More than fifteen years after the famous South Shields Poltergeist case of 2006, and its well-received book, The South Shields Poltergeist: One Families Fight Against an Invisible Intruder Darren W. Ritson brings you Poltergeist Parallels and Contagion, a fascinating revised and updated study of the poltergeist enigma.

After researching other equally bewildering cases – post South Shields – a number of serious thought-provoking hypotheses regarding the aspect of the poltergeist called ‘contagion’ have now been raised. Poltergeist contagion has been seldom discussed or studied by psychical researchers, despite many well documented historic cases making mention of it – that is, until now. During the South Shields case and its subsequent years, Darren W. Ritson and his co-investigator Michael J. Hallowell were also subjected to acts of poltergeist ‘contagion’. Also noted, were astonishing similarities between cases they had investigated.

This book, which was previously released as Contagion: In the Shadow of the South Shields Poltergeist in 2014, has been broadly revised and includes a new lengthily chapter on historic poltergeist cases from the UK and from overseas that feature striking parallels, and events of contagion. This book, with its thought-provoking new ideas, promises to cause some serious debate about the nature of the poltergeist and it begs the question; are there many poltergeists, or is there simply one?

Praise for Poltergeist Parallels and Contagion

‘A most interesting book, one that challenges the readers with a novel and disturbing hypothesis deduced from direct personal experience with poltergeist activity.’

~ Alan Murdie, former Head of Spontaneous Cases Committee for the Society for Psychical Research

‘Poltergeist Parallels and Contagion may be the most important book written about poltergeists so far this century.’

~ Randy Liebeck, Parapsychological Field Investigator and Lecturer on Psychical Research

‘An important contribution to our understanding of poltergeist phenomena.’

~Peter A. McCue, Ph.D., Author, Zones of Strangeness

‘In Poltergeist Parallels and Contagion, Darren W. Ritson is once again to be complimented on his diligence and the significant contribution he has made.’

~ Steven T. Parsons, author of Ghostology, The Art of the Ghost Hunter.

Darren W. Ritson was born in March 1972 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne (UK) and has had a lifelong interest in ghosts, but more specifically, the poltergeist phenomenon. He is essentially known for his investigations into the now-famous South Shields poltergeist case of 2006, which has been considered to be one of the most significant and best attested cases in the last fifty years.

He has travelled across the UK, lecturing and speaking on the poltergeist phenomenon. He has been invited to carry out lectures to organisations such as the Society for Psychical Research (SPR) and the Ghost Club (both London-based) and the Scottish Society for Psychical Research, where he addressed over two hundred psychical researchers, parapsychologists, society members and students. Further invites to lecture on the poltergeist phenomenon came from Professor Nick Neave at Northumbria University in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. He has been a member of the SPR since 2006.

His other passions are many and include: mountain climbing and fell-walking in the Lake District and Scotland; wildlife and landscape photography; and travel. He is also black belt in Judo and has trained on a number of occasions at the Kodokan International Judo Centre in Tokyo, Japan.