John B. Kachuba,
Ghosthunters: On the Trail of Mediums, Dowsers,
Spirit Seekers & Other Investigators of America's Paranormal World

(New Page, 2007)


I bought John Kachuba's book during a recent trip to the Suwannee River near Live Oak, Florida. The Suwannee, with its history and dark Spanish moss-covered banks, seemed to me the sort of a place where ghosts -- or at least their stories -- might exist, so while plying a nearby bookstore I picked up a copy of Ghost Hunter.

The writing in this book is top-notch. The text is crisp, smart and well-constructed. In addition, it has just the right amount of humor. I suspect the author could easily slip into more comedic fare if he chooses to pursue that avenue.

The 22 chapters are extremely varied in their content. This is also a positive thing. It is really a fun read, bouncing between Civil War cemeteries and haunted items for sale on eBay. It makes the book a real page-turner, keeping the reader's interest throughout the book.

I am bothered that the back cover proclaims the author as "neither a gullible believer nor a skeptical disbeliever." I find this misleading. I want a little skepticism in my ghost stories, but it seems to me, at the end of the day, Kachuba is a true believer. That's OK, but it disagrees with what I had been led to believe.

Buy this book if you have even the slightest interest in the subject. The breadth and depth of Ghost Hunters will satisfy. Highly recommended!




Rambles.NET
book review by
Michael L. Gooch


9 October 2010


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