Some reviewers have felt the book to be dry; but you can't fault it for that as the author makes very clear in the preface that he is a journalist documenting events; and is not trying to frighten anyone or sensationalize the events in any way. In fact, he advises that you look elsewhere if seeking cheap thrills. The author's description of electronic equipment used seems a little tedious at times, but it is easy to understand why he needs to document his work. Personally, I had my own poltergeist experience (which I've reported to the BSPR under my real name); so to me, the book was fascinating, and I blew through it rather quickly.
Although I would prefer to give the book four stars, because I feel I didn't quite get to know the family well enough and that there was something a little lacking in this regard, I understand that the author was being respectful in trying to guard their privacy as much as possible, while at the same time, getting this important story out there. Without more input from all the people involved, however, you don't feel you can quite wrap your mind around the whole thing, if it is even possible to do so.
Janet, the epicenter child, was removed from the house for extended periods of time, once to a convent run home to be cared for by nuns, and then to a psychiatric ward somewhere. The author does talk about her trances, but not that she would run full speed right into walls, as reported on video by Mr. Gross, the other lead investigator. There is no discussion as to what the psych doctors actually thought, if anything, about the situation (they said Janet was normal) or how Janet herself views the events now as an adult. I would love for a very long and comprehensive documentary to be made about the entire case, incorporating all the many interviews and so forth that were taken, with much more input from the family.
I've never heard a single thing from, or about, the youngest son. My feeling is that he just wants to forget. There is a lot of disbelief and ridicule that people who report these things are confronted with, I know; so we just shut down and don't even bother. I feel we owe it to each other, if not to history, however, to open up about our experiences.
There is a mind boggling event in the book (sorry for giving it away) where Mrs. Hodgson's niece comes to the front door and sees Mr. Gross, the other investigator, peering out from behind a living room window curtain at her. Rather than let her in, he turns and walks away, climbs halfway up the stairs, pauses to glance back at her, than continues on.
In answer to her inquiry as to why Mr. Gross didn't open the door to let her in, she is told that Mr. Gross was not downstairs at all and that he had been upstairs with Mrs. Hodgson the whole time! Fascinating! We have here an apparition of a LIVING person apparently; but the author, a thorough paranormal investigator, strangely doesn't really expand on this at all. Is this a common occurrence in poltergeist cases? Nor do we get the niece's thoughts on this.
We don't even really know the author's true opinion of the, "voices," but it is clear to me that the other investigator, Mr. Gross, clearly thought that he was communicating with the dead. Mr. Playfair discovers Tourette's, a syndrome apparently not well known back then, and they consider this as a possible explanation. I don't think anyone today, however, when listening to the voice of, "Bill," would simply chalk that up to Tourette's; nor do I think that any reasonable person, when hearing that little girl's sweet voice, would think that it was capable of faking Bill's.
My opinion is that Janet was collaborating with, "the spirit," or whatever it was, as it were using her. Rather than a straight possession, there was a definite interaction between the two. The author states that there was a seamless transition between their two voices. In that regard, old Bill asking, "why do girls get their periods?" really doesn't strike me as too bizarre.
All I know, and which this book confirms, is that this world of ours is a much, much, stranger one than most people realize. I feel lucky to have the knowledge, even without the answers.
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Reviews with images
Much too long; becomes a repetitive, tedious read
If you're looking for a good "true" ghost story, this isn't it. This overly long (304) book is simply a series of "events" dutifully captured by author Playfair. Unfortunately, after about 30 pages, you'll find yourself bored silly by yet ANOTHER piece of furniture that moved, a picture that fell, a pen that disappeared, a coat that moved from one room to another, etc and this happens over and over and over and over again. It's terribly boring.Later in the book, the girl Janet starts speaking in another "voice"--but only when the observers leave her bedroom so they can't see the other voice speak. (?)Over and over, the author states, "Of course, she couldn't have done it because I was right there" or "no child could have moved a 100 pound sofa" and so forth. Well, that doesn't "prove" anything.And the cover photo of the girl clearly jumping on her bed is said to be "evidence" that she was "levitating" or being thrown off the bed by an unseen force is just silly. In fact, ALL the photos are just pointless if they are trying to "prove" anything since seeing a pillow on the floor doesn't "prove" it moved from the bed to the floor.Anyway, I thought the "story" of the Enfield poltergeist was much more exciting than this book.And I first heard about this in Will Storr's EXCELLENT (and funny/terrifying) book WILL STORR VS THE SUPERNATURAL. Now THAT is a scary book!
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Top reviews from other countries
Caroline Mitchell
There was none better qualified to write such a book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 2, 2014Amazon Customer
Good book well explained
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 4, 2023