Product Description

Known throughout Tennessee as "Old Kate," the Bell Witch took up residence with John Bell's family in 1818. It was a cruel and noisy spirit, given to rapping and gnawing sounds before it found its voices. With these voices and its supernatural acts, the Bell Witch tormented the Bell family. This extraordinary book recounts the only documented case in U.S. history when a spirit actually caused a man's death. The local schoolteacher, Richard Powell, witnessed the strange events and recorded them for his daughter. His astonishing manuscript fell into the hands of novelist Brent Monahan, who has prepared the book for publication. Members of the Bell family have previously provided information on this fascinating case, but this book recounts the tale with novelistic vigor and verve. It is truly chilling.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #165762 in Books
• Published on: 2000-06-29
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 208 pages

From the Publisher
Fabulous advance reviews:
"Ever-intelligent horror novelist Monahan retells a true story---true as far as the participants knew---about a poltergeist. ... immensely satisfying." ---Kirkus Reviews (starred review) "Demonstrating an exceptional aptitude for literary pastiche, Monahan invites a willing suspension of disbelief ... Monahan excels in his sympathetic depictions of these homely rustics." ---Publishers Weekly "America's greatest ghost story." ---Dennis William Hauck, Haunted Places

From the Author
A note from the author.
Only one 'horror' book has ever scared me. That was Peter Blatty's The Exorcist. The reason was that Blatty had cobbled together several well-documented cases of demonic possession, so that his novel became 'faction.' This is the same with The Bell Witch. This story did occur, in some fashion, in pioneer Tennessee between 1817-1821. Clear documentation indicates a true poltergeist haunting, a multiple personality disorder, a form of possession, and murder. My 'factionalization' was necessary because the impetus for this famous haunting was so evil that those who wrote the diaries back then could not bring themselves to accept what had caused it. Rarely do we see the supernatural world emerging into the natural world with such clarity.

Customer Reviews

YES - THIS SCARED ME !
I hoped to be scared by this book - and i wasn`t disappointed. Not really bedtime reading as it tends to stay with you and your mind runs riot. I`m enjoying this book and recommend it highly. Well written.
( Tip - don`t skip any of the foreword, as i did - it does tend to drag on a bit - but if you skip it you won`t know who`s who when the story begins - and you will have to go back - as i did ! )

Brilliant book! For ghost lovers everywhere
If you are interested in the paranormal, supernatural, poltergeists and the like, you will not be disappointed with this book. It really is a tale about terror and desperation but also about friends and family and the care of the community.
While reading this account on the famous "Old Kate" the Bell Witch of Tennesse, you are transported back to the 1800's southern America. To Tennesse itself. You can feel the wind blowing down Red River and you can certainly hear the cries of the Witch. You feel for those who are having to put up with the witches torment and you find yourself wondering what you would do tonight if you were woken by unpredictable noises!!!
But I have quite a suspicion that this is really not an account by the Bell's school teacher and Betsy Bell's husband to be- Mr Powell. It seems obvious to me that this book is really written by this clever author Brent Monahan. But it is a shame and I would rather like to think while reading it, that it is all the truth and written by Mr. Powell. The twist at the end was quite surprising, and is like one of those twisty turny tales when you think staight after reading the book - "oh, Yes. That makes sense, that is why that happened," and so on. What a great story, even if you do doubt it's credability - You never know!!! BUY IT!!!!!!

Excellent and well researched book
I'd recommend this read to anyone. Like many I was very skeptical at first but as the book delves deeper into the mystery it becomes clear that something altogether supernatural is at work. My girlfriend, a student of History, doesn't read this kind of book but she also found it hard to put down and was left with the same thoughts on the book as me. Brent Monahan comes up trumps again!