True Haunting

I have to admit, that, even though I've been using Amazon for quite some time, I do not normally write reviews about books. Whether they are good... or bad.... I never really write reviews about them. However, I believe that this case is an exception. To explain why, I would first have to explain a little bit about myself. Although anyone would love this story. From the opening pages of this book, it holds one's attention... And then keeps it all the way until the back cover! Let me give you some background into WHY exactly I found this book so interesting. If "you" are not interested, and just want to know about the book, just jump to the end.Background:In nearly the same timeframe in which Mr. Becker had bought the house in this book (I don't use the term home for a reason...). My own family bought... and lived in... an incredibly haunted house of our own! I have never shared my own story, because, to be blunt, it makes the Amityville Horror look like a joke! Oftentimes people ask if I had "called" someone in to help with this house. But there were few people around to help with such issues back in those days. And, I wouldn't have wished anyone else deal with the hell which I went through while living there (either)! So, I have not contacted, or brought anyone in to check the place out. Nor have I brought in any of those groups which I have volunteered my time with, entirely free of charge, over these many years. Except for receiving some friendly... helpful advice from persons with vastly more experience than my own such as the incomparable Mrs. Lorraine Warren and the like! Nor would I wish any of those people to experience the nightmares, and/or "nightmare like" conditions which I have experienced throughout my entire life because they have entered this house(either)! Like others who have experienced such phenomena, I have been "unofficially inducted" into the field of the paranormal/preternatural areas of investigation. Not by choice apparently.... By design... I have tried my best since those days (late nineteen sixties, early seventies) to help in this field wherever and whenever my day jobs (the United States Justice Department, The United States Military among other endeavors) would allow. So why, might one ask, would I... after experiencing such phenomena myself... seek out a book regarding somebody elses experiences? Well, let me explain further, by jumping all the way up to the early 2000's...Up until the time of those horrific terrorist attacks on 2001, I had tried to work in this field in a rather "nonchalant" manner... Meaning, that I did not, and really STILL do not, wish to draw attention to myself in regards to the paranormal/preternatural fields of interest. Although I didn't wish to draw attention to myself, as I have a day job which I have previously mentioned... A fundamental change to my way of thinking and doing business in regards to the paranormal had come about during what I would term as nothing less than a "global paranormal awakening".... With recent world events filling those endless twenty four hour news' cycles' occupying everyone's minds with just about everything from terrorist attacks, regional warfare, genocide... Not to mention one "natural" occurrence after another taking place.... It seemed as if people were more interested in paranormal interest than ever before! And for good reason (too)! With the advent of paranormal television programming, the computer age, social media sites etc... We have never been closer to that "global awakening" than ever before! Nowadays, anyone with a computer can reach out to other people in this field to share information, methodology (areas of field study), and investigation... Not to mention sharing evidence with one another! Now I know that people have ALWAYS been interested..., even infatuated with the paranormal.... But for the most part (though)., people had kept those interest to themselves. Perhaps because they didn't want to be considered an oddball, or a neighborhood kook or something?! With this "seemingly" new found interest in the field of the paranormal, an whole new crop of television shows had suddenly come out of the woodwork to play to those interests. Keep in mind if you would, the fact that... they wouldn't even produce these television shows unless people were REALLY interested in this concept! This field of study... Nor would they put on so many "Para-Con's"... and other "paranormal" events wherein "like minded" individuals can get together to share their experience and experiences. Unlike the previous "spiritualist" movements of the past.... This "seemingly" new found interest in the paranormal has never really waned though... And, like I said, I found myself talking, helping, sharing, and interested in the other people which have been working in this field. Suddenly, I too had access to other people whom had been working so diligently in this field for decades!So, except for a little neighborly advice from people that'd been in the field for decades... I had pretty much kept away from others working in this field. Nor had I read many "personal" tell-all books or watched movies on this subject(as hard as that is to believe).Back to the Future:Everyone is stressed these days right? Well I'm certainly no exception to the rule! Ever since dealing with the haunting which I have eluded to, I have been interested in the great outdoors. I have always been a long range hiker. And now, today, I am a true, lightweight "thru-hiker".... When I was younger, being outside was better than being in a haunted house, let me tell you! While I had gotten into the great outdoors as a way of staying away from a haunted house... These days, I happen to love the outdoors for a whole variety of reasons (which i will not go into here). Anyways, I had always wanted to hike the Appalachian Trail... And, with a few thru hikes out of the way... I decided that I should finally prepare myself for that particular thru hike... Oddly enough, this is the closest one to my home! It is a six month, 2,180 mile hike, during which, one travels up and down mountains and hillsides... Across "balds"..., and down into gulley's, valleys, and "notches"... After waiting years to scrimp up enough cash... save enough "leave time" etc... I had everything together. Needless to say, when one is going to walk thousands of miles across the country, they have to chose their equipment very carefully! They have to cautiously choose those items which will have the most "purpose to weight ratio"... so to speak... And carrying some heavy book wasn't exactly on that list! Although I didn't read about others so-called experiences in the paranormal, I was still an avid book reader (though). And I was deeply upset over the notion that I would have to sit thru every single night, all by myself (out in the wilds), without anything good to read! If one actually has the time to read a book, it's usually one of the map/guide sets which the Appalachian Trail Conservancy sells. And even then, one has to tear out the pages of said book, and then "mail" those pages to their next location of resupply (town or small burg along the way; where once again, one has to tear out the next few pages and then throws the remaining portion into another box, only to meet up with that "bounce box" at the next town and so on and so on). What does this have to do with Edwin F. Becker's book? Well let me tell you...Like I said, I hadn't read more than two books regarding "other peoples" personal encounters with the paranormal... That is until Edwin's book hit the shelves. This book "coincidentally"... If you believe in coincidences that is... Hit the shelves right around the time of my thru hike. And I carried the pages of this book thru nearly the whole thing!About the actual book:Now... One might think that it would be better if one didn't read a book about a true life haunting when one happens to be sitting in the dark (in the cold... it's wet outside... one is tired, in pain, hungry etc...). But that is exactly what I did! Something about the cover of Edwin's book had caught my eye. It "rang true"... I had previously seen the cover of this book and had debated with myself about purchasing it. I would have to send a few pages to myself over time etc... And that is a real pain in the A&% let me tell you... But, I opened it to the first few pages, where I read how Edwin F. Becker explained how he REFUSED to tell this story in any other way, other than the absolute truth. And how, he had chosen NOT to allow some editor to manipulate him.... Right after that, Edwin grabbed a hold of me by explaining his story... It's the early 1970's... And this was the first televised "haunting" etc... His home was almost exactly like my own... With "good" ghosts and "bad" ghosts... Now, other writers are often too "technical"... And, while Edwin explains his story in great detail... It was the way that he wrote this story which enabled me to read it even though I was "dead tired".... No pun intended... And still enjoy the prose. I felt completely caught up in the story in a way that I hadn't been in a very long time! I found myself "literally" savoring one page after another as the story develops. This man went thru so many of the same things I had been thru. But even if I had not... This story was so damned interesting, that I couldn't tear myself away! I found that I was going to bed much later than normal, which is a very bad thing when one has to get up at five in the morning to start hiking their next days journey! But Edwin Becker made me feel as if I were there, purchasing this home, making the same mistakes... Suddenly, I was remodeling my own home again... Thoughts, which I had kept simmering on the back burner were once again, foremost on my mind!Like I said, a thru-hiker has to oftentimes, mail the next chapter to themselves along their route otherwise the weight would be prohibitive. Ounces are pounds in the end after all! And, I found myself walking along the trail... faster and faster... just so I could find out about the little old Polish Lady... Find out about the door which wouldn't stay shut... Find out if the neighbors heard similar things in the night etc... The pain in my legs seemed to be negated... As I tried to get to the next post office to collect my next grouping of pages. I sat in the dark each night, the rain pouring down on my tent, and read about the basement... I read about buying "other buildings" and how he hoped this would "change everything"... I found myself "relating" to a person I had never met in my life. For the first time, I felt as if somebody else in this world would truly understand what "I" had been through. Needless to say, I was enthralled with this story. The others which I had passed those pages on to... also enjoyed this story... Even though I had not told them anything about my own life... They too could "relate" in one way or another with Edwin's plight. It's a story which I believe everyone will like. Which is exactly why I chose to write this review!Anyways, paranormal television shows have come a long way from those early days. And not too long after I had returned home again... The television show "Paranormal Reality's" aired. I loved this show right "out of the box"... As it portrays the "real" people telling their own stories (thru the aid of actors etc..). And, like all television shows.. They save their best episodes (stories) for the premier and season finale's... Now, like I said, you may not believe in "coincidence"... or maybe you do... But I loved this show from the start. I would listen to this show in the background while editing my own book about various hiking adventures etc... Until the end of season two... I heard a voice in the background explaining about how "he'd bought this house"... And I looked up from my computer to see none other than Edwin F. Becker on my television screen! Watching this episode not only served to bring back his terrifying tale again.... It also brought up all of those memories which I had put on the back burner about my own haunting! It reminded me of one of the things Edwin had said in his book, how he "Hoped to educate those readers which dare to absorb the lessons contained within"... And in that regard, it has! So thank you Mr. and Mrs. Edwin F. Becker! I would also have to say these three things... First of all... Buy this book! You wont be disappointed! Secondly, beware of what you believe are "coincidences" in your life! And thirdly, don't read this book in some tent... in the dark....

True Haunting is the best book I've ever read!! Another terrific story is True Haunting 2. In fact, all of Edwin Becker's books ar the best of the best! If you've never read one of his books you're in for a real treat!:)In True Haunting is was so cold in summer that AC wasn't needed. Voices were heard when no one was there. Two of the former tenants went insane. Ed found out more about the former tenants by talking with his next door neighbor. When you learn is astounding! After two years of torment and an exorcism Ed and Marsha moved out of this house. They actually gave the house away and there is a copy of the quick claim deed in the back of the book showing it sold for $10. A real estate agent purchased the house. Soon afterwards became ill, moved away,and no one has ever heard from him again.True Haunting 2 is a great story we True Haunting fans have been yearning for and now it's come to fruition! I couldn't stop reading and half through reading it a second time. There are some terrific photos of Ed and Marsha Becker during this timeframe when they lived in the haunted house on Campbell St in Chicago, Illinois Dec 1970 to Sep 1972.For me the creepiest was when Dan/Dave the first tenant got insect bite marks all over his legs but once he move into the other room the bite marks stopped. No spoiler here. Just read the book.I'd like to know more about this Mrs. Scott and the apartment that was so covered in dirt that Ed thought she might be growing vegetables as it was clean dirt. What Ed does next is spot on. No spoiler here either.If you haven't read True Haunting it is imperative you do so first! Then read True Haunting 2. Reading these in sequence you will gain the most knowledge and sequence of events first in Ed Becker's logical reasoning trying to explain the paranormal events in the first True Haunting. Then in True Haunting 2 you will learn the terrifying sequence of events Marsha Becker experienced and in her own words. In addition, you will learn first hand about Dave the first tenant and some of the paranormal that he encountered on the creepy first floor that no one wanted to go near.Ed's Note and Introduction are superb! "It is advised that the reader first reads, TRUE HAUNTING, as this was written assuming the reader has knowledge of the basic story." Ed also gives us readers of what is to come in the book with a creepy tenant by the name of Mrs. Scott!! In the intro we fans learn more about Ed and Marsha and their thoughts on paranormal education and research and helping others. And also about Dan/Dave the first tenant.True Haunting 2 gave me goosebumps! Especially when the crazy Myra entered Ed and Marsha's living area and approached Marsha head on. Myra had a look of plain and unadulterated evil expressed in her face and eyes. The outcome is something I didn't anticipate. And in Chapter Four - "Erase all the images created by Hollywood and TV in the last 45 years...all I was left to imagine was the image of a dead old man. A dead man touched me!" Marsha said.Ed does paranormal radio, you tube blogs, and answers each and every email!The photo on the back cover of True Haunting is actually the back of the house on Campbell street. The house still stands but I wouldn't want to go within a block of that house!In conclusion, the first True Haunting is the best story I've ever read - bar none! I've read it four times! I've read hundreds and thousands of books but this one resonates with me because of the honesty, credibility, compassion, and just outstanding writing. Ed Becker is a great wordsmith and my favorite author. I have read Ed's eight other books and hoping very much Death Walker III comes out.Enjoy but keep the lights on and your pets close by!I also recommend Psychic Courier: The Life and After Life of Clairvoyant Joseph Delouise ...Chicago's Own Nostradamus by Mary Lou Emami. The story is captivating and had me reading for two days until finished! The Foreward is by Edwin Becker who reached out to Joseph Delouise in 1971 to rid his house of malevolent spirits including one he was not able to deal with in Ed's house on Campbell St. in Chicago. You can read Ed's terrific Foreward of Psychic Courier on Amazon - Look Inside.

