
Holy Ghosts
Or How a (Not-so) Good Catholic Boy Became a Believer in Things that Go Bump in the Night
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
$0.99/mo for the first 3 months

Buy for $21.48
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Gary Jansen
-
By:
-
Gary Jansen
About this listen
In this extraordinary true story, the haunting of a Long Island household forces a respected writer and editor to reevaluate the mysteries of life and death as he struggles with the frightening truths of his childhood home and his town’s past. Growing up in Rockville Centre, Long Island, Gary Jansen never believed in ghosts. His mother—a devoutly Catholic woman with a keen sense for the uncanny—claimed that their family house was haunted. But Jansen never found anything inexplicable in how their doorbell would sometimes ring of its own accord or in the mysterious sounds of footsteps or breaking glass that occasionally would fill their home - or even in his mother’s sometimes unnervingly accurate visions of future events and tragedies. Though he once experienced a supernatural encounter in a Prague church as a young man, Jansen grew up into a rationalist, as well as a noted writer and editor.
In 2001 Jansen moved back into the very same house where he had once grown up, to raise a family with his wife. In 2007 he encountered a frightening, full-blown haunting in his home. This was the first episode of a phenomenon that lasted a full year and eventually included unveiling the identities of the spirits who occupied his house, reliving a tragic murder in his hometown, encountering mind-boggling coincidences between local history and episodes in his household; and finally—with the help of Mary Ann Winkowski, the real-life inspiration for TV’s Ghost Whisperer—ridding his house of these uninvited visitors.
Holy Ghosts is not only a gripping true-life ghost story, but a wry and touching memoir, as well as a meditation on the relationship between religion and the paranormal, which are often considered at odds, but which the author shows are intimately linked.
©2010 Gary Jansen (P)2010 Gildan Media CorpListeners also enjoyed...
-
True Ghost Stories and Eerie Legends from America's Most Haunted Neighborhood
- By: David Domine
- Narrated by: Marcus Freeman
- Length: 8 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A self-proclaimed skeptic, the food writer dismissed rumors of a mischievous resident poltergeist named Lucy when he moved in, but he quickly found himself at a loss to explain the disembodied footsteps and mysterious odors that seemed to plague the old house. Soon, he was talking to neighbors and fellow homeowners, and it seemed that everyone had stories of strange events and supernatural occurrences in their own dwellings. As a result, David set out to document and research these reports...
-
-
Not the book it claims to be
- By There Might Be Cupcakes Podcast on 01-06-15
By: David Domine
-
The Exorcism Files
- True Stories of Demonic Possession
- By: Adam Blai
- Narrated by: Lyle Blaker
- Length: 3 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Drawing from his extensive experience in assisting with cases of demonic oppression and possession, in The Exorcism Files, Adam Blai presents listeners with enlightening true stories and traces their causation. Whether people provided a gateway through Ouija boards or tarot cards, Blai reports from firsthand observation how they were lured into the occult.
-
-
Perfectly Crafted Book! Even for a Trained Exorcist (like me).
- By George Murray on 12-01-23
By: Adam Blai
-
A Life with Ghosts
- By: Steve Gonsalves, Michael Aloisi - contributor
- Narrated by: Steve Gonsalves
- Length: 8 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Steve Gonsalves—already considered to be one of the top paranormal investigators in the world and a pioneer in the industry—now presents his debut book, A Life with Ghosts! Widely known as a lead investigator of the smash hit TV series Ghost Hunters as well as Ghost Hunters Academy and Travel Channel’s ratings king, Ghost Nation, Steve presents a collection of his most meaningful paranormal experiences from some of his favorite haunted locations.
-
-
One of the best
- By Collin S. on 09-01-23
By: Steve Gonsalves, and others
-
When Ghosts Speak
- Understanding the World of Earthbound Spirits
- By: Mary Ann Winkowski
- Narrated by: James Van Praagh, Mary Ann Winkowski
- Length: 8 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the best-selling tradition of Rosemary Altea and John Edwards comes the memoir of Mary Ann Winkowski, the real life "Ghost Whisperer" and consultant on the Top 30 CBS show Ghost Whisperer starring Jennifer Love Hewitt. Lights flicker on and off for no good reason. You feel drained and inexplicably irritable. Your four-year-old is scared to enter her bedroom. Tell these things to Mary Ann Winkowski, and she'll tell you that you have a ghost. Mary Ann works with these spirits to help them make peace with what keeps them here.
-
-
Love the subject, not the narrator
- By Kerri on 07-31-19
-
The Devil in Connecticut
- By: Gerald Brittle
- Narrated by: Tim Campbell
- Length: 6 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From this New York Times best-selling author comes a shocking case of demonic possession, exorcism, and murder starring the legendary demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren, who battled the Amityville Horror and whose real-life case files inspired The Conjuring Universe, which includes The Conjuring, Annabelle, and The Nun films.
-
-
Really?
- By Baloo on 04-09-22
By: Gerald Brittle
-
Life with the Afterlife
- 13 Truths I Learned about Ghosts
- By: Amy Bruni, Julie Tremaine
- Narrated by: Amy Bruni, Christine Lakin
- Length: 6 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Amy Bruni, co-star of Kindred Spirits and one of the world's leading paranormal investigators, has learned a lot about ghosts over her years of research and first-hand experience. Now, in Life with the Afterlife, she shares the insight she has gleaned and how it has shaped her unique approach to interacting with the spirits of the dead and those who encounter them.
-
-
This is a great book!
- By R. Dess on 11-21-20
By: Amy Bruni, and others
-
True Ghost Stories and Eerie Legends from America's Most Haunted Neighborhood
- By: David Domine
- Narrated by: Marcus Freeman
- Length: 8 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A self-proclaimed skeptic, the food writer dismissed rumors of a mischievous resident poltergeist named Lucy when he moved in, but he quickly found himself at a loss to explain the disembodied footsteps and mysterious odors that seemed to plague the old house. Soon, he was talking to neighbors and fellow homeowners, and it seemed that everyone had stories of strange events and supernatural occurrences in their own dwellings. As a result, David set out to document and research these reports...
-
-
Not the book it claims to be
- By There Might Be Cupcakes Podcast on 01-06-15
By: David Domine
-
The Exorcism Files
- True Stories of Demonic Possession
- By: Adam Blai
- Narrated by: Lyle Blaker
- Length: 3 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Drawing from his extensive experience in assisting with cases of demonic oppression and possession, in The Exorcism Files, Adam Blai presents listeners with enlightening true stories and traces their causation. Whether people provided a gateway through Ouija boards or tarot cards, Blai reports from firsthand observation how they were lured into the occult.
-
-
Perfectly Crafted Book! Even for a Trained Exorcist (like me).
- By George Murray on 12-01-23
By: Adam Blai
-
A Life with Ghosts
- By: Steve Gonsalves, Michael Aloisi - contributor
- Narrated by: Steve Gonsalves
- Length: 8 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Steve Gonsalves—already considered to be one of the top paranormal investigators in the world and a pioneer in the industry—now presents his debut book, A Life with Ghosts! Widely known as a lead investigator of the smash hit TV series Ghost Hunters as well as Ghost Hunters Academy and Travel Channel’s ratings king, Ghost Nation, Steve presents a collection of his most meaningful paranormal experiences from some of his favorite haunted locations.
-
-
One of the best
- By Collin S. on 09-01-23
By: Steve Gonsalves, and others
-
When Ghosts Speak
- Understanding the World of Earthbound Spirits
- By: Mary Ann Winkowski
- Narrated by: James Van Praagh, Mary Ann Winkowski
- Length: 8 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the best-selling tradition of Rosemary Altea and John Edwards comes the memoir of Mary Ann Winkowski, the real life "Ghost Whisperer" and consultant on the Top 30 CBS show Ghost Whisperer starring Jennifer Love Hewitt. Lights flicker on and off for no good reason. You feel drained and inexplicably irritable. Your four-year-old is scared to enter her bedroom. Tell these things to Mary Ann Winkowski, and she'll tell you that you have a ghost. Mary Ann works with these spirits to help them make peace with what keeps them here.
-
-
Love the subject, not the narrator
- By Kerri on 07-31-19
-
The Devil in Connecticut
- By: Gerald Brittle
- Narrated by: Tim Campbell
- Length: 6 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From this New York Times best-selling author comes a shocking case of demonic possession, exorcism, and murder starring the legendary demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren, who battled the Amityville Horror and whose real-life case files inspired The Conjuring Universe, which includes The Conjuring, Annabelle, and The Nun films.
