Customer Reviews

Ghosthunting Illinois (America's Haunted Road Trip)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Who'd have thought exploring haunted spots would be so much fun? Kachuba uses more than a little humor and a good sense of adventure to seek out haunted places across Illinois. As a citzen of Springfield, IL I was particularly pleased to notice that not all the stops in my town included Abraham Lincoln (who haunts everywhere apparently).
I've read a lot on haunted Illinois and Kuchuba ranks right up there with the best of them. I give equally good marks to his first book "Ghosthunting Ohio". It doesn't matter if you know the region, this book will leave you feeling like you took the trip yourself. A great deal of fun.

After reading my new copy of "Ghosthunting Illinois", I am left with an empty feeling of dispair. I finished the book and I am left wanting MORE!

Mr. Kachuba has a way of drawing you into his investigations and experiences and then leaves you to draw your own conclusions. A true breath of fresh air in todays "Ghosts are everywhere you look" attitude. If you missed 2004's "Ghosthunting Ohio" by the same author- go get it. You will love it! Shoot....I live in Ohio and bought "Ghosthunting Illinois"! You don't have to live in these states to enjoy the
ghosts, legends, and travels that the Haunted Heartland series offers. Get the book- if ya dare!

I decided to purchase this book on a whim and I was pleasantly surprised. Most paranormal location books offer little more than brief historical overviews of each location and then the associated ghost story. In "Ghosthunting Illinois," Kachuba takes a more hands-on approach in that he's visited the locations personally. His book offers some historical information, the associated ghost stories, and interviews with people associated with the location (owners, tenants, parishoners, etc.). Beyond that, he also describes his trek through these locations by expressing how he felt, what he saw, etc. An even more compelling reason to purchase this book is the fact that it's very well written which stands to reason considering the author is a "creative writing" professor. Additionally, the book holds your interest and the chapters are short so it's a great "quick chapter before bed" type of book.

I purchased "Ghosthunting Illinois" about a month ago. I must say this book is an excellent guide for ghost hunters, beginner or experienced, I have been into ghosthunting and paranormal activity from a young age. I'm now 25, and I've found John's book to be one of the best in this genre in the last 10 years or so. John's direction to the sites are exact, with descriptions in the book that are true to form when you get there. All this delivered in a factual manner, that allows you to draw your own conclusions.

* Bachelor's Grove Cemetery is everything John said it was and more. I've been to quite a few cemeteries. None quite like this...

John Kachuba is really good at telling

the places that he visited. Each story is

fasinating and he gives some interesting history

on the haunted places


~SkUrVy

This is a fine book about ghosts. What is most important about the author's book is its straight-ahead, honest approach to the topic. His comments and thoughts on ghosts, and their locale, is refreshingly enjoyable. The writing is concise and entertaining. This is an excellent reference on Illinois ghosts. John Kachuba is a first rate writer with a keen sense of the macabre, and he knows how to write about the paranormal!

I am an avid Ghosthunters fan (TAPS on SciFi). I purchased this book hoping it would give me specifics about paranormal investigations/haunted locations in Illinois. The book is interesting in that it provides several locations that are reputed to be haunted. However, it is more disappointing in that the book offers no evidence of any investigations or "hunts". In every site story that I have read so far, I see a lot of the word "maybe" and or "perhaps". The author has clearly visited the sites, but has not had any personal experiences himself to build on -- he merely repeats stories he has heard from locals.

I would like to have seen something more from this book -- but it does still make me curious.

I decided to try this book, as I seem to have almost every other book written about ghosts in the Chicagoland area. What I most enjoyed about this book, is that John lives in Ohio. So he was a visitor to our state, while researching stories for his book. It was very well written, with pictures he provided. I enjoyed his writing so much, that his book on Ohio ghosts is in my wish list and I purchased his recommendation on the Indiana ghosts. I also appreciated that he contacted other ghost hunters and referenced them in his book.

This guide details the author's travels to various "haunted" locations. Once there, the location is described in detail along with any "gossip" that people have to say about ghosts. Sometimes locations aren't even described but pages are detailed on the "ghost" haunting it (i.e. the re-telling of the Dillinger tale). Very rarely does the author try to find the source of the "hauntings" or perform any type of investigation whatsoever. I guess if you're looking for a travel guide that details places that may or may not be haunted and you like listening to "ghost stories" that may or may not be true then this is great. Personally I was hoping that the author would get more involved at each location and try to understand who or what might be haunting them, if anything.