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Georgetown #1
Ammie, Come Home
It begins as a lark -- a harmless diversion initiated by Washington, D.C., hostess Ruth Bennett as a means of entertaining her visiting niece, Sara. But the seance conducted in Ruth's elegant Georgetown home calls something back; something unwelcome ... and palpably evil.
Suddenly Sara is speaking in a voice not her own, transformed into a miserable, whimpering creature so unlike her normal, sensible self. No tricks or talismans will dispel the malevolence that now plagues the inhabitants of this haunted place -- until a dark history of treachery, lust, and violence is exposed. But the cost might well be the sanity and the lives of the living.
Suddenly Sara is speaking in a voice not her own, transformed into a miserable, whimpering creature so unlike her normal, sensible self. No tricks or talismans will dispel the malevolence that now plagues the inhabitants of this haunted place -- until a dark history of treachery, lust, and violence is exposed. But the cost might well be the sanity and the lives of the living.
248 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1968
194 people are currently reading
2276 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Michaels
95 books692 followersBarbara Michaels was a pen name of Barbara Mertz. She also wrote as Elizabeth Peters, as well as under her own name.
She was born in Canton, Illinois and has written over fifty books including some in Egyptology. Dr. Mertz also holds a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in Egyptology.
She was born in Canton, Illinois and has written over fifty books including some in Egyptology. Dr. Mertz also holds a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in Egyptology.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 267 reviews
November 5, 2020
Ammie, Come Home by Barbara Michaels is a 1968 publication.
I pulled this book from my personal paperback collection, looking for a ‘Halloween’ read.
I’ve been reading through my ‘Barbara Michaels’ books for several years now, but usually, due to the nature of her books, it’s normally around Halloween when I pluck one down from my shelf.
This is one of Michaels’ earlier efforts and is the first installment in the ‘Georgetown’ series.
The cast consists of four people:
Ruth- the favorite aunt
Sara- her niece
Bruce- Sara’s boyfriend/fiancé
Pat- a professor and a possible love interest for Ruth
After a ‘parlor game’ type séance, Sara shows the telltale signs of possession. This sets the foursome off on an intense investigation to discover who is behind the possession, who is haunting Ruth’s house, and why. Their research uncovers a sordid historical mystery… But how will they quiet the spirits?
This novel was originally published in 1968- and as such, it does show its age. However, despite the mild datedness and the use of many standard horror novel staples, this story is still quite effective. The story has all the great elements that create a good spooky tale of suspense. The mystery and amateur sleuthing are interesting, and the passages that describe the powerful entity haunting the characters and the house is atmospheric, and at times a little intense.
I read some of Michael’s novels back when I was a teenager- although by that time the Gothic horror/mystery/romance novel was no longer a hot trend- but since horror novels were my thing back then, I was fan- and Barbara Mertz did continue to write under this pseudonym well into the nineties.
For those who are not familiar- Barbara Mertz also wrote under the name ‘Elizabeth Peters’ – the author of the popular ‘Amelia Peabody’ mystery series.
Her work as ‘Barbara Michaels’ is often classified as ‘Gothic’, which was super popular in the sixties and seventies. In my opinion, some of her books could fall into the horror genre- such as this one and ‘Witch’- while others are milder and might even be labeled as romantic suspense. However, in my opinion, Michaels’ work was edgier and a bit more sinister than other popular authors who fell under the ‘Gothic’ label at the time, and her style was quite unique by comparison.
I must admit that the Michaels’ books I read over the past several years have been a mixed bag, though, with one or two of her last releases being barely recognizable. This one, however, was a good one and brought back memories of the books I devoured in my early teens and turned out to be my favorite ‘Halloween’ read this year.
4 stars
I pulled this book from my personal paperback collection, looking for a ‘Halloween’ read.
I’ve been reading through my ‘Barbara Michaels’ books for several years now, but usually, due to the nature of her books, it’s normally around Halloween when I pluck one down from my shelf.
This is one of Michaels’ earlier efforts and is the first installment in the ‘Georgetown’ series.
The cast consists of four people:
Ruth- the favorite aunt
Sara- her niece
Bruce- Sara’s boyfriend/fiancé
Pat- a professor and a possible love interest for Ruth
After a ‘parlor game’ type séance, Sara shows the telltale signs of possession. This sets the foursome off on an intense investigation to discover who is behind the possession, who is haunting Ruth’s house, and why. Their research uncovers a sordid historical mystery… But how will they quiet the spirits?
This novel was originally published in 1968- and as such, it does show its age. However, despite the mild datedness and the use of many standard horror novel staples, this story is still quite effective. The story has all the great elements that create a good spooky tale of suspense. The mystery and amateur sleuthing are interesting, and the passages that describe the powerful entity haunting the characters and the house is atmospheric, and at times a little intense.
I read some of Michael’s novels back when I was a teenager- although by that time the Gothic horror/mystery/romance novel was no longer a hot trend- but since horror novels were my thing back then, I was fan- and Barbara Mertz did continue to write under this pseudonym well into the nineties.
For those who are not familiar- Barbara Mertz also wrote under the name ‘Elizabeth Peters’ – the author of the popular ‘Amelia Peabody’ mystery series.
Her work as ‘Barbara Michaels’ is often classified as ‘Gothic’, which was super popular in the sixties and seventies. In my opinion, some of her books could fall into the horror genre- such as this one and ‘Witch’- while others are milder and might even be labeled as romantic suspense. However, in my opinion, Michaels’ work was edgier and a bit more sinister than other popular authors who fell under the ‘Gothic’ label at the time, and her style was quite unique by comparison.