-
-
Really?
- By Baloo on 04-09-22
By: Gerald Brittle
-
Life with the Afterlife
- 13 Truths I Learned about Ghosts
- By: Amy Bruni, Julie Tremaine
- Narrated by: Amy Bruni, Christine Lakin
- Length: 6 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Amy Bruni, co-star of Kindred Spirits and one of the world's leading paranormal investigators, has learned a lot about ghosts over her years of research and first-hand experience. Now, in Life with the Afterlife, she shares the insight she has gleaned and how it has shaped her unique approach to interacting with the spirits of the dead and those who encounter them.
-
-
This is a great book!
- By R. Dess on 11-21-20
By: Amy Bruni, and others
-
Graveyard
- Ed & Lorraine Warren, Book 1
- By: Ed Warren, Lorraine Warren, Robert David Chase
- Narrated by: Todd Haberkorn
- Length: 4 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Graveyard chronicles a host of Ed and Lorraine Warren's most harrowing, fact-based cases of ghostly visitations, demonic stalking, heart-wrenching otherworldly encounters, and horrifying comeuppance from the spirit world. If you don't believe, you will. And whether you listen alone in the dead of night or in the middle of a sunny day, you'll be forever haunted by its gallery of specters eager to feed on your darkest dread.
-
-
interesting stories but not that scary
- By Stephanie on 02-28-17
By: Ed Warren, and others
-
The Demonologist
- The Extraordinary Career of Ed and Lorraine Warren - The True Accounts of the Paranormal Investigators Featured in the film 'The Conjuring'
- By: Gerald Brittle
- Narrated by: Todd Haberkorn
- Length: 10 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
If you think ghosts are only responsible for hauntings, think again. The Demonologist reveals the grave religious process behind supernatural events and how it can happen to you. Used as a text in seminaries and classrooms, this is one book you can't put down. For over five decades, Ed and Loraine Warren have been considered America's foremost experts on demonology and exorcism. With over 3,000 investigations to their credit, they reveal what actually breaks the peace in haunted houses. Don't miss the Warrens in the new blockbuster movie The Conjuring.
-
-
WARNING!: THIS IS BASED ON REAL CASES,TERRIFYING!
- By eric on 08-05-13
By: Gerald Brittle
-
Deliver Us from Evil
- A New York City Cop Investigates the Supernatural
- By: Ralph Sarchie, Lisa Collier Cool
- Narrated by: William Dufris
- Length: 11 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Demonic possession. Exorcism. Haunted Houses. Satanic Rituals. For most people this is the stuff of nightmares, horror movies, folklore, and superstition. For New York City police Sergeant Ralph Sarchie, it's as real - and dangerous - as midnight patrol…. A 16-year NYPD veteran, Ralph Sarchie works out of the 46th Precinct in New York's South Bronx. But it is his other job that he calls "the Work": Investigating cases of demonic possession and assisting in the exorcisms of humanity's most ancient - and most dangerous - foes.
-
-
Definitely better books out there on this topic
- By Marcel Fernandez on 08-05-14
By: Ralph Sarchie, and others
-
Antichrist and Apocalypse
- The 21 Prophecies of Revelation Unveiled and Described
- By: Taylor R. Marshall
- Narrated by: Kennedy Hall
- Length: 8 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Can you answer this question: Who is the Antichrist and what is the Apocalypse? The earliest Christians following the Twelve Apostles often spoke and wrote about the arrival of the Antichrist before the return of Jesus Christ at the end of time. Best-selling author and professor Dr. Taylor Marshall provides an easy-to-understand collection of Church fathers, saints, and mystics as he pulls back the curtain on the end times prophecies of the Book of Revelation—the book originally called the Apocalypse.
-
-
Above my theological level
- By Richard Angulo on 11-24-22
-
Demon Haunted: True Stories from the John Zaffis Vault
- By: John Zaffis, Rosemary Ellen Guiley
- Narrated by: Brian J. Cano
- Length: 6 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Leading paranormal experts John Zaffis and Rosemary Ellen Guiley plumb the depths of bizarre phenomena involving demonic spirits, the restless dead, demon boxes, dybbukim, Djinn, 9/11 World Trade Center disaster relics, and more. They explore haunted homes and landscapes teeming with spirits and entities who pester and terrorize both people and animals and defiantly refuse to let go.
