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Ghost Hunting: True Stories of Unexplained Phenomena from The Atlantic Paranormal Society
The Atlantic Paranormal Society, also known as T.A.P.S., is the brainchild of two plumbers by day, paranormal investigators by night: Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson. Their hair-raising investigations, fueled by their unique abilities and a healthy dose of scientific method, have made them the subject of a hit TV show: the SCI FI Channel's Ghost Hunters.
Now their experiences are in print for the first time, as Jason and Grant recount for us, with the help of veteran author Michael Jan Friedman, the stories of some of their most memorable investigations. The men and women of T.A.P.S. pursue ghosts and other supernatural phenomena with the most sophisticated scientific equipment available -- from thermal-imaging cameras to electromagnetic-field recorders to digital thermometers -- and the results may surprise you. Featuring both cases depicted on Ghost Hunters and earlier T.A.P.S. adventures never told before now, this funny, fascinating, frightening collection will challenge everything you thought you knew about the spirit world.
288 pages, Paperback
First published October 2, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 208 reviews
March 21, 2012
This book has been thrust upon me by a friend who keeps asking what I thought of it so I'd better get going. I like the show, even though it's pretty repetitive and they never seem to find hardcore evidence but I've experienced some weird things myself that others have missed even when in the same freaking room so I buy it.
So far it's interesting. It goes into the backstories of the regulars on the show and gives insight into why they do what they do. I nearly took a Reiki class once and after reading this am thankful I never followed through. I see and hear enough "weird" shit on my own, I don't need it enhanced!
It took me about a month to read this because I'd only read a few cases (which were usually no more than 3 pages) at a go and then move on to my current review book. If I read too many in a row it started to get repetitive (kind of like the show) and I'd find myself growing bored. The cases were mostly ho-hum in the beginning but towards the end of the book they became increasingly interesting as they toured the hotel that inspired King's "The Shining", the mansion that started out as a small farmhouse that I believe inspired "Rose Red" where the crazy owner spent the good part of her life having crews build rooms and staircases that went nowhere and then there was the funny account of the crew getting accosted by bats and Jason's part in making sure everyone shared in the fun.
Jason wrote the bulk of the book with only small snippets added in from Grant and they write very much as they behave on the show. Jason is matter of fact and a bit of a stern, tough guy with a penchant for practical jokes, while Grant seems easier going. You get a little insight into them as people but not a whole heck of a lot. The book is mostly an account of how they go about debunking claims and such.
I found it amusing that they include a glossary at the end that includes the definitions of "ghost", "exorcism", "paranormal" and "hauntings" and that their safety advice for new ghosthunters is to do a walk-through of the building before turning out the lights. I'm guessing they've met some folks with zero common sense but come to think of it so have I . . .
So far it's interesting. It goes into the backstories of the regulars on the show and gives insight into why they do what they do. I nearly took a Reiki class once and after reading this am thankful I never followed through. I see and hear enough "weird" shit on my own, I don't need it enhanced!
It took me about a month to read this because I'd only read a few cases (which were usually no more than 3 pages) at a go and then move on to my current review book. If I read too many in a row it started to get repetitive (kind of like the show) and I'd find myself growing bored. The cases were mostly ho-hum in the beginning but towards the end of the book they became increasingly interesting as they toured the hotel that inspired King's "The Shining", the mansion that started out as a small farmhouse that I believe inspired "Rose Red" where the crazy owner spent the good part of her life having crews build rooms and staircases that went nowhere and then there was the funny account of the crew getting accosted by bats and Jason's part in making sure everyone shared in the fun.
Jason wrote the bulk of the book with only small snippets added in from Grant and they write very much as they behave on the show. Jason is matter of fact and a bit of a stern, tough guy with a penchant for practical jokes, while Grant seems easier going. You get a little insight into them as people but not a whole heck of a lot. The book is mostly an account of how they go about debunking claims and such.
I found it amusing that they include a glossary at the end that includes the definitions of "ghost", "exorcism", "paranormal" and "hauntings" and that their safety advice for new ghosthunters is to do a walk-through of the building before turning out the lights. I'm guessing they've met some folks with zero common sense but come to think of it so have I . . .
February 11, 2016
Always try to find a natural explanation before accepting a paranormal one. Let's face it: paranormal occurrences are rare. Most of the time--eighty percent, in our experience--what seems like a ghostly voice is only a cranky waste pipe. Whether you're observing phenomena firsthand or analyzing them afterward, you have to be careful of matrixing.[Reviewer's note: Matrixing is the paranormal research term for the mind's filling in the blanks in a pattern to make a sensible picture.] The human mind is a helpful organ. If you let it, it will show you exactly what you want to see--as opposed to what's actually there.
TL;DR: Book is boring and slipshod. Get your nonfiction spooky somewhere else.
Full review: This was supposed to be my nonfiction read during my October ghost and haunting spree. Unfortunately the library was unable to get it to me until mid-November. I've never seen the show Ghost Hunters, from which many of these cases are taken; I just thought the book looked interesting. If there had been evidence that the authors actually followed the above advice (which is from the ghost hunter's manual in the back of the book) I would have given this at least one more star. (Even though I would have to note that if one fifth of all hauntings were genuine, we would have proof of life after death by now.)
Two plumbers with an interest in the paranormal form The Atlantic Paranormal Society (T.A.P.S.) to investigate hauntings, vowing to apply scientific principles to the task rather than just accepting wil-nil emotion as evidence of the paranormal, like other ghost hunters. Unfortunately, while they do 'debunk' some instances of haunting (often finding pipes banging - have your plumbing checked if you are experiencing weird noises in your home), they do not follow through on the science piece beyond looking for obvious environmental causes of unexpected noises, mysterious opening doors, weird lights, and moving objects.
I was mainly reading this for interesting stories and some idea what the real life ghost hunting business is like. I got the latter, but the stories, which are sort of a casebook for the show, move from answering private calls on hauntings to being invited to visit famous haunted sites, such as Winchester House and the Stanley Hotel. This is incredibly boring, especially when the team's interpersonal issues become the focus. (If I want to hear about HR problems, I can always just go to my own workplace, you know.) Also, I wasn't really inclined to pick apart their facts, but they make such a big deal about science and then ignore science so completely that I couldn't help myself. Here, in no particular order, are some of the assertions the authors make as simple fact with no background explanation given whatsoever:
Spirits need energy to manifest themselves and they'll take it from anywhere they can find it. In this case, it seemed to come from our camera battery. Say what? No research or background is given for this statement; it is just asserted as fact.
Dealing with the occult is a nasty business. The key is to remember that malevolent spirits don't just show up in a house--they're invited by something one of the residents did. Um, citations? Research? Anything? (This is actually straight out of a modern collision of the nineteenth century Spiritualism movement and pseudo-Christian beliefs; it is definitely not science.)
One thing to remember about residual hauntings is that they pose no danger to the observer. The entities aren't aware that anyone is watching them. They just go about their business. An intelligent haunting, on the other hand, is the result of entities that are aware of their surroundings and can freely move around. No explanation of how we know this.
It was about 3:30 a.m. That's the time, worldwide, when the most paranormal activity is reported. I've heard that rumor, only when I heard it is was 3 a.m. that was supposed to be the witching hour. Again, I'd really love to know how you know this.
An interesting footnote was Brian's discovery that the hotel was built on a mountain full of quartz, a situation that is believed to facilitate residual hauntings. The energy captured by quartz gets released when the conditions are right, allowing spirits to manifest themselves. I had to read that sentence several times in disbelief. I am not a scientist, but I am a rock hound. From our friend Wikipedia: "Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in the Earth's continental crust, after feldspar." Veins of quartz can almost be found around here by stepping out of your vehicle in the mountains and throwing a rock. If quartz were the problem at the Stanley Hotel, every hotel in Colorado would be haunted to the hilt, as every single mountain we have in this state is full to bursting with quartz.
Finally, a few regarding religion, which I will spoiler tag as this review is already way longer than I ever intended it to be:
Long story short, not a good book. Avoid. (If you want something touching on these issues, but better written, American Ghost: A Family's Haunted Past in the Desert Southwest was an OK read. It's not really ghost hunting, but she does visit several paranormal professionals in her search and gives some interesting history on Spiritualism. I haven't got anything else comparable on tap right now; will update if I find something.)
TL;DR: Book is boring and slipshod. Get your nonfiction spooky somewhere else.
Full review: This was supposed to be my nonfiction read during my October ghost and haunting spree. Unfortunately the library was unable to get it to me until mid-November. I've never seen the show Ghost Hunters, from which many of these cases are taken; I just thought the book looked interesting. If there had been evidence that the authors actually followed the above advice (which is from the ghost hunter's manual in the back of the book) I would have given this at least one more star. (Even though I would have to note that if one fifth of all hauntings were genuine, we would have proof of life after death by now.)
Two plumbers with an interest in the paranormal form The Atlantic Paranormal Society (T.A.P.S.) to investigate hauntings, vowing to apply scientific principles to the task rather than just accepting wil-nil emotion as evidence of the paranormal, like other ghost hunters. Unfortunately, while they do 'debunk' some instances of haunting (often finding pipes banging - have your plumbing checked if you are experiencing weird noises in your home), they do not follow through on the science piece beyond looking for obvious environmental causes of unexpected noises, mysterious opening doors, weird lights, and moving objects.
I was mainly reading this for interesting stories and some idea what the real life ghost hunting business is like. I got the latter, but the stories, which are sort of a casebook for the show, move from answering private calls on hauntings to being invited to visit famous haunted sites, such as Winchester House and the Stanley Hotel. This is incredibly boring, especially when the team's interpersonal issues become the focus. (If I want to hear about HR problems, I can always just go to my own workplace, you know.) Also, I wasn't really inclined to pick apart their facts, but they make such a big deal about science and then ignore science so completely that I couldn't help myself. Here, in no particular order, are some of the assertions the authors make as simple fact with no background explanation given whatsoever:
Spirits need energy to manifest themselves and they'll take it from anywhere they can find it. In this case, it seemed to come from our camera battery. Say what? No research or background is given for this statement; it is just asserted as fact.
Dealing with the occult is a nasty business. The key is to remember that malevolent spirits don't just show up in a house--they're invited by something one of the residents did. Um, citations? Research? Anything? (This is actually straight out of a modern collision of the nineteenth century Spiritualism movement and pseudo-Christian beliefs; it is definitely not science.)
One thing to remember about residual hauntings is that they pose no danger to the observer. The entities aren't aware that anyone is watching them. They just go about their business. An intelligent haunting, on the other hand, is the result of entities that are aware of their surroundings and can freely move around. No explanation of how we know this.
It was about 3:30 a.m. That's the time, worldwide, when the most paranormal activity is reported. I've heard that rumor, only when I heard it is was 3 a.m. that was supposed to be the witching hour. Again, I'd really love to know how you know this.
An interesting footnote was Brian's discovery that the hotel was built on a mountain full of quartz, a situation that is believed to facilitate residual hauntings. The energy captured by quartz gets released when the conditions are right, allowing spirits to manifest themselves. I had to read that sentence several times in disbelief. I am not a scientist, but I am a rock hound. From our friend Wikipedia: "Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in the Earth's continental crust, after feldspar." Veins of quartz can almost be found around here by stepping out of your vehicle in the mountains and throwing a rock. If quartz were the problem at the Stanley Hotel, every hotel in Colorado would be haunted to the hilt, as every single mountain we have in this state is full to bursting with quartz.
Finally, a few regarding religion, which I will spoiler tag as this review is already way longer than I ever intended it to be:
Long story short, not a good book. Avoid. (If you want something touching on these issues, but better written, American Ghost: A Family's Haunted Past in the Desert Southwest was an OK read. It's not really ghost hunting, but she does visit several paranormal professionals in her search and gives some interesting history on Spiritualism. I haven't got anything else comparable on tap right now; will update if I find something.)
May 26, 2021
'The Atlantic Paranormal Society, also known as T.A.P.S., is the brainchild of two plumbers by day, paranormal investigators by night: Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson. Their hair-raising investigations, fueled by their unique abilities and a healthy dose of scientific method, have made them the subject of a hit TV show: the SCI FI Channel's Ghost Hunters.
