What do you think?
Rate this book
Chronicles of the Unexplained: True Stories of Haunted Houses, Bigfoot & Other Paranormal Encounters
Chronicles of the Unexplained presents a lifetime of true paranormal experiences. The stories are from a broad range of individuals, many of whom would be the last people you would expect to be willing to communicate with anyone on such subjects. The true tales are interspersed with the story of the author's own battle with a not-so-hospitable entity and the unforeseen circumstances that were associated with the completion of this book.
216 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2015
13 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 29, 2015
I received this book from Llewellyn Worldwide and NetGalley for an honest review. The official release date is July 8th
CHRONICLES OF THE UNEXPLAINED contains several short stories that are allegedly true, mainly showcasing people's experiences with ghostly hauntings.
The author, Gary Gillespie, kicks off the book with his own tale of a haunted house that he and his family moved in to. After enduring doors slamming, disembodied voices and computers turning off and on by themselves, his family eventually fled the house and the several entities that resided there.
From there he tells eye witness accounts of ghosts of all manner; bedside ghostly visits, ghosts walking across roads in front of cars, people who are clairvoyant and can communicate with the other side, Central City in Colorado which has a bevy of activity throughout the town, amongst many others encounters.
Gary Gillespie drives a semi for a living and many of the stories here are from fellow truckers and ranges from very creepy encounters with other worldly happenings, to a few that are eye roll inducing, but nevertheless, all of the stories are short and make for a very entertaining and short read at right around 200 pages.
This book is not all ghosts though. There are also tales of unexplained animal mutilations where animals are skinned alive with no blood, foot prints or tire tracks nearby. Also, the very end of the book deals with Bigfoot sightings, of which, I wish there would have been a little bit more of in the book.
If you're into paranormal and other bizarre occurrences that stir the imagination, this will be a book you'll want to read. I give it 4/5.
CHRONICLES OF THE UNEXPLAINED contains several short stories that are allegedly true, mainly showcasing people's experiences with ghostly hauntings.
The author, Gary Gillespie, kicks off the book with his own tale of a haunted house that he and his family moved in to. After enduring doors slamming, disembodied voices and computers turning off and on by themselves, his family eventually fled the house and the several entities that resided there.
From there he tells eye witness accounts of ghosts of all manner; bedside ghostly visits, ghosts walking across roads in front of cars, people who are clairvoyant and can communicate with the other side, Central City in Colorado which has a bevy of activity throughout the town, amongst many others encounters.
Gary Gillespie drives a semi for a living and many of the stories here are from fellow truckers and ranges from very creepy encounters with other worldly happenings, to a few that are eye roll inducing, but nevertheless, all of the stories are short and make for a very entertaining and short read at right around 200 pages.
This book is not all ghosts though. There are also tales of unexplained animal mutilations where animals are skinned alive with no blood, foot prints or tire tracks nearby. Also, the very end of the book deals with Bigfoot sightings, of which, I wish there would have been a little bit more of in the book.
If you're into paranormal and other bizarre occurrences that stir the imagination, this will be a book you'll want to read. I give it 4/5.
January 4, 2016
Book Review originally published here: http://www.iheartreading.net/reviews/...
An okay read of true haunting tales, but not a lot of details on them, and no references or investigation into any of the hauntings. Most interesting were the stories that did come with witness interviews, and the ones the author personally experienced.
An okay read of true haunting tales, but not a lot of details on them, and no references or investigation into any of the hauntings. Most interesting were the stories that did come with witness interviews, and the ones the author personally experienced.
March 31, 2019
2.5 stars. Interesting to read, but a little messy and the stories weren’t always that “unexplained”.
October 23, 2015
The stories were interesting, but I don't feel they were written very well. It made me think of sitting in a room with a group of old men trying to tell each other their own ghost/paranormal/unexplainable stories. The book was a nice, quick read for October, when I like to read "scary" books. :)
April 16, 2020
Reportedly true stories of unexplained phenomena, much of it ghostly. I enjoy books like this, although the sceptic in me wonders how much really is true. At the same time, I've had enough weird experiences of my own to keep an open mind.
The book reads quickly with 216 pages according to Goodreads. Part of the reason is that it does hold interest. There were a few incidences that were a little hard to accept as true without a healthy dose of scepticism, but they made for good reading as this sort of thing generally does.
The book is divided into sections which include stories about specific places or types of hauntings or other strange phenomena. I can't say that it's very different from other books of this kind, but the author has obviously done a lot of research and the stories come across as told by a person rather than as sensationalist exaggerations that you might find in tabloids.
There are chapters on haunted houses, factories, towns that have regular ghosts that the residents accommodate, and real monsters, or at least Bigfoot. I'm still undecided about that one, but part of the enjoyment of this kind of book is speculating on the 'what if' factor.
The book reads quickly with 216 pages according to Goodreads. Part of the reason is that it does hold interest. There were a few incidences that were a little hard to accept as true without a healthy dose of scepticism, but they made for good reading as this sort of thing generally does.
The book is divided into sections which include stories about specific places or types of hauntings or other strange phenomena. I can't say that it's very different from other books of this kind, but the author has obviously done a lot of research and the stories come across as told by a person rather than as sensationalist exaggerations that you might find in tabloids.
There are chapters on haunted houses, factories, towns that have regular ghosts that the residents accommodate, and real monsters, or at least Bigfoot. I'm still undecided about that one, but part of the enjoyment of this kind of book is speculating on the 'what if' factor.
December 15, 2018
A Disjointed Collection of Musings and Tales
This book is a collection of tales of the unexplained. Most are paranormal tales, though there are a few cryptid stories as well. Unlike other collection books where the authors allow the witnesses to share their stories, the stories in this book are wrapped around the author's musings. This makes it difficult sometimes to discern when some of the shared stories begin. The author also includes many of his experiences. His tales diluted the shared stories since he provides too much commentary. For example, in one of my favorite Bigfoot series, Bigfoot Terror in the Woods, the author gives a brief introduction then lets the witnesses tales take center stage. He has a brief end note, but the power of the stories truly reaches you. This book would've been better if he had separated this into two books, one for his musings and one for the witness tales. As a result, I did find much of this book very interesting.
This book is a collection of tales of the unexplained. Most are paranormal tales, though there are a few cryptid stories as well. Unlike other collection books where the authors allow the witnesses to share their stories, the stories in this book are wrapped around the author's musings. This makes it difficult sometimes to discern when some of the shared stories begin. The author also includes many of his experiences. His tales diluted the shared stories since he provides too much commentary. For example, in one of my favorite Bigfoot series, Bigfoot Terror in the Woods, the author gives a brief introduction then lets the witnesses tales take center stage. He has a brief end note, but the power of the stories truly reaches you. This book would've been better if he had separated this into two books, one for his musings and one for the witness tales. As a result, I did find much of this book very interesting.
June 3, 2020
I found this somewhat unsatisfying. The writing was engaging enough, I think I just prefer my ghost stories with a bit more information on the ghosts, and a bit more resolution. This seemed more like a series of anecdotes, which were interesting in their own way, but just not quite what I was looking for.
September 3, 2023
This was a great quick and fun read. Had a variety of interesting paranormal stories. Good read for paranormal and cryptid lovers.
July 2, 2015
To read the entire review, go to onebooktwo.wordpress.com/2015/07/01/r...
I am the girl that watches an entire horror movie from behind her fingers. I wasn’t always so brave. When I was little, any mention of a scary movie or story would send me into hysterics. Any thought of things that go bump in the night would cause me to sleep with the light on. But while I was terrified of such things, I was also drawn to the paranormal. I wanted to know more. I wanted to be just a little more scared. I always got my wish.
