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Where the Ghosts Are: The Ultimate Guide to Haunted Houses

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In these pages, paranormal researcher Hans Holzer documents more than fifty locations where he has personally investigated ghosts, often with the assistance of a psychic. Complete with photos and details about each spectral phenomenon as well as the stories of the ghosts themselves, this book tells who they were and why they are found in each location. Where the Ghosts Are allows you to visit such fascinating sites as:

*America's most haunted house, the California Whaley House
*The ghosts in New Jersey's "Spy House"
*The ghosts at the Octagon in Washington, D.C.
*Toronto's haunted nightclub
*The haunted frigate U.S. Constellation in Baltimore Harbor
*The ghosts at St. Marks-in-the-Bouwerie in New York City
*The ghosts of Longleat Palace, Bath, England
And many more

INCLUDES DOZENS OF HAUNTING PHOTOS!

Praise for Hans Holzer, Ghost Hunter

"Hans Holzer understands the rules of ghostly behavior perhaps better than anyone else. It is his business to investigate hauntings."
--Leonard Nimoy

"I became obsessed by Hans Holzer, the greatest ghost hunter ever. That's when the idea of my film Ghostbusters was born."
--Dan Aykroyd

"Hans Holzer is a marvelous ghost hunter, who has added countless discoveries to the paranormal fields."
--Ghost Hunting Reviews

Audio CD

First published January 1, 1984

4 people are currently reading
174 people want to read

About the author

Hans Holzer

208 books163 followers
Hans Holzer, whose investigations into the paranormal took him to haunted houses and other sites all over the world, wrote more than 140 books on ghosts, the afterlife, witchcraft, extraterrestrial beings, and other phenomena associated with the realm he called “the other side.” Among his famous subjects was the Long Island house that inspired The Amityville Horror book and film adaptations. Holzer studied at the University of Vienna, Austria, and at Columbia University, New York, earning a master’s degree in comparative religion. He taught parapsychology at the New York Institute of Technology. Holzer died in 2009.

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5 stars
28 (20%)
4 stars
38 (28%)
3 stars
53 (39%)
2 stars
15 (11%)
1 star
1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
Profile Image for Kim Gasparini.
449 reviews3 followers
September 29, 2023
This man really thinks that in a house called The Spy House, a medium would have no possible way of knowing that someone associated with espionage may have died there.

I’m not saying that ghosts and mediums are not legitimate entities. I’m saying his reasoning is seriously flawed throughout this book.

Also, the arrogance here. He is the only one that cares enough to free the ghosts from this earthly plane. The only one with the skills. Don’t bother looking for the ghost of Aaron Burr, for he has been freed!

It was hard to read after a while.
Profile Image for James.
542 reviews5 followers
September 29, 2024
Engaging enough, but a mixed bag in some ways. My interest in the paranormal is more fantastic fiction than solid study, so I may not be the target audience. The introduction provides a compelling enough way to consider what ghosts are from Holzer’s studies and that framework makes it compelling enough for a way to consider the paranormal as a field of study from someone who approached it years ago as a field of study. The cataloguing of the locations are where things truly become mixed. Some are more detailed than others and one cannot help but wonder where the detailed histories are in some accounts. Three stars for me means I am glad I read it, but I also know it is not everyone’s cup of tea. Still, if you ever dreamed of being a Ghostbuster and want to review the experiences of one of the people who made something akin to that their career, this functions as both a consideration and a how to guide. Mileage may vary- as does one’s belief in Holzer’s theories, but it was a way to pass the time and ease into the Halloween season.
Profile Image for Rebecca Hill.
Author 1 book67 followers
January 25, 2021
If you are wanting to get a glimpse inside some of the haunted areas around the world, this is a great book to dive into. I enjoyed learning about the histories and backgrounds of some of these locations, as I was not familiar with all of them.

Profile Image for Nicole Westen.
953 reviews37 followers
July 4, 2022
I was kind of hoping for something more in-depths. This was more like a highway travel guide of haunted places in America (and some not in America) rather than an in-depth look at the hauntings themselves. Good if you're planning a haunted road trip.
Profile Image for Morgan Lindey.
186 reviews8 followers
October 22, 2025
This book is fine if you are just wanting a book that talks a bit about haunted locations in the US. Ill be honnest its not exactly what I expected. He only spends a page or 2 on each place, and the contribution of his own evidence and experiences is pretty scarce.
Profile Image for LG.
19 reviews1 follower
January 8, 2020
Read this book nearly 20 years ago when I was 17. I thought it was an interesting read at the time. Might be a decent choice for anyone interested in ghosts.
Profile Image for Linda.
282 reviews9 followers
October 26, 2022
Written in the early 1980's, the edition I read has a newer forwatd by the author's daughter. This was more fun than I thought it would be going into it.
Profile Image for Rebekah.
117 reviews1 follower
July 21, 2023
Lower score because I listened to audiobook and the narrator gave the definition if a droning voice
Profile Image for Bri Scott.
83 reviews1 follower
October 9, 2024
Meh, this was okay and entertaining enough of a spooky-season read but, I had a hard time believing a lot of it… specifically the idea of “living ghosts” but .. who am I lol.
Profile Image for Chris.
547 reviews96 followers
September 10, 2024
Listened to this one on the way to work.

Interesting but not riveting. Pretty sure I tuned out more than a few times. The uninspiring monotone narrator didn't make things any better. If you are looking for scary--look elsewhere. It is more like a catalog of haunted houses divided by region and is interesting in that regard. Great listening while driving.

Ok--there was one scary bit that has stayed with me. The oubliette. In Warwick castle in Scotland there is a dungeon complete with a torture chamber. The most feared part of that dungeon was the oubliette--a bell shaped hole with a grate on top. The torture was simple. They just squeezed you through the grate and dropped you in. That's it. You never came out. You died a slow death (probably of thirst) down there in a tiny room laying on top of all the other people that they dropped down there through the years...

Can't think of many worse ways to die.
Profile Image for Laura Merrill.
856 reviews2 followers
August 26, 2024
Bought this audio book to listen to on a long road trip, but learned quickly that I would fall asleep and drive off the road if listening. I found this book boooring, even when I sped up the audio time. The narrator is monotone and unexpressive. You would think that a book about ghosts and haunted houses would be exciting, but you would be wrong. The book also seems a rehash of previously published materials by the author.
Profile Image for Stay Fetters.
2,538 reviews200 followers
November 5, 2015
Did Not Finish!
Really enjoyed his interpretation of what ghosts are and the different types.
Once you get to the ghost houses of America, it gets extremely repetitive. There is only so many times you can read someone seen an apparition, someone heard footsteps and someone heard a voice before you lose your mind.
You can also read the date in this, its beyond its prime.
Profile Image for Raven.
733 reviews16 followers
November 4, 2015
I thought this was a fun collection of supernatural stories. Read on a rainy cold day, while by the fire.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews

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