Paranormal Intruder

by Caroline Mitchell

An innocent family finds itself completely helpless against the sudden onset of paranormal activity in their quiet rural home. A knife embedded in a kitchen cupboard, crockery smashed by invisible hands, and blood-chilling growls emit from thin air. Caroline and her husband Neil search for answers as they try to protect their family from the unseen entity that seems determined to rip them apart.
The biggest question looms over them like a dark cloud ... who is going to help us? There are emergency services for many things, but not of this nature. It might be easier to believe temporary insanity, if not for the vast amount of witnesses. Police, fire services, mediums, priests and investigators all become embroiled in the mystery. The family struggles to cope, and Caroline grows concerned for her husband’s failing health as he withdraws from the world. However, the entity has only just begun.
Paranormal Intruder is the true story of one family’s brave fight against an invisible entity. Described as one of the best-documented cases of paranormal activity, this page turning book will stay with you long after you have finished reading it.

Genres: Paranormal, Horror, Nonfiction, Supernatural, Ghosts, Mystery, Thriller

196 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

New York Times, USA Today, Washington Post and International #1 Bestselling Author. Shortlisted by the International Thriller Awards for best ebook 2017 and the Killer Nashville Best Police Procedural 2018.

** See all my books in order here: https://caroline-writes.com/books **
**Join my writing course here: https://www.caroline-mitchell.com **

Now available:
Amy Winter thriller series: https://geni.us/AmySeries

Slayton thriller series: https://geni.us/Slaytonseries

Jennifer Knight thriller series: https://geni.us/JKSeries

The Islanders psych thriller: https://geni.us/TheIslandersCM

The Village psych thriller: https://geni.us/thevillage

Reviews

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read all the novels by author Caroline Mitchell and was given the opportunity to read her book based on a true story. The book is not normally the type of book I read but given the enjoyment this author has already given me felt I must give it a go. The thing that makes this book different and so thought provoking is that it is a true account and not a novel and also that there are so many witnesses to the events.
Paranormal Intruder is a true account of paranormal activity which Caroline and her husband Neil, their family and friends were subjected to. There are so many examples of paranormal activity, a knife embedded in a kitchen cupboard, crockery smashed and chilling growls emit from thin air. While Caroline and her husband Neil search for answers, they try to protect their family from the entity that seems determined to rip them apart. The witnesses of this paranormal activity are widespread, police, fire services, mediums, priests and investigators all become embroiled in the mystery. The family struggle to get through and Caroline grows concerned for her husband’s failing health as he withdraws from the world. However, the entity has only just begun.
This is an incredible story that is told expertly in a way that will entertain, thrill, amaze and leave you wondering is this real.
I have never been completely sure of my thoughts on this subject but you cannot fail to have at the very least second thoughts after reading this.
Another excellent book by author Caroline Mitchell.

[Maxine (Booklover Catlady) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where do you begin with reviewing a book such as Paranormal Intruder? A true story about a normal family in a modern new build house under terrifying attack from a Paranormal entity for YEARS.



Just imagine for a moment if that was you and your family.

What is so powerful about this book and what I hope keeps the sceptics quiet is the amount of credible witnesses that saw with their own eyes, felt or smelt the activities of this entity intent on causing havoc, creating fear and generating terror. There is NO doubt in my mind that this is one of the most disturbing and fascinating cases of Paranormal activity in the UK on record.

Caroline Mitchell was a Police Officer at the time that the "things" started going funny in their home. This is no creepy house that is hundreds of years old, it's new and modern, no other people had lived there before. It was a happy family home with her husband, children and beloved dogs...but then an unwanted house guest decided to move in and not leave.

The book is written so well that you just read and read, it's not boring, I know hundreds of events occurred and I liked the way Caroline only included key events so the book does not read like a report (the Paranormal Investigator they worked with took care of that bit).

Events included but are not limited to: plates flying across the room, to people being shoved, poked and hit, strange liquid dripping from thin air, literally. Coins being thrown at people, car keys hidden and moved. Knives thrown, fires started, never ending horrific phone calls that would drive you insane.

At times it was just terrifying what was going on, hearing horrific animal type growls, smelling foul air, games being played and lives being destroyed. This entity or whatever you decide to call it was going nowhere and the family were being driven from their happy home. Just astonishing.

‘Caroline Mitchell’s story of paranormal encounters in her own home is simply astonishing, mesmerising and scary. The fact Caroline had the bravery to expose and reveal this unusual phenomenon whilst still being a police officer is quite courageous. I highly recommend this extraordinary story. – Uri Geller

I am not going to reveal much more but they called upon many churches to help, involved Paranormal Investigators, anybody who could offer some hope to get this unwanted guest out of their home. The sheer power and scary capabilities of what it could and did do was just shocking. I would not have stayed and fought for my home like Caroline and her family did. I take my hat off to all of them for coming through that torment and terror. I would have been moved to the other side of the world.

It's an absolutely fascinating read, some of it seems almost unbelievable but credible witnesses like police officers, fire brigade crew, Priests and church laypersons all witnessed and experienced a taste of what this family was going through. Could anybody help them.

I can't recommend this book highly enough. I am not surprised it's been a Number #1 Best Seller on Amazon, you have to get it. I am so interested in the case that I am now looking into it from further research beyond the book.

Scary at times, shocking at others, incredulous for much. But true.

5 easy stars from Booklover Catlady for this amazing story. I cannot stress enough how I could not put it down and devoured it word for word. I hope that you will experience it!

