<strong>Entrance, Precious Blood Cemetery, Woonsocket, Rhode Island</strong>: "I think we all like to be a little bit scared, don't we?" says author Robert Grenville, whose book "Haunted Places," charts some of the creepiest spots across the globe. This Rhode Island cemetery fell victim to 1955's Tropical Storm Diane -- the resulting flood washed 50 coffins from their graves and their corpses were left behind when the water rushed away. Since then, its become renowned for apparitions.
Entrance, Precious Blood Cemetery, Woonsocket, Rhode Island: "I think we all like to be a little bit scared, don't we?" says author Robert Grenville, whose book "Haunted Places," charts some of the creepiest spots across the globe. This Rhode Island cemetery fell victim to 1955's Tropical Storm Diane -- the resulting flood washed 50 coffins from their graves and their corpses were left behind when the water rushed away. Since then, its become renowned for apparitions.
Courtesy Frank C. Grace
<strong>Island of the Dolls, Xochimilco, Mexico City, Mexico</strong>: One of the most nightmarish locations in Grenville's book has to be Mexico's Island of the Dolls, where the dolls are rumored to be possessed by the spirits of young girls. "It's not hard to get your heart in your mouth visiting some of these locations," says Grenville.
Island of the Dolls, Xochimilco, Mexico City, Mexico: One of the most nightmarish locations in Grenville's book has to be Mexico's Island of the Dolls, where the dolls are rumored to be possessed by the spirits of young girls. "It's not hard to get your heart in your mouth visiting some of these locations," says Grenville.
Courtesy Alamy/Chico Sanchez
<strong>St Augustine Lighthouse, Florida, USA</strong>: Grenville's book is grounded in the idea that everyone enjoys a haunted tale. "There's a timelessness to telling spooky stories round a camp fire, and the book is in that tradition, I think," he tells CNN Travel. This Floridan Lighthouse, built in 1874, was the sight of several chilling deaths.
St Augustine Lighthouse, Florida, USA: Grenville's book is grounded in the idea that everyone enjoys a haunted tale. "There's a timelessness to telling spooky stories round a camp fire, and the book is in that tradition, I think," he tells CNN Travel. This Floridan Lighthouse, built in 1874, was the sight of several chilling deaths.
Courtesy Dreamstime/Wizreist
<strong>Ecclesgrieg House, St Cyrus, Aberdeenshire, Scotland</strong>: Grenville's book, published by Amber Books, also includes this Victorian Gothic home in Scotland -- said to have inspired Bram Stoker's "Dracula." "Compiling this book has added a few more destinations to my 'must-see' list!" he says.
Ecclesgrieg House, St Cyrus, Aberdeenshire, Scotland: Grenville's book, published by Amber Books, also includes this Victorian Gothic home in Scotland -- said to have inspired Bram Stoker's "Dracula." "Compiling this book has added a few more destinations to my 'must-see' list!" he says.
Courtesy Alamy/Simon Marsden
<strong>Mary King's Close, Edinburgh, UK</strong>: Grenville enjoys visiting haunted places at night: "Arriving at dusk or after dark heightens the senses," he says. Edinburgh's 17th century Mary King's Close is a particularly spine-chilling location, an area of the city that fell victim to plague and remains mostly closed off to this day.
Mary King's Close, Edinburgh, UK: Grenville enjoys visiting haunted places at night: "Arriving at dusk or after dark heightens the senses," he says. Edinburgh's 17th century Mary King's Close is a particularly spine-chilling location, an area of the city that fell victim to plague and remains mostly closed off to this day.
Courtesy Alamy/Gary Doak
<strong>Tunnel, Château de Brissac, Angers, France</strong>: "What's striking when you visit a haunted site is the atmosphere you can encounter," says Grenville. This 14th century French chateau is supposedly haunted by "the Green Lady." Since she was killed by her husband for her infidelity, the spectre roams the corridors in her favorite emerald-colored dress.
Tunnel, Château de Brissac, Angers, France: "What's striking when you visit a haunted site is the atmosphere you can encounter," says Grenville. This 14th century French chateau is supposedly haunted by "the Green Lady." Since she was killed by her husband for her infidelity, the spectre roams the corridors in her favorite emerald-colored dress.
Courtesy Alamy/Mauritius Images
<strong>Banff Springs Hotel, Banff, Canada</strong>: This 1920s building was once frequented by Marilyn Monroe, who honeymooned here. It's apparently haunted by a Scottish bellman and "The Bride" -- a woman who fell to her death wearing her wedding dress.
Banff Springs Hotel, Banff, Canada: This 1920s building was once frequented by Marilyn Monroe, who honeymooned here. It's apparently haunted by a Scottish bellman and "The Bride" -- a woman who fell to her death wearing her wedding dress.
Courtesy Alamy/Alexander McLean
<strong>Sterling Opera House, Derby, Connecticut</strong>: This 1889 opera house is now disused, and supposedly haunted by otherworldly beings. Many claim that the seat on the lower right is sometimes occupied by a ghost. Grenville says haunted places have "an almost-tangible sense of something that defies precise definition."
