.Through a mix of interviews, travel experiences, and historical and cultural insights, Miranda Corcoran explores this Gothic landscape not as a believer in all things supernatural but as someone fascinated by its social and political significance, arguing that these monsters and ghosts reflect their place and time and carry with them their local histories and cultural tensions, which change as we travel from the verdant woods of New England to the oppressive swamps of the South.

The American Gothic, she proposes, isn't just a literary genre but a lens through which we confront the silent truths of our collective past.

But what if the Gothic isn’t just about horror and despair, but also a means for subversion and joy? Perhaps these monsters can teach us to resist, laugh, and hope. Such questions run through the narrative of Haunted States, making it more than a catalogue of eerie locales.

The book shows that America, like the supernatural, defies a single definition. The nation’s regions and cultures are as fragmented and contradictory as the Gothic imagination.

Each locale, from Hollywood’s faded glamour to New England’s haunted forests, has distinct fears, histories, and hopes.

Haunted States is rich with these narratives that are both as enlightening as they are entertaining. An engaging, thought-provoking exploration of America’s dark history. Well written and thoroughly researched, blends travel literature with cultural criticism, examining how past horrors, real and imagined, continue to haunt the American consciousness. Highly Recommended.

a more in-depth review is featured on the BIRD's Eyeview of Books Podcast

I love a good anthology/collection of stories. This collection is full of history and fun little tidbits. You call tell that the author spent a lot of time researching the variety of historical topics. If you like history, gothic horror, and collections... read this. You'll be happy to have this on your bookshelf, as well.

#NetGalley #HauntedStates

Corcoran's hybrid travelogue, meditation, and critical analysis works exceptionally well as a way to delve into American culture through the Gothic myth-making of the countries various regions. It is theoretically sophisticated, but also clear in its leveraging of academic discourse. It features both beautifully wrought descriptions of travel across American landscapes and pertinent observations about American narratives and their connections to (or disconnections from, American realities). Corcoran's status as an outsider looking in on a country not her own is useful in illuminating areas that we might take for granted (including the notice of American transportation's unspoken hostility to the disabled and under-resourced). I'm well versed in books engaging in American psycho-geography, including the works of Colin Dickey, W. Scott Poole, and Leanna Renee Hieber, and Andrea Janes. Haunted States is one of the best I've read in this area of exploration and valuable addition to the field. .

Similar to Colin Dicky's "Ghostland", Miranda Corcoran's "Haunted States" is less concerned with pointing you in the direction of spooky specters and thrills and more interested in telling the stories of the often disenfranchised and forgotten past of the United States. Corcoran's own skepticism (and un-American point of view as she hails from Ireland), is refreshing and prevents the narration feel as if it's being spouted by a certain Travel Channel ghost hunter. At times the narration can get a little wordy for my taste, and as a librarian I have a hard time thinking of where I would categorize this title. I can say with certainty it would not be with the Lonely Planets and Rick Steves. But as someone who appreciates locations off the beaten path, that's fine with me.

I thought this was a really well-written and interesting blend of travel memoir and literary criticism. I particularly liked that the author is Irish and took almost entirely public transport across America which gave a more unique way of seeing a country where the bus and train systems are so temperamental as you think that this is nigh on impossible. The book is divided into different regions within America - the traditional Gothic of places like New England; the voodoo of New Orleans and the South; and the nuclear gothic of Arizona and Texas with finally a tour of California and the dark gothic of California. I definitely enjoyed New England and the South far more as it focused on writers in that area whereas the other regions were predominantly focused on film - but that’s purely a personal preference. I also thought that the travelogue dipped in moments where Corcoran met friends along the way and clearly felt compelled to include their works in the book in a way that felt a little jarring. I’d also perhaps have liked to have been introduced to more authors and to have discovered some that I wasn’t previously aware of but in all an interesting and unusual blending of genres and ideas.

fascinating set of tales told in a very critical, dry way but which works to balance out the stories themselves. i could have used more of that, though. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

A nice ride through haunted places in the US and a cultural voice of the country itself. I really enjoyed this book. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for this free eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book combines storytelling and exploration of haunted U.S. sites, delving into each place's history and connecting it to the legends that endure.

Haunted States: An American Gothic Guidebook by Miranda Corcoran is an engrossing blend of travel writing and cultural analysis that delves into the darker chapters of U.S. history, from witch trials to slavery and genocide, and examines their enduring impact on the nation's collective psyche. Corcoran masterfully connects these historical horrors with the evolution of the American Gothic, exploring how regional landscapes and their histories have shaped the genre's unique forms of terror. Featuring personal travel narratives, historical insights, and interviews, the book offers a thought-provoking journey through the haunted landscapes of America, making it a must-read for fans of horror and cultural history alike.

I'm having a hard time reviewing this book - I did not enjoy reading it all (in fact this one ended early as a "DNF"), but I also don't think it's truly a bad book.

I am a massive fan of horror books and have also recently gotten really into nonfiction books where the author is traveling to interesting parts of the country/world. Therefore, when I saw this book go up for availability I thought this would be the perfect read for me.

The "Gothic Guidebook" is where I felt mislead. If you would be interested in reading a textbook about some places that have some dark history, but that the author writes about in the driest way possible - and makes clear that she doesn't believe in the supernatural, nor does she seem to like most of the places she travels to - then maybe you will enjoy it.

I, however, was not looking to read a textbook taking all the fun out of what should have been a fascinating exploration of the US. I've been to many of the places in the opening section of the book, and her disdain of having to visit there shines through and doesn't make for enjoyable reading. It is clear the author did a lot of research and a lot of traveling, however this is one trip I ended early.

Excellent book. It’s beautifully written and weaves in fascinating details about the gothic history of the U.S. I especially enjoyed learning how mediums and spiritualists played a crucial role in the suffragette and feminist movements. Such an interesting and unexpected connection!

Thank you to the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

As someone who’s fascinated by both history and the supernatural, I was immediately drawn into this book’s blend of storytelling and in-depth exploration of haunted sites across the U.S. Instead of just focusing on spooky tales, the author digs into each place’s history, connecting the past with the legends that live on today.

That said, there were moments where the book felt a bit heavy. The research is clearly extensive, and while that’s impressive, it sometimes slowed things down, giving parts of the book a more textbook-like feel. In certain sections, I noticed a bit of repetition, which made me wish for a bit more polish to keep the narrative flowing.

Overall, this is a captivating read for anyone who loves haunted places and the stories behind them. It’s a slower, more detailed dive into American folklore. If you're looking for quick scares, this might not be the right book, but if you love history and appreciate a thoughtful approach to folklore, I’d definitely recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the chance to read and enjoy this ARC in exchange of an honest review.

As someone who lives in the U.K. I’m more used to seeing books like this focused on the extensive history, folklore, myths and hauntings from here than anywhere else.
So I was extremely excited to receive the arc of this one. It did not disappoint.
The author has taken us on a journey across the USA, to these eerie, atmospheric and beautiful places.
What I like about this, is that it isn’t just generic “ghost/spooky” stories, it’s packed full of history and inclusive of the cultural elements that make up what is the USA today.
Fascinating and interesting, I had no problem getting into the book, I was engrossed from virtually the beginning.
Such a good, solid read. I’d highly recommend this one. Thank you so much for allowing me an arc, it’s much appreciated and enjoyed.

Received free copy from Netgalley for my honest review. This gives background on many states and the hauntings and stories behind them. There's so many different places in the US to visit and investigate the paranormal. I'm always drawn to anything involving mysteries and the unknown or unexplained so this was right up my alley.

I think I was expecting this to be your average popular ghost stories from each state. But, this was much more than that.

This author definitely put in a ton of research as well as visiting haunted/spiritual locations. Each place told an in-depth history behind what happenings and folklore made it special, the people involved, and what it looks like today. Locals and historians told their stories, and the author voiced her thoughts, feelings, and any questions she was left with. She also included some pictures of the famous sites.

This was not a quick read. As I said, there was a lot of research, and each place was written about in depth. If you are interested in the detailed history behind famous haunted places and not in simple ghost stories or ghost hunting experiences, then this is definitely the book for you.

While this was very interesting, it did get a bit tedious for my easily distracted brain. I received an ebook copy, and I do think a physical copy would do it more justice.

3⭐️

As always, I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to have an advanced ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was an enjoyable and interesting read. I found the discussions of how these mythologies became prevalent depending on the part of the US, the historical context and the natural landscape playing a part. I especially found the conversation about the swamp leading to more heavy, ‘real’ monsters an interesting take. However, I did find there was less haunting stories than I would have liked. The Texas part especially showcased a lot of ideas that were repeated and repeated over again in a small section, as if Miranda was trying to hit a word count for the section. I also thought the Midwest section was way too short. Overall though, super interesting!

This book had some great and intresting history and info but it almost read more like a text book in places. Even from the very begining I had to stop multiplt times to look words up and that kind of took away from the flow of book. I always loved local haunted books when I would travel and go on vacations in the US as a kid so this material definitely is interesting, the language was just a little too much for me at times and I think it would be the same for the average reader.

Affascinante racconto di viaggio, Haunted States registra il legame fra i diversi territori degli Stati Uniti e i mostri che hanno prodotto nella narrazione orale, nel cinema, nella letteratura, cercando la risposta a una domanda: gli orrori storici e il paesaggio, la particolare commistione di storia e geografia che rende unico ogni luogo, influenza l'immaginario popolare e quindi i mostri che lo infestano?
Ho trovato sia lo spunto che il viaggio intriganti, scorrevole lo stile dell'autrice, e pieno di suggestioni l'intero itinerario.

ARC provided by Repeater Books in exchange for an honest review.

Haunted States by Miranda Corcoran offers a captivating blend of travel writing, history, and cultural analysis, taking readers on a journey through some of the eeriest locations in the United States. Structured around Corcoran’s summer 2022 travels, each chapter explores a haunted site—from Salem’s witch trial legacy to the South’s plantation ghosts—revealing how historical events like slavery, genocide, and injustice have left a lingering presence.

As someone who loves Gothic-style books, I found Corcoran’s exploration of haunted places and dark narratives particularly compelling. The book delves deeply into the Gothic as a lens for understanding how trauma and memory shape both people and places, giving the stories a haunting richness that resonated with me.

Corcoran balances vivid storytelling with thoughtful critique, immersing readers in each location while addressing uncomfortable truths about America’s past. Her ability to connect real-world events with Gothic fiction, folklore, and film adds meaningful context to the eerie narratives.

Whether you're passionate about history, Gothic literature, or ghost stories, Haunted States promises an informative and thought-provoking journey that will leave a lasting impression. This is more than just a travel guide—it’s an invitation to reflect on how the past continues to shape the present, one haunted site at a time.

This is a fascinating travelogue about places in the US known for hauntings, tragedies, and the supernatural of various shades. Corcoran's unique gift to this genre is that she's Irish, and brings an Irish and European sensibility with her to her trip. She wasn't raised on stories of American hauntings and mysteries, so her perspective is one of newly discovered and newly considered historic events, people, and places. She doesn't drive, so much of her travel is done on buses and in cabs, limiting many of the places of pilgrimage she can visit, which also shapes her journey and her outlook. Americans steeped in understanding the traumas and genocides of the colonizing of North America may find some of her insights obvious or tired--her examination of Salem, for example--but I could it interesting and thought-provoking to read a different perspective. That said, the book is often unfocused and there are discussions that could benefit from more nuance; Corcoran's account of religion and the supernatural legacies and practices of New Orleans is a little painful to read for its relative shallowness and lack of better context, and her visit to famous cemeteries in Hollywood is similarly unclear as to purpose and findings. Nonetheless, if you enjoyed Colin Dickey's Ghostland, you'll likely find this a good companion piece.