Haunted World: 101 Ghostly Places and Encounters

by Theresa Cheung

Paranormal expert Theresa Cheung shares 101 of the most mysterious and spooky true stories of hauntings from around the world together with the latest afterlife science and research, providing fascinating insight into our never-ending love affair with ghosts.

Belief in ghosts is surprisingly common worldwide. Mysterious glowing orbs, unexplained chills, things that literally go bump in the night: signs of paranormal activity have reportedly surged during the pandemic. As have specialist investigators, organised ghost hunts, eerie podcasts, TV shows and reports of everyday hauntings.

Sharing the details of some well-known and particularly mysterious hauntings together with some less-well-known tales and personal stories from her readers and listeners, Theresa explores these ghostly encounters and the latest research behind paranormal activity in this timely and entertaining book.

Genres: Horror, Ghosts, Paranormal, Nonfiction, Audiobook

288 pages, Paperback

Published September 24, 2024

About the author

Theresa Cheung is an internationally bestselling author and public speaker. She has been writing about spirituality, dreams and the paranormal for the past 35 years, and was listed by Watkins Mind Body and Spirit magazine as one of the 100 most spiritually influential living people in 2023. She has a degree in Theology and English from Kings College, Cambridge University, frequently collaborating with leading scientists and neuroscientists researching consciousness.

Theresa is regularly featured in national newspapers and magazines, and she is a frequent radio, podcast and television guest. She hosts her own popular spiritual podcast called White Shores and her own weekly UK Health Radio show: The Healing Power of Your Dreams.

Reviews

[Sharon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not what I expected. I wanted tales of ghosts, not a explanation of why they exist and what they exist.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Theresa Cheung’s Haunted World is much more than a collection of spooky tales. It dives into the fascinating world of paranormal activity with an educational twist. Instead of simply recounting ghost stories, Cheung explores different types of ghosts, hauntings, and encounters with otherworldly entities. The book weaves in history and research, offering potential explanations for some of the mysterious phenomena described. This makes it not only an engaging read for those curious about the afterlife but also a valuable resource for ghost hunters looking to visit real-world haunted locations.

The balance between storytelling and research gives the book depth, and while it isn’t particularly frightening, it taps into that deep, human curiosity about life after death. The inclusion of historical context adds richness to the stories, making them feel more grounded in reality.

Lucy Rayner’s narration enhances the experience with her calm and steady voice, which lends both credibility to the ghost stories and a sense of authority to the educational aspects. Her delivery makes the book feel all the more engaging, bringing out the believability and curiosity the subject matter invokes.

For anyone interested in the paranormal, Haunted World is an informative and intriguing listen that mixes education with entertainment, all while keeping the tone grounded rather than terrifying.

Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Theresa Cheung for the advance copy of Haunted World. I thoroughly enjoyed listening!

[Cindi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author, narrator, publisher and Net Galley for providing a free e-audio version of this title in exchange for my review.

I thought this was a nice collection of stories and well researched and performed. It was entertaining to read and covered a wide group of topics.

4 stars for "really liked it'

[callistoscalling · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was obsessed with ghost stories as a child, it certainly did not help that I lived in a haunted house. This book was the perfect audiobook that I would listen to with my kids that normalized the experiences of the paranormal (obviously, I suggest you make your own decisions on what you listen to in your home). Super fun and the right amount of scary!

[Elizabeth Wisneski · Rating 2 out of 5]

I guess I should not have picked this up if I do not believe in ghosts bc I think if I did I would have LOVED this book

[KarnagesMistress · Rating 4 out of 5]

Theresa Cheung was matter-of-fact in her handling of each of her subjects. Each subject has warranted their own full-length works; I would categorize Haunted World: 101 Ghostly Places and Encounters as almost a kind of encyclopedia in its brevity and style. Anyone looking for a real-life Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark is going to be disappointed. There are a number of these entries that I would barely consider to be a "ghostly place [or] encounter." I did, however, find it a nice touch to include entries such as The Dybbuk Box that have been proven to be completely of this world, or ones like The Stanley Hotel which may be overly influenced by those who want to believe thanks to popular media treatment. It's altogether a way to keep the subject as firmly on the side of science (both social and hard) as possible (as opposed to the humanities). As Theresa Cheung reminds us, even such esteemed physicists as Wolfgang Pauli have expressed interest in the study of such matters. Indeed, quantum physics and related topics (see, e.g., Hyperspace: A Scientific Odyssey Through Parallel Universes, Time Warps, and the Tenth Dimension) may offer explanations for some of the entries in Haunted World: 101 Ghostly Places and Encounters.

Lucy Rayner, as always, provided lovely narration (I had previously enjoyed her work on The Firebird). My audiobook did not contain Loyd Auerbach's forward. I'm not sure if this is because my audiobook was still a galley or if it just wasn't part of the audiobook. If the latter is the situation, I was at least able to access the Forward via Google Books. I really liked Haunted World: 101 Ghostly Places and Encounters, and will refer to it in the future as a reference on the subject. I would like to thank Dreamscape Media for allowing me to experience this NetGalley audiobook.

[CAROLYN Wyman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haunted World by Theresa Cheung

Haunted World is a non fiction book about hauntings, poltergeist, and many other topics related to the supernatural world. I have always had a very strong fascination with the Supernatural and Occult, believing objects and places hold power, as well as retain memories of the past, with that being said, I was excited to begin this book and all that it holds. The book began a bit slow, just going over facts and information, but once it really started going over actual haunting information, I found it picked up and became hard to put down. Two things I found very interesting were the Winchester house and the Jersey Devil. I love most of Stephen Kings books, so when listening to this book, my attention was immediately grabbed when the story of the Winchester house began. And I’m sure most fans of his would immediately notice the similarities to Rose Red. My husband started laughing at me as I paused my book to look up whether this was his inspiration. Another part I was surprised at was the mention of the Jersey Devil. It’s not something I normally read about as I didn’t realize it was so much more than a local phenomenon. Living in South Jersey my entire life, of course I grew up hearing the stories, especially as I went to school with one of the Leeds descendants. I was definitely surprised to see that in a book that covered so much in regards to hauntings, spirits, and the paranormal.

While those two stories were not the only ones I recognized, they were two that stood out immediately. The author did a comprehensive study on the occult, finding so much information. This book is truly fascinating. I am one of those people who can rewatch Supernatural repeatedly, looking for anything I have missed, or watch shows on hauntings or haunted places and be intrigued even if I have already learned about it. The author delivers a plethora of information in an interesting and entertaining way. I definitely recommend this to everyone including the ghost hunters, mediums, or even the people that are just dipping their toes in.

My cons for the book is that some stories blur together. With the chapters as long as they are, it’s hard to find stopping points to digest the information. Also some points repeat, and while I understand that the author was putting them in the categories that they fit in, it was repetitive in some spots. It even repeated lines (unless that was a narration error)

The narrator, Lucy Rayner, was great. She has a beautiful voice and I enjoyed listening to her. Lucy draws you in and holds your attention with her accent, which enhances the story itself, helping to draw you in and hold you enraptured until the end.

Overall this is a book I would recommend if you enjoy the occult, hauntings, or anything supernatural. While the chapters are very long, the information within is immense.

[Kristie Hale · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s spooky season.
Ghostly places and encounters?
Sign me up.
I have always loved hearing ghost stories as a kid and even now as an adult (I love a good ghost tour), so when I saw this Audiobook ARC opportunity I had to submit a request.

These aren’t super scary stories, though a few are a bit spooky.

This isn’t only a collection of recounts of locations and encounters. It also includes quite a bit of education on the paranormal. This book touches on 4 different types of hauntings and explains the differences in all. These are Residual, Poltergeist, Inhuman, and Intelligent.

All stories are “well reported stories”.

I have heard of a handful of these stories/locations and found myself writing down more as the book progressed to look up and read on further. As someone who has visited the Crescent Hotel and other locations, it was really cool hearing those mentioned. I also enjoyed that the Warren’s were mentioned a few times. Need I explain more? Who doesn’t love the conjuring movies and Annabelle? I liked hearing more about what influenced those movies.

All in all it’s a great book/audio book to pick up if you are interested in learning more about hauntings or hearing new paranormal stories.

Note for the Audiobook: The audio narrator was great. Sometimes I found it difficult to stay engaged and some of the stories started to run together if I listened for long periods at a time. I am sure this is different when it is being consumed in book form.

Thank you NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and the author for this audio arc!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't sure how Haunted World would be on audio since these types of reads are usually best with eyeballs, but I loved it! I thought Lucy Rayner was fantastic as narrator and kept the listener experience engaging.

Author Theresa Cheung brings together a fabulous collection of haunted tales from all over the world. If you're a fan of spooky things I highly recommend you check this out. Haunted World had a good balance between information and lore. The stories were well researched and I liked the way the author had the sections organized. There were a lot of stories I was already familiar with (Whaley House, Winchester House and the Ottawa Jail Hostel), but there were many more that were new to me. I can't wait to research and learn more about Weston State Hospital, Lady Jane Grey and Lord Guildford and the Taj Mahal.

Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Theresa Cheung for an early review copy. These are my honest thoughts.

