Source: Purchased
Description: Meg Rittenhouse fears she is losing her mind. The doctors tell her the strange and disturbing hallucinations she's been experiencing ever since her accident are all in her head, and that, with a little rest, the haunting visions will vanish. But accepting an invitation to stay with her cousin in the country may be the worst decision Meg has ever made. Here, in a remote old house miles from anywhere, the terrible sights and sounds have gotten even worse. Suddenly eerie black shapes dance in the shadows—mocking Meg, haunting her . . . threatening her. And the presence of kind, considerate Andy Brenner, the caretaker, both reassures her and terrifies her—because Andy also sees these dark specters . . .
Genre: Mystery - Gothic
Why I Picked This Book: I'm rereading all the books on my Keeper Shelf to make sure they still deserve their spot and this was next on the list.
My Impression: So I don't want to get hit by a car, have hallucinations, or have to depend on a distant and very forceful relative and I'm not entirely sure I want to get as involved with a long ago horror as Meg does BUT I desperately want access to an old house with an attic stuffed full of old furniture and treasures.
This is Barbara Michaels at her Gothic-y best. The atmosphere is essentially a character and has its own moods. Meg and Andy are likable though I do want to give them both a shake now and then because their communication needs some work but it's nothing crazy. The story is a page turner especially compared with the amazing readability that is a Michaels book. Honestly, if I had a day to myself I could have easily read this book from start to finish and been perfectly happy - in fact I'm quite sure I've done just that in the past! There's history and antiques, a bit of romance, and a solid ghost story. If you enjoy a good Gothic-y read this is a perfect one to pick up. Really the absence of cell phones and other technology is the only thing that gives away the book was published in 1974. It was a delight to read and one that is firmly back in its place on my keeper shelf.
Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Absolutely! I love Barbara Michaels and really need to read more of her books published under the Elizabeth Peters name.
Would I Recommend this Book? I would if you like a light Gothic-y read.
Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Absolutely! I love Barbara Michaels and really need to read more of her books published under the Elizabeth Peters name.
Would I Recommend this Book? I would if you like a light Gothic-y read.
Thank you for the review. The book and author both new to me.
ReplyDeleteI need to read books by this author under both names. They sound like a genre I like to read.
ReplyDeleteMy mom was a huge fan of Barbara Michaels and all-things-gothic.
ReplyDeleteOh sounds really good and I'd love an attic of stuff like that too to spend time with. Imagine, would soak up hours! The book has so much going for it. Pity I have so much to read because I'd read it.
ReplyDeleteGlad your finding books on your keeper shelf that are still rereadable! :)
ReplyDeleteThis sounds so good! I would love to explore an old house's attic too, as long as someone was with me looking out for ghosts. :-) I've got a stash of Barbara Michaels books & this is one I haven't read yet.
ReplyDeleteI don't usually see many purple covers; my favorite color. 💜
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