American Hotel Story: History, Hauntings, and Heartbreak in LA's Infamous Hotel Cecil

by Richard Estep

On December 20, 1924, the newest hotel in downtown Los Angeles opened its doors. Catering to businessmen, bankers, theatergoers, and travelers, the Cecil started out as a home away from home for the city's high rollers. Then came the Great Depression. Times changed, and the hotel found itself in the middle of Skid Row. Awash in a sea of violent crime, drugs, and homelessness, the Cecil gained a dark reputation which remains to this day. Tales of murder, suicide, and serial killers are just one part of the hotel's checkered past. Some also claim that restless spirits haunt the rooms and hallways. Following the bizarre and tragic death of a young woman, whose body was found floating in a rooftop water tank, the Hotel Cecil once again found itself in the unwelcome limelight of public attention. Join Richard Estep of TV's "Haunted Hospitals" and "Paranormal 911" in an exploration of this iconic LA landmark's past, present, and future.

Genres: Paranormal, Horror, True Crime

151 pages, Paperback

Published April 11, 2021

About the author

I'm a 48-year-old child who has no plans to ever actually grow up.

I make my living as a paramedic, clinical educator, for a busy hospital system and work as a street medic in a 911 system.

In my free time, I serve as the director of the Boulder County Paranormal Research Society, and investigate claims of haunted properties, people, and objects on both sides of the Atlantic. I love to read, particularly SF/Fantasy, history and historical fiction, the paranormal, and basically anything that piques my interest. I appear on the TV shows Haunted Hospitals, Paranormal 911, Paranormal Night Shift, Haunted Case Files, and several others.

I am an avid video gamer, table-top gamer, and love to build Lego. My wife and I are the proud humans of five adopted rescue cats and one smelly but adorable dog.

Reviews

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first book by Richard Estep and it won't be my last. I really enjoyed his writing style and the way the book flows. A captivating, quick read with so much information that was never sensationalized. In fact, some of the most famous stories about the tragedies that happened at The Cecil have been " investigated" by thorough research by the author and he makes great cases for a non paranormal conclusion to the mysteries. I also appreciate his great background research into the "serial killers" who resided at The Cecil for awhile. Short and sweet, a really good read!

[Sara Evraets · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written, accurate information! Facts with article references to back everything up. The only thing I didn’t like about it, was I wish it was longer!

[Julie Kwiat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is based on the Cecil Hotel. This hotel is known to the public as “The Suiside”. Richard comes right out and tells you that first, he doesn't know if the Cecil Hotel is haunted and second, he admits it's going to be a short book. To complicate things, the owners of the hotel refused to let him go inside the place as a paranormal investigator so he tells you what he knows based on information collected from history of the Cecil Hotel and its assumed hauntings. I Already had an idea of the stories based on the American Horror Storie season 5 called “Hotel” Which is based on the Cecil hotel in real life. Many of the episodes featured in American Horror Story were mentioned in this book as actual events that took place in the hotel over the years. Most of the chapters center on the known murders and suicides that occurred at the Hotel Cecil. I really enjoyed his writing style and the way the book flows. I Easily finished this book from start to finish in one sitting. Creepy and capturing this book is a recommended read.

[Shannan · Rating 4 out of 5]

American Hotel Story - Richard Estep

This is my third book by Richard that I have read and it was just as knowledgable and engrossing as the first two. This book shorter than the others I have read, however no less a great read.
If any of you like myself love a Netflix documentary, such as Hotel Cecil then this book is for you- it is based around Hotel a Cecil normally Richard would go and assess the paranormal activities in the places he writes about or has evidence of the paranormal before writing, however the managers of hotel Cecil or “The Suiside” as the public know it, wouldn’t let Richard in to study the paranormal. Richard admits that right off the bat in the book.
Throughout this book Richard delves into the history of events that have occurred, such as the night stalkers stay in Hotel Cecil and other less famous but none the less interesting characters such as Pigeon Goldie.

This wasn’t my first by Richard and it definitely won’t be my last, as captivating as always.

[Stacey O'Brien · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not that interesting. Nothing happens

This book isn't really about a haunting of any kind. It asks the question as to whether the Cecil is haunted, and apart from a couple of individual experiences claimed by guests, there doesn't seem to be any real evidence that it is.

The history of the hotel and the area are interesting and tragic, so it's worth reading for that.

But it's not a book that describes a haunting.

I do greatly appreciate Estep's credibility and integrity. He doesn't conjecture or make dubious claims.

He is intellectually honest. I will read more of his books.

[Cecilia Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thin Story, Excellent Writing

The author comes right out and tells you that first, he doesn't know if the Cecil Hotel is haunted and second, he admits it's going to be a short book. He couldn't get a pass to go inside the place so he tells you what he knows. It's a very good history of the hotel with a little commentary on possible hauntings. I sure wish it was three times as long! But what's there is choice because he's a really good writer.

[Joanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Richard's books about hauntings, but this one was a little too grisly for me. Most of the chapters center on the known murders and suicides that occurred at the Hotel Cecil, and I had to skip those because I just don't deal well with true crime stories. I'd rather read about ghosts and paranormal investigations, which are featured towards the end of Richard's book. Definitely worth reading if you want to learn more about the Cecil's grim history, though!

[TAMMY WRIGHT · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love ghost stories. The only place I have visited that is haunted is the Sloth Furnace in Birmingham Alabama at Haloween. Didn't hear or see anything but I did talk to a maintenance worker that showed me where the man fell to his death and says he will hear him screaming as he is falling and to me that sounds scary to hear on the job.

[Rebecca Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Hotel Cecil has been a suicide hotbed for a long time. Before it became run down, the Cecil was a swanky place to hang out, located near the bustling business center. The recent deaths in the hotel, have brought a spotlight back to the hotel.

Interesting history and ghost story mix. I enjoyed this one!

[Leticia Bushong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great

This was another great read the information was very interesting. Though the author could not conduct a paranormal investigation as he usually does it was still just as good as two of his other books I've read.

[Douglas Reedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good history book.

I am quite pleased with the information enclosed in this book. There was no hyTpe and one-sided arguments on the evidence given to the reader.The author let's you make your own decisions.

[Staci Krominga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recommended read!

I love all of the books that Richard Estep writes! He never immediately says that something paranormal is happening and he uses common sense unlike some other authors. I highly recommend reading this book if you want to know the history behind the Cecil Hotel.

[Cheri Schaefer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the history! Very interesting read!

An enjoyable book! I totally enjoy Richard Estep's
books. I'm still getting through the ones he's written
so far. I would like to see him do some in St. Augustine.
Lots of good material there for his brand of ghostly
history!!!

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

All Hotels have ghosts.

I like the simple story telling as if you were being spoken to by the author.
I am glad that you are left to decide for yourself with facts and told what is conjecture.

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was expecting so much more for this book. It gets two stars for being historically accurate. But that’s it. Poor writing. The author has never even BEEN there. So he googled it and wrote a book. Highly NOT recommended.

[Sandy Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rounded to 3.5 stars. Interesting story and background on the Cecil Hotel

[debbie1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! As usual from Richard Estep a great read!

Great views and insight into the hotel. Not bias at all. Would definitely recommend to any paranormal readers out there.

[Juan Carrillo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Check in time

The history of the Cecil Hotel in LA is so rich with history and drama…this is a must read u will not regretted.

[Kirk Simpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hotel story

I really like his books but this one did not grab me I was hoping for more of what I do not know

[Janet evarts · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Hotel

I really enjoyed the history of the hotel. Also enjoy your books As I feel you are honest. Liked your thoughts about the death of main character.

[April Mucci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book fast read!

[Deanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book about the Cecil Hotel. I had heard about this place but never knew all the details till I read this book. Good read.

[Haley · Rating 3 out of 5]

As much history that the Hotel Cecil has, I felt like this book had a decent amount but not enough to satiate that want to find something new and not the sensationalized stories regarding the hotel.

[Chloe Mahon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m obsessed with unsolved mysteries, especially when it comes to Cecil hotel so this was an easy read for me. Even for someone who’s researched it a lot I still learnt new things from this book