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The Paranormal Ranger: A Navajo Investigator’s Search for the Unexplained – A New York Times Pick and Law Enforcement Memoir of Supernatural Encounters
A Navajo Ranger’s chilling and clear-eyed memoir of his investigations into bizarre cases of the paranormal and unexplained over the course of his illustrious career serving the Navajo Nation.
Stanley Milford, Jr., was raised with the inherent belief that the supernatural regularly touches our lives. Growing up between multiple worlds and cultures, as a Native American with parents and family of both Navajo and Cherokee descent, he was raised to respect his roots with a firm upbringing in traditions from both tribes.
That would serve him well when he joined the fabled Navajo Rangers, who are equal parts police officers, archeological conservationists, and historians, responsible for overseeing the massive 27,000-square-mile Navajo Nation. When Milford first became a ranger, he handled mundane, everyday cases such as cattle inspections and domestic disputes, but that quickly gave way to utterly bizarre and shockingly frequent cases of mysterious livestock mutilations, skinwalker and cryptid sightings, unidentified aerial phenomena, and malicious hauntings.
In The Paranormal Ranger, Milford recounts all the stories from the logical, factual, and serious perspective of a law enforcement officer. Far from the tinfoil hat and conspiracy crowd, Milford’s Native American worldview and investigative training provide a chilling, realistic perspective on what logic dictates should not be possible.
Stanley Milford, Jr., was raised with the inherent belief that the supernatural regularly touches our lives. Growing up between multiple worlds and cultures, as a Native American with parents and family of both Navajo and Cherokee descent, he was raised to respect his roots with a firm upbringing in traditions from both tribes.
That would serve him well when he joined the fabled Navajo Rangers, who are equal parts police officers, archeological conservationists, and historians, responsible for overseeing the massive 27,000-square-mile Navajo Nation. When Milford first became a ranger, he handled mundane, everyday cases such as cattle inspections and domestic disputes, but that quickly gave way to utterly bizarre and shockingly frequent cases of mysterious livestock mutilations, skinwalker and cryptid sightings, unidentified aerial phenomena, and malicious hauntings.
In The Paranormal Ranger, Milford recounts all the stories from the logical, factual, and serious perspective of a law enforcement officer. Far from the tinfoil hat and conspiracy crowd, Milford’s Native American worldview and investigative training provide a chilling, realistic perspective on what logic dictates should not be possible.
282 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2024
268 people are currently reading
4948 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 243 reviews
February 16, 2025
You know it's a good book when there's a goat rescue included!!
This read was very much up my alley, I'm always seated for paranormal experience stories, especially ones from an indigenous perspective. Aside from that, we got some Navajo myths included, as well as some information on Navajo Rangers, what it is they do, and what it takes to become one.
Some of the paranormal experiences were quite spooky, and I felt as if I was experiencing them myself as I listened to the audiobook. There's no doubt in my mind that Milford saw what he says he saw, no sir.
If you're a believer, you'll probably go "aha, I knew it!", and if you're a skeptic, this might just make you reconsider, and go "well, what if?".
The care Mr Milford put into his cases didn't go unnoticed. All most people want is to be believed, and this book showed me there are people out there who are willing to listen, and who give everyone an equal amount of respect, no matter how outlandish the story may seem. He went out of his way to investigate everything, and for that, I hold him in high regard and would listen to his stories any day of the week.
This read was very much up my alley, I'm always seated for paranormal experience stories, especially ones from an indigenous perspective. Aside from that, we got some Navajo myths included, as well as some information on Navajo Rangers, what it is they do, and what it takes to become one.
Some of the paranormal experiences were quite spooky, and I felt as if I was experiencing them myself as I listened to the audiobook. There's no doubt in my mind that Milford saw what he says he saw, no sir.
If you're a believer, you'll probably go "aha, I knew it!", and if you're a skeptic, this might just make you reconsider, and go "well, what if?".
The care Mr Milford put into his cases didn't go unnoticed. All most people want is to be believed, and this book showed me there are people out there who are willing to listen, and who give everyone an equal amount of respect, no matter how outlandish the story may seem. He went out of his way to investigate everything, and for that, I hold him in high regard and would listen to his stories any day of the week.
October 12, 2024
3.75 stars
Well I already had considered the possibility ghosts, spirits and alien life forms might exist, but after reading this book I’m gonna add Bigfoot to the list. Stanley Milford Jr. is a former Navajo Ranger and in this memoir he talks about his career with investigating odd cases. In the almost 30,000 square miles the Rangers cover, there have been some truly strange occurrences over the years. A fascinating read with some jaw dropping moments especially in the last few chapters.
Thank you William Morrow for sending a free advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
Well I already had considered the possibility ghosts, spirits and alien life forms might exist, but after reading this book I’m gonna add Bigfoot to the list. Stanley Milford Jr. is a former Navajo Ranger and in this memoir he talks about his career with investigating odd cases. In the almost 30,000 square miles the Rangers cover, there have been some truly strange occurrences over the years. A fascinating read with some jaw dropping moments especially in the last few chapters.
Thank you William Morrow for sending a free advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
May 11, 2024
I like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book.
