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Haunted America
Ghosts of Salem: Haunts of the Witch City
Nestled on the rocky coast of Massachusetts, Salem is a city steeped in history and legend. Famous for its witch trials, the storied North Shore seaport also has a dark history of smugglers and deadly fires. It is considered one of New England's most haunted destinations. Inside Howard Street Cemetery, the ghost of accused witch Giles Corey wanders among the gravestones. Outside the Ropes Mansion, the ghost of Abigail Ropes can be seen peeking out of the windows. The Gardner-Pingree House on Essex Street is host to the spirit of sea captain Joseph White, a man whose murder in 1830 inspired literary giants like Edgar Allan Poe and Nathaniel Hawthorne. Join author and paranormal journalist Sam Baltrusis on a chilling journey through the streets of Salem as he chronicles the historic haunts of the Witch City.
128 pages, Paperback
First published June 24, 2014
405 people are currently reading
486 people want to read
About the author
Sam Baltrusis
24 books39 followersSam Baltrusis, author of "Wicked Salem: Exploring Lingering Lore and Legends," has penned a dozen historical-based ghost books including "Ghost Writers" and "Mass Murders." He has been featured on several national TV shows including Destination America's "Haunted Towns," the Travel Channel's "Haunted USA" on Salem and served as Boston's paranormal expert on the Biography Channel's "Haunted Encounters." In 2019, he was featured on the one-hundredth episode of "A Haunting" that aired on the Travel Channel. Baltrusis is a sought-after lecturer who speaks at dozens of paranormal-related events scattered throughout New England, including an author discussion at the Massachusetts State House and paranormal conventions that he produced called the Plymouth ParaCon in 2018 and the Berkshire’s MASS ParaCon in 2019. Visit SamBaltrusis.com for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
August 12, 2014
Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. No other consideration was offered, expected or received.
Ever since 6th grade, when I first read the Salem Witch Trials in school, I have had a fascination with Salem. Not just because of the witches, but because of all the history, the culture, the mystery. When this book "came across my desk," I was both happy and excited and couldn't wait until I was able to sit down and read it.
It did not disappoint. From the very beginning, I was hooked. He is very eloquent and gives lots of information on every page, includes some beautiful pictures of this historic city, and goes beyond just the lore of the witch trials and it's aftermath. I was lucky enough to visit Massachusetts not too long ago, but this book has given me a lot more places that I want to visit when I head there again.
If you find the supernatural interesting and have a love of history, this is a great book for you to sit down and read - and there are two other books in the series (Ghosts of Boston and Ghosts of Cambridge) that I plan to pick up soon.
There was just ONE thing about the book that I found annoying, though it didn't affect the flow. Some information is written several times, just in different ways, and a lot of the captions under the pictures are written verbatim from the text. I've seen other books do this with pictures and it bugs me - a picture caption is a great place to add some small bit that you have not included in the story, but if you're not going to, at least change it a bit so I'm not reading the same exact thing a second time. Small issue, but after several times it became bothersome to me.
4 1/2 stars
Ever since 6th grade, when I first read the Salem Witch Trials in school, I have had a fascination with Salem. Not just because of the witches, but because of all the history, the culture, the mystery. When this book "came across my desk," I was both happy and excited and couldn't wait until I was able to sit down and read it.
It did not disappoint. From the very beginning, I was hooked. He is very eloquent and gives lots of information on every page, includes some beautiful pictures of this historic city, and goes beyond just the lore of the witch trials and it's aftermath. I was lucky enough to visit Massachusetts not too long ago, but this book has given me a lot more places that I want to visit when I head there again.
If you find the supernatural interesting and have a love of history, this is a great book for you to sit down and read - and there are two other books in the series (Ghosts of Boston and Ghosts of Cambridge) that I plan to pick up soon.
There was just ONE thing about the book that I found annoying, though it didn't affect the flow. Some information is written several times, just in different ways, and a lot of the captions under the pictures are written verbatim from the text. I've seen other books do this with pictures and it bugs me - a picture caption is a great place to add some small bit that you have not included in the story, but if you're not going to, at least change it a bit so I'm not reading the same exact thing a second time. Small issue, but after several times it became bothersome to me.
4 1/2 stars
January 20, 2025
Enjoyable historic details
I enjoyed this book more for the shocking historic details than the haunts. Being I have visited Salem and plan to again, this was a good review and knowledge to take with me next time.
I enjoyed this book more for the shocking historic details than the haunts. Being I have visited Salem and plan to again, this was a good review and knowledge to take with me next time.
November 27, 2024
Some interesting stories. A lot of repetition of information however.
July 13, 2019
This was a fun, quick read. I enjoyed it more since most of the locations in the book were places I have visited. My only complaint about the book was by the 40th time of being told Giles Corey was pressed to death over a two day period, in those exact words, I was literally mumbling out loud, ‘yeah, we know.’ But that’s just my curmudgeon like brain.
January 10, 2020
3.5~ a lot of original interviews & such, definitely one of the better books about hauntings I've read. But a ton of the book is stuff from other already published or televised works so part of me would rather read/watch those. Overall a nice little book!
September 30, 2020
Well researched
I have always been interested in the Salem Witch Trials. This book contained a depth of knowledge and taught me a lot about the history of Salem. The photos were amazing but the captions could have been better. They were repeated from text throughout the corresponding chapters.
Very well thought out, researched thoroughly and well-written.
I want to visit Salem more than ever now!
I have always been interested in the Salem Witch Trials. This book contained a depth of knowledge and taught me a lot about the history of Salem. The photos were amazing but the captions could have been better. They were repeated from text throughout the corresponding chapters.
Very well thought out, researched thoroughly and well-written.
I want to visit Salem more than ever now!
October 16, 2024
interesting, but I found it to be repetitive at times. it made me want to go back to Salem and visit it more properly this time. I wish the several ghost pictures that were mentioned in the text were actually included in the book, but I guess they weren't due to copyright issues
November 8, 2019
Interesting info. The author looks at stories of hauntings and peoples' experiences in Salem. He talks briefly about the witch trials and mentions a few other happenings. Some of the stories about the ghosts he has disproved - he can find no evidence in any of the newspapers reports, journals, etc. of what has supposedly happened and who was involved. Other things he seems to go right along with. His tone is neutral though he says he believes and his assistant is the major skeptic.
He mentions the different locations, their reputation as to hauntedness and who the resident ghosts are thought to be.
He mentions the different locations, their reputation as to hauntedness and who the resident ghosts are thought to be.
July 13, 2019
Lovely little nice read. Loved all the historical information too since I am a huge history nerd.
May 23, 2023
For what it is the book was light hearted and fun and did dispel some rumors and false history. Reading it as a mom previewing my 10 year old’s horror and paranormal offerings I found it to be a great read.
As a historian and anthropologist with a concentration in religious studies I found it wanting. To be fair, I bought it for my son and through that lens it is 5/5 stars would totally recommend.
As a historian and anthropologist with a concentration in religious studies I found it wanting. To be fair, I bought it for my son and through that lens it is 5/5 stars would totally recommend.
September 26, 2025
Spooky season reading just got spookier with this book! Informative and to the point, this book was one that entertained me 100%. I also appreciated how well researched the author was, and how they were not scared to flat out debunk false claims and rumors. Definitely a snuggle under a blanket with a candle burning next to you type of read!
June 14, 2024
Don’t bother with this book. As someone who has lived in Salem the author really doesn’t understand the city or people.
November 12, 2021
Not as detailed as I might have liked, but, it did offer a nice lesson into the history of Salem.
August 10, 2014
This book hooked me from the introduction and I can't seem to put it down, even when I should be working on my own writing. A clever blend of wit and history, Ghosts of Salem captures the essence of a town and its people from both the present and the past.
The pictures draw you in and the author's attention to detail breathes life into every page. I could feel the chill of a specter's presence looking over my shoulder as I read about the different locals. I'm still in the throws of this magnificent book and I can't imagine a better way to start my Halloween season than reading some witchy facts about this fascinating city.
5/5
The pictures draw you in and the author's attention to detail breathes life into every page. I could feel the chill of a specter's presence looking over my shoulder as I read about the different locals. I'm still in the throws of this magnificent book and I can't imagine a better way to start my Halloween season than reading some witchy facts about this fascinating city.
5/5
August 15, 2014
From cemeteries to crime to curses and more, Ghosts of Salem floats through the history of the infamous New England town known for its witch trials. With wit and charm, Baltrusis brings Salem alive for the reader. In this engaging and informative book, readers learn not only about Salem's history, but also residents' opinions on the ghosts that are rumored to make Salem home.
Filled with historical photographs, Ghosts of Salem is the perfect book for curious minds and history lovers. Thoroughly researched, this book totally captivated me and I read it in one sitting.
Filled with historical photographs, Ghosts of Salem is the perfect book for curious minds and history lovers. Thoroughly researched, this book totally captivated me and I read it in one sitting.
October 22, 2018
Ghosts of Salem: Haunts of the Witch City is a really interesting collection of historic and paranormal tales.
I had previously read New Hampshire Book of the Dead: Graveyard Legends and Lore by Roxie J. Zwicker and LOVED every second of it. Unfortunately, this one was quite different, but it was still one I would definitely recommend.
I'll admit, after Roxie's book, my hopes for this one were pretty high. I found it interesting that the author stated in the introduction; Ghosts of Salem is, in essence, supernatural– themed travel guide written with a historical lens.
Keeping that in mind, I dove in.
It was immediately apparent to me that this is a book that would be better read in small chunks rather than all at once like I did because it is very repetitive. The first chapter is especially repetitive... specifically with explaining who Giles Cory is.
The repetition was prevalent throughout the book, which really started to get on my nerves, along with how frequently the author used the word "Yep" usually followed by more repetition, or a semi-snarky comment. But the content was still super interesting, so I never thought about stopping.
The file under notes at the end of each tale were pretty funny... for the most part. It worked semi-well with the random lines in each section that tried to lighten the mood a bit. For example, “File under: resident evil” was included after a tale about the Samuel Pickman House, where two people, living in the house at different times, suddenly became very violent. However, these little bits weren’t added to each story, which was kind of odd, and sometimes they seemed a little too light for the content we had just read.
Overall, definitely a worthwhile read!
This is one that I can see myself picking up before my next trip to Salem to refresh my memory about certain buildings and locations. And of course, this is a great read for a dark, cold, and windy night!
I had previously read New Hampshire Book of the Dead: Graveyard Legends and Lore by Roxie J. Zwicker and LOVED every second of it. Unfortunately, this one was quite different, but it was still one I would definitely recommend.
I'll admit, after Roxie's book, my hopes for this one were pretty high. I found it interesting that the author stated in the introduction; Ghosts of Salem is, in essence, supernatural– themed travel guide written with a historical lens.
Keeping that in mind, I dove in.
It was immediately apparent to me that this is a book that would be better read in small chunks rather than all at once like I did because it is very repetitive. The first chapter is especially repetitive... specifically with explaining who Giles Cory is.
The repetition was prevalent throughout the book, which really started to get on my nerves, along with how frequently the author used the word "Yep" usually followed by more repetition, or a semi-snarky comment. But the content was still super interesting, so I never thought about stopping.
The file under notes at the end of each tale were pretty funny... for the most part. It worked semi-well with the random lines in each section that tried to lighten the mood a bit. For example, “File under: resident evil” was included after a tale about the Samuel Pickman House, where two people, living in the house at different times, suddenly became very violent. However, these little bits weren’t added to each story, which was kind of odd, and sometimes they seemed a little too light for the content we had just read.
Overall, definitely a worthwhile read!
This is one that I can see myself picking up before my next trip to Salem to refresh my memory about certain buildings and locations. And of course, this is a great read for a dark, cold, and windy night!
