The Ghost Map is a very engaging book.
935261
I found the Ghost Map incredibly engaging--it chronicles the beginning of public health and of epidemiology in the context of London's Cholera 1854 epidemic.  The book is very well written--but I believe that it could have been much shorter and that a more aggressive editor could have tightened the narrative.

Nonetheless, this is a great read---it's history at its most compelling.
3670461
Once I started reading this book, I couldn't put it down! The pages just flew by. The author, a journalist, recounts his journey of exploration and research into the world of the supernatural - in particular, the existence of ghosts. Starting off basically as a skeptic, his travels lead him into all sorts of situations - some more baffling than others. On the matter of the existence of ghosts and an afterlife, he has discussions with a philosopher, a psychiatrist, research physicians, a priest/exorcist and a variety of ghost hunters; he interviews people who have had various experiences with ghosts; he travels to several places in England, the USA and even the Vatican; he participates in various investigations, including haunted houses, poltergeists, possessions and even examines the issue of Near Death Experiences. Throughout his researches he remains focused, objective and open-minded. He continuously reflects on what he's experiencing in his investigations, in light of the history of these various phenomena throughout the ages, looking for patterns. He even considers quantum physics (Uncertainty Principle) and string theory (multi dimensions) as possibly having the potential for eventually explaining these phenomena. Could it be that consciousness and the physical body are two separable entities? The evidence is there to be studied. The bottom line is that some of these events, as described, are simply not obviously explainable through conventional knowledge. This is an excellent book. The prose flows in a very friendly and engaging style. It should be of interest to skeptics and believers alike, as well as those simply interested in unsolved mysteries.
3937379
I found the book to have an excellent selection of photographs accompanied by a well-written text.  The authors writing is pithy and exciting. Both the writing and the photographs complement and enhance each other. As New York City's leading ghost host, I recommend the book very highly.
1497756
I love Ghost Hunters, but I wasn't really sure how I would feel about this book. I thought it might not translate well, as how can a description of a paranormal event really be anything like watching it happen? I actually loved the book, and thought it was really well written. I was very impressed, and am sure that I will read it again in the near future. Very fun, and very informative. I highly recommend this book.
2928648
I really enjoyed this book.  My son read it at school in his 8th grade English class.  He knows how much I enjoy a good ghost story and urged me to read it.  Even though there are no surprises it is still a good read.  It was clean, historical, and creepy enough to keep me interested.  Good stuff!
4621841
Philemon Abu Dhubhai is a teacher at a second tier private school.  As we find out from a bar fight they get themselves into at the beginning, he and his close friends (also teachers at the school) are all extraordinary in some way.  One friend is telekinetic and can lift someone off the ground without touching them.  Another is a sorceress who has a tendency to carry her pet flame around with her.  A third thinks that he is a knight.  A fourth is a street fighting nun.  Philemon himself is fabulously wealthy; at least his family is.  Although he has tried to distance himself from them, his relatives make sure his wallet is always full.

 Coming home from the bar, Philemon witnesses a ghost in the music room.  Fearing foul play, he finds one of his students is, indeed, dead - possibly murdered.  Since the sorceress had already shared a prophecy that they must all go on an upcoming quest together, he gathers his friends together to solve the mystery.

This is the first book by this author that I've read, and I found the setting intriguing.  The mixture of old technology with fictional abilities such as sorcery and telekinesis grabbed my attention immediately.  The author is able to keep sharing new information about the outlandish setting and unusual characters in a comfortable conversational style that spreads the explanations throughout the narrative without engaging in the massive infodumps that mar so many other authors' prose.  Events flow logically and inevitably through to a final confrontation that has grown to have galactic consequences.  The clear and vivid language evokes the action and surroundings without bogging the story down in detail.

At first, I was surprised that the book hasn't scored any better than the four stars.  I think, to a certain extent, it is because it was poorly aimed.  The cover looks like a juvenile or young adult book and, indeed, the fun style that the book is written in and the fast pace of events would seem to reinforce that.  In contrast, the relatively dark ending (only half of the main characters survive the story) and the existential angsting that the point-of-view character engages in, may deflect the interest of younger readers.  I would highly recommend it to older readers.
4355516
I thought the characters developed very well from the first book into this one. Enjoyed the way the "ghost" was worked into the story along with the history of the area. I highly recommended this book along with The Cavanaugh House.
323225
I enjoyed this story to the fullest. The author beautifully combined historical information about a small town in New Jersey, with a fun, believable ghost story. I loved how he described seeing the ghosts through a human's perspective and how he explained the limitations of their supernatural existence. I am looking forward to the next book in the series!
3375373
Good plot ghost story was awesome. Loved the history.  Perfect ending. It took me into the scenery I highly recommended
3845212
I has a great start that hooks you. The writing is easy to read and flows keeping you involved in the story. I use the kindle so it is neat to see the maps as you read the story. I am 1/3 through the book and know that I have to finish it because I am enjoying the story so much.
3325418
A very good read.  The editor blinked too many times for my taste, forcing me to slow down and untangle some of the language.  Also, the photos are not the best always, but the maps are very useful and the premises are excellent.
1075453
The  book  is aimed at and written for children around the sixth grade level,but I think anyone who is interested in  true ghost stories  would enjoy this.

