Haunted Phoenix

by Debe Branning

The booming, modern metropolis of Phoenix is a city filled with the ghosts of its past. Discover the legend of the mysterious Hohokam tribe, whose people once inhabited the Pueblo Grande Ruins and later vanished. Learn about the spirits of the Smurthwaite House, which sits on the grounds of Phoenix's oldest cemetery. Hear the tales of the Pioneer Living Museum, a collection of historic buildings relocated from every corner of Arizona--and the spirits of the former residents that came along too. Take a peek inside the Mystery Castle, old train depots and eerie historic mansions. Author and paranormal historian Debe Branning delves into the history and mysteries of these desert tales.

144 pages, Paperback

Published September 23, 2019

Reviews

[Kristi Elliot · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is okay. Definitely a tourist trap for locals and non locals alike if you’re interested in paranormal stories, and it’s carried in many libraries as well as sold in places like your local Walgreen’s.

I enjoyed the history of old Phoenix very much. As I am not native to Arizona, but hold a strong interest for ghost stories, I’d hoped to find more in terms of supernatural occurrences. Each place listed in the book does have a story attached (except maybe the bowling alley, which was interesting in its own right) but until you get to the section for houses, the history outweighs the supernatural. I liked the history; it was fascinating, but I’m disappointed to not see more in terms of hauntings. Phoenix is a HUGE city. The metropolitan is the fifth largest in the U.S. and even if you exclude all the surrounding cities (Tempe, Avondale, Gilbert, etc), there’s so much more that could have been explored and written.

It wasn’t bad, but I should have saved my money and just kept checking it out from the library. Still worth a read though. There are two locations of interest I’ve noted as places I want to check out on my own time, so I want to reiterate that structurally, this book is written on a 4 star level. I would have rated it as such (or even a 5 star because 3 really does feel harsh) had there been more focus on the paranormal hauntings.

[Jennie Rhiner · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an Arizona native AND history/paranormal lover, this book is awesome. It’s more focused on history than ghost stories, which is fine for me but I can see why other readers didn’t favor it as much. Connecting places I’ve visited with these stories was super fun and I can’t wait to visit places I’ve never been! I’ll be sure to share these stories with others. ☺️ Can’t wait to read the next one 🔥

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun little book. Sure, most of the ghost accounts are vague, lack the necessary details to ground them in truth, and speculative. The main attraction, for me anyway, was learning the history behind the old buildings here in Phoenix.

[Christopher Heckman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too much Phoenix, not enough haunting. I was hoping for more stories, and a wider range geographically.

[Carrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some fun stories but too much dry, non-paranormal-related content, plus lots of insensitive remarks about members of marginalized communities.