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The Horrors of the House of Wills: A True Story of a Paranormal Investigator's Most Terrifying Case
Every paranormal investigator has one location that shakes them to the core. This one almost broke Daryl, in more ways than one. Within the House of Wills lurks an evil that has had many years to fester, slowly growing more and more until it became the perfect paranormal storm. This former funeral home in Cleveland, Ohio, brought Daryl Marston, co-lead on A&E's Ghost Hunters , to his knees, rebuilding him as a man and an investigator. While exploring, Daryl lost large chunks of time, heard phantom footsteps run down the hallways, and felt dark spirits try to invade his mind. Daryl left a bit of himself there that night―and took something home with him as well. Experience this hotbed of paranormal activity through Daryl's first-hand account of the thirteen-hour investigation and the life-altering haunting that happened afterwards.
- GenresParanormalNonfiction
192 pages, Paperback
Published September 8, 2023
5 people are currently reading
76 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
August 2, 2023
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley.
From what I gather, this was the author's first book. Most of the book was just fine....but not great. I wasn't a huge fan of the writing style to be honest. I felt like his thoughts were a little disorganized at time.
If you believe in the paranormal, you will likely enjoy reading about the author's first hand experience at this house.
The book was short, so easy enough to force myself to get through.... but it just didn't wow me.
From what I gather, this was the author's first book. Most of the book was just fine....but not great. I wasn't a huge fan of the writing style to be honest. I felt like his thoughts were a little disorganized at time.
If you believe in the paranormal, you will likely enjoy reading about the author's first hand experience at this house.
The book was short, so easy enough to force myself to get through.... but it just didn't wow me.
October 11, 2023
I genuinely believe that Daryl did not go to Fort Delaware in the beginning portion of this book... or he has AWFUL memory.
I would first like to say that I live in Delaware and have a great interest in Fort Delaware. I was happy when this book came out and ordered it for my Kindle. It was so cool to support someone from Middletown, the place I call home. I believe in ghosts and this review is in no way denying ghosts, I am simply upset that Daryl did not fact check any of the surrounding information.
Every possible detail about the fort was incorrect, meaning in the 5 pages he is recounting his first ghost encounter there is no real truth to what he is saying. I don't know how I can trust the rest of the book when the beginning is so horribly inaccurate. I simply know they did not fact check a single thing at any point in the process. I know this book will be rejected from being sold at the shop because of how wrong it is.
He is correct in saying that Fort Delaware is on an island in the Delaware River.
Here is a sampling of what is wrong in the first half of the first chapter alone:
Page 5:
1) The fort was not "originally constructed to defend Philadelphia from the Confederate Navy during the Civil War" - The fort was constructed as a third system fort as costal defense against foreign invasion due to the events of the war of 1812. In addition, the forts construction took 10 years, so his statement that "in the first year of the war, the Confederate Navy was completely wiped out and there was no need for the fort anymore" is vastly incorrect. Their navy was never completely wiped out and they still had ships at the end of the war. It's funny because I have recently been rereading the Percy Jackson series and that happened to more accurately describe the use of confederate ships than this non fiction book.
Page 6:
2) The fort itself was not turned into a prison: during the Civil War the army created a POW camp on the island, but the fort was still primarily garrisoned for coastal defense. The part about the fort being nicknamed the "Andersonville of the north" as Daryl says "for a good reason" is based on false narratives later written in the 1880s. In the 1980s people went on to make assumptions based on prisoner memoirs that has spread hurtful rumours about the events at the fort, namely saying it was a torture camp (bs) or that X amount of prisoners were executed there. There are no sources saying either of those claims, but books written like this without fact checking push a hurtful anti-historical narrative that the park staff has to combat every day.
3) "We sat on the upper deck of the ferry for our twenty-minute journey across the two miles of cold open water to the fort" - This part is just laughably incorrect, its one mile to the fort and about 10 minutes max in bad weather. 20 minutes would take you into Jersey.
Page 7:
4)"When we got to the island, we were met by a park ranger, who was behind the wheel of a large tractor pulling a covered wagon that seated about twenty people" There have never been "park rangers" at the fort. There has never been a covered wagon! In my memory, since the 90s it has been a tram pulled by a truck that seats like 70 people. It can hold as many people can fit on the boat, which Daryl knew had two stories.
5) "As we made our way through the trees, the fort gradually appeared" C'mon Daryl, you've been back to the fort, you know there aren't trees there. There weren't trees there in 2005 either. I've actually attached a picture of Pea Patch Island in 1982 taken from aerial photography, there was no trees then either.
6) "We were then led into a large football-field-size courtyard that was surrounded by twenty-foot-high stone walls on all sides" The area he is talking about is through the main gate, also known as the Sally Port, and entering the parade ground. It is not football field sized, and the walls are about 30 feet tall, which is the difference of an additional floor.
Page 8:
7) "On top of the walls were walkways from which guards watched over the prisoners" Again, no large amounts of prisoners were kept regularly in the fort, just in the separate prisoner barracks outside of the forts walls, so there are not walkways to survey prisoners. I think he is talking about the concrete section of the fort, which is well known not to have been installed until the 1890s! 30 years after the civil war.
8) "I have heard the fort called everything from the 'dungeons' to the 'catacombs and prison cells'." Jesus Christ. There are no tunnels under the fort, I'm getting tired of correcting people on this one. No catacombs, no dungeons, nothing underground because the fort is built on a marsh island. It is physically impossible to build a basement under those circumstances. Also- no prison cells, because as we have discussed above, the prisoners had nice little barracks to live in. It is not Eastern State Penitentiary for God's sake. He is, with all likelihood, is thinking about the Endicott (concrete section) which was not built until way after the Civil War. Everything made of brick was what was present, everything made of concrete that looks "prison like" came after.
Page 9
9) The powder mag he is referring to would not be both gunpowder storage and an armory, for fairly obvious reasons. You don't want any iron around black powder.
10) This is nitpicky, but the "occasional muskrat" does not come into the fort, especially not the back corner where he is referring to.
11) "We eventually came to a larger room with high ceilings that smelled of musty gunpowder and urine" At the time Daryl's account takes place, the Civil War was 140 years prior, since he was there in 2005. With all likelihood, the smell he was smelling is some combination of bat guano and mold, since it is a damp and cold space.
12) "He told us what we smelled were the remnants of a powder explosion that killed several Union soldiers." If he is claiming the powder explosion happened at the magazine, there would be no wall left behind. There is no army record of a powder mag detonation at the fort during the civil war.
13) "The smell of urine was from the prisoners that were kept there. There wasn't a designated area to relieve themselves, so they went wherever". Again, the prisoners were not kept there. This is getting frustrating. The prisoner barrack structures, where they were kept, not only had their own mess hall but had outhouses that went out and over the river so prisoners could properly release themselves.
Page 10
14) Daryl is lucky that he does not describe the ghost in a uniform because I would eat a brogan before agreeing that a confederate died in the powder mag.
In summary, nearly everything said about the fort is just plain wrong. Shockingly so. How can I trust someone who recants his first ghost story where every bit of information surrounding it is inaccurate? It does not even sound like he is describing the fort, I think he might be talking about a weird cross between Fort Mott and Eastern State Penitentiary that his childhood brain mixed up. There are photographs of Daryl taken at the island, so I know he has been back there as an adult quite recently before I wrote this review, so I am shocked he didn't actually support the fort financially by going on a tour and actually learning something. Books like this are clearly cash grabs or just so the author can say "I wrote a book!", not to actually benefit his hometown area in Delaware. The staff at the fort, who he easily could have used as a resource and asked for information, would have been THRILLED to help. Instead, the fort staff (note how I didn't say Park Rangers) will be combatting the misinformation spread in this book for many years to come.
Go birds, ghosts are real, fact check your book next time.
I would first like to say that I live in Delaware and have a great interest in Fort Delaware. I was happy when this book came out and ordered it for my Kindle. It was so cool to support someone from Middletown, the place I call home. I believe in ghosts and this review is in no way denying ghosts, I am simply upset that Daryl did not fact check any of the surrounding information.
Every possible detail about the fort was incorrect, meaning in the 5 pages he is recounting his first ghost encounter there is no real truth to what he is saying. I don't know how I can trust the rest of the book when the beginning is so horribly inaccurate. I simply know they did not fact check a single thing at any point in the process. I know this book will be rejected from being sold at the shop because of how wrong it is.
He is correct in saying that Fort Delaware is on an island in the Delaware River.
Here is a sampling of what is wrong in the first half of the first chapter alone:
Page 5:
1) The fort was not "originally constructed to defend Philadelphia from the Confederate Navy during the Civil War" - The fort was constructed as a third system fort as costal defense against foreign invasion due to the events of the war of 1812. In addition, the forts construction took 10 years, so his statement that "in the first year of the war, the Confederate Navy was completely wiped out and there was no need for the fort anymore" is vastly incorrect. Their navy was never completely wiped out and they still had ships at the end of the war. It's funny because I have recently been rereading the Percy Jackson series and that happened to more accurately describe the use of confederate ships than this non fiction book.
Page 6:
2) The fort itself was not turned into a prison: during the Civil War the army created a POW camp on the island, but the fort was still primarily garrisoned for coastal defense. The part about the fort being nicknamed the "Andersonville of the north" as Daryl says "for a good reason" is based on false narratives later written in the 1880s. In the 1980s people went on to make assumptions based on prisoner memoirs that has spread hurtful rumours about the events at the fort, namely saying it was a torture camp (bs) or that X amount of prisoners were executed there. There are no sources saying either of those claims, but books written like this without fact checking push a hurtful anti-historical narrative that the park staff has to combat every day.
3) "We sat on the upper deck of the ferry for our twenty-minute journey across the two miles of cold open water to the fort" - This part is just laughably incorrect, its one mile to the fort and about 10 minutes max in bad weather. 20 minutes would take you into Jersey.
Page 7:
4)"When we got to the island, we were met by a park ranger, who was behind the wheel of a large tractor pulling a covered wagon that seated about twenty people" There have never been "park rangers" at the fort. There has never been a covered wagon! In my memory, since the 90s it has been a tram pulled by a truck that seats like 70 people. It can hold as many people can fit on the boat, which Daryl knew had two stories.
5) "As we made our way through the trees, the fort gradually appeared" C'mon Daryl, you've been back to the fort, you know there aren't trees there. There weren't trees there in 2005 either. I've actually attached a picture of Pea Patch Island in 1982 taken from aerial photography, there was no trees then either.
6) "We were then led into a large football-field-size courtyard that was surrounded by twenty-foot-high stone walls on all sides" The area he is talking about is through the main gate, also known as the Sally Port, and entering the parade ground. It is not football field sized, and the walls are about 30 feet tall, which is the difference of an additional floor.
Page 8:
7) "On top of the walls were walkways from which guards watched over the prisoners" Again, no large amounts of prisoners were kept regularly in the fort, just in the separate prisoner barracks outside of the forts walls, so there are not walkways to survey prisoners. I think he is talking about the concrete section of the fort, which is well known not to have been installed until the 1890s! 30 years after the civil war.
