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The Demon of Brownsville Road: A Pittsburgh Family’s Battle with Evil in Their Home Mass Market Paperback – August 5, 2014
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Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Bob Cranmer was born in Pittsburgh, graduating from Brentwood High School in 1974 and Duquesne University in 1978. He then entered the US Army as a second lieutenant and served with the 101st Airborne Division and in Washington, D.C. In 1986, Bob went to work for AT&T and returned to Pittsburgh. Entering politics, he was elected Allegheny County Commissioner in 1995, serving as chairman. He was instrumental in a major development plan for Pittsburgh involving the construction of two sports stadiums and a new convention center. Bob currently runs a firm providing government relations.
Erica Manfred is a journalist and essayist. Her reported pieces have appeared in New Age Journal, SELF, Consumer’s Digest, Ladies’ Home Journal, Woman’s Day, Bottom Line/Personal, and a host of other publications. Known for her stylish writing, her personal essays have appeared in the New York Times Magazine “Lives” page, New Age Journal, and the Village Voice, in addition to being anthologized in a number of college textbooks. Erica is also the author of two books, the humorous novel Interview with a Jewish Vampire, and He’s History, You’re Not: Surviving Divorce After Forty.
Erica Manfred is a journalist and essayist. Her reported pieces have appeared in New Age Journal, SELF, Consumer’s Digest, Ladies’ Home Journal, Woman’s Day, Bottom Line/Personal, and a host of other publications. Known for her stylish writing, her personal essays have appeared in the New York Times Magazine “Lives” page, New Age Journal, and the Village Voice, in addition to being anthologized in a number of college textbooks. Erica is also the author of two books, the humorous novel Interview with a Jewish Vampire, and He’s History, You’re Not: Surviving Divorce After Forty.
More About the Author
Bob's complete background and bio can be seen at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Cranmer
Robert "Bob" W. Cranmer (born 1956, Brentwood, Pennsylvania) is a veteran, Pennsylvania businessman and politician, best known as a former Republican County Commissioner of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, from 1996 to 2000. Allegheny County is the second most populous county in Pennsylvania (1.3 million in 1996), following Philadelphia County. The county seat is Pittsburgh. The county forms the nucleus of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area, Pittsburgh DMA, and Pittsburgh Tri-state area.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Cranmer
Robert "Bob" W. Cranmer (born 1956, Brentwood, Pennsylvania) is a veteran, Pennsylvania businessman and politician, best known as a former Republican County Commissioner of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, from 1996 to 2000. Allegheny County is the second most populous county in Pennsylvania (1.3 million in 1996), following Philadelphia County. The county seat is Pittsburgh. The county forms the nucleus of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area, Pittsburgh DMA, and Pittsburgh Tri-state area.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
23 of 26 people found the following review helpful
By
Alex
on August 5, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition
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This is an account of events that culminated in an exorcism over 2004-2005. The author, Bob Cranmer, is a former commander in the 101st Airborne, and County Commissioner in Pennsylvania.The events are verified by dozens of witnesses.
Cranmer's first inkling that something might be amiss was when his low-ball offer to buy the old house was accepted without any negotiation. For the first five years, the abnormal events remained minor in nature, such as lights turning on or off, unexplained footsteps, and objects that moved when no one was looking. But then things worsened and the family members began experiencing sudden and severe changes in personality. The formerly happy family was now being slowly stretched and twisted apart as they grew to hate one another, and in the cold September of 2003, one incident with his 19-year-old son landed Cranmer in jail. They were faced with the decision to either stay or move out, but unlike the previous owners, chose not to pass the problem to another family. Cranmer was Baptist, but because of the magnitude of the problem, decided to contact the Catholic Church with its long tradition of performing exorcisms. As the exorcism went on over several years, Cranmer learned about the history of the place where his house was built, what was buried in his yard, and what happened on the second floor in the 1920's.
The book has two shortcomings: the first is that it lacks suspense considering the intensity and duration of the underlying events. The second is that the author's political backstory occupies too much of the book. If it were possible, a simple re-edit by the author would really help the book reach its potential. Otherwise, everything else is positive: the account isn't sensationalized; the author even apologizes that there's no dramatic climax at the end. Witnesses are clearly identified by name, eg, Fr. James LeBar, Adam Blai, among many others.
Cranmer's first inkling that something might be amiss was when his low-ball offer to buy the old house was accepted without any negotiation. For the first five years, the abnormal events remained minor in nature, such as lights turning on or off, unexplained footsteps, and objects that moved when no one was looking. But then things worsened and the family members began experiencing sudden and severe changes in personality. The formerly happy family was now being slowly stretched and twisted apart as they grew to hate one another, and in the cold September of 2003, one incident with his 19-year-old son landed Cranmer in jail. They were faced with the decision to either stay or move out, but unlike the previous owners, chose not to pass the problem to another family. Cranmer was Baptist, but because of the magnitude of the problem, decided to contact the Catholic Church with its long tradition of performing exorcisms. As the exorcism went on over several years, Cranmer learned about the history of the place where his house was built, what was buried in his yard, and what happened on the second floor in the 1920's.
The book has two shortcomings: the first is that it lacks suspense considering the intensity and duration of the underlying events. The second is that the author's political backstory occupies too much of the book. If it were possible, a simple re-edit by the author would really help the book reach its potential. Otherwise, everything else is positive: the account isn't sensationalized; the author even apologizes that there's no dramatic climax at the end. Witnesses are clearly identified by name, eg, Fr. James LeBar, Adam Blai, among many others.
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14 of 17 people found the following review helpful
By
Just on a Walkabout
on August 17, 2014
Format: Mass Market Paperback
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Received this book from a friend, who wanted my opinion. After reading the book, I think it is an attempt to explain what might be considered by some to be "questionable" behaviors and events in the author's life. The haunting is sporadically referenced throughout the book, carefully intertwined with the most dramatic events of Cranmer family life.
I would not recommend this as a strong book about paranormal activity. I also cannot recommend this book as a historical reference of any sort. It is best read as a regional community piece about one individual's triumphs and tribulations.
The cover would suggest this is an all out ghost story. It is not. It's a memoir with some paranormal activity included. A better title might be, "I am Bob Cranmer. This is My Life. And My House Might be Haunted."
I would not recommend this as a strong book about paranormal activity. I also cannot recommend this book as a historical reference of any sort. It is best read as a regional community piece about one individual's triumphs and tribulations.
The cover would suggest this is an all out ghost story. It is not. It's a memoir with some paranormal activity included. A better title might be, "I am Bob Cranmer. This is My Life. And My House Might be Haunted."
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By
Cytrincat
on August 27, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition
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I really didn't mind the autobiographical information given in the book. I thought that because the ending is so contrary to Catholic doctrine (and the author seems to be otherwise devout) Mr. Cranmer stuck his neck out to include this tidbit. After all, he has personal involvement with priests and nuns who may have complained after his book was released.
I can't really explain why I believe Mr. Cranmer. Hearing him on podcasts about this incident somehow gave him credibility, IMHO. I think he is a little self absorbed, but I personally feel he is telling the truth. I think the book was written well.
I can't really explain why I believe Mr. Cranmer. Hearing him on podcasts about this incident somehow gave him credibility, IMHO. I think he is a little self absorbed, but I personally feel he is telling the truth. I think the book was written well.
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17 of 22 people found the following review helpful
By
Marie
on August 9, 2014
Format: Mass Market Paperback
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After waiting months for this book I can't believe how disappointed I am. It's not well written and the author has a very high opinion of himself. I'm from Pittsburgh and he makes it sound as though he was the savior to the area. I didn't care for his autobiographic section. (which is most of the book)....I wanted to hear about the house. By page 42 I was contemplating skipping parts to get to the demon part. After I finished the book I handed it off to a friend who wanted to read it so she didn't have to buy it. She too is struggling to read it.
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12 of 16 people found the following review helpful
By
Amazon Customer
on August 7, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition
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This is Randy's wife. I read this on my Kindle. I'm interested in this subject and I keep an open mind. I think there was an interesting story in here, somewhere, but it got bogged down in unnecessary detail and way too much backstory. Yes, there is a lot of foreshadowing, but that's because it takes forever for the story to get to the actual subject matter of the book. I was frustrated that Mr Cranmer was still rambling on about his political victories and struggles at 1/4th of the way through the book. Like every other politician, he spends a lot of time tooting his own horn. Which is fine but he was not a politician on the national stage, but was a city councilman in Pennsylvania. Now, if you can make it past the boredom of all the backstory details, the story of the demonic infestation is interesting and insightful and should satisfy readers interested in the genre. I don't doubt that this family went through something horrific. My advice is to wait and buy this book at a reduced price.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By
N. Miller
on August 15, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition
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Very scary! Great writing style. Recommended, but not a great night-time read. On the other hand, my daughter has no "scare bone" so she can read the scariest true ghost stories before bed and drift off into a deep slumber. Go figure. Anyway, if you're not like her, read this during the day :-)
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7 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By
Frank
on August 10, 2014
Format: Mass Market Paperback
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I haven't finished with it yet, but I agree with some of the other reviews. There was a lot of unnecessary details about the Author Bob Cranmer's Political career and it didn't contribute to the storyline, it actually started to bore me. But then the facts about what happened at 3406 Brownsville Rd piqued my interest again and I started to enjoy the book, can;t wait to finish it.
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