Bethlehem Ghosts Historical Hauntings In & Around Pennsylvania's Christmas City

by Katherine Ramsland, Dana DeVito

Katherine Ramsland and Dana DeVito have taken their mutual love of a good ghost story and produced an entertaining and educational perspective of the city of Bethlehem, Pennyslvania. Bethlehem Ghosts first introduces the reader to the history of, and the authors' theories concerning, ghosts, the paranormal, and "ghosting." Then, take a ghostly stroll down Main Street in the town founded by the Moravians. Tales of haunted hotels, inns, restaurants, and cemeteries, are guaranteed to send a chill down your spine.

Genres: Nonfiction, Paranormal

88 pages, Paperback

First published October 5, 2007

About the author

I've loved books since I was 3, and the library was a highlight of my childhood. I've been fortunate to be able to find great joy in what others have written and sometimes to give this to readers. I follow my own muse, because it leads me on interesting adventures. I began my writing career with "Prism of the Night: A Biography of Anne Rice." I had a bestseller with "The Vampire Companion." Since then, I've published 69 books and over 2,500 articles, reviews and short stories. I have also been an executive producer for "Murder House Flip" and "BTK: Confession of a Serial Killer." From ghosts to vampires to serial killers, I have taken on a variety of dark subjects, mostly in crime and forensics. I hold graduate degrees in forensic psychology, clinical psychology, criminal justice, creative writing and philosophy. Currently, I teach forensic psychology and criminal justice at DeSales University. My books include "I Scream Man," "How to Catch a Killer", "Confession of a Serial Killer", "The Forensic Psychology of Criminal Minds", "The Mind of a Murderer", "The Human Predator: A Historical Chronicle of Serial Murder and Forensic Investigation", "Inside the Minds of Serial Killers", "Inside the Minds of Sexual Predators", and "Inside the Minds of Mass Murderers". My background in forensic studies positioned me to assist former FBI profiler John Douglas on his book, "The Cases that Haunt Us", and to co-write a book with former FBI profiler, Gregg McCrary, "The Unknown Darkness", as well as "Spree Killers" with Mark Safarik, "The Real Life of a Forensic Scientist" with Henry C. Lee, and "A Voice for the Dead" with James Starrs. I speak internationally about forensic psychology, forensic science, and serial murder, and has appeared on numerous documentaries, as well as such programs as The Today Show, 20/20, 48 Hours, NPR, Dr. Oz, Coast to Coast, Montel Williams, Larry King Live and E! True Hollywood. Currently, I'm working on a fiction series, The Nut Cracker Investigations, which features a female forensic psychologist who manages a PI agency. "I Scream Man" is the first one.

Reviews

[Valerie Viscusi · Rating 2 out of 5]

So, I was a ghost tour guide at Moravian University, and this is the book the tour is based off of. Knowing that, I was excited to read it, because I had enjoyed being a tour guide and learning the history. I am annoyed to find that the book itself isn’t really about Bethlehem. There are a few Bethlehem tales, but they do not go into great detail. The author goes into deep detail about other random ghost stories that didn’t happen in this state or country. There are some Lehigh valley stories too, but I was hoping for more Moravian and Bethlehem history. Not a bad read, just not really what you’d expect.

[Ryan Bankas · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like this stuff. Sue me. This one has some intriguing historical stories... but it’s a bunch of tales where nothing ever really happens when she goes to investigate. I was also hoping that it would tell me more about Bethlehem, but she sort of jumps around to different places around the Lehigh Valley.

[Vick · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. I read this book as a child when it first came out and I loved it. I read it, now, as an adult, in hopes that it would help me with a project I am doing for work. However, the place I work at barely had a full page of information, and it only mentioned ghosts for like 3 sentences. The rest of the book was okay. I was disappointed that there wasn’t much information or stories to tell about the actual Bethlehem locations, I felt like there was more written about other places in the Lehigh Valley.

[Jessica Weida]

Published in 2007, this book highlights haunted locations throughout the Lehigh Valley, not just Bethlehem.
A great overview of spooky places. Would love to see an updated version that focuses more on the history along with spooky places in Bethlehem

[Angel Ackerman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Katherine’s books and this one is a delightful summary of local lore. It’s not as rich and in-depth as her other non-fiction books, but, with the nature of the material, it’s understandable. This is meant to be more like a well-expanded and researched list

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this. went to the town for a witch's market stayed at the hotel that night and I had an issue with my legs and I put on a ghost tube and it said " your leg" My mom invited the wife of the owner from when it was the Eagle and it said "maybe later"
can't wait to come back to the area.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book does a great job of providing the history of locations in Bethlehem where the ghost stories take place. However, the ghost stories at those locations are not very interesting and at times just a sentence or two. This book would be better had Katherine Ramsland team up with Rick Fisher because she could have provided the history and stories while he provide stories and actual paranormal investigations from those locations.

[Mary · Rating 1 out of 5]

Poorly written, lacking in transitions and information. At times, hard to follow.