Cursed Objects: Strange but True Stories of the World's Most Infamous Items

Beware...this book is cursed! These strange but true stories of the world’s most infamous items will fascinate true believers as well as history buffs, horror fans, and anyone who loves a good spine-tingling tale.

They’re lurking in museums, graveyards, and private homes. Their often tragic and always bizarre stories have inspired countless horror movies, reality TV shows, novels, and campfire tales. They’re cursed objects, and all they need to unleash a wave of misfortune is . . . you. But never before have their true stories been compiled into a fascinating, chilling volume.

In Cursed Objects, author and oddities expert J. W. Ocker investigates the eerie histories, bizarre legends, and unexplained misfortunes attached to notorious objects around the world. Meet Annabelle the Doll, whose story became part of The Conjuring horror franchise; the Dybbuk Box, which inspired The Possession; the Unlucky Mummy, rumored to have been connected to the Titanic disaster; and the Ring of Silvianus, a Roman artifact linked to the inspiration for Tolkien’s The Hobbit.

Well researched, illustrated, creepy, and darkly funny, Cursed Objects explores not just what supposedly happened, but how legends of curses persist and why people remain fascinated by objects associated with tragedy, death, and the supernatural.

Perfect for paranormal enthusiasts, horror fans, strange-history readers, and anyone who prefers their nonfiction with a little darkness.

• Explore the true histories and eerie legends behind notorious objects blamed for bad luck, tragedy, hauntings, and unexplained events
• Encounter famous creepy artifacts including Annabelle the Doll, the Dybbuk Box, Unlucky Mummy, Conjured Chest, Ring of Silvianus, crystal skulls, haunted dolls, and ancient objects
• Discover how curses, folklore, superstition, coincidence, historical events, and pop culture become intertwined
• J. W. Ocker combines research, macabre illustrations, firsthand encounters, and humor

Open this entertaining cabinet of cursed curiosities—if you dare—and discover the true histories behind objects people have feared for generations.

J. W. (Jason) Ocker is an Edgar Award-winning travel writer, novelist, and blogger. His previous books include Poe-Land, A Season with the Witch, and Cursed Objects. He is also the creator of the blog and podcast OTIS: Odd Things I’ve Seen (oddthingsiveseen.com), where he chronicles his visits to oddities around the world.