The Big Book of New York Ghost Stories

by Cheri Farnsworth

Hauntings lurk and spirits linger in the Empire State

Reader, beware! Turn these pages and enter the world of the paranormal, where ghosts and ghouls alike creep just out of sight. Author Cheri Farnsworthshines a light in the dark corners of New York and scares those spirits out of hiding in this thrilling collection. From apparitions and objects that fly off of tables at the Manhattan Bistro, to a specter that stalks Pulpit Rock in Lake Placid, there’s no shortage of bone-chilling tales to keep you up at night. Around the campfire or tucked away on a dark and stormy night, this big book of ghost stories is a hauntingly good read.

Genres: Paranormal

368 pages, Paperback

First published March 30, 2009

Reviews

[James Bowman · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are a lot of entries in this book from throughout New York, so it's worth reading for the breadth of coverage alone. The ghost content in each entry runs the gamut, however, from "compelling ghost tale" to "real-life property history with a few ghost-related comments" - with most somewhere in the middle. (B)

[TE · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big is right! This exhaustive collection of stories, histories and documented accounts of hauntings throughout the Empire state will keep you busy for some time to come, if you're into ghost hunting or visiting the sites of well-known incidents, some of which are apparently still occurring on a regular basis. The author's extensive knowledge of her home state also helps, as the book also provides very informative and engaging local histories of the places in question, some of them quite tragic, which is an unusual bonus for books of this type, which mostly just focus on the paranormal occurrences.

This book was conceived from a reported 130 or so files and cases in the author's vast collection, so the variety is ample. Some of the locales are well known, such as the Vanderbilt mausoleum, New York University's Washington Square Park, where the graves of untold numbers - but possibly in excess of twenty thousand - of Yellow Fever epidemic victims lie, and famous haunted houses, but many more sites are known only to locals. It's an eclectic mix of travel book, local guidebook and ghost hunting guide, which keeps it interesting and engaging. It's also arranged conveniently according to area or region, so you can just focus on those areas you're planning to visit if you're short on time.

This is a fun read even if you're not planning to visit New York any time soon, but it would be indispensable for anyone who is planning a trip there, especially if you're fascinated with the paranormal.

[Naomi · Rating 2 out of 5]

This big book is... a little too big for my tastes. Long, loose, rambling in places.

[Rebecca Einbeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice read

[Natasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I find it fascinating to read about the hauntings in my state. The book is well written in my opinion and gives ample history of each site. I would like to have read more about the experiences with the spirits, though.