January 19, 2019
I picked up this book while visiting Salem. I thought it would be nice to read about the paranormal activity that makes Salem so intriguing to many and to put some background to the areas of Salem I personally visited during my stay. The book gives an account to historical facts, folklore, legends and personal accounts reported by those who have visited or reside there. I was pleased to see that it also gave due process to those dispelling certain myths and hearsay hauntings through investigative methods, firsthand accounts and historical records as well. I did not enjoy reading repetitious information however, and it seemed as if the author was simply trying to get the book to an adequate size for publishing without having adequate material. I was a little unnerved that the particular Bed & Breakfast I where I had stayed was mentioned as regular "haunt" for 3 young children and a teenaged girl. I did NOT have any paranormal encounters myself, thankfully. In fact, our host did not mention anything regarding his knowledge of these ghosts nor of his establishment being named in this book. I will have to ask him next time we visit. All in all, it was a decent read for a snowy Saturday.
February 18, 2019
This is a book about the various supernatural things that are centered on the town of Salem where 19 people were murdered on charges of witchcraft.
If very strong emotions of a negative nature can somehow 'infest' a place and result in supernatural things like ghosts then Salem is a perfect place for that to happen. The amount of hatred generated during the trials (which, by the way, many centered around greedy people wanting other people's property or personal grudges against certain people and not actual witchcraft) was very high and it's no surprise that strange things happen there.
The book discusses a number of areas in the town including a cemetery, crime haunts, cursed haunts, what Nathaniel Hawthorne had to do with everything and nightlife haunts, among other topics. What complicates things is how some people there have taken advantage of the stories about the place to sell things to tourists so sometimes the real truth and the for-sale truth clash.
The book also uses the number of nine million for the number of people killed world-wide on charges of witchcraft. The number is at the high end of the various numbers I have read which range from a low of maybe 15,000 on up to the high end.
It's a well done book.
If very strong emotions of a negative nature can somehow 'infest' a place and result in supernatural things like ghosts then Salem is a perfect place for that to happen. The amount of hatred generated during the trials (which, by the way, many centered around greedy people wanting other people's property or personal grudges against certain people and not actual witchcraft) was very high and it's no surprise that strange things happen there.
The book discusses a number of areas in the town including a cemetery, crime haunts, cursed haunts, what Nathaniel Hawthorne had to do with everything and nightlife haunts, among other topics. What complicates things is how some people there have taken advantage of the stories about the place to sell things to tourists so sometimes the real truth and the for-sale truth clash.
The book also uses the number of nine million for the number of people killed world-wide on charges of witchcraft. The number is at the high end of the various numbers I have read which range from a low of maybe 15,000 on up to the high end.
It's a well done book.
July 27, 2022
I love ghost stories and learning about the history of those stories, so I really wanted to like this one, but I just didn’t.
For one, he uses the show Ghost Adventures for references several times, and they have admitted to being fake. The same phrases and words are repeated endlessly… I guarantee the word “allegedly” appears at least once on every page, and probably more than that.
Tour guides are also used as references a lot and are quoted but, as a tour guide, I can tell you that sometimes we just give answers because we have to seem knowledgeable and not because we *actually* know.
My final critique is that the captions on the pictures were quotes from the book that usually didn’t explain what was actually in the picture.
I may have rated this one a little harsh, but I was pretty disappointed with it. I also rated it more on the writing than the content because the content isn’t original, as in it can all be found online versus a new plot created by the author.
Would I recommend? Not really. The history and ghostly tales of Salem are popular enough, I don’t think it would be hard to find a better written source.
For one, he uses the show Ghost Adventures for references several times, and they have admitted to being fake. The same phrases and words are repeated endlessly… I guarantee the word “allegedly” appears at least once on every page, and probably more than that.
Tour guides are also used as references a lot and are quoted but, as a tour guide, I can tell you that sometimes we just give answers because we have to seem knowledgeable and not because we *actually* know.
My final critique is that the captions on the pictures were quotes from the book that usually didn’t explain what was actually in the picture.
I may have rated this one a little harsh, but I was pretty disappointed with it. I also rated it more on the writing than the content because the content isn’t original, as in it can all be found online versus a new plot created by the author.
Would I recommend? Not really. The history and ghostly tales of Salem are popular enough, I don’t think it would be hard to find a better written source.
