surprised so many people have said how well written it is; I know nothing when it comes to this sort of thing, but aside from the grammar being really bad, there is no flow to the story at all. The dialogue is actually quite hard to follow as it's literally all part of the same sentence.
I don't want to give any of the story away but so many of the things I read, have either been told to me before as folklore or I have seen a movie / read about them somewhere else. The locked room in the basement. Really? Not just a touch of The Goonies (Sloth being locked in a basement room)? The priest having a funny turn (Exorcist and Amityville - odd that he actually mentions both of these books in his story - even more so if this book was meant to be written at the time (1971) yet the Amityville didn't happen until 1975) The phone line constantly playing up (again Amityville)? The oiuja board in the cupboard (ooh what kids spooky tale hasn't had one of those)? Look out for the "Crazy lady" with mental health issues too. All very atypical traits, and characters needed for a story about hauntings. It's the way he speaks about this lady that really annoys me too. In one sentence he's calling her a "crazy old witch" and in the next saying how sorry he feels for her as she obviously has "mental health issues". Talk about contradictions. He also states 'except on Sunday, when we would typically go shopping'. I thought Sunday trading was unheard of in the early 70's? More so in the US than over here (I could be wrong on that one). Thinking the cat being below on the patio after the bedroom window has been left open is paranormal, is actually laughable. I've had to put opening security bars up at my own upstairs windows where my cats kept falling out if I had them open. Also stare in to any cats eyes and they will stare back; nothing paranormal about that at all. It's just a common cat trait.
The other thing I don't understand is how he had the power to evict his sister who was living in the building, yet he chose to let her carry on living there after he moved out. If he was that concerned about her - or the ghosts and demons haunting the place - he would have given her no choice but to leave.
The need to put peoples names in a paragraph constantly when it is obvious to anyone who he is talking about I find really off-putting; not only does this get annoying, it also made the flow of reading hard going. He's already said there was just him and (insert name of whoever is with him) in the building at the time, so why he has to keep using their name in the same sentence/paragraph is beyond me. I also don't like the way he refers to people; Martha is the 'Heavy lady', Ben the 'old reprobate', Myra is any number or derogatory terms he can use for her including the 'old hag, nasty old witch and crazy woman'. There's no need at all for him to keep re-iterating these names. He has already described them and their personalities when he first introduced these characters. His disrespectful beration of them also really annoyed me.
Stating that he didn't consider his friend an invalid, yet at every opportunity he mentions his blindness, was infuriating; this whole exploration of their friendship needs a chapter of its own too - just being plonked in the middle of another part of the story took away from what I believe he was trying to achieve (that he thought a lot of his friend).
I also found his constant reference to "I didn't believe in ghosts, but do now" or "I wouldn't know the place was haunted, then the ghosts showed themselves" really detracted from the story. Had he not kept doing this then the story could have developed and built up to it. There would have been an expectation and some great tension, without a knowing, as it is by the time he does get round to mentioning he thought they were haunted, I was bored with the whole thing. His meetings with "psychic" Joe DeLouise and Tom Valentine didn't add any credence to the story at all; the introduction of the Priest Rev.Derl-Davis and his exorcism actually made the whole thing farcical. The fact TV crews got involved does nothing to add weight to the story, it just shows how clever Joe DeLouise was at self promotion, for he gained a lot more notoriety out of it than anyone else.
I think my biggest issue is that as someone who resides in a haunted property I was expecting a lot more from the story teller; I expect details. I don't expect things like - the dog woke me up barking, I turned the light on - then have the story jump straight to next day. I expected to read that he'd searched the building to see if the dog made a noise in other rooms; anyone who lives in a haunted property is able to give details. This writer gives none whatsoever. The first investigators he called in took up a minimal amount of paragraphs. Basically they arrived, they set up their equipment, a door opened, the telephone moved, they left. Yes he really does write it that quickly. There is are no details, no mention whether anything was caught on the cameras they set up; did their dictaphones pick up sound of any kind? Someone dealing with - or who has had dealings with the paranormal, l would be only too willing to share these details - he gives away nothing making me feel he is not writing from any kind of memory.
The author (who I have since learned has written several other books and short stories based around paranormal stuff - all works of fiction) claims this story was written as it happened - and just after - back in the early 70's and yet so often he will say "you have to remember back then" or "things have changed since those days" suggesting it has been written in more recent times. It certainly wasn't written as a diary of events that's for sure.
