The Ghost Files: Paranormal Encounters, Discussion, and Research from the Vaults of GhostVillage.com

by Jeff Belanger

In 1999, Ghostvillage.com was launched with the objective of exploring and openly discussing the subject of ghosts and the supernatural. What started then as six Web pages has exploded into more than 150,000 pages of personal encounters, research articles, and in-depth interviews with various experts, all supporting the existence of ghosts. Today, Ghostvillage.com is the largest and most popular supernatural Web site, according to Google. People from around the world have found a place to share their encounters, evidence, and thoughts on the paranormal. Now Jeff Belanger, the man behind this groundbreaking website, brings you The Ghost Files , a new book featuring compelling evidence and riveting discussion on one of the greatest mysteries of the human what happens after death? Culled from the pages and files of Ghostvillage.com, this book offers dozens of personal and profound accounts of ghost encounters, feature articles, commentary from the experts, and much more. Something like a "best of" the paranormal, it covers topics such
The Ghost Files is for fans of ghost stories and paranormal investigation, as well as for anyone who wants to understand the supernatural experience. Objective and open, it dares to go into dark corners, haunted places, and other locales where ghosts lurk and hide. If you're looking for new insight on an ancient mystery, this is the book for you.

Genres: Paranormal, Ghosts, Nonfiction, Horror, Ghost Stories

224 pages, Paperback

First published September 15, 2007

About the author

Jeff Belanger is one of the most visible and prolific researchers of folklore and legends today. A natural storyteller, he’s the award-winning, Emmy-nominated host, writer, and producer of the New England Legends series on PBS and Amazon Prime, and is the author of over a dozen books (published in six languages). He also hosts the New England Legends weekly podcast, which has garnered over 5 million downloads since it was launched.

Always one for chasing adventures, Jeff has climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa, he’s explored the ruins of Machu Picchu in Peru, he’s searched the catacombs of Paris, France (where he encountered his first ghost), he faced his life-long struggle with basophobia on his birthday by going skydiving, and he’s been ghost hunting all over the world from a former TB asylum in Kentucky, to medieval castles in Europe, to an abandoned prison in Australia.

Jeff got his start as a journalist in 1997, where he learned how to connect with people from all walks of life. For his work, he’s interviewed thousands of people about their encounters with the profound.

His books include the best sellers: The Call of Kilimanjaro, The World’s Most Haunted Places, Weird Massachusetts, Our Haunted Lives, and Who’s Haunting the White House?. He’s a noted speaker and media personality. He’s spoken at MENSA’s national conference, has given a prestigious TEDx talk in New York City, and provides dozens of live lectures and programs to audiences each year.

Belanger has written for newspapers like The Boston Globe and USA Today, and has served as the writer and researcher on numerous television series including every single episode of Ghost Adventures (25 seasons and counting), Paranormal Challenge, and Aftershocks on the Travel Channel, and Amish Haunting on Destination America. He’s been a guest on hundreds of radio and television networks and programs including: The History Channel, The Travel Channel, Biography Channel, Reelz, PBS, NECN, Living TV (UK), Sunrise 7 (Australia), Bell (Canada), The Maury Show, The CBS News Early Show, CBS Sunday Morning, FOX, NBC, ABC, and CBS affiliates, National Public Radio, The BBC, Darkness Radio, Australian Radio Network, and Coast to Coast AM.

Reviews

[Abigail McClead · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite a spooktacular event

[Diana · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wasn't a fan of most of this book, I thought it would be more about people telling their stories about seeing ghosts or other paranormal issues. Belanger spent most of his time discussing the science investigators are using to try to prove their theories, and explaining what the different kinds of hauntings are out there. By the time this book was published I believe that anyone who was interested in this topic would already know most of what he put in this book since we've been inundated with ghost hunting television shows. It just went over way to much material that I already knew and I ended up bored by it.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first Jeff Belanger book. It will not be the last. "The Ghost Files" is written plainly and clearly. There is little hyperbole. There is, however, a matter-of-fact tone that not only invites skepticism, but insists on it. It is healthy, lest we open our minds so far that our brains fall out. Or as Jeff would say, you may well have seen a ghost, but you almost certainly did NOT see Elvis, Big Foot and the Loch Ness monster dancing by the light of the full moon in the woods.

[Dianna (SavingsInSeconds blog) · Rating 2 out of 5]

The only interesting parts of this book were experiences sent in by Ghostvillage readers, which you could probably read for free on the website. The rest of the book explained basic terms like "ESP" and name-dropped a bunch of people. Imagine a ghost book written by The Office's Michael Scott, and you'll have a good idea of the author's writing style.

[Mia•Loves•Words · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was nice and very informative. I had fun and learned something while reading it.

[Karmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting and informative.

[Lilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever wondered what it is like for those plagued by ghostly encounters, psychic abilities (which technically we all have, only some use) or those who investigate the paranormal or are skeptic to no end? Best-selling author Jeff Belanger saves you the trouble in his new and informative book, The Ghost Files.

The sections of this book deal with death, ghostly encounters, what is a ghost, folklore and legends, possession, animal spirits, psychic abilities, skeptics, paranormal investigation and where are the ghosts.

It was fantastic to see psychic ability backed by a passage from the Bible (Corinthians 12:7-11), some we [people of alternative beliefs and spiritualities, and even liberal Christians:] can use in their arsenal next time we are badgered by Bible-thumpers.

This book also sheds some good light on skeptics. For any science or belief, skeptics are needed I think. I believe they help to weed the charlatans from the pack, leaving only the truth behind (even if they still object to it). I think we all harbor some sort of skepticism within us. I know I surely did about renowned psychic Sylvia Browne. When the miners were caught in Missouri, Sylvia was asked by Coast to Coast AM if any would be found and she said yes and alive as well. Wrong … they were found, but all were dead. At that moment, I lost any teeny amount of belief I held for her. I’ve even seen her get things wrong on Montel (and blame it on the audience member or etc), but let’s not turn this into a bashing Sylvia party. What I am trying to say, is skepticism is good. It keeps you from being gullible and foolish, taking things as they are. Things should be challenged.

Overall, some of the stories in this book will send chills down your spine [especially the chapter on Possession:]! Definitely a most read for paranormal investigators or anyone fascinated by the world of spirits. Mr. Belanger knows his stuff!

[VampAmber · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an incredibly good book, by what I now think of as an incredibly good author. It was the first I had ever heard of GhostVillage.com, but I think that I now want to visit that site and stary reading the articles. This book was informing, and interesting, and quite humorous at times. A very engaging read. The informative bits are interwoven with stories and emails from people that visit his site. Every time I picked it up, I had a really hard time putting it back down again, even though it was really late and I needed to be in bed hours ago. Just like tonight, when I finished it, even though it took me until almost five in the morning. I just haaaaaad to finish it. Loved every page.

[Gwnhwyfer · Rating 3 out of 5]

"If you've read this far, the good news is that you're not dead yet, but the bad news is you're dying, and you have been dying since the day you were born." (Preface, p.11). Gee, such an "optimistic" way to start a book... ;)

Belanger hits all the major "hotspots" of the paranormal community (folklore, possession, animal spirits, psychic abilities, hunting, locations) per chapter, in a brief, concise, very readable style, intersperced with plenty of eyewitness accounts (in their own words).

[Tiff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like reading about ghost stories. My favorite chapter was about the animal spirits. I believe in animals being angels. the chapter on possession was interesting- especially accounts about exorcisms.

[Kristina Forsha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book I liked it so much I signed up for the forums on ghostvillage.com.

[Keith Lovell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked the book, but it was a little to amateur.