Now their experiences are in print for the first time, as Jason and Grant recount for us, with the help of veteran author Michael Jan Friedman, the stories of some of their most memorable investigations. The men and women of T.A.P.S. pursue ghosts and other supernatural phenomena with the most sophisticated scientific equipment available -- from thermal-imaging cameras to electromagnetic-field recorders to digital thermometers -- and the results may surprise you. Featuring both cases depicted on Ghost Hunters and earlier T.A.P.S. adventures never told before now, this funny, fascinating, frightening collection will challenge everything you thought you knew about the spirit world.'
_______________________________
Ghost Hunting by Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson, founders of T.A.P.S., with Michael Jan Friedman is a form of case journal, detailing some of their early investigations through their first years investigating on thier Sci-fi television show and how their team evolved over that time.
I loved watching this show back when it was on Syfy and I still occasionally watch the new incarnations of the show that are on now. And this book largely follows some of their biggest cases from the show. I really enjoyed hearing about these cases that I had seen on the show and get the opportunity to hear their personal view on what happened during that case.
Something that I didn't enjoy as much was the amount of drama included. A lot of this book felt like it was following a theme of "yet another reason why Brian is just the absolute worst." I barely even remember this guy having been a part of their team on the show. It felt like Jason seemingly just really needed to let this guy know that he thinks he's an okay guy but he won't hesitate to punch him in the face and let him know that he ain't shit if he so much as breathes wrong. By amount the 15th story of him screwing up or annoying them in some way and they were thinking of getting rid of him it was just like I GET IT, let's move on already. The stories that largely focused on the paranormal investigations I found very interesting though. I really love their philosophy of you've only found something if you can't recreate it or disprove it. But I'll admit, when it comes to cases involving demons or Ouija, or other typically negative paranormal occurances, they lean in a very Christian-centric direction that doesn't folliw that same fact and evidence based scientific approach that they strive for.
It's a bit generous to say that Jason and Grant co-wrote this book, it's more accurate to say that Jason wrote the book and Grant added a tiny blurb at the end of each chapter. In their other book, Seeking Spirits Jason and Grant switched off writing each chapter so we heard a fairly even number of chapters from both of them, but in this book every chapter is written by Jason and Grant merely adds a little blurb to the end of each chapter(some as short as a sentence or two and others perhaps a couple pargraphs) but that is all he appears to have contributed.
I didn't find Ghost Hunting to be as strong as their other book, Seeking Spirits. The paranormal was still the main focus of the book, but I felt like there was too much personal drama from the team included. This book also doesn't include the same tips and how-tos to paranormal investigation for people hoping to try it for themselves, so this book is much more just for people who were fans of the show.
Now their experiences are in print for the first time, as Jason and Grant recount for us, with the help of veteran author Michael Jan Friedman, the stories of some of their most memorable investigations. The men and women of T.A.P.S. pursue ghosts and other supernatural phenomena with the most sophisticated scientific equipment available -- from thermal-imaging cameras to electromagnetic-field recorders to digital thermometers -- and the results may surprise you. Featuring both cases depicted on Ghost Hunters and earlier T.A.P.S. adventures never told before now, this funny, fascinating, frightening collection will challenge everything you thought you knew about the spirit world.'
_______________________________
Ghost Hunting by Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson, founders of T.A.P.S., with Michael Jan Friedman is a form of case journal, detailing some of their early investigations through their first years investigating on thier Sci-fi television show and how their team evolved over that time.
I loved watching this show back when it was on Syfy and I still occasionally watch the new incarnations of the show that are on now. And this book largely follows some of their biggest cases from the show. I really enjoyed hearing about these cases that I had seen on the show and get the opportunity to hear their personal view on what happened during that case.
Something that I didn't enjoy as much was the amount of drama included. A lot of this book felt like it was following a theme of "yet another reason why Brian is just the absolute worst." I barely even remember this guy having been a part of their team on the show. It felt like Jason seemingly just really needed to let this guy know that he thinks he's an okay guy but he won't hesitate to punch him in the face and let him know that he ain't shit if he so much as breathes wrong. By amount the 15th story of him screwing up or annoying them in some way and they were thinking of getting rid of him it was just like I GET IT, let's move on already. The stories that largely focused on the paranormal investigations I found very interesting though. I really love their philosophy of you've only found something if you can't recreate it or disprove it. But I'll admit, when it comes to cases involving demons or Ouija, or other typically negative paranormal occurances, they lean in a very Christian-centric direction that doesn't folliw that same fact and evidence based scientific approach that they strive for.
It's a bit generous to say that Jason and Grant co-wrote this book, it's more accurate to say that Jason wrote the book and Grant added a tiny blurb at the end of each chapter. In their other book, Seeking Spirits Jason and Grant switched off writing each chapter so we heard a fairly even number of chapters from both of them, but in this book every chapter is written by Jason and Grant merely adds a little blurb to the end of each chapter(some as short as a sentence or two and others perhaps a couple pargraphs) but that is all he appears to have contributed.
I didn't find Ghost Hunting to be as strong as their other book, Seeking Spirits. The paranormal was still the main focus of the book, but I felt like there was too much personal drama from the team included. This book also doesn't include the same tips and how-tos to paranormal investigation for people hoping to try it for themselves, so this book is much more just for people who were fans of the show.
October 10, 2015
"Ghost Hunting" can almost be described as written summaries of several investigations from the TV series. Any fan searching for new material will probably be disappointed, although there are commentaries and anecdotes providing some insight to the "behind-the-scenes" aspects of the covered investigations, and the thoughts and feelings of Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson. Several of the pictures are interesting as well. For a fan of Ghost Hunters insistent on owning all memorabilia or seeking more detail regarding their investigations, this may be for you.
October 17, 2007
I couldn't help myself. Once I'd heard that Jason and Grant had written a book about their experiences pre-Ghost Hunters and beyond, I was beyond excited.
The first half of the book is intriguing. There are backstories for all the regulars on the show (I didn't know that Steve was a police officer!) and some neat tidbits about the cofounders, themselves (Jason swears by green olives to chase away the "dead people").
After the introductions, there is a chapter devoted to each investigation. The pre-Ghost Hunters cases are fascinating!
Sadly, the last half of the book is rather bland if you're a fan of the show. All of the cases are recaps of what was already seen on television - although there are a few tidbits here and there of things that we didn't see due to editing.
