I was disappointed in this title mainly because the marketing I saw portrayed it as more a collection of ghost stories. In actuality it was closer to a history book regarding the history of certain buildings. It did have a lot of interesting information, but unfortunately the way it was presented was a bit too dry for my personal liking. While history buffs or others more interested in this type of literature might enjoy it this book just wasn't for me.

The author offers the reader his examination of various infamous and lesser known haunts throughout the United States. He provides the history for his subjects as well as some opinion as to why they may have gained the reputation of being haunted in the first place.
This book is ideal for the skeptic and the believers alike. Nonfiction book clubs might enjoy coming to their own conclusions (or agreeing with the author) about how specific sites have gained their ghost stories.

I enjoyed some of the stories, but it ended up feeling very repetitive within a few chapters. "Here is a haunting, but here is the historically inaccurate and racist story behind it". People will pick this up expecting ghost stories, not the history of why they're not real.

*4 stars*

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

If you are looking for a scary book of ghost stories, this is not it. Instead, this is a detailed look at some of the most popular ghost stories in America, and explanations as to why they exist. The author takes a detailed look at the history of the story, the location, and many other factors in order to explain and debunk the myths themselves. It's a fascinating look at American history!

Dickey explores America's haunted places and divines what the supernatural stories we tell about them actually tell about us as a country. From houses to battlefields to jails, the stories change over time as we reinterpret out country's past and future. A thought provoking read written in a conversational style.

Dickey travels the country researching the historical back story on some of the most haunted houses in America. Who doesn't love a good ghost story?

Sadly, there's not much ghost story telling going on. In fact, the author doesn't even believe in ghosts and sets out to debunk the haunted houses featured in each chapter. I was expecting to read spine-chilling stories, but any semblance of apparitions and unexplained phenomena is quickly dismissed as local legend.

I did, however, enjoy the history behind several houses, especially Hawthorne's House of the Seven Gables. I was fortunate enough to tour this house and Dickey does an excellent job of describing the secret staircase that leads to the attic. Some of the other historical information is quite interesting, and definitely worth the read.