Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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!

I thought this book was very good. The part that was the most creepy was the woman that knocked on the door after midnight to use the phone.
No one knew who she was. she acted very strange and left the mansion in a cab but there was no record of a cab picking anyone up that night at the mansion. I thought that part of the story was very strange. this book does explain why the mansion is haunted and who is haunting it. I do not want to give away to much of the story you just have to read it. Anyone who likes Ghost stories will like this one. It is a fast easy read.

We loved the book so much that we bought the rights to make it into a movie. East Coast Productions, LLC has signed a production deal with iLine Entertainment and the movie is scheduled to be released the fall of 2009. To learn more about the movie go to the movie website: NSTM.NET or IMDB.COM and search for Night Stalks The Mansion. We appreciate your support and hope that you will like the movie as much as the book.

I really enjoyed this book, the overall story is really unique and the book went by fast. The author created a sense of comfort for the reader through out. The incidents described were thoroughly entertaining.

I was excited to find out that this book is in the process becoming a movie.

I read this back in high school more than 20 years ago and still remember it because it scared me. So it is definitely a good read as far as a ghost story.

The original printing (don't know about this one) claimed that in 1864, a 14 year old Pennsylvania slave girl was raped and murdered near her home. She and her murderer are believed to be the source of the hauntings in this home.

However, historical accuracy is key to any story purporting itself to be a true account, and history tells us that this story was not even possible.

Even the least observant high school student remembers Pennsylvania was a Northern state which had outlawed slavery in a sort of "grandfathering" agreement in 1780. Which means that there were no slaves in 1864 unless they were very, very old.

Their theory was inaccurate on the basis of the hauntings, but I don't doubt that they experienced some paranormal activity. The account of what they saw, etc. seemed very believable, and I still very much enjoyed reading the story very much.

I read this book almost in one sitting, wishing for more! It is a thoroughly enjoyable account of a real haunting. I have visited the online site pretaining to the family and thier haunting and found it enjoyable as well. I searched around and found a signed first edition I was so impressed with this written account. So many true accounts of haunted families and homes are so "fabricated" and obviously not true, but this book really is believable and makes one wish they could have been there to experience the hauntings and ghosts.

First off, I read this book when I hated reading. I still don't like reading, but I love learning. Catch 22, huh?

Over the summer when I was in high school, I would try and read at least one book every week. This book took me two days if I remember correctly. Excellent book and very believable. Of course people say "these are just claims", but these people are just making "claims" about this story being a "claim". There is a difference between close minded and open minded people, and this is a book for the open minded.

5/5
John McAdam: Author of "Were Ancient Gods From Other Planets?"

A few years back I found this book in hard back form in one of my dads old tables he keeps lamps on. It was hidden behind some stuff so I didn't know it was there originally but I found it, and am I glad I did. I LOVE this book. I have always been a fan of ghost stories. This one grabbed my attention in the first few pages and did not let go of me until I finished it. While it is not as jump out of your seat scary as some of the other books I have read; the psychological effects of just reading about boot steps on the stairs is enough to get my blood pumping. I highly recommend this book to any fan of ghost stories and plan on re-reading it for Halloween.