Anyone that has ever dealt with or studied paranormal behaviour would also understand the massive amount of energy that would be needed for the *ghosts* to be able to do half the things they're supposed to have done in this house and yet no batteries are drained, no massive power outages are reported in the neighbourhood. It's as if they are the only spirits in the history of spirits that are able to do these things without any kind of energy at all. Even a living human would need to draw on some kind of energy; these spirits don't possess a physical body so would need all the power they could get.
All in all I can't tell you that you're not going to enjoy the story; some of you may even believe it to be true - some of you may not - but I think in the balance of fairness I had to share my experience of this book. I feel bad in a way I couldn't rate it higher, but in my opinion - please note before any of you start bombarding me with angry messages that this is just MY Opinion - it just doesn't warrant anything higher than 1 star (if I'm totally honest I wouldn't have given it that much).
March 28, 2016
This book is strictly an account of the haunting of a 2 apartment building. It's like a play by play of the things that he remembers. I found this book pretty interesting and at times a little spooky. I've had a ghost following me for the better part of 10 years so I found this read pretty interesting. Although my ghost does bug my animals it's never been more that a nuisance. The ghosts in this book were a lot more than that they seem to be malevolent. So if you like true hauntings and spooky things than this book is for you.
November 13, 2013
I was drawn to this book as I was searching for any books written from the victim's point of view, as is mine. I was not disappointed with this book. Edwin provides a very heartfelt and genuine account of his paranormal experiences, which are obviously still very fresh in his mind. I believe Edwin's account 100% as when you have been through such an experience yourself, you can soon tell when people are telling the truth or not. The book is a great bargain and certainly leaves you wanting to know more. I do hope that one day Edwin will write a follow up book of this story, and how he was affected by it all. I will be the first in line to buy it.
December 1, 2015
So many unconvincing accounts in this and the follow-up; the main thing that bothered me the most: why, in all the tedious times of the phone being off the receiver, was there never any mention of the tone? Everyone who had phones back then knows just how loud and jarring that tone was. The author likes to remind us of how things were in the 70s, yet that distinctive tone never once happens?
The old woman perched on his steps: the author's a personable guy and though he greets her often enough, there's never a conversation dealing with why she's choosing his steps, if she needs help, where she lives, etc.
I could go on and on, but I'll just end with this:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KO_YErq...
The old woman perched on his steps: the author's a personable guy and though he greets her often enough, there's never a conversation dealing with why she's choosing his steps, if she needs help, where she lives, etc.
I could go on and on, but I'll just end with this:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KO_YErq...
June 26, 2014
TRUE HAUNTING - BY EDWIN F. BECKER
I had the pleasure of hearing both Ed and his wife Marsha speak on the Delta Paranormal Project Radio show June 5, 2014 retelling their experiences living in a haunted home. I was intrigued and wanted to know more about what they as homeowners had to do in order to cope with unruly spirits.
In this day in age their are people who are able to help those in need of answers as oppose to the Becker's back in the 1970's people weren't so quick to give a helping hand.
This was a fantastic read in which I highly recommend to anyone interested in the paranormal.
I had the pleasure of hearing both Ed and his wife Marsha speak on the Delta Paranormal Project Radio show June 5, 2014 retelling their experiences living in a haunted home. I was intrigued and wanted to know more about what they as homeowners had to do in order to cope with unruly spirits.
In this day in age their are people who are able to help those in need of answers as oppose to the Becker's back in the 1970's people weren't so quick to give a helping hand.
This was a fantastic read in which I highly recommend to anyone interested in the paranormal.
February 9, 2013
As an avid fan of the paranormal, I really enjoyed the author's account of his time in the haunted building on Campbell Street in Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood. Many "true ghost stories" seem overly sensationalized, but I really felt that this book was quite sincere and stuck to the family's experiences without selling out. While the writing itself isn't phenomenal, the author does a good job of conveying the tension and his growing feelings of desperation. Plenty of creepy occurrences to keep the pages turning.
It's a very interesting story, and the fact that this all took place in the city I call home made it just a little extra spooky (I'm rather curious about the tragic history of the house, and would love to hear more about it if anyone out there has done some research). A short read, but well worth it.
It's a very interesting story, and the fact that this all took place in the city I call home made it just a little extra spooky (I'm rather curious about the tragic history of the house, and would love to hear more about it if anyone out there has done some research). A short read, but well worth it.
April 29, 2012
This is particularly creepy because it rings true. I read it over a month ago, and I'm still wigged out over it. Since I live near Chicago, I was compelled to look up the house, and it appears to have been consistantly on and off the market since the '70s. Coincidence? I think not!
