First published 2007
Norman compiles authentic ghost stories that Americans have shared through oral tradition rather than fictional horror tales. The collection spans the entire country, from an Alaskan castle to southwestern phantom priests to bouncing lights along the eastern seaboard. These accounts feature famous historical figures including Mary Surratt, Mary Todd Lincoln, and Mad Anthony Wayne appearing as spirits. Norman documents haunted crime scenes in Chicago and Indiana, plus encounters with banshees and poltergeists. One story follows George, a ghost who has become a welcome household member in North Carolina. The author presents these as genuine personal experiences with America's supernatural side, preserved through memory and storytelling rather than literary invention. Each tale connects readers to locations and events where the paranormal intersects with national history.
Genres: folklore, ghost-stories, paranormal, american-history
Vibes: atmospheric, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: paranormal-encounters, true-stories
Setting: Alaskan Castle, Chicago, Indiana, North Carolina
Period: 19th-Century, 20th-Century
448 pages · Paperback · Tor Books