Category Archives: Book Review

3 Cozy Paranormal Themed Mysteries to Travel With

17 Wednesday Nov 2021

Posted by in AudioBooks, Book Review, Books, Cozy Mysteries, Travel

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According to AAA, 53.4 million people will travel next week for the Thanksgiving holiday. That is up 13% from 2020—a sure sign that people are ready to travel. Moreover, a recent The Vacationer survey found that 67% of the respondents were planning on driving. That’s a lot of time couped up in a car. Here are 3 paranormal themed cozy murder mysteries to get you through.

I listen to Audible.com (and sadly not paid for this plug). I found that I’m able to relax, to create art, or to cruise on my Electra when I’ve got a great book playing. I can also tell you that the narration sells it. I’ve returned a few audio books where the narrator was not the right fit. For these series, the narrators enhance the stories. Through their voices (taking on different characters accents and all), I can visualize the stories and thoroughly enjoy the stories.

Up until this year, I maneuvered past the cozy mystery genre. Even when I was reading print editions, I rarely read one. For me, the time was not right. This changed after I finished a run of hard-boiled murder mysteries, fiction and non-fiction. I was looking for stories where the gore and sex was off the page. I sought protagonists who were amateur sleuths in tiny hamlets similar to the British crime shows my husband and I binge on Acorn, BritBox, and PBS. In the last 2 months, I’ve discovered three series I want to share:

  1. The Accidental Alchemist Mysteries written by Gigi Pandian and narrated by Julia Motyka. A 300-year old alchemist, Zoe Faust, relocates to Portland, Oregon and mistakenly ships the animated gargoyle, Dorian Robert-Houdin, who seeks Zoe’s assistance in finding a remedy to keep him alive. This series delves deep into the world of alchemy. It also includes vegetarian recipes, which sound scrumptious, but I have not made. I have listened to the first 3 books in the 5 book + 1 novella series. For more information: https://www.gigipandian.com/books/the-accidental-alchemist-mysteries.
  2. The Salem B&B Mystery written by Traci Wilton and narrated by Callie Beaulieu. Recent widow Charlene Morris escapes the city and purchases an historic Victorian home in Salem haunted by the former occupant. Charlene intends to open a bed and breakfast when she feels compelled to help solve the previous owner’s murder. The stray cat has a minor supporting role. Each book features a new murder. I’ve listened to the first book in the 5-book series. For more information: https://cozy-mysteries-unlimited.com/salem-bb-mystery-series.
  3. The Vampire Knitting Club written by Nancy Wilson and narrated by Sarah Zimmerman. This series is set in Oxford, England with the American raised protagonist Lucy Swift arriving to visit her grandmother, Agnes Bartlett, owner of Cardinal Woolsey knitting shop. Lucy learns her grandmother died a few weeks earlier and has been turned into a vampire. Each book features a new murder. This series also has Nix, Lucy’s new cat familiar. (I’m a sucker for a cat. Also my mother’s family has a long line of females named Agnes.) I’m presently listening to book 3 of the 13-book and 2 novella series. For more information: https://www.nancywarrenauthor.com/vampire-knitting-club-series/.

Water Scrying as Art

26 Monday Jul 2021

Posted by in Book Review, Books, Photography, Scrying, Water Scrying

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Image on page 66.

In Spirit Reflections: Water Scrying Spirit Images (2020), Evidential Medium Philip R. Wyatt captures thought provoking images using a stainless-steel bowl or ordinary Mason jar. Containing 101 images, the book serves more as a coffee table art book. The images are incredible!

Cover of Philip’s latest book; Philip presenting; Definition of “scry.”

Water scrying, also called hydromancy, has been performed since Ancient Greek times. The technique of using water as a form of divination transcends cultures and religions. Even Nostradamus wrote of using it to predict the future. In Wyatt’s book, the images become compelling works of art.

Images are scrutinized for possible pareidolia, where the viewer assigns meaning to an image when there is no meaning. Photos shared by paranormal investigators are often criticized as being pareidolia, which is fair. Wyatt makes no assertion. Instead, he allows the viewer to interpret the images as he or she sees fit. He does, however, encourage the viewer to turn the book upside down and spin to view at different angles. I prefer to flip through the book and randomly select an image and view from all angles, as well, as close up.

Page 15; Page 15 upside down; Page 78, side view.

My personal favorite is on page 66. (The images are untitled) I’m drawn to the colors. Looking at it, I see a female face with red lipstick wearing a blue with red flowers/embellishments and collar. The piece of clothing reminds me of a pajama top. The hair looks to be blonde and styled in an older hairstyle. I realize my mind is filling in gaps, and I am totally applying pareidolia to make sense of the image. However, isn’t that what we do when looking at fine art?