July 11, 2021
Well, first things first - anyone who uses Ghost Adventures as a source gets a little side eye from me but that being said, I didn't have an issue with any of the actual quote from Nick (of Ghost Adventures).
Now on to what I really thought - I really enjoyed this compilation of locations/stories from Salem. I felt the writing style was solid - with any book that deals with history and legends you are going to get some dryness and dense sections, but I felt it was balanced really well between history and story telling. There were some instances where things were repeated which threw me a little, but the author did usually have a note that the subjects were referenced elsewhere in the book. The pictures that went along with the different sections were interesting and definitely added an element to the book as it was helpful to see named locations. Also, most of the sources sounded really interesting (besides Ghost Adventures) so I now have a list of other books I'd like to track down and pick up.
Now on to what I really thought - I really enjoyed this compilation of locations/stories from Salem. I felt the writing style was solid - with any book that deals with history and legends you are going to get some dryness and dense sections, but I felt it was balanced really well between history and story telling. There were some instances where things were repeated which threw me a little, but the author did usually have a note that the subjects were referenced elsewhere in the book. The pictures that went along with the different sections were interesting and definitely added an element to the book as it was helpful to see named locations. Also, most of the sources sounded really interesting (besides Ghost Adventures) so I now have a list of other books I'd like to track down and pick up.
September 20, 2024
Interesting collection of haunted happenings in a town I have long loved to visit. As a child, I would go there on field trips, having just finished reading The Crucible or talking about the Salem Witch Trials in hopes of not repeating history. The crazy charade that Salem is now has left a sour taste in my mouth. It's pandemonium in a place where so many innocent people were tortured, imprisoned, humiliated, and then killed. I like that the author relates the idea of turning a historical location of murder into a spooky place, like turning Auschwitz into a theme park. While it's interesting to take ghost tours, it's far less for the scare and more for the history of the town and the people who once resided there and those who never left.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 2, 2024
A lot of history of Salem, the ghost stories are naturally more of a folk lore and the book does a good job of making that apparent. It doesn’t read like a paranormal book but more like a book that describes how the towns people of Salem feel about the history and their own personal experiences. The author basically tells it from the point of view from the witnesses and not so much as ghost fact. The history itself is truth but the paranormal activity surrounding the history is up for interpretation. I loved it!
March 7, 2022
This is another book that is featured in the Haunted America series that I have been trying to read through. This book is available to read for free with Kindle Unlimited, otherwise it is something like eleven dollars for a 150 page book, and that was too much for my cheap self. I love the little history lessons in these books, and discovering places that I need to visit at some point. I love paranormal things, so these are right up my alley, even if they are short.
October 29, 2022
Ghosts of Salem was a fun book to read during the Halloween season. It tells of all of the haunted structures in the city. I found it especially interesting all of the buildings that have been moved from their original location and then changed from what they used to be (the old jail has been turned into luxury apartments). A fun book that makes me want to visit! I just wish the book had included pics of the spirits that were talked about in the book. 4 stars
November 5, 2025
This just made me want to go back to Salem even more, and many stories inspired me to add locations to our list of places to check out next time we visit! Loved hearing detailed stories about places we explored this year. Lots of history and research, but some facts got repetitive. Overall, I had so much fun reading this!
April 10, 2021
I totally enjoyed the book there was nothing I didn't like about the book. I like ghost stories no matter where it is from as far as location or setting. I would recommend this to anyone who like ghost stories.
August 1, 2023
A good, quick read with interesting stories of hauntings in Salem, MA. Not all were connected with the witch trials, which was refreshing. However, the author is clearly obsessed with Giles Corey, as his death is mentioned many, many times throughout the book.
October 26, 2023
This book wasn't terrible, but it was so repetitive. I'm pretty sure each page stated that Giles Corey was pressed to death. And I really feel like the author was really trying to make you feel that these "hauntings" were real, even when experts are explicitly saying no. Meh.
December 3, 2017
The stories were entertaining. Things would get off track and repetitive at times, and I didn't care for the number of quotes from sources like Ghost Adventures. Overall, worth a read.
October 16, 2019
Truly, a very basic book. I wish the stories would have been a bit more in depth and included more past history.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews