"Darkness Descends: British Paranormal Activity and the Winter Equinox" by Martin Shields (2022, Fortean Press, £16.99)
I picked this up at a car boot sale last month and wasn't expecting much - another coffee table paranormal book, right? Wrong. Shields has done proper academic research here without being pretentious about it. He argues that seasonal darkness isn't just atmospheric (literally) but somehow amplifies paranormal activity across the British Isles. The case studies are meticulous: Pendle Hill witches, the Penrose hauntings, Rendlesham Forest in midwinter, and dozens of lesser-known incidents, all cross-referenced with astronomical data and witness testimonies.
What impressed me most was his refusal to handwave away sceptical explanations. He presents the counter-arguments and then methodically explains why they don't quite fit. The chapter on seasonal affective disorder and mass hallucination is particularly strong - he doesn't dismiss it, just suggests it's only part of the picture.
If you're heading into November and fancying something substantial to read by the fire, I'd genuinely recommend it. Not a quick skim - this demands proper attention - but absolutely worth the time investment.
