Customer Reviews

The Hauntings of Williamsburg, Yorktown, and Jamestown

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

 

 

The author of this book runs a ghost walk tour in historic Williamsburg and I would imagine that if her tour is half as interesting as this book then it must be a great success. She has gathered ghosts stories from not only Williamsburg but also several of the other communities in the area and has chosen the stories that make up this book with great care. With all of the historic figures that have at one time or another passed through this area it must have been tempting to spice things up by adding a few old unsubstantiated legends that have the ghosts of a Washington, Jefferson or Lee haunting the area. Tempting though it must have been, this author kept to the high ground and stuck with stories that she could back up with first person eyewitness accounts or that she had experienced herself.

This is not to say that the stories that are included in this book are dull or lack flare for the ghosts that roam the " historic triangle" are an interesting lot indeed. This book is filled with specters that date from the very founding of English America and as with any good book about Southern ghosts there are a number of Civil War ghosts wandering through the pages of these pages. Be warned however that Ms. Behrend gives a decidedly Southern slant to her Civil War stories. Of course to my way of thinking this is a good thing.

This book contains all of the elements that make for a good ghost book. First, there is a basic history of the haunted location and then a history of the person who is thought to be haunting the location. Once the background is firmly established the author adds testimony from modern day people who have witnessed the haunting and has in some cases found old diary entries that attest to experiences that closely parallel the testimony of the modern witness. At the end of each story the author gives directions to the location discussed in that chapter and tells the reader if the place is open to the public and if there is a touring fee.

If all of this weren't enough, the author manages a fairly high chill factor in her stories. Having read dozens and dozens of these books I long ago became fairly immune to the chill bumps that these books raise on some people. I must admit however that while reading this book I found myself pausing and looking around at the least little noise. "In Cold Blood" was the last book to do that to me so even the most jaded and skeptical reader can expect at least a few goose bumps while reading this book. My recommendation is that you read it during the day but whatever you do don't miss this book.

This book was about a bunch of mystifing stories from the past. It really spooked me out. I highly recomend this book for thrill seekers of all ages.

Very interesting to read about the sites that are still haunted by Revolutionary War ghosts. After reading this book I definitely want to go on the tour!

I AM PLANNING MY 3RD TRIP TO COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG SO I READ THIS BOOK AS PART OF MY READING PREPARATION. I TRULY ENJOYED THIS BOOK ESPECIALLY BEING FAMILIAR WITH THE BUILDINGS, STREETS, HOMES, AND THE CHURCH AND CEMETERY. IT WOULD BE AN EXCELLENT INTRODUCTON TO COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG.