What do you think?
Rate this book
The Weiser Book of Occult Detectives: 13 Stories of Supernatural Sleuthing
The Weiser Book of Occult Detectives: 13 Stories of Supernatural Sleuthing is a compilation of vintage occult detective stories, written by masters of the genre including Arthur Conan Doyle, Algernon Blackwood, Dion Fortune, J. Sheridan Le Fanu, and Helena Blavatsky. Occult detectives explore paranormal mysteries or use their own supernatural gifts to solve crimes. The book features the original authors and stories that inspired what is now a bestsellilng genre in movies, TV, books, and video games.
The stories in The Weiser Book of Occult Detectives star both female and male sleuths. The mysteries they tackle include murder, missing funds, demons, ghosts, vampires, and more. Among the ranks of occult detectives featured in this book are beloved favorites such as Dr. Hesselius, Dr. Taverner, Thomas Carnacki, and John Silence but also the unjustly forgotten and obscure sleuths Shiela Crerar and Diana Marburg. Techniques utilized by the various detectives include palmistry, clairvoyance, psychometry, mesmerism, dreams, and good old deductive reasoning. The book is edited and introduced by leading occult author and scholar Judika Illes.
The stories in The Weiser Book of Occult Detectives star both female and male sleuths. The mysteries they tackle include murder, missing funds, demons, ghosts, vampires, and more. Among the ranks of occult detectives featured in this book are beloved favorites such as Dr. Hesselius, Dr. Taverner, Thomas Carnacki, and John Silence but also the unjustly forgotten and obscure sleuths Shiela Crerar and Diana Marburg. Techniques utilized by the various detectives include palmistry, clairvoyance, psychometry, mesmerism, dreams, and good old deductive reasoning. The book is edited and introduced by leading occult author and scholar Judika Illes.
320 pages, Paperback
Published October 1, 2017
13 people are currently reading
400 people want to read
About the author
Judika Illes
42 books347 followers Born in New York City, my metaphysical career began early: My first encounter with tarot cards at age six was also my first experience of love at first sight! That passion still burns true. Although I do practice other forms of divination, tarot remains the foundation of my practice.
A lifelong pursuit of metaphysical wisdom followed and continues: astrology, mythology, Kabbalah, the Egyptian mysteries as well as spiritual, magical and healing traditions from all over Earth but particularly Africa and Asia.
I've also been a blues and free-form rock and roll disc jockey, a corporate travel consultant specializing in the Caribbean, a skin-care and cosmetics consultant, and a teacher of mythology and multicultural studies. I wrote and edited the Ancient Beauty Secrets section for the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism's monthly online magazine, which integrated modern aromatherapy with ancient methods of body care and decoration.
True love's arrows pierced my heart yet again when I first encountered a vial of essential oil. (Essential oil of frankincense, to be exact, still a favorite.) Essential oils are not true oils but potent plant extracts. Modern aromatherapy, with its roots stretching back to ancient China, Egypt, Mesopotamia and the Middle East, is the manipulation of essential oils for therapeutic and cosmetic purposes. Essential oils are perhaps the purest, most potent expression of a plant's power and play a profound role in rituals, potions and spells. Many are powerful aphrodisiacs and may be used to enhance health, beauty and peace of mind.
Following over a decade of independent study, I earned a certificate in therapeutic aromatherapy. I served on the faculty of the Australasian College of Herbal Studies as an aromatherapy tutor, teaching the certification program.
My special passion for almost fifteen years has been magical and traditional approaches to fertility. Originally stimulated by own reproductive challenges, I was frustrated by the medical options offered to me. I went searching for other avenues, gentle Earth and female-friendly solutions and found them: a vast repository of women's wisdom. Two children and many years later, I still search and research, impressed and empowered by thousands of years of women's inventiveness, endurance, defiance and humor.
A lifelong pursuit of metaphysical wisdom followed and continues: astrology, mythology, Kabbalah, the Egyptian mysteries as well as spiritual, magical and healing traditions from all over Earth but particularly Africa and Asia.
I've also been a blues and free-form rock and roll disc jockey, a corporate travel consultant specializing in the Caribbean, a skin-care and cosmetics consultant, and a teacher of mythology and multicultural studies. I wrote and edited the Ancient Beauty Secrets section for the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism's monthly online magazine, which integrated modern aromatherapy with ancient methods of body care and decoration.
True love's arrows pierced my heart yet again when I first encountered a vial of essential oil. (Essential oil of frankincense, to be exact, still a favorite.) Essential oils are not true oils but potent plant extracts. Modern aromatherapy, with its roots stretching back to ancient China, Egypt, Mesopotamia and the Middle East, is the manipulation of essential oils for therapeutic and cosmetic purposes. Essential oils are perhaps the purest, most potent expression of a plant's power and play a profound role in rituals, potions and spells. Many are powerful aphrodisiacs and may be used to enhance health, beauty and peace of mind.
Following over a decade of independent study, I earned a certificate in therapeutic aromatherapy. I served on the faculty of the Australasian College of Herbal Studies as an aromatherapy tutor, teaching the certification program.
My special passion for almost fifteen years has been magical and traditional approaches to fertility. Originally stimulated by own reproductive challenges, I was frustrated by the medical options offered to me. I went searching for other avenues, gentle Earth and female-friendly solutions and found them: a vast repository of women's wisdom. Two children and many years later, I still search and research, impressed and empowered by thousands of years of women's inventiveness, endurance, defiance and humor.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 18, 2017
My favorites: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle; The leather funnel, J. Sheridan Le Fanu; Green Tea, Algernon Blackwood, A victim of higher space, & Dion Fortune The return of the ritual.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. 13 very well written mystery stories (book). They were all very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. Some of them could also make another great mystery movie, or better yet a mini TV series. A very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free Goodreads; Making Connections; Red Wheel/Weiserbooks; paperback book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. 13 very well written mystery stories (book). They were all very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. Some of them could also make another great mystery movie, or better yet a mini TV series. A very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free Goodreads; Making Connections; Red Wheel/Weiserbooks; paperback book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
July 18, 2020
This is an interesting collection of occult stories from authors who were (more) famous in the late 1800s and early 1900s. All of these featured stories were some of the earliest stories of supernatural incidents, even though there wasn't a name for the occult or supernatural back then. Ghosts, vampires, different planes of existence all show up in these stories: it's like The X-Files for those who enjoy the writings of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Some of the stories were better than others, but it was interesting to read about each of the authors, and how prolific some of them were during their lifetimes. This would be a good read for when the weather is colder, and the wind makes tree branches scratch at your window.
Some of the stories were better than others, but it was interesting to read about each of the authors, and how prolific some of them were during their lifetimes. This would be a good read for when the weather is colder, and the wind makes tree branches scratch at your window.
October 29, 2017
Excellent introduction to the classic occult detective stories including authors Arthur Conan Doyle, Algernon Blackwood, Dion Fortune, J. Sheridan Le Fanu, and Helena Blavatsky. Author Judika Illes has even dug up stories featuring obscure sleuths Shiela Crerar ("The Eyes of Doom") and Diana Marburg ("The Dead Hand").
Most importantly, Illes provides a concise introduction to each work, orienting you to the authors and stories. Recommended.
Most importantly, Illes provides a concise introduction to each work, orienting you to the authors and stories. Recommended.
December 6, 2017
I love the introduction with its mention of some new occult detectives found now on tv, the movies and in books. Also Judika Illes explanations about the authors and their detectives are very interesting. This is a book to keep and read again.
December 31, 2021
Extremely enjoyable collection! Now having sampled them, I have a few new occult detectives to track down to read the rest of their stories.
The backgrounds on the authors was interesting and informative and I really enjoyed them.
The backgrounds on the authors was interesting and informative and I really enjoyed them.
November 17, 2017
Awesome great read!!!!
October 30, 2017
First, though the book isn’t written by Judika Illes, her foreword of the book, and intro to every single story, are full of her trademark wit and attention to detail. Judika has a great talent for finding and writing some of the most interesting witch books I’ve ever read.
All of the stories featured were written between 1855 and 1922, and capture the Victorian flair of group seances, dark alleys where evil lurks, and the incredible power of the human mind. Even if you’re not a fan of older fiction, the stories in the book are captivating, brilliant, and creepy. Some will make you laugh, some will make you gasp, one even made me gag a little. If you’re one to pull out your fave collection of Edgar Allen Poe every october, you’ll find something to love in this book.
As a bonus the authors featured are both men and women, and as such so are the characters, which was probably one of my favourite things about this book.
Each story is introduced by Judika with facts about the occult and spiritual proclivities of the authors, and weaves together a history of occultism and spiritualism during the time. Witches and psychics will be thrilled to see a story by Helena Blavatsky, the creator of the Theosophical society and world famous spiritualist! There’s also The Leather Funnel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (YES! of Sherlock Holmes fame!)
I highly recommend the book to everyone! I loved the historical facts and tidbits about each story almost as much as I loved the stories themselves.
All of the stories featured were written between 1855 and 1922, and capture the Victorian flair of group seances, dark alleys where evil lurks, and the incredible power of the human mind. Even if you’re not a fan of older fiction, the stories in the book are captivating, brilliant, and creepy. Some will make you laugh, some will make you gasp, one even made me gag a little. If you’re one to pull out your fave collection of Edgar Allen Poe every october, you’ll find something to love in this book.
As a bonus the authors featured are both men and women, and as such so are the characters, which was probably one of my favourite things about this book.
Each story is introduced by Judika with facts about the occult and spiritual proclivities of the authors, and weaves together a history of occultism and spiritualism during the time. Witches and psychics will be thrilled to see a story by Helena Blavatsky, the creator of the Theosophical society and world famous spiritualist! There’s also The Leather Funnel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (YES! of Sherlock Holmes fame!)
I highly recommend the book to everyone! I loved the historical facts and tidbits about each story almost as much as I loved the stories themselves.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews