Misguiding title but still an interesting subject

Misguiding title to say the least, expected a lot more of the paranormal. interesting case but somewhat arrogant author.

8 people found this helpful

Interesting story but

Interesting case but I did not like the way the story was told. It listed a series of events in a monotonous clinical way, very straight forward. No suspense, I did not feel scared.

3 people found this helpful

Skilled Narration, Interesting Story

Any additional comments?

This book is written like a literature review on the house on Lindley Street - the author, a professional magician in an effort to debunk the rumors about the haunted house on Lindley Street in Bridgeport, CT, draws his content from news articles about the home and first hand reports from documented police reports, paranormal research, and taped interviews with paranormal investigators, police, clergy, and the residents living in the home, the Goodin family, as the events actually unfolded over 40 years ago. It seems very scientific, not at all sensational. At first I didn't know what to think of this as it wasn't your standard atmospheric story of a haunted house - no mood music, no inflection to heighten what should be scary or supernatural... just Stephen Thorne's detached, neutral tone. I think he did Mr. Hall's book a great service with his excellent narration. If you want a neatly wrapped up story, you will be sorely disappointed. William Hall lays out what was available to him for his readers and leaves it to them to draw conclusions about the extraordinary and supernatural phenomena occurring in the Lindley Street home.



SPOILER ALERT:

My favorite passage was not one of the countless supernatural events occurring in the home, but rather, the conversation recorded between Ms. Goodin and the paranormal investigator who was trying to convince them they should all seek counseling as living in the house was clearly traumatizing for them. She wasn't having it and no amount of logic and empathetic reasoning could convince her that maybe they should give it a try. I don't know how Mr. Thorne was able to keep a straight face and continue narrating this particular passage in a completely neutral tone. I would have been compelled to give the voices character and inflection.

7 people found this helpful

Not what I thought it was gonna be

I was pleasantly surprised that this was more of a biography of the house than a story itself. If you’re a fan of the Sinister/Annabelle movies, you’ll enjoy this book!

2 people found this helpful

Save your money

It was a pretty mediocre story. Pretty disappointed, going to be submitting a refund on this one.

2 people found this helpful

heavy on the details

Very detailed recap of this very unusual series of events. This is the first book I've listened to about paranormal activities. The author did a good job of gathering information from a wide variety of sources.

5 people found this helpful

Superb!!!

Would you listen to The World’s Most Haunted House again? Why?

I've already listened twice, and read in hardcopy three times!

What did you like best about this story?

The dark journalism kept me on the edge of my seat!

What does Stephen R. Thorne bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He didn't. Plainly, the narrator didn't capture the scary edge to this book.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Both, but mostly it gave me the chills horror lovers crave.

Any additional comments?

If you haven't read William J Hall, you've really missed out! He's scary because he gets to the hard facts of a story in a fine journalistic way others don't. I couldn't put it down. Even better in hardcopy.

1 person found this helpful

very informative!

Really enjoyed hearing all the evidence and theories on this house. Very interesting and entertaining. truly enjoyed it!

Exceptional look into a forgotten incident.

DO NOT listen to the reviews saying this "wasn't scary" as that is not the point of this book (though I would argue it DOES get verrry creepy). These "reviewers" wanted a scary movie, not a non-fiction account of a real haunted house. If you believe this incident was real or not, William J Hall does a very good job delivering the facts. I'm shocked this isn't as famous as The Amityville Horror or the Belle Witch. Stephen R Thorne is the perfect narrator here. A perfect mix of news reporter and actor when needed. If you like true unexplained tales of paranormal phenomena and liked to be creeped out... this one is for you. Though I must say the story of the Daughter is a sad one... and WHY did they leave her in that house and put her through the potential danger of injury? Surely someone could have taken her in? But I guess the mother was too controlling and would have never had let that happen. Just get this book... wow.

A factual book. Not a spooky one.

An incredible event like this, deserves a better re-telling. It was factual, which is good. There’s no hyperbole. I just feel like it could have been told in a more interesting way. It was a little disappointing.