Wyatt provides instruction on how he took the pictures. Before beginning, Wyatt meditates and calls upon his spirit guides and higher beings. First, he gets a bowl and fills with tap water. He shines colored artificial light or uses sunlight onto the water. He videotapes his sessions, which last between 30-90 seconds. Then he swirls the water with his hand. He has begun experimenting with scrying with a glass jar filled ¾ with tap water. Afterwards, Wyatt views the footage, frame-by-frame.

This is Philip’s third book. He lectures online and in person with Ghost Education 101, which he co-founded during the pandemic. Find his books online, offered as ebooks and print at https://www.amazon.com/Philip-R-Wyatt/e/B081287K9P?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1627265830&sr=8-1. If interested in purchasing prints of his images, contact Philip directly.  

Do You Have a Haunted Object?

03 Friday Jul 2020

Posted by in Book Review, Books, Haunted Objects

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2012 edition. Balzano and Weisberg are updating and expanding the second edition.

Calling all collectors of the macabre. Authors Christopher Balzano and Tim Weisberg are updating their best-selling non-fiction book, Haunted Objects: Stories of Ghosts on Your Shelf (2012). And they’re looking to expand the offerings by sharing stories of recently found antiques, family lore past down through the family, or an anecdote regarding a new item that you’ve noticed misbehaves.

These Spooky Southcoast radio broadcasters have been retelling stories of haunted objects since 2006. In 2012, they published their compilation of short vignettes and stories. Since then, they have new stories. However, they’re looking for more.

If you have a haunted object story to share, please contact Tim Weisberg at Tim@midnight.fm.

And just for fun, tell them The Haunted Librarian told you!

Nightmareland: A Field Journal on Sleep Phenomena

23 Wednesday Oct 2019

Posted by in Book Review, Books, Sleep

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On the Ceiling by Jason Jam.

Lex “Lonehood” Nover is a master storyteller. He’s had years of experience penning plays and articles capturing the imaginations of audiences. Since 2002, he’s worked as the Web Producer for Coast to Coast AM, one of America’s highest rated overnight radio shows. In his first full-length non-fiction book, Nightmareland: Travels at the Borders of Sleep, Dreams, and Wakefulness, Nover thoroughly documents the strange occurrences we encounter when we sleep.

Nover’s writing skills pay off in this exhaustively researched and eerily entertaining book. Nover weaves folklore and anecdotes with scientific research regarding sleep, sleep disorders, and sleep behavior. Nover’s sense of humor is reflected in such subtitles as “Beware the Ambien Zombies,” “A Salad of Sound,” and “Back at the (Paranormal) Ranch.”

Rosemary Ellen Guiley, who died this past July at the age of 69, states “A must-have book!” She’s correct; however, people interested in general sleep issues not just paranormal enthusiasts will find value inside. Nover retells stories of average people experiencing the weirdest things while asleep. Then Nover attempts to explain what happened! He completes the story by adding context and science. How incredibly novel in the paranormal field!

Illustrations accompany each of the nine chapters. All are in black and white and operate as artwork inspired by the chapter’s focus. The book feels like the field journal of a scientist attempting to unpack the complexity of sleep, contemplating every possible theory.

Lex “Lonehood” Nover

Nightmareland is a compendium on sleep. It should be on everyone’s bookshelf.

ParaNews for the Week of February 19, 2018

20 Tuesday Feb 2018

Posted by in Book Review, In the News, Paranormal Lockdown, Poltergeists, Uncategorized

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Paranormal News Week of February 19, 2018

ParaNews for the Week of February 19, 2018.

  • Season 3 of Paranormal Lockdown debuts in the UK on March 1st. Co-star Katrina Weidman tweeted out the news. Paranormal Lockdown airs on Destination America, which is owned by Discovery Communications, LLC. The show will air in the UK on Quest Red TV.

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  • RH Stavis’ Sister of Darkness: The Chronicles of a Modern Exorcist debuted as Amazon’s #1 New Release in the Demonology and Satanism category. It presently sits as #14 in the Occult and Paranormal category. Read my review.

CoverwStavis

 

  • Russian police were called to a residential home the Maraksa village in Siberia when a couple reported possible paranormal activity. The married couple has a 15-year-old adopted son. The family of three experienced 2 days of strange activity before calling. They reported furniture falling and items moving about. A priest from the Russian Orthodox Church prayed with the family and blessed the home. He stayed the night. Initially the prayers worked; however, the police report the activity has resumed.

Sister of Darkness: The Chronicles of a Modern Exorcist

13 Tuesday Feb 2018

Posted by in Book Review, exorcisms, Uncategorized

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Sister of Darkness: The Chronicles of a Modern Exorcist

“I’m just Rachel Stavis, the exorcist next door.”

Self-professed “Goth Barbie” is not your stereotypical exorcist. She’s not a Catholic priest. In fact, she’s non-denominational. She’s incredibly likeable. But most importantly: She’s genuine.

Exorcists need not be Catholic priests. Hollywood likes portraying exorcists as male priests. It’s an oversimplification yet one that audiences expect. Peruse any motion picture listing of movies on exorcisms, and you will find males taking the lead. In reality, women are fully capable of performing exorcisms. Enter R.H. Stavis.

Rachel Stavis breaks the mold and her semi-autobiographical book highlighting some of her most interesting cases showcases her skills as a modern-day exorcist. Sister of Darkness: The Chronicles of a Modern Exorcist, published this month, is part biography, part educational reference book. Every paranormal investigator should own a copy highlighting the invaluable information contained within.

Stavis is a professional writer. She has authored 4 books under her initials R.H. Stavis. She is most known for creating the backstory for Lara Croft, Tomb Raider. Yet, something kept tugging her into the paranormal realm.

From an early age, Stavis has seen entities, abstract smoke or blobs floating or attached to humans. She pushed these images aside until finally giving in and embracing whom she would become: Professional Exorcist.

Sister of Darkness: The Chronicles of a Modern Exorcist is a refreshing look at the work an exorcist performs. Stavis offers sage wisdom explaining her classification system on the entities she sees. And it makes sense. All of it makes sense.

Sister of Darkness is well written, as well as, well laid out. Stavis’ chatty nature makes for an enjoyable read, even though the topic is extremely serious.

Stavis’ book is a cautionary tale about the dark powers continually working to devour and to disrupt. Heed her warnings. Most importantly, practice what she preaches.

Sister of Darkness: The Chronicles of a Modern Exorcist is available online in hardback and electronically. Follow Rachel on Twitter @RHStavis to see where she is signing books.

 

The Best Christmas Gifts Evoke the Horror of Christmas’ Past

19 Tuesday Dec 2017

Posted by in Book Review, Books, Christmas, Folktales, Uncategorized

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Book Cover

The Best Christmas Gifts Evoke the Horror of Christmas’ Past

The Spirits of Christmas: The Dark Side of the Holidays, written by Sylvia Shults, debuted last month, appearing in independent bookstores across Illinois. It can now be purchased online directly from the publisher, American Hauntings Ink (https://squareup.com/store/american-hauntings-ink) for $16. The 240 page compendium is overly ambitious—bulging with tales. However, book lovers live by the adage: More is actually, well, more—and the more tales the better! This book is packed with domestic and international folktales and historical events occurring around the Christmas season. Each of the sections could stand as its own title. But for the 2017 Christmas Season, Ms. Shults’ book will warm the bodies circled around the hearth celebrating “the weirdness that has swirled around the Christmas season for many centuries.”

Ms. Shults rarely delves into any paranormal events circulating around these horrific stories. Instead, she leaves that to the reader. She does, however, include a lot of background information for most of the stories. The organization of the contents is as important as the stories themselves. Ms. Shults groups the stories into themes: traditions; creepy characters; things that bump in the night; natural disasters turned horrific because of the season; ghost sightings; and finally ghost stories inspired from Christmas. Some are true stories written to encourage readers to Google the events themselves. Others are folktales that were believed at the time by the people who experienced the phenomena. All are fascinating. The lengths vary as to the topic.

Krampus

Sylvia Shults is a gifted storyteller. She probably honed her skill by working as a Library Assistant in her busy public library system. Library staff often “booktalk” titles, a practice of giving a brief overview of a book ending with a teaser to hook the reader to check it out. Booktalks are incredibly popular and very easy for a natural-born storyteller. Ms. Shults has a knack for telling stories. Unfortunately, I would have preferred hearing more stories in her voice instead of the original source material.

The book acts as a condensed encyclopedia of horror tales set in December. They cover centuries and continents. While reading, I was drawn to America’s worst hotel fire at the Winecoff Hotel, in Atlanta, Georgia, on December 7th, 1946. The fire paved the way for better fire safety measures; however, it took the death of 119 people—some high school students—for these changes to be enacted. I reside in Atlanta and know much about this tragedy and hotel. (It has since reopened and is a gorgeous boutique hotel.)

Equally interesting was the story on the Silver Bridge Collapse on December 15, 1967. This event is widely seen as the last credible sighting of the West Virginian legend Mothman (see my blogs regarding this geographically-contained phenomenon).

The book also contains quite a few unsolved mysteries and murders. These tales may be the ones to keep readers up at night.

Ms. Shults takes creative license by embellishing some stories; however, they are done to humanize the victims. Further, I wished the citations for sources corresponded with the tales instead of in a bulk listing at the end. That’s the academic in me!

This is the perfect gift for any paranormal enthusiast or history buff who is fascinated by unsolved mysteries or horrific events.

 

For more information on the author: https://sylviashults.wordpress.com/

To purchase the book online: https://squareup.com/store/american-hauntings-ink