Great account of a haunted house which is well written and hard to put down. I highly recommend this book but don’t read it late at night in the dark.

Como lector de libros de terror, he comprado bastantes sobre "hechos reales", sin ser exagerado, el 70% o más son historias o muy aburridas o muy poco creíbles. True Haunting fue una gran sorpresa. No sabía nada del libro ni del caso. Me conecté con el autor inmediatamente, desde la página primera sentí su terror. Es una historia muy creíble, aterradora, muy bien escrita. Pocos libros me han causado miedo, este es uno de ellos. No dudo nada de lo que el autor platica sobre su experiencia. Es un libro que te atrapa, te causa terror, te lleva de la mano de su protagonista, es de los libros que cuesta trabajo soltar, lo leí en menos de una semana. Buenísimo!

This is the most intelligently written and best true account I've read. It's about a haunted apartment building in the 1970s in Chicago. The author describes what happened to himself, his wife and various tenants from the time of real estate purchase until he sold the building a year later. The book relates how the author tried unsuccessfully to get rid of the ghosts, how he tried to live with them and various things he discovered along the way about the building's past.Many true haunting books are terrible because of bad writing, lots of irrelevant details being included and the tendency of authors to go on and on about their feelings on every page - fortunately, this book is not like that!

Very good, well told story. Informative and entertaining on the subject of demon infestation.

Someone had mentioned looking this book up in the comments section on a paranormal youtube video I watched...and I'm soooo glad I did...and I can't believe I'd never heard of this case until now! I'm not an avid reader because of my short attention span, but Ed's writing style kept me glued to my ereader. I carried it with me EVERYWHERE until I was finished! lol Now, I understand he'll be putting out a 'part 2' soon? I can't wait!!!!

Excellent book on the paranormal, check out the YouTube video of the NBC recording. I actually noticed the house was still up for sale too!!