(This review will be on my blog All the Ups and Downs soon.)
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Those who know me know that I love the paranormal, mainly ghosts. When a chance came up to read Paranormal Texas by Tui Snider came about, I couldn't say no. As a Texas girl myself and a fan of all places ghostly, this seemed like the perfect book for me. I wasn't wrong!

Paranormal Texas by Tui Snider is a fantastic guidebook for those looking to chase ghosts in the great state of Texas, more specifically, towns and cities near Dallas and Fort Worth. I don't live near Dallas or Fort Worth, but I've been on vacation in and around there, and I will be taking future vacations in and around that area. In fact, I've been to two of the haunted locations featured in this book! I never even knew they were supposedly haunted at the time.

Tui Snider does a fantastic job of keeping readers interested in Paranormal Texas. She gives information about each place as well as local lore and/or personal encounters with each place. Tui also has a few urban legends in her book which are great for approaching locals with as long as they're into that sort of thing. Sometimes she gives the history behind each place which was my favorite thing. Personally, I would have liked to read more history about each place, but I was still happy nonetheless. What I really enjoyed was each place Tui mentioned wasn't a wall of text. It was concise and to the point. She also included photos of each place. These aren't photos of evidence though. The photos are just of the actual place itself which was a tad bit disappointing. I would have liked to see some photos of alleged evidence. However, Tui does have a website where you can look at paranormal photos, EVPs (electronic voice phenomenon), and more. (I'll go into detail about her website a little later.) All the photos are in black and white in my copy of Paranormal Texas. Mine is an ARC, so maybe the actual copies will have some colored photos.

One thing I really enjoyed about Paranormal Texas is that Tui Snider lists the address of each place, so you don't have to bother searching for it yourself. If it's a harder place to get to, Tui gives you directions of how best to get there. I thought this was a fantastic touch because when you want to look for ghosts, the last thing you want to do is waste time trying to find an address.

Another thing I am grateful for is how the book has each city listed alphabetically at the beginning and then each haunted location is listed for that city. This makes it a lot easier to find what city you're interested in to do some ghost exploring!

However, Paranormal Texas isn't just about haunted places in Texas. Tui Snider also writes about the techinal terms that come with ghost hunting which is great for those that are new to ghost hunting as well as how to be a respectful thrill seeker which has great information for even seasoned ghost hunters. I would advise not skipping the beginning of the book that has all this great advice simply because it will help enrich your reading experience with Paranormal Texas or any paranormal non-fiction book. Heck, it will probably even enrich your experience with even paranormal and supernatural fiction books!

Be sure to check out Tui Snider's online evidence database for Paranormal Texas which she mentions in her book. Like Paranormal Texas, she has each city listed alphabetically for you to listen and see supposed paranormal happenings. This is such a fantastic accompaniment to the book. It really makes the book come alive. It's like you're there! Definitely check out her online database. It will give you the chills. It's still a work in progress as Tui encourages readers to send in their own paranormal evidence as well, but still, it is great nonetheless.

Paranormal Texas is such a great guide for old and new ghost hunters alike. There is such a plethora of information within the pages. Trust me, not only are you learning about new ghost locations, but you are also being schooled on so much more. It's like a bonus lesson in history and ghost hunting, but one that is a lot of fun. I'd recommend leaving the lights on for this book. I'd definitely recommend Paranormal Texas by Tui Snider to those aged 16 who love ghost stories, Texas, or those who just love to be spooked. You won't be disappointed!
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(A special thank you to Tui Snider for providing me with a paperback ARC of Paranormal Texas in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.) ( )

Paranormal Texas by Tui Snider is a 2019 publication.

This is a fantastic non-fictional travel guide to the various true hauntings the author discovered in and around the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. The book provides fascinating background information about the haunted places discussed in the book and includes many of the author’s personal ghost hunting experiences.

I was familiar with some of the stories listed in the town of Mineral Wells and have driven through this area several times. But I did not know much of the town’s history or the information about the minerals in the water, which is how the town got its name.

In fact, all the information provided in the book will be of interest to anyone who enjoys history, even if you aren’t from Texas, or never plan on mapping out your own ghost hunting tour.

A couple of things I feel must be stressed before you start reading this book:

1) This book does not mention urban legends or old folklore tales, unless there has been some real evidence of a haunting. The author only includes locations that have some paranormal readings or first- hand accountings.

2) This second edition of the book includes photographs, the authors’ first- hand experiences, and real evidence of hauntings.

The travel guide to these spooky locations includes addresses and directions, as well as information about accessibility.

I loved reading these ghost stories and the interesting history behind them. My ghost hunting days are in the past, but this book would be very helpful for those planning a historical journey or a ghost hunting adventure through this area of Texas.

It would also be a great gift idea for the ghost hunter in your family and can spark some lively conversations.

Overall, this is a fascinating book. It’s fun, informative, and more than a little spooky! I got goosebumps more than once! This book will really put you in the mood for Halloween, too! ( )

Paranormal Texas is perfect for its intention, which is as a travel guide to haunted places in Texas. The book is arranged by area and destination, and includes addresses and websites. For each destination, the author offers a bit of history and the type of paranormal experiences its known for. If you're interested in ghost hunting and live in or can travel to Texas, I highly recommend getting a copy of this book to help you plan your trip.

As a reading experience, this book doesn't offer quite as much content as I'd have liked. As I read, I kept thinking that photos of some of the more interesting places would have been a nice benefit. Also, the information on each destination is short. I'd have liked a little more detail, perhaps some anecdotes from the author's personal experience or more in-depth research on other people's experiences.

That being said, this book is a fun read and should entice a lot of ghost hunters to travel out to Texas. ( )