“The more enlightened our houses are,” Italo Calvino once wrote, “the more their walls ooze ghosts.” Thus, it should be no surprise that there are specters everywhere, both real and imagined — and it would be naive in the extreme to think that there wouldn't be people out there actively courting that ooze. Author Sally Richards discusses & signs Ghosthunting Southern California: America's Haunted Road Trip (Clerisy Press), an investigation of phantom manifestations from Mexico to Santa Barbara. The nonfiction book brings together paranormal researchers, historians and state-of-the-art equipment to investigate those rare and terrible tragedies that generally tend to give up the ghosts. Whether you're a skeptic with an outsized sense of intellectual scorn, or a true believer charting out your next journey into mystery, this is the guidebook for you. From visions at Ventura's City Hall (which might just be the ghost of civic pride) to the phantoms at the Whaley House in San Diego, hunting specters remains the gentlest way to keep you out of trouble on this year's Mischief Night. Vroman's Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena; Tues., Oct. 30, 8 p.m.; free, book is $15.95. (626) 449-5320, vromans​bookstore.com

Tue., Oct. 30, 7 p.m., 2012

Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.