Haunted Atlanta and Beyond: True Tales of the Supernatural

by William N. Bender

The history of Atlanta, like much of the South, is riddled with fabled stories of the gothic, tragic, and redemptive. Stories of ghosts that haunt the many public and private landmarks are legendary. From Civil War-era spirits to modern day mysteries, psychology expert William Bender provides an interesting twist to the strange logic of the haunted. The stories in this collection unite the everyday uncanny with the outrageous in ways that make one's hair stand on end. From jilted lovers to restless murder victims, from ghosts gone wild at a sorority house, to a creepy bed and breakfast boarder, these bumps-in-the-night tales prove to be more than the sound of a house settling or sheer happenstance. Whether you are a true believer or merely curious, Haunted Atlanta & Beyond presents a chilling and unique tour of Atlanta, Athens and other locales in northeast Georgia.

207 pages, Perfect Paperback

First published October 1, 2003

Reviews

[Iris Reign · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book when I was a child. Kids back then were obsessed with Goosebumps, but I was born in Athens, and this book claims to be at least loosely based on true events. My little brain ate both those things up.

To this day, I remember wandering into my little school's library, the scent of well-worn paper in the air. On an old bookshelf in the corner, there was a tiny nook that held the horror section for elementary school kids. On the top corner shelf were the few more serious ghost stories, kept high enough that the youngest kids couldn't reach them. The library card was fresh, though the pages already seemed old.

I took the book, and my little shoes patted the floor as I brought it to the librarian. "Does your mother know you're reading things like this? Won't you get scared?" they asked.

I shook my head because I was a little liar. The truth was ghosts are one of my biggest fears. Something you are mentally or physically incapable of resisting is a terrifying notion. To this day, the story about the bed & breakfast still digs its way into my memory from time to time.

It's difficult for me to say whether this book has held up to modern horror standards as I haven't read it in a very long time. But what I do know is that I myself am a writer now. This book, amongst others, has definitely left its impression on my own novels & stories.

Thank you for the frights and the memories.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like many books on this subject, this author retells tales from other writers who wrote down these stories years before. But the fact that he questioned one -- and led me to personally solve a mystery -- made me respect the book and to recommend it.

[Amanda L Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good book. I loved reading it.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book very interesting, mainly for the Georgia History. I am still on the fence on whether I believe in the Paranormal. I did visit one location in his book (The Wrens Nest) where I took a photo of a window from the outside where an orb (2nd opinion from somewhat reliable source says yea) showed up in the window of my photo. Weird.....

I also must note that there were sooo many typos in this book, it was just more than I have ever seen in a published work!