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Ghost in the Mirror: Real Cases of Spirit Encounters
Whether they are bumping about our attics, hitchhiking on a moonlight road, or fraternizing with our reflections, ghosts tantalize us with their secrets." --Leslie Rule
Meet Leslie Rule-America's real-life ghost hunter with a penchant for sharing authentic, spine-tingling stories of the paranormal.
The Gallup Organization reports that more than 32 percent of Americans have seen a ghost. More than half the population believes in the spiritual, cosmic, or supernatural. To Leslie Rule, such revelations come as no surprise. Rule has spent more than a decade researching specters and spirits and has chronicled her ghostly tales in three previous titles, Coast to Coast Ghosts , Ghosts Among Us , and When the Ghost Screams .
Inside Ghost in the Mirror , Rule documents more than dozens of stories of paranormal apparitions that reveal themselves on the other side of the looking glass. Rule's painstaking archival research presents factual clues to each haunting, along with her own dramatic black-and-white photographs that capture the eerie unrest of the scenes she explores.Ìý
Meet Leslie Rule-America's real-life ghost hunter with a penchant for sharing authentic, spine-tingling stories of the paranormal.
The Gallup Organization reports that more than 32 percent of Americans have seen a ghost. More than half the population believes in the spiritual, cosmic, or supernatural. To Leslie Rule, such revelations come as no surprise. Rule has spent more than a decade researching specters and spirits and has chronicled her ghostly tales in three previous titles, Coast to Coast Ghosts , Ghosts Among Us , and When the Ghost Screams .
Inside Ghost in the Mirror , Rule documents more than dozens of stories of paranormal apparitions that reveal themselves on the other side of the looking glass. Rule's painstaking archival research presents factual clues to each haunting, along with her own dramatic black-and-white photographs that capture the eerie unrest of the scenes she explores.Ìý
256 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2008
27 people are currently reading
804 people want to read
About the author
Leslie Rule
11Ìýbooks480Ìýfollowers Leslie Rule's true crime debut, A Tangled Web, covers a frightening Omaha love triangle murder. "I chose this case because I want to warn readers that the female sadistic sociopath may be the most dangerous killer of all."
A veteran author for over three decades, Rule's works include two suspense novels and five nonfiction books on the paranormal, including Coast to Coast Ghosts, True Stories of Hauntings Across America. Rule was only seventeen when she started attending murder trials with her mother, author Ann Rule. "It was my job to shoot the killers, not with a gun, but with my camera," says Leslie. Many of her courtroom photographs have appeared in her mother's books.
A veteran author for over three decades, Rule's works include two suspense novels and five nonfiction books on the paranormal, including Coast to Coast Ghosts, True Stories of Hauntings Across America. Rule was only seventeen when she started attending murder trials with her mother, author Ann Rule. "It was my job to shoot the killers, not with a gun, but with my camera," says Leslie. Many of her courtroom photographs have appeared in her mother's books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
October 15, 2009
this book is crap. it's like listening to an aunt you don't like go on and on about rumors she's heard about ghosts. the writing is terrible, there is virtually no structure, and the author presents herself (unwittingly, i'm sure) as perhaps the least convincing authority EVAR.
drivel.
drivel.
October 11, 2008
I have tried reading numerous books on hauntings and ghosts, but never enjoyed any as much as I enjoyed Leslie Rule's "Ghost in the Mirror: Real Cases of SPirit Encounters". Unlike many of the other books I have read on the subject, "Ghost" is written in a conversational style. As you read, you feel like you might be watching a television program, or chatting with your friends about ghost stories. In comparison, many other books are extremely dry, overly researched, and just flat out boring.
This book was anything but boring.
Starting with the foreward, which I almost never read, the book had my attention. The forward is written by Ann Rule, Leslie's mother, and was very intriguing. The introduction by Leslie is also intriguing and makes you excited to read the book. The chapters were organized first by telling a ghost story involving mirrors, and then seamlessly blended in other ghost stories throughout the chapters.
This is a perfect book to read if you only a have a little bit of time here and there (or for bathroom reading) as most of the ghost stories are only a page or two. Leslie Rule does research to enhance the ghost stories, but this never feels like a burden to read - it always feel like you are just getting more interesting backstory into the ghosts that she is talking about.
I went into reading this book thinking it would be dry, boring, and about like all of the other books I have read on hauntings. Instead, I found it to be very readable, interesting, and scary. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good scare, likes ghosts stories, or just wants to get in the mood for Halloween. I couldn't be happier that I found such a great book of ghost stories and I plan to seek out Leslie Rule's other ghost books as this one was so much fun.
This book was anything but boring.
Starting with the foreward, which I almost never read, the book had my attention. The forward is written by Ann Rule, Leslie's mother, and was very intriguing. The introduction by Leslie is also intriguing and makes you excited to read the book. The chapters were organized first by telling a ghost story involving mirrors, and then seamlessly blended in other ghost stories throughout the chapters.
This is a perfect book to read if you only a have a little bit of time here and there (or for bathroom reading) as most of the ghost stories are only a page or two. Leslie Rule does research to enhance the ghost stories, but this never feels like a burden to read - it always feel like you are just getting more interesting backstory into the ghosts that she is talking about.
I went into reading this book thinking it would be dry, boring, and about like all of the other books I have read on hauntings. Instead, I found it to be very readable, interesting, and scary. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good scare, likes ghosts stories, or just wants to get in the mood for Halloween. I couldn't be happier that I found such a great book of ghost stories and I plan to seek out Leslie Rule's other ghost books as this one was so much fun.
March 28, 2015
Great book for ghost lovers. There were quite a few stories in this book that were different from any ghost encounters stories I'd ever heard. They are definitely gonna stick with me for a while.
This 'true ghost story' book, like many in the genre, doesn't provide a lot of evidence or scientific research, so I don't recommend going into it as a skeptic.
This should be obvious but: if you don't believe in ghosts, you aren't going to enjoy this book.
Also if you are easily scared you might not want to pick it up.
But if you want a list of some cool haunted places and retelling of their claims to fame, you can't do better!
This 'true ghost story' book, like many in the genre, doesn't provide a lot of evidence or scientific research, so I don't recommend going into it as a skeptic.
This should be obvious but: if you don't believe in ghosts, you aren't going to enjoy this book.
Also if you are easily scared you might not want to pick it up.
But if you want a list of some cool haunted places and retelling of their claims to fame, you can't do better!
October 23, 2011
Not too bad. These are accounts of real ghost encounters. Real ghost stories aren't as creepy as fictional ghosts. Kinda like real life I guess. I suppose the witnesses in these accounts would disagree! Interesting read.
February 22, 2021
I've left Leslie Rule's books unread for far, far too long! One of the things I appreciate most about them is that they do not always deal with, or dwell on, the "horrifying, severe" type hauntings that are actually so very rare. There are, of course, some of those included...how could she not?...but the bulk of her recounting involves the smaller, "everyday" hauntings...things that leave you shivering and a bit uneasy, but not in screaming terror. These "smaller" hauntings are the ones that I live with daily.
August 18, 2022
was ok most of the stories i had heard before. but some where good
September 20, 2019
Great stories!
October 30, 2009
Four stars. I like Leslie Rule's ghost story collections over others of the same kind for several reasons. She interviews those who claim to have had the encounters and I like her in-depth, detailed, and emotion-filled recounts. I prefer them over the books stuffed with quick, summerized, and emotionless accounts of spooky happenings. The author includes many of her own b/w photos of the various haunted locations that do a wonderful job of adding to the fun and spooky flavor of her book! The author sometimes includes the psychic envolvement in her book's recounted tales, and I really don't have much faith in those who claim to be sensitive. I like hard, scientific evidence. The author will sometimes draw conclusions, or is quick to believe other's drawn conclusions of identities of ghosts, ect, when there just isn't any evidence to support them. There are several stories where there was mention of wierd, unexplainable phenomenon captured by the camera's of those experiencing the hauntings, but those photos are absent from the book. Makes me wonder if they actually happened and why they were not used as part of the book. Overall an easy and fun read!
January 14, 2017
This book was good, but not great. I found the stories to be interesting, but lacking in detail. I would have liked to know so much more about several of the locations, but before I knew it, it was on to the next story. I can't put my finger on why, but this book wasn't quite as good as Ms. Rule's previous ghost books. However, the book is short and fairly entertaining... good for a quick weekend read.
June 3, 2019
I bought this book because it promised to be tales of hauntings involving mirrors. However, very few of the stories within involve a mirror at all. For the most part, it's ghostly sightings told in a generic and bland style.
September 12, 2017
it was good but i lost interest after a couple of pages.
September 26, 2018
Interesting stories from people Ms. Rule interviewed and such.
August 31, 2015
*I received this book as part of the LibraryThing Early Reader Program.
If you love real life ghost stories and tales of haunted houses, hospitals and highways this is an excellent book for you. A compendium of tales of apparitions and mysterious happenings the book is cut into small, easy to digest pieces and often includes contact information for the restaurants, hotels and stores that claim to have ghostly residents.
Rule does offer some research into the possible identities of the ghosts, as well as token information on area ghost hunters and enough contact information to plan a ghost theme vacation.
She doesn't offer a skeptic's point of view or attempt to make the otherworldly scientific (aside from mentioning EVPs and batteries draining on investigations). She does include many interesting pictures that while not supernatural are mood setting.
If you don't like tales of hauntings then you won't find anything new here. But ghost fans can be insatiable and this is a fine starting place or addition to a fan's library.
If you love real life ghost stories and tales of haunted houses, hospitals and highways this is an excellent book for you. A compendium of tales of apparitions and mysterious happenings the book is cut into small, easy to digest pieces and often includes contact information for the restaurants, hotels and stores that claim to have ghostly residents.
Rule does offer some research into the possible identities of the ghosts, as well as token information on area ghost hunters and enough contact information to plan a ghost theme vacation.
She doesn't offer a skeptic's point of view or attempt to make the otherworldly scientific (aside from mentioning EVPs and batteries draining on investigations). She does include many interesting pictures that while not supernatural are mood setting.
If you don't like tales of hauntings then you won't find anything new here. But ghost fans can be insatiable and this is a fine starting place or addition to a fan's library.
February 20, 2011
This book is a collection of stories involving interactive spirit encounters or residual ghost sightings by everyday people, pulled together by a writer and researcher who already published 3 prior books on collections of ghostly stories.
The stories are short and plentiful, giving us the facts on who saw what, the history of the haunted site, and even talk a little about the research to discover who or why the ghost or residual might be there. You're even told when research couldn't uncover the facts and make it clear when either the `who or what' is actually speculated on.
Many of the stories involve benign residuals or ghosts, although there are some who are definitely not of the friendly sort. But you won't find a book loaded with horror stories or ghosts that rattle chains.
As someone who has my own paranormal experiences, I found the book to be a light, easy read and appreciated that the author didn't appear to embellish the stories with rumors. The story regarding a Greyhound Bus driver is a `must read.'
The stories are short and plentiful, giving us the facts on who saw what, the history of the haunted site, and even talk a little about the research to discover who or why the ghost or residual might be there. You're even told when research couldn't uncover the facts and make it clear when either the `who or what' is actually speculated on.
Many of the stories involve benign residuals or ghosts, although there are some who are definitely not of the friendly sort. But you won't find a book loaded with horror stories or ghosts that rattle chains.
As someone who has my own paranormal experiences, I found the book to be a light, easy read and appreciated that the author didn't appear to embellish the stories with rumors. The story regarding a Greyhound Bus driver is a `must read.'
June 7, 2011
This is a collection of true hauntings. Ms Rule has written on this subject before. There is something about her writing that I'm not a huge fan of, a certain earnest self-insertion into the stories. It wasn't that bad in this one though.
This one bounced all over the country with the following chapter headings, ghosts and children, haunted hospitals, ghosts on the road, haunted travelers, hungry and haunted (ghosts in restaurants), ghosts in the window, business as usual (employees who haunt their place of business), seeing the dead (professional psychics), home haunted home.
Over all it's a good collection of stories. She provides histories when she can (and I like that). There's a minimal of self insertion/self promotion but not too much. It's worth the read if you like stories of hauntings.
This one bounced all over the country with the following chapter headings, ghosts and children, haunted hospitals, ghosts on the road, haunted travelers, hungry and haunted (ghosts in restaurants), ghosts in the window, business as usual (employees who haunt their place of business), seeing the dead (professional psychics), home haunted home.
