Rating: 
Summary: The only thing exposed here is Kaplans ineptitude
Review: I was hoping for some real dirt, a good glimpse at something substantial, but Kaplan does not deliver.First, the book itself: The book is poorly written. At times it shifts thought processes and flow more rapidly than a bee buzzes its wings. Second, the writing/author: The "investigation" is shoddy. Kaplan only investigated as deeply as it took to get to the answers he wanted... not the truth. His theories are the kind of tripe that you'd expect from the National Enquirer, and his conclusions from those theories are laughable. There are even a few spots in the book where, if you do your own investigative work, Kaplan just plain lies. (Oh, just a side note: Stephen Kaplan did not hold a doctorate. The Phd attatched to his name is fiction.) His obvious bias in this tale tainted his ability to look objectively. He wanted to find a hoax, so he made it one. If you are interested in the truth behind the Amityville Horror story, go talk to the Lutzes. Their story is more believable than this one.
Rating: 
Summary: Couldn't put it down!
Review: I've always had my doubts about the truth behind the "Amityville Horror." Even the "true" story points out the financial strain that the family took on when they purchased the property. I too believe deeply in the supernatural. There are things that just cannot be explained. But "The Amityville Horror Conspiracy" makes sense. And it makes a sad point: how quick we are to award the un-true. Oddly enough, many people I have spoken to about Amityville are still not aware that it was all a con. Some of them are from the New Jersey/New York area. You can bet they'll be interested in reading my copy of the book. I also find it interesting that around Halloween of 1994 or 1995, the 700 Club did a short piece on the Amityville horror. Kathy Lutz was interviewed and still claimed that the incident was true. She went as far to say that the incidents portrayed in the movie (i.e., the substance coming from the keyholes, the stuff oozing from the walls) were accurate. (I don't remember the movie mentioning any substance coming from the keyholes.) Unbelievable. This book lays it out quite clearly. The "horror" that occurred in Amityville had nothing to do with the supernatural. I applaud Dr. Kaplan's efforts to expose the truth.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic! Blows the lid off a 25 year conpiracy!
Review: If you ever thought this movie or any of the wild tales of the "amityville" Horror House were true this TRUE Investigation will fully open your eyes to the truth. Dr Kaplan documents all factual events surrounding the ghost story turn hoax in a fasinating and some what frank manor. Trust me it is a exillent read.Warning if you bought the story of the amityville horror and think it was true, this book will bring down the wall on every thing you once thought factual.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic! Blows the lid off a 25 year conpiracy!
Review: If you ever thought this movie or any of the wild tales of the "amityville" Horror House were true this TRUE Investigation will fully open your eyes to the truth. Dr Kaplan documents all factual events surrounding the ghost story turn hoax in a fasinating and some what frank manor. Trust me it is a exillent read.Warning if you bought the story of the amityville horror and think it was true, this book will bring down the wall on every thing you once thought factual.
Rating:
Summary: A Frauds Last Stand
Review: Kaplan was not a parapsychologist. He was a glory hound that latched onto any popular fad in an attempt to make himself famous. Among other claims hes claimed to be a vampirologist, werewolfologist, and parapsychologist. The man never set foot in the house untill a party many years later and he devoted his life to an attempt to destroy the reputation of two real experts Ed and Louraine Warren. The book is a personal attack on the Warrens and the Lutz's brought on because of what really happened. Kaplan showed up out of the blue one day with out knowing the Lutz's with a bunch of witches asking to be let into the house. The Lutz's thought he was crazy and refused. The Warrens were asked by a media reporter to go into the house. They didn't meet the Lutz's until the night they were to go in. Kaplans assertiions on these two points are completely fabricated. What it boils down to is credibility. Kaplan was a no name before and after the case. Ed Warren is the only lay demonologist in the woorld who is recognised as such by the Roman Catholic Church and the Vatican. He and his wife are the basis of 9 books, 2 movies, and have investigated more than 7000 cases several of which would have just as easily made there career. They have investigated West Point, the Smurl House(forget what the joker skeptics who didn't investigate the house and were atheists say about that), the einsfeild voices case, Anabelle, The Demon Murders case, and have set what is largely a unique legal precident. In CT it is now illegal to sell a house to some one if you know that its haunted. The Warren's testified in that case and were a fundamental part of bringing that law into the books. But no Kaplan is the "fearless" crusader for "Truth". A final interesting footnote not mentioned in this book. Kaplan, Ed Warren and Jane Jenson all have had heart attacks but Ed survived. Particularly interesting because Kaplan and Ed Warren had a heart attack on the same day(it was teh one that killed Kaplan) when Ed Warreb was working on one of the worst cases of his carreer.
Rating: 
Summary: You get What You Paid For
Review: Kaplans book does a great job at debunking the Lutzes story. His writing doesnt flow very well and he does repeat himself often but he backs up all of his claims. He also seems to pat himself on the back occasionally but all in all its a good read. I would recommend it to anyone interested in the "true story" behind the horror.It is too bad it wasnt really true, i think that would have been much more interesting.
Rating:
Summary: Essential reading for Amityville fans
Review: No matter which side of the debate you take (i.e. was it horror or was it hokum?), Stephen Kaplan's The Amityville Horror Conspiracy is required reading. For one, it is the best written book about the Amityville circus that I have read to date (and I have polished off the books by Anson, Holzer, and two by Jones - with only two more to go) and, unlike the others, it is filled with easily verified facts. Whenever Kaplan sites an article or a particular program, he gives detailed information wherein determined readers would be able to track down the material for themselves. I have seldom seen this level of honesty in paranormal books before, where most articles seem to be referenced as being in "local papers" and with independently researchable data kept to a minimum. I know that detractors like to insult Kaplan, but read the book - his detailed analysis of the escalating differences from the first press conference, to the magazine articles, then to the book (which changed from edition to edition as the 'credible sources' complained at the fictions author Jay Anson attempted to pass off as true events) and then the movie(s) is humorous and show just how easy it is to simply tell a willing audience what it wants to hear. I doubt very much that an event such as the one in Amityville could be replicated today - though some have tried, because people are going to believe what they want to believe, regardless; and they want to believe in Amityville, demonic pigs, and bogeymen of sorts. This book is still in print and available from its publisher, Toad Hall Inc, for an affordable price. Highly recommended to both paranormal and Amityville fans (for whom it should be essential reading).
Rating: 
Summary: amityville hoax?
Review: The amityville case is not a hoax.I know,because I lived with the Lutz`s for 5 months as a handyman.There were strange things going on in that house! I felt dramatic temperature changes,I heard voices,I saw apparitions,I smelled foul odors,these are all signs of paranormal activity.They could have been faked,but I dont see how.The Lutz`s told me they didnt know anything about the house being built on an indian burial ground,but they said they were certain the entities they had seen were members of the Defeo family.
Rating: 
Summary: Great topic, okay book
Review: The book tended to be a bit repetitive. I enjoyed reading it, but wouldn't really recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Definitly more intriguing then the Lutz's "story"
Review: This book cleared up so many things for me, I had always had doubts about the Lutzes and Mr. Kaplan was informative, witty, and qualified in his suspicions and finally proven facts about their "Ghost Story". The style he wrote it in (journal format) was easy and fun to read, and at times I felt just as frustrated as he was. I was sad to read that he died not long ago, I would have gladly attended one of his lectures.
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