The Bell Witch Book is a non-fiction book written by Brent Monahan. It was published in 2000 and is based on the legend of the Bell Witch, one of the most famous and enduring ghost stories in American folklore. The story behind the Bell Witch dates back to the early 19th century in Adams, Tennessee. The Bell family were already well-established in the community when strange occurrences began happening on their farm. It started with unexplained knocking sounds on the walls and furniture, but quickly escalated to physical attacks on family members. The entity responsible for these events became known as the Bell Witch.
The entity responsible for these events became known as the Bell Witch. Monahan's book delves into the history of the Bell Witch haunting and attempts to separate fact from fiction. He meticulously researches primary sources, including eyewitness accounts, letters, and journal entries, to reconstruct the events and provide an in-depth analysis.
The Bell Witch: John F.D. Taff
Much like most of you reading this review, growing up I was always fascinated and drawn to the true stories of ghosts, possessions, hauntings and the like. Whether you believe in it being real or not, there’s no disputing that ‘something’ does happen to these people in these situations.
What makes some stories stand out even more for me are when renowned historical figures state that they experienced something while visiting these people.
Case in point: The Bell Witch. The Bell Witch is often referred to as ‘America’s Witch’ because of it happening in Tennessee and relatively recently – 1817. Add in that Andrew Jackson himself says he witnessed the witch and from there the story grew. Even to this day The Bell Witch, that entity that terrorized the Bell Family sends shivers down peoples spines. You can even go visit the cave and old farmstead if you really want to experience some American haunting history.
Which led me to this book.
What I liked: I’ve not read enough Taff, but this one’s been on my radar for some time. When it finally arrived at the top of my TBR, I tore through it. Taff does something special here by not keeping the witch in the shadows. We open with a slow build of family life until a fateful visit to the cave brings forth a spirit that has a purpose. That purpose is what makes this book really work. The witch becomes a character that offers terror and kindness, often within the same paragraph. It was a marvellous choice by John to make the reader have to question why they both loathed and loved the witch.
The family dynamic is spot on and as the story progresses we get to see just how the presence of the spirit weighs on each member. I also really loved the time period accuracy of God and the decisions made for a persons place with God and forgiveness. It created a philosophical layer that I wasn’t expecting.
Taff weaved a gem of a story, with multiple storylines playing out but all of them inherently tied to how and why the witch was tormenting the Bell family.
What I didn’t like: I found some of the story slowed near the 75% mark as the family learns the purpose of the witch and we need to go through each member to see how they react to it. It’s minor and necessary, but when you’re waiting for all hell to break loose, it was a bit of a “foot off the gas pedal” section.
Why you should buy this: Taff is a fantastic writer and while he states explicitly this is a piece of fiction and not historically accurate, once done you’ll want to do a deep dive on the lore around this. This was really well done, with some truly frightening moments, elevated by the underlying knowledge that this really happened. Or did it…
The Bell Witch
SOMETIMES THE SCARIEST TALES ARE TRUE
Inspired by actual events.
It’s 1817, and Tennessee is on the western frontier as America expands into the unknown. In idyllic Adams County, home of the Bell family, there exists a collection of tight-knit rural communities with deeply held beliefs. And even more deeply buried secrets.
Jack and Lucy Bell operate a prosperous family farm northwest of Nashville where life with their many children is peaceful. Simple country life. That is until those secrets take on a life of their own and refuse to remain unspoken.
Much has been written about the legend of the Bell Witch of Tennessee, but the details of the Bell family’s terrifying experience with the supernatural have never been told in quite the way that Bram Stoker Award-nominated horror author John F.D. Taff has conceived.
In his novel, for the first time, the Witch has her own say. And what she reveals about the incident and the dark motivations behind her appearance reaches way beyond a traditional haunting. Forget what you’ve read about this wholly American legend. What you believe you know about the mysterious occurrences on the Bell farm are wrong. Uncover the long-hidden reality that’s far more horrifying than any ghost story you’ve ever heard.
You can buy The Bell Witch from Amazon UK & Amazon US
Steve Stred
Steve Stred is the author of a number of novels, novellas and collections. He has appeared in anthologies with some of Horror’s heaviest hitters.
He lives in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada with his wife, son and their dog OJ.
You can follow Steve on Twitter @stevestred
You can follow Steve on Instagram @stevestred
You can visit Steve’s Official website here
It’s 1817, and Tennessee is on the western frontier as America expands into the unknown. In idyllic Adams County, home of the Bell family, there exists a collection of tight-knit rural communities with deeply held beliefs. And even more deeply buried secrets.
The Bell Witch Book takes readers on a journey through the various theories and explanations offered over the years to explain the phenomena. It explores the possibility of an elaborate hoax, poltergeist activity, psychological phenomena, and even supernatural entities. Monahan examines the different perspectives and interpretations of the events, shedding light on the multiple layers of the Bell Witch legend. One of the strengths of Monahan's book is his ability to bring the characters to life. He presents the Bell family and other key figures involved in the haunting as real people with complex emotions, fears, and motivations. This helps to create a connection between the reader and the historical events, making the story all the more compelling. The Bell Witch Book is a captivating and well-researched exploration of the Bell Witch legend. It provides readers with a comprehensive understanding of the events, their historical context, and the impact they had on the community. Whether you believe in the supernatural or not, this book offers an intriguing glimpse into one of America's oldest and most haunting ghost stories..
Reviews for "The Ghostly Encounters in The Bell Witch Book: A Study of Paranormal Phenomena"
1. John - 2/5 - I found "The Bell Witch Book" to be quite disappointing. The story lacked depth and failed to provide any real scares or suspense. The characters felt one-dimensional and I struggled to connect with them. Additionally, the writing style was lackluster and did not capture my attention. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and would not recommend this book to fellow horror enthusiasts.
2. Sarah - 1/5 - I couldn't even finish "The Bell Witch Book" due to its poor quality. The plot was predictable and unoriginal, offering nothing new to the genre. The dialogue was stiff and unnatural, making it difficult to become invested in the story or characters. The author's attempts at creating tension and fear fell flat, as there was a lack of atmospheric descriptions and genuine scares. I would not waste my time on this book.
3. Michael - 2/5 - "The Bell Witch Book" was a major letdown for me. The pacing was incredibly slow, making it a struggle to get through each chapter. The narrative felt disjointed, with the plot taking too many unnecessary detours. Furthermore, the supposedly terrifying haunted elements of the story were underdeveloped and failed to elicit any genuine fear or suspense. Overall, this book left me feeling underwhelmed and unimpressed. I would not recommend it to anyone looking for a captivating horror read.
4. Emily - 2/5 - I was not impressed with "The Bell Witch Book". The story lacked originality and seemed to borrow heavily from other ghostly tales. The characters were cliché and lacked depth, making it difficult to sympathize or connect with them. Moreover, the writing style felt amateurish and in need of further editing. I found myself constantly skimming through pages, hoping for something impactful to happen, but was ultimately left disappointed. I would not recommend this book to fans of the horror genre.