Rescued By Ghosts: A True Inspirational Survivor Story of Child Abuse, Bullying, a Radical Ultra-Fundamentalist Religion, Ghosts, and Supernatural Events
Three spirits start visiting young Tim at night. They don’t come to haunt him, they come to warn him.
In a church where obedience is everything, Tim learns that being “found” doesn’t mean being saved. It means punishment. The rules tighten. Fear becomes doctrine. Cruelty is renamed “God’s will.”
And the ghosts keep appearing, nudging him away from traps, pushing him toward hard truths, and revealing what no child should have to
He isn’t in a church. He’s in a system built to break people.
To survive, Tim will have to choose between family and freedom… and make a plan while the people around him believe they’re doing the right thing.
Rescued by Ghosts is Book 1 in the My Ghosts true-story thriller series, an unnerving journey through religious extremism, psychological manipulation, and escape, with a paranormal edge.
“The inside story of religious extremism is scarier than I’d ever imagined.”
Timothy L. Drobnick Sr. writes thrillers where ordinary people are pulled into extraordinary danger and where the truth is never as safe as it first appears.
He is the author of multiple series, including Rescued by Ghosts, the seven-book supernatural true-story thriller series that has earned hundreds of reader ratings; the Timothy Tibb Epic Fantasy Thriller series, a fast-paced blend of fantasy, conspiracy, ancient secrets, and supernatural physics; and The Calder Files, a Boston detective thriller series about crimes hidden inside procedure, official records, and institutional power.
Timothy’s stories often combine high-stakes suspense, moral pressure, hidden systems, and characters forced to question the version of reality they have been handed. Whether he is writing epic fantasy, supernatural suspense, or police procedural conspiracy thrillers, his work explores the same core question: what happens when ordinary people discover the truth is bigger, darker, and more dangerous than anyone expected?
Timothy’s storytelling journey began long before he published his first book. As a child, he was often accused of “not paying attention” in school, when in truth his mind was busy building stories. In 1995, after becoming a single parent of three children overnight, he turned that imagination into a way to support his family—writing short stories, building an email readership, and creating products from home while raising his children.
Years later, he transformed the strange and extraordinary events of his own life into Rescued by Ghosts. Since then, he has continued building fictional worlds filled with danger, mystery, faith, doubt, hidden forces, and characters fighting to survive the truth.
When he is not writing, Timothy enjoys researching unusual history, exploring the psychology of belief and power, and building story worlds where every answer leads to a deeper question.
Interesting journey “Tim” has been on, but it is 100% narrative, poorly written and ends suddenly after all the build up. Ghosts are real. The end. Hmmm.
I absolutely loved this memoir. From his earliest years, the author was a role model for living life with humour, insightfulness, kindness and love, and he achieved this all in the midst of terrible physical and emotional neglect by his mother as well as the confusion and brainwashing by his church. As a believer myself (and an experiencer) in both the metaphysical and the paranormal, the honesty and beauty at which this author tells his story is exceptional. His life, especially growing up, could have been seen as tragic and gone in a bad direction, yet the author was determined to act in a way that showed love, kindness and open-mindedness - rising above -- and doing everything in his power to be a good man and a good Christian. Eventually, he has a paradigm shift and see's the world differently - all based on facts he's collected and his own common sense which I greatly respect. All through his life, the author struggled and overcame those challenges by tapping into his own chi energy and also showing the determination and focus to make his reality his own. I can't say enough about how much this book spoke to me, and I can't wait to see what it meant that he'll go 'far east'. P.S. The author's snippets of conversations between Jesus and his father, God, are priceless
Actually 3.5 stars Rescued by ghosts was a really sad story. I was shocked by the terrible events that happened to Tim and the abuse and bullying he went trough while reading the book. I did love and enjoy the story but I feel like it could’ve been told in a better way and like something was missing in the writing. However, I still recommend on this book because of its important subject
Mr. Drobnick made this character come alive for me. I found his character so endearing and wanted to come through the pages to rip his mother a new one. Absolutely infuriating! I related so thoroughly to this character’s religious struggles as well. Looking forward to reading the next installment!
A Life of Rigidity and Oppression, mixed with some ghostly friends.
This book is written in a way that seems simple and easy to read. There's so much more to it than that! How anyone could live this life and come out "normal" is beyond me- beyond all of us.
I really didn't want this book to end..as abusive as Tim's childhood and teenage years were..he was resourceful and driven despite the obstacles his mother and church put in his way..even though it took him a long while to realize the truth about his ghosts..he is more special than he could have ever imagined..
Rescued by Ghosts is a funny and sad story. Timothy Drobnick made the story come alive. And the added conversations between Jesus and God were hilarious. The mom really made me mad, the way she treated Tim. It is a very interesting, inspiring and captivating story. I can't wait to read his next book.
Audio book. An important book based on a true story about a boy who got abused by his mother and brain washed in the same church Jim Jones was a member in. A touching and upsetting story that thrills a bit. Gives you a new way of thinking and this now grown up boy is so strong and probably special in someways. I do really appreciate this book.
A sincere memoir by an author who went through a rough childhood. The author shows uncommon bravery in his quest to find himself and break away from an oppressive raising. Thank you for taking the time to share your insights with others.
My heart goes out to this author for what he endured as a young person at the hands of his family, church and society. He was blessed with strength of character and ingenuity to get himself through it all.
What this boy suffered was awful, but his growth and perseverance are admirable. This book should be on the summer reading list from middle school to high school!
I admire the author for his strength and perseverance to be able to overcome his abusive childhood and to write about it. This story made me feel sad, angry and pride in the boy he was. I would highly recommend it. I received this book for free and I am voluntarily leaving my review.
Characters in this book are very different from each other, but there are times when it feels like every character are just there to make the life of the main character miserable and depressing. The main character is very relatable because everyone or most of the people felt sadness, depression, etc at some point in their life.
The fact that this book is a nonfiction and a Memoir book, makes this whole story more relatable. There are a lot of parts in this book where you will feel sad for the author and be angry at his mother for the way she have treated him.
The whole plot of this book is interesting, sad, inspiring and captivating. However if you are like me (which means that you’re not into any religion and basically you think that every religion is more or less BS) you will find it hard to relate to this book because of the religions undertone to it. But I think that you will at least enjoy the process of character growth which the main character have in this book.
I need to also point out that the author shows uncommon and huge bravery in the way of getting out of the cult but also in the way of sharing his story with the world.
An enjoyable read - I found the authors childhood sad and unfortunate, but also fascinating (like not being able to look away from the macabre).
Tim’s writing is honest, smooth most of the time, and surprisingly humorous. One thing I truly admired was Tim’s strength and perseverance throughout his life. Another thing I loved was the God/Jesus takes.
I do, however, think Tim’s story is more of a religious/cult/victim of abuse memoir rather than a paranormal memoir. Ghosts were present, but did not seem to be the integral part of Tim’s story. The pillars, rather, were his religion and domestic life.
Also, the ending kinda just… ended. I faded toward the end, and not sure if I’ll read the second, but still quite happy I gave this a read.
Wow, what to say! My mind will not allow me to believe that this is a 100% true story , according to your recollections. At first I thought this was a terribly written story but as I continued to read, it was mesmerizing to me regarding the brainwashing/cruelty of the mother/church/teachers etc. I don’t understand how anyone could be brainwashed and family/community beliefs be forced on you to believe or ELSE! Anyway, I really got into this book when i told myself “hey this really happened to this kid”. I didn’t like the ending but then if it’s a true story, there never truly is a fairytale ending.
Don't believe that what you read here can't happen
I was fascinated by the story of Tim Drobnick and how he escaped an abusive home and a cult religion. Not all mothers love their children, and Tim's mother is written perfectly. What Tim endures in school is true-to-life. And as a member of one of the religions vilified by the AG, I have heard and read their odd world view, including the cherry-picking approach to the Bible. I am glad I read this book and will keep my eyes open for more books by Drobnick..
The paranormals get last billing in this story. Tim's struggle and will to survive abuse and brainwashing are told with a light touch of humor. If you have ever suffered abuse or lived near a cultist church you know his success is nothing short of amazing. Too many fail to survive the abuse mentally even after the abuser is gone. And the cult, to keep your sense of self while stripping everything you believe in is so very hard.
Rescued By Ghosts: A Thriller, Paranormal, Inspirational, Memoir, Survivor Story of Child Abuse, a Cult Religion, Ghosts, and Supernatural Event
The book is an incredible read in that it details how and what a person can not only survive but can prosper after severe childhood traumas. Most uniquely important is how the author was able to conquer his fear and undo the consistent brainwashing imposed on him since childhood.
Excellent . Is is true .? Some of it, but thought provoking and easy to read. You immediately bond with the main character and want him to succeed . I’m about to start the follow up book and I’m really looking forward to it. There is so much corruption in churches that make up their own rules . Fascinating and challenging.
A well written story of a life of struggle to seek God and purpose in life. The story is told with a simply explained narrative with some humor and painfully truthful, intimate details that enable you to relate to a sincere, talented and creative man. The paranormal entities in his life are woven throughout, with the expected lack of being able to explain them. accepting them anyway because they are. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
DNF-I only made it a short way into the book. Maybe it got better, but after the first 15% or so, I’m not wasting my time. The author seemed stuck on reiterating (to the point I felt that *was the entire storyline) about the characters’ seeming traits of ocd/codependency. Sorry, but I couldn’t finish it.
My first book of 2022 and I’m not sure another book will top this! I laughed, I cried, I was angry, I was filled with disgust but I was blown away by his resilience, courage and his strength. Truth is stranger than fiction, and this book proves it!
I’m so sorry Tim went through what he did with this so called church. But as a Christian I do believe in the Bible. And Jesus did talk about hell in his teaching. Sorry Tim no longer believes in heaven and hell. I will not be reading anymore of theses books.
suewsteve@gmail.com I enjoyed this book. I cried and laughed. Most importa
ntly I learned about the history of the Bible and the current day Christian cults. I'm quite sad about how Christian values have become part of politics.
An interesting story, but a little boring and drawn out in parts. I know the story was from a child’s point of view: however; the story would read more smoothly, if written to an adult audience.