I recognize the author, because he has been in a lot of documentaries I've watched over the years. I love seeing him pop up because he approaches it from a non-western view in terms of ghosts. His Native American and Western heritage go hand and hand in this which is why I quickly requested this.
While I really enjoy his stories, it took a while to get to them. And when you got to them, there wasn't much there. It's a short book (under 300 pages). I liked his backstory on the various paranormal things he has encountered and their connection to Native American folklore / myths.
But... there isn't much there.
I'd suggest a purchase for supporting the guy but a read for truly diehards.
I recognize the author, because he has been in a lot of documentaries I've watched over the years. I love seeing him pop up because he approaches it from a non-western view in terms of ghosts. His Native American and Western heritage go hand and hand in this which is why I quickly requested this.
While I really enjoy his stories, it took a while to get to them. And when you got to them, there wasn't much there. It's a short book (under 300 pages). I liked his backstory on the various paranormal things he has encountered and their connection to Native American folklore / myths.
But... there isn't much there.
I'd suggest a purchase for supporting the guy but a read for truly diehards.
December 4, 2024
3.5 stars
As a result of the cyber-attack on our public library in late October, when service resumed a lot of us rushed in to return the books that we'd been waiting impatiently to chuck into the book return chutes. And, pow! Holds started to flow in for us. I seem to have been served up quite a selection of memoirs including this intriguing book by a retired member of the Navajo Police Service.
Milford begins each section of the book with part of the Navajo creation story and then relates his account to it. He claims to have had the ideal balance of traditional Navajo background and police/investigative training to be effective at paranormal investigation. He does seem to balance skepticism and belief fairly well. I know a little bit about what he is saying, as my prefrontal cortex is a skeptic but my amygdala is a believer. As a result, I find books like this one (and a lot of horror fiction) to be very unsettling and I quickly realized that this would be one of those “read only during sunny hours" books.
I certainly can't dispute what Mr. Milford says he has seen and experienced. Earlier this year I read The Secret History of Bigfoot: Field Notes on a North American Monster, from which I gained the impression that Bigfoot belief was a more Caucasian working-class thing, so I was interested to find out how the indigenous community views the phenomena. It amazed me how Navajo lore incorporates these paranormal elements quite easily.
It's a quick, interesting read which I would recommend be read during bright, sun shiny hours with snacks at your elbow and other people near at hand.
As a result of the cyber-attack on our public library in late October, when service resumed a lot of us rushed in to return the books that we'd been waiting impatiently to chuck into the book return chutes. And, pow! Holds started to flow in for us. I seem to have been served up quite a selection of memoirs including this intriguing book by a retired member of the Navajo Police Service.
Milford begins each section of the book with part of the Navajo creation story and then relates his account to it. He claims to have had the ideal balance of traditional Navajo background and police/investigative training to be effective at paranormal investigation. He does seem to balance skepticism and belief fairly well. I know a little bit about what he is saying, as my prefrontal cortex is a skeptic but my amygdala is a believer. As a result, I find books like this one (and a lot of horror fiction) to be very unsettling and I quickly realized that this would be one of those “read only during sunny hours" books.
I certainly can't dispute what Mr. Milford says he has seen and experienced. Earlier this year I read The Secret History of Bigfoot: Field Notes on a North American Monster, from which I gained the impression that Bigfoot belief was a more Caucasian working-class thing, so I was interested to find out how the indigenous community views the phenomena. It amazed me how Navajo lore incorporates these paranormal elements quite easily.
It's a quick, interesting read which I would recommend be read during bright, sun shiny hours with snacks at your elbow and other people near at hand.
March 7, 2025
First off let me start by clearly stating that Stanley Milford is a treasure and should be protected and preserved because he’s just such a special individual and not just for his special sixth sense or keen eyes for watching and protecting the reservations he patrols but for solely going after what you believe no matter what others say and not only having the guys and determination to makes your own goals and dreams a realization but to stand tall and bring your community up with you in that he never disbelieved a tale no matter how wild and always looked for their humanity, their curiosity and above all their hearts with his compassion. I also have no doubt that he’s experienced some truly remarkable things and living and protecting such a vast and non tech or people polluted and populated place you can’t be surprised that you be more keen on being able to see the weird that sometimes lies in the in between. This was just a great thought provoking read, memoir of sorts and even a bit of a guide and teaching lesson on the Navajo people and their cultures which in of itself I think is pretty fascinating and great to hear and learn more about. 4.25/5
July 1, 2024
Reading about cryptids is one of guilty pleasures, but when it comes to Navajo Reservation sightings by their own police force - I don't know anyone that doubts their stories. Stanley Milford's tales of the supernatural have been included on several television shows including Unsolved Mysteries (Season 5, eepisode 3 if you want to watch it) but he is very convincing. There are many accounts of missing persons in the Southwest including hikers in the National Parks. There was a gentleman that went missing in the Pecos mountains near Santa Fe NM about 15 years ago and no one ever found him. In 2023, a young woman named Ingrid Lane from Albuquerque, was reported missing in Jemez Springs, New Mexico, before going on a hike. Authorities found her vehicle abandoned with a broken rear window near one of the trails. She has not been seen since. There is no explanation for these missing persons, and when you start talking about Indigenous women there are a large of them that have gone missing over a long period of time with no investigation. Part of the problem is jurisdiction but the main problem is pacificity and condescension because there are physical evidence of what may have happened.
