The Everything Ghost Hunting Book: Tips, tools, and techniques for exploring the supernatural world

by Melissa Martin Ellis

Shadowpeople . . . cold spots . . . orbs . . . Ghosthunter Melissa Martin Ellis takes readers on an exciting high-tech journey into the supernatural world of haunted sites, restless souls, and messages from beyond the grave. Readers explore motion sensors, highly sensitive digital cameras, and so-called Ghost Telephones, as well as the supernatural phenomena themselves, including: Poltergeists Electronic-voice phenomena (EVP) Possession Photo anomalies Seances and voodoo rituals Appealing to the same audience as such popular TV shows as Lost, Medium, Invasion, Charmed, Ghost Hunters, Destination Truth, and Most Haunted, this book shows readers how today's investigators use the tools of modern science to study a wide range of paranormal activity.

Genres: Paranormal, Nonfiction, Ghosts, Supernatural

291 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 2009

About the author

I'm the author of five nonfiction books, The Everything Guide to Writing Graphic Novels, The Insider's Newport Guide, The Everything Photography Book, 101 Ways to Find a Ghost and The Everything Ghost Hunting Book for Adams Media/Simon and Shuster.

I regularly collaborate with my husband, author Mark Ellis on graphic novels, such as: Beecoming Sophie, Nosferatu, and HP Lovecraft's Miskatonic Project.

As an illustrator, designer and photographer, I have been been featured in numerous New England exhibits and galleries, as well as in print media such as The Redwood Review, Newport This Week, Newport Life Magazine, The Boston Globe, Horseman’s Yankee Peddler, The Newport Round Table Anthology and Balancing The Tides.

Reviews

[Mary Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really interesting and informative read! The author does an extremely good job on what could be a tough subject. Her approach is thorough and scientific.

Highly recommended for both those who are beginners and those who already have some experience in this area.

[Ash · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes i got into reading these because of sam and colby, what about it?

[Cassie 'The Thinker Go Go Go Go' Mis. Roben Goodfellow'\Isabelle Lightwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I just came across this book-- again. And found that when I read it I somehow forgot to record it! Gasp! I remember reading this book so there's no reason what so ever I shouldn't of recorded it. But somehow it slipped passed un- noticed until now. Don't ask me how seeing as I have no clue, and I could of swore I had. But I really enjoyed this book. It taught me a lot about Ghost Hunting and what it's like. And some things that I didn't know about equipment and some of the more famous stories in the Paranormal world of Ghost Hunting. I really did find it not only an educating read but an enjoyable one as well. Anyone that wants to get into the paranormal field should read this. It'll teach you a lot. And if you already are in the field-- well give it a shot anyways seeing as you might learn something that you don't already know.
Well if you do decide to check this out I hope you find it useful. And if not useful then at least enjoyable.

Happy reading!

[Melvin Marsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is significantly better than many of the books I have been coming across on the subject in term paper research. It's not scared of pointing out that there is some internal conflict among different ghost hunting teams which is what I suspected and not scared of going into some of the theories a little more. This is much more comprehensive then the "Ultimate Ghost Hunting Guide" which claimed to be comprehensive. I thought I was finished with research, but I am going to add some references from here before I print out my paper.

[Mary Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are interested in learning the who, what, where, when and how of Ghost Hunting - this is the book for you. She gives a comprehensive and thorough accounting of all things ghostly.

[Jacqui Jacoby · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun read for work.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very informative book geared to give the amateur ghost hunter the tools and training they need to explore the supernatural world.

[William Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting and informative.

This book really explains the ins and out of investigating. I learned many aspects I had no a idea of. Such as history and form writing. Interesting read for beginners or just someone wanting to learn.

[Trent Bowditch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very informative, but a little dry. If you’re interested in ghost hunting I’d say check it out. I did like how it broke things down.

[Mitchell Stern · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a bad primer but a bit repetitive and a lot of information does feel somewhat dated now.

[Jeannette · Rating 1 out of 5]

I want to rate this book even lower than 1 star but thought it might look like I forgot to rate it at all. So I am forced to go with 1 star "I did not like it" because there is no option for "I hated this book so much for so many reasons and the only thing that saved it from being chucked in a fire was that I learned a lot of extraneous things fact checking the "data"." It's abysmally laid out (insets usually have something to do with what is being discussed in the main section. In actual books), misleading (the info blurb on the Fox Sisters as a fine example of psychics failed to mention that they made everything up), and half the internet links (why include so many links in a print volume? WHY!) were broken. If you are interested in Ghost Hunting, please find any other resource but this one.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, three stars for entertainment value. I loved the callout stories and examples of hauntings an investigations.

The problem with this book, and the paranormal community in general, is that they misunderstand or in some cases misrepresent, the scientific method. Using technology to investigate does not make it scientific, nor does a slight scepticism.

I'm not saying ghosts don't exist. I don't know. I've had 3 not easily explained experiences, one that was so frightening law enforcement was called to investigate, but just because I don't currently have an explanation for what happened doesn't mean I should instantly apply "ghost" to it without a healthy dose of scepticism.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disappointed in this book - very little concrete information, really, on the world of ghost hunting (I was hoping for more first-person stories of expeditions to hunt ghosts, and there's very little of that). Instead the book has a lot of what feels like filler - long descriptions of various types of ghost hunting equipment, fairly obvious general tips on how to pursue a ghost hunt, etc. Not really an "everything" book on this subject, IMO.

[Stacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are interested in ghost hunting this book would be a fabulous way to start. It walks you through setting up your own ghost hunting group or organization. It also describes how to conduct a ghost hunt, and what paperwork you will have to draw up and why.