17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A modern Harry Price, April 11, 2005
This review is from: Overshadows: An Investigation into a Terrifying Modern Canadian Haunting (Paperback)
I recently bought this book and despite my habit of buying books and not reading them for a while, I read it quickly. It was such an entertaining story I could not put it down. The story of this property is truly horrifying and engrossing.
I loved the inclusion of many pendulum sessions that Palmisano included for us to read verbatim, so that we could "hear" what the spirits were saying. Foolish child that I was, having been obsessed with ouija boards, these were chilling to read, as though I had been communicating through the board myself. They provided a lot of story in few words, which was nice since this book spans a six-year investigation. As a story feature they are beneficial; as a research feature they initially turned me off. I was reminded of reading Harry Price's "The Most Haunted House in England" from the 1930s, where he uses spirit dialogue as evidence. I do not disbelieve that valid information can be obtained via pendulum, board, automatic writing etc. but I find it difficult to accept as solid evidence. Interestingly, in this case the information was verified by research into the property, and it was information that the researchers had no way of knowing. Hmmm. Points for Palmisano and his team.
Also reminiscent of Price's writing and research style was the matter-of-factness of this book. Both authors tell their stories in a similar fashion: "First we did this. We got this reading. How interesting. Pose a question? Then we concluded x." Palmisano's story flows a little better than Harry Price's Borley Rectory, and he does a much better job of incorporating EMF readings, temperature and weather conditions, who was present and sitting where, etc. It is not very distracting to the story itself, but for those who like no factual distraction whatsoever, this may not be the book you're looking for.
Being Canadian myself I was excited to finally read a case study of a truly scary haunting from my native country.
I was disappointed in the ending of the book, which simply drops off with the story seemingly solved but leaves the reader feeling as though the writer just lost interest. Or maybe that was a deliberate tactic - to make us want more of the story! So, Richard Palmisano...perhaps you could write a follow-up?
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13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Couldn't put the book down until I was finished!, September 17, 2004
This review is from: Overshadows: An Investigation into a Terrifying Modern Canadian Haunting (Paperback)
This book was recommended to me and my interest was immediately captured by Richard Palmisano's true story of this mulitiple haunting. Cannot wait to read his next book!
The book was very well written and very entertaining but at the same time, being a true story, leaves quite alot to ponder about life after death and the spirit world.
Definately "thumbs up" to Richard Palmisano!
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
WOW!!, January 11, 2007
This review is from: Overshadows: An Investigation into a Terrifying Modern Canadian Haunting (Paperback)
I had this book read in a day! That fascinating! If you can get passover the typos and the amatuar writing it is interesting. I don't know if I could stay in that house or not. But I only wish there was a follow from the author, such as returning and talking with current residence etc...
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