Lock the doors, draw the curtains, and light a candle as you join author John Kachuba on a guided tour of Illinois’s most terrifyingly haunted places. Your hair-raising journey will take you to: • Old State Capital, Springfield — Lincoln lay in state here before his burial in Oak Ridge Cemetery. Could his ghost haunt the spot where his body lay? • Harpo Studios, Chicago — When the Eastland steamer capsized in 1915, the building served as a temporary morgue. Oprah’s employees have encountered the ghosts of the victims, including the “Gray Lady” who floats through the halls. • And many more scary sites. Maps and travel information are provided to every haunted location for those brave enough to make the journey in person.
interesting but disappointingApril 12, 2008 I am an avid Ghosthunters fan (TAPS on SciFi). I purchased this book hoping it would give me specifics about paranormal investigations/haunted locations in Illinois. The book is interesting in that it provides several locations that are reputed to be haunted. However, it is more disappointing in that the book offers no evidence of any investigations or "hunts". In every site story that I have read so far, I see a lot of the word "maybe" and or "perhaps". The author has clearly visited the sites, but has not had any personal experiences himself to build on -- he merely repeats stories he has heard from locals.
I would like to have seen something more from this book -- but it does still make me curious.
If you like the facts, not a made up story.... this book is for you.November 5, 2006 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I decided to try this book, as I seem to have almost every other book written about ghosts in the Chicagoland area. What I most enjoyed about this book, is that John lives in Ohio. So he was a visitor to our state, while researching stories for his book. It was very well written, with pictures he provided. I enjoyed his writing so much, that his book on Ohio ghosts is in my wish list and I purchased his recommendation on the Indiana ghosts. I also appreciated that he contacted other ghost hunters and referenced them in his book.
Ghosthunting IllinoisJune 21, 2006 3 out of 3 found this review helpful
John Kachuba is really good at telling
the places that he visited. Each story is
fasinating and he gives some interesting history
on the haunted places
~SkUrVy
A memorable reading experience!February 25, 2006 2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This is a fine book about ghosts. What is most important about the author's book is its straight-ahead, honest approach to the topic. His comments and thoughts on ghosts, and their locale, is refreshingly enjoyable. The writing is concise and entertaining. This is an excellent reference on Illinois ghosts. John Kachuba is a first rate writer with a keen sense of the macabre, and he knows how to write about the paranormal!
A Book With A Personal TouchFebruary 13, 2006 6 out of 6 found this review helpful
I decided to purchase this book on a whim and I was pleasantly surprised. Most paranormal location books offer little more than brief historical overviews of each location and then the associated ghost story. In "Ghosthunting Illinois," Kachuba takes a more hands-on approach in that he's visited the locations personally. His book offers some historical information, the associated ghost stories, and interviews with people associated with the location (owners, tenants, parishoners, etc.). Beyond that, he also describes his trek through these locations by expressing how he felt, what he saw, etc. An even more compelling reason to purchase this book is the fact that it's very well written which stands to reason considering the author is a "creative writing" professor. Additionally, the book holds your interest and the chapters are short so it's a great "quick chapter before bed" type of book.
