Horror movies are great for paranormal enthusiasts and adrenaline junkies but lack one important thing. While they pique your interest and satisfy your jump scare cravings, you don’t get information on how to conduct your own paranormal investigations. That’s where books on ghost hunting and their protagonist ghost hunters differ from a Blumhouse or A24 production.
Whether you’re a true believer, a seasoned skeptic, or are just in the hunt for a cool looking book on ghost hunting, we’ve compiled this list of ghost hunting books and books about ghost hunters to satisfy your paranormal appetite. Oh, and we threw in some fiction options if real life hauntings keep you up at night.
Every aspiring ghost hunter can benefit from a great how-to ghost hunt book. Whether it’s historical stories, real-life accounts, tips and techniques, or the latest tech, these books will give you a great start in conducting your own investigations.
For paranormal enthusiasts looking to know everything about ghost hunting, this book from ghosthunter Melissa Martin Ellis is a great start. She not only takes you into the supernatural world with haunted sites, but fills you in on the latest tech—like motion sensors and ghost hunting cameras—so you get expert advice on setting up your own investigation.
Author: Melissa Martin Ellis
Page Count: 320
Publication Date: 2014
This book by Steven Parsons doesn’t exactly provide you with how to ghost hunt, but rather explores various methods and techniques that ghost hunters use. Ghostology is the formal study of ghosts and you’ll find this book does a wonderful job in exploring ghosts throughout history and across different cultures. If you seek to learn more about the paranormal entities you investigate, this book is a great read.
Author: Steven T. Parsons
Page Count: 248
Publication Date: 2015
Penned by former athletes, Sterling-Vete and Wuorio rely on the same scientific methods used for their athletic experience to approach paranormal investigations. Their book offers a broad overview of the paranormal and includes step-by-step guides to planning your own investigation, best practices like the dos and don’ts of investigating, and real-world examples of previously untold accounts. It’s a fascinating book to equip readers with the knowledge and tools to conduct safe, scientific, and potentially successful paranormal investigations.
Author: Brian Sterling-Vete & Helen Renee Wuorio
Page Count: 394
Publication Date: 2018
Ghost hunting does come with risks and Belanger seeks to educate readers on how to protect yourself against potentially malevolent spirits and other entities. Techniques include things like psychic cleansings, protecting dreams, shielding spaces, and coping with spirit possession. Michelle not only shares practical methods, but also the explanations into how they work psychologically.
Author: Michelle Belanger
Page Count: 288
Publication Date: 2009
If the name Zak Bagans rings a bell, that’s because he’s the principal host of the Travel Channel series Ghost Adventures. And no, he doesn’t think you’re a dummy. People interested in ghost hunting will be captivated by Bagans book which provides background on the field, the different types of paranormal entities, true stories, and ghost hunting techniques. For ghost enthusiasts just getting started, this book dives into everything to know about paranormal investigations.
Author: Zak Bagans
Page Count: 448
Publication Date: 2019
It’s always fun to read about paranormal experts with years of experience. This list below includes legendary demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren, famous British ghost hunter Andrew Green, the stars of the hit show Ghost Hunters, and Harvard professor of psychiatry, William James.
You may recognize Ed and Lorraine Warren from the famous film, The Conjuring. The ghost hunting couple teamed up with Chase to write a collection of true stories based on their experiences including demonic possessions, poltergeist activity, and malevolent spirits. It’s written in a suspenseful way and may rival any horror film, given that this book comes from well-known demonologists and contains real, gripping stories.
Author: Lorraine Warren, Ed Warren, & Robert David Chase
Page Count: 168
Publication Date: 2014
This book is a wonderful collection of ghost hunting cases by famous British ghost hunter Andrew Green. Green became so well-known that The Daily Telegraph nicknamed him “the Spectre Inspector.” Spanning his 60 year career, this book includes famous cases Green investigated along with lesser-known ones and unpublished reports. It serves as a guide to Green’s work and potentially the broader paranormal history of Britain.
Author: Bowen Pearse
Page Count: 192
Publication Date: 2011
This book comes to you from the stars of the hit show, Ghost Hunters, and features their experiences both on and off the show. It includes never-before-seen accounts from their early days as investigators, along with behind-the-scenes details from famous episodes of Ghost Hunters. Ghost Files is a suspenseful book from real paranormal experts in the field.
Author: Jason Hawes & Grant Wilson
Page Count: 560
Publication Date: 2011
Blum tells a great story about famous philosopher and Harvard professor of psychiatry, William James, who took a serious look into investigating the paranormal. As a respected academic, James put his reputation on the line to pursue the existence of ghosts, spirits, and other psychic phenomena, and the questions he raised then still remain relevant today.
Author: Deborah Blum
Page Count: 370
Publication Date: 2007
We didn’t forget about you horror fiction lovers. If non-fiction isn’t your thing, or you’d prefer to escape reality, we don’t blame you. Here are our top picks for fiction books on all things paranormal.
Shirley Jackson’s book is regarded as one of the greatest haunted house stories out there. It’s no wonder that Netflix created a hit series based on the book. The book follows four people, each with their own reasons, as they go to the notoriously haunted Hill House. They encounter strange phenomena, and the house itself seems to target one of them. It’s a phenomenal book by an acclaimed horror and mystery writer.
Author: Shirley Jackson
Page Count: 208
Publication Date: 2006
This book is a darkly comedic and suspenseful novel that blends haunted house tropes with domestic drama. It follows Margaret, a determined woman who refuses to abandon her dream home despite hauntings. The plot intrigues readers with intensity, mystery, and complexities of family relationships, all while staying true to the paranormal.
Author: Carissa Orlando
Page Count: 352
Publication Date: 2023
To leave Stephen King off this list would be a sin. And in typical King fashion, this book is a beast when it comes to page count. Maybe you’ve seen the film and Jack Nicholson’s incredibly creepy performance, but the book provides that original horror feel of a classic King novel. In other words, a must read. With themes like isolation, addiction, family dysfunction, and the supernatural, The Shining is considered a classic of modern horror.
Author: Stephen King
Page Count: 688
Publication Date: 1977
Website Designed by M&P Creative Marketing Agency
Copyright