I must admit that the Michaels’ books I read over the past several years have been a mixed bag, though, with one or two of her last releases being barely recognizable. This one, however, was a good one and brought back memories of the books I devoured in my early teens and turned out to be my favorite ‘Halloween’ read this year.
4 stars
October 9, 2022
Widowed Ruth Bennett (in her forties) lives in an old, historical home in Georgetown, Washington D.C. with her twenty-year-old niece, Sara. During a dinner party held in her home, a séance is held and a ghost temporarily takes possession of Sara. Eventually Ruth, Sara’s boyfriend Bruce, and an anthropology Professor Pat MacDougal try to find out what is haunting Ruth’s home and why.
I enjoyed this book even though it was slow and talky at times. The story took place in the late 1960’s and the era was described quite well. I liked the eerie feelings in the house, the cold in certain parts of the rooms, the apparitions. I was curious to see how everything would turn out in the end.
Another good read by Barbara Michaels.
I enjoyed this book even though it was slow and talky at times. The story took place in the late 1960’s and the era was described quite well. I liked the eerie feelings in the house, the cold in certain parts of the rooms, the apparitions. I was curious to see how everything would turn out in the end.
Another good read by Barbara Michaels.
June 21, 2010
I read this book first when I was about 12, was deliciously creeped out, and immediately searched out every other ghost story Barbara Michaels had ever written. I've re-read it countless times, and it's become a definite comfort book for me (as much as any book can when it also creeps me out every time!).
But ohhhh, am I grateful that the gender relations in this book - perfectly normal for the early 1970s, when it was written (so I am definitely not criticizing Barbara Michaels for this) - now feel so dated. There were a couple of lines that made me stop in this latest re-read and just take a moment to be thankful to have met my own life partner in the early 2000s instead of 30 years earlier...
But ohhhh, am I grateful that the gender relations in this book - perfectly normal for the early 1970s, when it was written (so I am definitely not criticizing Barbara Michaels for this) - now feel so dated. There were a couple of lines that made me stop in this latest re-read and just take a moment to be thankful to have met my own life partner in the early 2000s instead of 30 years earlier...
February 13, 2017
The ghost story is solid, although I'm only rating it a three stars for overall enjoyment.
Ammie, Come Home is one of Barbara Michael's most liked and popular ghost mysteries. Ruth lives in a historical home in Georgetown, and has never been bothered by hauntings...until now, that is. The reasons for the hauntings showing up now rather than earlier is part of the mystery.
It's refreshing that Michaels doesn't only stick to young, perky characters to lead her books. Ruth is a forty-something year old woman with a bad divorce in her history, and the male lead is a fifty-year old something wearied teacher. Together they make a unique couple, and I think that Michaels put in some of the anticipation of romance/relationships more convincingly than some of her other stuff. Usually she doesn't have any making out type scenes, but she inched towards that line this time.
Her niece and boyfriend bring forth interesting complimentary characters - as is a usual trope with Michaels, you have two skeptics arguing, one young and more open minded with views, one older and a bit condescending of the other younger generation. Even if she uses this stereotypical pairing often, it always works as a good sounding board and a way to bring in different tensions for the haunting.
The supernatural element is high and I enjoyed the history and background for the 'ghosts', as well as the solving. Fans of hauntings and the paranormal should get a kick out of the story, although be warned this isn't meant to be horror-toned at all. Rich in atmosphere - both old day and new - Michaels weaves a potent spell of feeling the scenes when the ghosts appear and understanding the background of the haunting.
I think it's a little lackluster because it seems to be missing some of the urgency of some of her other novels, so pacing lags a bit. Also, while I always loved Michaels unique writing voice, here the sedateness of her tone is emphasized by story-line.
June 4, 2021
Nobody does it like Barbara Michaels did...
October 12, 2016
Really dated & dull. There's no zip to the haunting/seance & the maiden aunt heroine was obnoxious, a limp dishrag of judgmental old ladyship -- made all the worse because she claims to resent being thought of as old when she's only 40, but everything out of her mouth is blabbering about 'the young' & their miniskirts, psychedelic shops, & casual hair. STFU. The young heroine, Sara, had no personality & the old professor (love interest for Aunt Ruth *gag*) was ultra annoying in his blustering blah blahs. The only one I could stand was Bruce, Sara's boyfriend -- he was somewhat rude, but he also had a modicum of intelligence, despite being 'young' & having a beard & disagreeing with the Vietnam war. What a horror of wasted youth! *eyeroll*
Seriously, this sucked.
Seriously, this sucked.
November 8, 2014
I’ve sought grown-up ghost novels for so long, I asked my blog readers to recommend some. No demons, not a ‘cozy mystery’; an enthralling, atmospheric ghost. The immediate suggestion from two people was “Ammie, Come Home” and I owned it. I haven’t attained my ideal paranormal encounter (in literature) but wow, they were right that I would enjoy this. It is the closest I’ve gotten in years. I will eagerly dig into its sequel. Barbara Michaels spins such a different tone from her Elizabeth Peters incarnation; it’s uncanny.
The key players are Ruth Bennett and her niece, Sara; attending university in Washington. A reclusive Aunt bequeathed her home to Ruth; never on heritage tour rosters and untouched by anyone else since their ancestors built it. They both hear a name called at an oddly late hour. When Sara’s professor, Pat escorts Ruth to his Mother’s high society soirée; she meets a séance medium in want of a more suitable house. It appears this activity agitates two-hundred year-old echoes that were benign. Manifestations that are terrifying to anyone in their parlour after sunset, include Sara’s short possession of a spirit. A cloud bursting with enough malevolence to make them flee their parlour, seems to be a separate entity. They stay at Pat’s apartment to survive investigation of the phenomenon.
