Fact & Fiction Paranormal Books Of 2023

In 'Paranormal Cardiff', Mark Rees, a seasoned journalist in Welsh arts and culture, delves into the supernatural aspects of Cardiff, one of the world's most haunted cities. The book, part of Amberley's Paranormal series, explores ghostly theatres, castles with vengeful spirits, haunted manor houses, and even ghost stories linked to Cardiff's sports stadium and the streets of Llandaff. Mark's journey also uncovers lesser-known hauntings and modern paranormal cases, including a séance conducted by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and the antics of a poltergeist named Pete.

In 'The Elements Of Epping Forest', Penny Griffiths-Morgan explores Epping Forest through a blend of paranormal and historical lenses. Drawing on her Essex roots and her experience as a local historian on the TV show 'Help! My House Is Haunted', Penny presents the forest as a storied entity, rich in royal, criminal, and supernatural narratives. The book is structured around the four classical elements, linking them to different aspects of the forest's history and mysteries. Penny delves into the forest's past, from Queen Boudica's era to World War narratives, intertwining these with myths and paranormal tales. She remains skeptical but open to the forest's mysterious energy, balancing the narrative to engage both enthusiasts and skeptics. The book includes personal paranormal investigation experiences, detailed historical accounts of tragedies and crimes, and a look at the forest's portrayal in literature. Penny's approach blends history and the supernatural, appealing to readers interested in both fields.

In 'Into The Uncanny', Danny Robins, celebrated for his BBC Sounds podcast 'Uncanny', takes readers deeper into the paranormal with four new, thoroughly examined cases. Known for captivating storytelling that resonates with both skeptics and believers, Danny infuses the book with thoughtful analysis and his unique humor. 'Into The Uncanny' reflects on Danny's career in paranormal podcasting and introduces cases beyond the constraints of his podcast episodes. These include a director's eerie experience in a 'misbehaving kitchen' in Rome, mysterious phantom horse sounds in Aversham, a spine-chilling Ouija board prediction, and an enigmatic extraterrestrial sighting in Middlesbrough. Danny's exploration goes deep, drawing on historical parallels and theories such as the Stone Tape Theory and Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP), making the book a rich and intriguing read for anyone fascinated by the paranormal world.

In 'Women Of The Paranormal Volume I: A Brief History', author and paranormal investigator Alex Matsuo highlights the significant yet often overlooked contributions of women to paranormal and psychical research. As the founder of the Association of Paranormal Study, Alex is well-versed in the field and uses her expertise to profile influential women in paranormal history. The book features prominent figures like Eleanor Sidgwick, a founding member of the Society for Psychical Research, and Lorraine Warren, known for her investigations of the Amityville Horror and the Annabelle doll. It also sheds light on lesser-known contributors like Eileen Garrett, a scientifically studied medium, and Louisa Rhine, a pioneer in parapsychology. Alex's goal is to make paranormal history accessible to all readers, from novices to seasoned investigators, and to inspire more women to engage in paranormal investigating. By focusing on these women's stories, Alex seeks to educate readers about their pivotal roles and encourage further exploration and recognition of women's contributions to the field.

In 'Paranormal Northumberland', Rob Kirkup, a well-known local author and ghost hunter, delves into the ghostly lore and spectral history of Northumberland, a British county rich in myths and ancient mysteries. The book presents a collection of eerie tales and paranormal incidents from Northumberland's historical landmarks, including haunted castles, open spaces, and sacred sites. Featured stories include the haunting of Bamburgh Castle by a green lady, the ghostly presence of John Sage at Chillingham Castle, and the Schooner Hotel, reputedly haunted by sixty ghosts. 'Paranormal Northumberland' is an illustrated exploration of the county's ghostly inhabitants and paranormal phenomena, making it a fascinating read for those interested in the supernatural. Rob Kirkup's expertise, gained from over fifty paranormal investigations and several published works, solidifies the book as an authoritative guide to the region's haunted heritage. The book is part of Amberley's 'Paranormal' series and is available in various formats for those eager to uncover the chilling secrets of Northumberland.

Yvette Fielding, a television ghost hunter and author, brings a new adventure in her children's series 'The Ghost Hunter Chronicles', with the third book titled 'The Witches of Pendle'. This installment intertwines the historical witch trials of Pendle in 1612 with a modern narrative, where a family's disturbance of a witch's bottle in their new Pendle house unleashes the spirits of those persecuted during the notorious witch hunts. The young heroes, Eve, Clovis, and Tom, guided by Professor Rufus, face the challenge of battling these vengeful spirits, aiming to prevent them from possessing the descendants of their persecutors. Inspired by Yvette's own harrowing experience during a live broadcast from Pendle Hill in 2004, the book draws on the eerie atmosphere and reported unexplained phenomena from that investigation. 'The Ghost Hunter Chronicles: The Witches of Pendle' combines real-life paranormal experiences with fiction, continuing the series' thrilling escapades for young readers.

Explore the eerie and enigmatic haunted locations of Auckland city, New Zealand's largest urban area, through a book that delves into its paranormal past and present. This comprehensive guide compiles stories, urban legends, and firsthand accounts from various regions of Auckland. The content is meticulously sourced from the case file archives of Paranormal New Zealand, enriched with field notes and authentic eyewitness reports from individuals who have encountered unexplained phenomena in these spooky sites. This book is designed to captivate a wide range of readers, from skeptics to firm believers in the paranormal, sparking curiosity and debates. It promises to provide an eyebrow-raising journey filled with chilling discoveries, making it an intriguing read for anyone interested in the mysterious aspects of Auckland's haunted history.

In 'The PSI Mind in Action', Robert A. Charman delves into the remarkable capabilities of the human mind to influence the physical world. This book builds on Charman's previous work, exploring phenomena such as hands-on healing, psychokinesis, poltergeist activities, and map dowsing. It presents compelling evidence, including experiments showing mice with fatal cancer tumors recovering fully through healing, and EEG studies indicating synchrony between healer and patient brainwaves. The book also discusses the impact of group Transcendental Meditation on crime rates and community well-being, intriguing cases of poltergeist activities linked to mental activities, and extraordinary instances of psychokinetic phenomena, including an experiment where a table moved and levitated due to collective mental energy. Additionally, it covers verified out-of-body experiences, the mysterious disappearance and reappearance of objects, and a case of successful map dowsing for a stolen harp. Charman suggests these phenomena indicate a need to reevaluate our understanding of the mind's interaction with the physical world, highlighting our potential to actively influence and change outcomes.

'Weirdly Queer' by Ken Summers is a groundbreaking exploration of the LGBTQ perspective in the context of paranormal, occult, and mysterious phenomena. The book delves into the historical presence and contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals in fringe research and unexplained events. Ken examines a wide range of topics, from the early days of the Society for Psychical Research and Spiritualist mediums with sexual undertones to accounts of lesbian alien abductees, encounters with sexually aggressive cryptids, and queer Hippie witches. This narrative reveals the often overlooked queer stories embedded within the enigmatic and astonishing aspects of our world. It highlights how gender expressions transcend biological limitations and emphasizes that the true monsters may lie hidden within the darker aspects of humanity. 'Weirdly Queer' offers a unique retelling of these stories, bringing them to the forefront and shedding light on the queer dimensions of the paranormal and mysterious.

In 'Haunted Britain: Spiritualism, Psychical Research and the Great War', Kyle Falcon explores the profound psychological and supernatural impact of the Great War on the British Empire. The book examines how shell-shocked soldiers experienced waking nightmares filled with ghastly figures, reliving the war's horrors. It also delves into the cultural response, with modernist writers condemning the war as a desecrating experience. Despite this, many soldiers and their families turned to spiritualism, engaging in séances, seeking solace in prophecies, and reporting ghostly visions in dreams and photographs. On the battlefields, soldiers often attributed their survival to supernatural forces, experiencing premonitions and believing in angelic or psychic intervention. For a significant number, the war became an 'enchanting' experience that reinforced the existence of another world and the transcendental capabilities of the mind. The book narrates how, between 1914 and 1939, ghosts and spiritual experiences occupied the minds of British subjects as they grappled with the unprecedented scale of death and its impact on their communities.

'Probing Parapsychology: Essays on a Controversial Science' by Grant R. Shafer offers an in-depth exploration of parapsychology, a field often mired in controversy due to its focus on phenomena like extrasensory perception, psychokinesis, and concepts suggesting life after death. These phenomena, collectively referred to as "psi", challenge the prevailing notion of physicalism, the belief that all aspects of reality can be fully explained through physics. The book presents a collection of essays by authors from various academic backgrounds, providing a comprehensive overview of the parapsychological field. It traces the evolution of parapsychology from its roots in prehistory, through its establishment by intellectuals opposed to physicalism, to its current postmodern state. The essays include both experimental and theoretical analyses of parapsychological phenomena. This book positions parapsychology as a potentially revolutionary science that may shift the dominant philosophical paradigms of science since Newton and offers insights for readers intrigued by the spiritual dimensions often dismissed by contemporary scientific discourse.