Ghost Hunter: The Groundbreaking Classic of Paranormal Investigation

by Hans Holzer

The prestige edition of the classic, trail-blazing work on ghost hunting will intrigue new fans and longtime devotees alike—part of the new Tarcher Supernatural Library.

Fifty years before Paranormal State, Ghost Hunters, and Most Haunted, there was Hans Holzer—a man known as the “Father of the Paranormal.” Holzer pioneered ghost-hunting methods still used today, and brought ghosts and ghost hunting into popular culture in the second half of the twentieth century.

Ghost Hunter presented some of the first-ever case studies of haunting investigations, taken from Holzer’s own practice in the New York City area—ranging from Civil War-era spirits to the tormented ghosts of murder victims.

For devoted ghost-hunting aficionados curious about the practice’s history, there is no better place to start than the first book Hans Holzer wrote, Ghost Hunter.This is the 1963 book that launched his publishing career and gained him international fame.

The first three titles released in Tarcher's Supernatural Library are Ghost Hunter (by Hans Holzer), Romance of Sorcery (by Sax Rohmer) and Isis in America (by Henry Steel Olcott).

Genres: Paranormal, Ghosts, Nonfiction, Horror, Ghost Stories, Historical, Short Stories

256 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1972

About the author

Hans Holzer, whose investigations into the paranormal took him to haunted houses and other sites all over the world, wrote more than 140 books on ghosts, the afterlife, witchcraft, extraterrestrial beings, and other phenomena associated with the realm he called “the other side.” Among his famous subjects was the Long Island house that inspired The Amityville Horror book and film adaptations. Holzer studied at the University of Vienna, Austria, and at Columbia University, New York, earning a master’s degree in comparative religion. He taught parapsychology at the New York Institute of Technology. Holzer died in 2009.

Reviews

[♥Milica♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not exactly what I was expecting? It's kind of similar to another book I read by Mr. Holzer, as in every chapter is a retelling of a case he investigated, with the help of his medium friends, and while that's interesting I was hoping for more of his own life, because of the title. But I don't really mind reading about (mostly) just the cases.

3.5

[Richard Gazala · Rating 3 out of 5]

The technology-laden art of ghost-hunting commonly practiced today (evidenced by the scads of popular ghost-hunting shows currently haunting your cable television for all the 26 weeks on either side of Halloween) is based largely on an extravagant array of exotic gadgets calibrated to detect the piercing of our earthly veil by ethereal forces otherwise immeasurable dispassionately. This "objective" approach was first widely championed and documented by Briton Harry Price in his 1940 tome, "The Most Haunted House in England," a classic in the field examining the haunting of Borley Rectory in Essex. But there are more ways than one to confront a wraith, as celebrated American spirit chaser Hans Holzer demonstrates in his seminal 1963 (reprinted in new editions in 2005 and 2014) work, "The Ghost Hunter." Rather than depend on cold engineering's electronic or mechanical fruits like Price and most phantom finders currently on TV, Holzer's methodology relies on selecting deft and trustworthy psychic mediums to accompany him on investigations of locations squatted by specters along America's northeast coast. Once ensconced in a haunted location, Holzer's medium-du-jour allows herself to be commandeered by the wronged spirit so the latter can speak the grievances that compel it to wreak eerie havoc. The book's collection of reports is mostly entertaining, sometimes enlightening, and Holzer's interventions usually (but not always) lead to the elimination of spooky doings once the living appropriately address the ghosts' gripes. Holzer's book teaches it may be folly to assume people's quest for fairness in love and war is constrained by mortal borders, and that a good medium gives any fancy contraption a run for its money in tracking ghosts.

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a few of Holzer books, mainly because of his writing and involvement in Amityville horror. This is the only Non Amityville book I have of his.

Not good but not horrific. Its like cold fast food...edible and sustainable.

[Jeanine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 50th anniversary edition. lits of short ghost stories. Very enjoyable.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cozy ghost stories, not scary but just what I was looking for.

[DeAnne · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.25 stars

I normally can fly through Holzer's books, but this one was just a struggle. I put it down so many times because it was so slow even though it was all short stories.

[Emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

While highly formative to my love of things that go bump in the night, Hans Holzer's book are not, shall we say, GOOD.

[Sherri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hans Holzer is the ghost hunter

[Helle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just for fun. Outdated and more than a little silly.

[Vicky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good yet not as good as I’d thought it’d be from the godfather of paranormal.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

His first bug hit but not his best.

[Jaime · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read several books by Hans Holzer. Like his other books, it is a compilation of his cases. Some are interesting but most are mundane and too short Holzer is not the best writer but he is a detailed investigator. In this collection, it is evident that the best investigated cases are the best tales. Of the 40 cases covered, nine stand out for various reasons. Among these are: "Central Park West Ghost" (creepy), "The Fifth Avenue Ghost" (the most detailed), "The Ghostly Lover", "The Rockland County Ghost" (most detailed and revealed story), "Ocean-Born Mary" (the best of the stories), "The Terror on the Farm"( a tale of menace), "The Ghosts of Barbery Lane," "The Roommate problem" (the most entertaining), and "When The Dead Stay On" (the story I most related to because of my own paranormal experiences). He does bring in a slew of colleagues and experts who are either empaths, psychic, mediums, parapsychologists, dream analyzers & interpreters, cultural historians, and experts in tarot cards and using the ouija board (not recommended). Each expert adds depth and insight to the tales and experiences. The mediums' experiences were the most intriguing because they put themselves in peril while keeping a clear mind. I also believe that soem of these tales are warnings about the evil connected with these hauntings. I honestly believe that if Holzer would have chosen one way, recount of haunting or an investigation, the book would have been better. Overall, this was a good but not great collection of paranormal encounters and investigations.

