Ghosts Books

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Published August 7, 2023

Ghost stories from the Berkshires have never been so creepy, fun, and full of mystery! Welcome to the spooky Berkshires! Stay Alert! Ghosts lurk around every corner. Even the most unexpected places might be haunted by wandering phantoms. Did you know that at the Mount, the former home of famous author Edith Wharton, a shadowy phantom haunts the halls? Or that a ghost train still steams through the Hoosac Tunnel? Can you believe there's a top-hatted ghost who wakes guests in the night at the historic Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge? Pulled right from history, these ghostly tales will change the way you see the Berkshires forever, and have you sleeping with the lights on! 

Adapted for young readers ages 8–12.

Available from...

• Arcadia Publishing
• Bookshop.org
• Amazon
• Barnes & Noble
• Also available as an audiobook on Audible!

What others have said...

• "The Ghostly Tales of the Berkshires is a delightful collection of ghost stories for young readers. Robert Oakes draws the reader in, holding their flashlight to different locations. I loved that the stories were told in a variety of ways. Some tales of haunted houses recount experiences over the years. Other stories, like “The Ghostly Soldiers of South Lee,” transport us back in time to the original sighting and the unfolding of the story. There is also some great history included that is all part of the storytelling. I highly recommend it for locals and visitors alike!"

• "It’s awesome. Our girls read it cover to cover!"

• "We’ve been reading The Ghostly Tales of the Berkshires and went on a hike to the boulders on Gulf Road hoping to see something. ... We had a blast, now on to our next story. It really was fun!" 

Published September 26, 2022 

Among the rolling hills, picturesque farms and lush highlands of Northwestern New Jersey lurk haunting mysteries and unexplained apparitions.  A recluse who practiced witchcraft generations ago is said to be still spinning misdeeds as the Sussex Sorcerer on Sunrise Mountain. The ghost of Reverend O'Malley walks the woods around Mount Allamuchy as the Purple Bishop, seeking vengeance against those who betrayed him. The sinisterly named Shades of Death Road along the sod farms and meadows of the Pequest River Valley has a bloody reputation of bandit killings and supernatural encounters.  Author Robert Oakes leads readers on a spirited journey through the historic ghost lore of Northwestern New Jersey.

Available from...

• Arcadia Publishing
• Bookshop.org
• Amazon
• Barnes & Noble
• Also available as an audiobook on Audible!

What others have said...

• "This book is awesome."

• "A generally well-written and engaging exploration of local ghost stories of northwestern New Jersey, primarily focused on Sussex County, with short jaunts into Warren, Morris, and Passaic counties and an extensive bibliography for further reading."

• "Oh wow! Fascinating and fantastic! Great stories and wonderful narration. I really enjoyed the book. I hope for more to follow."

• "I got (this) book for Christmas, and I love it!"

Published September 21, 2020 

Before it became a haven for arts and culture, the Berkshires in Western Massachusetts was a rugged, sparsely populated frontier. From the early days of revolutionary fervor and industrial enterprise to today’s tourism, many chilling stories remain. A lost girl haunts a cemetery in Washington, and mysterious spirits still perform at Tanglewood. From the ghostly halls of the Houghton Mansion to the eerie events at the Hoosac Tunnel, residents and visitors alike have felt fear and awe in these hills, telling tales of shadow figures, disembodied voices and spectral trains. Author Robert Oakes, who has given ghost tours at The Mount in Lenox for more than a decade, leads this spirited journey through history. 

Available from...

• Arcadia Publishing
• Bookshop.org
• Amazon
• Barnes & Noble
• Also available as an audiobook on Audible!

What others have said...

• “Few of his tales are rooted in cliché locales such as graveyards. Instead, (Oakes) draws inspiration from the ‘resonance of lives lived, and the feelings felt’ in places across the Berkshires.” — Hannah Van Sickle, The Berkshire Edge

• “Wonderfully told stories of the Berkshires’ most mysterious places ... just when I thought I knew where all the haunted places were, I turned the page and a new location was introduced to me! … a must-read for anyone curious about the paranormal in the Berkshires!” 

• “...well-researched and beautifully told ... a great resource to anyone looking to add a layer of intrigue to their Berkshire travels.”

• “Wonderful storytelling and well-written ... would make a great resource for anyone who is into para-tourism and likes to have companion books to go along with their travels.” 

• “Very spooky!” 

• “Awesome! I loved it and (Robert’s) writing style ... I appreciated the history and background info.” 

• “This book is great ... we would’ve never found Ashintully without it.” 

• “... exciting and very interesting stories.” 

• “We are great fans of the Berkshires, so it was fun to hear the tales from places we have visited!” 

• “I read some of this to my girls last night. Wonderful stories!” 

• “... an incredibly well researched and fascinating history of some of the Berkshires most haunted locations. Definitely check it out! ... I’m planning to go camping at Bash Bish with my friends this fall, so I’m totally bringing the book with me to read them that story around the campfire."

• “I thoroughly enjoyed it.” 

• “I love it!”