The Ghost That Haunted Itself
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Product Description
Product Description
Greyfrair's Cemetery in Edinburgh has a centuries old reputation for being haunted. Its gruesome history includes use as a mass prison, headstone removal, witchcraft, bodysnatching, desecration, corpse dumping and live burial.
In 1998, something new and inexplicable began occurring in the graveyard. Visitors encountered 'cold spots', strange smells and banging noises. They found themselves overcome by nausea, or cut and bruised by something they could not see. Over the space of two years, twenty-four people were knocked unconscious. Homes next to the graveyard wall became plagued by crockery smashing, objects moving and unidentified laughter. Witnesses to these attacks ran into the hundreds. There were two exorcisms of the area. Both failed.
The section of Greyfriars where the attacks occurred is now chained shut. The entity responsible has been named the 'Mackenzie Poltergeist'. It has become one of the best-documented and most conclusive paranormal cases in history.
The Poltergeist is still growing stronger.
This is its story.
About the Author
Jan-Andrew Henderson is the director of Black Hart Storytellers and is the author of The Emperor's New Kilt: Two Secret Histories of Scotland and The Town Below the Ground: Edinburgh's Legendary Underground City. He lives in Edinburgh and is the visitor services manager at St Giles' Cathedral.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I bought this book after having gone on the City of the Dead tour in Edinburgh with a friend who was very into the ghost lore, and I was interested to find out more. It's a very good introduction to the history of the hauntings in Greyfriars and the Vaults, and is a very easy read. The mixture of first hand testimony and narrative makes it varied and interesting too.
My only criticism would be on the historical accuracy of the text, and I'd advise people reading this to take any dates or details given with a pinch of salt. The mistakes I've found were very basic (the dates of the deaths of Charles I and Oliver Cromwell for starters), which doesn't speak well of the research done by the author and just makes me want to double check anything else stated before I'd rely on it as fact.
Other than that, however, it is a very good introduction, and I'd also recommend the author's other work on Edinburgh's underground city to anyone interested in visiting and doing the tours.
My only criticism would be on the historical accuracy of the text, and I'd advise people reading this to take any dates or details given with a pinch of salt. The mistakes I've found were very basic (the dates of the deaths of Charles I and Oliver Cromwell for starters), which doesn't speak well of the research done by the author and just makes me want to double check anything else stated before I'd rely on it as fact.
Other than that, however, it is a very good introduction, and I'd also recommend the author's other work on Edinburgh's underground city to anyone interested in visiting and doing the tours.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Amazon recommended this book to me along with This House is Haunted, the recently re-released story of the famous Enfield plotergeist. After reading other reviews here, it sounded like a good idea. However, I quickly regretted spending the extra money after I started reading it. "Just the facts, ma'am" seems to be a boring idea to the author, who works hard to "bring the story to life" with much irrelevant and poorly-written prose. At times it becomes a challenge to ferret out the actual facts of the case. Much hype surrounds the happenings in the cemetery, along with an endless stream of thrill-seekers hoping, it seems, to be the next ones to feel sick, pass out, and end up with cuts and bruises (about as much fun as getting into a drunken bar fight from the sound of it, though many remain undeterred). The Enfield poltergeist case, and the associated book written by one of the primary investigators, is rightly world-famous for its conscientious documentation, objectivity, and many witnesses to the amazing events that took place. This book, on the other hand, reads like an extended school assignment to write a "really exciting" ghost story. By the way, being six years out of date at the time of this review, you can get more up-to-date information for free by searching the internet. Read this if you just want a bit of fun that doesn't tax the grey cells too much, and try not to mind the typos.
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I bought this book while on a short break in Scotland this summer. It was while I was waiting for a tour of the Undergroud - I didn't actually go on the City of the Dead tour which is described in the book. After reading the book, in some ways I wish I had and in some ways I am glad I did not.
The author has certainly done a great job in creating an atmospheric book, which despite it's supposed truthfulness, easily reads as a novel. This book is just as much about the tour guides who started the City of the Dead tours as it is about the Mackenzie Poltergeist. I actually liked this about the book, however Henderson does ham it up at times.
The author has certainly done a great job in creating an atmospheric book, which despite it's supposed truthfulness, easily reads as a novel. This book is just as much about the tour guides who started the City of the Dead tours as it is about the Mackenzie Poltergeist. I actually liked this about the book, however Henderson does ham it up at times.
The book includes statements from people who have experienced the poltergeist first hand, and Henderson includes history of the cemetary and some of the characters as background.
The result is a book which, while it cannot provide conclusive evidence, does leave you with a lot of questions and a slight feeling of unease. Could this really be true? And if it is, could it get worse?
While I was in Scotland I did not get chance to visit Greyfriars. After reading this book I am torn between a great urge to go back and visit, along with a strong urge to stay away...
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Wheat & Chaff
I've just finished this and whilst I generally enjoyed it there were a few things that did taint the book. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Mr. D. Evered
A bit of a let down!!!
Disappointing!!! Having been on the City of the Dead tour and visited the tomb of George Mackenzie I had high hopes for this book. Unfortunately it wasn't to be. Read more
Published 19 months ago by A. C. Cooper
A modern day classic?
This is one of the best books written on the subject of the paranormal in recent years.
Don't be fooled that it has just been written to back up the City of the Dead... Read more
Don't be fooled that it has just been written to back up the City of the Dead... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Munchkin
Greyfriars ChurchYard
Really good book, very light reading. Recommended to those who are planning to visit Edinburgh!
Published on 6 Feb 2010 by Joanna Zajac
great ,scary, couldn't put down
Purchased this book on a friends recomendation and it was everything they said it was scary but full of facts and real life testimonies i just couldn't put it down i have since... Read more
Published on 5 Jun 2009 by Andrew W. Murray
Brilliant !!
I've recently rekindled my love for ghost stories and this is probably the first one I've read for 15 years. I couldn't put it down. I just loved the style it was written in. Read more
Published on 25 May 2009 by Shell
The ghost that bored itself
I bought this on Amazon recomendation and wish I hadn't as it's poorly written, repetitive, full of superfluous material and just plain dull. Read more
Published on 26 Sep 2008 by Door Peeper
Fantastic throughout, Amazing book
This book keeps you gripped from the first chapter, the accounts from other people used in the book add to the suspense and the fact that it actually happend and is still happening... Read more
Published on 1 Jun 2007 by A. Walker
Read this before the ghost tour!
An excellent book, very easy to read. Gives a good historical background on the cemetary, events that have happened there and details on the poltergeist activity recorded. Read more
Published on 29 Mar 2006 by J. Proctor
Facts and History
An excelent book. Full of facts and information a great read. Unable to put it down. I learnt a lot of facts on Scottish history. Highly recommended
Published on 11 Mar 2006 by Doris Collins
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