Even though its  written for that age group, the language isn't at all simplistic.

Most of the ghost stories are  from well in the past, but are all well documented.
720914
I have enjoyed reading this book. This author explores the ghost tales and researches the historical evidence that will either verify the legend or prove it to be just a fictitious story. This approach is so different than most ghost tales. The historical evidence is fascinating. I highly recommend any book by this author. I will watch for any new books he puts out.
4235746
Threads of Malice, like its predecessor Ghosts in the Snow, is extremely compelling and engaging.  I couldn't put either of them down and read each of them in one sitting.  However, they are not for the squeamish.  Both books are very graphic and rather violent.

Durbric Byerly is the equivalent of a detective or inspector.  His particular quirk is that he sees ghosts. Now, these ghosts don't talk, but they communicate in other ways and, unfortunately, the ghosts are often ambiguous in their wants, needs, goals, stories, help etc... esp. when Durbric gets rash or impatient with them and reads them wrong.  In a region near Castle Faldorrah, young men are disappearing and turning up murdered.  Durbric and his small group of apprentices stay with friends in the region as they investigate the murders, which soon prove to be serial killings of the worst kind.  The region being investigated holds the part of the tale of Durbric's  personal history, beyond the death of his wife mentioned in the first book, and this history blends in with the current case.  While all of the "good" characters are focused on solving the crimes, there are a few subplots to advance the series.  One of the things I like about the books is that the answers to the puzzles and mystery do not come easy and the stumbling along the way seems honest, not contrived.
1278095
This was one of the best ghost books I have ever read! It has all the ghost stories that are so good, and also really cool history in short, easy to understand bites. The trivia is interesting and the ghost-hunts are really good, where the author makes fun of himself. This book got my sons interested in history, and that is priceless!
1771347
This book is very well designed and appealing to behold; I might even take it with me on my next long-distance move. The cover map is a beautiful design, and it is repeated a couple of the title pages. The paper is glossy and strong like some of the more expensive color illustrated textbooks and other travel guides. Unless somebody is an anti-war extremist, he or she should really like this book. When I live in the south, I frequently visit museums of early American history and sights of major conflicts, which are treasured there more so than in other parts of America, where history is a bit less authentic. So, Im sure this book will find a lot of interested readers in the southern region. I have visited fewer battlefields than I would have if a book like this was in my library. For example, the book includes many very detailed maps that show not only the progress of the troops, but also who commanded, died, and lived on the spots, with anecdotes about those characters that distinguished themselves. Without such a guide, a field is just a field and only somebody that closely researchers the period might imagine what happened and where. This guide invites casual readers to step into history. Civil War reenactors would probably really benefit from details like this. Perhaps its better than most guides because this is a second edition, which must have had some imperfections polished away. The authors are both guides, so it is written in a style that grabs interest and the intellect. The book is designed to take visitors three-days of exploration to follow from start to finish. I guess most people spend around a week on vacation, so this is probably the length of time somebody could physically spend in one region exploring markers and sights during this stretch. Each of these days matches one of the three days that the Battle of Gettysburg lasted. Carol Reardon is also a Professor of American History at Pennsylvania State University, and Tom Vossler is a retired colonel in the U.S. Army, and former director of the U.S. Army Military History Institute: this combination explains how they manage to have a sensibility to the lives lost and the leaders of the battle, while also researching the details with detachment needed for scholars to gain something as well. There are even photographs of the current houses and terrains with arrows pointing out what each of the markers was during the Battle. Anybody that has attempted to find something on a guides outdated map will appreciate the use of these modern-day photographic explanations.
 The only downside is that the information might blur together because of the repetition of the same sub-headings of sections: What Happened Here? Who Fought Here? and the like. While each of the stories is amusing or tragic, four hundred pages of this pattern is a bit weighty on the eyes. It might also be difficult to teach a book like this in a class because the information is pretty scattered rather than being organized based on themes of the clash.
This is definitely a vacation guide to be read like popular literature during leisure hours for the purpose of exploring the region. If you can get Reardon and Vossler to be your guides as you explore this book, the trip should be fun for any intellectual Civil War buffs.
1621364
I enjoyed reading Shadows Present, Shadows Past by J.H. Sanderson. I found it to be well-written for the most part. The simplicity of the tale and style in which it is written make the supernatural content seem quite realistic. There is obviously much controversy and divided opinion as to the existence of ghosts, but it's not difficult to find an abundance of creepy, unsettling places in this world with a reputation for being haunted. This author knows how to present the ghostly potential in a way that merges with the practical. I happen to think that is a responsible approach to exposing us to possibilities beyond what we see in everyday, shallow existence.

Also, I would be remiss if I didn't mention how the part of the story involving a horse pulling contest brought back some great memories for me. My grandfather was a logger and he took his teams of horses to such contests on the 4th of July in Pennsylvania. Never did I expect to read about this disappearing aspect of life in any novel, especially a ghost story. I thank the author for this tasty morsel.

I do recommend this book for an easy read on a fascinating subject.