Haunted Stuff

Animated portraits, pernicious statues, possessed dolls, haunted hotels, deadly diamonds, lethal bridges, cursed cars—is it possible that things going bump in the night (or in broad daylight) are the dearly departed clinging to earthly objects?

What about the clatter of silverware, thuds of moving furniture, aroma of freshly baked bread, slamming of doors—sounds and smells as real as the nose on your face…but emanating from nothing human (on this plane, at least)?

Long interested in paranormal investigation and spooking scenarios, author Stacey Graham now tackles the inexplicable, eerie and downright shocking in her latest book Haunted Stuff: Demonic Dolls, Screaming Skulls and other Creepy Collectibles.

The spirits of deceased children, murdered prostitutes, brokenhearted lovers, restless pirates, vengeful killers, desperate suicides—according to Graham, intense emotions connected to objects and places may very well be behind what we call hauntings. Are these souls reaching out to the grieving for closure—or to complete some nefarious unfinished business?

And what about malevolent items that some deem “evil” or cursed—ones that leave a trail of terror and death among its owners…sometimes, for centuries?, The doll Annabelle (as featured in the movie The Conjuring), the “Little Bastard” (James Dean’s car), Rudolph Valentino’s jinxed ring, Errol Flynn’s yacht Zaca and a heart-shaped bone pilfered from an Egyptian archaeological dig are but a few of the sinister stories shared in this book.

As one who doesn’t know much about famed ghost sightings, “cursed” objects or haunted places, I found Haunted Stuff to be a fascinating read. I was only familiar with Annabelle through the movie about the Warrens (but I didn’t know a chilling detail connected with the doll until I read this book), as well as the legend of the famed Hope Diamond. Everything else was new to me. 

Graham spins these ghastly tales with literary flair (something unusual among what some would call “sensational” occult fare) and a healthy dose of wink-and-nod wit—serving as a truly delightful tour guide to the frightening, the fantastic and the fatal. 

-- Janet