The Curse of Lake Ronkonkoma

Download The Curse of Lake Ronkonkoma PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781491082881
Total Pages : 62 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (828 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis The Curse of Lake Ronkonkoma by : Michael Ebert

Download or read book The Curse of Lake Ronkonkoma written by Michael Ebert and published by . This book was released on 2013-07-31 with total page 62 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This self-published text chronicles the various historical myths and legends of Lake Ronkonkoma, which is Long Island's largest lake. Some superstitions have depicted the mile-wide kettle lake as being bottomless or having underground connections to other waterways, while others describe it as having an uncanny tendency to rise and fall in cyclical patterns. Perhaps the most fascinating tales involve a lovesick indian princess who killed herself in the lake and returns annually to claim the life of a male. The author, Michael R. Ebert, became interested in the lake's many mysteries after a classmate drowned there in the 1990s. Years later, he noticed the lack of a comprehensive text on the topic and scoured local libraries and historical societies to conduct his own research, which is recounted here. For more info on Michael R. Ebert, visit www.michaelrebert.com.

Lake Ronkonkoma in History and Legend, the Princess Curse and Other Stories: a Lifeguard’S View

Download Lake Ronkonkoma in History and Legend, the Princess Curse and Other Stories: a Lifeguard’S View PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Author House
ISBN 13 : 1481737163
Total Pages : 121 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (817 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Lake Ronkonkoma in History and Legend, the Princess Curse and Other Stories: a Lifeguard’S View by : Dr. David S. Igneri

Download or read book Lake Ronkonkoma in History and Legend, the Princess Curse and Other Stories: a Lifeguard’S View written by Dr. David S. Igneri and published by Author House. This book was released on 2013-07-22 with total page 121 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The History and Legends of Lake Ronkonkoma, the Princess Curse and Other Stories; A Lifeguards View, discusses the history and the folklore of Long Islands largest lake. It builds a strong case for the Princess legend. The author consulted professional opinions, of paranormal experts, who generally believe curses are real, not superstition. He also consulted many sources on Lake Ronkonkoma, to focus in on the fact that a young male has drowned almost every year, and that few females have died in the Lake. In fact it remains, that possibly only one female lost her life. Her official cause of death was kidney failure, caused by secondary drowning. The volume also chronicles the lifeguard career of the author, David S. Igneri. His lifeguards at the lake and his other beaches were, in general gifted athletes. However, to lifeguard Lake Ronkonkoma they needed specific training that was not covered in their regular lifeguard preparation. At first, Igneri himself, did not totally understand the task before him. However, he sought advice from older lifeguards, and read everything he could about Ronkonkoma, and formulated a program. In his early years he did not believe in the Princess Curse at all, and believed it was only superstition. His experiences during that time, made him re-think his views. Gradually he realized that some force or entity was causing, or helped causing the many deaths. David Igneri began to change his policies at Lake Ronkonkoma on July 5, 1965. He totally believes that the spirits told him what to do. His goal became to protect and save all of the people, all of the time, and stop the legend. After reading this volume, you will have to decide for yourself, how much success he had in this endeavor.

Lake Ronkonkoma in History and Legend, the Princess Curse and Other Stories

Download Lake Ronkonkoma in History and Legend, the Princess Curse and Other Stories PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : AuthorHouse
ISBN 13 : 1481750739
Total Pages : 123 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (817 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Lake Ronkonkoma in History and Legend, the Princess Curse and Other Stories by : David S. Igneri

Download or read book Lake Ronkonkoma in History and Legend, the Princess Curse and Other Stories written by David S. Igneri and published by AuthorHouse. This book was released on 2013 with total page 123 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The History and Legends of Lake Ronkonkoma, the Princess Curse and Other Stories; A Lifeguard's View, discusses the history and the folklore of Long Island's largest lake. It builds a strong case for the Princess legend. The author consulted professional opinions, of paranormal experts, who generally believe curses are real, not superstition. He also consulted many sources on Lake Ronkonkoma, to focus in on the fact that a young male has drowned almost every year, and that few females have died in the Lake. In fact it remains, that possibly only one female lost her life. Her official cause of death was kidney failure, caused by secondary drowning. The volume also chronicles the lifeguard career of the author, David S. Igneri. His lifeguards at the lake and his other beaches were, in general gifted athletes. However, to lifeguard Lake Ronkonkoma they needed specific training that was not covered in their regular lifeguard preparation. At first, Igneri himself, did not totally understand the task before him. However, he sought advice from older lifeguards, and read everything he could about Ronkonkoma, and formulated a program. In his early years he did not believe in the Princess Curse at all, and believed it was only superstition. His experiences during that time, made him re-think his views. Gradually he realized that some force or entity was causing, or helped causing the many deaths. David Igneri began to change his policies at Lake Ronkonkoma on July 5, 1965. He totally believes that the spirits told him what to do. His goal became to protect and save all of the people, all of the time, and stop the legend. After reading this volume, you will have to decide for yourself, how much success he had in this endeavor.