[Ren || Reading What I Want · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝓷𝓪𝓻𝓻𝓪𝓽𝓸𝓻(𝓼): Lucy Rayner
𝓵𝓮𝓷𝓰𝓽𝓱: 8hrs 49min
𝓽𝓪𝓰𝓼: nonfiction, thriller, paranormal
𝓻𝓮���𝓮𝓪𝓼𝓮 𝓭𝓪𝓽𝓮: September 26, 2024
𝓻𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
𝓶𝔂 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼:

So many amazing haunted places: train stations in London, Winchester Mansion, castles, cemeteries, hotels.
We’ve got poltergeists and ghosts and exorcisms.
My absolute FAVORITE people ever, Ed and Lorraine Warren, are of course mentioned many times.

It’s like 101 spooky stories being told around a campfire…except these stories are founded on truthful recollections and personal experiences.

The narrator, Lucy Rayner, was fantastic.
I did have to slow the speed a little with the accent but my, was her voice perfect for telling all these stories.
I honestly could listen to a podcast with Lucy’s voice and Theresa’s storytelling.
Bravo!

𝙄 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙪𝙙𝙞𝙤𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠. 𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙤𝙬𝙣.

[Laura Jade · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was CHILLING!

I read this in two sittings, both times in the dark and both times were such a fun, but scary experience!
Any time I would hear a noise in the house I jumped out of my skin!

Not only was this incredibly entertaining, it was really informative and insightful and I've come away wanting to visit new places and research the lives and deaths of the people said to haunt them.

Ghosts, spirits and the paranormal have always fascinated me and despite being more sceptic than I used to be, this book did make me realise why I enjoy the idea of hauntings, demons, the supernatural etc. and yearn for answers to the unknown.

A perfect book for anyone even remotely interested in the subject and would like to learn more, while reading the most frightening and eerie stories!
Although if you scare easy, maybe don't read this late at night.....

[No Apology Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Theresa Cheung, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to a free eaudio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I don't usually read nonfiction, but I love ghost stories, which I figured this more or less would be, so I went for it. And it is, in part. There's also what's essentially a paranormal glossary and other textbook-y type information, which was interesting but less compelling. Unsurprisingly, my favorite part was the residual hauntings. I wish there had been more of that, but I understand Cheung was going for a more comprehensive guide to modern paranormal phenomena. Overall I liked this book and it wasn't as much of a chore to read as I was afraid it might be. Most of all, though, I loved that it was published in audiobook format; so much nonfiction, especially of this ilk, isn't.

[Rebecca Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Get ready for a walk through some of the haunted places around the world. Frights and shivers await!

With all of the haunted locations around the world, it can be hard to narrow down which ones to talk about. In this book, the author has chosen 101 places. Some are better known, while others are hidden away. There are fun facts, and interesting tidbits to learn about each location.

I truly enjoyed this read, and getting reacquainted with some places, while being introduced to new locations. The narrator did a great job, and I found it easy to listen to. This became my go-to read for a couple of nights. If you enjoy a good ghost read, then this will be one to add to the reading list.

[ClaireJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I spent most of October reading a few pages of this book a day and I absolutely loved it! I am so intrigued by the paranormal and to read about famous hauntings around the world and also other strange occurrences such as possessions of people and objects really was fascinating.

What I liked about this book is that Theresa admits that they could be true paranormal experiences but also explores some of the evidence and if it is likely to be false. She explains how electricity, water and other elements surrounding people when they think they have seen a ghost could make you hallucinate.

It is all quite unsettling to read about and I found myself constantly googling about each case on my phone to learn more. I do believe in ghosts so it made me feel quite creeped out! I do think a lot of cases though are false but I do believe there is something unexplained out there in the afterlife.

If you find paranormal stories fascinating then I definitely recommend this book. It was great to sit down with each evening and scare myself 😂

[Heather · Rating 1 out of 5]

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the audio version. I was so excited to get this book. I love reading and listening to ghost stories, and since Halloween is right around the corner, I thought this would be perfect... but it was really slow and not hardly any stories. The author explains what different types of ghosts and spirits there are, and all in all, I already knew all of this. So, I think it was a bit of a letdown. I wanted to read more ghost stories at locations, etc. False advertisement, in my opinion.

[Alysha Billett · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

What a beautifully written book.
Which always seems strange to say when it’s a spooky read, but it’s nothing but true.
Not only were the ghost stories chilling. They were fascinating.
Each story I could vividly imagine, which I don’t know if that’s a good thing as there are some real spine chilling reads in here.
The story of Annabelle is in here, so that’s all I need to say for my horror fans out there.
Not only were the story’s chilling they were surrounded with history and folklore. As a history lover this book will hold a special place in my heart, not only did I hear about the ghostly sightings, I was able to learn about the creepy structures and often heartbreaking past events that shape it’s current hauntings.

Do you believe in ghost?
Are you too afraid to dive into the world of the unknown?
Are you ready for 101 ghostly places and encounters?