[Crista · Rating 3 out of 5]

This really isn't a book that you sit down and read cover to cover; it is a collection of stories of some haunts Hans Holzer investigated, and usually has the vibe of a memoir. The stories are generally pretty succinct, and follow a solid pattern: someone contacts Mr. Holzer, he contacts a medium who has been told nothing about the location, they schedule a drive to the location, the medium goes into a trance, and details on those that haunt the location are shared through the medium. The author then shares what research he could find to verify the medium's statements. This can be a bit repetitive, but it came across to me as the author's idea of a scientific approach to the subject, so I believe it was a deliberate choice. There are quite a few really interesting stories that made me want to investigate more; for some there aren't many details to do so easily, but it's doable if you're the sort that likes to supplement your reading with some detective work!

If you're looking for scares, this isn't the book for you; it really does come across as an almost clinical approach to spooky stuff. And it's not a flowing narrative that's going to invoke a lot of emotion. But there's something charming about hearing of his approach in the 60's, and while I wasn't really excited to get through the full book, the stories were light and interesting, and it made for a good lunchtime reader.

[Boris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hans Holzer was "Mr. Ghost Hunter" for more than a generation. Tales of reported hauntings always make for fun and intriguing reading but Holzer's narrative is based on using mediums, a largely-discredited method. Virtually all mediums famous and obscure have been frauds of the self-deluding or the cynical exploitative kind. The only exception that I know of was Leonora Piper. It's worth reading "Ghost Hunters" by Deborah Blum just to read about her.

Holzer relates the hauntings as experienced by those who contacted him to do an investigation. These always make for interesting reading. Holzer would then conduct his investigations using mediums and what follows make for a meandering dialogue between the 'medium' and the spirit reminiscent of trying to interrogate someone who is both mentally deficient and inebriated. The book absolutely bogs down at these times.

Holzer's credibility is compromised by having fully bought-in to the Amityville Horror hoax. There's also a chapter of his investigation of the reputed home of the New England legend "Ocean Born Mary". The problem is that neither Mary nor any relation ever lived at the house she was supposed to haunt.

Ghost hunting today is driven by technology; EVP recordings, magnetometers,digital cameras and thermometers. This book is a look, if anything, at the approach to the supernatural in a bygone era.

[Linda · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm still reading, but I have to say, this is the WORST ghost book I've ever seen.

It was written in the late 60's - early 70's by a man who LOVES to name drop. He was quite friendly with a number of socialites, so he loves to tell you about them, often with a coy wink as to their identity by using first name and last initial for anonymity.

Also, several of the stories are completely useless. He'll explain how allegedly certain things would take place, then say he held a seance but nothing happened, and so he thinks they settled the spirit down. Whatever.

Don't bother with this one.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very quick, fun, informative read.

Hans Holzer's account of his life as a ghost hunter in 1950-1960 New York.

Some instances are very convincing, while others are not. Recurring through each encounter is the idea that ghosts are drawn to the mortal plane because of unfinished business. Or massive confusion.

I also have an autobiography by Eileen J. Garrett, Holzer's preferred medium, which I am eager to compare with this book.

It kinda made me want to seek out some of the haunted spaces he mentions, despite my fear of ghosts.

[Sandra Strange · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hans Holzer is a real ghost hunter with experience of decades. His accounts are true--which makes them much less suspenseful and interesting than if they were inventions. Holzer has his own ideas of what ghosts really consist of, and how best to deal with them. He contacts them through mediums (media?) whom he can trust. His books are interesting, but not gripping.

[Kachina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was not really what I expected. It seems very dated, as the author uses only mediums to "interact" with the ghosts. When he isn't telling ghosts to go "towards the light", he's only repeating unverified stories that others have told him. If you are looking for a book of scary experiences this us not it. I was able to read this in the dark.

[Mike Gettel · Rating 1 out of 5]

It should be called ghost interviews instead. Most of the stories involve ghosts possessing mediums and recounting how they died. Honestly was expecting something more terrifying but I guess I set my sights too high. Especially considering these were written by the by the author of the amityville horror.

[Thebruce1314 · Rating 2 out of 5]

It takes some talent to make a book about real-life ghost hunting boring, but this one has managed it. The stories are not cohesive and the details are generally pretty vague. Halfway through - I struggled, and I’m out.

[Bridgette Buck-Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the bible of early paranormal investigating

Hans Holzer is the grandfather of the paranormal, he was one of a kind, none like before, or after. If interested in the field this is the place to start!!

[Marykate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave this book a 3 out 5 star because the book had some really good stories throughout and the good ones would take me only a couple minutes to read, but when the story was no so interesting it took my forever to read. I liked the book but it is not a book I would want to reread.

[renee c shaner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Old fashioned ghost hunting


I love the variety of locations.The mediums he
Worked with. Great Fun locations and buildings
Fun Scary Reading.Great for new readers

[Jay Arnold · Rating 3 out of 5]

This gentleman put his faith in mediums & his own falliable belief that he was communicating with ghosts from beyond the veil & not demonic spirits.

[Elle Belle · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting short stories, not dated although this is the 50th anniversary edition. Makes me want to hang around haunted houses.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good

I love the history behind hauntings. You learn peoples stories who otherwise you might never have know. The is well written and gripping.

[Adrienne Flitcroft · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quite interesting stories, but I didn't like the style of writing.