On their team is Sara’s scholarly boyfriend, Bruce. Until the parlour’s cloud froze them with fear; Pat mistook Sara’s possession for a mental illness. Bruce’s proficiency in debates convinced Pat to consider the radical possibility: ghosts! Would an exorcism be useful, or was it possible to sort out secretive incidents somewhere in the family tree and resolve them? In 1968, before personal computers, research was achieved on foot: by scouring newspapers and their ancestor’s Bible. What they unearthed was enormous and overwhelming!
The key players are Ruth Bennett and her niece, Sara; attending university in Washington. A reclusive Aunt bequeathed her home to Ruth; never on heritage tour rosters and untouched by anyone else since their ancestors built it. They both hear a name called at an oddly late hour. When Sara’s professor, Pat escorts Ruth to his Mother’s high society soirée; she meets a séance medium in want of a more suitable house. It appears this activity agitates two-hundred year-old echoes that were benign. Manifestations that are terrifying to anyone in their parlour after sunset, include Sara’s short possession of a spirit. A cloud bursting with enough malevolence to make them flee their parlour, seems to be a separate entity. They stay at Pat’s apartment to survive investigation of the phenomenon.
On their team is Sara’s scholarly boyfriend, Bruce. Until the parlour’s cloud froze them with fear; Pat mistook Sara’s possession for a mental illness. Bruce’s proficiency in debates convinced Pat to consider the radical possibility: ghosts! Would an exorcism be useful, or was it possible to sort out secretive incidents somewhere in the family tree and resolve them? In 1968, before personal computers, research was achieved on foot: by scouring newspapers and their ancestor’s Bible. What they unearthed was enormous and overwhelming!
August 10, 2017
Just the right level of creepy.
December 22, 2008
This is a re-read for me, of course--any one of Barbara Michaels' books would be. But what with being sick this weekend, I felt myself in profound need of a comfort read, something that wouldn't engage too many of my weary brain cells, yet keep me occupied nonetheless. So to my stock of old favorites I went.
It's a bit hard for me to grasp that this book is forty years old as of this year; a part of me still remembers reading Michaels for the first time in high school, sharply and clearly, like I'd only just now put the books back on their shelves. And yet, it's been long enough since I've read this one that not only had I forgotten most of the plot and the characters, I'd pulled away from it enough that I could definitely see its dated-ness. Much of this is in the trappings: the styles of the clothes the characters wear, the references to the Beatles, to hippies, to protest music and recreational drugs--and less in the plot. But a lot of it is also in the plot: characters who are otherwise rational people stumbling across a genuine occurrence of the supernatural and having to figure out how to lay ghosts to rest is certainly a hoary old standby any way you look at it.
But the fun with Michaels is, she just does these sorts of plots so well. Dated-ness aside, this book gets points for having the POV character be the fortysomething aunt figure, not the twentysomething pretty young thing. Which of course also means that the primary romantic figure is the fiftysomething rugged guy, rather than the twentysomething, overly affected, foppish bearded youth. Yet these four characters, as the central core of the action, play off one another very well as they work together to ferret out the cause behind the haunting of Ruth Bennett's house. So yeah, not Michaels' shining best, but fun all around. Three stars.
It's a bit hard for me to grasp that this book is forty years old as of this year; a part of me still remembers reading Michaels for the first time in high school, sharply and clearly, like I'd only just now put the books back on their shelves. And yet, it's been long enough since I've read this one that not only had I forgotten most of the plot and the characters, I'd pulled away from it enough that I could definitely see its dated-ness. Much of this is in the trappings: the styles of the clothes the characters wear, the references to the Beatles, to hippies, to protest music and recreational drugs--and less in the plot. But a lot of it is also in the plot: characters who are otherwise rational people stumbling across a genuine occurrence of the supernatural and having to figure out how to lay ghosts to rest is certainly a hoary old standby any way you look at it.
But the fun with Michaels is, she just does these sorts of plots so well. Dated-ness aside, this book gets points for having the POV character be the fortysomething aunt figure, not the twentysomething pretty young thing. Which of course also means that the primary romantic figure is the fiftysomething rugged guy, rather than the twentysomething, overly affected, foppish bearded youth. Yet these four characters, as the central core of the action, play off one another very well as they work together to ferret out the cause behind the haunting of Ruth Bennett's house. So yeah, not Michaels' shining best, but fun all around. Three stars.
September 4, 2016
Ammie, Come Home...
I always enjoy Michaels/Peters stories. She writes really well and does a great job with setting up the atmosphere whether it's in the deserts of Egypt or an old southern historic home. This was my second time reading it and I enjoyed it just as much as the first time. The ending seemed a little anti-climatic though but that may just be because it was a reread and I already knew what to expect. It's really a good ghost story-it has seances, possessions, hauntings etc. - I mean what more can you ask for?! I recommend to anyone who is the mood for a little paranormal suspense.
*I read this for 2016 Halloween Bingo:
'Read w/ BL Friends' square
I always enjoy Michaels/Peters stories. She writes really well and does a great job with setting up the atmosphere whether it's in the deserts of Egypt or an old southern historic home. This was my second time reading it and I enjoyed it just as much as the first time. The ending seemed a little anti-climatic though but that may just be because it was a reread and I already knew what to expect. It's really a good ghost story-it has seances, possessions, hauntings etc. - I mean what more can you ask for?! I recommend to anyone who is the mood for a little paranormal suspense.
*I read this for 2016 Halloween Bingo:
'Read w/ BL Friends' square
September 3, 2016
Rating Clarification: 4.5 Stars
Sure it's dated, but to me this is classic Barbara Michaels at her very best!
I read this as a teen over 30 years ago, and have picked up again and again over the years. It still has the power to creep me out even after all these years and after all these re-readings!
