Customer Reviews

Haunted New Hampshire

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

 

 

The book provides a lot of information regarding the types of activity at each location, but lacks any photos of said activity. There are occasional references to websites for the reader to goto to see or hear captured evidence. There is little entertainment value and the book reads like an encyclopedia. Could be better written and include more than publicity photos of locations.

Haunted New Hampshire, by Thomas D'Agostino, covers many of the well known Haunts of New Hampshire. A majority of the listings are Hotels, Inns, cemeteries and parks, but also include restaurants, schools, as well as a few other areas. The listings are sorted alphabetically by the town they're located in. Each location contains a description, a picture if available, and brief directions to the location.

This is a great book for new-comers to the field who are looking for places to investigate, whether professionally, or for fun with friends. It gives enough information for the reader to judge whether it will be worth his time to travel to the location, and what he should expect to find. The directions are also a great asset for finding the location. However, there are flaws.

I have the feeling, that with some of the locations, proper research wasn't performed. The following quote was taken from the listing about Indian Rock Road in Nashua, NH.

Indian rock road also spans into Hollis near the Pine Hill Cemetery. There is a story that relates how the Blood Family in Pine Hill Cemetery were killed now haunt the area, but as you read about the Pine Hill Cemetery in Hollis, you will see that perhaps some of the accounts of this story and that one were jumbled over time. This might help to set the record straight. (D'Agostino, 2006, p. 120)

Granted, this isn't a major issue in the previous passage, being that he does admit there are issues with the story. It just left me wondering how many other stories had flaws in them? The other issues I have with the book, is the directions provided can be vague at times.

The following passage is the directions to Devil's Den in Auburn, NH.

Devil's Den is located at Mine Hill. Take Route 101 to Exit 2, Chester Road South. Go past the town hall and stay right at the fork of Chester Road and Bunker Hill Road. Mine Hill is about one mile from the fork. (D'Agostino, 2006, p.9)

When I tried to find Devil's Den, it was impossible with this set of directions. Up until the fork of Chester Road South and Bunker Hill Road, it was fine. After that, it was like trying to find a needle in a hay stack. I had to call it a day, without even getting to see Devil's Den due to the directions. After passing the fork, the directions weren't clear enough.

When I arrived back home, I googled Mine Hill, and found it on Google Maps. That's the best I could find. Now, in general, the location is difficult to find. I would give D'Agostino slack for this, BUT, from my impression, he personally visited each of these places. Granted, I could be wrong. Assuming he did investigate each location, he should have been able to give clearer directions. Whether it be as simple as the latitude and longitude, or giving the place where he parked, and what direction to walk in to find Devil's Den.

After factoring in these details, I give Haunted New Hampshire 3 out 5 stars. The locations are organized well, but I don't know whether he actually did investigate all of the locations, are some of the directions are poorly written. If you don't mind doing a little bit of extra research on the directions, or that some stories may not be 100% confirmed, than you won't have an issue with the book. If this isn't what you're looking for, I do recommend searching for other books.

Bought this book knowing absolutely nothing about NH or the lore of the state and all I have to say now is WOW!!! I really enjoyed reading this book and would love to visit some of these haunts! It was very informative and I loved the shots! Thank you both Thomas and Arlene and again, I look forward to more in the future from the 2 of you!!!

A real hoot worth checking out and who doesn't like a tale or more of supernatural nature.
Folks in NH sure do have time and it sure gets quiet in the woods and this collection of old tales or semi legends from the granite state might be folk's imagination or?
If you live in NH you will enjoy it as you may have been to or live near Ghosts.

As a skeptic of all things supernatural I chuckled a lot.

Thomas D'Agostino's HAUNTED NEW HAMPSHIRE, in contrast, covers the entire state, surveying small towns and haunted establishments from restaurants and taverns to even a dead pirate or an island banshee. Tourists hoping to catch a ghostly glimpse are treated to clear directions to each place, while small black and white photos accompany each description of a ghostly experience. Both ghost enthusiasts in general and New Hampshire local history collections will relish these.