👻 Ghost Stories

The Wantland Files

✍️ Lara Bernhardt
Reader Score
4.4
(1 review)
$12.99
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A psychic investigator and a skeptic confront a haunting in this paranormal fiction novel.

Kimberly Wantland faces a unique challenge when her latest case involves a young mother’s home. She senses a distinct disturbance that demands attention beyond standard protocols. Sterling Wakefield, a well-known illusionist who denies the existence of ghosts, appears to debunk her claims. Their interaction forms the core conflict as they deal with eerie noises and shadowy figures. Bernhardt uses this dynamic to examine how belief systems collide under pressure. The story does not rely on complex historical contexts but focuses on immediate supernatural threats. It offers a look at media fame intersecting with genuine fear. Readers will find the interpersonal dynamics between the believer and the skeptic central to the plot's progression.

Key Themes
paranormal investigation skepticism vs belief media sensation
Literary Context

Published by Admission Press in 2016, this work engages with contemporary American urban legend tropes. It reflects the era’s fascination with television-based paranormal shows and the cultural debate surrounding psychic phenomena versus scientific skepticism.

Difficulty
● Easy
Recommended For Fans Of
Shirley Jackson · Dean Koontz · Stephen King · Caitlín R. Kiernan
👻
Ghost Stories
🏛 Admission Press 📅 2016 📖 286 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9780998426105

📝 Description: The Wantland Files

Lara Bernhardt presents a narrative centered on Kimberly Wantland, a psychic investigator whose television program, The Wantland Files, elevated her status from private consultant to media figure. The story follows Kimberly as she handles numerous daily requests for assistance. During an investigation at the home of a young mother, she detects a disturbing presence that differs from previous cases. This supernatural disturbance draws the attention of Sterling Wakefield, a renowned illusionist and confirmed skeptic who arrives unannounced to disprove her abilities. The narrative explores the tension between Kimberly’s perceived powers and Sterling’s rationalism as they confront a dark figure drifting through the halls and mysterious yowling in the night. Bernhardt, an Oklahoma Book Awards Best Fiction Finalist, structures the plot around this clash of beliefs. The book suits readers interested in paranormal investigations and skeptical protagonists. It may not appeal to those seeking purely historical gothic literature or non-fiction accounts of psychic phenomena.

💎 Our verdict on The Wantland Files

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Bernhardt constructs a tight narrative around the friction between Kimberly Wantland’s intuitive abilities and Sterling Wakefield’s rigorous skepticism. The story excels in maintaining tension through immediate supernatural elements, such as shadowy figures and eerie noises, rather than relying on elaborate lore. This approach makes the horror feel visceral and present. The dynamic between the television psychic and the illusionist provides a fresh angle on the classic believer-versus-skeptic trope. It suits readers who prefer paranormal fiction that prioritizes character interaction and atmospheric dread over historical depth. While it may not satisfy those seeking dense gothic traditions, it effectively delivers a focused exploration of fear and belief.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who enjoy paranormal investigations grounded in immediate supernatural threats rather than complex historical contexts will find this narrative compelling. The book appeals to those interested in the psychological tension that arises when belief systems collide under pressure. It is particularly suitable for fans of stories where media fame intersects with genuine fear, offering a look at how public personas handle private terror. Those who appreciate interpersonal dynamics between a believer and a skeptic as central to plot progression will find value here. It serves readers seeking accessible horror fiction that focuses on the clash between perceived powers and rationalism without requiring deep prior knowledge of gothic literature or non-fiction psychic accounts.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4
Based on 1 reviews
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Horror Reads editorial team

Bernhardt constructs a tight narrative around the friction between Kimberly Wantland’s intuitive abilities and Sterling Wakefield’s rigorous skepticism. The story excels in maintaining tension through immediate supernatural elements, such as shadowy figures and eerie noises, rather than relying on elaborate lore. This approach makes the horror feel visceral and present. The dynamic between the television psychic and the illusionist provides a fresh angle on the classic believer-versus-skeptic trope. It suits readers who prefer paranormal fiction that prioritizes character interaction and atmospheric dread over historical depth. While it may not satisfy those seeking dense gothic traditions, it effectively delivers a focused exploration of fear and belief.

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