Cody Polston

Cody Polston is an author, historian and ghost investigator. He is the author of multiple books on history and paranormal topics. He was the host and producer of the popular podcast Ecto Radio and a writer for Ghosthunter X magazine. He is one of the founders of the Southwest Ghost Hunter's Association and has been investigating paranormal claims since 1985. In the 1990's several other ghost hunting groups gave him the moniker the "Hitman" due to his involvement in "debunking" several well known haunted locations in Texas. Although the nickname was intended to be a negative insult, Cody adopted the nickname and began using in on his podcasts and other media venues.

Aradia and the Moral Architecture of Collapse

SPOILER ALERT!!! This article contains spoilers for the series. Epic fantasy often promises spectacle, burning cities, clashing gods, ancient evils breaking their chains. The Chronicles of Eldryss trilogy delivers all of that: sealed entities beneath cities, civil war among witches, void-rifts devouring continents, drowned capitals, and a final confrontation between a demi-goddess queen and a … Read moreAradia and the Moral Architecture of Collapse

Smaller books in a series vs. Larger single books

One of the greatest privileges of being an author is the opportunity to speak directly with readers. Not through reviews or online metrics, but face to face, across a table at a book signing, where conversations unfold naturally. Over time, I began to notice a pattern in those conversations. Readers weren’t talking first about genre … Read moreSmaller books in a series vs. Larger single books

When the Badge Becomes a Target: The Social Bite of Blacklist Gravity

There’s a particular kind of science fiction that doesn’t try to predict the future so much as expose the present. It takes familiar systems, policing, bureaucracy, surveillance, propaganda, and moves them into a colder environment where excuses fall away. In space, you can’t pretend you didn’t see what happened. The air is finite. Doors lock. … Read moreWhen the Badge Becomes a Target: The Social Bite of Blacklist Gravity

From Classic Monster to Gothic Investigator: The Making of “Phantom of the Amazon Deep”

In the fog-shrouded literary landscape where classic horror meets Victorian detective fiction, “Phantom of the Amazon Deep: A Patience Worth Mystery” emerges as a fascinating reimagining of one of cinema’s most enduring monsters. As the author of this tale, I wanted to share some insights into how this story came to be, the inspirations behind … Read moreFrom Classic Monster to Gothic Investigator: The Making of “Phantom of the Amazon Deep”

Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches

The story of Quanah Parker and the Comanche nation is a tale of resilience, transformation, and ultimately, the loss of one of the most powerful Native American empires on the North American plains. As the last chief of the Comanches, Quanah Parker symbolizes the intersection of two worlds: the traditional life of the Native tribes … Read moreQuanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches

The Bloody Benders: America’s First Family of Serial Killers

In the annals of true crime, few tales are as chilling, bizarre, or steeped in mystery as that of the Bloody Benders. Operating under the guise of hospitality, this seemingly ordinary family ran a small inn and grocery store in the wilds of Kansas during the early 1870s. Their business, however, was a front for … Read moreThe Bloody Benders: America’s First Family of Serial Killers

The Impact of Horror Films on Paranormal Investigations and Ghost Hunting

The allure of the paranormal has persisted throughout human history. Ghosts, spirits, and otherworldly entities have captured our imaginations for centuries, appearing in folklore, literature, and religious accounts. In modern times, this fascination has taken on a new form: ghost hunting and paranormal investigations. Armed with gadgets and an insatiable curiosity, enthusiasts seek to bridge … Read moreThe Impact of Horror Films on Paranormal Investigations and Ghost Hunting

Patience Worth: The Anatomy of Shadows is now available

The latest Patience Worth book is now available on Amazon. A grave digger lies dead beside an open grave. Twelve coffins emptied of their occupants. A pattern only one mind can decipher. When Scotland Yard discovers London’s cemeteries have been methodically violated, Detective Frederick Blackwood turns to his niece, Patience Worth, a young woman whose … Read morePatience Worth: The Anatomy of Shadows is now available

Crafting the Patience Worth Mystery Series

As the author of the Patience Worth mystery series, I’ve often been asked about my creative process. How does one bring to life a character like Patience, a young Victorian woman who works at the Marylebone Public Library while secretly investigating both rational and irrational mysteries? Today, I’d like to share the method behind the … Read moreCrafting the Patience Worth Mystery Series

Beer Review: Jester King Brewery’s “Black Metal” Imperial Stout

If you’re a beer enthusiast with a penchant for bold, complex flavors and a rebellious spirit, Jester King Brewery’s Black Metal Imperial Stout is a brew that demands your attention. This Texas-born creation is not just a beer, it’s an experience, a symphony of rich, dark flavors that will have you savoring every drop. From … Read moreBeer Review: Jester King Brewery’s “Black Metal” Imperial Stout

A new Patience Worth book is coming out in January!

In the cold January light filtering through grimy fanlights of Marylebone Public Library, we find Patience Worth, our reluctant detective sorting through books “inscribed with the minor violence of daily use: dog-ears, thumb prints, the occasional rust-brown stain of tea or blood.” This atmospheric Victorian mystery follows Patience from her position behind “the barricade of … Read moreA new Patience Worth book is coming out in January!

Best Local Author in the 2025 Best of the City Awards by Albuquerque The Magazine

I’m beyond thrilled and deeply honored to share that I’ve been named Best Local Author in the 2025 Best of the City Awards by Albuquerque The Magazine! This recognition means the world to me, especially because it comes from a community that has supported and inspired me every step of the way. To everyone who … Read moreBest Local Author in the 2025 Best of the City Awards by Albuquerque The Magazine

Patience Worth: The Breathless Curse

A chilling new tale is about to take your breath away… 🔥 Patience Worth: The Breathless Curse 🔥 From the misty corners of history comes a story like no other—a haunting blend of suspense, supernatural intrigue, and the resilience of the human spirit. 🔮 The Story: When a mysterious mummy is delivered to the British … Read morePatience Worth: The Breathless Curse

“THE HORROR OF BLACKTHORNE HALL” A Supernatural Gothic Mystery Audiobook

SOMETHING ANCIENT AWAITS IN THE SHADOWS… Journey into darkness with Patience, a woman who uncovers secrets others cannot see, as she investigates a series of mysterious disappearances linked to the enigmatic Blackthorne family. “The city will never forgive me, but perhaps it will remember.” When Lord Blackthorne returns to town, his effect on a room … Read more“THE HORROR OF BLACKTHORNE HALL” A Supernatural Gothic Mystery Audiobook

“Patience Worth: The Beast of Bolam Bog” Now on Audible!

🌿📖 Discover the Mystery of “Patience Worth: The Beast of Bolam Bog” 🎧✨ Step into the shadows of Bolam Bog, where history whispers through the mist and legends come to life. Patience Worth: The Beast of Bolam Bog is not just a story—it’s an experience. A thrilling audiobook that pulls you into a world of … Read more“Patience Worth: The Beast of Bolam Bog” Now on Audible!

Squaring the Strange, The Alleged ghosts of the Territorial House, with Cody Polston

First, Celestia and a voice from the past discuss a hat trick of rat stories (maybe a rat trick?). Then Ben chats with author, ghost story enthusiast and former ghost hunter Cody Polston about the historic Territorial House in Corrales, New Mexico. Cody led an investigation there, and Ben worked there as a teenage busboy, … Read moreSquaring the Strange, The Alleged ghosts of the Territorial House, with Cody Polston