Customer Reviews

Hidden Files: Law Enforcement's True Case Stories of the Unexplained and Paranormal

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Along with Jerome Clark's Unexplained this is simply one of the two best books on the paranormal there is. While Clark's book is a must-read for the sheer bulk of it (documenting 347 cases of the unexplained) this book must be read for the reliability. It's easy for skeptics to dismiss eye-witnesses to paranormal events when they are someone whose reliability cannot be established but can they do the same when the witness is a police officer, someone who's trained to make these kinds of observations? In this book Sue Kovach, an investigative reporter documents such bizarre sightings by the police, such as encounters with UFOs, psychics providing very accurate information and what appear to be the spirits of the deceased aiding in the investigation. You can't provide much more evidence then this.

I found out about this book while looking for another book by the author ("Be Alert, Be Aware, Have A Plan")and found it to be extremely interesting. "Hidden Files" is a collection of detailed stories of the unexplained, and is well-written, and very entertaining, but with that added twist of being true
stories from cops from the US and Canada. Definitely definitely recommended for a fast and very enjoyable read.
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This book comprises several different cases, each markedly different from the other. A young mother's ghost waits by the roadside, alerting a young officer that her child is still alive inside the wreckage of her car. A haunted police barracks. The mysterious disappearance and murder of a San Jose woman. Was her boyfriend mentally ill or does voodoo really exist? The use of a psychic in a brutal murder case. It was all good stuff.

Very thought-provoking. Great stories with wonderful detail, leaves no stone unturned on subjects that too many books gloss over and don't look at the cases close enough. Police officers are great witnesses and investigators of the paranormal because of their training and nature. I was already a believer, but I'm more convinced of my own feelings and beliefs. A real page-turner, absolutely must read for anyone who loves stories of the paranormal.

I've always been interested in paranormal things like UFO's and ghosts. The stories in this book are really fascinating and quite enjoyable to read. I like how the author found real police officers who had experience with paranormal things like UFO's and had them tell their stories. It was almost like watching the early X-Files episodes. I think anyone who likes reading about paranormal things should read this book.

Ms. Sue Kovach's "Hidden Files" was a breath of fresh air! I first became VERY interested in this weird, unknown stuff after reading Jerry D. Coleman's "Strange Highways". My concerns about finding another book with actual police testimony and actual research work ended when I read "Hidden Files". It's full of logic which I seek and true investigations that I demand. Great book, great read!

I thought this book was absolutely a lot of fun. Entertaining, easy to read, and the professionals who were interviewed were creditable. For a subject that seems to attract a lot of looneys, it was absolutely delightful to see stories from people we ordinarily trust. Well written by an investigative reporter, I enjoyed it thoroughly.

When someone says they saw a ghost, it's natural - and in fact encouraged - that they be closely questioned as to the details of the occurence. As someone who's seen a number of apparitions I can say that a number of the things I've seen can be explained away due to factors such as remnant REM images upon waking, etc. Police are trained to ask questions, to note details, to review evidence objectively. So when I read a police officer's report on an unusual event, it naturally carries more weight as to plausibility.

While a couple of the stories were less than completely convincing (at least in terms of there being a 'supernatural' explanation), overall the book was well-written and covered a range of subjects. Although this may "taint" the book, I have to say fans of the X-Files will appreciate Hidden Files. While the X-Files fictionalized basic story elements existing in real accounts of the paranormal, this book recounts actual cases, and as the tired-but-still-accurate phrase goes, "Truth is stranger than fiction."

This was a good read. I bought Hidden Files for the section on ghosts and poltergeists, and although disappointed that there weren't more stories specifically on that topic, I found the book engrossing.

Cops are credible eye witnesses and "Hidden Files" add to that evidentiary standard. I was in law enforcement for 26 years and have researched the paranormal ever since my own experience in 1983. Regarding the case in this book citing detective Jim Duff's homicide case, which didn't make it to trial, you can check out another case in Gary Dias' book, "Honolulu Homicide" (available on Amazon). It had the same circumstances where the victim's spirit haunted the crime scene and luminol results generated further investigation. This book just scratches the surface. There are thousands of paranormal encounters that cops can share. But to share them would bring ridicule and subject their courtroom credibility to serious cross examination by sharp defense attorneys. Can you picture it? "Detective Duff, you say reports of a ghost enabled you to discover the crime scene?" You can just see the jury snickering. In one case I know of, a psychic led homicide detectives to a crime scene where luminol uncovered the victim's blood type. The team will never admit they used a psychic. There is a code of silence among cops when the unexplained or paranormal is involved, for good reason. This is a good read and cops who are now retired will be open to share their own experiences like my colleagues, homicide detectives Jim duff and Gary Dias. Those who do paranormal research can use the first-hand accounts here as examples in your seminars like I do; because of the acceptance of cops as credible eye witnesses.

WOW! Was I shocked how totally engrossing most of these were. I wish there was a series of these. I gobbled this up in a day. Great, interesting and believable true stories. My in-law was a cop, and I rode along for years. There is so much weird stuff that happens youd never blieve! i especially loved the story about the mother saving her baby in the drowning water- although she was already dead! Grab this if you can- I have it,love it, wont lend it out!