Mothman: Behind the Red Eyes (Paperback)

by Jeff Wamsley (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
More riveting than ever...the definative, absolutely must-have book on one of the most fascinating creatures in supernatural lore. -- Rosemary Ellen Guiley, Author, The Encyclopedia of Vampires and Werewolves

Mothman goes under the microscope...a required investigative resource for those who are searching for answers. -- John A. Keel, Author, The Mothman Prophecies

[Jeff Wamsley's] relentless quest for the facts behind this legend offers us innocence and honesty and terror... highly recommended. -- Robert A. Goerman, Author, Himmler's War

Product Description
Look deeper into the mystery of the Mothman legacy with the most extensive collection of data ever assembled. Research materials include firsthand eyewitness accounts, rare documents, press archives, UFO/Men in Black encounters, the Silver Bridge disaster, TNT Area archives, illustrations, maps, and photographs.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Mothman Press (April 2005)
• ISBN-10: 0976436809
• ISBN-13: 978-0976436805
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #495,551 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best So Far, January 25, 2006

By	ModdTodd - See all my reviews

I purchased this book after selecting Mothman as the topic for a college paper; its vast amount of material ultimately earned me an A on my project. Wamsley is impressively consistent in his street-level approach with the eyewitnesses; other than Jeff's first book, this quality is not present in any of the other books about Mothman. The only reason for this, as far as I can tell, is the fact that Wamsley is actually from Point Pleasant and the interviewees evidently have an implicit trust in him. (I have Wamsley's first book on Mothman and this unique attribute exists there and is further fleshed out by this book.)

This trust, for me, trumps and puts to rest any comments from outsiders who feel they can do a better job than Wamsley. As an armchair fan of cryptozoology, I know how nitpicky and backstabbing the whole "field" is, and I think there is plenty of resentment over the fact that Wamsley not only got the interviews - where they didn't (or couldn't!) - but furthermore, he does not consider himself to be a cryptozoologist. (They can't stand it.)

Refreshingly, this renders any argument they have against Jeff and his techniques moot. He beat them to the punch and their impotence shows.

The extras such as the illustrations and rare photos give this book an "X files" feel. Any true fan of the Mothman knows no photos exist; the art helps to set the tone. And there is a lot of it, from some very talented artists.

Best of all, as in keeping with his first book, Jeff lets the reader decide for himself just what the eyewitnesses saw. Again, this rubs some crypto fans the wrong way, because they must be waiting for Jeff to propose some preposterous theory so they can criticize it and shoot him down.

Kudos to Wamsley for keeping it real, authentic, and down to earth. John Keel even endorsed this book. These people saw SOMETHING then... read this book and come to your own conclusions!

Todd Camden, Bowling Green, KY

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A collection of stories, not an investigation., July 27, 2005

By	Very Curious - See all my reviews

I have read Wamsley's first book, Keel's book from the 70's and purchased the movie on DVD. Jeff's second book is a good addition to the first because he is careful to focus on new information and interviews, instead of retelling the same stories. My frustration is with the interviews of the eyewitnesses. Jeff seems more concerned about not upsetting the witnesses than getting to the facts. I found myself reading the interviews and wanting to ask obvious follow-up questions so that I could paint a clear picture of their experience in my mind. For example the book has many different depictions of the Mothman. Some truly look like a large moth; others look like an ugly human with wings. I would have liked each eyewitness to pick one of the sketches, or draw one of their own, to help me create a mental image of their experience. The interviewer seemed hesitant to press the witnesses for additional details or clarity. I was hoping to build mental images that would lead to a personal opinion about the events. Was it a hoax, a bird, or a monster? I enjoyed the book, but I'm still clueless.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Anticlimatic , December 8, 2005

By	swamp thing - See all my reviews

This book is all-in-all not that bad...just not what I expected. I find the subject matter very intriguing and having lived in the Appalachians for a time, I respect the folks there and trust their word. However, some do have a tendency to spin big yarns. Similar tales have been told by folks in the NC-TN mountains during the 70's and 80's which I think is also intriguing but an area which sadly enough wasn't explored in the book (no disrespect to WV).

The author included interviews with witnesses which were not very helpful. If he does a similar venture in the future, he should press the people a little harder with more pertinent questions. The photographs were not very useful but I think I see the point he was trying to make.