Sterling Opera House, Derby, Connecticut: This 1889 opera house is now disused, and supposedly haunted by otherworldly beings. Many claim that the seat on the lower right is sometimes occupied by a ghost. Grenville says haunted places have "an almost-tangible sense of something that defies precise definition."
Courtesy Alamy/Petter Casolino
<strong>Mad Woman's Room, Norton Conyers, Yorkshire, UK: </strong>Readers of Charlotte Brontë's "Jane Eyre" might recognize the tale of a "mad" woman locked in a Yorkshire room. Brontë was allegedly inspired by this real life story of "Mad Mary," locked in Norton Conyers during the 1700s.
Mad Woman's Room, Norton Conyers, Yorkshire, UK: Readers of Charlotte Brontë's "Jane Eyre" might recognize the tale of a "mad" woman locked in a Yorkshire room. Brontë was allegedly inspired by this real life story of "Mad Mary," locked in Norton Conyers during the 1700s.
Courtesy Getty/Hulton/Christopher Sykes
<strong>Skulls, Catacombs, Paris, France</strong>: Underneath the streets of Paris are the macabre catacombs -- said to be home to unwelcome visitors. In the late 18th century, the city's cemeteries became overcrowded and the remains of the dead were buried in these former quarries underneath the cities.
Skulls, Catacombs, Paris, France: Underneath the streets of Paris are the macabre catacombs -- said to be home to unwelcome visitors. In the late 18th century, the city's cemeteries became overcrowded and the remains of the dead were buried in these former quarries underneath the cities.
Courtesy Dreamstime/Bukki
<strong>Cromer Pier, Cromer, Norfolk, UK:</strong> "The aim was to get a broad span of places from around the world to show that strange phenomena are common experiences for us all," Grenville says. Closer to home for the British writer was atmospheric Cromer Pier, in Norfolk, UK -- supposedly haunted by the ghost of an Irish comedian.
Cromer Pier, Cromer, Norfolk, UK: "The aim was to get a broad span of places from around the world to show that strange phenomena are common experiences for us all," Grenville says. Closer to home for the British writer was atmospheric Cromer Pier, in Norfolk, UK -- supposedly haunted by the ghost of an Irish comedian.
Courtesy Dreamstime/Margaret Cowell
<strong>Chapel, Poveglia, Venice, Italy: </strong>The Italian island of Poveglia was used as a quarantine station for ships arriving in Venice during the 18th century. Hundreds died on the island, which now has a reputation as a home for restless souls.
Chapel, Poveglia, Venice, Italy: The Italian island of Poveglia was used as a quarantine station for ships arriving in Venice during the 18th century. Hundreds died on the island, which now has a reputation as a home for restless souls.
Courtesy Getty/Marco Secchi
<strong>Ohio State Reformatory, Mansfield, Ohio</strong>: This former prison closed in 1990 and it's since been used as movie location for films including the "The Shawshank Redemption." Now tourists can embark on a number of paranormal tours here.
Ohio State Reformatory, Mansfield, Ohio: This former prison closed in 1990 and it's since been used as movie location for films including the "The Shawshank Redemption." Now tourists can embark on a number of paranormal tours here.
Frank C. Grace
<strong>Mont St Michel, Normandy, France</strong>: This spectacular Normandy abbey was the site of battle between the French and English in 1434. The ghost of the French commander is said to still guard the island. "Abandoned buildings have a feeling of loss about them that a haunting only exaggerates and amplifies," reflects Grenville.
Mont St Michel, Normandy, France: This spectacular Normandy abbey was the site of battle between the French and English in 1434. The ghost of the French commander is said to still guard the island. "Abandoned buildings have a feeling of loss about them that a haunting only exaggerates and amplifies," reflects Grenville.
Courtesy Alamy/Roman Mikhailov
<strong>Path, Père Lachaise Cemetery, Paris, France: </strong>The famous Parisian Père Lachaise Cemetery is the resting place of prominent figures including The Doors' Jim Morrison, said to walk by his grave, and writer Marcel Proust and his partner, composer Reynaldo Hahn, whose spirits are said to wander the graveyard looking for one another.
Path, Père Lachaise Cemetery, Paris, France: The famous Parisian Père Lachaise Cemetery is the resting place of prominent figures including The Doors' Jim Morrison, said to walk by his grave, and writer Marcel Proust and his partner, composer Reynaldo Hahn, whose spirits are said to wander the graveyard looking for one another.
Courtesy Dreamstime/Ximdab
<strong>"Haunted Places:"</strong> To see more ghostly locales, check out Amber Books' "<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amberbooks.co.uk%2Fbook%2Fhaunted-places" target="_blank" target="_blank">Haunted Places</a>" by Robert Grenville, available from bookshops and online booksellers now (RRP £19.99/$29.95)
"Haunted Places:" To see more ghostly locales, check out Amber Books' "Haunted Places" by Robert Grenville, available from bookshops and online booksellers now (RRP £19.99/$29.95)
Courtesy Amber Books