Lake Ronkonkoma

Download Lake Ronkonkoma PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Arcadia Publishing
ISBN 13 : 9780738576565
Total Pages : 132 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (765 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Lake Ronkonkoma by : Keith Oswald

Download or read book Lake Ronkonkoma written by Keith Oswald and published by Arcadia Publishing. This book was released on 2011 with total page 132 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Lake Ronkonkoma, located in the center of Long Island, became a summer destination for wealthy New Yorkers with the arrival of the railroad in 1843. Luxurious hotels were built around the lakeshore during the 1890s to attract visitors. People would utilize the sparkling waters of the lake for boating, fishing, and swimming. At night, hotel guests could dance, gamble in the casino, and enjoy sumptuous meals. By the 1920s, as more people could afford automobiles, beach pavilions began decorating the shoreline of Lake Ronkonkoma. Thousands of people were flocking to this summer paradise. Canoeing, camping, dancing to live music, beauty contests, and fireworks entertained visitors. The area continued to grow in popularity until World War II when gas rationing limited travel. By the 1950s, Lake Ronkonkoma had become a town populated by year-round residents.

Weird U.S.

Download Weird U.S. PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Sterling Publishing Company, Inc.
ISBN 13 : 9781402745447
Total Pages : 356 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (454 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Weird U.S. by : Mark Sceurman

Download or read book Weird U.S. written by Mark Sceurman and published by Sterling Publishing Company, Inc.. This book was released on 2008 with total page 356 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Explores ghosts and haunted places, local legends, cursed roads, crazy characters, and unusual roadside attractions found in the United States.

Cursed in New York

Download Cursed in New York PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN 13 : 1493013777
Total Pages : 224 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (93 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Cursed in New York by : Randi Minetor

Download or read book Cursed in New York written by Randi Minetor and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2015-10-01 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A collection of riveting stories about preternatural revenge. Discover the riveting stories about Queen Esther and the Iroquois Slaughter, The Curse of Mamie O’Rourke, The Rangers, the Stanley Cup and the Curse of 1940, The Death of a President and the City that Fails to Thrive, and many more. Some stories will be regionally well known. Others are nearly forgotten. All are cursed.

Lady of the Lake

Download Lady of the Lake PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781948225885
Total Pages : 276 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (258 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Lady of the Lake by : Brian Muff

Download or read book Lady of the Lake written by Brian Muff and published by . This book was released on 2020-08-25 with total page 276 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Long Island & Suffolk County New York Fishing & Floating Guide Book

Download Long Island & Suffolk County New York Fishing & Floating Guide Book PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Recreational Guides
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 1642 pages
Book Rating : 4./5 ( download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Long Island & Suffolk County New York Fishing & Floating Guide Book by : Jim Maccracken

