The haunted history of American women is quite interesting and I loved hearing the stories of the different women and how they became ghost tales.
The author does believe in ghost and supernatural so you have to go in with an open mind about that and while I did disagree with her on several points regarding to the supernatural and when something cannot be explained otherwise, i still enjoyed the way she told the stories.

I would recommend it for anyone who enjoys a good ghost story! Perfect for dark fall/winter time.

Thanks to netgalley for giving me a copy of the audiobook!

3.5 stars! There are some good stories to go along with these ghosts...and there are some good ghosts to go along with these stories. A particular favorite was 'Ma' Greene, captain of the Delta Queen. There are also some tragic ones and here is where I think the book did a nice job of unpacking things. The authors are clearly interested in telling ethical ghost stories. There are important aspects of these victim's stories that really should be told and that had previously been glossed over in favor of a good haunting tale. For example, they tell the story about how the narrative surrounding one house's story about an enslaved person being called her master's mistress was rewritten to truly portray what happened. Efforts in this direction truly tell the victim's story instead of capitalizing on it. There are also many parts where their research revealed that this specific person never actually dies there...or never existed at all. It does sometimes stray into theory a bit heavily from time to time. This was less compelling for me because it seemed that they were just constructing new narratives instead of grounding them.. The audiobook was perfect for me because it was like a big long ghost tour and the narrator (Linda Jones) did a great job.

Ghosts. I love ghosts. I love stories about ghosts. I especially love historically charged ghost stories.

Look, I’m a believer and I appreciate that this book was written and narrated with fellow believers in mind. Many books like this come across as cheesy stories, but this one really takes it time to dive into the stories behind the hauntings in this book.

It’s really amazing how much was crammed into this book! I’m not sure what I was expecting but I definitely learned new information about some true crime events (Lizzie Borden comes to mind) and other historical events that don’t make the history books (Winchester Mystery House, anyone??). It also dives into issues such as race and gender equality which is amazing.

Overall I’m really happy with this book. There were some parts that felt drawn out unnecessarily which caused my eyes to glaze over but in the end I definitely enjoyed it. The narrator was amazing as well. The voice sounds into it, which isn’t always the case in books based on the supernatural side of things as a nonfiction read.

Thanks to NetGalley for the audio copy of this one!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

5 stars for content
3 stars for delivery
2 stars for the audio narration

This book was very interesting. I loved the backstories of the ghosts and how they show up in present day phenomenons but this got very textbook-y VERY QUICKLY. The subject and audio format, I should have flown through it but instead I slogged through trying my best. I didn't love the narrator, she was quite clinical in her delivery.

Overall it's a great book but stick to the print and take your time with it!

With the weather getting cooler, and the leaves starting to fall I was looking for a spooky read to usher in the Halloween season. "A Haunted History of Invisible Women" met that criteria. Leanna Renee Hieber and Andrea Janes present a number of American ghost stories and tales of folklore. Where their title differs from the "traditional" ghost story is the way the view the ghostly tales through a feminist lens. I absolutely love this. It takes a ghost story that we would tell around a campfire to spook our friends and makes you question why it is scary. Who is the person in the story? Why are we scared of this person? I never thought that ghost stories and ghost hunting was rooted in misogyny. Its not intentional, but the popular narrative is misogynistic. I absolutely love a nonfiction book that leaves me contemplating the theme well after I have finished it.

As an audiobook the pacing was strong. The narrator was a delight to listen to. I usually listen to book at a quicker speed and nothing was lost in the delivery when I did this. All around a well written and well read book!

The first book of its kind, A Haunted History of Invisible Women tells the story of America's female ghosts, the stereotypes, myths, and paranormal tales. It was a really good listen. The stories that it told were a good balance between commonly told ones and new ones. Even when telling a story that I thought I knew, it was nice to see Sara Winchester as a grieving woman and not crazy. Definitely worth buying.

3.75 stars

This book is very interesting. Typically I don’t like a book full of short stories since the stories are too short and the book feels like it drags on with too many stories. I feel like the stories were the proper length and they covered the necessary information to get the point across. I do feel like a story or two could be dropped from the book since it did get a little long near the end.

I really like that the authors chose this topic since I do think women are usually left out of this kind of history and/or people don’t understand that women were truly looked at as second class citizens. So their treatment was not the best and it makes sense why people would think they are still haunting their locations to this day.

The one comment that threw me for a loop and it was very awkward was when the authors stated people are just trying to make money off of other people’s sadness. Yes that is very true, but isn’t this book kind of the same thing? Maybe I’m wrong, but I do think this book will be making money off of other people’s experiences and tragedies.

Thanks NetGalley and publisher for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

3,5 ⭐️
It always feels awkward to rate nonfiction, especially when it discusses trauma, but still I really enjoyed it. My goal was to learn more and I did. It was also very interesting to hear some of these analysis and different perspectives on a subject like this one. However I feel like there were a lot of “we’re going to tell you this story” and not enough of “we’re going to analyse this story”. But it still does what it supposed to do.

This book is incredibly niche- but it is absolutely my niche! Hieber and Janes treat readers to a wide range of ghost stories all while relating each narrative to uniquely feminine struggles. The authors manage the tricky balance between paranormal tales and their very tangible counterparts in the material world. Neither being a skeptic nor a believer will get in the way of enjoying their analysis of why we continue to tell these stories.

My biggest issue with this book was the narrator. While she speaks clearly and is certainly good at her craft, her tone was a little too matter-of-fact. Throughout the book the authors constantly quip and deliver tongue-in-cheek descriptions that the narrator just plows right through.

Book: 4
Narrator: 3

If you want a book that is merely accounts of ghostly sightings, this isn't the book for you.

BUT, if you want several accounts of historically significant women, with a healthy dose of feminism, and a few spine-tingling tales, A Haunted History of Invisible Women is definitely for you.

In this book, we learn about the horrific history of women, and the supposed spectres they have left behind. I learned a lot of new things, such as the tragic Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. Predictably, there is a lot of information surrounding Salem, and some of the authors' insights gave me pause.

It is not surprise that co-author Andrea Janes gives ghost tours. Thanks to the expert narration of Linda Jones, you can close your eyes and imagine listening to these stories on a moonlit walk with a knowledgable tour-guide.

Highly recommended, especially if you enjoyed Colin Dickey's Ghostland (which is referenced a few times in this book).

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Amanda Lees for providing me with a complimentary digital audiobook ARC for The Haunted History of Invisible Women coming out September 27, 2022. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This book explores the lives of America’s most famous female women from gothic history, who wildly differ in class and circumstance. Whether they were widows, vengeful lovers, wronged prostitutes or innocent women, they all share one thing in common: they’re dead and possible ghosts.

A collection of different stories, this book features women such as Lizzie Borden and Mrs. Winchester of the infamous Winchester House. There’s also ‘Mrs. Spencer’ who haunted Joan Rivers’ New York apartment to Bridget Bishop, the first person executed during the Salem Witch Trials. Prepare yourself to learn a lot and be slightly terrified as you read about these infamous ghost women. 

I think there was definitely a modern mindset and bias placed on the writing of this book. I would’ve enjoyed it more if it was a little more unbiased and looked at from the historical perspective. I don’t think some of the modern perspectives and comparisons really fit. I think we can compare our society with the past societies, but I don’t think our modern way of thinking can be applied. They had different societies and ways of thinking, so it’s not really something we can judge, but we can learn from it in some way.

Also, I’m not sure how Lizzie Borden can really be considered a marginalized “invisible woman”. I wouldn’t really put her in the same category as women who turned to prostitution because they were poor. I know a lot of people talk about Lizzie Borden when discussing murderesses, but it’s a little confusing why she would be in this book.

I really enjoyed the other stories. I think they fit the theme of invisible women. I enjoy learning more about the Winchester house and Mrs. Winchester. I love the Salem witch trials because it demonstrates what happens when you go along with society’s mindset instead of thinking for yourself. The other stories were really interesting and I definitely learned some things. I thought the book was well-researched, but as I said, it feels slightly biased.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys learning about America’s pioneering women and ghost stories.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This interesting compilation of stories of ghosts, of apparitions, of places that harbor spirits was a well done and effective tale. The authors managed to convey both skepticism and belief in these spectral happenings as they explore the various places these occurrences have happened.

Ironically, most of the hauntings have been done by women, women who have been treated badly, used, and abused. Names like Lizzie Borden, Mrs. Spnecer (who haunted Joan Rivers's home in NYC), Mary Surratt, and a plethora of others are cited and discussed in the narrative. Traveling through the country, the author encountered many places where hauntings were reported and found some to be a money making hoax, and others to be unexplainable.

Some of the hauntings were terrifying and some of these places today are used for tours where many of the tour guides won't even enter into certain areas. The proverbial cold spot in homes is spoken of as well as the reasons behind why these women were compelled. in their own way. to right the wrong they felt they had been dealt.

The author herself tells of communicating with her dead mother and grandmother and forcefully shows the reader that these are not rare occurrences. I am sure many of us have some sort of messages from our loved departed. When my mother passed, I saw the dresses move in her closet and I knew she was still in her room, looking for something to wear. (she loved dressing up and was fastidious about her appearance)

I a believer and I definitely know I share my feelings with many others. As Shakespeare wrote in Hamlet, "“There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”

If you need a well done book to welcome in the season of ghosts and things that go bump in the night, this might be the one to chose. Thanks go out to Andrea Janes Leanna Renee Hieber , and NetGalley for a copy of this story narrated by Linda Jones.

This book is so much more than just your typical ghost stories! I enjoyed all the background that was given on these women and the parts of their stories that were likely to be fact vs fiction. This book makes a lot of good points about the way that women have been viewed now and throughout history.

Big thanks to the publisher @penguinrandomhouse (Citadel Books) for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This nonfiction book wasn't what I was expecting; it was better. The authors investigate well-known ghost stories more deeply than you might find in your average book of hauntings. This book seeks to do more than simply scare the reader. Instead, the authors reveal the social and psychological aspects of ghost stories, and more specifically what is revealed in the ways we discuss ghostly women. This is a lofty goal, but it was handled well and I was impressed by the authors' breadth of knowledge on this topic. While I was familiar with most of the stories, they were presented in a way that challenged my understanding. I particularly enjoyed how the book was organized into tropes, using the commonalities between the stories as a critical lens.

If you like ghost tours and / or the creepy podcasts a la “Lore”by Aaron Mahnke, this book is for you.

Take a look at the real life stories behind famous and infamous female ghosts, and examine how their actions in life were affected by their circumstances.

I enjoyed this book! It starred some characters who were new to me and some that I knew from popular ghost lore. I found that it sometimes gave me more info than I wanted, but overall a good book.

I listened to this book, and the narrator was good.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advanced copy of this book. The opinions expressed are my own.

This was an interesting account of various 'invisible' women in history. I liked how the collection of stories focuses on women in the margins or those relegated to myths, legends or monsters. There was great variety of stories and I found the history fascinating. Great on audio and recommended for fans of In defense of witches by Mona Chollett. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest reivew.

I really enjoyed this one. It was a fun read and so informative. I appreciate all the research that went into this great collection.

Unfortunately, this one just didn't hit for me and I DNFed at about 25%. I think I came in with a very different expectation about what the book would be. I imagined chapters deep-diving on specific ghost stories. But the first section was just an overview of the book itself (unnecessary, boring) and I felt uncomfortably like the author was trying to sell me a ghost tour rather than just telling me a series of ghost stories (which is what I was hoping for). Once we got into the actual chapters, the information was very high level. Covered the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire a bit, the beautiful stranger of the Hotel Del, etc. but didn't dive very deep into either.

That doesn't make it a bad book at all, but I was hoping for something more. Those who aren't familiar with these stories may find the book interesting. For those who've already heard about very famous things like the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire, I'm not sure this adds anything to the conversation.

A ghost story is more than the tale of a soul that has yet to leave this mortal coil. The life and afterlife of this person who was once living speak volumes about who they were and the obstacles that stood in their way.

The new non-fiction history book, A Haunted History of Invisible Women, by Leanna Renee Hieber and Andrea James, documents the narratives of women who were ignored in life, but speak to us in death. From the victims of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire to Lizzy Borden, and Mary Surratt, the book gives voice to the women whose souls remain on Earth.

It highly underscores the fact that females, then and now, are still limited simply because of the sex organs we were born with. By understanding who they were in physical form, we both make our world a better place and hopefully, allow these souls to ascend into the next life.

Do I recommend it? Absolutely.

I'm sorry, but this book is a mess and not what I was expecting at all. I was hoping to learn about these ghosts, their histories, and what is going on with them now. I didn't want social commentary. In fact, I had to abandon this audiobook and not finish it.

First, there are no "true stories of America's ghosts" as mentioned in the title. The "authors" mention a ghost and tell us that people have seen them. That's it. There's no real research or background into the people that became the ghost, the community, or the recounting from people at the time. They take a quote from someone who actually has qualifications and say that's research.

Second, there is too much of a rant on society's undervaluing of women. They are treated as objects. They only go to school to find a husband to take care of them. The ghosts haunt people because they weren't treated well in life by their community. While this is an important subject that could be the topic of a book on its own, this book wasn't it. I wanted to hear about ghosts, not getting hit over the head repeatedly with social commentary.

Third, as far as I can tell, the "authors" don't have any real qualifications in this area of study. They are not scientists or parapsychologists that have studied ghost sightings in different locations for many years. They are tour guides that have a script that they go off of while driving a tour bus around the city. And that's exactly how this writing comes across - disjointed, unorganized, and straying off the original topic.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for an ARC audiobook in exchange for an honest review. I wish it could've been more positive.