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True Ghost Stories: Jim Harold's Campfire 1
GET YOUR COPY OF JIM HAROLD'S FIRST CAMPFIRE BOOK OF TRUE GHOST STORIES THAT STARTED THE SUCCESSFUL SERIES! -A teen plays with a Ouija Board and gets a terrifying response -A Deceased Musician Returns To Ask That His Final Record Be Completed -A young bride makes a strange request that averts tragedy -PLUS 70 More TRUE, Spooky Stories From The Popular Campfire Podcast
278 pages, Paperback
First published November 25, 2014
397 people are currently reading
327 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
May 19, 2016
Love these true paranormal ghost stories - different experiences of the paranormal that happened to different people from all walks of life - this was an awesome read and it kept me glued to my kindle - definitely a five star book! I bought the bundle of volume 1, 2, and 3. So I would finish volume 1 and go right into volume 2, etc. It kept me enthralled and I loved these volumes so much that I bought the 4th volume.
January 16, 2024
Very good! Jim Harold is a great author and podcaster! If you love ghost stories you will love this!
January 2, 2017
I went in with high hopes for this book. Despite a couple of good short stories in there I was definitely left feeling like it just didn't hit the spot.
October 26, 2025
The Campfire Is A Warm And Welcome Glow
I had enjoyed many hours of Jim Harold’s podcasting stories and interviews for years before acquiring this, his debut book. I find Jim engaging and personable as a host; he allows stories to breathe in their own time, and he gives those he interacts with on his shows the opportunity to feel fully heard without interruption, which is not a usual occurrence in a personality-driven media format such as podcasting. Jim carries that respect for others into his first book, culled from listener experiences as related on his podcast ‘Jim Harold’s Campfire.’ In this book, he gives the spotlight to the audience and allows them to speak in their own voices. Invariably, what emerges is a mixed bag; some folks are not natural storytellers, and their stories suffer somewhat from a muddled or rushed narrative. Others are so well told they deserved inclusion just based on the vividness of the recounting. Each story nevertheless is flavoured by the personality of the subject and I found it is that very human-to-human dialogue that Jim has cultivated so well in his shows that is a hallmark of this book as well. Jim doesn’t editorialize, he doesn’t ’step on’ any stories with his own words, he allows them to rise or fall on their own merit. In that, this book is a perfect companion piece to his audio shows, as they retain his unique approach to the paranormal subjects documented within. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys gently ‘dipping a toe’ into the often-wild waters of ghosts, cryptids, UFO and alien abduction accounts, and generally inexplicable occurrences; nothing presented within is gory, overly violent, bloody or horrific. Instead, the stories lean towards spooky, strange, creepy or bizarre. I’ve always appreciated Jim’s approach: in a paranormal media landscape dominated by distasteful and disturbing commentary from hosts eager to shock or outrage, Jim Harold is a beacon of hope, presenting stories that are safe for many ages to enjoy and be enthralled by. A wonderful collection and I look forward to reading as much from him as I listen to his podcasts.
I had enjoyed many hours of Jim Harold’s podcasting stories and interviews for years before acquiring this, his debut book. I find Jim engaging and personable as a host; he allows stories to breathe in their own time, and he gives those he interacts with on his shows the opportunity to feel fully heard without interruption, which is not a usual occurrence in a personality-driven media format such as podcasting. Jim carries that respect for others into his first book, culled from listener experiences as related on his podcast ‘Jim Harold’s Campfire.’ In this book, he gives the spotlight to the audience and allows them to speak in their own voices. Invariably, what emerges is a mixed bag; some folks are not natural storytellers, and their stories suffer somewhat from a muddled or rushed narrative. Others are so well told they deserved inclusion just based on the vividness of the recounting. Each story nevertheless is flavoured by the personality of the subject and I found it is that very human-to-human dialogue that Jim has cultivated so well in his shows that is a hallmark of this book as well. Jim doesn’t editorialize, he doesn’t ’step on’ any stories with his own words, he allows them to rise or fall on their own merit. In that, this book is a perfect companion piece to his audio shows, as they retain his unique approach to the paranormal subjects documented within. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys gently ‘dipping a toe’ into the often-wild waters of ghosts, cryptids, UFO and alien abduction accounts, and generally inexplicable occurrences; nothing presented within is gory, overly violent, bloody or horrific. Instead, the stories lean towards spooky, strange, creepy or bizarre. I’ve always appreciated Jim’s approach: in a paranormal media landscape dominated by distasteful and disturbing commentary from hosts eager to shock or outrage, Jim Harold is a beacon of hope, presenting stories that are safe for many ages to enjoy and be enthralled by. A wonderful collection and I look forward to reading as much from him as I listen to his podcasts.
November 6, 2019
SPOOKY!!!! Jim Harold, guest on Episodes 37 and 62 of the Radiate Wellness Podcast, is the "OG of the Paranormal," and the host of the Paranormal Podcast, Jim Harold's Crime Scene, Soulmate Stories (with his wife, Dar), Podlords, and Jim Harold's Campfire. On the Campfire, real people call in with their real-life stories of ghosts, cryptids, UFOs, high strangeness, and "head-scratchers." The best of the stories is compiled into this book and the others in the series. Check out Jim's website at JimHarold.com.
August 10, 2018
I really did not like this book. I suppose it is because I had greater expectations than the book could deliver on. When I saw the title advertising True Ghost stories. I suppose I was expecting ghost stories written by actual writers. Or at the very least translated over from the spoken word from the witnesses of such events. Either way the writing left a lot to be wanted and none of the stories did I find in the least bit scary or even creepy. Would not recommend.
February 7, 2020
As with most collection of stories, for me there were fantastic tales, while others were just okay. I mainly enjoyed the ghost stories, head-scratchers, and synchronicity tales. I am not so much of a fan of UFOs and dreams. There is a huge need for good editing. Some of the stories don't translate well into the printed word and need some massaging. Or the original stories were poorly written and need significant editing. Still, I love the podcast and will always be a big fan!
July 26, 2019
I guess I expected more from this book. The stories weren't really frightening and while I understand the desire to tell the stories as they were told-a little editing wouldn't have hurt. It definitely read like someone "telling" the story with repeats and back tracking. That made it difficult for me to read. It was okay for what it was but I doubt I'll read the others in the series.
March 1, 2020
DNF at 70%. I've been working on this for 2 months and just decided to throw in the towel. The stories lack the amount of detail I would like, the grammar is sometimes lacking and 99% of them are extremely boring. I think I will just stick with the podcast and will not be reading more campfire books.
April 30, 2024
Thank you for the opportunity to preview True Ghost Stories
This is very different than what I expected. This novel tells short stories from a perspective of strange things happening that can’t be explained.
Some are better than others. Stories are short and it’s an easy way to pass time.
3 stars
This is very different than what I expected. This novel tells short stories from a perspective of strange things happening that can’t be explained.
Some are better than others. Stories are short and it’s an easy way to pass time.
3 stars
October 12, 2017
Not simply ghost stories, but paranormal stories in general fill this book. These are related to the author by the people who've experienced the activity, written in their voices. You could almost picture the people sitting beside you as they told what happened to them.
May 18, 2017
If you like ghost stories you have to read this book. Just don't read before you turn out the light!
April 11, 2018
Great
Very good book to read and really enjoyed reading this book by the authour and will read more by him
Very good book to read and really enjoyed reading this book by the authour and will read more by him
September 14, 2018
Ok, I've read all of Jim Harold's Campfire books. I love a good "true" ghost story!
October 4, 2018
A haunting we will go
Not bad sometimes kinda predictable or one of the stories really freaked me a few hard to believe and a few left me going hmmm.......
Not bad sometimes kinda predictable or one of the stories really freaked me a few hard to believe and a few left me going hmmm.......
July 15, 2021
Awful read. The short stories are rather lame and boring.
January 18, 2023
Brings back lots of memories
This book was fantastic it brought me back to the good old days of ghost stories.. Kind of reminded me of Stephen Kong's the creepshow.. Lol
This book was fantastic it brought me back to the good old days of ghost stories.. Kind of reminded me of Stephen Kong's the creepshow.. Lol
October 6, 2015
Despite the somewhat misleading title, Jim Harold's Campfire collection of "True Ghost Stories," is definitely not just comprised of ghost stories. In fact, the book is divided into five parts, and only the first of those is exclusively a collection of ghost stories. And out of that first batch of paranormal tales, some are arguably quite a bit more spine tingling than others, while the rest probably won't be all that scary to an experienced ghost story reader, such as yours truly.
If you love reading true paranormal fare however, you'll probably still thoroughly enjoy reading this book, because let's face it, most people love this kind of stuff! Most of the stories are more than adequate, though almost all of them are pretty short, being told in a first person narrative by the individual who actually experienced the paranormal phenomena.
Oddly enough, I found the sections entitled "Monsters and Aliens' and 'Tales of Dreams and Death,' to be both more interesting and truly chilling than some of the actual ghost stories, but since judging such things is highly subjective, I would recommend reading this wonderful first installment in Jim Harold's Campfire series with an open mind.
Whether about ghosts or not, some of the material is pretty hair raising. And the fact that most of the stories aren't much longer than a few short pages, means that there really isn't enough detail in the vast majority of the narratives to really sink your teeth into. This is a great collection of firsthand experienced true paranormal tales however, and even though I'd have loved to have seen more of an in-depth study of some of the cases, it's a delightful book to read just the same.
Perhaps most importantly, if you're easily frightened, this book probably won't hit you too hard - though again, that's admittedly, pretty subjective. So even though Jim Harold's 'True Ghost Stories' might keep some people up at night, I'd wager that most of those folks would be the very young, the unusually timid, and the more or less inexperienced and uninitiated when it comes to reports of paranormal phenomena. Either way, if you love lengthy books with short chapters that get right to the point and don't waste much time in getting to the creepy punchline, you'll absolutely love this collection of truly spooky and mysterious supernatural stories.
If you love reading true paranormal fare however, you'll probably still thoroughly enjoy reading this book, because let's face it, most people love this kind of stuff! Most of the stories are more than adequate, though almost all of them are pretty short, being told in a first person narrative by the individual who actually experienced the paranormal phenomena.
Oddly enough, I found the sections entitled "Monsters and Aliens' and 'Tales of Dreams and Death,' to be both more interesting and truly chilling than some of the actual ghost stories, but since judging such things is highly subjective, I would recommend reading this wonderful first installment in Jim Harold's Campfire series with an open mind.
Whether about ghosts or not, some of the material is pretty hair raising. And the fact that most of the stories aren't much longer than a few short pages, means that there really isn't enough detail in the vast majority of the narratives to really sink your teeth into. This is a great collection of firsthand experienced true paranormal tales however, and even though I'd have loved to have seen more of an in-depth study of some of the cases, it's a delightful book to read just the same.
Perhaps most importantly, if you're easily frightened, this book probably won't hit you too hard - though again, that's admittedly, pretty subjective. So even though Jim Harold's 'True Ghost Stories' might keep some people up at night, I'd wager that most of those folks would be the very young, the unusually timid, and the more or less inexperienced and uninitiated when it comes to reports of paranormal phenomena. Either way, if you love lengthy books with short chapters that get right to the point and don't waste much time in getting to the creepy punchline, you'll absolutely love this collection of truly spooky and mysterious supernatural stories.
February 5, 2022
Good ghost stories
I love some real-life ghost stories. These true stories told in the authors’ own plain language don’t disappoint! Highly recommend.
I love some real-life ghost stories. These true stories told in the authors’ own plain language don’t disappoint! Highly recommend.
May 4, 2016
Ghoulish good read
I enjoyed reading the accounts of all the submissions that Mr. Harold included in this book and look forward to the next campfire 2 edition. It's interesting that most of the people didn't go looking for the unusual events that they reported but they were dragged into the paranormal realm. It's Just that most people who want to have a paranormal experience are of the stupidly immature variety (those who play with Ouija boards) or those who believe they have some "special powers" that will protect them. Neither have any idea what hornets nest they are kicking over. All told a very enjoyable read.
I enjoyed reading the accounts of all the submissions that Mr. Harold included in this book and look forward to the next campfire 2 edition. It's interesting that most of the people didn't go looking for the unusual events that they reported but they were dragged into the paranormal realm. It's Just that most people who want to have a paranormal experience are of the stupidly immature variety (those who play with Ouija boards) or those who believe they have some "special powers" that will protect them. Neither have any idea what hornets nest they are kicking over. All told a very enjoyable read.
January 23, 2015
About True Ghost Stories:Jim Harold's Campfire1
I'm a sucker for good true ghost stories and these stories really do satisfy me. I give them a five story rating.
I'm a sucker for good true ghost stories and these stories really do satisfy me. I give them a five story rating.
January 29, 2016
solid collection of stories of the supernatural. arguably, most are true. some are very creepy and compelling. others are a waste of time. very entertaining if you like this kind of stories.
Read
September 8, 2016Not really a good book for telling stories around the campfire...It's more of people'e experiences with what they think could be a ghost/paranormal experience.
September 18, 2016
Fun read
After listening to Jim Harold's Campfire podcast, I decided to buy one of his books. I'm glad I did...i quite enjoy he'd it!
After listening to Jim Harold's Campfire podcast, I decided to buy one of his books. I'm glad I did...i quite enjoy he'd it!
January 25, 2017
Great spooky short stories.
October 28, 2015
Now this is what ghost stories are supposed to be like!!!!
So Good!!
So Good!!
October 28, 2015
Another enjoyable collection
August 16, 2017
This first Campfire book took me a bit to get through because I would get bored and have to come back to it. I really didn't find any of the stories scary or interesting until I was about 70% through the book. I'm sure actually experiencing some of the situations were terrifying, but it seemed like a lot of them were "you had to be there" moments. I do love Jim Harold's Podcasts and I'm still really excited to read through the other Campfire books. I'm sure they can only get better!
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews