Ghost Stories of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County [Paperback]

Beth E. Trapani (Author), Charles J. Adams III (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 174 pages
• Publisher: Exeter House Books (September 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1880683059
• ISBN-13: 978-1880683057
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #962,478 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Ghost stories of... where?, June 21, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Ghost Stories of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County (Paperback)

The author admits that she is from "the other side of the state" in the Forward to the book. And having read it I did get the feeling that the stories being told were just be relayed by someone. The tales are all well written and entertaining, but they are missing that Pittsburgher feel.

While the stories are interesting and do take place in Pittsburgh, I couldn't shake the feeling that these were generic ghost stories that could have the names and places changed to fit any city. I was looking for a book that captured some of the uniqueness of being from Pittsburgh. I was even hoping to see some of the stories I grew up hearing immortalized in print. This book didn't have any of that.

If you are interested in reading some ghost stories that care be retold over a campfire then buy this book. If you are a homesick Pittsburgh native trying to connect to your city then skip this book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It's ok, February 24, 2008

By 

Zelie Nic (Pittsburgh) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ghost Stories of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County (Paperback)

The main reason I give this book a four instead of the three I would've otherwise granted is because I bought it for a dollar. Even if it had been awful, I'm not going to complain too much about my lost dollar.

All in all the stories are alright. Some are pretty good, actually. Another reviewer here commented that the stories are too brief. Most barely making their way to a fourth page. And while I'll have to agree to that, I am also glad that the writer did not go overboard and scribble a bunch of superflous stuff about "atmasphere" and other such snares that tie-up many a book about ghosts.

Obviously, if you live (or have lived) in Pittsburgh, this book will be more appealing for you. If you don't, then the locations will mean little to you, but some of the stories will creep you a bit. It's a good book to lay on the couch with on a snowy/rainy day. Which, I'd like to point out, is when book's are at their best.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Real Spooky City!, October 8, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Ghost Stories of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County (Paperback)

I had this book when it came out in '94 when I was 15 and it really freaked me out! Another review doubted the validity of the tales...but I actually attended clases at the Pittsburgh Playhouse and know quite a few people that experienced these real life stories first hand! That place is definatly haunted! Another tale about a flower shoppe I know to be real... a friend of mine knows the owners and she too has felt strange things! I felt the book really told the each story vividly and kept the creepiness like a warm body with personal experience quotes from interviewees and, at least for a Pittsburgher, the locations were too close to home!