Night Stalks the Mansion: A True Story of One Family's Ghostly Adventure [Paperback]

Harold Cameron (Author), Constance Westbie (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 21, 2005

Back by popular demand

A supernatural detective story

Winner of the 1977 National Writers Club Award for Nonfiction

Now in paperback, this true story recounts a Philadelphia family's encounter with a supernatural presence in their eighteenth-century mansion. After experiencing footsteps at night, opening doors, strange sounds and activity that centered around the library, they investigate, unearthing the mansion's tragic past and changing their beliefs about the supernatural world.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

The late Constance Westbie won the 1977 National Writers Club Award for Nonfiction for her collaboration with the late Harold Cameron in writing Night Stalks the Mansion. Harold Cameron and his family lived in the house on Plum Tree Lane for almost two years.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Stackpole Books (April 21, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811732088
• ISBN-13: 978-0811732086
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (52 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #406,849 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Good Read for Halloween, October 23, 2005

By 

Daniel Graf "Daniel Graf" (Tuscaloosa, Alabama) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Night Stalks the Mansion: A True Story of One Family's Ghostly Adventure (Paperback)

At Halloween, I like to venture from my normal reading and choose something a little more in season. I am no aficionado of the "horror" genre, but allegedly-true tales of the paranormal are more my style. I chose "Night Stalks the Mansion" by Constance Westbie and Harold Cameron for this year's Halloween Book because it was a well-known classic and because the story took place in the western suburbs of Philadelphia -- the neighborhood that I call home. I bought it yesterday morning, started reading it after lunch, and I didn't put it down until it was finished. Of course, it is not a particularly hefty volume, but y'all will just have to take my word for it that my focusing on a single endeavor for a whole afternoon is a rare event.

What was particularly compelling to me about the house on Plum Lane was how completely believable the story was. These ghosts (or whatever) turn out to be annoying to the Cameron family more than malevolent, although their very presence freaks out uninitiated visitors. Cameron tells the story -- with Westbie -- of trying to understand their cohabitants rather than trying to necessarily get rid of them. It was not a particularly scary story, except early on when one doesn't quite know where it all is going to lead, but as the details become clearer, one begins to have some pity on the disembodied walkers of the grounds.

An interesting note accompanies the 2005 reprinting of "Night Stalks the Mansion." Apparently the project has been picked up by a grandnephew of Cameron's, and he is trying to get a movie financed. There is a web page (...) with some details, and from what is available, it does not look promising. The Harold Cameron of of the nephew's endnote and movie synopsis seems to be different than in the book. I am not sure which treatment is more accurate, the latter seems far more interesting to me.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a good read, a true haunting, January 31, 2007

By 

pjf "pjf" (MD USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Night Stalks the Mansion: A True Story of One Family's Ghostly Adventure (Paperback)

I purchased this book about 20 years ago, and have reread it a few times over the years, each time thinking it just as good. The events are told matter of factly and sound very plausible. But it also reads like a novel, meaning that the writing is good. Most "true haunting" stories today are very poorly written and edited, and/or they go into demonistic extremes. This is just a classic haunted house, fascinating, a bit spooky, something you'd like to read about on a windy night but not necessarily live with. I didn't even know this was back in print and came across it on Amazon looking up another ghost story, and thought I'd give it the "Recommended" that is its due. Well written, well edited, and a good haunting story. Wish there were more like it around to buy.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic. A 'must read', March 28, 2006

By 

D. Auten - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Night Stalks the Mansion: A True Story of One Family's Ghostly Adventure (Paperback)

This is one of my all time favourite books. It's one of those books that you can't put down until the end. I find most 'true' ghost stories seem to be almost over written, to the point that they become cheesey and unbelievable. This one is done matter of factly and is about day to day life in a historic and very haunted old house. I am looking forward to the movie!