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Ghost Hunters: A Guide to Investigating the Paranormal
From the presenters of Living TV's Most Haunted, GHOST HUNTERS is an explosive guide that opens the world of ghosts to new initiates and serious fans. It contains exclusive case files from Yvette Fielding and Ciaran O'Keefe's own investigations, carried out expressly for the book. It also discusses the history of hauntings, and the pros and cons of various investigative techniques - as well as spooky phenomena like orbs and poltergeists, and how to tell if you've really seen a ghost. In Part One Yvette and Ciaran re-open the case files of some of the world's most famous hauntings, including the Enfield poltergeist and the original Exorcist, and come to new conclusions based on today's expertise. In Part Two, Yvette and Ciaran have chosen five new cases never examined before and carried out their own investigations, in locations including a Cheshire family home, a deserted shipyard and an abandoned church - now used as a nightclub. Thoroughly researched and full of exciting new material, this is THE ghost book for the serious fan.
350 pages, Paperback
First published July 13, 2006
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49 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 28, 2026
Presenters of TVs Most Haunted Yvette Fielding and Ciaran O’Keefe have written a fascinating book aimed at fans of ghost hunting, as well as a how-to guide for those who fancy trying it for themselves. Delving into famous hauntings and real cases from their own archives, they provide a balanced view, exploring the world of ghosts from the perspectives of both the believer and the sceptic.
Sub-titled A Guide to Investigating the Paranormal, this book begins with a breakdown of the terminology used in ghost hunting, such as Exorcism, Supernatural, Paranormal, clairvoyance etc, followed by a brief history of ghosts and hauntings. Investigative techniques such as where to look for ghosts and useful equipment are gone into in some detail as well as a particularly spooky chapter on ‘evil’ cases. The authors examine famous hauntings such as the Enfield Poltergeist and Borley Rectory, and explore more recent ones, including the Hex Nightclub and Cold Creek Farm. This latter case interested me the most as it is truly spooky, with accounts that can be explained by electrical faults as well as several that are mystifyingly creepy.
Fascinating and hugely entertaining, but not a book to read at bedtime.
Sub-titled A Guide to Investigating the Paranormal, this book begins with a breakdown of the terminology used in ghost hunting, such as Exorcism, Supernatural, Paranormal, clairvoyance etc, followed by a brief history of ghosts and hauntings. Investigative techniques such as where to look for ghosts and useful equipment are gone into in some detail as well as a particularly spooky chapter on ‘evil’ cases. The authors examine famous hauntings such as the Enfield Poltergeist and Borley Rectory, and explore more recent ones, including the Hex Nightclub and Cold Creek Farm. This latter case interested me the most as it is truly spooky, with accounts that can be explained by electrical faults as well as several that are mystifyingly creepy.
Fascinating and hugely entertaining, but not a book to read at bedtime.
September 10, 2016
Ghosts hunters gives comprehensive explanations of "hauntings", equipment, history of paranormal "research" (which I particularly liked) and photographic evidence (which garnered it's own chapter). It also looked at possession (with "The exorcist"-influence as an example) and brief discussions of orbs (positive) and other "electrical" research devices - emf, evp's, video (which were not so positive, but still balanced). That all consistuted the first half of the book, which I liked, for the most part (and bumped the book up from 2 stars to 3). However, I found the second half of the book (which consisted of 5 case studies) frustrating. Each study contained a history of the events, the investigator and conclusions reached by the authors, both separately and together. Each time, it was (her) 'oh, I feel something, but maybe not...let's hold a seance" and (him) 'well, they said that, but it was probably this". It's the sensitive vs. the sceptic and there was no happy medium (pun intended)!
I had two small specific issues with the book, mainly with what I seen as contradictions in the text. The first was between p. 8 ("A ghost hunter (who by the way prefers to be called a paranormal investigator or ghost researcher)...") and p. 194 ("Ghost hunting...is a popular term that is often confused with paranormal investigation, but paranormal investigation, although similar in some ways, is subtly different from ghost hunting.") Um, excuse me? Wasn't it implied on page 8 that they're the same thing? The second quibble I had was between p. 275 ("It is incorrectly accepted amongst some groups that spirits are a form of energy and that EMF meters detect that low-level of so-called ghostly energy accurately." italics mine) and p. 271 ("[Energy] is the essence of all existence, although it takes countless forms. You are energy, this book you are reading is energy, the chair or floor you are sitting on is energy.") While this is a more subtle, it still struct me as a contradiction, especially as the text issues were spaced so close together. As far as I understand, they pointed out that everything was energy, even the unseen (p. 272). But then they backtract and state that EMF's (which measure energy) are useless because ghosts are not energy. I'm confused!
Overall, I liked Ghost hunters, especially the informational content, but it seemed that the authors prefered photographic evidence amongst all others and their methods were a little different than what I'm used to.
I had two small specific issues with the book, mainly with what I seen as contradictions in the text. The first was between p. 8 ("A ghost hunter (who by the way prefers to be called a paranormal investigator or ghost researcher)...") and p. 194 ("Ghost hunting...is a popular term that is often confused with paranormal investigation, but paranormal investigation, although similar in some ways, is subtly different from ghost hunting.") Um, excuse me? Wasn't it implied on page 8 that they're the same thing? The second quibble I had was between p. 275 ("It is incorrectly accepted amongst some groups that spirits are a form of energy and that EMF meters detect that low-level of so-called ghostly energy accurately." italics mine) and p. 271 ("[Energy] is the essence of all existence, although it takes countless forms. You are energy, this book you are reading is energy, the chair or floor you are sitting on is energy.") While this is a more subtle, it still struct me as a contradiction, especially as the text issues were spaced so close together. As far as I understand, they pointed out that everything was energy, even the unseen (p. 272). But then they backtract and state that EMF's (which measure energy) are useless because ghosts are not energy. I'm confused!
Overall, I liked Ghost hunters, especially the informational content, but it seemed that the authors prefered photographic evidence amongst all others and their methods were a little different than what I'm used to.
January 5, 2013
This was an excellent read.
The narrative was both compelling, and considered, in equal measure. From start to finish the Authors placed you at the centre of the debate which rages between the Sceptic and the Believer, and provides scientific and pseudo-scientific explanations for the Paranormal.
The investigations that were covered by the team were, (in typical Most Haunted fashion) largely inconclusive. I found myself in "default" Sceptic mode, immediately looking for the rational explanation behind the phenomena that was encountered.
However, there were limited instances during the investigations that provided a genuine shock; affording refreshing relief from the Sceptic narrative by apparently undermining rational explanation.
This opened up the tempting proposition of the existence of something mystical and intangible. In sum, something than we can netiher physically of mentally account for within the current scientific paradigm, which warrants further investigation.
Highly recommended for Sceptic and Believer alike.
The narrative was both compelling, and considered, in equal measure. From start to finish the Authors placed you at the centre of the debate which rages between the Sceptic and the Believer, and provides scientific and pseudo-scientific explanations for the Paranormal.
The investigations that were covered by the team were, (in typical Most Haunted fashion) largely inconclusive. I found myself in "default" Sceptic mode, immediately looking for the rational explanation behind the phenomena that was encountered.
However, there were limited instances during the investigations that provided a genuine shock; affording refreshing relief from the Sceptic narrative by apparently undermining rational explanation.
This opened up the tempting proposition of the existence of something mystical and intangible. In sum, something than we can netiher physically of mentally account for within the current scientific paradigm, which warrants further investigation.
Highly recommended for Sceptic and Believer alike.
April 12, 2011
Dont get me wrong this book is an enjoyable delve into the depths of the paranormal and explains the use of the equipment and what goes on before, during and after an investigation.
The cases described here are all new as it says though im sure the newer episodes of the tv series show the actual investigations, however i could be wrong.
Its worth a read if you are into the paranormal, which I most certainly am :)
dont take it too seriously and you'll enjoy i just wish there were colour pictures within, it was still interesting to read but i just couldnt get away from the fact that this book was just a shameless cash-in on the success of the show...
The cases described here are all new as it says though im sure the newer episodes of the tv series show the actual investigations, however i could be wrong.
Its worth a read if you are into the paranormal, which I most certainly am :)
dont take it too seriously and you'll enjoy i just wish there were colour pictures within, it was still interesting to read but i just couldnt get away from the fact that this book was just a shameless cash-in on the success of the show...
March 10, 2011
I find anything paranormal interesting and enjoyed reading the case files in this book. I am an open minded sceptic and although I took the Most Haunted TV show with a pinch of salt I gave this book a reasonable rating.
The theories discussed in the search for the paranormal was interesting. In particular, the investigation into the poltergeist that was conducted by a newspaper was intriguing. Not sure whether it was cleverly manufactured or truth. You want to believe but can't help the lingering doubt when you see the photographs.
The theories discussed in the search for the paranormal was interesting. In particular, the investigation into the poltergeist that was conducted by a newspaper was intriguing. Not sure whether it was cleverly manufactured or truth. You want to believe but can't help the lingering doubt when you see the photographs.
July 28, 2011
This is the easiest book to read on this subject. I loved it.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews