Book received from NetGalley

This book is one of my guilty pleasures; I have a thing for "true" ghost stories. This book was a bit different than what I usually read though. I like to find ghost books in an area that I have been to and read up on the folklore. This book, however, looks at many different areas in and around Utah. It is also from the point of view of various law enforcement members who have seen things that just can't be explained while doing their jobs. I enjoyed reading about the different apparitions and unusual occurrences that were discussed; the plus was that I don't think I have heard any of these stories mentioned in other books. It's always nice to hear/read something new in this genre. This book would be a great one to pick up especially now that it has hit October and the "spooky" time of year.

Fingerprints and Phantoms by Paul Rimmasch is a fascinating look behind the scenes of criminal investigations, and the weirdness that may ensue. There are stories here of the clearly paranormal, stories of mistaken identity, and stories of the just plain weird and unusual. Each chapter is its own story, relayed in true storyteller fashion. While Rimmasch recounts the paranormal or quasi-paranormal aspects, he also shares more technical aspects of the job, which I enjoyed just as much. I love talking to officers about the unusual things they've encountered.

I adored Rimmasch's witty, engaging style. This was a fun read, less technical, and more simple sharing of the fascinating and inexplicable things that these techs and officers came across. This is a perspective I haven't found in all the many books our family has on folklore and the paranormal. 'Who Ya Gonna Call’ was priceless. It was very clever of the officers to handle the situation by humouring the lady and 'busting’ the ghosts. Also, the fact he was handed a baby owl while picking up a snack.

I appreciate Rimmasch’s candor in discussing the gallows humour inherent in this work. I started my studies in forensics, and can definitely appreciate such humour. Hospital workers and EMTs have similar (been there, too). You can't face trauma day after day without that humour. You'd go insane, and burn out quick. But it isn't something commonly discussed because the average joe might freak out at the perceived inappropriateness. I love that he pokes gentle fun at the absurd timelines of CSI shows, as well as their other unrealistic aspects. It's true. The work is not that excitingly action packed, nor are the cases solved in a day, as they so often seem to be on these shows. Don't get me wrong! I love CSI, and similar shows, but I'm well aware of the truth behind the flash.

If you enjoy folklore type books of the strange and unusual, Fingerprints and Phantoms is well worth checking out!

***Many thanks to Netgalley and Schiffer Publishing for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I suspect the marketing strategy of this book might result in disappointment for a lot of potential readers. It seems to me that the title, blurb, and the cover all strive to give the impression of a chilling expose of paranormal happenings. Such is not the case.

Most of the stories here fall firmly into urban myth or folklore territory. Something good to tell around the campfire or with a flashlight held under the chin during an unexpected power outage. The kind of story that is "absolutely, positively true because it happened to my friend's brother's roommate's cousin." Fun in the moment with no real follow up.

About halfway through the book the author changes it up a bit by giving more set-up to each story, framing them around the experiences he's had as a longtime member of a CSI team. These fact vs. fictional perceptions really save the book from being just a tedious retread of run-of-the-mill ghost stories. It's those sections that really come alive and make it interesting.

This is an okay book. If you want some old school ghost stories told in a milder way it might be right up your alley.

There is no foul language. With the exception of some brief crime scene descriptions there is nothing particularly graphic. Suitable for all but the most sensitive reader.I

***Thanks to the author, the publisher, and to NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this title.

Frightening? Not really. Strange? ...possibly.

I think the blurb is horribly misleading. I wish that the forward would have been the blurb for Fingerprints and Phantoms instead of what the publisher put on the back. I think it does a better job of summarizing and expressing the feel of the book.

The forward from the editor reads: “The author’s light hearted insights into and experience in the world of crime scene investigation make this read doubly fascinating. He is a sort of James Herriot for the CSI world.” It also states that the reports “make few claims” and “sometimes they poke fun at themselves.”

I love that she calls him a James Herriot of CSI. If you don’t know, James Herriot was a British veterinary surgeon. He wrote compilations of stories about his practice, experiences, and the people and animals he encountered along the way. Self-depreciating and humorous, his works were a great example of folksy storytelling.

Fingerprints and Phantoms follows this same style. It's not really a scare-you-silly kind of book. It's a collection of stories taken from various people that the author has worked with in his many years of being a crime scene investigator. It presents word of mouth experiences and very little evidence. That doesn't stop it from being a fun read though.

Each chapter begins with a peek inside the CSI world. Filled with a lot of paperwork and standing around, it's not the thrill a minute excitement that you see in TV dramas. The author dispels these notions and then uses this to segue into the actual story. Each story is given its' own chapter, which makes for a quick read.

Sometimes silly, sometimes weird, the stories aren't necessarily paranormal in origin. Even so, the stories are quirky and fun. The author does a superb job of narrating and sets an easygoing conversational tone. The chapters are short so you can chop up your reading time if needed. It's a terrific read for days where you know you'll be interrupted often: doctor's appointments, commutes, etc.

Subtitled: True Tales of Law Enforcement Encounters with the Paranormal and the Strange
Told in a folksy downhome style, this is a collection of stories purported to be encounters with ghosts and such, although many lack any. Much of the first chapter has nothing more than “feelings” backing up the title. I’d hoped it would get better in that respect, but in the first third or so the most we get is a haunted hotel elevator.
The best chapter was the one about the shape-shifting dogs of South El Lay. It also seems to be the only unexplained phenomenon that didn’t happen in Utah.
One story involving a Halloween-laden murder might have been creepy due to the surroundings, but also had no paranormal trappings to it. So why is it in here? Similarly there’s a story about a woman who died for no apparent reason—at the time; autopsy findings are not mentioned—on a sidewalk after a shopping trip that cost the most famous three-digit number around. That superstition is the most ghostly thing in the story. It feels like cheating; it annoys me.
It isn’t till the end that the author mentions this is more of a book on folklore than actual paranormal. I will agree that his intention was not to prove ghosts exist, but after reading the title and subtitle, it seems disingenuous.

This is my first time reading a book about cops and the supernatural. The book was slow in some spots, but it was an interesting read. The stories are from various people which is nice as it gives perspectives from more than one person. If supernatural and cops is something you like to read about, you should enjoy this book. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC of this book in return for my honest review.

This book was interesting as it combined police work and paranormal experiences. I have to admit that I didn't know if I would enjoy this or not due to the unique subject manner, but I loved it.

These stories are great, especially since police officers could be considered reasonably reliable witnesses. I enjoyed them a lot!

I requested and received this book for free from Netgalley.

This book calls itself "more a collection of folklore" and alludes to these stories being more like campfire stories than actual "scary" or "explain-away-with-logic" stories. It does fall somewhere in the middle, or at least it did for me. Because I can kind of be a giant chicken, ymmv.

That said, I found this compulsively readable and really enjoyable. The author's voice comes through in the stories really clearly, but I think this works in the book's favour. It's like being told stories by a very friendly acquaintance or stranger. The fact that this takes the viewpoint of and shares story from those involved in law enforcement adds a certain level of interest as well, or at least it did for me, someone who watches Criminal Minds entirely too much.

I consider this a solid (and quick) 4-star read, and would be interested to read more book like this in future. (Even just more stories from those in law enforcement, without the ghosty bits.)

An interesting and fun to read book about paranormal and crime investigations.
It's well written and I liked the different stories about unusual or paranormal occurrences.
Recommended if you like ghost and paranormal stories.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.