8) "I have heard the fort called everything from the 'dungeons' to the 'catacombs and prison cells'." Jesus Christ. There are no tunnels under the fort, I'm getting tired of correcting people on this one. No catacombs, no dungeons, nothing underground because the fort is built on a marsh island. It is physically impossible to build a basement under those circumstances. Also- no prison cells, because as we have discussed above, the prisoners had nice little barracks to live in. It is not Eastern State Penitentiary for God's sake. He is, with all likelihood, is thinking about the Endicott (concrete section) which was not built until way after the Civil War. Everything made of brick was what was present, everything made of concrete that looks "prison like" came after.
Page 9
9) The powder mag he is referring to would not be both gunpowder storage and an armory, for fairly obvious reasons. You don't want any iron around black powder.
10) This is nitpicky, but the "occasional muskrat" does not come into the fort, especially not the back corner where he is referring to.
11) "We eventually came to a larger room with high ceilings that smelled of musty gunpowder and urine" At the time Daryl's account takes place, the Civil War was 140 years prior, since he was there in 2005. With all likelihood, the smell he was smelling is some combination of bat guano and mold, since it is a damp and cold space.
12) "He told us what we smelled were the remnants of a powder explosion that killed several Union soldiers." If he is claiming the powder explosion happened at the magazine, there would be no wall left behind. There is no army record of a powder mag detonation at the fort during the civil war.
13) "The smell of urine was from the prisoners that were kept there. There wasn't a designated area to relieve themselves, so they went wherever". Again, the prisoners were not kept there. This is getting frustrating. The prisoner barrack structures, where they were kept, not only had their own mess hall but had outhouses that went out and over the river so prisoners could properly release themselves.
Page 10
14) Daryl is lucky that he does not describe the ghost in a uniform because I would eat a brogan before agreeing that a confederate died in the powder mag.
In summary, nearly everything said about the fort is just plain wrong. Shockingly so. How can I trust someone who recants his first ghost story where every bit of information surrounding it is inaccurate? It does not even sound like he is describing the fort, I think he might be talking about a weird cross between Fort Mott and Eastern State Penitentiary that his childhood brain mixed up. There are photographs of Daryl taken at the island, so I know he has been back there as an adult quite recently before I wrote this review, so I am shocked he didn't actually support the fort financially by going on a tour and actually learning something. Books like this are clearly cash grabs or just so the author can say "I wrote a book!", not to actually benefit his hometown area in Delaware. The staff at the fort, who he easily could have used as a resource and asked for information, would have been THRILLED to help. Instead, the fort staff (note how I didn't say Park Rangers) will be combatting the misinformation spread in this book for many years to come.
Go birds, ghosts are real, fact check your book next time.
November 19, 2024
2.5?
Worth the read bc I find this house fascinating; especially since I have never heard of it before a few weeks ago when an old friend had posted pictures from inside. I was immediately googling and trying to find out more about it. I haven’t spent time in East Cleveland apart from an internship I did in college. But if you’re from northeast Ohio you probably have heard stories about East Cleveland. And they’re probably not good! But my internship was at a rather happy nursing home/assisted living compound about 2 miles from this house. I get how he talks about the neighborhood and how the building feels like an entity. I also get how the neighborhood treats outsiders, and the overall feel of driving around those streets there can be unsettling in broad daylight. There’s good and bad and it’s all mixed up together and there is a remarkable energy there.
However this guy is a terrible writer, which is fine that’s not his job but why didn’t he have an editor? And I think there are parts of this that are blurry to him but it left me confused when trying to understand his experiences. Even with some pictures in the book I couldn’t ever really picture what he was describing. This book was also soooooooo much filler like could have been half the length. However I couldn’t find another book on this house (yet!). And maybe the house was messing with him during his writing and putting in typos and making him sound super dumb and annoying idk😜
Worth the read bc I find this house fascinating; especially since I have never heard of it before a few weeks ago when an old friend had posted pictures from inside. I was immediately googling and trying to find out more about it. I haven’t spent time in East Cleveland apart from an internship I did in college. But if you’re from northeast Ohio you probably have heard stories about East Cleveland. And they’re probably not good! But my internship was at a rather happy nursing home/assisted living compound about 2 miles from this house. I get how he talks about the neighborhood and how the building feels like an entity. I also get how the neighborhood treats outsiders, and the overall feel of driving around those streets there can be unsettling in broad daylight. There’s good and bad and it’s all mixed up together and there is a remarkable energy there.
However this guy is a terrible writer, which is fine that’s not his job but why didn’t he have an editor? And I think there are parts of this that are blurry to him but it left me confused when trying to understand his experiences. Even with some pictures in the book I couldn’t ever really picture what he was describing. This book was also soooooooo much filler like could have been half the length. However I couldn’t find another book on this house (yet!). And maybe the house was messing with him during his writing and putting in typos and making him sound super dumb and annoying idk😜
September 10, 2023
This was a really interesting book! I love ghost stories (in all forms of media) so this is right up my alley. I enjoyed it! It has plenty of eerie moments and is written in a way that brought me right into the story within the first few pages. The story moves at a quick pace and I enjoyed it. I would recommend this to those who are looking for a fast paced book with eerie moments or a nice ghost story. Special Thank You to Daryl Marston, Llewellyn Worldwide, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy prior to publication in exchange for an honest review.
September 13, 2023
I have always been fascinated by the paranormal so when I saw that this was a first hand experience at one of the most renowned hauntings, I had to see what it was about.