Thanks so much for reading my review. Feel free to follow me or send a friend request 😊

[Caroline Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am the author for this book, but I felt compelled to write a review. Naturally I am biased, but I feel this book deserves this review as it is a unique case, given the amount of witnesses and professionals involved. I have worked very hard to do this amazing story justice in the hope that it will encourage others to come forward and tell their stories also.
Every emotion has been poured into this book. There have been tears and there has been laughter, but most of all it displays the endurance of the human spirit in an unimaginable set of circumstances. I do hope readers enjoy this story and I welcome all contact both here and on my site.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have no idea if this is a true story as it's claimed to be however this did freak me out.

I started it one evening and quickly decided it probably wasn't the best book to read just before bed.

It's quite a short read but it's really engaging, and you just can't believe that this family lived through all this.

Being born and bred in Colchester I really thought the pier was the most exciting thing about Clacton, clearly not!

Four stars.

At the time of posting this book is available on Kindle Unlimited.

[Victor *You Bow to No One* · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been 12 days since I finished this story and quite honestly words escape me. There's so much that I want to say but I can't seem to form my thoughts into coherent sentences. I have a slew of thoughts and questions but I keep coming back to why did you stay in the house? The logical part of my brain, the part that I allow out on occasion, knows why Caroline and her family stayed, she tells us - I just couldn't grasp it.

The events that occurred in that household prevented me from grasping it. I was too busy being scared to worry about the financial ramifications of moving. I didn't want them to have to keep ducking knives that were being thrown. Did I mention knives were thrown? No. Well yes, this entity was fond of throwing things... and growling. Yet they stayed.

There was an incident while Caroline was cleaning her en suite bathroom that would have caused me to put the house on the market. Caroline's response, 'let me sit down here on the bed and talk to the entity'. A couple of times I checked to see if this is the same Caroline Mitchell that authored Don't Turn Around. Yep. She is. I liked that story. She looks so sensible in her bio pic, yet she sat down on the bed to talk to the intruder.

So many incidents happened that I went numb. I just kept thinking what else can happen to this poor family?. If this had been a work of fiction, I would have criticized the author for over doing it. The business with the dogs was heart breaking. I wanted to swoop into the story and rent them a home nearby so they wouldn't have to bother the in-laws. I felt so bad for them. Then they took the entity on a pubcrawl.

What's Wrong With You People??

There were more than a few instances where I was laughing out loud. This is one where Neil and Caroline are at the house picking some stuff up when they decide to stay the night.

I was not so keen. My stomach was still churning from earlier events. ‘I don’t want to stay here Neil, there’s no way I’ll be able to sleep now.’

Neil began walking up the stairs, weary. ‘Look, it’s all died down now. If it starts up again we will leave, I promise,’ he said, in his most reassuring tone.

‘I'm going to hold you to that,’ I reluctantly followed him up the stairs. As I climbed into bed, Neil looked at me with amusement, ‘You’re not coming to bed with your shoes on, are you?’

I was fully clothed and intended on staying that way. I must have looked a sight, with the duvet pulled up to my neck and my trainers sticking out of the side of the bed.

‘Too right they’re staying on. I want to be ready in case we need to leave in a hurry.’

Neil smiled, undoing the buckle on his jeans. ‘But you’ll wait for me to get dressed if anything happens… Won't you?’

I responded with a withering look, which told him he was on his own.

There is an account by John F. Triplow, a freelance writer and paranormal investigator, towards the end of the book and what he found out from his research is hair-raising. Literally the hairs on my arms are standing as I think back on it.

I believed the accounts in this book as described by Caroline. I don't need or want any proof. Sometimes we ask questions when we're not fully prepared for the answers. I know I'm not ready.

I had a bit of fun criticizing their actions and questioning their decision to stay but I did that from the comfort of my home. I wasn't there and I didn't experience what they did. If faced with a similar situation, I hope that I would have the resolve and be brave enough to fight.

Highly recommended

[Angel Gelique · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine that, during the course of an ordinary day at work, you get a frantic call from your spouse.
"...Something’s happening in the house, I think it’s haunted."
How would you react? Would you think it's a joke?
For author Caroline Mitchell, it was no laughing matter. Completely out of the blue on a day in January, she received such a call from her husband and rushed home to find that her house was, in fact, haunted by a malevolent entity. This story is an account of the living nightmare that she and her family endured for years. From that very first terrifying night...
"I wished I had a fast forward button I could press to bring on the dawn."
...to several months of interacting with an otherworldly being, Mitchell describes what it was like coexisting with an invisible enemy.
Most of the events were rather spine-chilling, but the entity, whom they referred to as "Phil," had a mischievously playful side, too. Though even then it often grated on their frayed nerves--especially the author's.
"Taking part in a game of paranormal ‘hot and cold’ was not on my agenda."
It's hard to imagine sharing your home with an unpredictable and potentially harmful presence for a day, let alone years. It certainly led to a very unconventional lifestyle.
"Most couples go out for a curry on their days off, we went out for an exorcism."

It was difficult for me to grasp the fact that this book is a not a work of fiction--that these horrific things actually happened. Much of it seems so fantastic that it's simply hard to believe. Yet, there are so many eyewitnesses to the vast majority of the occurrences that I think readers can't help but question their beliefs.

In my opinion, Mitchell and her family members were incredibly brave to return their home. As for me, I would have listened to the house...



...and hightailed it out of there!

Actually, I'm pretty sure no entity could put up with me and it would leave of its own accord. :-)

In any event, this is a great, well-written, thought-provoking book about a true haunting that is sure to leave readers in wonder.

[Regan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most thrilling, best documented paranormal cases I have been privy to read about. It is frightening and engaging. Caroline reached out to me to review your book, and I can say that I am incredibly happy she did so.

I read every “true” paranormal story with an investigator’s eye. Having been a paranormal investigator for many years, and working a case so incredibly similar to this one, I could not turn away until I finished the book.