Sure it's dated, but to me this is classic Barbara Michaels at her very best!
I read this as a teen over 30 years ago, and have picked up again and again over the years. It still has the power to creep me out even after all these years and after all these re-readings!
September 10, 2016
I'm sort of at a loss as to what to say. I don't have any deep feelings regarding the book other than I liked it fine. I was a completely horrible, awful buddy read participant. I started this yesterday afternoon and was so afraid of getting spoiled on any of it that I steered clear of all discussion. It was also such a breeze to read that I just pushed through full throttle to the finish. Perhaps if I were more in-tuned to everyone's thought's, I would have cultivated a couple of my own. ;)
As a ghost story, I thought it was well-written and eerily creepy. I particularly liked how all of my imaginings of the house, the events, the garden, all took on that particular color of daylight that early winter has - a sort of golden color that goes bluish once the sun sets. So many little things that could easily be overlooked, such attention to detail - from the papered walls to the laid out silver to the wind and overgrown garden - really pulled a time gone by forward to set a perfect stage.
*SPOILER* *SPOILER**SPOILER**SPOILER**SPOILER**SPOILER*
When it came to the characters and the mystery itself, I only had one small complaint - I really hate it when the reader sees the clear path while the characters are still dithering. It seemed obvious to me what would happen to Pat, from the first 'heart attack' moment when he clearly felt it more deeply. The thought to break down the cellar door took the long way around.
At the same time to give credit, I thought the bit about the bible working against the ghost rather than the crucifix due to Douglass' protestant belief to be rather clever.
There was some blatant social commentary about the 60's that I only really grasped because it was so obvious. That and my viewing of Hell House not a few days earlier had me grinning at some idiosyncrasies familiar to the time period - ectoplasm from the hands and the use of hypnosis in particular. Still, I'm sure I missed loads.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and am happy it was chosen as a buddy read as I'm not sure I would have discovered it myself otherwise.
September 3, 2016
Barbara Michaels is a new-to-me author, and one whose other works I will definitely be looking into.
This was a wonderfully creepy book, and scary without being gory (though, I'm not one who minds gore). What we have here is a good old-fashioned ghost story, and Ms. Michaels pulls it off beautifully.
The novel was originally published in 1968, and in some ways is incredibly dated, but yet still stands the test of time.
I loved, loved, loved the fact that the main protagonist (the book actually features four) was a 40-something year old woman, Ruth. Who has a love interest in the form of a 50-year old man, Pat. So often, the other two protagonists, Sara (Ruth's niece), and her boyfriend, Bruce--both around 20-years old--would have been the main characters, as opposed to the older couple. As someone who in Ruth's age range herself, I found the switch completely refreshing.
I liked all four of the main characters, though, I struggled a bit with Pat, at first until
This is the first of a trilogy, and I will definitely be reading the other two.
This was a wonderfully creepy book, and scary without being gory (though, I'm not one who minds gore). What we have here is a good old-fashioned ghost story, and Ms. Michaels pulls it off beautifully.
The novel was originally published in 1968, and in some ways is incredibly dated, but yet still stands the test of time.
I loved, loved, loved the fact that the main protagonist (the book actually features four) was a 40-something year old woman, Ruth. Who has a love interest in the form of a 50-year old man, Pat. So often, the other two protagonists, Sara (Ruth's niece), and her boyfriend, Bruce--both around 20-years old--would have been the main characters, as opposed to the older couple. As someone who in Ruth's age range herself, I found the switch completely refreshing.
I liked all four of the main characters, though, I struggled a bit with Pat, at first until
This is the first of a trilogy, and I will definitely be reading the other two.
August 6, 2017
Great ghost story which would now be considered "vintage." It was written nearly 50 years ago, but is still SO good and enjoyable. I actually liked that it mentions all the current trends of the day (late 60's). It's not a time period that I have read a lot of books set in. It also was gratifying that the main lead characters were middle-aged. It's set in Georgetown and also references civil war and revolutionary war time periods. It was the perfect book for me, especially since I was vacationing and could veg-out with it. I can't wait to read the next book!
August 12, 2016
After the recent death of Barbara Mertz (aka Barbara Michaels and Elizabeth Peters, may her name(s) be used for a blessing), I decided to read (or re-read) all of her books! I thought for sure I had read most of Barbara Michaels' books, but apparently not this one! I also didn't realize that she had ever written anything besides stand-alone books under this pen name, but this one has 2 more related works. I have to decide whether to read them grouped together, or stick to reading in published order, as I intended.
As for the book itself, you do have to accept that it's horribly dated in some ways (it was published in 1968). Barbara was definitely an early feminist, but the society she lived and wrote in hadn't come as far as we have today, and some of the interpersonal relationships between the men and the women in the book are quite old-fashioned. Still, her female characters are not doormats, and the men mostly forgivable if you look at is as historical fiction. ;)
The ghost story is interesting, and the skeptic provides a good foil to the supernatural events, making the characters dig deeper to prove it's not just a mundane occurence. I liked that the main character was a 40something year old woman, and not a beautiful 20 year old (though there was also one of those, as a supporting character). I look forward to seeing if any of the same characters recur in the next two books.
As for the book itself, you do have to accept that it's horribly dated in some ways (it was published in 1968). Barbara was definitely an early feminist, but the society she lived and wrote in hadn't come as far as we have today, and some of the interpersonal relationships between the men and the women in the book are quite old-fashioned. Still, her female characters are not doormats, and the men mostly forgivable if you look at is as historical fiction. ;)
The ghost story is interesting, and the skeptic provides a good foil to the supernatural events, making the characters dig deeper to prove it's not just a mundane occurence. I liked that the main character was a 40something year old woman, and not a beautiful 20 year old (though there was also one of those, as a supporting character). I look forward to seeing if any of the same characters recur in the next two books.