Overall, it was a very intersting read and I'm glad I didn't wait to see if I was going to get it for my birthday. In this case, being the Queen of Instant Gratification was very gratifying.
The first half of the book is intriguing. There are backstories for all the regulars on the show (I didn't know that Steve was a police officer!) and some neat tidbits about the cofounders, themselves (Jason swears by green olives to chase away the "dead people").
After the introductions, there is a chapter devoted to each investigation. The pre-Ghost Hunters cases are fascinating!
Sadly, the last half of the book is rather bland if you're a fan of the show. All of the cases are recaps of what was already seen on television - although there are a few tidbits here and there of things that we didn't see due to editing.
Overall, it was a very intersting read and I'm glad I didn't wait to see if I was going to get it for my birthday. In this case, being the Queen of Instant Gratification was very gratifying.
September 28, 2022
This is a collection of stories from past investigations for Jason and Grant of Ghost Hunters fame. A lot of these stories I remember from their show; especially the earlier seasons! It was nice getting an inside look or behind the scenes as you would of the guys' process and thinking when they're in the field.
October 6, 2024
This is an entertaining and relatively balanced memoir of paranormal research by an apparently earnest and committed investigator. I am no believer in ghosts, souls, etc. and this did not change my mind while I can say if I had the experiences reported by the authors, maybe I would change my mind. Possibly just the printed word and the few photographs here are not as convincing as certainly live experience and maybe even video. (This book comes between Ghost Hunters second season and the third.
I enjoyed the telling of building up the The Atlantic Paranormal Society including associate relationships and personnel issues. Probably most, I enjoyed this history and site-specific legends. While most cases are covered in two or three pages, the most interesting ones tend to be longer and include for me:
* Al Capone's Eastern State Penitentiary home where he was apparently haunted by a victim of the St. Valentine's Day Massacre
* The Myrtles Plantation historic home and former antebellum plantation in St. Francisville, Louisiana, apparently one of the most haunted places in America
* The USS Carolina which apparently panned out for paranormal activity.
* The Winchester house which apparently did not pan out in the reported investigation.
* The 1997 TV miniseries The Shining was filmed at the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, and that location is apparently rich in spooky supernatural happenings.
* It looks like they also here visited "The Conjuring House" researched by Skeptical Inquirer. This found them following up on the less scientific "sensitives" The Warrens with a Warrens nephew.
Indeed, Hawes and co-author Grant Wilson promote a consistent, scientific approach and bemoan the lack of respect for such efforts. As an atheist, I find the team clergyman able to end hauntings with blessings or such as placing their view of these events into a Christian mythology which rather undercuts that. They do reveal natural (even dishonest) causes to some of the cases. Also, they have little respect for "orbs" as being optical effects and I have to agree with the prosaic source of such bokeh .
For technology they seem to rely on EMF measurement systems for electromagnetic fields, thermal imaging, and audio devices for EVP (electronic voice phenomena). But are they just interpreting noise?
I enjoyed the telling of building up the The Atlantic Paranormal Society including associate relationships and personnel issues. Probably most, I enjoyed this history and site-specific legends. While most cases are covered in two or three pages, the most interesting ones tend to be longer and include for me:
* Al Capone's Eastern State Penitentiary home where he was apparently haunted by a victim of the St. Valentine's Day Massacre
* The Myrtles Plantation historic home and former antebellum plantation in St. Francisville, Louisiana, apparently one of the most haunted places in America
* The USS Carolina which apparently panned out for paranormal activity.
* The Winchester house which apparently did not pan out in the reported investigation.
* The 1997 TV miniseries The Shining was filmed at the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, and that location is apparently rich in spooky supernatural happenings.
* It looks like they also here visited "The Conjuring House" researched by Skeptical Inquirer. This found them following up on the less scientific "sensitives" The Warrens with a Warrens nephew.
Indeed, Hawes and co-author Grant Wilson promote a consistent, scientific approach and bemoan the lack of respect for such efforts. As an atheist, I find the team clergyman able to end hauntings with blessings or such as placing their view of these events into a Christian mythology which rather undercuts that. They do reveal natural (even dishonest) causes to some of the cases. Also, they have little respect for "orbs" as being optical effects and I have to agree with the prosaic source of such bokeh .
For technology they seem to rely on EMF measurement systems for electromagnetic fields, thermal imaging, and audio devices for EVP (electronic voice phenomena). But are they just interpreting noise?
February 26, 2017
This was an interesting read considering that I have watched the series "Ghost Hunters" for a few years now. It basically covers the early years of the show and by reading the book, it kind of refreshed my memories of when I had watched the show. A few of the stories I don't quite remember, but I probably missed them. Some of the stories were a little creepy, but nothing major. Three stars for this book.
July 15, 2023
Ghost hunting shows are kind of my guilty pleasure, for the lack of a better term. I don't even believe in ghosts, but I'm obsessed with those shows. I thought that this book would be right up my alley. A few parts were. However, a lot of it was just shit talking people they worked with and the toxic working environment. They call themselves a fraternity in the literal sense at one point, and I think they embody what a fraternity is both literally and stereotypically.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 30, 2019
My fave team! They’ve explored some really cool places and I was happy to see those included in the book, especially the Saint Augustine lighthouse and the Stanley Hotel. I have also stayed at the Stanley and can without a doubt tell you that it is haunted. My ex-boyfriend and I definitely encountered some activity that was really cool and I will share that in my review to come.
October 19, 2008
A fun read!
Die-hard fans of the show may be a little bummed about some stuff, though: First, I would have loved to hear a little more about the cast/TAPS members as people... the full stories behind their motivation to hunt ghosts, their phobias, etc. I can totally understand that they want the focus to be more on what they do as opposed to who they are (I respect them very much for wanting to remain professional instead of becoming celebrities), but that understanding still didn't stop me from wanting to hear more. So, I guess, kudos to them for not giving into people like me! :) Secondly, if you're a big fan, you may also get a little irked by the rehashing of what an EVP is, what a thermal camera does, etc. Finally, I would have loved to hear even more detail about each investigation. If you are someone who gets mad that the show is only an hour long, you will be pretty ticked that most chapters/investigations in the book are about three pages long.
However, the great stuff far outweighed the slightly annoying. Readers who are not big followers of the show will probably like the bite-size chapters for a quick case of the willies, and readers who have been watching for a long time will like that there are quite a few cases in the book that we haven't seen on TV. Some cases were genuinely creepy, and some of the pranks the TAPS members pulled on each other had me laughing out loud. Good stuff.
Die-hard fans of the show may be a little bummed about some stuff, though: First, I would have loved to hear a little more about the cast/TAPS members as people... the full stories behind their motivation to hunt ghosts, their phobias, etc. I can totally understand that they want the focus to be more on what they do as opposed to who they are (I respect them very much for wanting to remain professional instead of becoming celebrities), but that understanding still didn't stop me from wanting to hear more. So, I guess, kudos to them for not giving into people like me! :) Secondly, if you're a big fan, you may also get a little irked by the rehashing of what an EVP is, what a thermal camera does, etc. Finally, I would have loved to hear even more detail about each investigation. If you are someone who gets mad that the show is only an hour long, you will be pretty ticked that most chapters/investigations in the book are about three pages long.
However, the great stuff far outweighed the slightly annoying. Readers who are not big followers of the show will probably like the bite-size chapters for a quick case of the willies, and readers who have been watching for a long time will like that there are quite a few cases in the book that we haven't seen on TV. Some cases were genuinely creepy, and some of the pranks the TAPS members pulled on each other had me laughing out loud. Good stuff.
February 25, 2011
A very intereting insight into how one of the most respected & ground breaking teams of paranormal investigators came to be. This volume charts some of their more memorable investigations, from the very early days (before the cameras followed them around...) to more recent stake outs... there are insights into how Jason Hawes & Grand Wilson came to be interested in the paranormal, & how they have built their team & established a work ethic which is arguably the bench mark in paranormal investigations. The shared experiences add to our insight, & the learning curve of these pioneers in a area of scientific research that is difficult to quantify or find proof for, is evident...
Jason Hawes is honest & simple in the way he describes his own personal experiences & reactions to both paranormal & personal situations. Grant Wilson writes a sort of "footnote" to each chapter, & it's interesting to see the very different viewpoints of two men who are clearly very in tune. These guys set the tone for the whole team & it shows in the professionalism of the 'Ghost Hunters' TV Series.
Whether you're a fan of the TV series, or whether you're just curious about what ghost hunting is all about, what kinds of experiences are almost common place & how you can start paranormal research yourself... it's a great read, & enlightening at the same time! I only wish there was a volume 2 available already...
Jason Hawes is honest & simple in the way he describes his own personal experiences & reactions to both paranormal & personal situations. Grant Wilson writes a sort of "footnote" to each chapter, & it's interesting to see the very different viewpoints of two men who are clearly very in tune. These guys set the tone for the whole team & it shows in the professionalism of the 'Ghost Hunters' TV Series.
Whether you're a fan of the TV series, or whether you're just curious about what ghost hunting is all about, what kinds of experiences are almost common place & how you can start paranormal research yourself... it's a great read, & enlightening at the same time! I only wish there was a volume 2 available already...
August 16, 2017
I gotta start out by saying that I am a big paranormal and ghost hunting TV show fan, and Jason Hawes is the host of the original, the first and I think the longest running. So I had to read his books! This particular paranormal perusal was really interesting, was an easily digestible read of some of "Ghost Hunter's" Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson's very earliest cases. Included are stories such as how they met, some behind the scenes, and a lot of cases that were investigated before their very popular Syfy TV series premiered, that has only just ended this year, making it quite relevant.
I have memories of watching episodes of the show with my friend, Rob, as we really enjoyed watching the series a great deal, and I think we may have watched every episode together at one time or another...! In the first season though, we would have an exceptional good time vilifying Brian Harnois, one investigator, who was an absolute no mind in our minds, at least we had such a hoot hollering him down every episode...! He would get caught lying or be yakking with his girlfriend, he was just silly! I always had a bit of a crush on Steve, and the crew sometimes played pranks; it was a fun show. I will miss it. It make the book sentimental and bittersweet.
PS On a few occasions, one of YA's awesome authors, Jodi Picoult, their friend, join them for ghost hunting herself!!! Who would have expected THAT??!! Go JODI!!
I have memories of watching episodes of the show with my friend, Rob, as we really enjoyed watching the series a great deal, and I think we may have watched every episode together at one time or another...! In the first season though, we would have an exceptional good time vilifying Brian Harnois, one investigator, who was an absolute no mind in our minds, at least we had such a hoot hollering him down every episode...! He would get caught lying or be yakking with his girlfriend, he was just silly! I always had a bit of a crush on Steve, and the crew sometimes played pranks; it was a fun show. I will miss it. It make the book sentimental and bittersweet.
PS On a few occasions, one of YA's awesome authors, Jodi Picoult, their friend, join them for ghost hunting herself!!! Who would have expected THAT??!! Go JODI!!
December 29, 2018
No one in my family will watch ghost story shows with me, and since I rarely take control of the remote that means I've never seen Ghost Hunters. Besides, I'd rather read ghost stories than see them on TV. I had big hopes for this book!
The first few pages are an introduction to the author's background and belief. It's worth skipping. The actual stories are about 3-4 pages long. I read it in two sittings. The details of each story seem to be very sparse. It's clear that only the highlights are given, and for some reason the hunters seem to leave right when the evidence starts coming in. It reads something like this:
After 4 hours of us sitting there bad-mouthing one of our team members, the lights started flickering. We asked the ghost to reveal himself, and a white mist passed through the room. A few minutes later, I called the team off and we went back to the hotel to watch the tapes.
There's a ridiculous amount of white noise in these stories. The byline on the cover states that this is a book of "True Stories of Unexplained Phenomena" but there are several cases where the team declared the "haunting" was a result of a hoax, bad plumbing, or a creaky floor. Who wants to read about those cases? Also, much time is spent describing the author's hiring and firing decisions. Ho hum.
This was mildly entertaining, but I'm still in search of a good ghost story book.