August 2, 2013
This book was absolutely fantastic! I read this in 2 days and could NOT put it down. If you want to read about a haunting that is very real, then look no further! I am a full skeptic of REAL hauntings, but I completely believe that this one is authentic!
May 8, 2012
A really good ghost story! A great example of the paranormal at work. If you want to know what it might be like to live in a haunted house, then this book will tell you!
August 14, 2012
Yawn! Save your money. This was more biographical than scarey.
August 17, 2012
I reccommend this book to anyone! Fantastic
March 27, 2016
Ed Becker's 'True Haunting' is the story of a young couple who found themselves suddenly being evicted from their apartment in 1970 in Chicago, simply because they'd innocently informed their landlord that they were expecting their first child. As if that wasn't traumatic enough for the author and his new wife Marsha, what happened next made just about anything they'd ever previously experienced truly pale by comparison. Ghostly pale, that is.
Of course the couple was able to find a place to call home just in the nick of time, but little did they know when they first moved in that they'd actually be sharing their not so new two story building with not one, not two, but something in the neighborhood of five paranormal entities! And that's after they were finally able to rid themselves of the sole remaining (living) occupant of the creepy family that had long been masters of the spooky old dwelling.
And as if that last cantankerous, verbally abusive holdout from the previous owners wasn't scary enough to have to deal with (before the violently raving old woman was finally carted off to be institutionalized), things ended up gradually getting much worse once the deceased family members in residence started to make themselves known in various, highly unsettling ways.
And the best part is that it's all true! What's more, the book is amazingly well composed, with few (or perhaps no) errors in terms of grammar, syntax or spelling - which really is not all that common with most eBooks these days, you know. Especially far too many of the self published true paranormal variety. Yet Ed Becker actually pleasantly surprised and even downright shocked me with not only his fluid, concise, and remarkably interesting and well paced storytelling skills, but also with his sober, matter of fact and quite level headed straightforwardness about he and his wife's ever so reluctant experiences with the supernatural.
Beyond the unexpectedly professional prose, what sets this book apart from countless similar efforts by other ghost story telling authors, is that Ed Becker makes absolutely no bones about the fact that the paranormal is absolutely nothing to trifle with. He makes this clear in various ways throughout the narrative (both overt and roundabout), and remains refreshingly stalwart and steadfast in this assertion from beginning to end. Few other writers in the genre manage to drive this particular point home even half as well as Mr. Becker, though he somehow manages to not seem too overly heavy handed or at all preachy in the process. 'This is what happened. This is what we experienced,' Ed seems to be saying, with remarkable candor and consistency throughout the narrative. 'Believe it or not, take it or leave it.'
Thankfully, True Haunting is not only easy to digest (because of the no nonsense writing style and no holds barred honesty of its author), but it's so well executed overall that the book really does fall into that magical "hard to put it down" category. Will it keep some readers awake at night? Almost certainly. You bet your sweet supernatural backside it will. But that, of course, is at least half the fun. Not that the frightening experiences that Ed and Marsha Becker endured in the early 1970s in their truly haunted house on Campbell Street is anything to find amusement in, mind you, but their story really is as compelling and thought provoking as it is frightening, AND horrifically entertaining.
Of course the couple was able to find a place to call home just in the nick of time, but little did they know when they first moved in that they'd actually be sharing their not so new two story building with not one, not two, but something in the neighborhood of five paranormal entities! And that's after they were finally able to rid themselves of the sole remaining (living) occupant of the creepy family that had long been masters of the spooky old dwelling.
And as if that last cantankerous, verbally abusive holdout from the previous owners wasn't scary enough to have to deal with (before the violently raving old woman was finally carted off to be institutionalized), things ended up gradually getting much worse once the deceased family members in residence started to make themselves known in various, highly unsettling ways.
And the best part is that it's all true! What's more, the book is amazingly well composed, with few (or perhaps no) errors in terms of grammar, syntax or spelling - which really is not all that common with most eBooks these days, you know. Especially far too many of the self published true paranormal variety. Yet Ed Becker actually pleasantly surprised and even downright shocked me with not only his fluid, concise, and remarkably interesting and well paced storytelling skills, but also with his sober, matter of fact and quite level headed straightforwardness about he and his wife's ever so reluctant experiences with the supernatural.
