Rating: 
Summary: Accurate, balanced, appropriately frightening.
Review: This is an accurate and surprisingly dispassionate narration of the actual case of demonic possession upon which the novel and movie "The Exorcist" were later looslely based. Allen is objective and, as far as I could tell, very careful with his sources. His prose style is quite readable, and the story he tells never flags. Purient interest in things occult will not be fed herein, but the book remains better suited to mature (in the real sense of the word) readers. Allen's work might also serve as a warning against dabbling in occult matters (ouija boards, tarots cards, wall-tapping, etc.), even by way of so-called innocent fun, for these minor episodes were the ungarded gate through which the victim was so cruelly attacked. I did a fuller review of this book in "The Southern Cross" (Diocese of San Diego), 23 Sept. 1993, p. 34.
Rating:
Summary: Accurate, balanced, appropriately frightening.
Review: This is an accurate and surprisingly dispassionate narration of the actual case of demonic possession upon which the novel and movie "The Exorcist" were later looslely based. Allen is objective and, as far as I could tell, very careful with his sources. His prose style is quite readable, and the story he tells never flags. Purient interest in things occult will not be fed herein, but the book remains better suited to mature (in the real sense of the word) readers. Allen's work might also serve as a warning against dabbling in occult matters (ouija boards, tarots cards, wall-tapping, etc.), even by way of so-called innocent fun, for these minor episodes were the ungarded gate through which the victim was so cruelly attacked. I did a fuller review of this book in "The Southern Cross" (Diocese of San Diego), 23 Sept. 1993, p. 34.
Rating:
Summary: Chillingly Accurate
Review: Thomas B Allen's work concerning the case of "Robbie", a young boy seemingly posessed, has come under criticism for everything from the conclusive attitude of the major characters concerning "Robbie"'s posession, to the actual location of the first excorcism, (somewhere in the area of Washington, DC.) Setting those criticisms aside, what do we have? A chillingly accurate description of the exorcism of a thriteen year old male, which took place in modern America. Both the reconstructed docu-novel and the exorcist's diary --made public here for the first time-- chronicle the standard and psychologically inexplicable progression of an evil spirit's taking controll over a human being and the attempt of a minister to rid the person of that spirit. In spite of historical questions that might arise, and in spite of some editorial blunders in typsetting, this book is valuable for its story. . .it's amazingly accurate story. A must for anyone legitimately interested in demonology, and highly recommended for seminarians and clergy who might be faced with the decision of whether or not to exorcise.
Rating:
Summary: Although fascinating, it is a haunting and disturbing read.
Review: To date, there has been no book or movie that has impacted me the way Thomas B. Allen's "Possessed" has. Although I read it the year it was initially published, the facts of this allegedly true exorcism still scare and disturb me beyond my wildest literary expectations. Reader, be warned that this thought provoking account will haunt you for a long time to come.
Rating: 
Summary: Lack of Thorough Research Mars Fascinating Case
Review: When I first read this book in its previous edition, I, too, was impressed with its supposedly accurate and dispassionate account of a true-life exorcism. That was before I read the extensive "Strange" magazine article debunking the case, which shows up the shoddy lack of research conducted by Allen. (In fact, Allen ends up looking like the Erich von Daniken of exorcism scholarship.) "Strange" magazine's investigative research discovered a whole lot that Allen apparently did not (or did not wish to reveal), such as the fact that the case did not take place in Mount Rainier, Maryland, as press reports stated, and the fact that the boy's father did not believe his son was possessed. The "Strange" magazine researcher not only tracked down the identity of the "haunted boy," but interviewed former neighbors, friends, and classmates -- basic research that Allen failed to do. The actual facts are quite different from those claimed in Allen's highly sensationalized and fanciful account.
Rating:
Summary: High entertainment value
Review: Whether or not Allen misses and distorts some of the historical information contained within his narrative, this work is still ultimately entertaining. It provides an extensive look at traditional demoniac psychology/experience, which is invaluable regardless of whether or not we believe in possession.It also provides an interesting look at Christianity's handling of demons and exorcism over the centuries, and even if there are historical inaccuracies, this aspect of the book is undeniably valuable. I am also impressed with Allen's style; he makes no attempt at sensational, horrific, "scary" language. It seems to me that Allen's goal is to provide an honest, impartial account. He leaves the reasoning to us. Whether you're a skeptic or a believer, this book has something to offer.
Rating:
Summary: A Big Book Of False Accusations
Review: While the book is an interesting and entertaining read, most of it is untrue and horribly researched. The one star review lower on this page got it right. The facts that Mr. Allen gave as the boy's identity, his father, and where this all happened are all dead wrong. Nothing ever happened in the town or house that he said it did. It was apparent that Mr. Allen did minimal digging into the subject and just took what he found and threw it on the page with nothing to back it up with. What's even odder about this is how easily the real information(from the "Strange" Magazine)was found by that reporter. That Mr. Allen didn't take enough time to see that what was in front of his face was horribly wrong and what was right was not hard to figure out. When Mr. Allen was even contacted by the other reporter, he seemed to not care or answer any questions as to why he didn't go further to find the real truth. Everything he has stated about the boy and the location, is all wrong. Even the possessed boy himself stated that he never lived there and didn't know why people thought that. While the book is an interesting read, it can only be categorized under 'fiction', because that is what it is.
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