Customer Reviews

The International Directory of Haunted Places

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

 

 

First of all, I must admit that I am a bit biased in this review, as I was fortunate enough to be a contributor of the stories for the Newfoundland Canada section of the book. Having said that, I do feel that this is a very useful, well laid out and presented guide to hauntings from around the world. Some of the reports could do with more detail, but the strength of this book is in its attempt to have an incredibly wide variety of accounts from all over the world. I would definately recommend it to those interested in ghost stories, and as well to the armchair traveller!

I love reading about ghostly accounts in books of this format. It is organized, well-written, and interesting. I read, then re-read, then re-re-read Hauck's American version Haunted Places, and when I found this international version, I was thrilled!

Like the American version, is is geographically organized by province/county and town. Such a format lends professionalism and credence to the accounts within, because it reads more like a straightforward historical account rather than a "Halloween slumber party story" that is made-up (and purely for shock). Many stories are absolutely chilling, while others are interesting, amusing, thoughtful, or bizarre. Hauck truly writes well and it is great that he is genuinely interested in this field, because his passion comes through in the pages. Such interest inevitably rubs off on the reader, and I didn't put this book down for a few days after it arrived in the mail. There are photos of ghosts/energy as well as some pictures of the sites, some of which are exceptionally creepy and lend a whole new layer of spooky to an already-spooky tale.

If you tend to like reading about strange castles, haunted hotels, long-dead specters and ghostly abodes, this is a great example of such a book.

This book is an almost complete directory of haunted places in the US. If you are a paranormal researcher (as I am) or just a fan of the supernatural, this book will help you plan some very awesome road trips!

Paranormal research is easier when you know where to look. This guide provides a great starting point. While several of the reports are based more on folklore than fact, they're still valid when you're looking for historic places to explore... with a chance of encountering something paranormal.

This book isn't just about ghosts and hauntings. It includes other paranormal phenomena, and one person's alien sighting may turn out to be another person's ghosts, or vice versa.

Hauck has organized this book so it's easy to read and use for research, and for travel.

Check related books by this author, as well. I own both the North American and international guides by Hauck, and though this is a thinner book than the North American one, it's tremendously useful if you're going to Europe.

Tip: Photocopy or tear out the pages that apply to your upcoming trip, for less bulk and weight when traveling. That's what I do, and that's why this the second time I've bought a copy of this book.

This book was great. There were a few repeat stories that I have read in other books, however, it is nice to see a story told from this author's point of view.

I am an avid reader of the paramormal, and was very suprised to find a few ghostly descriptions that still scared me and made me sleep with the light on.

I would recommend this book to anyone the likes to be scared just for the fun of it.

Many directories of Hauntings. I myself am a documentor for these sort of things. I try to find the truth, this gives me an easy way to find things I am looking for.

First, while reading this book, the verse, "Don't know about about geography," from an old Herman's Hermits song, kept coming to mind because Mexico, Barbados, Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, etc. are erroneously identified as "Central" America. Including the West Indies as a separate heading would have been more logical than dumping them all into Central America. And, of course, I thought everyone knew Mexico is in "North" America. One wonders why the publishers did not consult an atlas. Second, a description of the contents on the back cover begins, "Visit haunted jailhouses in Iceland . . .," yet, the only mention of Iceland consists of a scant part of a short paragraph in the Introduction to Europe! Iceland has some very well-known haunted locations as does Cuba, however, the author ignores them both. But my main criticism of this work is the author's treatment of haunted sites in the U.S. One is left with the impression that the only ghosts in the United States are located in Washington, D.C., California and Illinois. What about the remaining 48 states? It would have been much more appropriate to include one or two entries for each state. The good old USA gets short shrift in this book.

I am reading this book and thoroughly enjoying all the stories about haunted places around the world.