Ghosthunters: On the Trail of Mediums, Dowsers, Spirit Seekers, and Other Investigators of America's Paranormal World [Paperback]

John Kachuba (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2007

Why are so many people fascinated by ghosts?

To answer that question, writer and paranormal researcher John Kachuba aka "The Ghosthunter" investigates haunted locations throughout the country and interviews scores of people who have had paranormal encounters. The author discovers a growing interest in ghosts today, which has spurred an American pop culture phenomenon based on the supernatural. Combining his case reports of actual hauntings, discussions with leading figures in the paranormal world, and stories about related subjects-- buying ghosts on eBay, buying and selling haunted houses, ghost tourism--Ghosthunters presents an intriguing and witty look at America's paranormal world.

Set off down the trail of the paranormal and read about:
-A ghost hunt in a Connecticut coffee shop with lay religious demonologist David Considine.
-Spending the night with the ghost of Miss Lily at St. Augustine, Florida's historic St. Francis Inn.
-Spiritualist minister Rev. Rose Vanden Eynden's abilities to talk with the dead.
-The search for the headless inmate on a ghost hunt at West Virginia's Moundsville State Penitentiary.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

"In Ghosthunters, John Kachuba explores some of America's great haunts while he introduces us to the people who actually go searching for ghosts. His writing takes the reader on a haunted journey--it's like riding shotgun with him while he creeps through haunted asylums, abandoned farmhouses, and historic battlefields, and speaks with some of the biggest names in this field of study. If something goes bump in the night, have no fear--John Kachuba won't be far behind."

--Jeff Belanger, founder of Ghostvillage.com and author of The World's Most Haunted Places

"John Kachuba is neither a gullible believer nor a skeptical disbeliever in ghosts and the paranormal. He is first and foremost a talented writer who strives to be a truly objective investigator."

--Brad Steiger, author of Real Ghosts, Restless Spirits, and Haunted Places

About the Author

John Kachuba is the author of Ghosthunting Ohio, Ghosthunting Illinois, and other books. He is a Certified Ghost Hunter and has investigated more than 100 haunted locations throughout the United States. He is also a frequent speaker on the paranormal at conferences and on radio and television. Kachuba lives in Athens, Ohio, a town commonly recognized as one of America's most haunted places.

Product Details

• Paperback: 249 pages
• Publisher: New Page Books; paperback / softcover edition (August 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1564149374
• ISBN-13: 978-1564149374
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #955,574 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I am the author of "Ghosthunting Ohio," "Ghosthunting Illinois," and "Ghosthunters," as well as three other books unrelated to the paranormal. I am also a Certified Ghost Hunter and have investigated over 100 haunted locations throughout the U.S. and abroad.

My most recent book is "Ghosthunting Ohio: On the Road Again," from Clersiy Press. I teach Creative Writing at Ohio University and humor writing through the Gotham Writers Workshop. To learn more, and to see my author tour schedule, visit my Website at www.JohnKachuba.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Thrill Ride Into the World of Ghosts and The People Who Hunt Them, September 10, 2007

By 

Rev. Marie (Rev. Marie Jones) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Ghosthunters: On the Trail of Mediums, Dowsers, Spirit Seekers, and Other Investigators of America's Paranormal World (Paperback)

BOOKIDEAS.COM REVIEWER MARIE D. JONES SAYS:
Imagine spending your life hunting ghosts and spectral entities. Ghosts may have been around for time immemorial, but only recently have those who seek things that go bump in the night been in such a prominent, and enviably exciting, position in today's media. Ghosthunters are all the rage, and author John Kachuba presents a fascinating, illuminating, and often downright humorous account of his own experiences hanging around with ghosts, and the people who hunt them.

Kachuba is the author of "Ghosthunting Ohio" and "Ghosthunting Illinois," and in his newest book, "Ghosthunters: On the Trail of Mediums, Dowsers, Spirit Seekers and Other Investigators of America's Paranormal World," he takes the reader on a wild ride to haunted locales across the nation. We are introduced to a wide variety of paranormal investigators, mediums and others who talk to the dead and Kachuba takes a journalistic and objective approach as he interviews these amazing people, and even participates in some ghost chasing of his own.

It is this objective, investigative approach that makes this book work so well. The author clearly has an affinity for the subject of ghosts, but never pressures the reader to believe in one theory over another. Rather, through interviews and his own sometimes witty ponderings, the author shows that there is more to the ghost phenomenon than we've ever imagined. Investigators like Joshua P. Warren offer some food for thought that is heavy on the scientific angle, while others featured in the book, such as Spiritualist Rev. Rose bring a more metaphysical approach to the topic at hand. We also get to meet a demonologist with a more religious angle, as well as many researchers who seem to combine the psychic with the scientific in their pursuit of understanding the nature of ghosts and hauntings.

Kachuba was fortunate to also spend some quality time with Ed and Lorraine Warren, known as the original ghosthunters and one of the paranormal community's most respected team of investigators, as well as Mary Ann Winkowski, the down-to-earth real ghost whisperer around whom the popular CBS drama is based. He also visited places like a haunted asylum, a spooky farmhouse, and even a historic battlefield that still echoes with the ghostly visions of a war fought long ago.

"Ghosthunters" is hard to put down, and filled with adventures that walk that fine line between the real world, and the spirit world, often with one foot in each. Kachuba not only educates, but also entertains in a way other books of this genre often fail to do as they strive for a more serious "professional" tone. This author seems to have found that perfect combination of serious and professional, and warm and humorous, and his passion for his subject is contagious.

If you have seen a ghost, know someone who has seen a ghost, or are just plain attracted to the subject of ghosts, and who isn't, this is a thrill ride of a book and a great way to get to know those unique places and people in America that prove there is more to reality than meets the eye.
MARIE D. JONES, author of PSIENCE: HOW NEW DISCOVERIES IN QUANTUM PHYSICS AND NEW SCIENCE MAY EXPLAIN THE EXISTENCE OF PARANORMAL PHENOMENA."

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent book on ghosts and ghosthunting, August 16, 2007

By 

Rhetta Akamatsu "freelance writer" (Marietta, Ga USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Ghosthunters: On the Trail of Mediums, Dowsers, Spirit Seekers, and Other Investigators of America's Paranormal World (Paperback)

Often, I am disappointed by the quality of writing in books about ghosts and the paranormal. John Kachuba, however, does not disappoint. He recounts his personal exploration of various types of ghosthunting with a variety of fascinating people in a balanced and thoroughly entertaining way. This is an excellent introduction to the subject, and enjoyable reading for novices and enthusiasts alike.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Eerie Explorations, September 9, 2007

By 

Zanemvula Mda (Athens Ohio) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ghosthunters: On the Trail of Mediums, Dowsers, Spirit Seekers, and Other Investigators of America's Paranormal World (Paperback)

Whether you believe in the paranormal or not, this book is both entertaining and informative. Kachuba handles the sometmes hair-raising and often baffling subject with flair and humor. I write ghost stories myself, though in a metaphoric manner. Kachuba's books have been a useful resource.