

When people learn that I write books about the paranormal, I usually receive one of three responses. Either they politely change the subject, they look at me as if I might be out of my mind (and then change the subject), or they want to know more. Among those in this latter category, they not only want to know more, but are often anxious to regale me with their own stories, most of which have to do with recently departed loved ones. I happily oblige them, of course, because I know their story is important to them and has had a profound effect upon their life. You see, when someone believes in things like ghosts, it is a sign that they have expanded their world view—often against ...
The Southern United States is home to a myriad of haunted locations, some of which are widely recognized, such as the Myrtles Plantation in St. Francisville, Louisiana; the Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas; and the Gettysburg Battlefield in Adams County, Pennsylvania. However, there are also numerous lesser-known haunted sites that merit exploration for those brave enough to seek out their mysteries. The following locations may not enjoy the same notoriety as some of the South's best-known haunted sites, but they more than make up or it with compelling eyewitness accounts of paranormal encounters, recorded electronic voice phenomena (EVP), and intriguing photographs that appear ...
It's been a deep interest for me for many years, the idea that dolls (or any object, really) can actually be haunted. The suggestion that something as innocent looking as a child's doll could actually inhabit a spirit, or potentially even something demonic, gripped me after spending a great deal of time reading about Peggy the doll, who made headlines back in 2015 when several people who merely viewed photos of her experienced ill-health and bad luck. It was TVs Help! My House Is Haunted host and team member Jayne Harris who "adopted" Peggy the doll at that time and investigated her (before eventually handing over the spooky toy to Zak Bagans for his Haunted Museum). I reached out to ...
Annabelle in Warren's Occult Museum in Monroe, Connecticut. Photograph: AmityPhotos/Alamy via The Guardian It's hard to believe that the legendary Annabelle doll, who rose to infamy in the 1970s, is still making headlines—and yet here we are. It's 2025 and the red-haired Raggedy Ann, much like her legend and the frightening rumours that constantly surround her, still persists. She captivates us, and it's little wonder why. What is the history and truth surrounding this allegedly haunted doll, though? We have heard so much, from so many sources, that it's almost impossible to untangle her fraught history. From humble beginnings at an unremarkable antique store, to her ...