Not a terrible collection, but definitely more for people who aren't well-versed in Southern supernatural and folklore. I had heard of most of these stories, was happy to read them again, but found that some of the better details had been left out. Again, not terrible, just a little dry. ( )

Ghostly Cries From Dixie by Pat Fitzhugh is plain ole fun! Richly written, it bounces from story to story, relating tales of death, murder, and accidents and their ghostly after-effects. It is part history, part legend, part supernatural, with a dash of scientific fact thrown in to help us find the truth. Yet amidst the creepy ghosts and strange lights, the reader is ultimately left to decide for himself what to believe. If you believe in ghosts, you will love this collection. If you don’t believe in ghosts, you will still be fascinated by the eerie tales.

Warning: if you love to read late at night as I do, I would not suggest doing so with this book – especially the deadly poltergeist that is the Bell Witch. Yikes. ( )

"Ghostly Cries From Dixie" lives up to its name by relating accounts of the South's most notorious ghosts, haints, witches, and other creatures of the night. The author details the haunted history behind each story and relates it in a chilling. My favorite chapter deals with Louisville's Waverly Hills Tuberculosis Sanatorium, where the disembodied spirits of those who died there still roam the halls! The chapter about Marie LaVeau, the New Orleans Voodoo queen, also thrilled me, as did the ghosts of Woodlawn Plantation in Virginia. Also included is a chapter about Tennessee's Bell Witch, a subject on which the author is widely considered as the world's leading authority. "Ghostly Cries from Dixie" provides hours of well-written, frightening entertainment. The haunted travels guide at the end is worth the price alone. I would not recommend this book for small children, however, as it stays true to Fitzhugh's morbidly graphic, in-your-face style of writing. But as an adult, you will love it. ( )