Haunted: The Incredible True Story of a Canadian Family's Experience Living in a Haunted House

by Dorah L. Williams

It was an irrational decision. Despite having just moved into a beautiful new house, the Williams family gave in to an odd, overwhelming desire to purchase and move into a Victorian home they had come upon by chance. They were curious, of course, as to why the house had, in the past, had such a high vacancy rate - no one ever seemed to live in it for a long period of time. But that curiosity didn't last long, because shortly after moving in, strange things began to happen. It became abundantly clear that the home's past owners had all had a reason for leaving: fear. The Williams' new home was haunted. At first, the family tried telling themselves there were logical explanations for the strange things they all were witnessing. But before long they came to accept the fact that they were sharing their home with ghosts. Haunted is the Williams family's story from the point of view of the mother, Dorah. Through her chilling reminiscences, we witness the all-too-real goings-on in the house. And we join the family as they seek a way to bring an end to the paranormal events that were occurring with ever more frequency and intensity, and learn why the events began in the first place.

Genres: Paranormal, Horror, Nonfiction, Ghosts, Ghost Stories, Supernatural, History

192 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2002

Reviews

[Latasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was ok, the ghost didn't do anything really threatening so i don't get why the family was in such a hurry to get rid of the ghost. in my family, we talk about ghost all the time. we share our experiences so i'm lucky and know i always have people to turn to. I think this book was interesting and the family will have many great stories to pass along.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dorah L. Williams tells this story in incredibly simple and straightforward language. She doesn't ask the reader to believe it or to disbelieve it...she just tells what her family experienced in their small-town Canadian home. The Williams family's "adventure' began a few years ago when the family moved into an old Victorian house in a small town in Ontario, Canada. Readers of the paranormal will recognize symptoms of a haunting early in the book...the family’s mysterious attraction to the place, the sudden appearance of small coins everywhere, broken clocks, screaming fire alarms, strange smells, flickering lights, cold spots, and a household pet that refuses to go up the stairs. I'm totally with the poor pet on that one. She writes of these events cautiously, like someone that is almost desperate for someone to believe her. Soon the events go from enchanting to bordering on Satanic, and the tension and the terror skyrocket. Musical snow globes start playing by themselves, candles light with no one near them, and ghostly, unfamiliar faces start to appear in photographs. I could hardly believe this, but it seems that the family, for the most part, gets along with the spirits, that is until some artifacts are dug up in the back yard. That’s when several ghosts, still wearing the Victorian clothing they wore when they died, materialize at night and try to make contact with the occupants. With the help of a psychic and a smudging ritual, the family finally manages to make peace with their astral house guests, who thank Williams for attempting to communicate with them. They give her a gift of a rosebush that never stops producing blooming roses, even in the dead of a Canadian winter. Some reviewers have stated that they wish that the author would tell the exact location of her home so that they can visit and see if they can say with equal credibility that they have seen these dead people also. Do I believe it? it really doesn't matter one way or the other. What matters is that Darah Willimas 100% believes it... so who can say? My Irish Grandmother believed in spirits and their ability to return, so I grew up hearing the stories she told. Needless to say, it scared us to death as kids. Do I want to visit this house? ABSOLUTELY... NO WAY! I wondered, as I read, if the author realizes...and the answer is probably "yes", that if there is any reality to it...that these "people" are not their friends, but they are something that could be extremely dangerous to all the family and anyone that enters the house? Thank you, Ms. Williams, your book gave me the creeps...and I gave it 5-stars...one for each goosebump!

[Naomi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think another reviewer nailed what I was thinking while I was reading this book. This book was more set to inform the reader versus scare the reader. This was done in a "just the facts" ma'am approach. Although I didn't love it, I thought it was one of the better ones I have read,but just not what I had expected. There was a certain coldness to it. It was an incredibly fast read though.

[Ghostleegirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to say that I really did enjoy this one. I guess it may have had something to do with the fact that it was set here in Canada, but that wasn't the only reason.

It's well written and fast paced. I kept wondering what was going to happen next, and how they could keep living there with all the activity going on. I found myself wondering how any of them could keep going... How do you live in constant fear of what might happen next? How do you deal with never knowing what may greet you in your own home?

I also liked that there was some history about the home given. It did help to give some background and insight to why the things that were happening did happen. It may or may not explain the haunting, but at least the reader was given an explanation as to why. It was a good read, and I'd recommend it if you are interested in things that go bump in the night... Or day!

[Layla · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who lived in a questionable home, this story had my full attention. From the moment they were drawn in to the nail that disappeared because the picture wasn't wanted on the wall.
I have always had a curiosity for haunting. I have read so many Haunted America Books. But this book is different. It tells the whole story of being in a haunted home and what could happen day by day not just a tidbit here and there. This is a touchy topic for some. There are many who do not believe. I have had several conversations with people who doubt. And still no one has changed my mind that it doesn't exist.
Back to the book. I loved this book. It was written in first-person view. And I love the fact that it was written by someone who has experienced it. It was well written and held my full attention.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every October I love to read a “scary” story. This was the perfect one! I found this family’s experience so fascinating. And found myself wanting to find out what would happen next. I love that there are a few pictures in the book that go along with everything that happened with their haunting. Word of advice...don’t read at night when everyone else is asleep.