June 15, 2025
One of my all time favorite books. I remember reading it the first time in a Reader's Digest condensed book back when it was first released. A beautifully written ghost story.
May 16, 2021
After re-reading Witch, my interest in Barbara Michaels was reignited. I remembered a movie of the week based on Ammie Come home and watched it on You Tube. I then , of course, had to reread the book. An added attraction for me to jump it to the head of the line in my TBR list was the fact that there are 2 other books featuring Pat and Ruth, the gracious couple in Ammie.
Ammie is much spookier than Witch, which was really more about small town religious prejudices and insularity rather than the paranormal. I enjoyed it very much. The mystery concerning the who and why of the haunting, I of course knew. I remembered most of it, but of course the movie, which is unfortunately titled, The House That Would not Die, stayed true to the plot. The romance of Pat and Ruth had just the right amount of attention, as did the secondary romance of Bruce and Sara. Ruth is a very similar character to Ellen in Witch, but Pat could not be more different than John. He is one of Barbara Michaels’ more delightful and well-drawn heroes.
Most of the book concerns powwows around the dinner table, and research into the history of house in the days before computers and social media. They actually had to go to the library and pour through old books and documents all day long. I loved the debates and discussions, the tension between the two generations, and conflicting schools of thought. But it was the family atmosphere, relationships among the principals, and the slow unfolding of the mystery that really drew me in. I was right there and part of it. This book was written 50 years ago now, in 1968. Barbara was just coming into her own. I loved being taken back in time to my high school years. The book is soaked in the attitudes, fashions, and concerns of the liberal and intellectual elite. And as such, some might call it dated, or might not be able to relate. But I loved this reminder of how life used to be in certain circles. It was almost like a fairytale!
https://rebekahsreadingsandwatchings....
Ammie is much spookier than Witch, which was really more about small town religious prejudices and insularity rather than the paranormal. I enjoyed it very much. The mystery concerning the who and why of the haunting, I of course knew. I remembered most of it, but of course the movie, which is unfortunately titled, The House That Would not Die, stayed true to the plot. The romance of Pat and Ruth had just the right amount of attention, as did the secondary romance of Bruce and Sara. Ruth is a very similar character to Ellen in Witch, but Pat could not be more different than John. He is one of Barbara Michaels’ more delightful and well-drawn heroes.
Most of the book concerns powwows around the dinner table, and research into the history of house in the days before computers and social media. They actually had to go to the library and pour through old books and documents all day long. I loved the debates and discussions, the tension between the two generations, and conflicting schools of thought. But it was the family atmosphere, relationships among the principals, and the slow unfolding of the mystery that really drew me in. I was right there and part of it. This book was written 50 years ago now, in 1968. Barbara was just coming into her own. I loved being taken back in time to my high school years. The book is soaked in the attitudes, fashions, and concerns of the liberal and intellectual elite. And as such, some might call it dated, or might not be able to relate. But I loved this reminder of how life used to be in certain circles. It was almost like a fairytale!
https://rebekahsreadingsandwatchings....
December 7, 2014
"That night, for the first time in forty years, Ruth left a night light burning when she went to bed".
OK, so maybe I didn't quite need a night light after reading Barbara Michaels' "Ammie, Come Home", I really enjoyed this classic from the late 1960's. I was first attracted to the book after watching the 70's made-for-TV movie "The House That Would Not Die". I loved the film when i first watched it when it came out, I was around 10 years old. The film left a deep mark in my love of horror..
The novel, a nice quick read, it's a decent ghost story/haunted house story, with a nice background story of both Georgetown (DC) and the house itself. Michaels' writing really places you right in the middle of the house, during the exciting seances (I just LOVE a good literary seance!) and searching throughout the house for old letters and diaries looking for clues. What fun!
I must say that I personally didn't really like the characters, who were always complaining and picking on each other, but I have to think that Michaels set it that way because it seemed so consistent for me. But sure, in the end, their attitudes start to change towards each other (just think the bad mouthing was a little heavy in the beginning and middle). And yea, I was a little confused about some of the lengthy scenes over breakfast and lunch, focusing on minute details of the food preparation, but again, I believe Michaels did this purposely to give is the sense that we were right there with them, and that such events could be familiar enough to happen to us.
I see that several others have commented on the dated ness of the book. Well sure, it's over 40 years old. But I think of it as a good period piece based in the sixties. (Imagine someone saying that Shakespeare is an outdated writer always setting his stories in the olden days!?).
Overall, a decent story with great atmosphere.
OK, so maybe I didn't quite need a night light after reading Barbara Michaels' "Ammie, Come Home", I really enjoyed this classic from the late 1960's. I was first attracted to the book after watching the 70's made-for-TV movie "The House That Would Not Die". I loved the film when i first watched it when it came out, I was around 10 years old. The film left a deep mark in my love of horror..
The novel, a nice quick read, it's a decent ghost story/haunted house story, with a nice background story of both Georgetown (DC) and the house itself. Michaels' writing really places you right in the middle of the house, during the exciting seances (I just LOVE a good literary seance!) and searching throughout the house for old letters and diaries looking for clues. What fun!
I must say that I personally didn't really like the characters, who were always complaining and picking on each other, but I have to think that Michaels set it that way because it seemed so consistent for me. But sure, in the end, their attitudes start to change towards each other (just think the bad mouthing was a little heavy in the beginning and middle). And yea, I was a little confused about some of the lengthy scenes over breakfast and lunch, focusing on minute details of the food preparation, but again, I believe Michaels did this purposely to give is the sense that we were right there with them, and that such events could be familiar enough to happen to us.
I see that several others have commented on the dated ness of the book. Well sure, it's over 40 years old. But I think of it as a good period piece based in the sixties. (Imagine someone saying that Shakespeare is an outdated writer always setting his stories in the olden days!?).
Overall, a decent story with great atmosphere.
May 16, 2025
[I read this as part of a Mystery Guild collection titled Barbara Michaels: Mistress of Shadows.]
Ammie, Come Home is perhaps the perfect ghost story. A quartet of mismatched characters thrown together against the unknown in a house steeped in history. It is Ruth Bennett's family home in Georgetown, where her niece Sara has come to stay. Sara's potential boyfriend Bruce and her professor Pat round out the group. They will forever be bound together by an experience that they will never forget.
Something...or someone...has been awakened in Ruth's house. It starts after she impulsively invites a medium to conduct a seance in her living room. A door is opened to nightmare, and Ruth and her unwilling companions must find a way to close it.
Barbara Michaels (or Elizabeth Peters, or Barbara Mertz) may just be my favorite writer. Her plot, pacing and characterizations are so well conceived and executed. The atmosphere in this book ran the gamut from gripping suspense to light humor to subtle romance and all of it gelled quite smoothly. This is a "light" horror story in which four regular people become trapped in very irregular circumstances. Michaels brings the supernatural elements, but only so far; that in itself adds to the terror as the events retain the specter of plausibility...a fine line that if followed brings the chill to the reader.
Recommended.
Ammie, Come Home is perhaps the perfect ghost story. A quartet of mismatched characters thrown together against the unknown in a house steeped in history. It is Ruth Bennett's family home in Georgetown, where her niece Sara has come to stay. Sara's potential boyfriend Bruce and her professor Pat round out the group. They will forever be bound together by an experience that they will never forget.
Something...or someone...has been awakened in Ruth's house. It starts after she impulsively invites a medium to conduct a seance in her living room. A door is opened to nightmare, and Ruth and her unwilling companions must find a way to close it.
Barbara Michaels (or Elizabeth Peters, or Barbara Mertz) may just be my favorite writer. Her plot, pacing and characterizations are so well conceived and executed. The atmosphere in this book ran the gamut from gripping suspense to light humor to subtle romance and all of it gelled quite smoothly. This is a "light" horror story in which four regular people become trapped in very irregular circumstances. Michaels brings the supernatural elements, but only so far; that in itself adds to the terror as the events retain the specter of plausibility...a fine line that if followed brings the chill to the reader.
Recommended.
November 28, 2021
The story was very boring and did not age well. My problems with the book:
1) I hated all the characters.
2) The story was just way too dated.
3) The excessive debating of the paranormal happenings while eating eggs or drinking sherry
4) The total lack of a sense of danger or suspense
Content:
Sex/Nudity: mild
Profanity/Language: moderate (frequent use of mild profanity and
Gore/Violence: mild
Drugs/Alcohol: moderate (alcohol consumption, frequent cigarette smoking)
1) I hated all the characters.
2) The story was just way too dated.
3) The excessive debating of the paranormal happenings while eating eggs or drinking sherry
4) The total lack of a sense of danger or suspense
Content:
Sex/Nudity: mild
Profanity/Language: moderate (frequent use of mild profanity and
Gore/Violence: mild
Drugs/Alcohol: moderate (alcohol consumption, frequent cigarette smoking)
February 5, 2014
Buddy read with Jeannette, Hannah, Judith, Willow.
A very well done creepy mystery. The male/female conversations were dated, but it was written in 1968 so that is to be expected. A fun book with all its late 60's clothing etc.
A very well done creepy mystery. The male/female conversations were dated, but it was written in 1968 so that is to be expected. A fun book with all its late 60's clothing etc.
September 11, 2016
To be honest, I don't know if it was just my general avoidance of reading this book in the dead of night or what, but the creepiness I'd been expecting wasn't exactly there. At least, I didn't really feel scared or anything (and I'm an admitted scaredy-cat). There were scenes that were quite disturbing, and I can kind of see parts of the book where one would have been frightened if read in the setting of a dark room, lit only by flickering candlelight. But otherwise, maybe I just didn't really get into it as well as others might have.
Ammie, Come Home is very well written, with a smooth progression, and a refined narration. The premise of the story was excellent and, again, I can see this being a good choice for a Halloween read, and maybe a manufactured eerie reading nook would give great effect to the experience.
Again, I kept lights on. Everywhere. Maybe I should have gone for ambiance instead of letting my scaredy-cat self wimp out. Because certain books are meant to be read in certain ways. I think.
Anyway...
As far as the rest of the book goes, it was quite enjoyable up to the end. The ending of the book was actually what I enjoyed the most when our four main characters discover the mystery behind Sara's possession and the haunting of Ruth's home. But other than that, I couldn't help taking notice that a lot of actions by characters didn't make a whole lot of sense, and a lot of that, "Don't you see?" exclamations made by characters were NOT, indeed, obvious to me upon each secret reveal. And there were some continuity problems I had noticed as well, but we'll bench those, because loose ends are typically on par with a lot of books I've read lately and I'm not about to be irritated by them.
Anyway, there were happenings and hauntings and stuff. And our main characters start researching the reasons behind Sara's possession as well as the strange manifestation early on in the story. But they sure did spend a LOT of time lounging around and chatting, eating, and drinking. They're discussions about the entire situation felt really relaxed, even though Bruce's behavior gave indication otherwise.
What should have been a day or two of investigating the haunted house, the possession, the malevolent entity, and the house's historical significance, felt like it was taking weeks. Because every time we turn around, our characters are making breakfast, or having a relaxing nightcap, or--as the quote above indicates--having a freakin' picnic!
Character-wise, I had trouble relating with any of the four main characters. And I don't know if it was because I had trouble getting into the right frame of mind for the time period--to be honest, I guess I never realized how different a mere few decades of time could be from each other. Admittedly, I was born in the 80s and lived through the 90s, and can relate to the differences between then and now. I guess it just might be that I didn't quite grasp the differences between what I'm familiar with and the culture of the 60s in America. I admit that I rarely read books that aren't contemporary to my own lifetime, aside from my most recent explorations into historical fiction, or anything that's fantasy-based.
Sure, men treated women terribly in the past. They still do now. But it bugged me a lot that our two heroines just kind of shrugged it off and moved on as if it were an everyday occurrence... and I suppose it probably was. Correct me if I'm wrong. But the things that Bruce and Pat would say to Ruth and Sara offhand just really turned me off.
The characters felt unexciting anyway. There was little development. And I really didn't care for the male characters, though Bruce seems easier for me to like than Pat did. In fact, Pat seemed unnecessary, and kind of an arrogant ass. And everyone was always shouting at each other.
I did NOT like the implied romance... or lack thereof. The whole thing between Pat and Ruth just seemed awkwardly forced into the plot for the sake of having a romantic couple. Then that bombshell that Ruth drops about her traumatic past with her now-deceased husband... WTF? Because then we just move one like nothing happened. Even the boyfriend-girlfriend relationship between Sara and Bruce felt a bit unnatural as well. Not that I'm complaining or anything, because, I suppose, sometimes there's no need for any focus to be on romance at all.
What I DID like was the setting and descriptions of our characters, their fashion, their home, etc.... I liked the potential the book had to really be a haunting tale of ghostly revenge and secrets and cries for help from beyond the grave. I liked the historical aspect of our main characters' research--or rather, I guess Bruce's research. I liked the brief delving into the theological aspect of malevolent entities, with short mentions of the perceived differences between different cultures and subsequent spirits and exorcisms within said other cultures. These are all ideas that can be expanded upon and caught my interest.
Unfortunately, a lot of things were left hanging; lots of loose ends that were unsatisfying.
I will definitely try to pick up another Barbara Michaels book and test my luck with her again.
***
2016 Reading Challenges:
• Goodreads Reading Challenge
• BookLikes Reading Challenge
• Bookish Resolutions Challenge
• 2016 Halloween Bingo
Ammie, Come Home is very well written, with a smooth progression, and a refined narration. The premise of the story was excellent and, again, I can see this being a good choice for a Halloween read, and maybe a manufactured eerie reading nook would give great effect to the experience.
Again, I kept lights on. Everywhere. Maybe I should have gone for ambiance instead of letting my scaredy-cat self wimp out. Because certain books are meant to be read in certain ways. I think.
Anyway...
As far as the rest of the book goes, it was quite enjoyable up to the end. The ending of the book was actually what I enjoyed the most when our four main characters discover the mystery behind Sara's possession and the haunting of Ruth's home. But other than that, I couldn't help taking notice that a lot of actions by characters didn't make a whole lot of sense, and a lot of that, "Don't you see?" exclamations made by characters were NOT, indeed, obvious to me upon each secret reveal. And there were some continuity problems I had noticed as well, but we'll bench those, because loose ends are typically on par with a lot of books I've read lately and I'm not about to be irritated by them.
Anyway, there were happenings and hauntings and stuff. And our main characters start researching the reasons behind Sara's possession as well as the strange manifestation early on in the story. But they sure did spend a LOT of time lounging around and chatting, eating, and drinking. They're discussions about the entire situation felt really relaxed, even though Bruce's behavior gave indication otherwise.
"It's partly the weather and partly this damned picnic atmosphere," Bruce said. He stabbed a shrimp and looked at it fondly. "We seem to spend half our time eating and/or drinking, under the most peculiar conditions."
What should have been a day or two of investigating the haunted house, the possession, the malevolent entity, and the house's historical significance, felt like it was taking weeks. Because every time we turn around, our characters are making breakfast, or having a relaxing nightcap, or--as the quote above indicates--having a freakin' picnic!
Character-wise, I had trouble relating with any of the four main characters. And I don't know if it was because I had trouble getting into the right frame of mind for the time period--to be honest, I guess I never realized how different a mere few decades of time could be from each other. Admittedly, I was born in the 80s and lived through the 90s, and can relate to the differences between then and now. I guess it just might be that I didn't quite grasp the differences between what I'm familiar with and the culture of the 60s in America. I admit that I rarely read books that aren't contemporary to my own lifetime, aside from my most recent explorations into historical fiction, or anything that's fantasy-based.
Sure, men treated women terribly in the past. They still do now. But it bugged me a lot that our two heroines just kind of shrugged it off and moved on as if it were an everyday occurrence... and I suppose it probably was. Correct me if I'm wrong. But the things that Bruce and Pat would say to Ruth and Sara offhand just really turned me off.
The characters felt unexciting anyway. There was little development. And I really didn't care for the male characters, though Bruce seems easier for me to like than Pat did. In fact, Pat seemed unnecessary, and kind of an arrogant ass. And everyone was always shouting at each other.
I did NOT like the implied romance... or lack thereof. The whole thing between Pat and Ruth just seemed awkwardly forced into the plot for the sake of having a romantic couple. Then that bombshell that Ruth drops about her traumatic past with her now-deceased husband... WTF? Because then we just move one like nothing happened. Even the boyfriend-girlfriend relationship between Sara and Bruce felt a bit unnatural as well. Not that I'm complaining or anything, because, I suppose, sometimes there's no need for any focus to be on romance at all.
