Specters in Doorways

Rating:
Summary: Are There Really Ghosts In Utah?
Review: "For a state that is said to have no room for ghosts, Utah certainly has a vast number of haunted places! In this compelling and highly entertaining book, author and Utah native Linda Dunning takes a trip back in time and uncovers the ghosts, legends and unusual lore of a state that is unique in the annals of American history...She manages to capture the unique flavor of the region, spin some chilling ghost stories and still treat with respect a mysterious culture..It is a journey that no reader will soon forget, filled with the lingering personalities of Mormon pioneers, miners, mill workers, millionaries and murderers, through a land that is like no other---Haunted Utah!"
---Troy Taylor, author and publisher of History & Haunting books. Whitechapel Press, Alton, Illinois

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Summary: Deseret News Book Review
Review: "Subtitled "The Haunted Utah Series: Book One, the History and Hauntings of Utah," this paperback is written by a local author whose long-running research into ghost stories has given her the nickname, "Ghost Story Lady."
"Using a variety of sources, Dunning has compiled her stories into what promises to be only the first volume. There are a lot of interesting stories revolving around houses, hotels and buildings, including the Lion House and the Beehive House, ZCMI and The Hotel Utah."
"Dunning also tells about haunted hospitals and churches, schools, universities, old mills and factories, even the Murray smokestacks. Dunning suggests ghosts haunted the towers for 100 years. 'Later, when the twin towers in New York City collapsed suprisingly downward, the world changed forever. I realized that events can either echo each other afterwards or as a foreshadowing before a much more tragic event takes place.'"
"This is an intriguing, well-written book filled with fascinating local stories for a summer evening."
--Dennis Lythgoe The Deseret News

Rating:
Summary: Specters in Doorways
Review: I find "Specters" to be very interesting. Being a native born Utahn, a DUP, and someone who is curious about hauntings and Utah history I relished reading the stories Ms Dunning wrote. It is evident to me that she worked untold hours in compiling her book. I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for an unusual twist to the usual history book.

Rating:
Summary: Specters in Doorways
Review: I find "Specters" to be very interesting. Being a native born Utahn, a DUP, and someone who is curious about hauntings and Utah history I relished reading the stories Ms Dunning wrote. It is evident to me that she worked untold hours in compiling her book. I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for an unusual twist to the usual history book.

Rating:
Summary: Specters in Doorways
Review: I found this book to be exciting and informative. I loved reading about the history and ghost stories from my native state.

Rating:
Summary: History & Ghosts, Great Fun
Review: I moved to Utah in 1979, Utah has a fascinating history. I feel that Ms. Dunning has done a great service for us history buffs, in preserving history about old building and letting us know about the resident Ghosts. I went up to the Shooting Star Saloone in Huntsville, Utah. It was fun to know the pioneer history of area. Though I did meet any ghosts there, I had the best Hamberger of my life. I am looking forward to going to some of the other ghostly places the author has so vividly described. Maybe next time I'll meet a ghost.

Rating:
Summary: Very disappointed
Review: I was excited to find this book as I am interested in hauntings and I grew up in Salt Lake and am familiar with several of the sites mentioned in the book; however, the author seems more intent on bashing the Mormon church in general and men in particular then in presenting substantial evidense of haunting. I noticed several mistakes regarding historical facts and place names. The book is poorly researched and poorly written. The book was too boring to finish. Not recommended. I find it interesting that the author appears to have reviewed her own book (5 stars no doubt)!!

Rating:
Summary: Keeper of the Ledgends
Review: If you are looking for Harry Potter or The Headless Horseman don't read this book. But if you want to go to the Keeper of the Legends that we all grew up with as teens in Utah, this is the book for you. Or if you want to share this unique combination of folklore, history and Mormon mystique upbringing with your children as I did, don't miss the opportunity to buy this book.

I found myself, remembering the trips to the city cemetery after mutual to visit EMO's grave. I recalled the stories I heard from the elders of the blessings that were given through out the Churches' history to establishments who purported to have hangers on to life that might be creating an evil overcaste in a place. I have always been grateful for the Churches forward thinking view of the connection between current life experience and spirit.

The images created by the discussion of Trolley Square and its past placed me once again in the forward thinking represented by the community building efforts that took place for Trolley Square, with a reverence of those who passed through its history, both the possessed and the positive.

My children found themselves intrigued by the legends that surrounded my experiences growing up in Utah. Our world views come from our experiences and I am grateful to Ms. Dunning for capturing a past and a present that it uniquely Utah.

Rating:
Summary: Poor FICTION
Review: This is a great book if you are a friend or relative of the author. I love to hear ghost stories and legends, so I was rather excited to read this book. My expectations were dashed when I found that I had to weed through all the commentary about how the author feels about Utah culture before I arrived at the story, and the stories were not very meaty or FACTUAL. Another issue I had with this book was the poor writing mechanics. I've seen high school students who have better sentence structure. I couldn't finish the book. I would not waste your time.