Beyond the unexpectedly professional prose, what sets this book apart from countless similar efforts by other ghost story telling authors, is that Ed Becker makes absolutely no bones about the fact that the paranormal is absolutely nothing to trifle with. He makes this clear in various ways throughout the narrative (both overt and roundabout), and remains refreshingly stalwart and steadfast in this assertion from beginning to end. Few other writers in the genre manage to drive this particular point home even half as well as Mr. Becker, though he somehow manages to not seem too overly heavy handed or at all preachy in the process. 'This is what happened. This is what we experienced,' Ed seems to be saying, with remarkable candor and consistency throughout the narrative. 'Believe it or not, take it or leave it.'
Thankfully, True Haunting is not only easy to digest (because of the no nonsense writing style and no holds barred honesty of its author), but it's so well executed overall that the book really does fall into that magical "hard to put it down" category. Will it keep some readers awake at night? Almost certainly. You bet your sweet supernatural backside it will. But that, of course, is at least half the fun. Not that the frightening experiences that Ed and Marsha Becker endured in the early 1970s in their truly haunted house on Campbell Street is anything to find amusement in, mind you, but their story really is as compelling and thought provoking as it is frightening, AND horrifically entertaining.
March 28, 2013
I am a total skeptic but still have a fascination with ghost tv shows and books. Being the only one in the family brave enough to read "The Rite" my sister told me about this book that was written by her friend's parent's friend. I immediately downloaded it but waited for a quiet night to start it.
My partner was asleep so I stayed on the couch to read. It starts off attributing goosebumps, breezes, ears ringing, and little things to the paranormal. Next thing I was under the covers in my bed with a flashlight (as not to disturb my sleeping partner, but to use him as a human shield against ghosts).
Most of the book was not jump out of your skin scary, but just told the story of a young family that moved into a home and things started happening. Our protagonist, Ed, constantly tried to find explanations and create solutions until finally he gave in that ghosts existed. The writing is casual but pulls you in. I am curious more about the family that lived there before Ed and his family. The little we did know is what was discussed quickly with a neighbor.
I'd like to see these homes revisited in a modern show. Ghost Adventurers drives me nuts sometimes, but I like how they dig into the history and the stories of the 'ghosts.' If it is as haunted as it seemed in the book, they'd have no trouble getting great footage!
My partner was asleep so I stayed on the couch to read. It starts off attributing goosebumps, breezes, ears ringing, and little things to the paranormal. Next thing I was under the covers in my bed with a flashlight (as not to disturb my sleeping partner, but to use him as a human shield against ghosts).
Most of the book was not jump out of your skin scary, but just told the story of a young family that moved into a home and things started happening. Our protagonist, Ed, constantly tried to find explanations and create solutions until finally he gave in that ghosts existed. The writing is casual but pulls you in. I am curious more about the family that lived there before Ed and his family. The little we did know is what was discussed quickly with a neighbor.
I'd like to see these homes revisited in a modern show. Ghost Adventurers drives me nuts sometimes, but I like how they dig into the history and the stories of the 'ghosts.' If it is as haunted as it seemed in the book, they'd have no trouble getting great footage!
July 30, 2012
If you are obsessed with real ghosts and love to read about them, then this is the book for you. The story is about real life events that happened to a young couple after they purchased a residence which happened to be haunted. The story takes you through the couple’s everyday life of supernatural occurrences. This is an interesting, easy read. I read it in one day. And for those who are worried about animals being physically hurt (like me who WILL NOT watch a movie where an animal is inflicted with pain), they aren’t. The dogs run away and even though the cat experiences scary moments, it is not intense. Though it was an interesting read, I wasn’t scared. After reading the reviews, I was expecting myself to be scared out of my skin but that never happened. One section in the reading that disturbed me was the fact that when the author needed to sell the property, he did not disclose the real problems behind the house. Knowing that he suffered, I don’t know how he could easily rent out the property without warning the new tenants. I found that appalling. Also, I wish there had been more back story about the ghostly residents. It’s a good story and for the $2.15 price on Amazon, I wasn’t disappointed.
May 7, 2015
I'm endlessly fascinated with tales of the paranormal so this was right up my street. In fact, as I started reading I realised I'd seen the Paranormal Witness reenactment of the story, a few months ago.
This has all the typical elements of a house haunting; displaced household items, strange footsteps and voices, a family with a dark past, a skeptical husband and a wife left alone with the ghosts all day...
I don't know if such things are real or if this is just a super-interesting cultural trope, but I did enjoy reading this. It didn't need to have major incidents or drama, the real events were enough.
My only problem was that, for some reason, many of the names were italicized. Not the author's, or his wife's, or the priest's names, but most others. I'm not sure if this is because he was using pseudonyms for these other people but it read like he was being really sarcastic about them. Like, "oh, here comes "George" and his wife "Linda", along with my brother "Butch".
Overall, if you like true haunting stories, this is a good one. You can even watch the original NBC broadcast of the exorcism from the 70s on youtube!
This has all the typical elements of a house haunting; displaced household items, strange footsteps and voices, a family with a dark past, a skeptical husband and a wife left alone with the ghosts all day...
I don't know if such things are real or if this is just a super-interesting cultural trope, but I did enjoy reading this. It didn't need to have major incidents or drama, the real events were enough.
My only problem was that, for some reason, many of the names were italicized. Not the author's, or his wife's, or the priest's names, but most others. I'm not sure if this is because he was using pseudonyms for these other people but it read like he was being really sarcastic about them. Like, "oh, here comes "George" and his wife "Linda", along with my brother "Butch".
Overall, if you like true haunting stories, this is a good one. You can even watch the original NBC broadcast of the exorcism from the 70s on youtube!
April 30, 2013
In Becker’s novel, he recounts the story of his purchase of a bargain house. The house needed work as most houses do, but they also were tasked with evicting the “crazy” woman living in the downstairs apartment. Becker did both before moving his family into their new home.
In a straight forward, no-nonsense approach, Becker tells the story of the negative affect the property had on all those who entered and the Church’s refusal to assist them which finally forced him to seek out help from paranormal investigators.
This is the story of a haunted house—a house haunted by several ghosts—and the impact it had on the living. While not told in a sensational manner, it is told with such chilling detail it made the hair on the back of arm stand up and take notice.
Lovers of the supernatural will get a thrill until the very end.
In a straight forward, no-nonsense approach, Becker tells the story of the negative affect the property had on all those who entered and the Church’s refusal to assist them which finally forced him to seek out help from paranormal investigators.
This is the story of a haunted house—a house haunted by several ghosts—and the impact it had on the living. While not told in a sensational manner, it is told with such chilling detail it made the hair on the back of arm stand up and take notice.
Lovers of the supernatural will get a thrill until the very end.
August 22, 2012
I'd never heard of this haunting, or of the news coverage of it until I read this book. The story is well told, in a simple and direct way that appealed to me. I was intrigued by the tragic history of the home, and the strange experiences that the author and other occupants had there. I found the entire story interesting, and also a bit disturbing, which I think is natural with good true ghost stories. I wish there had been some photographs included of the people involved, and the property (other than the one on the cover). Would also have liked a follow up on the property's current situation/status. I did find a clip of the original news footage online, and it satisfied some of my curiosities.
March 11, 2015
HOLY GHOST, Don't Read Before Bed..
I am a true addict when it comes to Scary! If you want to be on the edge of your seat and want to know what a real Haunting is don't miss this one. I was so into this story I just could hardly put it down and couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next. Had to keep reminding myself this was all true. I don't know how these people lived in this house as long as they did. The dog's had enough sense to leave that would be a sign to get out in itself... This was so well told and hard to believe at times, there were probably more terrifying Events that happened as Mr. Becker had said that he did not tell do to the residents privacy. If you want Scary this is it, one of the best book's I've read !!!
kozetteksmith
I am a true addict when it comes to Scary! If you want to be on the edge of your seat and want to know what a real Haunting is don't miss this one. I was so into this story I just could hardly put it down and couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next. Had to keep reminding myself this was all true. I don't know how these people lived in this house as long as they did. The dog's had enough sense to leave that would be a sign to get out in itself... This was so well told and hard to believe at times, there were probably more terrifying Events that happened as Mr. Becker had said that he did not tell do to the residents privacy. If you want Scary this is it, one of the best book's I've read !!!
kozetteksmith
May 6, 2013
Every so often a book comes along which makes you want more - this is one of those books.
I want describe the book as other reviewers have already done that. What I will say is if you love a good ghost book then this is the book for you.
I love any ghost stories and I love true accounts of ghosts even more.
I would love to know more about the history of the house and more about its previous inhabitants and indeed what's happened since the author wrote about it.
Definitely a five * read from me and one I would definitely recommend. This author is going on my favourite authors list and I will definitely be looking up more of their work.
How about a follow up Mr Becker?
I want describe the book as other reviewers have already done that. What I will say is if you love a good ghost book then this is the book for you.
I love any ghost stories and I love true accounts of ghosts even more.
I would love to know more about the history of the house and more about its previous inhabitants and indeed what's happened since the author wrote about it.