The photos were a great addition to setting the scene for all of the activity. But unfortunately this read like an elementary school student learning how to write a 5 paragraph essay. In addition to it being a cookie cutter outline setup, it drastically needs an editor. Every sentence has a misspelling, misuse of a word or just isn’t coherent. I had to read many over and over to try to figure out what was trying to be said.
It’s sad that it detracts so much from the story at hand because I think it has the potential to be told in such a more captivating light, regardless of all the shadows.
You can tell the author is passionate about his work, and wants to bring a sense of respect for the paranormal world and everyone who enters it. However, he is clearly not a writer, even though the premise held my attention to get to the last page.
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC and the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.
The photos were a great addition to setting the scene for all of the activity. But unfortunately this read like an elementary school student learning how to write a 5 paragraph essay. In addition to it being a cookie cutter outline setup, it drastically needs an editor. Every sentence has a misspelling, misuse of a word or just isn’t coherent. I had to read many over and over to try to figure out what was trying to be said.
It’s sad that it detracts so much from the story at hand because I think it has the potential to be told in such a more captivating light, regardless of all the shadows.
You can tell the author is passionate about his work, and wants to bring a sense of respect for the paranormal world and everyone who enters it. However, he is clearly not a writer, even though the premise held my attention to get to the last page.
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC and the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.
July 16, 2023
This book takes us through Daryl Marstons first hand experience with his scariest location of paranormal activity, The House of Wills. We learn how he got there, what happened and what the consequences of his paranormal investigation were.
I really loved the premise of this book, and truly wanted it to convince me that The House of Wills was truly evil. I’m still on the fence about that, but really enjoyed hearing about his experience as a paranormal investigator. The story was told very thoroughly, from how he discovered this location and all the way through how he was affected after the investigation.
The writing felt very amateur, leaning towards telling us what happens rather than showing. This is to be expected in a debut novel, as writers typically spend some time finding their voice in the writing. Obviously, it is important to note that this is supposedly a true story, so that does have some say in the writing style being what it is.
If you’re curious about how paranormal investigations work, or just love reading about people being terrified of paranormal entities, this book would definitely be a good fit for you.
Big thanks to Netgalley, Llewellyn Publications, and the author Daryl Marston for allowing me to read an E-Arc of this book.
I really loved the premise of this book, and truly wanted it to convince me that The House of Wills was truly evil. I’m still on the fence about that, but really enjoyed hearing about his experience as a paranormal investigator. The story was told very thoroughly, from how he discovered this location and all the way through how he was affected after the investigation.
The writing felt very amateur, leaning towards telling us what happens rather than showing. This is to be expected in a debut novel, as writers typically spend some time finding their voice in the writing. Obviously, it is important to note that this is supposedly a true story, so that does have some say in the writing style being what it is.
If you’re curious about how paranormal investigations work, or just love reading about people being terrified of paranormal entities, this book would definitely be a good fit for you.
Big thanks to Netgalley, Llewellyn Publications, and the author Daryl Marston for allowing me to read an E-Arc of this book.
September 29, 2023
I've been an early childhood home visitor in the Cleveland community for 11 years and loved this book detailing the experience in the House of Wills. I've spent a lot of time in the adjacent public housing and always found myself drawn to it, often sitting in the parking lot to catch a photo while I check emails. Like Daryl shares, the house itself has an energy that draws you in, often wanting more. In October 2022 I had the ability to tour parts of the building through Oktober's Events (https://www.keepclevelandcreepy.com/) and could not have been more excited that I was finally going to get through those doors and meet Eric Freeman. I attended with some family and we took precautions as to avoid bringing an extra passenger home. The staff of Oktober's was very professional and also planned something similar for guests who may not have thought ahead.
The house is decaying but breathtaking all at the same time. Mr. Freeman took us into the cathedral room to take everything in and talked at length about the history as well as the issues he has dealt with trying to preserve it from itself and intruders. At this time in the cathedral I felt someone lightly pushing or grazing my behind. When I turned around I realized the closest patron to me was more than a foot away. My aunt is a reader and later shared she saw a young African American boy "being silly" in the room and that he may potentially been cognitively delayed and had some innocent fun with his visitors. That was her only sighting but there was definitely shifts in energy depending on the location of the home.
As the writer suggests, the energy you bring into the home is important. The level of the former viewing room felt so warm to me whereas the author has other experiences. I carry a sense of alacrity which is something that may have made my experience in the home different. The sub basement level was blocked off but I would have loved the opportunity to go further down.
A room described and pictured in the book now houses shelves of dolls. While the dolls themselves may seem frightening to some, the other objects in the room held much more weight. The objects that Eric has specifically chosen to place in the rooms seems to echo the shift in the house that our author shares.
This was a fantastic read, and if ever given the opportunity you should tour the House of Wills.
The house is decaying but breathtaking all at the same time. Mr. Freeman took us into the cathedral room to take everything in and talked at length about the history as well as the issues he has dealt with trying to preserve it from itself and intruders. At this time in the cathedral I felt someone lightly pushing or grazing my behind. When I turned around I realized the closest patron to me was more than a foot away. My aunt is a reader and later shared she saw a young African American boy "being silly" in the room and that he may potentially been cognitively delayed and had some innocent fun with his visitors. That was her only sighting but there was definitely shifts in energy depending on the location of the home.
As the writer suggests, the energy you bring into the home is important. The level of the former viewing room felt so warm to me whereas the author has other experiences. I carry a sense of alacrity which is something that may have made my experience in the home different. The sub basement level was blocked off but I would have loved the opportunity to go further down.