[Sonora Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Pretty average true haunting story, though I liked that it didn't go into hyberbole.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love a good haunted house story. This was a quick read with somewhat limited chills. The author's retelling of her family's experience almost felt clinical and absent of real emotion. The spirits in her home were nearly entirely benign and not once did I feel nervous about reading this in a dark house after everyone else had gone to sleep. That disappointed me, but it was still an interesting read. I tell you what, though, if I ever wake up to find a ghost standing over my bed watching me sleep, I will not be calm and okay. That reaction makes zero sense to me. And there was a lot of that sort of reaction in this book.

[Deanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have to admit that I'm not sure if I could stay in a house if I woke up to find the ghost of a girl standing by the bed. Though I have lived in two houses with strange atmospheres, though my current house is over 260 years old there is nothing.
The house in the book seems inviting, but gradually things seem to happen, footsteps, things appear and then the full bodied apparitions.

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very quick read. Only about 180 pages long and it was like reading an episode of A Haunting. If you're like me and you enjoy that kind of stuff you'll like this!

[Benjamin Stahl · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're a sucker for ghostly slow-burners like I am, you will most likely find something to enjoy in this book. The writing is actually quite good, and there were a couple of moments where Williams' vivid descriptions elicited a little shudder within me. But, disappointingly, no amount of decent writing or dramatic restraint can mask the fact that this book is a tour-de-force of haunted-house cliches. You literally have it all here - and in the same, crescendoing order ...

Beautiful old Victorian house is on the market really cheap - it calls out to the new tenants ...

Oh, but the dog won't go upstairs; how peculiar ...

What's that, Jodie, there's a little girl in your room? Well, imaginary friends are harmless, I suppose ...

Blast! There goes those damned alarms again at 3AM every night exactly. Think it means anything? No, shut up and go back to sleep.

Brrr, why is this place always so cold?

SWEET MOTHER OF GOD, there is a nurse in an old-fashioned dress standing in my doorway!!

Oh, husband, you and your "logical explanations". I saw a ghost. I know I did.

Has anyone seen that coat? I swear it was here a moment ago.

Hey, honey, I just heard from a neighbour that this house was built over an Indian burial ground. That always ends well, doesn't it?

I'm just going into town to pore through some historical records of the house. Be back by lunchtime.

Honey, the kids are seeing dead people in their bedrooms at night. Aren't you in any way concerned? If not for their safety, than alternatively, in their mental wellbeing, as if it isn't sure-as-shit ghosts, they're experiencing some serious hallucinations.

I just talked to a medium. They're these people one goes to when their house is haunted, wouldn't you know. She says we must put Crucifixes up around the house. Do we believe in God? No, not really.

And the medium booms: "Spirit!! Why do you remain in this house? GO INTO THE LIGHT!!!"

And I think you get the point. You'd think the woman (writer and protagonist) had never read a single book about ghosts, or seen any horror movies. She's basically living the sequel to the Amityville Horror, another purportedly true account that cannot help raising some eyebrows, even among believers such as myself.

I can only imagine one loving this if it was their first time reading a story about ghosts haunting a house. Otherwise, it's just an air-out of the genres many tropes.

Passable, occasionally creepy, but forgettable. And I shall not put this on my non-fiction shelf, despite any marketing statements to the contrary. Maybe it's true, but even if so, who cares? This type of stuff happens all the time - at least according to the sleep-deprived, emotionally excited ones who claim to experience it after over-mortgaging on a house and then realising they can't get the heating system to ever work properly.

[Lynette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sufficiently spooky!

[Regina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating: 3.5 stars
A riveting, page-turning read. Waking up to ghosts watching you at your bedside? No thank you. Disruptions in the middle of the night? Another red flag. Your pet terrified of a specific part of the house? Alarming. These spine-chilling instances had me sleeping with the light on. Even though I'm endlessly fascinated by the subject, I just don't get how people can live in haunted houses. Reading about them suits me just fine. And for goodness sake, if you're ever looking to buy an old Victorian house, you might want to reconsider if it has an exceedingly high owner turnover.

[Jeannie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was not the scariest haunted house story I have ever read. But interesting nonetheless and the story did hold my attention. She has a very easy to read style of writing that just seemed to flow along. I personally thought she was very matter of fact about what was happening in her home, I never could of lived the life she did in her house.

[Autumn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Like Grave's End, this book was written not to frighten but to inform of events that happened in the author's house. I found it harder to believe the events written here and there was no higher authority endorsing her book or confirming the events. It ended too abruptly and she never said why she was writing the book, what her intent was. I felt it a bit amateur-ish.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was alright, although I was a bit disappointed. I was really looking forward to some more definite answers for the causes behind the haunting. Everything was pretty much just guess work as the author never had an experienced paranormal investigation done in the house. I did like the ending. It had a kind of closure feel to it but it is in no way comparable to "Graves End."

[Thomas Ballein · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heart warming ghost story

This book was a gem well written it had some scary parts but it was also a heart warming story the story is wonderful and unlike a lot of other books of this type the author told the story and didn't make up a bunch of wild stuff like telepathic big foots

[Lily · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a quick, solid read. It wasn't really anything that original or exciting, but it was a relaxing read, I guess. Nothing that scary really happened. The ending was a bit of a letdown. The "message" that the spirits had wasn't very worthy. Sometimes the author put in too many details that aren't needed to understand and enjoy the story.

[Lucie Pawlak · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well-written and enjoyable to read. However, if you're looking do a scary and chilling haunting story, this is not it. Occurrences were creepy but not Amityville horror type creepy. Still it was a good read by an author who has a good writing style.

[Theresa Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow,i just loved reading this book,almost couldn't put it down! An interesting true story of a family living in a real haunted house in Ontario,Canada,i recommend this book as i thoroughly enjoyed reading it on my days off work.it was much better than i expected and that was a pleasant surprise.

[Jeanne Patton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had my complete attention.

Although this book was not terrifying it was very well written. Not far fetched, could never happen kind of stuff but honest to goodness, reality.
I would absolutely recommend this book as a good read.

[Sabrina Rutter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A creepy true life encounter with the paranormal! Be ready to sleep with the lights on!

[Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting account of the haunting of a Canadian family. Loved the ending, even though it came too quickly.

[Susan (the other Susan) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Zzzzz. This was dull as dishwater and I deserved every moment of boredom. Seriously, Self, wtf were you thinking?

[Jason Arbuckle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Book 171 - Dorah L. Williams - Haunted

Subtitled ‘The Incredible True Story of a Canadian Family’s Experience Living in a Haunted House.’

Hmm…not sure it is that ‘incredible’…seemed pretty dull to me. I have no doubt that the experiences were real and disturbing to them…seeing and hearing a young boy and a young girl running up and down the family hallway of the new ‘old’ home they had simply dreamed of.

The impression given is that the house welcomed them…seduced then even. I also think seeing a lady of about 6’5 in height dressed in an outfit from the late 1800s or early 1900s was shocking. But these ‘spirits’ never did anything more than sit with them…flick lights on and off…make rose bushes grown in the snow covered garden of winter…but more inconveniences than scary…

I’m not sure if that was due to the nature of the writing or that I was expecting something else…something terrifying…something like breath on the back of the neck…not a ghost/ spirit that simply moves your hair out of your eyes as it is uncomfortable.

Sometime a ‘true’ story is merely meh..that’s what this one made me feel…maybe you had to be there…sorry..just meh.

[Michael Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is pretty much the Amityville Horror lite. In this case, it's more kid friendly, and I can see those more advanced children readers really enjoying this spooky scary tail. But in terms of a thrilling horror, this novel isn't.

It's still a good time, and I enjoyed reading it. I do question the validity of everything that occurred, and I'm pretty sure a lot of it was fabricated. It still makes for a pleasant enough read. If you're into these kinds of first hand account hauntings, give it a try. Just know that it's more like a journal entry style, and there's nothing really all that frightening that occurs in the book.

[Evil Space Waffle · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Quick, but enjoyable haunted house story. Nothing very unique about this tale, but a couple of the incidents the family experienced would have creeped me out a little. Fortunately for this family, the spirits never posed any threat so the enjoyment of the book comes mostly from some of the more magic-like things that take place.

It did seem a little odd to me that the family would dig a huge hole in the backyard after realizing their first pass at altering the land might have agitated the activity, however I suppose the cleansing worked at this point, but after only 5 months I don’t think they would have (or maybe should have) felt confident in such a project.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ghosts with a message

Ghosts with a message: we were here once upon a time. I thought the story was good. The newspapers though really puzzled me as it did the mother and daughter who found them. That was incredible. And I learned something new about Canada through these newspapers: The Christie Pits Race Riot. I knew Canadians were prejudice against the indigenous but had no idea they were hateful against Jews at one point. Maybe they still are, I'm not familiar with Canada really. But now I'm going to get the book of this incident.

[Emma Berry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Listened to this on Audible as an easy commute listen. The quality of the audiobook was terrible - adult narrators trying to do small children’s voices was cringeworthy!

The supposedly ‘true’ haunting of a Canadian family in their ‘dream’ Victorian home just didn’t come across as authentic or even genuine. Plenty of classic ghost story tropes narrated with no tone of fear, terror or really any emotion.

Forced myself to finish it, but definitely not worth the 4 and a half hours!

[Deity World · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a medium myself and I am surrounded by spirits who need my help or advice, I have also directed a few spirits towards the light. Being brought up by a family who don’t believe in afterlife and having realising I can communicate with spirits I really enjoyed reading this book. I believe the spirits of that property were curious or could have been grounded.