Bloody Mary's Guide to Hauntings, Horrors, and Dancing with the Dead: True Stories from the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans

by Bloody Mary

". . . known as 'The Poet Priestess of the Spirit of New Orleans' Bloody Mary is a true spokeswoman of her hometown . . ." -- Southern Women Magazine
Journey through compelling chapters and meet 50 ghosts as Bloody Mary shares with readers her experiences with the ghosts and haunted happenings of New Orleans. Among the tales of the supernatural

Each chapter ends with "Afterlife Lessons and Warnings" with a recap of the Spirit's Who's Who , and what they do to help readers navigate the seen and the unseen worlds.
What makes these stories particularly engaging is Bloody Mary herself. She is not only a psychic investigator, she is also a psychic healer offering healing and kindness to spirits that walk the earth and also helping readers find spiritual lessons in encounters with the spirit world.

Genres: Nonfiction, Research, Paranormal, Ghosts

272 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2016

Reviews

[Jonn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. “Bloody Mary” is an amazing story teller, and her stories really seem to jump off the pages. She throws in so definitions, explanations, and warnings at the end of each story about the roles her characters play.

With that being said, I get the feeling she really does believe the things she writes about and the experiences she describes and shares.

I’m curious how she solves the problem of contradictions between her Voodoo faith and her Catholic faith- the two beliefs really are not as comparable as she makes them sound. She also contradicts herself with some of paranormal adventures and the lessons she claims to be trying to give (which is fine, it shows her “humanness,” as she likes to say). Which is good, many of us have beliefs, ideas, and ideals that conflict with each other; it natural and part of being human.

If you like paranormal stories, I would recommend this book, it is amazingly written. But I would caution wanna-be believers to be careful about the things she says and the actions she takes. Her warning about not crossing lines is very correct- paranormal and spirituality is not something you want to make a mistake or recklessly, carelessly play around with. Some lines cannot be fixed or “uncrossed” once you cross them.

[Bruce Blanchard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having dealt with a lot of spirit encounters in the past, this book has helped untangle the frightening and the mysterious. If you accept the idea a spirit does not graduate to being clear in the head just by virtue of being dead. The stories of her encounters (and not everyone will follow that path) speaks of the wisdom to listen to the dead, connecting to them, and doing what you must. To those who seek out the haunts and cross the worlds, it takes courage and self protection and that is what the book calls to. Plus, getting to know NOLA and its practices is eye opening in many ways. I could dearly wish the book had gone into greater depth in various areas, yet the world of Bloody Mary is still teaching her surprises around every corner.

[Layla, the Witch next door · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not all ghost come to haunt us, some come to help us.

I have read a lot of books on the history and hauntings of The Big Easy, but this is by far my favourite. The respect Bloody Mary has for New Orleans and the spirits that live there seeps through like a haunting Bayou fog. From personal experience to sharing myth and lore, Mary does a fantastic job at sharing the stories of the dead. This book does not disappoint. Highly recommend.

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

My son got me this book while on a trip because he knows how much I love spooky things. Very misleading cover and description. The book is so much more then a book about ghosts. Each story goes into a deep dive on the history of New Orleans and their customs. And for that It also covers one more topic in my reading challenge ~ read a book set in New Orleans. The people of New Orleans know how to honor their dead. 🖤 I’m only giving it three stars because I wish it had been longer.

[Raquel Kay-Doubleyou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfectly spooky.

[Rosita Gomez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it!

I loved this book from the beginning to the end. I can’t wait to visit New Orleans and parts of the world, where the history is waiting to be told. Thank you

[Valery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining read and a good reference for spiritual and ghost related topics. Enjoyed it and learned a lot.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am writing this review for Goodreads. If one were a believer this might be an interesting book. However, I am not a believer but was willing to read it to see if there were anything to change my mind. There was not. I found reading this book a chore and only kept at it because I could see the author believed in what she was writing.

[Kelly Barum · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the historical aspects of this book. Her experiences draw you in. A tad bit repetitive at times and the voodoo terms can get a bit confusing. Overall, a quick and entertaining read for fans of the paranormal and NOLA.

[Dalton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really exceptional. A cool read and makes a great gift for the right person.

[Knitterella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it! Would love to visit New Orleans now!!!

[Colleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting historical aspects, but it's tough for the non-believer.