Book Review: The Dead Are Watching: Ghost Stories from a Reluctant Psychic

Title: The Dead Are Watching: Ghost Stories from a Reluctant Psychic

Author: Debra Robinson

Genre: Non-Fiction, True Haunting, Ghosts

Age Group: Adult

Rating: 3,5 stars

Purchase: Amazon

Review copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Psychic Debra Robinson investigates hauntings and helps send spirits to the other side. A haunted factory owner’s suicide and guilt over leaving his son permeates the building but lifts after Debra’s assurances that his family is okay. A strange and terrifying investigation of an unreported murder with the body stuffed down an outhouse changes lives. Ongoing visits in Debra’s own home keeps her family on edge. Terrifying and inspiring true stories pulled from Debra’s life round out her new work with more evidence of the afterlife from those who’ve found that love survives beyond death.

The Dead Are Watching is the second book I read by Debra Robinson, and I enjoyed it. Debra has a vast collection of stories to share, and all of those storeis deal with the supernatural. This book was filled with dozens of accounts, some of them more interesting than others.

I wish there were more facts presented though, more history about the cases. Often we get cold readings, or just the author’s impressions of what’s going on. While interesting, it’s not a lot to rely on – if we could get history, or people’s ideas about it, that might help. A lot of the stories focused on James as well, Debra’s deceased son. While I understand her need to write about this, I wouldn’t have minded if there had been more variation in the cases she discusses in this book, since her first book largely focused on James as well.

The writing is solid, and engaging. It has a light undertone though, which caused me to feel not even a single chill, although I was reading about ghosts and the like, and if there’s anything that usually manages to scare me, it’s ghosts. I did find most of the accounts believable (although, like I mentioned, other witnesses or a history of what was happening could’ve helped).

If you’re a fan of true haunting books, this one is a good choice. Not the best I read, but definitely one of the better ones. Doesn’t go over-the-top in Hollywood-horror style, but instead focuses on the afterlife and ghosts in an entirely different way – with warmth and compassion.