A room described and pictured in the book now houses shelves of dolls. While the dolls themselves may seem frightening to some, the other objects in the room held much more weight. The objects that Eric has specifically chosen to place in the rooms seems to echo the shift in the house that our author shares.
This was a fantastic read, and if ever given the opportunity you should tour the House of Wills.
December 29, 2023
ugh! I had semi-high hopes for this, but honestly this man is NOT a writer. And if there was an editor, they should be ashamed. The first part of the book is fairly interesting, while they are “investigating” the location, but after he returns home and one night in fear and frustration he decides to “pray” which then turns into his “finding religion” just turned me off. I almost abandoned it at chapter 12, but being almost done I figured I slog on through to the end. Unfortunately the entire rest of the book is speculative and how he got to be on tv. Don’t waste your time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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January 9, 2024True stories about the supernatural always manage to bring out the shivers for many readers. When they are written realistically, they definitely strike the right nerve. THE HORRORS OF THE HOUSE OF WILLS, is certainly the sort of book that grabs you by the collar, and holds you there. The book is short, and is very fast reading, the manner in which is it written, helping keep you turning pages. The author of the book, Daryl Marston, is one of the stars of the A&E television series Ghost Hunters. As the titles implies, the crew goes to houses that appear to be haunted, setting up cameras, often staying overnight, hoping for ghostly manifestations to appear.
The House of Wills was a Black-owned funeral home in Cleveland Ohio. There had been reports that is was haunted, prompting Daryl and three friends to make the trek to the home, to see for themselves. This occurred in the summer of 2014.
The place was in disrepair, left precisely the way it was when closed down. Neighbours according to Daryl, often walked on the other side of the street, not wanting to be on the same side of the street as the funeral home. It was as if they were afraid what was reported to lurk inside, might have them in its clutches.
Almost as soon as the crew entered, Daryl and his friends felt some sort of presence, hearing what seemed to be footsteps, even though no one was in the halls or the rooms. It should be pointed out the House of Hills was purchased by Eric Freeman, who was a High Priest in the Church of Satan. This fact makes the reader wonder even more, just what might have been lurking within those walls.
All four crew members sensed something otherworldly. It was totally intimidating, and the night that was spent there, was definitely one that would never be forgotten. It seemed there was some presence in the house, and whether friend or foe, it definitely spooked one and all, to the point they were glad they finally left, vowing not to return.
Once they returned home, Daryl reported odd happenings, as if whatever was in the House of Wills, was following him. Back home, he thought he sensed shapes and shadows, and one day when he went to his garage, he found the window were blanketed in black flies, to the point, one could not see out the window.
He finally wrote the book, telling of the time spent there, and the months and years afterward, that kept haunting him. Most engrossing reading, it is up to the reader to conclude what was fact and what was fiction. No matter what side of the fence you sit in, it definitely had a very high creep quotient.
The House of Wills was a Black-owned funeral home in Cleveland Ohio. There had been reports that is was haunted, prompting Daryl and three friends to make the trek to the home, to see for themselves. This occurred in the summer of 2014.
The place was in disrepair, left precisely the way it was when closed down. Neighbours according to Daryl, often walked on the other side of the street, not wanting to be on the same side of the street as the funeral home. It was as if they were afraid what was reported to lurk inside, might have them in its clutches.
Almost as soon as the crew entered, Daryl and his friends felt some sort of presence, hearing what seemed to be footsteps, even though no one was in the halls or the rooms. It should be pointed out the House of Hills was purchased by Eric Freeman, who was a High Priest in the Church of Satan. This fact makes the reader wonder even more, just what might have been lurking within those walls.
All four crew members sensed something otherworldly. It was totally intimidating, and the night that was spent there, was definitely one that would never be forgotten. It seemed there was some presence in the house, and whether friend or foe, it definitely spooked one and all, to the point they were glad they finally left, vowing not to return.
Once they returned home, Daryl reported odd happenings, as if whatever was in the House of Wills, was following him. Back home, he thought he sensed shapes and shadows, and one day when he went to his garage, he found the window were blanketed in black flies, to the point, one could not see out the window.
He finally wrote the book, telling of the time spent there, and the months and years afterward, that kept haunting him. Most engrossing reading, it is up to the reader to conclude what was fact and what was fiction. No matter what side of the fence you sit in, it definitely had a very high creep quotient.
July 19, 2023
As a paranormal enthusiast, I enjoy "true" ghost TV shows, books, etc. I say true in quotes because while I am a believer in ghosts, hauntings, and the afterlife, I know that not everything you see or read is real, and there is a lot of faked footage out there.
I have found that Ghost Hunters (TV show) has been more reliable and always sought to debunk hauntings rather than hype up and exaggerate everything. I knew that this author was a part of that show, although I am much more familiar with the OG cast. So, with that in mind and after reading the book blurb on Netgalley, I knew I really wanted to read this one.
I was not familiar with the location where most of this book takes place. But honestly, after reading about this place from the author's experiences, I do not want to ever visit the House of Wills!
It takes a lot for a book to scare me. In all of my reading, there have maybe been 2 or 3 books that have scared me (made me actually lose sleep, be afraid of things in the dark and/or have nightmares). This is now one of those books.
I am confident that knowing this is a true story made this much more scary for me. And, the author's writing really drew me into that building. His descriptions and emotions made me feel like I was there, experiencing terrifying footsteps, bodiless conversations, dark moving masses, and even possible possessions. Not to mention the things that happened after he left that location!
