Review of Talking to Yourself in the Dark by Tom Carr

Talking to Yourself in the Dark
A How to Guide to the Paranormal
by Tom Carr


Tom Carr knows ghosts. He’s written a fascinating book that will give you insight into the mind of, and teach you how to become, a paranormal investigator. Tom has been the lead investigator on scores of “ghost hunts” and shares his massive experience in this engrossing guidebook. If you love ghost stories, ghost hunting TV programs, or shows about hauntings; or if you’ve wondered what it’s like to actually conduct a paranormal investigation, you will love reading Talking to Yourself in the Dark. It’s written in a practical and engrossing style that made me think Tom was an experienced writer, despite this being his first book. The chapters are no-nonsense explanations that truly teach you how to set-up a team, get into locations without violating the number one rule: DO NOT TRESSPASS; and of course how to actually conduct an investigation. There’s a lot of great material in the book, and the case studies at the end are super creepy. The book is not very long, only 91 pages, and though the topics were covered extremely well, I would have enjoyed it even more had it been longer. The handful of few copy editing errors in the first edition that I read were easily overlooked and will most certainly be corrected.

As far as “how to” guides go, this one is never boring and will keep you turning the pages from start to finish. After reading it, you’ll understand what’s it’s like to enter haunted locations and attempt communication with spirits. There really is a lot of “talking to yourself in the dark” when on investigations, which I learned personally. I’ve been fortunate enough to attend one of Tom’s seminars on ghost hunting at the ConDuit convention in Salt Lake City, and to actually be a guest on two of his investigations in Utah: one at the abandoned Tooele hospital, and one at the Baron Woolen Mill in Brigham City. I’ve blogged about both ghost hunts and wish I had been able to read Tom’s book before I followed along with him.

Reading this book will help you in countless ways if you’re planning on conducting your own paranormal investigation, or it’ll give you chills and thrills as you vicariously peer into dark places where most people are afraid to look. You’ll know what to do and especially what not to do. Tom goes to great lengths to explain that there are no professional ghost hunters, but after reading his book and going on two hunts with him, I think he is as close as they come.


Paul Genesse
Author of The Dragon Hunters
www.paulgenesse.com