Where to Start with Amy Bruni’s Books
For anyone stepping into the supernatural world of Amy Bruni, the recommended starting point is clear: begin with her debut memoir and philosophical guide, Life with the Afterlife: 13 Truths I Learned about Ghosts (2020). Co-authored with Julie Tremaine, this book functions as the ideal foundation. It establishes Bruni's core belief system—that ghosts are simply people who have passed on, not monsters to be feared—and details her childhood growing up in a haunted home in Alameda, California. Reading this first provides the necessary context for her respectful, research-first approach to investigation.
Once you understand her philosophy, move on to her haunted culinary travelogues. Her second book, Food to Die For: Recipes and Stories from America's Most Legendary Haunted Places (2024), co-authored again with Julie Tremaine, takes readers on a road trip to nearly 60 haunted locations across the United States. It pairs historical ghost stories with actual recipes linked to those sites (like Lizzie Borden's Meatloaf). Finally, follow this up with Cuisine to Kill For: Over 50 Recipes and True Crime Stories from the World's Most Haunted Places (2026), which expands the recipe and haunting concept globally with a darker, true-crime twist.
Amy Bruni Books in Publication Order
Because Amy Bruni writes non-fiction memoirs, historical collections, and haunted recipe guides, there is no fictional timeline to worry about. Following her publication order is the most natural way to experience her development as a researcher and storyteller. Here is the complete list of her books by release date:
- Life with the Afterlife: 13 Truths I Learned about Ghosts (2020) — Co-authored with Julie Tremaine, this book details Bruni's personal experiences, her upbringing, and the 13 foundational lessons she has gathered over more than two decades of active ghost hunting.
- Food to Die For: Recipes and Stories from America's Most Legendary Haunted Places (2024) — Co-authored with Julie Tremaine, this volume serves as a hybrid cookbook and historical travelogue, exploring spooky history through the comforting lens of regional food.
- Cuisine to Kill For: Over 50 Recipes and True Crime Stories from the World's Most Haunted Places (2026) — Bruni's first solo book project, focusing on international locations and blending haunted histories with true crime narratives and matching recipes.
Understanding the Caveats: Memoir vs. Culinary History
A common point of confusion for readers is whether Bruni’s cookbooks are "real" cookbooks or just books of ghost stories. In truth, they are both. Food to Die For and Cuisine to Kill For are fully functional cookbooks featuring tested recipes, but they are structured so that each dish is preceded by a multi-page historical profile of a haunted location. For example, you can read about the tragic history of the Lizzie Borden House or the Missouri State Penitentiary, and then immediately learn how to cook a meal associated with that era or location. If you are reading strictly for spooky encounters, you will still find plenty of substance here, as the historical narratives are just as detailed as those in her first memoir.
The TV and Podcast Companion Guide
To get the most out of Amy Bruni’s books, it is highly recommended to pair them with her extensive television and audio work. Her books frequently refer to cases she investigated on screen, and cross-referencing them adds a rich layer of detail:
- Ghost Hunters (2008–2014): Bruni served as the team's historical researcher on this Syfy channel staple. Reading Life with the Afterlife gives you behind-the-scenes context on how she felt during these early television investigations and how she transitioned from a regular job in health insurance to a full-time investigator.
- Kindred Spirits (2016–Present): Co-hosted with Adam Berry, this series focuses on helping families plagued by paranormal activity. The empathetic, family-first approach seen on the show is the direct practical application of the "13 truths" outlined in her debut book.
- Haunted Road Podcast: Bruni's weekly podcast is a natural companion to her cookbooks. In the podcast, she interviews local guides and explores the history of famous haunted places, many of which overlap with the locations featured in Food to Die For and Cuisine to Kill For.
What to Know Before You Start
Before diving into Amy Bruni's bibliography, it is helpful to keep a few key concepts in mind. First, her work stands out in the paranormal community because she actively rejects sensationalism. You won't find stories of demonic possessions or jump-scares designed to terrify. Instead, Bruni approaches her subjects with a heavy dose of historical documentation, archiving, and empathy for the spirits. Second, her books are highly collaborative. Working alongside food and travel writer Julie Tremaine for her first two projects allowed Bruni to successfully merge culinary culture with ghost hunting, creating a warm, approachable atmosphere that makes her books feel like a chat with a close friend over coffee—even when the subject is a haunted asylum.