December 11, 2024
So much paranormal investigation is based on a white and christian perspective, and it is so refreshing to read a memoir rooted in another belief system. Milford Jr. blends his personal story with a retelling of the Navajo creation story, using it to demonstrate how his experiences with the paranormal are connected to his culture. While his stories are chilling, his overall message is one of empathy and compassion. He believes that a lot of paranormal activity is the result of imbalance between worlds, a sign that we're not doing our duty to take care of each other and the world around us. As a Navajo ranger, he faced each paranormal investigation with a willingness to listen, accept, and speak truth to the experiences of the frightened and traumatized. We can't erase damage that's already been done, but we can do our best to try to move on together. Sometimes all you need is to hear someone else say "I'm here for you."
September 5, 2024
I won this book as part of a Goodreads Giveaway and am so glad I did because the premise really intrigued me. We used to live near this area of the country and have seen and experienced strange things ourselves and heard many stories about interesting and unexplainable activity from other people from this area of the country. It was great to hear some stories that are similar to our own experiences from a reliable source like Stan Milford. I only wish there had been more stories in the book and that it had included some pictures of the area and evidence they had found that was referenced in the stories. It seems as though he just really got going with his experiences and the book ended. The Paranormal Ranger definitely left me wanting more, but I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the paranormal.
October 11, 2024
I’m not sure why I even read this.
December 20, 2024
More time spent on author’s reaction than on the events themselves. Author ‘could not remember ‘ some important details which would have helped the story.
December 1, 2024
I’ve always had a fascination with the paranormal world, but my rational brain would never let me believe in ghosts, bigfoot, the Loch Ness monster or other such entities. For some unknown reason, though, the one exception to this has been stories associated with the Navajo tribal culture. I grew up in Colorado and over the years had many incidents described to me that occurred to people to closely related to be considered a proverbial ‘friend of a friend’. Most of these are either UFO reports or what could best be described as shapeshifters, or as the Navajo call them, ‘Skinwalkers’. As strange as these stories were, I had trouble discounting them as lies or mere stories. So it was with great interest that I had the opportunity to read and review a copy of a book by a Navajo law enforcement officer whose official duties included investigating and reporting on reports of paranormal occurrences.
I had heard of Stanley Milford before, having watched the episode of Unsolved Mysteries (Vol. 3, Episode 5) that featured him and his partner, Jon Dover. I found the idea of clear-headed, analytical police officers investigating approaching such cases with an open mind fascinating, and also compelling, so, given the opportunity to obtain a review copy from NetGalley, I jumped at the chance.
Milford’s book is rather slim, 232 pages of text, which is interspersed with alternating chapters telling the Navajo creation story which provides insights into some of the entities encountered by Milford and Dover over the course of their investigations. It also describes Milford’s youth and family life, describing how he became interested in law enforcement, his early days as a law enforcement officer and Navajo Ranger, and also describing his first encounter with the paranormal world.
One of the first cases they encountered was when an elderly woman reported that a bigfoot stole one of her sheep. When she reported it to the police, the responding officers did not seem to take her report seriously so she complained, which brought the case to the attention of The Paranormal Rangers, as Milford and Dover would soon become known. While this first investigation remained unsolved, they did learn what was perhaps the key lesson of their entire careers, that the people who reported these cases mostly just wanted to know that they were being taken seriously.
Most of the cases that Milford describes fall into the categories of either UFOs, bigfoot sightings, Navajo witchcraft, or basic hauntings, and sometimes the accounts included a combination of two or more of these.
I have a great deal of respect for the way that these rangers approach the cases they worked. Milford claimed to be a sceptic, but he is clearly less of one than I am. But if even half of what he describes in the book is true, he has a right to be.
Which brings me to the part of the book that really bothers me. In chapter seven he recounts a visitation by a creature he describes as “like the little green men I had read about and seen on TV, only it wasn’t green. Its skin was a dull gray, the same color as the sculpting clay I had used to make pottery in junior high art class.” He described how he was unable to move for a long time while he and this being watched each other. Eventually, without warning, the paralysis left him, and he jumped from his bead and grabbed his service weapon, only to find the creature gone. Subsequent examination revealed that his T-shirt and pajama bottoms were both on inside out and backwards. Oddly enough, this is the one part of the story that I have the most trouble with. Why is it that, in almost every case of alien abduction one reads about, the victims’ clothing turns out to be inside out and backwards. One would think that the aliens, who are apparently intelligent enough to travel great distances to visit us, would have the forethought to observe how the clothing is worn, or if not, the law of averages should dictate that they would get it right half of the time. I really don’t want to say that I don’t believe this account, but Jeez, it’s a struggle.
In the final chapter, Wilford provides a list of several theories that he has come up with over his many years of service. Several of them include the idea that existence is multi-dimensional and that we live on just one of them and that ’there are naturally occurring places in the world where it is easier for those beings to pass back and forth.’ This could explain how UFOs and bigfoot could appear at the same time and place, how extraterrestrials could travel such vast distances in a short period of time, and although Milford doesn’t mention this, how there could be so many bigfoot, yet never any bigfoot corpses.
Bottom line: While I enjoyed this book and respect Rangers Wilford and Dover for their work, and especially for the empathy they showed to those they worked with, I am still just as conflicted as I was when I first started reading it. I guess some things will just need to remain unknown.
+++
*Quotations are cited from an advanced reading copy and may not be the same as appears in the final published edition. The review was based on an advanced reading copy obtained at no cost from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review. While this does take any ‘not worth what I paid for it’ statements out of my review, it otherwise has no impact on the content of my review.
FYI: On a 5-point scale I assign stars based on my assessment of what the book needs in the way of improvements:
*5 Stars – Nothing at all. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
*4 Stars – It could stand for a few tweaks here and there but it’s pretty good as it is.
*3 Stars – A solid C grade. Some serious rewriting would be needed in order for this book to be considered great or memorable.
*2 Stars – This book needs a lot of work. A good start would be to change the plot, the character development, the writing style and the ending.
*1 Star – The only thing that would improve this book is a good bonfire.
I had heard of Stanley Milford before, having watched the episode of Unsolved Mysteries (Vol. 3, Episode 5) that featured him and his partner, Jon Dover. I found the idea of clear-headed, analytical police officers investigating approaching such cases with an open mind fascinating, and also compelling, so, given the opportunity to obtain a review copy from NetGalley, I jumped at the chance.
Milford’s book is rather slim, 232 pages of text, which is interspersed with alternating chapters telling the Navajo creation story which provides insights into some of the entities encountered by Milford and Dover over the course of their investigations. It also describes Milford’s youth and family life, describing how he became interested in law enforcement, his early days as a law enforcement officer and Navajo Ranger, and also describing his first encounter with the paranormal world.
One of the first cases they encountered was when an elderly woman reported that a bigfoot stole one of her sheep. When she reported it to the police, the responding officers did not seem to take her report seriously so she complained, which brought the case to the attention of The Paranormal Rangers, as Milford and Dover would soon become known. While this first investigation remained unsolved, they did learn what was perhaps the key lesson of their entire careers, that the people who reported these cases mostly just wanted to know that they were being taken seriously.
Most of the cases that Milford describes fall into the categories of either UFOs, bigfoot sightings, Navajo witchcraft, or basic hauntings, and sometimes the accounts included a combination of two or more of these.
I have a great deal of respect for the way that these rangers approach the cases they worked. Milford claimed to be a sceptic, but he is clearly less of one than I am. But if even half of what he describes in the book is true, he has a right to be.
Which brings me to the part of the book that really bothers me. In chapter seven he recounts a visitation by a creature he describes as “like the little green men I had read about and seen on TV, only it wasn’t green. Its skin was a dull gray, the same color as the sculpting clay I had used to make pottery in junior high art class.” He described how he was unable to move for a long time while he and this being watched each other. Eventually, without warning, the paralysis left him, and he jumped from his bead and grabbed his service weapon, only to find the creature gone. Subsequent examination revealed that his T-shirt and pajama bottoms were both on inside out and backwards. Oddly enough, this is the one part of the story that I have the most trouble with. Why is it that, in almost every case of alien abduction one reads about, the victims’ clothing turns out to be inside out and backwards. One would think that the aliens, who are apparently intelligent enough to travel great distances to visit us, would have the forethought to observe how the clothing is worn, or if not, the law of averages should dictate that they would get it right half of the time. I really don’t want to say that I don’t believe this account, but Jeez, it’s a struggle.
In the final chapter, Wilford provides a list of several theories that he has come up with over his many years of service. Several of them include the idea that existence is multi-dimensional and that we live on just one of them and that ’there are naturally occurring places in the world where it is easier for those beings to pass back and forth.’ This could explain how UFOs and bigfoot could appear at the same time and place, how extraterrestrials could travel such vast distances in a short period of time, and although Milford doesn’t mention this, how there could be so many bigfoot, yet never any bigfoot corpses.
Bottom line: While I enjoyed this book and respect Rangers Wilford and Dover for their work, and especially for the empathy they showed to those they worked with, I am still just as conflicted as I was when I first started reading it. I guess some things will just need to remain unknown.
+++
*Quotations are cited from an advanced reading copy and may not be the same as appears in the final published edition. The review was based on an advanced reading copy obtained at no cost from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review. While this does take any ‘not worth what I paid for it’ statements out of my review, it otherwise has no impact on the content of my review.
FYI: On a 5-point scale I assign stars based on my assessment of what the book needs in the way of improvements:
*5 Stars – Nothing at all. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
*4 Stars – It could stand for a few tweaks here and there but it’s pretty good as it is.
*3 Stars – A solid C grade. Some serious rewriting would be needed in order for this book to be considered great or memorable.
*2 Stars – This book needs a lot of work. A good start would be to change the plot, the character development, the writing style and the ending.
*1 Star – The only thing that would improve this book is a good bonfire.
April 28, 2025
I found this quite interesting. Milford begins his career in law enforcement with the Navajo Rangers and then moves into investigating paranomal activity. This centers on UFOs, skinwalkers and encounters with big foot.
