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Phone Call from a Ghost
Ghostly Encounters, American Style!
Meet the famous actress who received a phone call from someone she knew was dead. Follow the ghost of a naval academy cadet who returned from the dead to catch his killer. See the automatic writing that warned of a murder about to take place. Follow the ghosts of two airline pilots who returned to haunt the aricraft rebuilt with parts from their own crashed plane. And meet the most famous ghost of all, movie actor John Wayne, as he prowls his beloved yacht, making sure everything is still shipshape. They're all-American ghosts, and they're all here--and more--in the book that will haunt you to the very last page!
Meet the famous actress who received a phone call from someone she knew was dead. Follow the ghost of a naval academy cadet who returned from the dead to catch his killer. See the automatic writing that warned of a murder about to take place. Follow the ghosts of two airline pilots who returned to haunt the aricraft rebuilt with parts from their own crashed plane. And meet the most famous ghost of all, movie actor John Wayne, as he prowls his beloved yacht, making sure everything is still shipshape. They're all-American ghosts, and they're all here--and more--in the book that will haunt you to the very last page!
110 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1988
1 person is currently reading
126 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Cohen
204 books58 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Daniel Edward Cohen was born on March 12, 1936, in Chicago, Illinois. His parents divorced when he was very young and his mother, Sue Greenberg, married Milton Cohen, a veteran of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade. Daniel Cohen attended Chicago public schools and was a "hanger-on" in the bohemian community around the University of Chicago while in high school in the early 1950s. He attended the University of Illinois at Chicago where he abandoned an interest in biology for journalism. He graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a degree in journalism in 1958. Cohen married Susan Handler, a writer, on February 2, 1958. He briefly worked as a proofreader for Time, Inc. in Chicago; but, demoralized by the paternalistic organizational culture, he took a job as assistant editor of Science Digest magazine in 1959. He was transferred to New York City shortly after being hired.
In addition to his editorial work, Cohen wrote articles for Science Digest and for other publications. Encouraged by praise of his articles on paranormal subjects, Cohen published his first book, Myths of the Space Age, a collection of skeptical essays on paranormal creatures and phenomena, in 1967. The Cohens moved to a farmhouse in Forestburgh, New York, in 1969 so Daniel could write full time. He originally planned to write popular science books, but the demands of the market led him to concentrate on books about ghosts, monsters, UFOs, and psychic phenomena. Since then, Daniel Cohen has written on an astonishing variety of subjects beyond just the paranormal: historical and current biographies; advice for teenagers; world history; science and technology; animals and nature; urban legends; and popular television, music, film, and sports personalities. He has noted that he writes mass-market paperbacks for children who are reluctant to read and not especially gifted. Thus, he chooses subjects of interest to such readers.
Susan Cohen was born on March 27, 1938, in Chicago, Illinois, to Martin and Ida (Goldman) Handler. She earned a B.A. degree from the New School for Social Research in 1960 and an M.S.W. degree from Adelphi University in Garden City, New York, in 1962. She worked as a social worker in the mid-1960s before writing The Liberated Couple, a feminist tract, in 1971. She wrote eleven gothic romances and mysteries under the penname Elizabeth St. Clair between 1974 and 1981. Susan and Daniel Cohen began collaborating on books in 1982 to help alleviate Daniel's workload. They have written books primarily on popular entertainment, advice for teenagers, and animals. The Cohens currently live in Cape May Court House, New Jersey.
Daniel Edward Cohen was born on March 12, 1936, in Chicago, Illinois. His parents divorced when he was very young and his mother, Sue Greenberg, married Milton Cohen, a veteran of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade. Daniel Cohen attended Chicago public schools and was a "hanger-on" in the bohemian community around the University of Chicago while in high school in the early 1950s. He attended the University of Illinois at Chicago where he abandoned an interest in biology for journalism. He graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a degree in journalism in 1958. Cohen married Susan Handler, a writer, on February 2, 1958. He briefly worked as a proofreader for Time, Inc. in Chicago; but, demoralized by the paternalistic organizational culture, he took a job as assistant editor of Science Digest magazine in 1959. He was transferred to New York City shortly after being hired.
In addition to his editorial work, Cohen wrote articles for Science Digest and for other publications. Encouraged by praise of his articles on paranormal subjects, Cohen published his first book, Myths of the Space Age, a collection of skeptical essays on paranormal creatures and phenomena, in 1967. The Cohens moved to a farmhouse in Forestburgh, New York, in 1969 so Daniel could write full time. He originally planned to write popular science books, but the demands of the market led him to concentrate on books about ghosts, monsters, UFOs, and psychic phenomena. Since then, Daniel Cohen has written on an astonishing variety of subjects beyond just the paranormal: historical and current biographies; advice for teenagers; world history; science and technology; animals and nature; urban legends; and popular television, music, film, and sports personalities. He has noted that he writes mass-market paperbacks for children who are reluctant to read and not especially gifted. Thus, he chooses subjects of interest to such readers.
Susan Cohen was born on March 27, 1938, in Chicago, Illinois, to Martin and Ida (Goldman) Handler. She earned a B.A. degree from the New School for Social Research in 1960 and an M.S.W. degree from Adelphi University in Garden City, New York, in 1962. She worked as a social worker in the mid-1960s before writing The Liberated Couple, a feminist tract, in 1971. She wrote eleven gothic romances and mysteries under the penname Elizabeth St. Clair between 1974 and 1981. Susan and Daniel Cohen began collaborating on books in 1982 to help alleviate Daniel's workload. They have written books primarily on popular entertainment, advice for teenagers, and animals. The Cohens currently live in Cape May Court House, New Jersey.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
May 29, 2022
I've been trying to find this book for so long but couldn't remember the name of it! I'm so happy to have found it! This book scared the HECK!!! out of me as a kid, resulting in a long lasting impression. And although it terrified me, it was by far my favorite scary story collection. I dont know how it would hold up if I read it now. But if it's anything like I remember, I think this would be a book that kids and adults alike would enjoy.
August 20, 2023
A good read, not as scary as I thought it would be.
May 23, 2020
Daniel Cohen's quaint and terrifying book was one that I adored when I was a young boy in elementary school. Lately, I had thought about it; in particular, chapter five which happens to be a true story about the demon hag of Michigan.
That story, and its terrifying illustration done by David Linn, gave me nightmares when I was younger.
The reason why I wanted to reread this little book was mostly for nostalgic purposes. As a grown adult in his early 30s, the story of the Michigan Hag still freaks me out, and the rest of the book still holds me captive.
That story, and its terrifying illustration done by David Linn, gave me nightmares when I was younger.
The reason why I wanted to reread this little book was mostly for nostalgic purposes. As a grown adult in his early 30s, the story of the Michigan Hag still freaks me out, and the rest of the book still holds me captive.
May 20, 2024
★★★★★ Nostalgic Stars
In middle school, my best friend, Tarin, was one of the bravest people I knew - or so I thought. She delighted in whispering ghost stories as we lay in the dark, fighting off sleep while insisting that we didn't need the light in the bathroom next door. I remember the stay-over where she brought Daniel Cohen's Phone Call From A Ghost: Strange Tales From Modern America. While reading "Something in the Room," I got so freaked out by the picture that I threw the book from the top bunk of the bed. (Librarians, please overlook that last sentence.) Of course, it landed face up and open on the picture that had freaked me out. Yes, this is what lay staring at us from the floor:
The problem was that to descend the ladder and retrieve the book (thus covering up the creepy ghost from the closet), one had to either turn one's back to the window facing the woods or try to go down the ladder backward. After about 30 minutes and much debate, it was settled that - as it was my house and I had more experience with the ladder - I would go down the ladder backward while she held my arm to help steady me. (All this is done while averting my eyes from the book in front of me, naturally.) Needless to say, the book was eventually retrieved, and all was well again. Except that, here I am, 30+ years later, and I still have that image burned into my memory - and a funny story to go with it.
You would think that this would have turned me off ghost stories forever. You would be wrong. I was so deliciously terrified that it instilled a lifelong love of a good ghost story, and a core memory was made from more than one of the stories in this book.
In middle school, my best friend, Tarin, was one of the bravest people I knew - or so I thought. She delighted in whispering ghost stories as we lay in the dark, fighting off sleep while insisting that we didn't need the light in the bathroom next door. I remember the stay-over where she brought Daniel Cohen's Phone Call From A Ghost: Strange Tales From Modern America. While reading "Something in the Room," I got so freaked out by the picture that I threw the book from the top bunk of the bed. (Librarians, please overlook that last sentence.) Of course, it landed face up and open on the picture that had freaked me out. Yes, this is what lay staring at us from the floor:
The problem was that to descend the ladder and retrieve the book (thus covering up the creepy ghost from the closet), one had to either turn one's back to the window facing the woods or try to go down the ladder backward. After about 30 minutes and much debate, it was settled that - as it was my house and I had more experience with the ladder - I would go down the ladder backward while she held my arm to help steady me. (All this is done while averting my eyes from the book in front of me, naturally.) Needless to say, the book was eventually retrieved, and all was well again. Except that, here I am, 30+ years later, and I still have that image burned into my memory - and a funny story to go with it.
You would think that this would have turned me off ghost stories forever. You would be wrong. I was so deliciously terrified that it instilled a lifelong love of a good ghost story, and a core memory was made from more than one of the stories in this book.
May 25, 2021
This was my first time reading the book since I was a teeny tiny person, and I have to say, all things considered, it still holds up to the test of time really well. It was a very enjoyable reread. Very tiny, but definitely a good time.
December 5, 2022
Fun read that I kept around since my grade school days. As such it's a very simple reading level, but the stories themselves are entertaining.
And not to scary to read to children.
And not to scary to read to children.
May 16, 2017
This book talks about different types of ghosts from different places. This book I probably suggest this book for the older kids. I like this book because it gives me goosebumps and also creeps me out.
October 17, 2013
Another book that I have finished reading for my October scare marathon and I must say that I enjoyed this book. I was a little disappointed with the length, but the stories were new and fun too read. There was a little history thrown in as well, which made it fascinating to read in some areas. I strongly recommend this book to teachers or parents that are getting prepared for the Halloween season.
March 14, 2010
I love this book.
The stories in this book are awsome!
This has some good stories in it. I loved it!
Good stories.
I liked these books.I really like the stories in these books. I think all older kids (middle school)would like these books. These books are quick reads and quite intresting. (Even if the stories are exagerrated.) So if you like short ghost stoires read these books.
The stories in this book are awsome!
This has some good stories in it. I loved it!
Good stories.
I liked these books.I really like the stories in these books. I think all older kids (middle school)would like these books. These books are quick reads and quite intresting. (Even if the stories are exagerrated.) So if you like short ghost stoires read these books.
July 9, 2024
While this book obviously wasn’t as scary to me as it was when I was 13, it was still really good. Some of the images still really spooked me the same as they did 20 years ago. The stories were also super realistic and I believe are probably true. I’m a firm believer in all that paranormal stuff. Luckily, all the ghosts in these stories weren’t malicious.
July 10, 2016
I fondly remember reading books like this when I was young. I remember being so scared! I read books like this still; whether they are true or not, fiction or truth-unknown, I still like them. This book is well written and I like the illustrations.
December 7, 2010
I loved this book growing up. I read it a lot. I was and still am, obsessed with the supernatural.
April 27, 2011
Creepy! I got this book at a garage sale and decided it would be a fun, quick read. I wasn't disappointed. Now I'm adding more of this author's books to my list.
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January 19, 2009JM-Coh
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews