Monster Hunters: On the Trail with Ghost Hunters, Bigfooters, Ufologists, and Other Paranormal Investigators

by Tea Krulos

Do ghosts exist? What about Bigfoot or Skinwalkers? And how will we ever know? Journalist Tea Krulos spent more than a year traveling nationwide to meet individuals who have made it their life’s passion to hunt down evidence of entities that they believe exist but that others might shrug off as nothing more than myths, fairy tales, or the products of overactive imaginations. Without taking sides in the debate, Krulos joins these believers in the field, exploring haunted houses, trekking through creepy forests, and scanning skies and lakes as they collect data on the unknown poltergeists, chupacabras, Skunk Apes (Bigfoot’s stinky cousins), and West Virginia’s Mothman. Along the way, he meets a diverse cast of characters—true believers, skeptics, and hoaxers—from the credible to the quirky, and has a couple of hair-raising encounters that make him second-guess his own beliefs.

Genres: Nonfiction, Paranormal, Cryptids, Cryptozoology, Ghosts, Sociology, Cultural

313 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2015

About the author

I'm a journalist and author from Milwaukee, WI. I've written for a wide range of publications and have authored 6 non-fiction books: Heroes in the Night (2013), Monster Hunters (2015), Apocalypse Any Day Now (2019), Wisconsin Legends & Lore (2020), American Madness (2020), and Brady Street Pharmacy: Stories and Sketches (2021). I also contributed a chapter to The Supernatural in Society, Culture, and History (2018).

I write a weekly column on my website called "Tea's Weird Week."

Reviews

[Kelly (and the Book Boar) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/



I don’t watch a lot of television, but when I do I make sure to only watch educational programs like Ghost Hunters or Finding Bigfoot. When I saw Monster Hunters: On the Trail with Ghost Hunters, Bigfooters, Ufologists, and Other Paranormal Investigators available for request on NetGalley I was all over it.

Unfortunately this may have been a case of setting my expectations too high. While there were chapters regarding UFOs . . .



and aliens . . .



and the search for Scuttlebutt Bigfoot . . .



as well as other creepy beasts . . .



and crazy religious nutters . . .



and, of course, ghost hunters . . .



there just wasn’t a whole lot of substance. Krulos didn’t interview or spend time with anyone that I had ever heard of before. In fact, the people who any paranormal aficionado would want to hear about were mentioned . . . but only in passing (like, “yeah we know that guy – he’s a real dick”). And while I realize the chances of actual evidence being discovered on any of the topics covered would be slim to nill, I was interested in hearing the author’s first hand experiences and reactions. Instead, I read a whole lot of filler/backstory/blah that barely held my attention.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!

[Emma Sea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Would have made a great essay or article. Krulos's writing style is engaging, but there just wasn't enough material to make a book. Although, I'd like him a whole lot more if he stopped calling women by their first names, and men by their surnames. Not OK, Tea. I appreciated the small sections on the history of various aspects of ghost hunting/fakery/the paranormal. Perhaps this aspect should have been stepped up in order to make a book I could walk away from feeling like I'd learned something. As it is, I'm berating myself for finishing. I feel like my time on this book was spent to no purpose.

1.5 stars

[Cav · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Millions of Americans go about their lives in what is considered a “normal” way. Their interests are not the supernatural but ESPN, Wall Street, Better Homes and Gardens. They wonder, What’s on TV tonight? and What’s for dinner? Sometimes they enjoy a ghost story, or catch a rerun of a popular reality show like Ghost Hunters or Finding Bigfoot. Maybe they have had an eerie experience, but they just shrug it off..."

Sadly, I did not enjoy Monster Hunters as much as I'd hoped. I tend to read mostly fairly heavy non-fiction books, and I like to switch things up once and a while with a fun title like this. Despite the catchy title and abundant subject matter, this one fell short of my expectations...

Author Tea Krulos is the pen name of an American author based in Milwaukee, WI. Krulos is known for writing several books, contributing to publications as a freelance journalist and a creator of sequential art pieces and zines.

Tea Krulos:


Unfortunately, I found the author's writing style to be a bit dry for my taste. The book also kind of jumps all over the place, with no real narrative continuity. It starts nowhere, goes around in circles, and ends up in the same place at the end. The book has bad flow...
I say "unfortunately" because I have been interested in the topic of possible cryptids since childhood, and was hoping that a book with such rich source material would be more lively and interesting.