Download or read book Long Island & Suffolk County New York Fishing & Floating Guide Book written by Jim Maccracken and published by Recreational Guides. This book was released on 2017-06-24 with total page 1642 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Long Island & Suffolk County New York Fishing & Floating Guide Book NEW REVISED Over 1600 full 8 ½ x 11 sized pages of information with maps and aerial photographs available. Fishing information is included for ALL of the county’s public ponds and lakes, listing types of fish for each pond or lake, average sizes, and exact locations with GPS coordinates and directions. Also included is fishing information for most of the streams and rivers including access points and public areas with road contact and crossing points and also includes fish types and average sizes. Contains complete information on Includes: Fishing in freshwater ponds and lakes, streams, and rivers and also saltwater areas that are open to the public in the bays, estuaries and in the Atlantic Ocean and on Long Island Sound. Freshwater Lakes, Rivers and Streams Agawan Lake Argyle Lake Artist Lake Avon Manor Pond Belmont Lake Big Fresh Pond Big Reed Pond Bill Richardson Park Lake Blydenburgh Lake Brookhaven State Park Lake Caleb Smith Reserve Lake Canaan Lake Carlls River (F) Carman River (F) Cedar Point County Park Lake Connetquot River (F) Deep Pond Forestwood Park Lake Forge Pond Fort Pond Fresh Pond # 1 Fresh Pond # 2 Geiger Memorial Park Lake Great Pond Hards Pond Hook Pond Kahler Lake Kellis Pond Knapps Lake Lake Ronkonkoma Laurel Lake Little Fresh Pond Little River Long Pond Lower Yaphank Lake Marratooka Pond Mill Pond Millers Pond Nissequoque River (F) Paconic River (F) Patchogue Lake Penny Pond Poxabogue Pond Randall Pond Rattlesnake Creek (F) Sears & Bellows Park Ponds South Haven County Park Lake Southards Pond Swan Lake Swan Pond Swan River (F) Trout Pond Twin Ponds Upper Yaphank Lake West Lake Wildwood Lake (F) means floatable stream or river Saltwater Access Areas Long Island Sound Access Areas West to East Cold Spring Harbor Lloyd Harbor Park Caumsett State Park Gold Star Battalion Beach Mill Dam Marina Crescent Beach Town Park Hobart Beach Centerport Beach Scudder Beach Steers Beach Soundview Ramp Kirshbaum Park Crab Meadows Beach Park Makamah Beach Gov. Alfred E Smith / Sunken Meadows Park Nissequoque River Boat Ramp Short Creek Park Long Beach Town Park Otto Schubert Boat Launch & Beach Stony Brook Beach Boat Ramp West Meadow Beach Port Jefferson Boat Ramp McAllister County Park Mt Sinai Marina Cedar Beach County Park Mt Sinai Access Wading River Beach Wading River Access Wildwood State Park Edwards Avenue Beach Reeves Beach Iron Pier Beach Park Mattituck Village Boat Launch Paconic Dunes County Park Goldsmiths Inlet County Park Kennys Road Beach Horton Lane Beach Lighthouse District Park Hashamomuck Beach Inlet Pond County Park Truman Beach Orient Point County Park Atlantic Ocean Access Areas Outer Island Access West to East Gilgo Beach Captree State Park Oak Beach Robert Moses State Park Atlantique Beach Fire Island National Seashore Cupsogue Beach Smith Point County Park West Hampton Beach Ponquoque Pier Boat Ramp Southern Bay Access Areas West to East Great South Bay James Caples Memorial Park Tanner Park Capaigue Neck County Park Shore Road Park Babylon Public Boat Ramp Venetian Shores Park West Islip Public Marina Gardiners County Park Walker Park Bay Shore Marina Islip Town Beach Champlin Creek Dock East Islip Marina Heckscher State Park Great River Boat Ramp Timber Point County Marina Sayville Bathing Beach Corey Avenue Boat Ramp Bayport Marina Homan Creek Dock & Boat Ramp Blue Point Beach Patchogue Bay San Souci County Park Pine Neck Boat Ramp Bellport Bay Bellport Access Bellview Beach South Haven County Park Atlantic Avenue Park Moriches Bay Moriches Bay Access Maple Street Boat Ramp Forge River / RiveraDrive Boat Ramp Bay Crest Avenue Boat Ramp Beach Lane Access Corwin Lake Boat Ramp Westhampton Marina Boat Ramp Shinnecock Bay East Argonne Road Boat Ramp Peconic Road Boat Ramp Shinnecock West County Park Shinnecock East County Park Old Seaplane Boat Ramp Mecox Bay Mecox Access Water Mill Boat Ramp Water Mill Beach Wainscott Beach Ocean Access East Hampton Beach Amagansett Beach Apaquoque Road Access Overlook Park Ditch Plains Beach Otis Road Beach Napeague State Park Hither Hills State Park Camp Hero Montauk Point State Park Eastern Bays Access Orient Beach State Park Shelter Island Access Areas Southold Town Beach Cedar Beach County Park South Harbor Park Causeway Beach Fishermans Beach Veterans Park Beach Matituck Park District Beach South Jamesport Beach South Jamesport Boat Ramp Indian Island County Park Point Road Boat Ramp Birch Creek Boat Launch Meschutt Beach County Park West Neck Boat Ramp Bullhead Bay Boat Ramp Conscience Point Road Boat Ramp Mill Creek Dock Boat Ramp Long Beach Short Beach Cedar Point County Park Sammys Beach Hands Creek Boat Launch Commercial Dock Boat Ramp Maidstone Park Beach Dennistown Bell Park Lazy Point Boat Launch Nepeague State Park (also on ocean) Hither Hills State Park (also on ocean) West Lake Drive Boat Launch East Lake Drive Boat Launch Montauk County Park Suffolk County Artificial Reefs (F) are floatable or canoeable rivers or streams)

Terminal Call

Download Terminal Call PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Emerge Publishing Group, LLC
ISBN 13 : 9781954966000
Total Pages : 462 pages
Book Rating : 4.9/5 (66 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Terminal Call by : Richard Winslow

Download or read book Terminal Call written by Richard Winslow and published by Emerge Publishing Group, LLC. This book was released on 2021-03-18 with total page 462 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Dare to Dive Into the Depths of This Provocative New Thriller 1937. Two Gestapo agents arrive in Lake Ronkonkoma, New York, to assume control of a secret German naval operation. They successfully blend into the small village, going virtually unnoticed. 1989. Gordon, a CIA agent stationed in Israel, meets Mona, an American woman finishing her tour of duty in the Israeli Defense Forces. They begin a short and torrid relationship that ends poorly. An assignment from a mysterious man brings Mona back to the United States to learn about some decades-old bones recently uncovered on the shore of Lake Ronkonkoma. Mona is surprised to cross paths with Gordon, who is now covertly operating with the FBI and is assisting in their investigation of the "remains case" at the lake. They begin to untangle mysteries, starting with what the German Navy was secretly constructing at the lake in 1937. As they investigate, they discover disturbing evidence of a conspiracy begun several years before the United States entered World War II. Corruption within the Vatican, Gestapo agents still active on American soil, and several murders complicate matters for Mona and Gordon. As they put the pieces together, they learn that an encrypted message has been sent to an unknown recipient by an outmoded, yet operational German Enigma Machine. The Terminal Call has been made. Will the havoc that ensues result in a catastrophic conclusion? Only one man who is prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice knows the answer.

Encyclopedia of Haunted Places

Download Encyclopedia of Haunted Places PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Red Wheel/Weiser
ISBN 13 : 1601630824
Total Pages : 361 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (16 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Encyclopedia of Haunted Places by : Jeff Belanger

Download or read book Encyclopedia of Haunted Places written by Jeff Belanger and published by Red Wheel/Weiser. This book was released on 2009-01-01 with total page 361 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Featuring new listings and new information on existing haunts, thhis book offers supernatural tourists a guide to points of interest through the eyes of the world's leading ghost hunters.

Haunted New York

Download Haunted New York PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Stackpole Books
ISBN 13 : 9780811732499
Total Pages : 132 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (324 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Haunted New York by : Cheri Revai

Download or read book Haunted New York written by Cheri Revai and published by Stackpole Books. This book was released on 2005 with total page 132 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: More than 60 frightening tales. Covers all regions of the state.

The James Deans

Download The James Deans PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Simon and Schuster
ISBN 13 : 1440541019
Total Pages : 200 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (45 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis The James Deans by : Reed Farrel Coleman

Download or read book The James Deans written by Reed Farrel Coleman and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2012-01-15 with total page 200 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Still reeling from his wife's recent miscarriage, Moe Prager is bullied into taking the case of an up-and-coming politico whose career has stalled over the suspicious disappearance of a young woman. It's been almost two years since Moira Heaton, State Senator Steven Brightman's intern, vanished on Thanksgiving Eve 1981. In spite of Brightman's best efforts to clear his name, he has been tried and convicted in the press. As a reluctant Moe peels away the layers of the case, he discovers the tragic circumstances of Moira Heaton's disappearance are buried deep in the past and that there is another more heinous crime at the heart of it all. Will the ugly truth set Brightman free or will it bury all the players beneath the crumbling artiface of corruption, murder, and hate?

New York Magazine

Download New York Magazine PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 108 pages
Book Rating : 4./5 ( download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis New York Magazine by :

Download or read book New York Magazine written by and published by . This book was released on 1983-08-22 with total page 108 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: New York magazine was born in 1968 after a run as an insert of the New York Herald Tribune and quickly made a place for itself as the trusted resource for readers across the country. With award-winning writing and photography covering everything from politics and food to theater and fashion, the magazine's consistent mission has been to reflect back to its audience the energy and excitement of the city itself, while celebrating New York as both a place and an idea.

Schoolgirl Stalker

Download Schoolgirl Stalker PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Author House
ISBN 13 : 1420834177
Total Pages : 247 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (28 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Schoolgirl Stalker by : Michael R. Ebert

Download or read book Schoolgirl Stalker written by Michael R. Ebert and published by Author House. This book was released on 2005-06 with total page 247 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: When Jess Nuzzo accompanied her mother to the supermarket, she never saw him watching her. And during the car ride home, she never noticed his vehicle behind them. But just days later, the voluptuous teen found herself face-to-face with a deranged man who's been romantically rejected one too many times. Now, in the face of great tragedy, Jess's mother and their cop friend, Pat Schmidt, struggle to track down the scheming stalker despite a sparse collection of clues. But can they find him before he strikes again? Little do they know he's watching -- and listening to -- their every movement throughout the quaint Long Island town. He's ready. He's waiting. And he's set to drown their hopes for good.

Diary of a Shy Guy

Download Diary of a Shy Guy PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Author House
ISBN 13 : 1420876724
Total Pages : 103 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (28 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Diary of a Shy Guy by : Michael R. Ebert

Download or read book Diary of a Shy Guy written by Michael R. Ebert and published by Author House. This book was released on 2005-10 with total page 103 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For a shy guy, life is an awkward adventure. Everyday is filled with clumsy conversation, and solitude is a familiar friend. As a lifelong shy guy, Michael R. Ebert has been there. But he's never shared his secrets. Until now. In "Diary Of A Shy Guy," Ebert bares his soul in never-before-told short stories that take the reader inside a shy guy's unique mind. Spanning adolescence to adulthood, the timid Long Islander brings his biggest embarrassments to life in suspenseful fashion. From toilet dinners to window jumping to public speaking, the cringing never stops. But read with compassion, because shy guys are everywhere. And like Ebert, they have their own skeletons. Their own horror stories. And their own diaries.

The Book of Speculation

Download The Book of Speculation PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : St. Martin's Press
ISBN 13 : 146685779X
Total Pages : 352 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (668 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis The Book of Speculation by : Erika Swyler

Download or read book The Book of Speculation written by Erika Swyler and published by St. Martin's Press. This book was released on 2015-06-23 with total page 352 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: One of BuzzFeed's 24 Best Fiction Books of 2015 "As Simon, a lonely research librarian, searches frantically for the key to a curse that might be killing the women in his family, he learns strange and fascinating secrets about their past. A tale full of magic and family mystery, The Book of Speculation will keep you up all night reading."—Isaac Fitzgerald, BuzzFeed Simon Watson, a young librarian, lives alone in a house that is slowly crumbling toward the Long Island Sound. His parents are long dead. His mother, a circus mermaid who made her living by holding her breath, drowned in the very water his house overlooks. His younger sister, Enola, ran off six years ago and now reads tarot cards for a traveling carnival. One June day, an old book arrives on Simon's doorstep, sent by an antiquarian bookseller who purchased it on speculation. Fragile and water damaged, the book is a log from the owner of a traveling carnival in the 1700s, who reports strange and magical things, including the drowning death of a circus mermaid. Since then, generations of "mermaids" in Simon's family have drowned--always on July 24, which is only weeks away. As his friend Alice looks on with alarm, Simon becomes increasingly worried about his sister. Could there be a curse on Simon's family? What does it have to do with the book, and can he get to the heart of the mystery in time to save Enola? In the tradition of Sara Gruen's Water for Elephants, Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus, and Elizabeth Kostova's The Historian, The Book of Speculation--with two-color illustrations by the author--is Erika Swyler's moving debut novel about the power of books, family, and magic.

The Big Book of New York Ghost Stories

Download The Big Book of New York Ghost Stories PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN 13 : 1493043870
Total Pages : 369 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (93 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis The Big Book of New York Ghost Stories by : Cheri Farnsworth

Download or read book The Big Book of New York Ghost Stories written by Cheri Farnsworth and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2019-07-17 with total page 369 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Hauntings lurk and spirits linger in the Empire State Reader, beware! Turn these pages and enter the world of the paranormal, where ghosts and ghouls alike creep just out of sight. Author Cheri Farnsworthshines a light in the dark corners of New York and scares those spirits out of hiding in this thrilling collection. From apparitions and objects that fly off of tables at the Manhattan Bistro, to a specter that stalks Pulpit Rock in Lake Placid, there’s no shortage of bone-chilling tales to keep you up at night. Around the campfire or tucked away on a dark and stormy night, this big book of ghost stories is a hauntingly good read.