If you are like me and always want one more scary story, Chronicles of the Unexplained by Gary Gillespie is right down your deserted alley. Chronicles gives its reader one real life terror after another. The stories are short so the reader can’t get too invested before the next scare begins. Some readers love that type of format, but I felt the scare was lessoned by the condensing of the story. But that didn’t stop many of these stories from being fascinating.
Chronicles of the Unexplained has the normal stories of haunted houses and roadway ghosts but Gary Gillespie does a great job of giving us the history and stories of places that I had never read about before. How many of us have photographs of ourselves standing at the four corners, the area where Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico come together? After reading this book, you may never look at that area the same again.
Then there is Central City, Colorado that may be the most haunted little town in the United States. I didn’t want this chapter to end. There are enough stories, history, and background for this town to get an in-depth book of its own. So Gary Gillespie, if you are reading this, I want a book on Central City. I think that would be captivating and give me the scare that I am always looking for.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read that kept me entertained with the scares and the background history of many intriguing places. I recommend this book to any paranormal fan out there but only if I get my book on Central City. So please Gary, start writing.
Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I am the girl that watches an entire horror movie from behind her fingers. I wasn’t always so brave. When I was little, any mention of a scary movie or story would send me into hysterics. Any thought of things that go bump in the night would cause me to sleep with the light on. But while I was terrified of such things, I was also drawn to the paranormal. I wanted to know more. I wanted to be just a little more scared. I always got my wish.
If you are like me and always want one more scary story, Chronicles of the Unexplained by Gary Gillespie is right down your deserted alley. Chronicles gives its reader one real life terror after another. The stories are short so the reader can’t get too invested before the next scare begins. Some readers love that type of format, but I felt the scare was lessoned by the condensing of the story. But that didn’t stop many of these stories from being fascinating.
Chronicles of the Unexplained has the normal stories of haunted houses and roadway ghosts but Gary Gillespie does a great job of giving us the history and stories of places that I had never read about before. How many of us have photographs of ourselves standing at the four corners, the area where Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico come together? After reading this book, you may never look at that area the same again.
Then there is Central City, Colorado that may be the most haunted little town in the United States. I didn’t want this chapter to end. There are enough stories, history, and background for this town to get an in-depth book of its own. So Gary Gillespie, if you are reading this, I want a book on Central City. I think that would be captivating and give me the scare that I am always looking for.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read that kept me entertained with the scares and the background history of many intriguing places. I recommend this book to any paranormal fan out there but only if I get my book on Central City. So please Gary, start writing.
Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 9, 2018
Many thanks to NetGalley and Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd. for an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for my review.
Mr. Gillespie begins with a personal story of moving his family into a house that exhibited increasingly haunted behavior, a story which sets the spooky tone for the book. Readers interested in the unexplained will enjoy these personal tales of experiences with ghosts, hauntings, strange places, and general weirdness. Some tales of oddities come directly from the author's experiences, while other tales happened to individuals he interviewed. Having personally experienced a number of unexplained occurrences, Gillespie comes to his interviews with an understanding of believably, not skepticism. This book is not about debunking such stories, but affirming that we are not crazy if we have things in our life that defy explanation. It is by a believe, for believers. (Skeptics may want to steer clear.)
The chapters are broken up into different types of unexplained phenomena. Written in short sections in a straightforward way, this is a quick read. It can be read cover-to-cover or bouncing around from story-to-story. Gillespie is not simply interested in what happened, but in how each person felt during the experience. The emotion is just as important as the rest of the encounter.
I will be ordering a copy of this book for my library.
Mr. Gillespie begins with a personal story of moving his family into a house that exhibited increasingly haunted behavior, a story which sets the spooky tone for the book. Readers interested in the unexplained will enjoy these personal tales of experiences with ghosts, hauntings, strange places, and general weirdness. Some tales of oddities come directly from the author's experiences, while other tales happened to individuals he interviewed. Having personally experienced a number of unexplained occurrences, Gillespie comes to his interviews with an understanding of believably, not skepticism. This book is not about debunking such stories, but affirming that we are not crazy if we have things in our life that defy explanation. It is by a believe, for believers. (Skeptics may want to steer clear.)