Caroline, a respected police woman in the UK, found herself in the middle of a demonic force that tore her family apart. Caroline’s recount of the events was so intriguing, but so very spooky, I found myself praying after I finished the book. If the family could be so easily susceptible after her husband, Neil, dabbled with an Ouija board as a child and began watching paranormal programming as an adult, I know that I did not want to leave myself vulnerable either.

One of the strongest things I found in the book was the end chapters with actual accounts by family and friends who bore witness to the events first hand. I believe that this can only lend more credibility to the book. Caroline had witnesses from both the police force and fire department. Fellow police officers witnessed the chaos that consumed the author’s home.

Since the book takes place in the UK, I was a bit frustrated with the “church” that kept denying assistance to the family. But that’s a more personal stance than anything else. I have no faith in the Catholic church. Time and time again I have found that they’re only there to assist if it benefits them in the long run.

The only major irritation I have with the book is that it just ends. There is no real follow up. Are they still plagued by the demonic spirit, even though they relocated? Are others living in their house and are they experiencing it now? Or was it solely Neil and Lee?

Also… TOTALLY frustrated with the DO8!!
Even more frustrated with the diamond shape in the yard.

What the hell. Every through investigator knows to research EVERYTHING. I kind of feel that the author touched on this topic, and it may have been a huge key in what was going on. But that was that. She mentioned it in the book, but no follow through.

Skeptic’s Eye
I definitely feel that Lee was some how involved in the events. It was just too uncanny how things continued to worsen every time he was around. Top it off with the fact he did not want Neil over at his house…. leads the investigator in me to question his personal motives more so.

I am thoroughly surprised that the amount of psychics, church members, friends and family never suggested that they stop dabbling in communicating with the entity. When you open communication, you create a bridge to be attacked. Recording, photographing, and table tapping are all sure fire ways to enable the rise in events.

I firmly believe that Neil was possessed, even if at a mild extent. The book never once touched on that topic. Quite a few of the books I have read surrounding demonic possessions, deliverance and exorcisms would only suggest that this was the case with Neil. I believe that the closeness of his friends and family are the only reasons he did not succumb to the entity. Neil never was ever fully without support. He was gaunt, his physical appearance changed, he was depressed, defeated, and about totally given in.
Signs of possessions: Depression, alienation, “sinking into oneself”, acceptance, oppression, and eventually possession.

Overall, fantastic book!

[Rebecca Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t like being scared. I don’t watch horror films or that television programme where they go ghost hunting, but I read this book because I know the author online and she’s a serving police officer so I know whatever is in it is going to be truthful and not blown-up and exaggerated. This book is even endorsed by Uri Geller.

So what is inside this book? It’s an account from Caroline and her husband Neil of life with an unknown entity from the day it first started to the present day of ending the writing of the book. And after reading this, you can definitely call it an entity rather than anything else. It’s a bizarre read if you don’t particularly believe, but because Caroline is a police officer, it is written particularly factually rather than emotionally. Yes, she does tell you she is upset by events, but you don’t feel the fear so much, you just follow the events and I think that’s what is important in something like this. You need the facts rather than getting swept up in someones emotions of a situation. Lack of emotion helped me be able to read it as well, without being completely terrified and unable to read it!

The entity throws things, moves things, makes phones ring each other and speaks through them, or rather growls through them, it gets physical, it gets dangerous. It’s something I really don’t ever want to have to experience.

In the back of the book are statement like accounts from people who have been present and seen happenings, people who have been mentioned within the pages, people who include other serving police officers. Not people to be drawn into something so bizarre so lightly.

If you’re at all curious about whether this could possible happen, then this is an interesting read.

[Kelly Van Damme · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not really my cup of tea, but well written and interesting enough. I think I may be too much of a non-believer, but I'd definitely recommend it if you're open-minded and interested in paranormal activity.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

{Paranormal Intruder] by Caroline Mitchell
3.5★'s
An innocent family finds itself completely helpless against the sudden onset of paranormal activity in their quiet rural home. A knife embedded in a kitchen cupboard, crockery smashed by invisible hands, and blood-chilling growls emit from thin air. Caroline and her husband Neil search for answers as they try to protect their family from the unseen entity that seems determined to rip them apart. The biggest question looms over them like a dark cloud ... who is going to help us? There are emergency services for many things, but not of this nature. It might be easier to believe temporary insanity, if not for the vast amount of witnesses. Police, fire services, mediums, priests and investigators all become embroiled in the mystery. The family struggles to cope, and Caroline grows concerned for her husband's failing health as he withdraws from the world. However, the entity has only just begun.

The book certainly gets you attention. It's an entertaining story rather you are a believer...a totally absolutely no way disbeliever....or a maybe it could happen, individual. I love haunted house stories...so I was just wanting to be entertained, but since Caroline Mitchell wrote and published the book as a real life experience for her family...I had to ask some questions about the events. Okay... all of a sudden they had this uninvited guest raising hell in their home...didn't they for one minute consider this "thing" to be dangerous? Instead they tried to communicate with it in a variety of ways. It knocked, growled, threw things, constantly rang their cell phones, followed them around, and set fires... and generally made life truly unbearable. They left the house, BUT... they kept returning. They even invited it to the local pub where it knocked, raised tables and followed them home. Didn't DEMON ever enter their minds? No one would really help them try to get rid of it...not the church...not the investigators...everyone just wanted to see the activity and be entertained by it. It got to where they were playing games with whatever this was. This just didn't seem plausible to how anyone with this thing hanging out in their home would react. Never throughout the entire book did any one come close to telling them what it was...where it came from...or what it wanted. IF it was a true story, as was claimed, there remained too many questions and not enough answers.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very, scary true paranormal read! You will definitely want to leave the lights on with this one! The family went through a terrible time while living in their house with a malovent entity. Finished this book in 4 days - couldn't put it down.

[Lata · Rating 2 out of 5]

I approached Paranormal Intruder with curiosity, but quickly found myself questioning not just the events described, but the plausibility of the entire narrative. Marketed as a true story, the book reads more like a formulaic horror script than a genuine account of supernatural experiences.
The plot follows a predictable pattern: ghostly disturbances escalate from moving objects to setting fires, then evolve into phone calls and text messages from the entity. The idea of a ghost communicating via mobile phone—yet refusing to speak in person—stretches credibility to its breaking point. If there’s a sequel, I wouldn’t be surprised if the ghost starts using social media.
What truly undermines the story’s believability is the behavior of the characters. A mother leaving her children in a supposedly haunted house to visit her parents? Children who seem unfazed by the chaos? A church that refuses to help, and when it does, suggests throwing away yoga and meditation books as a solution? These moments feel more absurd than chilling.
Even if one were to accept this as fiction, the writing style is jarring. The narrative shifts awkwardly between first and third person, and the pacing is repetitive. The ghost seems to follow a “haunting template”: throw things, scare the family, wait for them to return, repeat with a new trick. At one point, the ghost even performs parlor tricks in a pub—hardly the stuff of nightmares.
The constant “Did you see that?” and “Did you hear that?” exchanges between characters become tiresome, especially when followed by long-winded explanations of how no one else could have caused the disturbance. It feels like the author is trying too hard to convince the reader of something that simply doesn’t hold up.
If you're looking for a compelling fictional take on a haunted house, I’d recommend Home Before Dark by Riley Sager instead. It’s a far more engaging and self-aware exploration of the paranormal.
This was my first Caroline Mitchell book—and unless I run out of every other book on the planet, it will be my last.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted on http://beccasbooooks.blogspot.co.uk/

*returns from reading in a daze*

Well, I really just have no idea of where to begin with this review. There are so many things going through my head right now, it's seeming rather impossible to form any sort of coherent sentence out of them.

I'm a very open-minded person, I always have been and I probably always will be. My mother is the same, and over the years she's told me about things that she's experienced, about things that she's never been able to explain. My own views on the paranormal definitely lean towards believing that there's something out there. I've never experienced anything myself, but I've always kept an open-mind in regards to spirits etc. purely because I just don't know. I've always been fascinated by people's accounts, and by pictures, videos and famous stories that have been around for years and years and so, when I spotted Caroline talking about her book on Twitter, it immediately caught my attention.

It wasn't long until I bought Paranormal Intruder and I really couldn't wait to begin reading it. Alongside the eagerness to get started, there was definitely a hesitation on my part, purely because things seem to stay with me for a long time, and I get so scared stupidly easily, it's ridiculous. The fact that Paranormal Intruder is based on true events really niggled at me before I'd even started reading, but in the end, I pulled myself together and began. After all, it must have taken a lot of courage and strength on the author's part to re-live her experiences whilst writing, and I had no reason to put it off any longer.

Paranormal Intruder was, to me, both shocking and compelling in equal measure. At times, I found myself not wanting to continue reading, but unable to turn away because I really wanted to know what happened next. Noises, physical attacks and dangerous attempts at fire-starting are to name but a few of the many unbelievable things that take place within this book, and it disturbed me to know that it had all truly taken place. At times, I found myself shaking my head in utter disbelief at what this poor family went through, because it was just so inconceivable. It's not something that's easy to take in and make sense of, that's for sure, and if that's how I felt from purely reading the book, I know it doesn't even come close to how the family that experienced it felt.

The book follows the family from the very first time the activity took place. From the shocking and the disturbing, to the terrifying and the downright chilling, Paranormal Intruder rocked me to my very core. Just to sit there and imagine these things happening, with no explanation and no apparent person who was doing these things, is the very height of fright and confusion. The evidence that the family picked up from their home was just insane, and I cannot fathom how scared they must have been during the time when it all took place.

By the time I'd finished reading this, I felt like I'd been with the family myself. Caroline's descriptions hit the nail right on the head, and I was left speechless, and utterly in awe of the family that suffered through it all. It really is a terrifying account of what happened and how the family tried to pick up the pieces of their lives.

Becca's Books is rating Paranormal Intruder by Caroline Mitchell with four of my cupcakes, although they really don't seem fitting. I can only hope that more people read Caroline's story and become aware of the horrors that the family went through. It's an eye-opener, and a frightening one at that.

[Chris Botragyi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning account of a family's nightmarish battle of wills against an invisible force of unknown paranormal origin.
Caroline Mitchell writes with a terrifying clarity, retelling the events that pushed her husband - and herself - to breaking point. From minor nuisances that intrigued, to major incidents that were not only dangerous, but almost devastated the family unit as the entity seemed intent on pain and suffering.
The author's strengths come to the fore, demonstrating that a togetherness can overcome the most horrific of circumstances. The real suffering comes as Mitchell bravely opens her life to the world, pouring out her soul onto the paper; a raw sadness emanates from the pages as you feel like you are side by side with her on the family's descent to Hell.
The tortuous experiences - which grinds their human spirit - leaves them with no choice except to fight back. With nowhere else to turn, their only remaining option grabs the family collar by the scruff of the neck, forcing them to rise above the darkness; the light at trials' end eventually pierces the bleak bubble that has swallowed the previous three years of their lives.
In troubled times we often turn to those whom we trust as we seek comfort. Here, the thoughts of truly knowing where to run in times of peril are, well, shocking at times to say the least. It presents the point that those who place faith in a higher source, are not always rewarded by the very same foundations that promise sanctuary in our hour of need.
This is a highly recommended read that will shock, scare, and flabbergast in equal measure. 5/5.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding first-hand account of a true, long-term paranormal entity experienced by family, police dept. colleagues of the author, clergy, friends and relatives, professional paranormal investigators. While not as "scary" or "exciting" to read as ghost story fiction, this is a true account of repeated, menacing incidents over several years' time in the life of a family. The house in which they lived was brand new, so it was understood from the beginning that it wasn't a typical haunting. The entity in this story was malevolent. It only departed after an exorcism performed by Roman Catholic clergy (one of the remaining questions for this reader is why the church was so slow to respond to this family in much need of spiritual support. As clergy myself, if someone came to me with this kind of problem, I would do all I could to provide support including calling in people more expert than I...."asap"). I commend the author who was not a writer by profession for a job very well done indeed. It must have been terribly difficult to chronicle these traumatic and frightening events. I highly recommend this book to those intrigued by the supernatural.

[A.B. Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was invited to review this book by the author. It is a unique and startling tale and I admired the bravery and endurance displayed by the family throughout the events. Once I started reading this book I could not put it down, and each chapter was varied and interesting as the ‘entity’ evolved. I don’t want to spoil the story but it does leave you with some very interesting questions. The identity of the ghostly being is open to interpretation, and I like the fact that the family did not try impose their views upon the reader. This story was made all the more interesting by the fact the author is a serving police officer. She is open and honest about the effect this has had on her family, and I was shocked by the escalation of events, which take an intriguing twist at the end. I admit parts of this story frightened me and I found myself wanting to sleep with the light on afterwards. All in all a great story, which I would highly recommend to anyone, interested in the paranormal.

[Angel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked it, I didn't like it... eh, I dunno.

I think what bothers me is that they start out terrified and concerned about their children but by the middle of the book it almost become a fun parlor trick they take to the pubs every weekend. I even wondered at one point- who's with the kids at the haunted house while the adults are pub crawling?(The theory I guess being that the entity couldn't terrorize 2 locations simultaneously? or 'bounce' between the two?) I get that you can't live in fear every moment of you life and sometimes you just have to laugh about things but it just seems so incongruent with the earlier part of the book. I think it's interesting that the end of the book is letters from individuals including the family itself regarding the veracity of the events. "We're telling the truth- here's our references."

All in all- it was an interesting quick read while I decided what to take on next.

[Alexis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wasn't a huge fan of this book. If it is in fact a true story then it is incredible and I wholeheartedly agree that the story should have been told. However, I am extremely skeptical as I'm sure a lot of people would be! Especially since, after finishing the book, I went online to research the happenings and didn't find much about them.

The writing was not very flowing and the language was quite repetitive. The dialogue which, according to the book was taken in part from recordings made of what actually happened, did not sound realistic to me.

On the whole, it was an interesting read but I am not a huge fan of the author's style.

[Sean · Rating 2 out of 5]

⅖ - I just couldn't get into it.

I feel this is more a me problem, rather than the book itself. I'm used to reading more fictional books with lots of things going on, so those experiences have likely clouded my judgement too.

I know this is supposed to be a true story which might void my opinion, but it was just so repetitive. They left the house. They returned to the house. A milk carton was left on the kitchen floor. A phone was left on the kitchen floor. *insert object/cutlery here* flew past Lee's/Neil's head. All of this happened over and over again.

Although creepy, it didn't engage me. It felt tedious at times and I was eagerly awaiting the conclusion.

[Amy Lou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed for Bit'N Book Promoters & Ink of my Heart Book Blog. For full review and interview go here:
http://bitnbookpromoters.blogspot.co....
http://azgreen786.blogspot.co.uk/2014...


I'm reviewing this novel on the basis that I believe in its authenticity and truth wholeheartedly. Haters and unbelievers be damned.

So this novel is actually more of a detailed account of a family terrorized by a mischievous (BIG understatement there) 'entity'. The novel isn't about trying to convince us whether it is this or that, but mainly just allowing you to see what the 'entity' is capable of. The author, Caroline, doesn't expect us to believe their story but even if I had been someone who didn't believe in the paranormal before this novel, I think I would have been convinced after reading it. Even just a little bit.

What I admire about Caroline and her family is their strength and grace. They carried on with life as best they could despite this evil presence under their own roof. It was horrible, entertaining and shocking to read but above all, it inspired hope. I enjoyed the accounts from both Caroline and her husband Neil, who seemed to take the brunt of the attacks. The 'entity' was physically harmful to him.

Even if you don't believe this is real, the story itself is really good, intriguing, enticing and scary. I know I had to pace myself because I didn't want to be reading it late at night. I'd start to get paranoid around dark shadows.

The writing itself was informative, simple and direct. It didn't contain any unnecessary detail or plot-filler. It didn't take its time getting to the point. The flow was smooth and constantly kept you on your toes. It was enjoyable. Not Shakespeare, but decent.

As for my opinion on what the 'entity' is, I'd go with what I believe, which is that it's a demon. Also known as a Jinn. The reason I think this is down to many things that the novel talks about, some of which I bothered to highlight.

Jinn are made of fire, which would account for the fire-starting. They're also very fast, incredibly strong and have powers that if we fully understood, would make the phone calls and tricks that the 'entity' perform seem reasonable. Not all are harmful or bad, but those that are, tend to be mischievous, prone to losing their tempers and being generally hot-headed, and many believe themselves superior to us because of their vast amount of abilities. I have read that they are meant to be filthy creatures, not all, just those that are evil in nature which is why they tend to hang out in graveyards, bathrooms etc. So it makes sense that they would piss on floors and let off supernatural stink-bombs or farts.

