When the Ghost Screams: True Stories of Victims Who Haunt

by Leslie Rule

I do not know or pretend to know what happens when we die. Still, I hear the ghost scream. I hear the screaming and am compelled to write the stories of those whose lives were snatched away. They are the murder victims, the ones who roam restlessly. They are the headliners of this book." --Leslie Rule

Hauntings--the word conjures up immediate and insatiable curiosity. Paranormal author Leslie Rule explores a new twist on this strange phenomenon when she explores brutal deaths--and subsequent hauntings--all over America in When the Ghost Screams. No sector of the country is left untouched by these mystical happenings. The Midwest, Northeast, Southwest, and, of course, Salem, Massachusetts (to which the author has her own bizarre connection), all have unique and gruesome cases of their own ghostly incidents.

Furthermore, Leslie's hometown of Seattle, Wash., is rumored to be haunted and has a violent history of its own that is explored. Prominent theory suggests that whether homicide or accidental, a violent death may cause the soul to linger behind on earth. The author's own research leads her to believe unsolved violent deaths may be the cause of the most-observed paranormal activity. Leslie has visited each site and interviewed reliable witnesses who have actually encountered ghosts.

Accompanied by the author's own dramatic black-and-white photographs, When the Ghost Screams also introduces sidebar articles on notorious crimes and trials featuring ghosts. Best-selling crime author Ann Rule writes the foreword.

Genres: Paranormal, Nonfiction, Ghosts, True Crime, Ghost Stories, Spirituality, Horror

240 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2006

About the author

Leslie Rule's true crime debut, A Tangled Web, covers a frightening Omaha love triangle murder. "I chose this case because I want to warn readers that the female sadistic sociopath may be the most dangerous killer of all."

A veteran author for over three decades, Rule's works include two suspense novels and five nonfiction books on the paranormal, including Coast to Coast Ghosts, True Stories of Hauntings Across America. Rule was only seventeen when she started attending murder trials with her mother, author Ann Rule. "It was my job to shoot the killers, not with a gun, but with my camera," says Leslie. Many of her courtroom photographs have appeared in her mother's books.

Reviews

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty good book by Leslie Rule. Different true stories about places all over the United States that are haunted. The stories were very detailed and they were not spooky. I was able to read it without getting "spooked". I did enjoy reading the stories as there alot of places that I didn't know about. Giving it four stars.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is written by Ann Rule's daughter...but dang, she just doesn't write very well. These are just little snipets of ghost stories, all based on real murders/deaths that she has researched...but it is really cheesy and goofy. There is even a section about her own cat and how it SEWED ITS OWN CLOTHES and speaks to her from the dead....so that should tell you everything you need to know about this book. It is quite entertaining in its total goofiness. Also, filled with lots of spooky shots of the haunted places she writes about, that part redeems it a bit. I don't think I'll actually finish reading it cover-to-cover, but it's a good bathroom book, I guess, or substitute for the "Unsolved Mysteries" TV show (Robert Stack era, of course!).

[C. (Comment, never msg). · Rating 4 out of 5]

After our 21 year-old cat died, a sister to me from age 9 to 30: I began seeking spiritual accounts on Amazon.ca and loved "Ghosts Among Us". Thirteen years later I have read numerous haunted location books, preferring Canadian perspectives but Leslie Rule stands out because she is not a compiler. She researches haunted places to visit personally! Typically public establishments like hotels, she includes contact information: as a thank-you to her hosts and because we readers usually wish we can visit these places too. Even though Leslie has spotted no ghost so far, her contribution to these records is a report of her own presence and direct interviews with those who did witness phenomena.

Leslie, who accompanied her Mom, Ann Rule to trials for her bestselling true crime retellings, shared empathy for victims that sparked "When The Ghost Screams". She is good at imagining how these people must have felt, a care that comes through her writing. Rather than bland reporting, she cohesively suggests how events may have unfolded. How a story is recounted matters. In particular, Leslie seeks non-famous cases with a tenderness for alerting us to overlooked tragedies. Either way, her presentation is fresh. I gave four stars because this book extrapolates too liberally, at an unnecessary stretch in a few instances.

While writing this 2006 book, Leslie experienced a traumatic loss she couldn't help sharing, though not spirit-related. I grimaced in sympathy because I love my kitties equally to my immediate family too and want her to know my heart goes out to her. She lost three at once after coyotes zipped through a place where they were staying! I can't forget this book because of that. Content-wise, I felt the same appreciation as thirteen years ago, for her caring introduction to unfamiliar scenes of tragedy.

[Sabrina Rutter · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just can't get into this. It's not really what I was expecting it to be. I don't feel like making myself read something that I'm not enjoying when I have so many more books to read.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am fascinated by ghosts, so this book was very interesting. However, in the end, I felt a bit disappointed. I felt like the author could have done a better job. I really wanted her to expand on some of the unexplained experiences that people had.

I also would have loved more photographs, particularly of "ghosts" caught on film at the locations in the book. Most of the photos were just ones that the author took herself while investigating, which were a bit boring.

So overall, it was an interesting read, but there are better ghost story books out there.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have seen other reviews that were not in favor of this book, but I must say that I have enjoyed myself quite a bit. The author has provided a book that has blended both history and the paranormal. She has taken the background of the characters and painted a brief picture for the reader, which has temporarily breathed life back into the tragic characters of her stories. I found the historical information to be fascinating and valuable. Without the history the ghostly tales would not have any meaning. I think the author did a wonderful job and I plan on reading her other books.

[Sonja Lopez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, anything that deals with Spirits/Ghost I would read. Most aren't great. =) It has all the mysteries of spirits that are earthbound or how they were earthbound. Anyone who love to reads about Spirits/Ghost I recommend this one.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A famous story or two in here and two EVP specialists make an appearance (Debby and Mark Constantino, often seen on Ghost Adventures). I like these stories.

[Sarah - All The Book Blog Names Are Taken · Rating 2 out of 5]

For the field of paranormal investigations to be taken more seriously, those in the field have got to be more professional. The book has several typos, easy things that should be caught early. Some of the stories contained here have so little to go on, including them is almost pointless. This is not exclusive to this book, but is a recurring problem. Presenting as many accurate facts as possible is better than throwing random one-offs filled with maybes into the mix.

[Kait · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was ok. Some of the stories were boring, some were famous and told before but some were interesting. The format was weird but I liked the pictures.

[Kristy J · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these kinds of books. I love the blending of travel, history, and paranormal and that’s what this book is. Leslie Rule has a talent for storytelling. This particular book is all about “True Stories of Victims Who Haunt.” Locals tell her their stories about the mysterious happenings and even some ghost sightings. The author does a great job of investigating the history of each destination. She also writes more personally than other books I’ve read in this genre. Plus, a lot of the stories were new to me. Each story is a few pages long, some are shorter than others. Another thing I liked was how at the end of each chapter, the author presents a recent news story about a haunted encounter called “Ghosts in the News.” I thought that was a fun addition. I also really enjoyed the photographs.

In this book, you’ll find stories from all over the country and in all kinds of places. Hotels, war sites, prisons, restaurants, college campuses, etc. I think my favorite chapter was the one about the witch hunts in both Boston and Salem, MA.

These stories are fascinating. I love learning about history and reading about travel destinations. If you’re like me and enjoy reading about haunted destinations and the history (and mystery) that surrounds them, you’ll enjoy this book.

[Charles Jr. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Author Leslie Rule - ghost-story specialist daughter of author Ann Rule - joins the family business, as it were, by discussing ghost accounts linked to known murder cases. Though late in the book she kind of dilutes the intriguing premise by adding freakish accidents in there, and the Donner Party case of starving pioneer settlers eating their dead, which was ghastly human suffering but (possibly) not murder. Idea is that the grim crime is more likely to result in especially active hauntings, sort of a play on the much-dramatized fiction of some wronged victim seeking justice from the grave (or the maniacal killer persisting). The temptation is to do a lot of melodrama and boo! gotchya! prose, of which the book is certainly guilty, and a number of the ghost "sightings" go without firm names/dates/attributions and only have circumstantial connections to homicide. You know, speculation like "it would not be surprising if the restless spirits still stir here..." after a description of a regionally famous killing (most of which I hadn't heard of). Of course, ghosts don't normally file police reports, and sometimes, as in Chicago's "Seaweed Charlie," Ms. Rule does her homework in the archives to speculate on manslaughter/coverup in that one. I could have used an index, and maybe less credence given to ever-vaporous "EVP" evidence.

[Laren · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know why I feel compelled to read all Leslie Rule's non-fiction books on ghost stories, but apparently I do. I must be a bigger Ann Rule fan than I thought. Leslie wrote really great fiction, but her ghost stories don't really stand out as any better than anyone else's, especially since she keeps making her own comments and speculations known, and they tend towards the overdramatic.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read all of Leslie Rule's books, and she never disappoints. Leslie will take you on an adventure across the US, that will make your hair stand on end. For any lover of a good ghost story, I recommend any of Leslie's books.

[Debbie Heaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Rule’s novel, brutal deaths are investigated as the author reveals how the souls of those who die violently are prone to remain earthbound. For lovers of spine-tingling true stories, this is a must read!

[J.A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written in a clear and fluid style, this is an entertaining digest of personal experiences and brushes with the dead. I enjoy "non-fiction" ghost stories, and this book was no exception.

[Autumm · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an interesting book of stories , some that are close by maybe I will visit some of the sites someday!

[SouthWestZippy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great set up and loved the background stories, well done.

[Alexis Reeves · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this book. I have read practically all of the books by Ann Rule, and I love them all and thought maybe I would love Leslie's as well. I got my opportunity when my book club chose this book for the month of October. I had a hard time finishing the book but I have a rule for myself that I will complete all books regardless how bad it is. This book wasn't bad. It may also have been because I read it on my Kindle. The book seemed somewhat disjointed, not following any kind of chronology. It just jumped from time to time. Even the locations didn't pull the book together for me. I will read another book by Leslie, since I don't want to judge her writing style by just one book but I hope the others are a little more cohesive. I keep my belief of ghosts to myself but I do know they exist, as I saw one when I was 3 years old living in Japan. My grandfather used to walk me from his home to my home and we would pass an old grave yard. At the time I had no idea I was seeing a ghost but when I got older I recall that it appeared as a real person but the surrounding halo around him painted even the bushes behind him black and white. Like I said, I know they exist but I never talk about it and I'm 57 years-old now, I never forgotten it and it's as I saw it yesterday. Having said this some of the stories in this book appeared a little far-fetched but that could be due to the lack of details. I hope I love her other books.

[Dennis Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unfortunately this latest book from Ms. Rule is not quite up to her previous works. Don't get me wrong though because the crisp writing style and the convictions she holds about her subject still make this a ghostly gem. The problems come when she seems to fill in several chapters with rapid fire and very short accounts that seem to be gleaned mostly from second hand sources. I suppose that it is possible that the stories into which she puts the most time are so good that it makes these short takes seem worse than they are in comparison but the short two or three paragraph stories really detracted from the book as a whole. Besides being an excellent writer this author is also a very good photographer and there are several pictures that add greatly to the positive feel of the book. On the other hand as one nears the end of the book there are so many pictures that one is left with the feeling that some of the less illustrative ones were simply used to fill space with a deadline approaching.

On a far more positive note one will find some of the best-written ghost stories in print within the pages of this book. The stories that are dealt with in the proper depth are as good as any accounts of the paranormal that I have ever read.

[Addison Pritchard]

Finished review.
I enjoyed the book however I feel like she writes in a weird style I'm not used to. It feels more like she sugar sugarcoating how terrifying the deaths of the people and their possibly trapped souls are. She also seems to trust any accounts that she hears which bothers me instead of citing paranormal researchers or anyone specializing in the paranormal. I believe that bringing Diane Downs and her now dead daughter Cheryle is blatant disrespect to market it as some ghost story because she saw a blonde little girl hanging out of the window who resembled Diane and said it was an apparition of what already happened which I feel like didn't need to be added. The stories weren't very thrilling and a lot of the paragraphs felt rushed. All in all, I'd give the book 3 out of 5 stars

[Ingrid · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this one since the author had already written books about the paranormal. I enjoyed the stories but most of the time found myself wanting to know more. It was almost like a constant introduction. This one stayed in the car and was pulled out several times weekly for the 10 minutes I waited in carpool. I definitely never wanted to take it in the house and read it cover to cover. Maybe the problem was the infrequency that I picked it up. I want to try a different book by Leslie Rule.

[DC Smith · Rating 1 out of 5]

So I picked this up at a library sale for fifty cents, thinking I like true ghost stories and this would be a quick fun, maybe cheesy read. But wow. I can’t get past the writing— maybe it’s just me but I can’t get into this book.

I have put this book down in favor of other books for now. I will give it another go in the future one day, most likely. I generally enjoy books with supposedly true ghost stories, but they need a little more to them then what is presented here, especially to overcome the poor writing of the author.

[Tabitha Rohm · Rating 4 out of 5]

As much as I admire Ann Rule, I had never read any of Leslie Rule's books until I read Tangled Web. After reading that awesome book, then I wanted more of her. I didn't really believe in Ghosts but she writes about them a whole lot. I have had a few incidents in my own lift that I have often joked about being ghost sightings or hearing; but to say I believed they truly were, well, I'm not crazy . But after reading this book, I think I would classify myself as a believer.

[Dianna (SavingsInSeconds blog) · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I borrowed this from the library, I didn't realize that I'd read a book from this author before. Ghost stories are some of my favorite books because I love learning about the lore and history that surround different parts of the world. This book had many stories that were new to me, though some were familiar. I was not a fan of Leslie Rule's writing style, though.

[Amy H · Rating 1 out of 5]

i love the paranormal...
but this was a book i was wondering why i was reading from the beginning to the end...some of the stories were interesting but i just think of the word blah when it comes to this book

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the stories interesting and appreciated the empathy with which they were handled.

Sometimes it seems a little overwritten, which I think is an attempt to compensate for the details that are not known, a common factor of with hauntings. Still enjoyable.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took me a little bit to get into it, but when I did it was a great read. Just had to be in the right frame of mind. I liked the little stories, some more known than others. It was a nice blend.

[Whitney · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Real life” ghost stories have always been a guilty pleasure of mine. This book turned out to be as cheesy and as entertaining as I expected. Yay.

[Kaya King · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice little stories. at times a little to camp and left me wanting more. All and all I would recommend still.