I have to say that I was hoping for more details regarding the various encounters, but I did like the conclusions Milford comes to at the end of the book. Milford draws a line between Navajo origin stories and the paranormal activity that occurs on the Navajo Reservation. Much of the beliefs passed down through oral history work as a companion to the explanations Milford gives for what he and others experience.
Milford describes dimensions that he believes explain many of these phenomena. It seems like a plausible explanation to me.
I have to say that I was hoping for more details regarding the various encounters, but I did like the conclusions Milford comes to at the end of the book. Milford draws a line between Navajo origin stories and the paranormal activity that occurs on the Navajo Reservation. Much of the beliefs passed down through oral history work as a companion to the explanations Milford gives for what he and others experience.
Milford describes dimensions that he believes explain many of these phenomena. It seems like a plausible explanation to me.
November 28, 2024
It is like the Paranormal Rangers episode of Unsolved Mysteries; however, he gives you the background he had growing up and more details on the individual events. It was definitely interesting!
May 13, 2024
Having seen the author on television, I was very interested in reading his book. I found him very intelligent, articulate and completely credible…both on camera and in print. His experiences made an intriguing read, and the inclusion of the history of the Navajo Rangers and the lore of his people, created a fascinating book.
March 5, 2025
Taken from the Goodreads synopsis. "Stanley Milford, Jr., was raised with the inherent belief that the supernatural regularly touches our lives. Growing up between multiple worlds and cultures, as a Native American with parents and family of both Navajo and Cherokee descent, he was raised to respect his roots with a firm upbringing in traditions from both tribes.
That would serve him well when he joined the fabled Navajo Rangers, who are equal parts police officers, archeological conservationists, and historians, responsible for overseeing the massive 27,000-square-mile Navajo Nation. When Milford first became a ranger, he handled mundane, everyday cases such as cattle inspections and domestic disputes, but that quickly gave way to utterly bizarre and shockingly frequent cases of mysterious livestock mutilations, skinwalker and cryptid sightings, unidentified aerial phenomena, and malicious hauntings.
In The Paranormal Ranger, Milford recounts all the stories from the logical, factual, and serious perspective of a law enforcement officer. Far from the tinfoil hat and conspiracy crowd, Milford’s Native American worldview and investigative training provide a chilling, realistic perspective on what logic dictates should not be possible."
I enjoyed this book a lot. Stanley Milford Jr. is straight forward in his story telling. He does not hold anything back with his experiences. Chapters are short but packed with knowledge and stories that will have you sleeping with the lights on. It is ashamed that political discord, police brutality and corruption forced him out of the position of Chief Ranger, I feel he could have given more to the field of Navajo Ranger, he has a gift and presence about him, you can feel in the book.
Adding book to my favorites.
That would serve him well when he joined the fabled Navajo Rangers, who are equal parts police officers, archeological conservationists, and historians, responsible for overseeing the massive 27,000-square-mile Navajo Nation. When Milford first became a ranger, he handled mundane, everyday cases such as cattle inspections and domestic disputes, but that quickly gave way to utterly bizarre and shockingly frequent cases of mysterious livestock mutilations, skinwalker and cryptid sightings, unidentified aerial phenomena, and malicious hauntings.
In The Paranormal Ranger, Milford recounts all the stories from the logical, factual, and serious perspective of a law enforcement officer. Far from the tinfoil hat and conspiracy crowd, Milford’s Native American worldview and investigative training provide a chilling, realistic perspective on what logic dictates should not be possible."
I enjoyed this book a lot. Stanley Milford Jr. is straight forward in his story telling. He does not hold anything back with his experiences. Chapters are short but packed with knowledge and stories that will have you sleeping with the lights on. It is ashamed that political discord, police brutality and corruption forced him out of the position of Chief Ranger, I feel he could have given more to the field of Navajo Ranger, he has a gift and presence about him, you can feel in the book.
Adding book to my favorites.
April 2, 2025
Stanley Milford, Jr., a retired law enforcement officer, is the perfect guy to write a book like The Paranormal Ranger. Rather than coming across as a showman or a snake oil salesman, Milford is unassuming, compassionate, logical, humble, multicultural. Perhaps most importantly, he is credible. That makes The Paranormal Ranger worth reading for anyone interested in things that happen on the borders of the explainable.
Milford is the son of a mother raised Baptist and a father raised more in First Nations traditions. Therefore, Milford grew up in what I’ll call Western cosmology, as well as Navajo cosmology. He understands and appreciates the scientific method and materialist lens to explain the world, as well as Navajo views of creation, causality, and reality. Therefore, when it comes to paranormal events, he has a unique point of view on investigating as far as one can and then being comfortable with mystery. It isn’t an either/or for Milford. He practices intellectual humility, which is an amazing trait for anyone to display these days.
Milford spent years working as a Navajo Ranger – working as law enforcement in the Navajo community. Most of Milford’s work was common police work, although Navajo Rangers were responsible for larger territories than would be common for a typical law enforcement organization in the U.S. However, Milford and his partner also worked a smaller but interesting number of paranormal-type cases. These included things like hauntings, livestock slaughtered by unknown mammalian creatures, and UFO sightings.
Most important to Milford in his investigation of the paranormal cases was that people who experienced paranormal events were treated with dignity and respect. Through anecdotal stories of people who have encountered things like hauntings, skinwalkers, and cryptids, he explains how such people can feel invaded, victimized, and ostracized; how unmooring an experience can be when it does not harmonize with one’s understanding of the world. Some of the stories he shares are genuinely scary, including some hauntings and his own experience with a silent skinwalker.
Even if the paranormal isn’t your thing, you may enjoy Milford’s critique of Western vs. Navajo thought. He sees the downplaying of paranormal events and mythology as implicitly a degradation of Navajo culture. He sees the need to reduce an experience into an explanation or category that does not truly fit as a Western preference. Milford also points out that social taboos and urban myths, in any culture, often serve to regulate behavior and community safety. This point reminded me a bit of Dr. Emily Zarka’s fantastic Monstrum on PBS.
Ambiguity and mystery are just part of life to Milford. Some situations aren’t solved, so much as acknowledged.
I enjoyed my time with Mr. Milford. If nothing else, I took away a great reminder that universe is big and I am small.
3.5/5 rounded up.
Milford is the son of a mother raised Baptist and a father raised more in First Nations traditions. Therefore, Milford grew up in what I’ll call Western cosmology, as well as Navajo cosmology. He understands and appreciates the scientific method and materialist lens to explain the world, as well as Navajo views of creation, causality, and reality. Therefore, when it comes to paranormal events, he has a unique point of view on investigating as far as one can and then being comfortable with mystery. It isn’t an either/or for Milford. He practices intellectual humility, which is an amazing trait for anyone to display these days.
Milford spent years working as a Navajo Ranger – working as law enforcement in the Navajo community. Most of Milford’s work was common police work, although Navajo Rangers were responsible for larger territories than would be common for a typical law enforcement organization in the U.S. However, Milford and his partner also worked a smaller but interesting number of paranormal-type cases. These included things like hauntings, livestock slaughtered by unknown mammalian creatures, and UFO sightings.
Most important to Milford in his investigation of the paranormal cases was that people who experienced paranormal events were treated with dignity and respect. Through anecdotal stories of people who have encountered things like hauntings, skinwalkers, and cryptids, he explains how such people can feel invaded, victimized, and ostracized; how unmooring an experience can be when it does not harmonize with one’s understanding of the world. Some of the stories he shares are genuinely scary, including some hauntings and his own experience with a silent skinwalker.
Even if the paranormal isn’t your thing, you may enjoy Milford’s critique of Western vs. Navajo thought. He sees the downplaying of paranormal events and mythology as implicitly a degradation of Navajo culture. He sees the need to reduce an experience into an explanation or category that does not truly fit as a Western preference. Milford also points out that social taboos and urban myths, in any culture, often serve to regulate behavior and community safety. This point reminded me a bit of Dr. Emily Zarka’s fantastic Monstrum on PBS.
Ambiguity and mystery are just part of life to Milford. Some situations aren’t solved, so much as acknowledged.
I enjoyed my time with Mr. Milford. If nothing else, I took away a great reminder that universe is big and I am small.
3.5/5 rounded up.
December 15, 2024
Excellent story telling, with so much knowledge and expertise behind his memories.
April 3, 2025
Great book.
Mysticism on Navajo lands. Skin walkers, shape shifters, Navajo origin stories, big foot.
Enjoyed the book and learned a lot about Navajo land.
Mysticism on Navajo lands. Skin walkers, shape shifters, Navajo origin stories, big foot.
Enjoyed the book and learned a lot about Navajo land.
June 30, 2025
He couldn't remember a ghost's name after he claims to have a recording of the ghost saying it's name?
February 2, 2025
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. The author gave wonderful insight into indigenous history and beliefs. I appreciated his dedication to his career and assisting others without judgment while forming his own personal hypotheses on paranormal activities.
February 22, 2025
This was interesting and Milford, Jr. has a unique perspective. I applaud him for being open minded and community minded as he serves his community as a paranormal ranger.
Even though he describes experiences his community members have (Bigfoot) and he has (visions of skinwalkers, etc) it still felt a little surface. I think I would have liked some journalistic investigative rigor!
I did appreciate the Native and Indigenous stories interspersed through the book.
Even though he describes experiences his community members have (Bigfoot) and he has (visions of skinwalkers, etc) it still felt a little surface. I think I would have liked some journalistic investigative rigor!
I did appreciate the Native and Indigenous stories interspersed through the book.
March 21, 2025
Entertaining. And really makes you think and wonder what is out there. Can it be true? Spooky
June 23, 2024
Note: Thank you to NetGalley, William Morrow Publishing, and Stanley Milford Jr. for the advanced reader copy of the book. This review will also be posted on NetGalley. What follows is my unbiased review of the book.
When talking about the paranormal, people generally believe in the possibility of it or don’t. For those that do, Paranormal Ranger will provide reassurance that they aren’t crazy. For those that don’t, if the testimony by a person who was in law enforcement doesn’t convince them then nothing will.
Stanley Milford Jr. has appeared on several television shows such as Skinwalker Ranch and Unsolved Mysteries. He was a member of law enforcement on the Navajo Reservation which stretches from Arizona through New Mexico and Utah to Colorado. He retired after more than twenty years of service. Throughout his time as a Ranger, he dealt with normal law enforcement issues but became known for his thoughtful and thorough investigations into paranormal events on the Reservation.
Milford details what went into an investigation of a report of a paranormal event. With the culture steeped in stories alien to Western culture, there’s a lot more openness to the residents of the reservation to things most of the rest of us would dismiss. Although I have believed in ghosts and am open to many things paranormal for some time now, one thing I always dismissed was bigfoot sightings. It seemed ridiculous to me that a creature such as this could exist in our world with little to no evidence. However, Milford does have the evidence. In addition to casts of very large footprints that couldn’t have been made by any known creature of our world, he’s had experiences and sightings while investigating reports that frightened many members of the Native community. Milford also gives his own theories as to why there have never been any remains of a bigfoot found. I have to admit that after reading this, I find the existence of these creatures to be more plausible.
To read my full review please go to The Paranormal Ranger: A Navajo Investigator’s Search for the Unexplained by Stanley Milford Jr.
When talking about the paranormal, people generally believe in the possibility of it or don’t. For those that do, Paranormal Ranger will provide reassurance that they aren’t crazy. For those that don’t, if the testimony by a person who was in law enforcement doesn’t convince them then nothing will.
Stanley Milford Jr. has appeared on several television shows such as Skinwalker Ranch and Unsolved Mysteries. He was a member of law enforcement on the Navajo Reservation which stretches from Arizona through New Mexico and Utah to Colorado. He retired after more than twenty years of service. Throughout his time as a Ranger, he dealt with normal law enforcement issues but became known for his thoughtful and thorough investigations into paranormal events on the Reservation.
Milford details what went into an investigation of a report of a paranormal event. With the culture steeped in stories alien to Western culture, there’s a lot more openness to the residents of the reservation to things most of the rest of us would dismiss. Although I have believed in ghosts and am open to many things paranormal for some time now, one thing I always dismissed was bigfoot sightings. It seemed ridiculous to me that a creature such as this could exist in our world with little to no evidence. However, Milford does have the evidence. In addition to casts of very large footprints that couldn’t have been made by any known creature of our world, he’s had experiences and sightings while investigating reports that frightened many members of the Native community. Milford also gives his own theories as to why there have never been any remains of a bigfoot found. I have to admit that after reading this, I find the existence of these creatures to be more plausible.
To read my full review please go to The Paranormal Ranger: A Navajo Investigator’s Search for the Unexplained by Stanley Milford Jr.
July 22, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for an eARC of The Paranormal Ranger by Stanley Milford Jr.
I was so excited to see that Stanley Milford Jr. was coming out with a book about his experience with the Navajo Rangers and the supernatural world. My first experience with his work was through Beyond Skinwalker Ranch and it was so curious to know that not only does the Navajo have their own police force, they have Rangers who work specifically with supernatural cases. It was fun to read his stories and experiences, but also how he incorporated the Navajo creation story, as it really gave a wonderful insight with the chapters of his time as a Ranger. For me, it blended nicely. The big thing for me is that Stanley always treated his cases seriously and followed through, making sure that those involved were informed and knew that he wasn't going to just brush it off (not take things seriously). Especially because the supernatural is heavily imbodied in many cultures that those who weren't raise in that culture wouldn't understand or just assume the person is crazy etc., Stanley went above and beyond during is 20 year tenure and the evidence he gathered blows my mind. Honestly, I wish he had a podcast as I would 10/10 listen to it.
I was so excited to see that Stanley Milford Jr. was coming out with a book about his experience with the Navajo Rangers and the supernatural world. My first experience with his work was through Beyond Skinwalker Ranch and it was so curious to know that not only does the Navajo have their own police force, they have Rangers who work specifically with supernatural cases. It was fun to read his stories and experiences, but also how he incorporated the Navajo creation story, as it really gave a wonderful insight with the chapters of his time as a Ranger. For me, it blended nicely. The big thing for me is that Stanley always treated his cases seriously and followed through, making sure that those involved were informed and knew that he wasn't going to just brush it off (not take things seriously). Especially because the supernatural is heavily imbodied in many cultures that those who weren't raise in that culture wouldn't understand or just assume the person is crazy etc., Stanley went above and beyond during is 20 year tenure and the evidence he gathered blows my mind. Honestly, I wish he had a podcast as I would 10/10 listen to it.
October 6, 2024
The Paranormal Ranger by Stanley Milford Junior is an interesting biography about his life living between the traditions of the Navajo Indians and western culture him becoming a Ranger and all that entailed and ultimately how he and his partner were picked to be the paranormal rangers. My favorite part of the book besides his actual stories of arresting and or searching for criminals/crypttoids, we’re the Native American origin stories of how they believe the world was invented to how men and women learned they really did need each other I really enjoyed those stories I think as much as I did the others. Mr. Milford has such a comfortable writing style and at one point I really felt as if mosquitoes were going to start biting me due to the way he described the misery he was in on his first SWAT mission. I think Mr. Milford’s respect for others really comes through in the narrative he seems like such an intelligent and kind person that anyone would be proud to know and I am so glad I read this book and know that such a great man exist. From growing up to explaining how things are done on the reservation the stories are interesting in the book isn’t long but OMG it could’ve been longer. I am not a fan of biographies because I feel like people too often like to pat their own self on the back and use the opportunity to tell the world how great they are but in this case you can read for yourself the humility and honor and even a little self deprecation that made a few LOL moments really shows what a great person the Ranger is. From Windegos to big foot UFOs in even a human shaped black void he has experienced it all and has a very interesting way of telling the stories I definitely recommend this book it was awesome I loved it and read it all in almost one sitting the only reason I put the book down is because I kept falling asleep I had been reading so long. Lol! #NetGalley,#StanleyMilfordJunior, #TheParaNormalRanger,#William Morrow,
February 6, 2025
I truly enjoyed this book. It is a fascinating recount of the highlights of an unusual and fascinating career. I knew of Stanley Milford, Jr., and his partner Jon Dover from Skinwalker Ranch and Beyond Skinwalker Ranch. But, I knew almost nothing of Milford's upbringing and career history outside of paranormal investigations. I recently learned Milford will be a guest speaker at a UFO conference in my town during 2025, so I jumped at the chance to obtain this book.
Milford provides evidence for the theory that paranormal events are related in some way (e.g., bigfoots & orbs & UFOs being observed in the same areas). I have long found this theory interesting. Also, he supports the interdimensional theory of the paranormal which says paranormal entities exist in a parallel dimension and occasionally, for whatever reason, cross into our reality. While we are a long way from understanding what is going on I do believe that, some day, these theories will play an important role in unraveling the mysteries of the paranormal.
I listened to the Audible audiobook. Most of the book was read by Milford himself. His halting style of reading provided a genuineness for the narration. However, it could be frustrating at times. I found that if I sped the narration up to 1.25 then the reading smoothed out and listening became more enjoyable.
Milford provides evidence for the theory that paranormal events are related in some way (e.g., bigfoots & orbs & UFOs being observed in the same areas). I have long found this theory interesting. Also, he supports the interdimensional theory of the paranormal which says paranormal entities exist in a parallel dimension and occasionally, for whatever reason, cross into our reality. While we are a long way from understanding what is going on I do believe that, some day, these theories will play an important role in unraveling the mysteries of the paranormal.
I listened to the Audible audiobook. Most of the book was read by Milford himself. His halting style of reading provided a genuineness for the narration. However, it could be frustrating at times. I found that if I sped the narration up to 1.25 then the reading smoothed out and listening became more enjoyable.
Read
November 12, 2024I think I saw Milford on Unsolved Mysteries talking about Bigfoot and skinwalkers, so when I saw this book I wanted to know more. The first part is a deep dive in his life. The next part is about the various cases he investigated as part of a "real life X Files."
Say what you will about aliens, crytpids, and ghosts, but Milford and I can definitely agree on the fact that there are things in this world that none of us can explain.
Say what you will about aliens, crytpids, and ghosts, but Milford and I can definitely agree on the fact that there are things in this world that none of us can explain.
October 6, 2024
This was so incredibly good. I had seen this author on some of my favorite paranormal shows and documentaries, and watching the Paranormal Rangers episode of Unsolved Mysteries had me jumping on Google to learn more. So when I learned about this book, I knew I had to read it. This was a great blend of personal history, paranormal and Navajo culture. What an interesting life and pathway to live out the dream of becoming the real X-Files. I could not put this down and really enjoyed learning about the Navajo creation story and how it shapes perceptions and reactions to paranormal occurrences. The cases were compelling, and I enjoyed the author's hypotheses on how everything could be connected. These investigations were conducted with the aim of validating, informing and healing those who were affected by their experiences. I would love if more investigators took this approach. I really hope this author writes more books, as this was such a good read. Highly recommend.
November 8, 2024
“We inherited a paranormal world from our ancestors, but we do not have their knowledge or tools to help us deal with it. Those who painted the pictographs on the red rocks of Navajoland knew things we do not know. We think of ourselves as so advanced, but there are situations our ancestors could have handled that we cannot because we have allowed their knowledge to be lost. And we have allowed our lives and societies to become radically unbalanced.”
This was a book I found fascinating, especially as the author put various paranormal/supernatural events that he witnessed in the context of Navajo culture. It made me think long and hard about the assumptions we make outside of our own culture/experience that allow us to dismiss what others hold sacred or taboo. Maybe we need to do more listening and less "my perspective 'splaining".
This was a book I found fascinating, especially as the author put various paranormal/supernatural events that he witnessed in the context of Navajo culture. It made me think long and hard about the assumptions we make outside of our own culture/experience that allow us to dismiss what others hold sacred or taboo. Maybe we need to do more listening and less "my perspective 'splaining".
December 5, 2024
I’ve always been interested in the supernatural and this intrigued me just from the title alone. I thought this was a very compelling and spiritual look at the unknown and unexplainable. I loved that Milford had a different perspective on how we view the unexplainable and how we must learn to live in balance with the things we can’t explain. I can see how skeptics would call this just another phony take, but as a believer myself, there was very compelling evidence and stories to make me wonder about what else could be out there. I loved getting the history and culture of the Navajo and how their tribe views supernatural occurrences. I really enjoyed this one and highly recommend!
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