The chapters are broken up into different types of unexplained phenomena. Written in short sections in a straightforward way, this is a quick read. It can be read cover-to-cover or bouncing around from story-to-story. Gillespie is not simply interested in what happened, but in how each person felt during the experience. The emotion is just as important as the rest of the encounter.
I will be ordering a copy of this book for my library.
April 16, 2015
(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)
Chronicles of the Unexplained presents a lifetime of true paranormal experiences. The stories are from a broad range of individuals, many of whom would be the last people you would expect to be willing to communicate with anyone on such subjects. The true tales are interspersed with the story of the author's own battle with a not-so-hospitable entity and the unforeseen circumstances that were associated with the completion of this book.
I have to admit - I quit reading this book just after the halfway mark. Was it bad? Not really? Was it poorly written? No. It just wasn't as good as I expected.
The biggest problem I had was that it didn't have any references along the way - nothing to substantiate any of the "real-life stories" that were being told. There were just a list of hauntings (even those were a bit sketchy for details at times), mutilations, and Bigfoot sightings. There was no real narrative trail that I could follow - just "Here's another haunted house story..."
I guess if you are really into the paranormal, this could be a good book to add to your collection. I just couldn't stick it out...
Paul
ARH
Chronicles of the Unexplained presents a lifetime of true paranormal experiences. The stories are from a broad range of individuals, many of whom would be the last people you would expect to be willing to communicate with anyone on such subjects. The true tales are interspersed with the story of the author's own battle with a not-so-hospitable entity and the unforeseen circumstances that were associated with the completion of this book.
I have to admit - I quit reading this book just after the halfway mark. Was it bad? Not really? Was it poorly written? No. It just wasn't as good as I expected.
The biggest problem I had was that it didn't have any references along the way - nothing to substantiate any of the "real-life stories" that were being told. There were just a list of hauntings (even those were a bit sketchy for details at times), mutilations, and Bigfoot sightings. There was no real narrative trail that I could follow - just "Here's another haunted house story..."
I guess if you are really into the paranormal, this could be a good book to add to your collection. I just couldn't stick it out...
Paul
ARH
April 28, 2015
This is the first true paranormal experiences book that I've read and I throughly enjoyed it.
From Gillespie's personal accounts with haunting's, to the personal stories of others, be it ghostly or otherwise( Bigfoot and Animal mutilations) if you are a lover of paranormal events this book is a great read .
This being said I would've loved more details in certain stories as I felt they fell a little short but very Interesting read and one I wouldn't read at night, alone.
Highly recommend this to those who love a little paranormal in there life's.
October 24, 2016
I enjoyed the stories, but the author's constant errors in grammar and spelling really made it hard to read. I kept being pulled out of the book by how distracting it was.
On the other hand, the stories were interesting to read and very unique; not bad at all as far as short ghost stories go. It was really only the atrocious errors that annoyed me. Maybe next time the editor needs to actually check over the material.
On the other hand, the stories were interesting to read and very unique; not bad at all as far as short ghost stories go. It was really only the atrocious errors that annoyed me. Maybe next time the editor needs to actually check over the material.
March 12, 2015
I received this book from netgalley in return for my honest review.
As a paranormal enthusiast, I was thrilled to read this book. set mostly in the west, the author shares many different tales of ghosts that happened to him or to his acquaintances. all in all, a very enjoyable book. I really liked that it wasn't the same old ghost stories you've heard a thousand times.
As a paranormal enthusiast, I was thrilled to read this book. set mostly in the west, the author shares many different tales of ghosts that happened to him or to his acquaintances. all in all, a very enjoyable book. I really liked that it wasn't the same old ghost stories you've heard a thousand times.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews