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24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bumpy New England Nights., March 21, 2004
This review is from: Haunted Happenings: With New Photos of Old Ghosts (New England's Collectible Classics) (Paperback)
Robert Ellis Cahill would seem to be the perfect person to write a book about New England's ghosts. As all good ghost aficionados know, Giles Corey placed a curse on Salem and it's sheriff as he was crushed to death during the witch hysteria in 1692. It is also well known that since that time every sheriff of Essex County Massachusetts has either died of or had to retire early due to a heart condition or a blood disease and it just so happens that Cahill was once the sheriff of Essex County. Like his predecessors he had to take an early retirement because of a rare blood disease, a stroke, and a heart attack. So it isn't a surprise that this man seems to know his ghosts. Cahill travels around with his photographer friend Brian the Monk searching for ghosts. Brian has taken some really eerie photographs that are in themselves worth the price of the book. The stories to be found include an almost Bell Witch like entity in New Brunswick, a haunted restaurant in Kittery, Maine, a rather evil entity on Baker's Island, and the well known haunting at John Stone's Inn. Of course there are also some Salem tales, that being the author's hometown. Robert Cahill I think missed his true calling while he was in politics for he is an excellent author. His writing style is wonderful and he weaves his stories in a highly believable manner. There are both humor and chills to be found in this book and it is hard to put it down once you start. I really wish I had known about this book before I toured New England a few years ago because I had to drive right by a place or two that Cahill investigated. The only drawback is that the book is too short. Hopefully there are other books by this author that I haven't found yet. I am certainly going to be on the lookout.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A real treat - one of the best, March 22, 2008
This review is from: Haunted Happenings: With New Photos of Old Ghosts (New England's Collectible Classics) (Paperback)
This selection from the "New England Collectible Classics Series" by Bob Cahill, former Sheriff of Essex County, Massachusetts, is one of my absolute favorite ghost story books. I just loved reading about so many towns that are right around me, but there's plenty of interest here for those not from the area, as well. Don't let this slim volume fool you - there are ghost stories aplenty in this concise but comprehensive volume!
The description, "with new photos of old ghosts," is true to its name. Packed with extensive, well-researched and documented history, as well as contemporary first-hand accounts of true ghost encounters and hauntings, actual photography of spirits captured on infrared film is included. The pictures are amazing, and will send chills down your spine!
You will laugh with Bob Cahill and shiver as well, as he writes with such an engaging sense of humor about his and his compatriots' adventures. His partner for most of the book, Brian-the-monk, a Franciscan lay-monk and spirit photographer, accompanies Bob on his sojourns into many a haunted place, with exceptional results. Brian aims his infrared camera at every nook and cranny, and the results are astonishing. There is one picture of John Stone that is especially amazing.
I am so happy this little book is available again. This humorous but very serious look into historical and contemporary hauntings is a bone-chilling addition to any ghost library. Highly recommended to anyone interested in the subject!
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good mix of stories and legends from one of New England's best storytellers, October 10, 2008
This review is from: Haunted Happenings: With New Photos of Old Ghosts (New England's Collectible Classics) (Paperback)
* Entertaining stories with interesting illustrations and photos,
* A few stories do not appear to be historically accurate.
* Ideal for anyone planning a vacation in New England, or looking for some well-known ghosts to investigate.
This book includes some great stories of New England (USA) ghosts.
If you're looking for interesting folklore and some quirky personal investigations, this book is better than the average. The stories can be chilling, and they're well told with interesting historical details and trivia.
Many of these tales were meticulously researched, with documents and photos to support them. They're told in a conversational style, and the naturalness of that makes the stories even more eerie and disturbing.
However, other stories -- or aspects of them -- may be more folklore than fact. That said, most of these stories have at least some foundation in truth, and they can be fascinating for ghost enthusiasts.
The author is well-known as a superb storyteller, and this book is among his best. It's great book for a 'good scare' around Halloween.
In addition, if you're a ghost hunter (as I am), Cahill interviews people with powerful stories. These are some excellent starting points if you'd like to research New England's classic ghost stories.
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