-
-
Atrocious Narrator
- By Kerri on 10-03-18
By: John Zaffis, and others
-
Ouija Board Nightmares
- The Complete Collection
- By: John Harker
- Narrated by: Michael E. Smith
- Length: 6 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Have a Ouija board in your house? Thinking about trying one out? You won’t after listening to this book. Containing the full editions of Ouija Board Nightmares book one and book two, this newest compendium offers a sweeping thrill ride through the mysterious and hair-raising world of the Ouija. Real-life encounters with strange and terrible entities drive these tales of unearthly obsession, frightful oppression, and terrifying possession. Though the Ouija board may be marketed as a game, there are no winners in this activity. Only victims.
-
-
Creepy A$$F
- By Margaret A. Lopez & Jennie C Lopez on 12-19-19
By: John Harker
-
Demonic Foes
- My Twenty-Five Years as a Psychiatrist Investigating Possessions, Diabolic Attacks, and the Paranormal
- By: Richard Gallagher
- Narrated by: Kevin Collins
- Length: 8 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Successful New York psychiatrist Richard Gallagher was skeptical yet intrigued when a hard-nosed, no-nonsense Catholic priest asked him to examine a woman for a possible exorcism. Meeting her, Gallagher was astonished. The woman’s behavior defied logic. This remarkable case was the first of many that Gallagher would encounter. Sought after today by leaders of all faiths—ministers, priests, rabbis and imams, Gallagher has spent a quarter-century studying demonic activity and exorcisms throughout history and has witnessed more cases than any other psychiatrist in the world today.
-
-
An Exceptional Book for Reference and Debate
- By SecretOktober on 10-15-20
-
BuzzFeed Unsolved Supernatural
- 101 True Tales of Hauntings, Demons, and the Paranormal
- By: Ryan Bergara, Shane Madej, BuzzFeed
- Narrated by: Ryan Bergara, Shane Madej, Marc Vietor
- Length: 6 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Based off one of the most popular web series on the internet, Ryan Bergara and Shane Madej present BuzzFeed Unsolved Supernatural, 101 of the scariest, spookiest, and creepiest locations around the USA and a few abroad, with 50 percent brand-new content and locales exclusive to the book. As they explore the history behind haunted houses, creepy graveyards, former insane asylums, abandoned buildings, and horrifying hotels, Shane and Ryan use their trademark wit and humor to dissect each terrifying tale with their most hilarious highlights and biting commentary.
-
-
VERY good (if you’re a fan of BFU)
- By Allison on 09-16-22
By: Ryan Bergara, and others
-
Behind the Horror
- True Stories That Inspired Horror Movies
- By: Dr. Lee Mellor
- Narrated by: Adam Sims
- Length: 9 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Unearth the terrifying and true tales behind some of the scariest horror movies to ever haunt our screens, including the Enfield poltergeist case that was retold in The Conjuring 2 and the serial killers who inspired Hannibal Lector in The Silence of the Lambs. Behind the Horror dissects these and other bizarre tales to reveal haunting real-life stories of abduction, disappearance, murder, and exorcism.
-
-
Okay
- By 6catz on 05-19-21
By: Dr. Lee Mellor
-
The Girl with All the Gifts
- By: M. R. Carey
- Narrated by: Finty Williams
- Length: 13 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Melanie is a very special girl. Dr. Caldwell calls her "our little genius". Every morning, Melanie waits in her cell to be collected for class. When they come for her, Sergeant keeps his gun pointing at her while two of his people strap her into the wheelchair. She thinks they don't like her. She jokes that she won't bite, but they don't laugh. Melanie loves school. She loves learning about spelling and sums and the world outside the classroom and the children's cells. She tells her favorite teacher all the things she'll do when she grows up.
-
-
FLEETWOOD MAC
- By Jim "The Impatient" on 09-04-15
By: M. R. Carey
-
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Heaven
- Or, How I Made Peace with the Paranormal and Stigmatized Zealots and Cynics in the Process
- By: Corey Taylor
- Narrated by: Corey Taylor
- Length: 7 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this book, Corey Taylor undertakes something never before attempted in the history of rock superstardom: he takes you with him as he journeys undercover through various ghostbusting groups who do their best to gather information and evidence about the existence of spirits. Taylor also gives you a behind-the-scenes tour of his crazy life and the many beyond-the-grave events he's encountered. (You'll be shocked how often Slipknot has been invaded by the supernatural).
-
-
Too Much Padding
- By W. Maughan on 01-26-16
By: Corey Taylor
-
Real Ghost Stories
- Haunting Encounters Told by Real People
- By: Tony Brueski, Jenny Brueski
- Narrated by: Tony Brueski
- Length: 4 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Otherworldly entities invade millions of lives every day, maybe even yours. In this audiobook, Tony and Jenny Brueski from Real Ghost Stories Online take the most haunting accounts from their podcast and share them here.
-
-
It's a Podcast
- By Thea A Albertson on 08-19-20
By: Tony Brueski, and others
Critic reviews
What listeners say about Holy Ghosts
Highly rated for:
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- DD
- 01-02-15
Entertaining read for the money.
I didn't have high hopes for the book. It was an enjoyable read. I don't regret buying it. I reccomend it.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Saint Vibiana
- 12-16-20
Excellent Read
i so enjoyed this book and hope the author writes more. i am catholic and learned a lot and actually am inspired to pray more and watch my words.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Mary Moore
- 01-08-16
Listened Twice
I really enjoyed this book. It was very informative in the Catholic aspect and ghosts. Very entertaining and educational. After reading this I had an ah-hah moment where I finally understood the very existence of the supernatural.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- P. M.H.
- 08-08-15
A Ghost story from a Catholic perspective
I really enjoyed listening to this book. It tells a good story and the narrator does an excellent job.
Concerning the experiences the author tells I'd have recommend him to contact a Traditional Catholic priest to perform a blessing over the house and to have Masses offered for these souls.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Aaron
- 12-26-12
Genuinely Surprised...
What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?
I gotta tell you. I was looking for a book to creep me out a little. Sometimes that's the "shot in the arm" that I need to get through some days. But this is just not one of those books. Notwithstanding, it's wonderful. The conclusions Jansen draws from his paranormal experiences are faith-promoting, that perhaps in a terribly busy world inundated with routine and monotony, a haunting is perhaps the means through which he might be a believing person. I just think that's beautiful. It's not a black and white concept that many religious people would accept, that a haunting would be a growing opportunity rather than a unfortunate event to be feared. Given that it isn't what I was expecting in any sense, in tone or in message, I give this five stars and whole-heartedly recommend this to anyone.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- C Parkin
- 03-14-13
Spooky
Would you consider the audio edition of Holy Ghosts to be better than the print version?
I haven't read the print version so I cannot say if it was better or not.
Who was your favorite character and why?
The story was a first person account of events so there was only the one character. He was believable though and I enjoyed his account.
What about Gary Jansen’s performance did you like?
His voice is quite good for narration and he made the story both believable and enjoyable even though it was spooky.
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
No, sorry.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Michael
- 11-17-14
Very nice, Great fun
If you could sum up Holy Ghosts in three words, what would they be?
Very nice story
What other book might you compare Holy Ghosts to and why?
None
Which character – as performed by Gary Jansen – was your favorite?
Himself
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
I got a few laughs.
Any additional comments?
Mr. Jansen writes and tells a good story. I read the book a few years ago, but I was in the mood for that kind of book, and I wanted to see how it would feel to hear it read to me. I did enjoy it.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- V. Mccarney
- 02-28-21
fun supernatural story
There is a lot we dont know about in this world. I enjoyed the personal story of making sense of that and staying true to your faith!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
- Manny
- 02-02-11
Open to everything
A great read for this time of year, it seats well with winter and it's long and cold days.
The book is well written and narrated. It gripped me since the 1st chapter. The pace was perfect since there is no need for it to be fast so it creates the perfect atmosphere.
I'm also a Catholic and I too can related to Gary Jansen's experiences. We are all looking for answers.
Even if we have to resort to methods a bit out of the box to get the answers, It is all for a good cause.
oh...btw way best moment in the book: "Im on to you"
Recommended 100%
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
6 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Fab Sha
- 03-24-11
freeing
Yes, Christians can see ghosts and they are not going to hell for it. I enjoyed this book very much. It was simple without all the gadgets, well told and also made me laugh out loud. It is not a how to (speak to ghosts ) but it is a how not to ( be afraid ).
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
3 people found this helpful