This book is deceptive in size. At 66 pages, Alex Matsuo covers the basics in residential investigation including the practical, psychological, logistical, and historical pieces necessary when venturing into someone’s home. Alex uses her experiences (good and bad) to help the reader navigate some challenging situations that can (and WILL) occur when you engage in residential casework. She also details how this differs from the locations many teams pay to visit. 

Would I recommend this book? Yes, 100%! I think this is a great book for new investigators and seasoned investigators. Sometimes we need a reminder of what we should and should not be doing. 

Pros: I appreciate how Alex is able to communicate the essentials without being overly wordy. In chapter 2 she hits the nail on the head with the statement “The biggest aspect to consider when taking on residential cases is the fact that you will have a tremendous amount of influence and power on your hands.” “When you and your team decide to take on residential cases, you will be immersed into the private lives of complete strangers.” “I often learn more about the personal lives of my clients than I know some of my friends.” This is VERY important to recognize. She also makes some very good points about why investigators should constantly be learning/researching aspects of paranormal investigation in order to become more effective and informed investigators. 

Cons: The only con is that I wanted more but the brief nature of the book is actually a good thing. In a world in which people read less, keeping things short and simple can make the book more accessible to individuals who don’t always want to read a detailed manual. I think more discussion on specific techniques used during the investigation would be nice but I understand that these things vary by location and situation. 

Overall thoughts: If you conduct (or may conduct) residential investigations, get this book. (It’s only $10.) It’s easy to read and has some very useful thoughts about the process. You won’t be disappointed.  

You can get your own copy here.