The Ghosts of Las Cruces & Southern New Mexico (Adobe Angels Series) [Paperback]

Antonio R. Garcez (Editor), Su Oficina (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1996 | Series: Adobe Angels Series

The fourth volume in the Adobe Angels series centers on Las Cruces and southern New Mexico. Garcez has broadened his scope to include the many communities in the southern portion of the state from Roswell west to Silver City and south of Socorro to the southern border. Most of these communities were mining towns or cattle centers and they have their shere of ghosts.

This book is unique in that it is written in both English and Spanish

Editorial Reviews

Review

"At last someone has written a book about the ghost tales people have been telling here for years!" -- Tom Sharpe, Albuquerque Journal

"Once more Mr. Garcez has, in his meticulous fashion scoured southern New Mexico for ghost stories of that region of our state. Again, we hear the stories of our families, neighbors and elders, and even a tale from one of our state senators." -- Stephanie Gonzales, Sec. of State, State of New Mexico

"The stories are extremely well written and documented and they take an eye-opening look at what citizens of Las Cruces have known for years. So brace yourself for this outstanding collection of Las Cruces ghost stories, and read ADOBE ANGELS at your own risk!" -- Ruben A. Smith, Mayor, Las Cruces

Language Notes

Text: English, Spanish

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 330 pages
• Publisher: Clear Light Books; 1st edition (1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0963402943
• ISBN-13: 978-0963402943
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,223,555 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Antonio R. Garcez has embarked on a journey of the spiritual and supernatural that has led him down a remarkable path. His best selling books, New Mexico Ghost Stories, Colorado Ghost Stories, Arizona Ghost Stories, Ghost Stories of California's Gold Rush Country & Yosemite National Park, and American Indian Ghost Stories of the West are comprised from personal stories directly transcribed from an interview format of residents who have experienced first-hand encounters with ghosts.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars For the mystical traveler, April 28, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Adobe Angels : The Ghosts of Santa Fe and Taos (Ghosts of Santa Fe & Taos, No.3) (Paperback)

This collection of true, modern, first-hand ghost stories was carefully collected and lavishly supported by photos. Antonio Garcez, in addition to being a fluent and congruent writer, is imminently qualified to write this book. The son of Native American healers, Garcez grew up in Santa Fe and has long been familiar with the presence of the spirit world and its interaction with the physical one.

With a sure hand and a gentle voice, Garcez leads us through stories of sorrow and surprise, healing and horror, without embellishment and without judgment. The accurate and seamless interviews ring with a realistic voice - the tellers of their personal tales are believable and sincere. Some of the accounts are intriguing or light-hearted, while others are downright bone-chilling. May the benevolent spirits bless Garcez for giving the witnesses a voice, and protect him from the malevolent ones.

Garcez begins with Santa Fe, and includes important historical information, and corroborative evidence. Moving onto Taos, the accounts carry the "feel" of authenticity and the tone of voice of people who have experienced otherworldly contact and accepted it. Garcez concludes where the spiritual essence of New Mexico begins - with the spirit vision of one of her Native peoples.

Review by Catt Foy

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a must read for all locals, and perspective visitors, March 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Adobe Angels: The Ghosts of Santa Fe (Paperback)

This a very interesting and eye opening book about the culture, and history of Santa Fe. Every local should read this one.

6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Adobe Angels-The Ghosts of Santa Fe and Taos, December 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Adobe Angels : The Ghosts of Santa Fe and Taos (Ghosts of Santa Fe & Taos, No.3) (Paperback)

I do believe in spooks! I do believe in spooks. Or, I don't. It's one of those, anyway. Just about everyone falls into one or the other category. Some, probably, are in the disbelieve-but-don't-take-a-chance-of-offending middle ground. Believing, however, has never been a requirement for enjoying a good ghost story. The Ghosts of Santa Fe and Taos at its best is a very good ghost story -- at its worst, it's still an unusual and entertaining new slant on regional history and a much-needed record of oral histories. Garcez' Adobe Angels series takes a serious look at the supernatural side of New Mexico. After giving the ready a healthy dose of history about the area, the haunted structures, and the people -- Indian, Mexican, Anglo -- who settled and resettled the state. Few areas of the United States have been as hotly disputed and changed hands so many times. Maybe that's what makes for the tenacious nature of the spirits that reportedly cling to their territory. In conversations with individuals who have recounted their brushes with these ghosts, Garcez offers first-hand accounts of the hauntings. The storytellers in The Ghosts of Santa Fe and Taos share tales of ghosts -- both benevolent and malevolent. Sister George, the big-hearted nun who roams the grounds of her old school, is one of the good Samaritans who linger. In Taos Pueblo, Indian spirits appear to those spending a night sleeping under the stars. The sad cries of an infant haunt the sterile halls of La Residencia hospital. And demons reach out from the other side to terrify and wreak havoc on those foolish enough to call to them. Taken as factual accounts or as imaginative storytelling, the narratives make for almost compulsive reading. Even in the sections where the "ghosts" manifest as little more than a footfall or a feeling of being watched, the background information is enough to carry the reader through to the, shall we say, juicier segments. Okay, not every spirit can be chilling or dangerous or heartrending. If The Ghosts of Santa Fe and Taos catches your attention, you don't have to stop there. Garcez has continued his quest, documenting the ghosts of Albuquerque, Las Cruces and Southern New Mexico, and even extended his search into Arizona. Try one or devour them all. I just might go for the entire series. I could use a course in the history of the Southwest, and this is the most painless path I've discovered. Reviewed by, Lisa DuMond Trexler, SF Site, MEviews