The first few pages are an introduction to the author's background and belief. It's worth skipping. The actual stories are about 3-4 pages long. I read it in two sittings. The details of each story seem to be very sparse. It's clear that only the highlights are given, and for some reason the hunters seem to leave right when the evidence starts coming in. It reads something like this:
After 4 hours of us sitting there bad-mouthing one of our team members, the lights started flickering. We asked the ghost to reveal himself, and a white mist passed through the room. A few minutes later, I called the team off and we went back to the hotel to watch the tapes.
There's a ridiculous amount of white noise in these stories. The byline on the cover states that this is a book of "True Stories of Unexplained Phenomena" but there are several cases where the team declared the "haunting" was a result of a hoax, bad plumbing, or a creaky floor. Who wants to read about those cases? Also, much time is spent describing the author's hiring and firing decisions. Ho hum.
This was mildly entertaining, but I'm still in search of a good ghost story book.
August 17, 2010
Well it's pretty much what I expected it to be. I know the guys, Jason and grant, are men of few words, but I would have loved a little more meat to the stories. However I do have to say that I respect their more scientific approach to the paranormal: look for the normal before you look for the paranormal. That just seems right. I am such a sucker for those crazy ghost hunting shows in which it is all about somebody quickly turning the camera into to heir own faces and then say, "did you see that?" no dude the camera was focused on your ugly mug! Or maybe there is some psychic who always says that there is an evil presence around. And maybe he is British and often gets possessed during taping.
That doesn't happen withTAPS. These guys and there crew always seem to looking out for the home owners or employees who are struggling with the unknown. They are caring and it comes out in this book.
With that being said don't buy this book. Large print and thick pages makes it seem like you are going to get some really great tales of their adventures but really most of the stories recounted are approximately 2.5 pages in large type. That was a bit of a let down.
If you want something really creepy go find Peter akroyds book, yes he's dans brother. Now that book freaked me out I can't finish reading it!
That doesn't happen withTAPS. These guys and there crew always seem to looking out for the home owners or employees who are struggling with the unknown. They are caring and it comes out in this book.
With that being said don't buy this book. Large print and thick pages makes it seem like you are going to get some really great tales of their adventures but really most of the stories recounted are approximately 2.5 pages in large type. That was a bit of a let down.
If you want something really creepy go find Peter akroyds book, yes he's dans brother. Now that book freaked me out I can't finish reading it!
November 15, 2015
Not bad. Having watched Ghost Hunters for many years, I was familiar with most of the stories as well as the behind the scenes drama.
The stories in the book are all taken from investigations TAPS has done both on camera and on the show. The book was apparently mostly written by Jason with a few sentences on the end from Grant. I have to say, a golden opportunity was lost to have Grant add his point of view on each case. Instead, his remarks were pretty much, "yeah, yeah totally." Pretty pointless.
Once the cases (and the show) got into when GH started using gadgets (like a Geiger detector? Apparently ghosts give off radiation? Whatever.) it jumped the shark. They went from being a team that would try to debunk paranormal activity to a team that lost their shit whenever something changed temperature on the thermal camera.
Overall, an entertaining book but nothing that stands out.as new information. Would probably appeal more to kids or teenagers or people who have never watched the show. Or really rabid fans of Ghost Hunters.
The stories in the book are all taken from investigations TAPS has done both on camera and on the show. The book was apparently mostly written by Jason with a few sentences on the end from Grant. I have to say, a golden opportunity was lost to have Grant add his point of view on each case. Instead, his remarks were pretty much, "yeah, yeah totally." Pretty pointless.
Once the cases (and the show) got into when GH started using gadgets (like a Geiger detector? Apparently ghosts give off radiation? Whatever.) it jumped the shark. They went from being a team that would try to debunk paranormal activity to a team that lost their shit whenever something changed temperature on the thermal camera.
Overall, an entertaining book but nothing that stands out.as new information. Would probably appeal more to kids or teenagers or people who have never watched the show. Or really rabid fans of Ghost Hunters.
January 1, 2010
Okay, I realize that not everyone believes in ghosts/the supernatural, but I challenge you to pick up this book and see just how much work these two guys and their team put into finding evidence that there is something out there. I am from the point of view that I do believe, but like Jason and Grant, won't just assume because a light went on there is a ghost doing it! I love that they take the time to figure out if there is actually something going on with the electrical wiring, or if there is no definite cause that can explain that light going on. They are absolutely passionate about what they do and it shows through in their Ghost Hunting book and on their television show. If you are a fan of the show, this is a must read, it really shows you how much Jason and Grant love what they do and how much more work there is than what they even show on TV!
July 18, 2012
interesting enough. I'm a sucker for books about ghosts and hauntings, I'll usually read anything on the subject. I've enjoyed their show for the past few years, so I was excited to pick up a copy of this book. Some of the cases in here I remember watching, some were new territory.
One obviously that caught my eye was The Stanley Hotel investigation. Living in Colorado myself, I've been on a tour of the place, so it was interesting to read about the case after I'd visited.
It also just reminds me how much I love exploring things, and wouldn't mind taking a tour of Eastern State Penitentiary and Rolling Hills Asylum.
Anyway, its a good read for people who are into the show and ghosts in general.
One obviously that caught my eye was The Stanley Hotel investigation. Living in Colorado myself, I've been on a tour of the place, so it was interesting to read about the case after I'd visited.
It also just reminds me how much I love exploring things, and wouldn't mind taking a tour of Eastern State Penitentiary and Rolling Hills Asylum.
Anyway, its a good read for people who are into the show and ghosts in general.
October 29, 2019
Ghost Hunting: True Stories of Unexplained Phenomena from The Atlantic Paranormal Society
by
Jason Hawes, Grant Wilson, and Michael Jan Friedman
3 Stars
I was always a fan of the Sci-Fi channel TV show Ghost Hunters, although I admit I’m quite a skeptic when it comes to the paranormal. So when I found a copy of the TV stars’ book I’d forgotten that I owned I figured it was the perfect read for Halloween.
Unfortunately, I was disappointed. There were a couple of pretty wild stories that went beyond anything I remember from the TV show, but in general I learned more about the TV show than I did about ghosts and the descriptions of each experience were very, very brief. I would have preferred a lot more detail. I guess I’m still a skeptic.
by
Jason Hawes, Grant Wilson, and Michael Jan Friedman
3 Stars
I was always a fan of the Sci-Fi channel TV show Ghost Hunters, although I admit I’m quite a skeptic when it comes to the paranormal. So when I found a copy of the TV stars’ book I’d forgotten that I owned I figured it was the perfect read for Halloween.
Unfortunately, I was disappointed. There were a couple of pretty wild stories that went beyond anything I remember from the TV show, but in general I learned more about the TV show than I did about ghosts and the descriptions of each experience were very, very brief. I would have preferred a lot more detail. I guess I’m still a skeptic.
April 15, 2019
I have never watched the series, but I have heard about it. I appreciate that the T.A.P.S. team want what they deem scientific proof to paranormal phenomenon which results in far less than half of their investigations classified as true haunted locations. The book is packed with numerous of these investigations from all over the United States, giving the reader the bare bones facts of each visit. At times the book feels a tad clinical and I didn't appreciate the comments made about their personnel, especially Brian. For two men who want to be professional, it is incredibly unprofessional to air dirty laundry about your personnel.
September 22, 2011
For the most part, I enjoy the show. I have problems understanding what is being said during the analysis. The book itself is good for a recap of what was on television. The stories are short so you can finish some stories and put the book down and not worry about where you left off.
November 25, 2017
If you’ve seen the first two seasons, there is no need to read this book. Maybe two stories are off-air; one is debunking, the other a fraud. If you want to hear Grant Wilson’s voice, it’s literally confined to two sentences or so at the end of every chapter.
September 14, 2012
If you like the show, you'll enjoy this book. I would have liked more pictures, but enjoyed it as it is.
May 9, 2024
I’m a huge fan of the show Ghost Hunters on the Syfy Channel (formerly the Sci-Fi Channel, but that’s another discussion). The subject of the paranormal fascinates me, and although I believe there’s plenty we don’t understand about life energy and what happens after we die, I’m also a bit skeptical. That’s one of the reasons Ghost Hunters has appealed so much to me.
Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson are the founders of T.A.P.S. – The Atlantic Paranormal Society who are the focus of the television show. They have also co-authored a couple of books with the help of Michael Jan Friedman. If the name sounds familiar, you’re probably a science fiction fan. Friedman has written numerous science-fiction books and I recognized the name from many Star Trek novels.
Ghost Hunting: True Stories of Unexplained Phenomena from the Atlantic Paranormal Society is the first of the books. The book is made up of cases that have been investigated by T.A.P.S. over the years, both before and after the television show began airing. In this book, I would say the cases are about half and half. For fans of the show, it will feel a bit repetitive. Although there is more depth given to the cases that were aired on television, and in some cases, there’s also more information and evidence as to what happened at a particular location, it just had the feeling of something I’d seen before.
The remainder of the cases, however, are retold in such a way as to give the reader an overview of what happened. I can’t say there’s anything here that will convince skeptics. You either believe that there is something beyond this world that we don’t understand or you don’t and short of a ghost sitting down on the couch next to you, if you don’t believe you will reason away just about any evidence anyone presents.
To read my full review, please go to Ghost Hunting: True Stories of Unexplained Phenomena from the Atlantic Paranormal Society – Some New Stories and Old Stories Re-Told
Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson are the founders of T.A.P.S. – The Atlantic Paranormal Society who are the focus of the television show. They have also co-authored a couple of books with the help of Michael Jan Friedman. If the name sounds familiar, you’re probably a science fiction fan. Friedman has written numerous science-fiction books and I recognized the name from many Star Trek novels.
Ghost Hunting: True Stories of Unexplained Phenomena from the Atlantic Paranormal Society is the first of the books. The book is made up of cases that have been investigated by T.A.P.S. over the years, both before and after the television show began airing. In this book, I would say the cases are about half and half. For fans of the show, it will feel a bit repetitive. Although there is more depth given to the cases that were aired on television, and in some cases, there’s also more information and evidence as to what happened at a particular location, it just had the feeling of something I’d seen before.
The remainder of the cases, however, are retold in such a way as to give the reader an overview of what happened. I can’t say there’s anything here that will convince skeptics. You either believe that there is something beyond this world that we don’t understand or you don’t and short of a ghost sitting down on the couch next to you, if you don’t believe you will reason away just about any evidence anyone presents.
To read my full review, please go to Ghost Hunting: True Stories of Unexplained Phenomena from the Atlantic Paranormal Society – Some New Stories and Old Stories Re-Told
September 27, 2018
I picked up this book years ago, tucked it away and then re-found it at the beginning of this year. At the time when I had purchased it, the television program associated with it was still on the air. I picked up this book for two reasons. Firstly, I was a fan of the television show. Secondly, having watched the shows, I liked how The Atlantic Paranormal Society worked. I come a science background, so I can appreciate a group trying to find evidence that stands up to scrutiny. I also really liked that... they weren't the kind of ghost hunters who went into a situation, asked for a sign of the paranormal and freaked out when they got one (most of the time).
My own interest in the paranormal comes from personal experiences. I've had experiences at nearly every place I've lived - none terrifying, but all a little out of the ordinary. I've also had experiences at certain places that I've frequented. It means... I want to understand what is causing these things. Are ghosts real? Is there some perfectly natural explanation for what I've experienced? (The answer, for me, has been a mix - but normally natural).
Reading this book gave me a chance to both reminisce about different episodes that I'd watched and to learn more about the scientific approach to ghost hunting. It gave me some insights into what I could do to learn more about my own experiences - how I might go about documenting some of them in the future. Over all, it also taught me that... most of the time, even if there is something paranormal going on, it's not dangerous or something to be feared. That's reassuring, particularly in light of my own experiences with the paranormal.
So... yeah, it seems to me that long after the show has ended, perhaps long after these particular people are no longer in the business of ghost hunting, they're still going to be helping people.
My own interest in the paranormal comes from personal experiences. I've had experiences at nearly every place I've lived - none terrifying, but all a little out of the ordinary. I've also had experiences at certain places that I've frequented. It means... I want to understand what is causing these things. Are ghosts real? Is there some perfectly natural explanation for what I've experienced? (The answer, for me, has been a mix - but normally natural).
Reading this book gave me a chance to both reminisce about different episodes that I'd watched and to learn more about the scientific approach to ghost hunting. It gave me some insights into what I could do to learn more about my own experiences - how I might go about documenting some of them in the future. Over all, it also taught me that... most of the time, even if there is something paranormal going on, it's not dangerous or something to be feared. That's reassuring, particularly in light of my own experiences with the paranormal.
So... yeah, it seems to me that long after the show has ended, perhaps long after these particular people are no longer in the business of ghost hunting, they're still going to be helping people.
March 13, 2018
This book was written by the co-founders of TAPS, Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson. While I enjoyed this book because it was about TAPS there were a few investigations in the beginning of the book that I had never seen on the show. I think these might have been some of the first investigations Jason and Grant did, before the TAPS family started to grow.
The book is easy to read and flows well. It becomes a bit of a transcript of some of the episodes you may have seen. One good thing is that they talk about some of the equipment they use and how it works.
What’s really awesome is that Jason talks about the beginning of TAPS…from when he met a guy named Grant, who wanted to revamp his first fledgling web site to Grant joining Jason and the Roto-Rooter family to the comings and goings of team members and the team as it stands up until about the middle of the show's third season.
Reading this book you’ll find out there’s more to the members of TAPS than just being paranormal investigators. They are real people, with families and friends they care for and respect. They help a lot of people and adore their fans. They all seem like the kind of people you want to live next door to or just hang out with. Their notoriety hasn’t changed them and hopefully it never will.
This book was published in 2007 so it’s mostly about Jason, Grant and some of the original members of the TAPS family. Whether you’re new to Ghost Hunters or are a long-time fan like me, this is a great book to get you caught up on who Jason and Grant are, who the TAPS team is, the basis for their investigations and why they do what they do.
The book is easy to read and flows well. It becomes a bit of a transcript of some of the episodes you may have seen. One good thing is that they talk about some of the equipment they use and how it works.
What’s really awesome is that Jason talks about the beginning of TAPS…from when he met a guy named Grant, who wanted to revamp his first fledgling web site to Grant joining Jason and the Roto-Rooter family to the comings and goings of team members and the team as it stands up until about the middle of the show's third season.
Reading this book you’ll find out there’s more to the members of TAPS than just being paranormal investigators. They are real people, with families and friends they care for and respect. They help a lot of people and adore their fans. They all seem like the kind of people you want to live next door to or just hang out with. Their notoriety hasn’t changed them and hopefully it never will.
This book was published in 2007 so it’s mostly about Jason, Grant and some of the original members of the TAPS family. Whether you’re new to Ghost Hunters or are a long-time fan like me, this is a great book to get you caught up on who Jason and Grant are, who the TAPS team is, the basis for their investigations and why they do what they do.
October 22, 2016
This book was told by Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson, who are paranormal investigators on the TV show Ghost Hunters. It included many short stories about their ghost experiences, successful, unsuccessful, or uneventful. I remember seeing many of them on their show. Compared to the last book I read by Katherine Ramsland, Jason, Grant, and their crew have had so many ghost sightings/experiences!
I especially liked the stories Squeaky Toys and What a Child Sees. A child ghost brings toys for a dog in Squeaky Toys. In the other story, it's weird how the dead grandmother communicates with the granddaughter, and tells her she wants her diamond ring. The family buries it on her grave and the haunting stops. Does this mean you CAN take it with you?
Last thoughts: people with books on haunting stories seem to want their homes to be haunted.
It amazes me (more than the ghosts!) how these ghost investigators have the energy to do all this ghost hunting work when Jason and Grant were still plumbers, Steve a policeman(?) and the others probably had jobs and families too.
I especially liked the stories Squeaky Toys and What a Child Sees. A child ghost brings toys for a dog in Squeaky Toys. In the other story, it's weird how the dead grandmother communicates with the granddaughter, and tells her she wants her diamond ring. The family buries it on her grave and the haunting stops. Does this mean you CAN take it with you?
Last thoughts: people with books on haunting stories seem to want their homes to be haunted.
It amazes me (more than the ghosts!) how these ghost investigators have the energy to do all this ghost hunting work when Jason and Grant were still plumbers, Steve a policeman(?) and the others probably had jobs and families too.
October 25, 2020
This format is exactly what I'm looking for in this type of book. Quick but interesting stories of ghost hunts.
That being said, Jason Hawes comes across as self important, bullying and high and mighty. Not once did he miss an opportunity to drag one of his coworkers. How dare they want to have relationships! Ghost hunting is more important. How dare you make mistakes! He's perfect and you are not because the camera you placed fell. Never run and scream! He can though, that's fine. One of the people even leaves and says it because of him. And he says that's all in the other man's mind. And just so everyone knows, HIS ghost hunting teams is VERY different from all the others. Because reasons. He was such an irritating narrator. Really took away from the stories.
That being said, Jason Hawes comes across as self important, bullying and high and mighty. Not once did he miss an opportunity to drag one of his coworkers. How dare they want to have relationships! Ghost hunting is more important. How dare you make mistakes! He's perfect and you are not because the camera you placed fell. Never run and scream! He can though, that's fine. One of the people even leaves and says it because of him. And he says that's all in the other man's mind. And just so everyone knows, HIS ghost hunting teams is VERY different from all the others. Because reasons. He was such an irritating narrator. Really took away from the stories.
January 14, 2024
This is a good, entertaining, and quick read. The book is basically a big casefile of TAPS investigations with a little bit of history and exposition thrown in for good measure. Even those who watch the show regularly will find little anecdotes that didn't make it onto the screen as well as investigation summaries from before Ghost Hunters began to air. The case summaries are told by Jason Hawes with a little commentary thrown in, usually at the end of the story, by Grant Wilson. Those who don't watch the show may not understand why so much of the angst surrounding Brian Harnois was thrown in, but those who do will likely be at least tolerant of the material, though a case could still be made for the extra material being unnecessary, as the primary focus should be the investigations.
May 20, 2020
I have to say I love Ghosthunters! The original show on SyFy and the two different shows now. Reading this book was right up my alley. I love reading stories of hauntings that include little lessons on what a haunting can account for and the best ways to debunk noises that may be heard in a home. I recognized a lot of the stories from their first few seasons of Ghosthunters and it was fun to read the backstories of those episodes. The book is not overly scary and actually makes hauntings seem normal. There are two other books about ghost hunting that I am looking forward to reading by the same authors.
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