Definitely a five * read from me and one I would definitely recommend. This author is going on my favourite authors list and I will definitely be looking up more of their work.
How about a follow up Mr Becker?
November 6, 2015
A resident's guide to living with ghosts.
When Ed and Marsha bought a 2 apartment dwelling, they soon found out the place was reeking of ghostly pranks. Mr. Becker then wrote about all the ruckus and the ghost busters who came to rid the place of the ghosts.
As the years go by, he tells us about living with them and the misfortunes that affected everyone who lived there.
He didn't mention his daughter much and I'm still perplexed that after witnessing all those strange noises and occurrences, other tenets and the author still denied the existence of ghosts.
Then Mr. Becker got it that ghosts sometimes don't leave.
I was ready for the book to end.
When Ed and Marsha bought a 2 apartment dwelling, they soon found out the place was reeking of ghostly pranks. Mr. Becker then wrote about all the ruckus and the ghost busters who came to rid the place of the ghosts.
As the years go by, he tells us about living with them and the misfortunes that affected everyone who lived there.
He didn't mention his daughter much and I'm still perplexed that after witnessing all those strange noises and occurrences, other tenets and the author still denied the existence of ghosts.
Then Mr. Becker got it that ghosts sometimes don't leave.
I was ready for the book to end.
September 11, 2013
The fact that this was a true story made it more frightening than it was supposed to be. Refraining from arguments about the paranormal, I have a very open mind so I didn't discount the author's story. This was an account of the first nationally televised haunting in the US, the author and his wife were interviewed by NBC, this happened in the 70s but the author decided to self-publish the story in 2011. If this was a fiction book, it would be a pretty weak ghost story, but the selling point was the claim that it happened. Overall a pretty good book and I got chills in some moments. 8/10.
December 19, 2014
I could not put this book down! I can also say it is the only haunted house book I have read to date that I believe is a true story! Others get crazy to make a few extra sales and maybe a movie. Ed was able to make me feel the fear and tension he and his wife Marsha felt in the complex and having lived in a haunted house myself there are things he talks about that you only know if you have lived in one. A page turner you won't want to put down and won't want to turn the lights out after you read it.
February 10, 2012
This was an extraordinary book which documents the haunting of the author's property in the 1970's. Very well written and creepy as all get out! The author documents nearly a year of weird happenings in his apartment building including the history. Very well done and worth the time to read it. Its clearly a true haunting and the reader gets the sense of the unease he and his wife felt. I highly recommend this book. It was impossible to put down!
July 20, 2012
While it is obvious that this book is self published, mainly by grammatical errors and a not wholly polished writing style, this is nonetheless a very engrossing read. What the Beckers experienced was horrific, and impossible not to believe. This is the first book on hauntings that I've read that made me truly grateful to live in a spirit free house. I respect this man for publishing his story.
May 23, 2012
I read this book in less than 24 hours and it was beyond gripping. Thank goodness I was reading it on a crowded commuter train rather than an empty house because otherwise I think I would've jumped out of my skin. The fact that this was a true account made it all the more scary.
If you want to be carried away by a real ghost story this is the book for you
If you want to be carried away by a real ghost story this is the book for you
July 9, 2012
I enjoyed this book, it's an easy read. However, if the events the author claims to have occured are real, then it bothers me that the author allowed people to rent the downstairs apartment not knowing it was haunted. I understand the author needed income to pay the mortgage, but he should've disclosed the ghost situation to prospective tenants.
October 22, 2012
I was soooooo scared when I was reading this book. As a kid, nothing scared me more than the idea of poltergeists. At one point when I was reading this my phone vibrated next to me in bed when I got a text and I nearly jumped out of my skin! It's been a long time since a book scared me so badly. A really fun read.
December 19, 2013
Fabulous story about a real haunted house!
Ed Becker wrote a story about events that actually happened to him. There is no speculation nor any things that 'might have happened'. I had a hard time putting it down and more than once felt goosebumps just reading what occurred in his house. Anyone interested in ghost stories will love this book.
Ed Becker wrote a story about events that actually happened to him. There is no speculation nor any things that 'might have happened'. I had a hard time putting it down and more than once felt goosebumps just reading what occurred in his house. Anyone interested in ghost stories will love this book.
March 30, 2014
This is a true account of an everyday couple who experienced a haunting in their first home. It is not sensationalized, just told as it was. The writing is kind of raw, but that just lends itself to your reading it from an average guy's viewpoint. It won't scare the bejesus out of you, rather it will enlighten you.
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