'His nostrils were filled with a pungent smell, like rotting cabbage. “Awe mate, is that you?” Neil gagged as the smell grew stronger.

Lee laughed at being accused of producing something so odious. “No it bloody well isn't. That's disgusting.”

Neil opened the back door and they both went outside for air.

“You have to admit, it's kind of funny... a farting ghost.”'

It is pretty funny. But gross.

The other thing that convinced me that it's a Jinn is that in the book it mentions 'Phil' a.k.a the entity, has a wife (who is to blame for the fires) and that they were born in the sixteenth century. Jinn do procreate (though don't ask me how, my guess is pretty much the same as we do). They also live much longer lives than us but they can die. They're not dead and they're not immortal. And there is never any mention that the 'entity' is a lost soul or has died. In that same page that this information is mentioned, they also ask the 'entity' if he wants to be their friend to which he knocks twice for YES. I can tell you now, he was playing them. He wouldn't be hanging around if he had a good bone in his ethereal body.

This statement is absolutely spot on – 'Mike has a theory that the entity thinks of us as inferior, here for his entertainment. It sees itself as way more powerful than us. The fact we would offer help is an insult.'

He is more powerful than us, strength wise and power and ability wise. But from what I know of demons, letting them in and more importantly FEARING them is what makes us weaker than them. Easier said than done, but if from the start Caroline and Neil had shunned his presence, ignored him and shown they had no fear and only had faith in God, reciting His name repeatedly in the house, I don't think things would have got as bad as they did. But that's not fair for me to judge. I'm not judging, honestly. No one can know what happened to this family.

Going back to the nature of demons from what I know, they tend to be pretty erratic emotionally. Anger is one big thing. But also jealously. Because of how often 'Phil' disliked Lee being in the house with Neil it had me wondering if 'Phil' was jealous of their friendship. I wonder how much 'Phil's' wife played in these attacks, and what her motive was. Perhaps she was jealous too, for other reasons. I've heard so many cases of demons being jealous of a man or a woman because they want to be with them. Odd, I know. But this book reminded me of those previous accounts I studied years ago. And when it mentions that 'Phil' is trapped, it had my thoughts racing. What is his motive? Is he bored? Is he just using the family as a cruel source of entertainment, like a child pulling of the wings of insects? Or is it something even more sinister, such as a fiery emotion like jealousy, anger or even hate? Or all of the above? Creepy to think about.

The whole thing with the family trying to seek out help at their church and beyond was the hardest thing for me to read. I felt so sorry for them. I hated the fact that for the priests, the family's going to church and listening to sermons was more important than their well-being. It was ridiculous. That scene where they go to church and Caroline pulls the Father aside and says that 'Things have been really bad': it's a precious moment where she's opening up to this so-called man of God and asking for his help, and he just brushes her off and says, 'Well at least it brought you back to the Church.' I mean what the fudge? How can he say that?

And then it gets worse when they finally go for the exorcism (took the priests long enough) and the priests are all up in their grill about renewing their vows or something and it's like, why can't they just help someone, no questions asked? Why does faith have to get involved? Does it really matter how often they pray, or go to Church or listen to sermons? No. It doesn't. I'm a religious woman. Not a Catholic, obviously, but if I was, I'd be as disgusted about that judgemental mindset as much as I am now.

Luckily, the exorcism seemed to do the trick and I don't think it was all down to the priests' “holiness”. I think it could be done by anyone who truly believes and says the words with complete sincerity, love and fear of God.

I will say one thing that surprised me. Mike, the investigator. Caroline mentions that during the time of the book, he converts to Islam. Now that interested me for obvious reasons. But I was also surprised that he never suggested getting an exorcism from that side of things. It is done. And also at the end of the novel, John says that he and Mike thought that from all the evidence they had collected, that the entity was actually a 'brag': 'an extremely dangerous elemental-type creature from the English folklore'. Which it could be. Though I think it's the same thing as a Jinn. Just a different name. Which it also says in the novel: 'the phenomenon itself is global – every culture around the world has different names for these creatures...' I'm just surprised it was never mentioned, or perhaps Mike didn't know about them at the time. *The author just told me after reading my review that he wasn't Muslim at the time of his opinions on the 'brag' and later suggested it could be, and recommend an Imam to come in and do his thing, to which the author declined as she didn't want to aggravate 'Phil' anymore.*

Anyway, let's move on from that road. And back to the book. As you see it did stir a lot of emotions in me, and I think it has and will for many. This book is doing very well on Amazon and has 100+ reviews. Most of which are positive. From what I saw when I had a peek, only two of them were one star reviews, and frankly, their reasoning was stupid. Sorry, but it was.

So if you'd like to be chilled to the bone and be freaked out for several days afterwards, then go for it! It's not scary scary. It's not like BOO! In your face. But psychologically, it plays in your mind and you'll realize after reading it, that it's still there. Lurking behind you.

Many people may have different interpretations as to what happened to this family. And many may discredit the accounts. I don't really care. The book is good. And worth reading. The author and her family and friends suffered a great deal over something that may never be explained. It's sad. But it's nice to see someone taking the time to open up to world so just maybe, there will be someone just as unfortunate as them who will read this and say, “I'm not alone.”

I give this novel 4 out of 5 stars. And recommend it to anyone who wants something a little different.

Just a side note: the book cover is really striking. I love it. But oddly, when I first looked at it, I had extra-terrestrial on my mind.

[Lcdk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was invited to review this book by the author with no obligation to write a positive review. It was a very fast paced read from the start, although it does slow enough to give some much needed background information on the family involved. I found myself getting very involved in it all, and very grateful that my house is safe and ghost free!

Caroline and her husband decided to try to fight whatever was causing such chaos, which made a nice change to the usual paranormal story where the family packs up and leaves. She is very open about how it affected her relationship with her husband and I liked the way they were both involved in telling their story. The witness accounts at the end came across as very genuine. A great spooky read which anyone would enjoy, a, as long as they are not of a nervous disposition!

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked reading ghostly stories never seen a ghost im one of those people who need to see it before believein but love reading ghost stories.this is a scary, things that go on to a family wanted someone to help them alot quicker than they did. good story to read.

[Clare · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened to in audio format.

I first listened to this book before I became a fan of Caroline Mitchell's DS Ruby Preston series.

This is the true story of Caroline and her family's struggle with a mysterious entity in their home. At the time Caroline was a police detective working in CID. One day out of the blue, crockery started being thrown by a mysterious presence in her home. The terror quickly escalated to mysterious phone calls, knives being thrown and a mysterious fire.

This was an interesting book with I suspect a liberal splash of artistic licence. I believe in ghosts and spirits but it is important to use common sense. One the first day when Caroline was called home from work she was all to willing to believe the attack was by a ghost instead of something human. As a detective you would of thought Caroline would be eager to find a more logical reason.

As the attacks escalated it was interesting it was focused on Neil. It was sad how his health and mental well being deteriorated as the attacks when on. Early on the family had to flee their home to live with relatives. As the attacks went on they had to give their three dogs away for re-homing.

Later on the attacks stopped at home but the spirit followed Neil to the pub. There the table started to shake and he heard tapping noises. When Neil entered the pub or went to the bar a beeping noise could be heard. I really wanted to shake Caroline, Neil and their friends when they started to communicate with the spirit in the pub. Books always say you should never try to communicate with spirits because you give them strength.

The book ended with the church coming to exorcise the house. Caroline wrote Paranormal Intruder three years after the exorcism but she never mentioned if the house was still haunted. The house Caroline lived in was a new build so I would be interested to know why the hauntings started. At the end of the book there were eyewitness accounts from people who witnessed some of the events at Caroline's home.

This was an interesting book to listen to over Halloween. I enjoyed the book but I don't how much of the book is true and how much is fiction. I enjoy Caroline Mitchell's writing but I would recommend her fiction books rather then this.

[Plum-crazy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay first of all let me say I did enjoy this book because when I say what I want to say about it you might think otherwise!

This is...quoting from the cover "The true story of a family in fear" "One family's brave fight against an invisible entity" & "Mesmerising and Scary"

Well if what happened to Caroline & her family is as described then it truly is a terrifying ordeal to go through. While I really want to believe all this happened, I'm sorry to say...& apologies if it sounds harsh...that I can't help feeling I've read a mediocre piece of haunted house fiction, rather than the terrifying narrative I was expecting.

The writing style is easy to read but it's written in rather a matter-of-factish kind of way which to me made it less believable, never mind diluting any sense of terror! Some of the language is rather sloppy but if that's how they speak fair enough.

If it's not bad enough having a haunted home, the entity seemed to like to go out for a drink with Caroline too! I really couldn't why she was so freaked out by a chair moving in the pub after all she'd been through much worse at home. Should I have been shocked that the entity had followed them to the pub? No...it just didn't ring true to me.

I was very disappointed that there were no photos. Considering it was often remarked that photos were being taken some photographic evidence would have been a welcome addition & would have helped to convince me that the events had occurred. I would've especially liked to have seen the wet claw-like prints that appeared. There must have been articles in the media that could have been referenced, instead the veracity of the events relies on the people involved basically saying "Yes it's true"

Overall it's certainly an interesting & thought-provoking read but as a chance to convince doubters or sway unbelievers it's an opportunity missed.

[Mickey · Rating 1 out of 5]

A meagre hoax or a novice work of fiction? I just can’t believe this book at all. I believe in the paranormal, a viewpoint, which was drastically changed from my own experience, so I do not say this as a sceptic, however the content of the book just isn’t believable. I gave this book a go based on some 5-star reviews of how terrifying it is and how you’d struggle to sleep afterwards. It just isn’t the case at all. I’ll try to minimise the ‘spoilers’ as best I can, but there are many reasons why I just don’t believe this book

1) There are zero accounts of how this impacted the children. In fact, all of the children actually appeared to be exempt from any paranormal activity from this so called “evil entity” whatsoever and there is no mention of them. No screaming through the night from nightmares, or horrific visions. No revelations from the children to the parents or any funny games being played with them. Anyone who knows anything on the paranormal know that children are an easy ‘target’ and normally first to encounter such activity as they’re more sustainable. From all of the visitors and “witnesses” that claimed to have experienced activity, nothing from the children.
2) The bulk of the dialogue reads like a “he said, she said” scenario. For example, the author would write dialogue between her husband and his friend where she wasn’t even present, a format that should have been changed for a more personal piece, for example – “Mike laughed when Neil picked up the lighter and studied it intently, as he looked back at Mike with a confused expression” – I’m paraphrasing of course but you get the idea. This is where it reads like a piece of fiction.
3) They actually invite paranormal investigators into their home, and you’d expect a general process. There is no mention of audio equipment set up, no visual equipment, no meters or measurement tools, no findings at all. Instead these paranormal investigators along with the husband and his friends simply dart from one end of the house to the next following wherever the ‘bangs’ and ‘sounds’ come from, like headless chickens. This doesn’t sound like paranormal investigators. The author should have researched what paranormal investigators do instead of making it up on the fly.
4) The author and her husband come home to find an odd yellow liquid dripping an inch from the ceiling onto the floor where there’s a puddle formed. The author – who’s a former police officer and who has self-admitted experience of crime scenes, doesn’t ever think for one second to swab a sample of this bizarre yellow liquid during the x2 occasions this allegedly occurred, which I found strange. Never mind, that’s just one of many.
5) The entity, bored of haunting the house decides to follow the author, her husband and a group of their friends to a series of local pubs, where it then begins to shake the tables, and take turns kicking one of the groups legs under the table. That’s not all, this evil entity even ‘burps’ next to them, and I quote: “Bad smells emanated from their table, which was very embarrassing when staff came to collect the glasses”. Yes, sure, let’s blame a ghost for that! This book would be funny if it wasn’t trying to be serious.
6) Inside one of the pubs, a loud beep is heard several times, and they put this down to it being the evil entity. Not like it could be a smoke alarm with a loose wire or near-empty battery or other explanation, it has to be the ghost.
7) Voicemails and threatening text messages. Yes, text messages. Apparently evil entities can send threatening text messages as well. One voicemail apparently said “I’m going to f….. get you if it’s the last thing I do”. There is also a voicemail left on the husbands phone that says “I’m coming back, I’m f…n coming back”! Now Growling and evil noises I can perhaps believe, but the ‘f’ words and cheesy threats? I don’t believe and does a disservice to try and make this story sound truthful.
8) All of the “witnesses” – A few of the friends of either the author or her husband all state similar testimonials (if they’re even real people) at the end of the book, and obviously between dialogue throughout the book, that they thanked the author and her husband for such an “experience”, that it was such a “privilege”. Not words you’d normally use to describe this kind of activity, but “privilege” and “experience” seem to be common words used by the friends.

I was going to give this 2 stars, but I gave it 1, because even as a work of fiction this isn’t well written and because it tries to portray itself as a non-fictional account, it insults the readers intelligence

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a Saturday scary book review for you.. Paranormal Intruder written by Caroline Mitchell, WOW! Let me start by telling you this is a TRUE Story written by the one of the family members this is happening to. Caroline is a cop, with a very nice life , a second husband Neil, a blended family and a new home. Imagine her surprise when her Husband Neil calls her at work to tell her that strange things are happening at the house! This is a BRAND new home, no one had lived here before Caroline, Neil and the children, The fear in Neil's voice scares Caroline, when she gets home with a colleague, CRAZINESS is happening in the house, cutlery flying thru the air, a Knife embedded in a drawer, I'm not going to tell too much more about the entity , I don't want to give spoilers. This book is so honestly and credibly written, It scared me and angered me! Especially the The Clergy that are SUPPOSED to be there to help.. ooohhhh ... made me mad! The inner strength shown by this family will astound you! This book gives you a TRUE glimpse into the terrifying world of being haunted! I Love at the end of the book many of the people involved including the paranormal investigators give a statement to what they witnessed. I highly recommend this book! I give it 5 flying coins! and one footnote.. I finished this book , looked for the books page left a post and withing a few hours, Caroline Mitchell responded to me.. very very nice lady!!

[Peter Dyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A captivating scary real life account paranormal account.

In this book Paranormal Intruder: The True Story of a Family in Fear she documents her own personal experiences that she and her family faced with the sudden onset of paranormal activity in their quiet rural home.

This book is well written a testament to the author and thoroughly absorbing while also being a little disturbing as she struggles to comprehend and explain the many strange explained occurrences of paranormal activity, which were freaking her and her family out. Examples of this are a knife embedded in a kitchen cupboard, crockery smashed by invisible hands, and blood-chilling growls emit from thin air. Caroline and her husband Neil search for answers as they try to protect their family from the unseen entity that seems determined to rip them apart.

A riveting read, once started it was hard to put it down. You may want to read this during day light hours as it might give you nightmares if read after sunset. I personally was not a believer of paranormal activity, however I feel that I am now somewhat converted. I certainly hope that I never experience what happened to Caroline and her family.

[Silk · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am left with several questions after having just read the book. For instance, in the prologue where it was mentioned that a few incidents of the entity taking on the appearance of some of the householders, expecting this to be elaborated on but it was never mentioned again. Having read of many such "visitations" I would say it's only stand out is the number of witnesses and number of events. No pictures as evidence were included and I am surprised that someone didn't ask the pub owner's for his CCTV footage and what was caught there. I also found it astounding that these victims would pursue contact with the entity at pubs. This would seem to me to be a clear invitation back to the original house. I can see where a witche's coven, on the land could have opened a portal to the malovalent/inhuman/demonic/negative entity but it clearly attached to the householders involved. That the exorcism worked does not preclude an unintentional re-opening of the portal and I am left wondering if all religious advice was followed after?

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Paranormal Intruder' is the true story of Caroline Mitchell, her husband, Neil and her family as they face a paranormal presence which torments them and tries to destroy their family.

What I liked about the story was how honest and straightforward Caroline was about what happened, from mysterious fires, objects being moved, thrown dishes, threatening telephone calls, a threatening note which are all directed at her husband.

I found Caroline's story to be unnerving, I have always believed that there is something after death but what Caroline and her family live with is a presence that is just plain evil, so there was times after reading that I went to sleep with the bedroom lamp on and I am still not brave enough to listen to the podcast of the presence growling.

'Paranormal Intruder' is a interesting read, there are aspects to the story which are never fully solved but that unfortunately is the nature of what the family is living with.

Whether you believe or do not believe in the paranormal, the story shows you how mysterious the world can be.

[Mercedes Yardley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book from a Goodreads giveaway and I'm certainly happy that I did. This book is told as a factual account from the author documenting experiences that her family had with a paranormal entity. While there are a few minor mistakes like a typo here and there, the story is told in an human, straight-forward way that was engaging. I love that the author is a police officer, and I was extremely interested in who she chose to share her experience with and how people reacted to what she had to say. Quite interesting and engaging all around.