Krulos continues the quote from the start of this review:

"...Maybe they think it’s all foolish folklore, kid stuff. And then back to the routine. Job promotion. Parking ticket. Pay bills. Field trip permission form.
And for downtime? Weekend fishing trip. Art museum. Video games. Curl up with a good book. Meet up with friends for a drink. Millions and millions of people, normal lives, normal hobbies.
This book is not about those people."

And (like me) talks about his interest in these creatures and stories from an early age:

"My own interest in the paranormal began when I was young. My library card was a prized possession that I used to check out every book I could find on UFOs, ghosts, and Bigfoot. I particularly remember Time-Life Books’ Mysteries of the Unknown, a popular thirty-three-volume series that covered everything from “Alien Encounters” to “Visions and Prophecies.” I would load these books up in my gangly arms and haul them to the checkout desk. I also occasionally caught the classic mystery documentary shows In Search Of … and Unsolved Mysteries. I loved these stories, and part of me believed them."

To its credit; the book does manage to provide a somewhat balanced and skeptical look into the topics.
Krulos mentions many animals previously thought to be mythical have recently been discovered:

"...Underneath the coelacanth Coleman had a display case featuring models of many examples of animals that were formerly known as cryptids. The mountain gorilla, for example, was sort of a nineteenth-century version of Bigfoot. Reports of the animals date back to 1861, but explorers believed the stories were village myth until Captain Robert von Beringe and his crew shot two of them in 1902.
The examples go on and on. The weird-looking megamouth shark, first discovered in 1976. Even the platypus was originally written off as a hoax. Scientists believed a duck’s beak had been sewn to a beaver’s body by a jokester taxidermist..."

Some of the material covered in these pages includes:
• The Pangboche hand
• Riverside Theater ghost hunting
• Chupacabra
• Lake monsters: The Lake Champlain monster, the Loch Ness Monster, Ogopogo
• UFOs; Alien abductions
• The Mothman of Point Pleasant, West Virginia
• The Spring-heeled Jack
• Harry Houdini
• Exorcisms
• The Skunk Ape
• The Wendigo; man-wolves, Skinwalkers

***********************

Sadly, as mentioned above, this one just did not resonate with me as well as I'd hoped. I am admittedly very picky on how readable I find a book, and my reviews are always heavily weighted with this criterion in mind.
2.5 stars.

[Jann Obermeier goldberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book so much!

Tea's style of writing is fun and casual; his books are informative and entertaining. This book is as much fun as "Heroes in the Night," and I can't wait for the next one.

[☆Angel☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

**ARC provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**


Tea Krulos leads us on an adventure, chasing after monsters, ghosts, and other supernatural beings in this book. Of course, I am a fan of the paranormal. I wanted to read this book mostly because the Mothman was in it. Point Pleasant is a destination I hope to be seeing soon and I was excited to read more about it . However, there were plenty of other topics I was interested in as well.

I thought it would get boring during some parts of the book, like the bigfoot and skunk ape sections, because I've never really been into that. I was wrong, though. It was surprisingly interesting.

There were certain places in the book where I just had to lay down my kindle and shake my head. Not believing that some people could put any stock in what was going on. That was the section on Rev. Larson. Why can't people see that he's just trying to rip people off , stereotyping, judging, and embarrassing them while he's at it.

I really liked the ghost hunting trips he described. One of them being Bobby Mackey's in Wilder, Kentucky. The first time I heard about that place was on Ghost Adventures, my favorite ghost hunting show.

If you are interested in any form of the paranormal, you will like this book. Even if you're a skeptic. I still am even though I like to watch TV shows and read books about ghosts. Recommended!

[Dee Eisel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tea Krulos has brought us what should by all rights be a charming investigation of the ghost hunting and cryptid scene in the United States (with a special focus on Wisconsin). From Champ to the skunk ape to ghost investigations in reputedly haunted theatres, this is a book that has the potential to become a favorite for me. Alas, the author shoots himself in the foot.

I’ll cut right to the point: The best sections are the ones on cryptids. Krulos has come up with a lively and entertaining group of people who hunt or collect stories about mysterious animal sightings. Even if Linda Godfrey (of Beast of Bray Road fame) is the only one who seems even somewhat anchored to this reality, the others are worth the price of admission. I love the founder of Champ Camp, for instance - he reminds me of some people I knew in college. I was charmed, even with the people with whom I don’t want to, say, take in a meal.

The ghost hunting sections are, bluntly, annoying. The habit of constantly repeating one hunter’s nickname got old very quickly and by the end almost became drinking-game worthy. The hunters themselves strike me as less quirky and more just plain mean. “Plain-spoken” is not the same as crass and uncaring. I wouldn’t have wanted to go into a dark structure with any of them.

If that wasn’t enough, the book derails into demon-hunting and exorcism way too much. I don’t need to hear about lay exorcists trying to purge demons from people who are clearly hypnotically susceptible. It saddens me when I hear about people coming back over and over to be exorcised by this jerk. I long for the pages that could have been spent on, say, the chupacabra or lizard men instead of a flam-flam artist. I cry for the pain he’s caused.

If you get this book, please stick to the beastie chapters, and leave the ghost hunting alone. Much as I like ghost hunting, take it from me: You’ll be glad you did. Three of five stars.

[Matt Hlinak · Rating 4 out of 5]

In ‘Monster Hunters’ Tea Krulos once again explores a fascinating subculture with humor and compassion. His writing is clear and compelling, and I often shared the tingle up my spine that he experienced as he accompanied his unique subjects on their midnight adventures.

Read my full review at Pop Mythology.

I received a free review copy of this book from the publisher.

Matt Hlinak
Author of DoG

[Sharon A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was interviewed for this book so you'll find me mentioned. I've not quite seen a book like this. The subject is approached with a journalists' attempt at impartiality. There are some minor errors I noticed but probably no one else would. It captures an interesting aspect of American culture.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow !! Great book. It’s got interesting insights into the normal people who pursue the paranormal, and the weirdos who do the same thing.

[Shauna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun and interesting book. Even if you know a good deal about specific paranormal phenomena, you'll still enjoy this book. Hunting ghosts and monsters through skeptics and those dedicated to finding them, the author describes the personalities and events that make up the paranormal and cyrptozoology field. I liked the book a lot because of the author's perspective on his experiences and his descriptive style.

[Aly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Il libro racconta delle esperienze dell'autrice in questo gruppo di ricerca sul paranormale. È a metà strada tra un saggio e una biografia senza essere nessuno dei due. Gli spunti sono interessanti ma non sono approfonditi.

[Tassie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 if I could...

[Aimee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this!! Wanted to give it 10 stars but 5 was the max

[Ami Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting- I liked reading about people who are fanatical about finding Loch Ness, ghosts, and Bigfoot

[Sandra Sabo]

Questions: Is this book appropriate for a 7 yr old Paleontologist on the rise? He loves reading about big foot..

[Erik · Rating 4 out of 5]

I vacillated between three and four stars but finally decided to go with four because - dang it - this book was fun to read.

As a journalistic look into paranormal investigators (ghost hunters, Bigfoot folks, lake monster folks, etc.) it does a good job. Lets the investigators present their perspective, but also has a decent amount of input from skeptics (including Sharon Hill's brilliant term 'scientifical' to capture practices that seem to be based in science but are ultimately smoke and mirrors). Presents some creatures that are clearly hoaxes, but also presents a couple of experiences the author had while researching the book that he has trouble explaining. That being said, I would've liked more from the skeptic point. For instance, if the author had taken his couple of 'I can't explain what happened here' experiences to the skeptics to see what explanations they could offer. So, as a journalistic look at the field, it was good but not great. Three stars.

That being said, and I fully recognize that I am to some degree talking out of both sides of my mouth here, this book was just plain fun to read. Let's face it, if you're considering reading this book you probably dig this stuff. (Full disclosure: in third grade I got heavy into the Loch Ness Monster and was always at least a little interested in paranormal stuff thereafter, an interest that wasn't exactly lessened after I worked as a tour guide at Philly's Eastern State Penitentiary and had a handful of experiences that to this day, with my Ph.D. in clinical psychology and everything, I must admit I have trouble explaining) . From that perspective, this book isn't life-changing literature but I found myself looking forward to getting back to it at the end of the day ... which in my book gets you four stars.

[Jenny GB · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this exploration of people who hunt the monsters of this world whether real or imaginary. Krulos embeds himself in paranormal investigations and meets with insiders of the trades of hunting for the unusual and unexplained. While some of the people Krulos communicates with in the book are clearly frauds, many seem to have had experiences and they find the conventional explanations unsatisfactory. So, they turn to trying to capture evidence of something they can't explain. Krulos entertainingly records their investigations, personalities, and society while also informing about the major beliefs beyond the most common types of creatures that are hunted. He makes his subjects incredibly human. An interesting read if you are interested in the unexplained and the people that seek it out.

[Susie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Krulos' first book and not only did I enjoy it, but it made me look at a fringe culture in a new light, so when I saw he had a book out about ghost hunters, monster hunters and the like, I had to read this one, too. Like his book on real-life super heroes, he deals with these cultures in an empathetic manner, helping you to understand the motivations behind what they do. It's an inside look that some people might not otherwise get, and if you are at all interested in the subject matter, it's definitely worth that peek in.

As long as Krulops continues to pen books of this quality, I will continue to read them.

[Matt Price · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the interviews with actual people, but it was mostly just paragraphs of interview quotes separated by setting context and some interesting tidbits on some of the subjects such as Loren Coleman's professional background before full time cryptohunting, and the internal politics of paranormal groups. This second subject could be the focus of an entire book. I liked how the author immersed in each context but not sure why he fled the scene so quickly when visiting a Larson meeting. I think an ethnographic study of these groups would be fascinating. I think one was just published by University of Nebraska Press.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book received through Goodreads First Reads and Chicago Review Press in exchange for an honest review.

There were some chapters of this that were really enjoyable and others seemed to drag a bit. There were many interesting people and some real characters, which was not unexpected. I especially enjoyed the ghost hunters and PIM.

Some sections dragged a little more and that's really where this falters.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were a lot of things that started to grab my attention in this book: old ghost stories, legends of monsters, backstories on people, and descriptions of old buildings, but they quickly gave way to a lot of small town people who charged others for their skills, conspiracy theories, silent seances, empty fields, and more Jesus than I was expecting. The same names kept seeming to pop up in many chapters as if not that many sources were used.

[Dayna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was totally a guilty pleasure read for me as I gear up for the Halloween season, and I really enjoyed it. The author focuses more on the personalities and background of people who investigate the paranormal, the techniques and equipment they use, that kind of thing, rather than actual paranormal findings (which are, not surprisingly, few and far between, and inconclusive). A fun read though!

[J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you every watched one of the find the monster reality television shows, this book is for you. Journalist Tea Krulos takes a serious look at what many believers are urban myth, phantasy creatures, and hocus pocus happenings. If you are looking for definitive answers, this book is not for you. However, if you like the trill of the hunt and want to know more about the hunters, this is a quick fun read.

[Stacy]

I enjoyed this, but not as much as I thought I would. There's no discussion of why these people do this; instead, it's a series of funny, interesting tales of various ghost hunter, monster hunters, UFO people, and such. I was glad to read the chapter with Loren Coleman, Mr. Odd himself. All in all, it's a good book.

[Mark Fairchild · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMAZING look into the world of paranormal investigation teams. Covers "Ghost Stalkers" (Ghost Hunters) to cryptozoologist. Accurate unbiased look into this insane world. Must read for people wanting to know what it's like in the crazy world I once read.

[Tracy Hollander · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you watch any of these types of shows, whether for humor or whatever, this book is an interesting read. And quite funny in some parts as well. It's definitely crazy the way some of these people act. Sad there are those who did it just to take advantage of others.

[Kate Potter · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a boring book. I understand that the author, Tea Krulos, wanted to remain impartial and stand on the side of skepticism. Sadly, he took all juiciness out of his stories and, instead, the reader rakes her eyes over 282 pages of sandpaper.

[Davienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting and informative. Made me rethink the way I view the paranormal. It was nice to read about the people behind the research and findings. I liked the human elements; not everyone liking or getting along with each other.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very balanced and informative look at the world of paranormal investigation. While there are some people out for a buck, or particularly "out there" written about, Krulos presents his subjects with care and humanizing attention. A good read.

[Tea · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars.