Strange But True: Mysterious and Bizarre People

by Tom Slemen

Everyone relishes a good "strange but true" story now and again, and this book has 62 of them! These are stories of phenomena and occurrences that have completely defied conventional explanation--events that have baffled scientists, stymied detectives, and intrigued ordinary mortals for hundreds of years. Some of the stories are legendary, some have taken place in our own lifetime. Is it absolutely certain that Joan of Arc died at the stake? Did the Master of Macabre, Edgar Allan Poe, murder the "Cigar Girl"? Was Tchaikovsky a murder victim? Did Union soldiers kill John Wilkes Booth in 1865, or did he die 38 years later in a lodging house in Baltimore? Was martial arts superstar Bruce Lee murdered? Did Atlantis really exist? These mysteries and many more are explored in this entertaining read.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Paranormal, Mystery, Reference

394 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1998

About the author

Tom Slemen is a Liverpool writer, columnist and broadcaster, known foremostly as the author of the best-selling Haunted Liverpool series of books which document paranormal incidents and often unsolved or unusual crimes in his home town of Liverpool, past and present.
--from the author's website

Reviews

[ناصر سليم · Rating 3 out of 5]

یکی از نقدهای مهمی که به این کتاب واردِ، اینه که اسم غلطی و برای کتاب تعیین کردن!
مردان اسرار آمیز، در صورتیکه وقتی کتاب و مطالعه می کنید متوجه خواهید شد که مؤلف کتاب اسم چند تن از زنان برجسته تاریخ رو هم وارد کتاب کرده مثل ژان ژارداک، و چند تا از بانوان دیگه که در خاطرم نیست
تو این کتاب مؤلف درباره آدم هایی صحبت می کنه که قدرتهای مافوق طبیعی دارن و کارهای اعجاب انگیزی انجام میدن ...
این کتاب برای کسانی که به علوم ماوراالطبیعه و متافیزیک علاقه مندن توصیه میشه

[Aaron Long · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thomas Slemen did a great job here editing this compiled collection of oddities surrounding mysterious and bizarre people as the title suggests. I've read countless unexplained mystery books which deal with UFO's, ghosts, bigfoot and everything in between and while I've read a lot regarding mysterious figures throughout history, many personalities and cases included here I hadn't previously heard about which was refreshing. There are the obvious included here from Jack the ripper to the questionable death of martial arts pioneer Bruce Lee but there are cases included such as the A38 hitch-hiker which will remain with me for a long time as well as the case of Reynard Beck a man in Midwest America during June 1884 who could miraculously float at will like a helium balloon. This book has it all to suspend you're disbelief and will surely make you question the world and it's inhabitants around you. Another point I want to make about this easy to read collection of mind-bending cases is that they are snappy and very well put together so as to not lose you're attention. 4 to 6 pages and it's onto the next in snappy fashion although wouldn't have bothered me had they been longer. In all there are 62 cases presented here and even though as I've said obvious ones are included, there are tons which I guarantee you haven't heard about or will learn something new about a case which you are familiar with. Please don't expect a highly detailed compendium because this isn't that book and was never meant to be, however is a book to steer you in the right direction to pursue any particular case of interest further. Excellent little pick up and put down collection of unexplained mysteries surrounding the mysterious and bizarre people which have come and gone and have left an everlasting impression so few of us leave behind.

[Stephen Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author writes on several enigmatic personalities from Tchaikovsky to the Zodiac Killer. My personal favorites were the profiles on Emanuel Swedenborg and Shakespeare. Concerning the latter, he elaborates on the possibility that "the great Bard" was really Francis Bacon or Edward DeVere. Some stories are quite outlandish, inconsistent, and downright absurd such as the story on Vampires in England, but it does make for some interesting reading.

[Claudia]

It is an interesting book to read with some errors as others have pointed out. However I suggest using it simply as a jumping off point to do your own research into these people. I say this because, there are glaring errors when retelling the experience actor Telly Savalas had. It made me cautious of what else the author has gotten wrong.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating briefs ranging from Count St. Germaine to Zodiac. Some are believable, some not so much. Some I'd heard about like Bruce Lee, Spring-Heeled Jack, Hitler, John Wilkes Booth; others were totally unfamiliar like the green children, Charles Walton, the frozen woman, and Reszo Seress. A fun and interesting read.

[Ray Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read if you're not looking to commit to a full 300+ page story. A few grammatical errors in my copy which was very cringe worthy.

But these were my personal favourites (in no particular order):
- The Magi
- Pope Joan
- John Lee
- Vampires
- Doppelgängers
- "Zodiac"

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh.

[Karlie Nyte · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have enjoyed the stories in this book quite a lot, and will keep this book on my shelves for future reading again, and perhaps ideas for some stories. The snippets in this book will, I am certain, have more information out there than what the author presents in the book. Which I do believe is his purpose -- to interest the reader into pursuing more information, if they so desire, and if not, to entertain and baffle at the least. I know that I am one who wants more than what I got from the book, but on most of these stories, I would not have known where to start for something of interest and mystery that is by all accounts true.

[Saman · Rating 5 out of 5]

lol

[Ryan Mcmahon · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazingly mysterious, so many fasinating people to wonder about & wish you could talk with them to find out their secrets. I wasn't disapointed & if you like the strange & bizarre, the mysterious & weird that "What if" factor you'll also love this book. I own a copy already & it always seem to set my mind racing. So if your not sure about getting this book or reading this book definately do because you won't be sorry.

[Alycia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned about dozens of insane, but true incidences that have happened in the past and that led me to learning a lot about common historical legends such as Jack: The Ripper, The Man in the Iron Mask, Pope Joan, etc. Its a great source of background knowledge.

[Megan Rector · Rating 3 out of 5]

The stories were certainly interesting and the variety of people discussed kept it interesting, but I could not overlook the terrible writing. I found several typos and grammatical errors. Some of the chapters ended abruptly without any real conclusion and others were simply lacking enough detail.

[Cindy Parrish · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting and thought provoking especially if you enjoy conspiracy theories and such.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

thought this would expand our msytery stories for sharing but they were not as easy to share with a class

[Ericka Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read of lots of interesting little mysterious vignettes. Enjoyable research and who knows, a doppleganger or green child may show up in one of my future books!