What I DID like was the setting and descriptions of our characters, their fashion, their home, etc.... I liked the potential the book had to really be a haunting tale of ghostly revenge and secrets and cries for help from beyond the grave. I liked the historical aspect of our main characters' research--or rather, I guess Bruce's research. I liked the brief delving into the theological aspect of malevolent entities, with short mentions of the perceived differences between different cultures and subsequent spirits and exorcisms within said other cultures. These are all ideas that can be expanded upon and caught my interest.
Unfortunately, a lot of things were left hanging; lots of loose ends that were unsatisfying.
I will definitely try to pick up another Barbara Michaels book and test my luck with her again.
***
2016 Reading Challenges:
• Goodreads Reading Challenge
• BookLikes Reading Challenge
• Bookish Resolutions Challenge
• 2016 Halloween Bingo
August 1, 2018
The literary equivalent of a potato chip. I reread Barbara Michaels (Elizabeth Peters) whenever I just want to stop thinking. Her style is zippy, the stories are usually interesting enough --- Ammie, Come Home is one of her best --- and I can get lost in it for the hour or so it takes to read it. And sure, potato chips aren't the best for you, but . . .
September 15, 2011
Barbara Michaels is a prolific writer, having penned over 30 novels (some under her real name, Elizabeth Peters). Somehow her book Ammie, Come Home found its way onto my tbr list, then shelf and I finally got around to reading it.
Published in 1968, Ammie, Come Home is an old-fashioned ghost story (emphasis on the old-fashioned.) It concerns Ruth, her 19-year-old niece, Sara (who is living with her while she attends college), Pat MacDougal (Sara’s professor and Ruth’s love interest) and Bruce, Sara’s boyfriend. Ruth and Sara live in a house they Ruth inherited from an aunt. It’s quite a famous house, one which causes Professor MacDougal to exclaim “Good God Almighty!” the first time he enters.
A seance kicks off the other-worldly events in Michaels’ novel. Then Ammie, Come Home plods along with all the requisite ghostly bells and whistles (moaning, doors opening and closing, cold air.) Perhaps I am jaded. No, I am definitely jaded because I didn’t find the book even remotely scary and no one likes a good horror story more than me.
It’s got me thinking though. What books have truly frightened me? I’m going to have to do some thinking on that one. I’ll get back to you.
Published in 1968, Ammie, Come Home is an old-fashioned ghost story (emphasis on the old-fashioned.) It concerns Ruth, her 19-year-old niece, Sara (who is living with her while she attends college), Pat MacDougal (Sara’s professor and Ruth’s love interest) and Bruce, Sara’s boyfriend. Ruth and Sara live in a house they Ruth inherited from an aunt. It’s quite a famous house, one which causes Professor MacDougal to exclaim “Good God Almighty!” the first time he enters.
A seance kicks off the other-worldly events in Michaels’ novel. Then Ammie, Come Home plods along with all the requisite ghostly bells and whistles (moaning, doors opening and closing, cold air.) Perhaps I am jaded. No, I am definitely jaded because I didn’t find the book even remotely scary and no one likes a good horror story more than me.
It’s got me thinking though. What books have truly frightened me? I’m going to have to do some thinking on that one. I’ll get back to you.
July 11, 2011
This book is an excellent example of mpm's writing. While the actual story is not out of the ordinary as far as ghost stories go, her skilled writing and insights remind the jaded reader why such a situation was considered frightening in the first place. In an age where the horror genre consistently bombards its viewers with gore and vivid imagery, the subtlety and attention to detail sets this book apart. Her description of possession by a spirit astutely describes precisely why, psychologically, humans find the supernatural so frightening. A great thriller for those who don't go out much for blood and gore.
May 29, 2018
This supernatural mystery revolves around Ruth Bennett and her niece Sarah, who live in Washington D.C. in the 1960s. After a party which Ruth has met a psychic, she invites her home to entertain her niece and her boyfriend. Unfortunately, Sarah is taken over by an apparition, a dark force which shakes the psychic and the group. Ruth and her boyfriend, Pat and Sarah’s boyfriend Bruce take up the task to learn more about the entity and to help Sarah get rid of the ominous force. Despite the age of the book, I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery and I feel it still holds up.
April 5, 2022
Well this was a great big pile of disappointment. The story has not aged well, but I'd think I'd find these characters fusty even in 1968. The supernatural angle could've been handled a lot better (this idea in the hands of Stephen King would've been *chef's kiss*). In the end, it was pretty boring and predictable. If this is a good example of this author's work, I'd give the rest of it a hard pass.
June 14, 2011
This was the first adult ghost story I read and I couldn't put it down. When I finally finished the novel I had to sleep with the light on for the first time in years! It was creepy, and funny, and remains my favorite Michaels novel.
February 11, 2022
Somewhat unexpected with ghosts and possession, although the characters, Ruth and Pat, reminded me a bit of the Amelia Peabody series which I really liked. Ruth inherits an old house in Georgetown that turns out to be haunted. Her niece Sara is living with her, and they are both having dreams. Pat and Bruce walk into their lives, and suddenly nobody knows what is happening anymore. It all starts with a seance . . . Lovely read, but not much depth to the material. I will have to look up whether there was anything at all there when George Washington and his fellow consortium members sold this land to become the new Capitol. I had thought there was nothing there but developable land, but according to this book, there was a small village called George Town already there.
February 21, 2021
This was a difficult rating for me. Saying I liked it is a stretch, because it was so out of my reading "norm" and a style that I don't really care for. But it was a good ghost story, so I couldn't just say it was okay. Maybe I just need to broaden my horizons...
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