[Luna Moon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well written account across many areas of paranormal phenomenon. It wasn't dry, like some of these books and more importantly, it didn't feel like it was telling you what to believe. It does give 101 different chapters with interesting and informative stories and explanations. Perfect for those looking into ghost hunting or paranormal studies enthusiasts.
I highly recommend. In fact, this is the best book I've found in years that is both interesting and informative.
I listened to the audiobook. Narration was beautifully done and well paced.

[Barb Shadow · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was excited to begin reading this book as the blurb billed the stories included as "101 of the spookiest stories of hauntings from around the world." Although well written and researched, there was nothing spooky here. The stories seemed more like were encyclopedia entries with a short description of the ghostly activity. Most of the locations described have already been well documented (and even over-documented) over the years.

[Natasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Theresa Cheung's 101 Spooky True Stories of Hauntings offers a fascinating collection of eerie tales from around the world, but it sometimes lacks the depth needed to truly immerse the reader in each story. It's a fun, quick read for those interested in paranormal encounters, but some stories may blur together.

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

_Haunted World: 101 Ghostly Places and Encounters_ by Theresa Cheung and narrated by Lucy Rayner is an entertaining and informative read, covering a wide variety of topics within paranormal experiences and research. The narration is sincere and information is comprehensive.

This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Rachel Shaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great ghost story compilation if you are looking for sheer quantity. I think this is a fantastic book to start with if you want to see what kind of ghost stories you like. It doesn’t go into as much detail as I prefer, but you could easily use this as a jumping off point, then do deeper research on the ones that stick with you.

[Beersbooksandboos · Rating 2 out of 5]

I started off really like this but there was a error in it. It wasn't Queen Elizabeth 1 who had Lady Jane Grey executed by Queen Mary. Elizabeth had Queen Mary of Scotland executed. Then I was getting pretty bored with the stories that she told. Maybe if I read it physically I would have enjoyed it better.

Thank you Netgalley

[Alise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book that focuses not just on paranormal occurrences but also the science behind it and the study of parapsychology. If you are a frequent reader of the paranormal, you may know a lot of these but there are probably a good amount that you have not heard of as well as some deeper perspectives on the more commonly known hauntings.

[Cynthia Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, Netgalley, Theresa Cheung, and Dreamscape Media for the audiobook. A great narration by Lucy Rayner. This was an informative listen with some creep factors when the recounting of paranormal activities comes in. A great listen before spooky season!

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this as an arc copy from NetGalley and I really enjoyed it! I have always loved paranormal things. This gives 101 real life examples of experiences all over the world and it really makes you think. This was perfect to read for spooky season!

[Aimee | aimeeds.reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a paranormal lover, this was an interesting listen! Cheung had a great balance of storytelling, giving research, and telling details of history. It was very enjoyable and intriguing to listen to!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the audiobook for review.

[Claire Cobb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great read for anyone interested in paranormal and supernatural events or things that go bump in the night. Some really interesting facts and stories that have been told by real people.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

needed google to read the majority of this book as no photos etc and advised to ‘check it out and make your own mind up’ on pg 57

[Ethan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author's storytelling in the audiobook resulted in a thrilling narrative, filled with scary stories that left you enthralled, leaving me craving to hear more.

[Ivana - Diary of Difference · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Decades ago, when I first moved to London – rich in youth and a sense of adventure but poor in cash and a sense of direction.”

We’re getting into October. The days are getting colder and shorter. And soon, we’ll enter the spooky season and get the Halloween candy out. And just a note – for all the supermarkets selling Christmas decorations and advent calendars before Halloween is over – shame on you!

I have always been intrigued and curious about things we can’t explain. And of course, all things paranormal naturally intrigue me. I love reading about it and having discussions.

“Haunted World” is separated into a few different parts, each part deep diving into many stories and examples. I enjoyed the introduction. It gives an explanation on all things paranormal. After life, do ghosts exist, paranormal possibilities, signs of haunting. I love how open the book is. If you are a sceptic or a non-believer, it’s not designed to change your mind. It’s just a summary of events noted through history, and you can make your own opinions about them. I think it’s the perfect book for people that are not too into the paranormal, but just curious about all things spooky.

The residual ghostly places section was my least favourite. Even though I liked reading about these stories, they were too vague and didn’t satisfy my curiosity. Many of them were quite short and generic, and could be repetitive. Then the poltergeist stories started, and things became quite interesting. My favourite parts were the inhuman and intelligent stories. When I read the story about the Fox sisters, I knew I had read about this before. And I remembered I read a fiction book about it a few years ago called “We Played With Fire”. That was a wonderful moment for me.

As a whole, I enjoyed this book and I think it adds a good spooky sparkle during October. Some of the stories are hit and miss, but one thing I know for certain is that this is one of those books that you can keep coming to every year during the spooky season, and it will always deliver.

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