Over all it's a good collection of stories. She provides histories when she can (and I like that). There's a minimal of self insertion/self promotion but not too much. It's worth the read if you like stories of hauntings.
October 29, 2011
It's been awhile since I've read a non-fiction book about hauntings. The anecdotes are usually rather short and seem to be lacking in detail, but I think that's just my own perception of them since I'm more used to fictional accounts at this point. With fictionalized accounts, it's expected that the author is going to fill in a lot of details, so a non-fiction story seems bare by comparison.
My biggest legitimate complaint is that it seems that the author was reaching quite a bit on some stories, both in trying to determine exactly who the ghost is, and trying to connect the story back to the main theme of mirrors and/or reflective surfaces.
Overall, though, it was a decent seasonal read.
My biggest legitimate complaint is that it seems that the author was reaching quite a bit on some stories, both in trying to determine exactly who the ghost is, and trying to connect the story back to the main theme of mirrors and/or reflective surfaces.
Overall, though, it was a decent seasonal read.
May 16, 2013
Italics for dramatic emphasis, stupid metaphors, and cheesy alliterations and plays on word made this book almost feel like it was poking fun at its own content. There are a handful of actually interesting, specific, and detailed stories in here --any one of which I'd read a whole book on. Instead the couple nuggets of interest are buried in a pile of casual, short, super generic stories. Putting a first and last name or a location doesn't make an interesting story out of "This person was in this place and thinks they saw a face in the mirror."
And seriously. Enough with the alliterative phrases, the really inane metaphors, and the dramatic italics.
OR MAYBE HE HAD NO BREATH.
And seriously. Enough with the alliterative phrases, the really inane metaphors, and the dramatic italics.
OR MAYBE HE HAD NO BREATH.
August 16, 2011
I've read Rule's early true ghost stories ("When the Ghost Screams," "Coast to Coast Ghosts," and "Ghosts Among Us")and I found "Ghost in the Mirror" curiously unenjoyable in comparison. The earlier books had better storytelling quality and this book reads more like a journalist's documentation. Without the dramatic appeal, the accounts read pretty dry. I think this book also contained fewer photographs.
I kept the first three books, but I probably won't read "Ghost in the Mirror" again.
I kept the first three books, but I probably won't read "Ghost in the Mirror" again.
February 14, 2016
I particularly liked the parts of this that recounted individual people's experiences with seeing or hearing strange things. It was well-balanced with the standard information about different places that are allegedly haunted and a little of their histories. I like it that Rule doesn't cling to unsubstantiated rumors the way a lot of other writers in this genre do. She actually investigates the history of places to see if the legends have any merit. Often they don't, which really makes you wonder. The only thing is this book is very mis–titled � only a little bit of it is about mirrors
November 26, 2011
Not great, not horrible. I'm miffed because I thought I was in for a book about ghosts in morrors (which makes sense, you know, considering its title) and the foreward made it sound that way too... and very few of these stories had anything to do with mirrors, or even windows. There were restaurant ghosts, ghosts on ships, haunted highways... but I was prepared for mirrors.
October 29, 2011
I was a bit disappointed in the book. It seemed the stories were all scattered and didn't blend well. It seemed like some of the stories were only added just to fill space. I guess I can't complain too much since it was a free kindle book. I definitely wouldn't pay anything for it though. This may be a good read for children.
September 23, 2015
It may be light on ghosts, for some but it is rich in history. This is my 2nd book by Ms. Rule and I have to say I liked it. And although, little here gave me the creeps, I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel a shiver go down my spine while reading one of these tales. (I'm not saying which one actually made me shudder in fright, you'll just have to see for yourself.)
October 16, 2008
I like true ghost stories and history so I enjoyed this book.
December 8, 2008
OK, I confess -- ghost/haunting books are my "guilty pleasure"! This one lives up to Rule's previous standards. The time-and-space-defying-biscuit story made for a fun finale!
March 17, 2011
Fun to read, a little pushy on the mirror as a portal thing.
October 29, 2011
I expected this to be more creepy, but it wasn't at all.
December 14, 2011
good thing I am an insomniac, because I am guessing I will not get any sleep while reading this book.
January 17, 2012
I enjoy reading about ghostly encounters. I believe in ghosts and places or things can be haunted, but the skeptic in me says, "I have to see it for myself".
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