Foreword by Ghostvillage.com founder and author Jeff Belanger Okie Pinokie and the Demon Pillar Pigs. The Ghost Children of Munchkinland Cemetery. The Legend of Primrose Road. Join Marcus F. Griffin, founder of Witches in Search of the Paranormal (WISP), as he and his team explore the Midwest's most haunted properties. These true case files of extreme paranormal investigations include the creepiest-of-the-creepy cases WISP has tackled over the years, many of them in locations that have never before been investigated. Readers will get an inside glimpse of these previously inaccessible places-such as the former Jeffrey Dahmer property, as WISP searches for the notorious serial killer's spirit-and the farm that belonged to Belle Gunness, America's first female serial killer and the perpetrator of the Blood Farm Horror. "A hell of a trip. Highly recommended."―Michael McCarty, Bram Stoker Finalist and author of Monster Behind the Wheel
I am ever so slightly confused - this book has 'Extreme Paranormal' emblazoned on it's cover yet this is extraordinarily misleading. Unless there has been a mix up of the definitions of these words: Extreme really means boring as paint drying (should that be ectoplasm?) and Paranormal meaning ooh, there was a noise/light/feeling/indigestion which totally means there's a ghost.
I will state now - I do not believe in ghosts. I do, however, love paranormal stories and keep hoping that one day my mind will be changed.
This book certainly had no such effect on my beliefs. The book itself is very short and uses a rather large typeface so you're not getting much for your money. It's also rather badly written so I found it a slight challenge to actually just keep my attention on it. Kind of wish I hadn't bothered.
There was one part that seemed like it was going to be interesting - a supposedly very haunted children's graveyard. Sadly, though, these 'investigators' got creeped out and left. There was quite a large section on how this group is unique due to the way they harness energy from the earth and each other to create some sort of energy ball ghost bomb or something (by this time I wasn't really paying much attention but I think that's a good, SHORT, way of describing it).
In reality there is nothing unique, interesting nor entertaining about this book. Apart from when I managed to balance it on my cat's head - that was fun. I can't really give any credit to the author for this though.
This book raised more questions than it answered- like watching Ghost Hunters, Paranormal State, or any other paranormal investigators. They go to site after site and record strange noises and energy field readings, interpret these a bit, and leave. Is it a ghost or not, we may never know.
Marcus Griffin's team differs from the usual equation in that he and his fellow searchers practice Wiccan. They have specific rituals for raising and containing energy as well as constructing "barriers" to either keep spirits in or out of the area. Griffin claims that these practices give his team an edge in their investigations but they obtain the same result, which isn't a lot.
That being said, I did enjoy the book. It gave me goosebumps at a couple places, particularly their return visit to Munchkinland. Just don't go into this book expecting to read definitive proof of hauntings. It's more entertaining than informative.
I am still in shock that anyone would EVER want to summon the spirit of Jeffrey Dahmer and 100% creeped out that the Author of this book would want to take home a brick from this twisted serial killer's former dwelling place. I mean, for what purpose would someone want to take something with that much evil energy possibly attached to it, home with them. *Shudders* I wonder if he took home dirt from Belle Gunness's cellar also ... He may need to call "The Haunted Collector" next ... lol. Although at times this book was over-the-top-Hollywood-silly, there were a few good, creepy moments. A good read for a dark and stormy night.
(Zero spoiler review) I like to think I'm a pretty savvy individual. Not easily duped, fooled or led astray. The one caveat to that being books on the paranormal. Especially books that pertain to be 'extreme'. To be so unabashedly scary and so chock full of the most horrific paranormal occurrences that the faint of heart and the overly religious will come together, demanding its immediate banishment from this mortal plane. That is what I had hoped Extreme Paranormal would be. What it was, in fact, was a ludicrous, poorly written farce of a book. About as paranormal as a walk on a warm sunny day, and about as extreme as a kitten sleeping soundly on a pink fluffy pillow. I've been far more terrified when my monthly mortgage statement arrives. I don't like to be too unkind to a small publication, but everything about this is the exact opposite of what I had hoped it to be. At least it was a library book, and didn't deprive me of any of my hard earned. I can't recommend this to anyone. 1/5
Most of you know, that read my posts regularly, that I am a big-time ghost story junkie. This is a non-fiction book so I had to decide if I was going to treat it as fiction... in my mind at least. I don't know that I believe or not believe that ghosts exist. There has been evidence both for and against the theory. I decided that I was just going to enjoy these stories as just that..."stories". The author does a great job at telling them. He can make you feel that you are tagging along behind them as they investigate. What I really liked about Marcus Griffin's accounts was that he didn't try to sell his believes to the reader and he admitted that he could have been mistaken about some of the investigation. However you know that he and his team 150% believe they are absolutely true...but he lets the reader believe or disbelieve. So I had a book full of wonderfully, chill producing ghost stories and I am a happy camper.
While the title itself is more than a bit misleading as there is nothing extreme, unless you consider investigating locations related to serial homicides as extreme, regarding the investigations the author and his team did, the investigations are retold in an interesting manner. This book's main appeal is in the fact that this is a team made up of practicing Wiccans as opposed to the vast majority of paranormal investigation teams which seem to be evangelical Christians.
It reads like a History Channel show, which is fun.
I'm not sure I believe most of the experiences Mr. Griffin says in the book, but it is a amusing reading and a good source for your horror themed role based games.
i liked this one better then ones i have previously read, and i liked the laPorte, In and the peru ones the best, and i was happy to see illinois in the book even thought it was chicago.
This book was fun to read. Not knowing this author from Adam, his tales of conjuring up energy with his other wiccan teammates seem a bit unbelievable. But entertaining to read and imagine such things is still fun.
I have to say, being on many paranormal investigations myself, I found none of his stories "Extreme". But, it made for a good title. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to hear about hauntings or is interested in paranormal investigations. I disagree with a couple of the things they do, like offering up their own energy to a spirit. This is a no-no in my group or groups I've been in.
Good, fun read with interesting accounts of places I've not heard of.
Really entertaining, easy read. Some of these stories I wasn't familliar with, some I was. I enjoyed reading about *Munchkinland* as I have never heard of it. All in all I'd recommend it for an entertaining easy read!
This book was better than the average Llewellyn paranormal investigation book. The investigations were not over the top, but interesting. There was a nice bit of historical background included with each story, and documented sources in case readers want to research areas themselves.
I loved this book! It was different from any other paranormal investigation book I have read. I started and completed it in two nights. Look forward to reading more from this author!! :)