The last 25%, which was about long after the paranormal investigation, did get a little muddled for me. He did briefly write about a heart-wrenching, devastating personal loss that was very brave to share. But outside of that,he kept switching from inspirational words for fellow ghost hunters to present day life to whether or not he would return to the House of Wills and back again. That all got a bit repetitive and wasn't as clearly defined as the rest of the story. More like random thoughts or journal entries. I think if that was edited a little better, this would easily be a 5 star read. 4⭐️
I would like to thank Netgalley, Llewellyn publishing and the author, Daryl Marston, for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced ebook copy of this book.
I have found that Ghost Hunters (TV show) has been more reliable and always sought to debunk hauntings rather than hype up and exaggerate everything. I knew that this author was a part of that show, although I am much more familiar with the OG cast. So, with that in mind and after reading the book blurb on Netgalley, I knew I really wanted to read this one.
I was not familiar with the location where most of this book takes place. But honestly, after reading about this place from the author's experiences, I do not want to ever visit the House of Wills!
It takes a lot for a book to scare me. In all of my reading, there have maybe been 2 or 3 books that have scared me (made me actually lose sleep, be afraid of things in the dark and/or have nightmares). This is now one of those books.
I am confident that knowing this is a true story made this much more scary for me. And, the author's writing really drew me into that building. His descriptions and emotions made me feel like I was there, experiencing terrifying footsteps, bodiless conversations, dark moving masses, and even possible possessions. Not to mention the things that happened after he left that location!
The last 25%, which was about long after the paranormal investigation, did get a little muddled for me. He did briefly write about a heart-wrenching, devastating personal loss that was very brave to share. But outside of that,he kept switching from inspirational words for fellow ghost hunters to present day life to whether or not he would return to the House of Wills and back again. That all got a bit repetitive and wasn't as clearly defined as the rest of the story. More like random thoughts or journal entries. I think if that was edited a little better, this would easily be a 5 star read. 4⭐️
I would like to thank Netgalley, Llewellyn publishing and the author, Daryl Marston, for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced ebook copy of this book.
August 8, 2023
I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. Well since Halloween is right around the corner I have been getting out spooky novels to read.
This novel is a short read, just took me a few hours to read. I have never heard of the author before (I do not have cable tv etc) apparently he has been on ghost shows etc.
I did find the story interesting and it is creepy in parts (so you might not want to read it before you go to bed like I did ha). I personally have had so many experiences with the paranormal. I am a born again Christian so a lot of the things he mentioned in the book I found myself rolling my eyes like using sage to cleanse the house and oneself. Yeah that does not work. The thing with me is that I do not go out to find and talk to spirits they would always just show themselves to me and I have never ever tried to communicate with them. I go accordingly to what the Bible says. Demons can disguise themselves as whatever they wont. I will say that the main reason that place is haunted like it is it because of the satanic stuff and rituals they have been doing and are still doing. I think that when you dabble in the supernatural you have to be so careful and even more so when you are not a saved Christian. The Bible talks all about demons and being possessed by them for those who are not saved. All demons in the name of Jesus have to flea that is the only thing that will work...not sage.
With that being said I enjoyed the story and it is perfect for Halloween month which is right around the corner. I think the most disturbing part of the story to me was when the author and his friends were possessed by demons. Because I mean come on you just don't black out for hours and loose hours of your time. Just let everyone out there to know to be very very careful with what you dabble in. It opens doors to you and your family and only calling on Jesus can help you.
This novel is a short read, just took me a few hours to read. I have never heard of the author before (I do not have cable tv etc) apparently he has been on ghost shows etc.
I did find the story interesting and it is creepy in parts (so you might not want to read it before you go to bed like I did ha). I personally have had so many experiences with the paranormal. I am a born again Christian so a lot of the things he mentioned in the book I found myself rolling my eyes like using sage to cleanse the house and oneself. Yeah that does not work. The thing with me is that I do not go out to find and talk to spirits they would always just show themselves to me and I have never ever tried to communicate with them. I go accordingly to what the Bible says. Demons can disguise themselves as whatever they wont. I will say that the main reason that place is haunted like it is it because of the satanic stuff and rituals they have been doing and are still doing. I think that when you dabble in the supernatural you have to be so careful and even more so when you are not a saved Christian. The Bible talks all about demons and being possessed by them for those who are not saved. All demons in the name of Jesus have to flea that is the only thing that will work...not sage.
With that being said I enjoyed the story and it is perfect for Halloween month which is right around the corner. I think the most disturbing part of the story to me was when the author and his friends were possessed by demons. Because I mean come on you just don't black out for hours and loose hours of your time. Just let everyone out there to know to be very very careful with what you dabble in. It opens doors to you and your family and only calling on Jesus can help you.
July 21, 2023
In this book, Daryl Marston, a cast member from the show "Ghost Hunters", details the most terrifying paranormal investigation he has ever experienced at what is known as "The House of Wills". Right away, this book drew me in and kept my attention, so much so, that I read it within the span of a couple of hours. He begins by explaining who he is, how he came to be at The House of Wills, and then the story unfolds from there.
The author was very detailed in describing the setting and the things he was experiencing, as well as how it was making him feel along the way. He also included photos of the various rooms to back up his descriptions of just how creepy it actually is inside. His humor and sarcastic tone at various points within the story gave it a laid-back and relatable feel. I enjoyed this aspect.
After detailing his experience with The House of Wills, he goes into talking about the paranormal community, talking about his time writing this book, as well as recounting the day he learned of the death of his son, which inevitably changed his life forever. I enjoyed getting to learn a little more about the author, though it felt a little haphazard being at the end of the book and slightly repetitive at times.
This book would appeal to those who enjoy non-fiction accounts of the paranormal and haunted houses from a professional's standpoint. I am rating this book with 4 stars because for those who enjoy books of this genre, it is one that keeps you on your toes wondering what happens next! I thoroughly enjoyed hearing about an in-depth paranormal experience in the first-person point of view, and look forward to hearing more from this author, whether it be in writing or on TV.
I want to thank Netgalley, Llewellyn publishing, and the author Daryl Marston for giving me the opportunity to read this e-book prior to release.
The author was very detailed in describing the setting and the things he was experiencing, as well as how it was making him feel along the way. He also included photos of the various rooms to back up his descriptions of just how creepy it actually is inside. His humor and sarcastic tone at various points within the story gave it a laid-back and relatable feel. I enjoyed this aspect.
After detailing his experience with The House of Wills, he goes into talking about the paranormal community, talking about his time writing this book, as well as recounting the day he learned of the death of his son, which inevitably changed his life forever. I enjoyed getting to learn a little more about the author, though it felt a little haphazard being at the end of the book and slightly repetitive at times.
This book would appeal to those who enjoy non-fiction accounts of the paranormal and haunted houses from a professional's standpoint. I am rating this book with 4 stars because for those who enjoy books of this genre, it is one that keeps you on your toes wondering what happens next! I thoroughly enjoyed hearing about an in-depth paranormal experience in the first-person point of view, and look forward to hearing more from this author, whether it be in writing or on TV.
I want to thank Netgalley, Llewellyn publishing, and the author Daryl Marston for giving me the opportunity to read this e-book prior to release.
January 5, 2025
This is supposedly a true account of a paranormal investigators exploration of a haunted house called The House of Wills in East Cleveland, Ohio. Whether or not you believe in such things with more than likely be the basis of whether you enjoy the read or not. I actually listened to the audiobook on Libby. The audiobook was well done and only about 4 hours long. I gave it three stars because the book seemed to be more of the author's thoughts/opinions on things for the most part. While the account of the investigation of the reportedly haunted house was well done, it was a very small section of the book overall.
I would have enjoyed some history about the home, it's ownership and the occurrences that led to the home supposedly being haunted. The home was at one time a funeral home. It was closed by the authorities after it was discovered that things weren't being done as they should, and I think there were some financial inconsistencies.
But just because it was a funeral home doesn't mean it would automatically be considered haunted. That usually occurs when someone dies under horrific circumstances in a place. So, 🌟🌟 🌟 is my rating as it kept my attention
I would have enjoyed some history about the home, it's ownership and the occurrences that led to the home supposedly being haunted. The home was at one time a funeral home. It was closed by the authorities after it was discovered that things weren't being done as they should, and I think there were some financial inconsistencies.
But just because it was a funeral home doesn't mean it would automatically be considered haunted. That usually occurs when someone dies under horrific circumstances in a place. So, 🌟🌟 🌟 is my rating as it kept my attention
June 8, 2024
Daryl is a paranormal investigator and in this book he shares his most terrifying investigation.
I have a huge fascination with all things paranormal, I have experienced my own things, as well as my family members and fun fact: when I was a teen wanted to be an investigator myself.
I did get chills a few times while reading the investigation part to this, Daryl is a very good story teller and the creepiness and darkness of the House of Wills could definitely be felt and it had me intrigued.
The events after the investigation were definitely in the realm of crazy though, Daryl says this himself and it is definitely is something you would think to only see in a horror movie.
I wanted more history and investigation on the House itself and I’ve ended up going off after this and googling a few things.
If you are into the paranormal, don’t let my rating sway you - please pick this up, it’s a quick read and definitely one I would love to discuss.
I have a huge fascination with all things paranormal, I have experienced my own things, as well as my family members and fun fact: when I was a teen wanted to be an investigator myself.
I did get chills a few times while reading the investigation part to this, Daryl is a very good story teller and the creepiness and darkness of the House of Wills could definitely be felt and it had me intrigued.
The events after the investigation were definitely in the realm of crazy though, Daryl says this himself and it is definitely is something you would think to only see in a horror movie.
I wanted more history and investigation on the House itself and I’ve ended up going off after this and googling a few things.
If you are into the paranormal, don’t let my rating sway you - please pick this up, it’s a quick read and definitely one I would love to discuss.
January 28, 2024
Being from Northeast Ohio myself, I have driven past the House of Wills more times than I can count and have always been curious about the building. It was fascinating to read about Daryl’s experience investigating the building, and what he experienced once he was home. I have no doubt it was a transformative time in his life. The writing itself is clumsy and he comes off as cocky and bullheaded. Maybe that is his personality in real life, I have no idea. Despite reiterating that he needed to tell his story, the story was lacking in detail. Encounters were described in a very vague fashion and I often felt like I didn’t really learn what actually happened. I would have liked to see more background information on the site, the previous owners, the current owner, etc. I did appreciate the inclusion of photos and floor plans.
November 1, 2025
The Horrors of the House of Wills by Daryl Marston - 2/5 stars.
I have extremely mixed feelings on this book. it is obvious the editing was minimal if present at all. the writing regarding the investigation and haunting elements both during and after the visit to the house in question are quite interesting. However, this book serves not just as a tale about the House of Wills, but a short biography of Daryl's career before and long after his visit here. these portions of the book are not nearly as well written and aren't very interesting either. The chapters describing elements of the haunting (only about 1/3 of the book) are the only thing elevating this to it's second star.
Buy, Borrow, Skip - definitely skip unless you have an interest in the House of Wills specifically. and even then, there's probably better material out there.
I have extremely mixed feelings on this book. it is obvious the editing was minimal if present at all. the writing regarding the investigation and haunting elements both during and after the visit to the house in question are quite interesting. However, this book serves not just as a tale about the House of Wills, but a short biography of Daryl's career before and long after his visit here. these portions of the book are not nearly as well written and aren't very interesting either. The chapters describing elements of the haunting (only about 1/3 of the book) are the only thing elevating this to it's second star.
Buy, Borrow, Skip - definitely skip unless you have an interest in the House of Wills specifically. and even then, there's probably better material out there.
September 9, 2023
Sincerely, I know that it was the most honest words and a respectful account of what happened to him. I love how he says that he doesn’t see Eric as a bad person. When Daryl has brought this place up in conversation talked about a little bit of it he got fired up. It still affects him that much and I’m sure it always will. I also know that anytime I’ve been around Daryl , he’s always been the calm one watching out for safety of others before you. Absolutely appreciated your hard work and putting your entire story on the paper.
As an investigator myself I love how he touches about judgement and knowing when to bow out.
The book was an easy read and I appreciated how he addressed the location with the utmost respect yet use facts.
As an investigator myself I love how he touches about judgement and knowing when to bow out.
The book was an easy read and I appreciated how he addressed the location with the utmost respect yet use facts.
July 31, 2023
First I have never heard of the House of Wills, so I was interested to know what was so scary about it. Mr. Marston being a first time writer told his firsthand account of what happened to him after his visit but the book kept bouncing back and forth as to whether he would ever go back again or not. I am not sure that I believe in "spirits" or locations being "haunted" but I am not going to say for sure they don't exist.
It takes a lot for a book to scare me or keep me up at night and this one just didn't do it. It needed better editing in my opinion to make a more continuous flow of the story.
I was given an eARC of this book through Netgalley.
It takes a lot for a book to scare me or keep me up at night and this one just didn't do it. It needed better editing in my opinion to make a more continuous flow of the story.
I was given an eARC of this book through Netgalley.
October 4, 2024
A must read for Paranormal enthusiasts.
Honestly I had to read it during the day. One night I was reading before bed and I almost had to sleep with a light on because I got spooked. His perspective on the levels of entities haunting the House of Wills was very interesting. Now I think twice about bringing home hitchhikers when going home after investigating a haunted place, i will definitely be more cautious and mindful. I will recommend this book to everybody! Thank you Dave Schrader for having him on Paranormal60 so I could find his book.
Honestly I had to read it during the day. One night I was reading before bed and I almost had to sleep with a light on because I got spooked. His perspective on the levels of entities haunting the House of Wills was very interesting. Now I think twice about bringing home hitchhikers when going home after investigating a haunted place, i will definitely be more cautious and mindful. I will recommend this book to everybody! Thank you Dave Schrader for having him on Paranormal60 so I could find his book.
October 7, 2025
The author pulls you deep into the eerie atmosphere of the infamous House of Wills, capturing every unsettling sound, shadow, and cold breath of fear that lingers within its walls. It’s both a ghost story and a personal journey—raw, unnerving, and impossible to shake off once you start.
If you love true hauntings or tales that make you question what’s real, this one will stay with you long after the final page. A gripping and deeply creepy read that delivers genuine chills.
If you love true hauntings or tales that make you question what’s real, this one will stay with you long after the final page. A gripping and deeply creepy read that delivers genuine chills.
October 29, 2023
I'm always a bit skeptic even if I'm a fan of ghost hunter shows and love ghost stories. This book kept me reading and I found it creepy and gripping.
It could be the plot of an excellent horror novel as the author is a good storyteller
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
It could be the plot of an excellent horror novel as the author is a good storyteller
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
November 4, 2023
Could barely put this book down!
I'm not a huge fan of the paranormal....in fact, I want nothing to do with it. As a resident of a west side Cleveland suburb, I have had a few occasions to drive by this building...it is hard to miss. It is a strange place, and long before I was aware of this book, it looked to me like a place to be avoided. Now I'm convinced!
I'm not a huge fan of the paranormal....in fact, I want nothing to do with it. As a resident of a west side Cleveland suburb, I have had a few occasions to drive by this building...it is hard to miss. It is a strange place, and long before I was aware of this book, it looked to me like a place to be avoided. Now I'm convinced!
July 29, 2023
"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."
Somehow this book feels like watching ghost hunter type TV show. I found it to be too slow with too many details for my liking. It just wasn't for me.
Somehow this book feels like watching ghost hunter type TV show. I found it to be too slow with too many details for my liking. It just wasn't for me.
July 3, 2024
Interesting read that didn’t feel entirely non-fiction, so it had my attention for sure. My first time reading something like this, but it made me keep an open mind throughout reading. Already interested in the show/episode to follow and to see what it entails!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 12, 2025
This is the true account of the author's journey into the House of Wills and other paranormal hunts. The House of Wills located in Cleveland, Ohio was a place that affected his life for years after his ghost hunt, his family life and his paranormal jobs. I definitely recommend it.
January 9, 2024
I did find what was written interesting but did find it to be a little dry at times. Which kept it interesting.
March 7, 2024
Solid campfire ghost story. Honestly, I lost interest at the end once the spooky stuff was done; but bonus points for being a true story and based in Cleveland!
March 24, 2024
I couldn’t put the book down. Took me a day to read it. Seeing his experience and what happened it was chilling. Loved the book
May 1, 2024
what was this!?!?! too much talking not enough haunting smh
September 17, 2025
“There’s an alpha ghost who sent a lower ranking ghost to scare us out of the house after the upper middle class ghosts complained”
oh ok sure
oh ok sure
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