Danny Robins' Into the Uncanny - Review

Into the Uncanny by Danny Robins

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A fascinating study of the unexplained.

'Into the Uncanny' is a paranormal non-fiction examination/memoir by Danny Robins, and companion to both the podcast and TV series 'Uncanny'. Robins' investigations originally began while researching his hit play '2:22: A Ghost Story', the true tales people shared with him spawning several podcasts, all proving popular, with 'Uncanny' ultimately coming to TV as a three-part series for BBC2 in 2023. Much like Robins, I have been entranced by the subjects of the paranormal, supernatural and otherworldly mysteries since I was a child. When I watched the TV series, I was gripped, and I equally devoured this book.

Investigating several cases of paranormal phenomena, including poltergeist activity, historic hauntings, messages via Ouija boards, alien encounters and UFO sightings, and suggestions of the demonic, Robins discusses and dissects the bizarre and creepy experiences of multiple witnesses, documenting their testimony in detail, ensuring the witnesses are both credible and their accounts reliable. As to explanations and solutions, these are perhaps further out of reach. But, in the absence of lies and delusions, it is clear that something has occurred that defies explanation. Ultimately, it is only our own views as believer or sceptic which may provide answers, the agnostics amongst us still asking the questions.

From remote villages nestled in the Yorkshire moors to a Catholic college in Rome, we follow these strange occurrences that have had such a profound effect on the lives of those who experienced them, also taking a meander through history, theology, mythology, psychology and philosophy. Robins presents a riveting piece of work, as thrilling as a novel; a beautifully chilling exploration of these mysteries that have been with us throughout our history - which, no matter our advances in science and technology, we are perhaps no closer to solving. Maybe we never will.

But I think one thing is certain - no matter whether these stories and the many like them inspire fascination or terror, there is a part of us all that wants to believe, isn’t there?



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