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Other Worlds
The Barnes & Noble Review
The old-fashioned ghost story has never fallen out of style: Charles Dickens is still best remembered for A Christmas Carol, and Peter Straub, despite his many fine novels, found in the ghost story his most potent tale (Ghost Story, of course!). When Shirley Jackson wrote The Haunting of Hill House and Henry James wrote The Turn of the Screw, did they know they were creating their most-remembered works in the horror genre?
The old-fashioned ghost story has never fallen out of style: Charles Dickens is still best remembered for A Christmas Carol, and Peter Straub, despite his many fine novels, found in the ghost story his most potent tale (Ghost Story, of course!). When Shirley Jackson wrote The Haunting of Hill House and Henry James wrote The Turn of the Screw, did they know they were creating their most-remembered works in the horror genre?
Barbara Michaels has written everything from outright horror (Ammie, Come Home) to horror cozies (The Crying Child), but her new one has more in common with Peter Straub's Ghost Story (without the violence) than with anything she's written before. As several men gather in a special club to discuss unexplained mysteries of the past, an aura of chilly darkness surrounds them.
The men are famous and the time is the past. In a London Club, Houdini, Conan Doyle, and other psychic investigators and debunkers gather to tell ghost stories. Their purpose is to tell the tale, and then each will pick it apart to try to find an explanation for the phenomenon in question. The first story is one of the most famous historical hauntings in U.S. history: the Bell Witch in Tennessee. The second is a moderately well-known haunting in Stratford, Connecticut, called, appropriately, the Stratford Haunting. Each tale is told, and then the guests gathered around the club describe their understanding of whether the hauntings are either fake or very real.
But an eerie edge begins to creep like fog into each tale,andalthough there is no Grand Guignol to Michaels's novel, there is a decidedly eerie and yes, old-fashioned feeling of dread. Imagine a séance with some of the best storytellers gathered around the table, or a fire at a campsite, or even the distinguished London club where these men congregate. Michaels captures this mood better than most, and she has a way of telling a tale that is never violent but features a mounting fear of the unknown that persists and becomes captivating.
Those unfamiliar with the Bell Witch and the Stratford haunting will enjoy hearing these stories as well as the various solutions proposed by the august assembly. In the second section of the novel, which deals with the Stratford haunting, a new guest joins the men's table to tell the tale, and in many ways Other Worlds becomes more thrilling as this one a story of family madness and human experimentation from a previous century begins.
When you pick this novel up which you should think Hawthorne, think Melville's short stories, and you'll definitely see the mastery of what I'd term a horror cozy that Barbara Michaels has at her fingertips. This novel is not for anyone who loves outright violence in dark fiction, but for the millions of readers who love a good ghost story, superlatively told.
Douglas Clegg is the author of numerous horror novels, including The Halloween Man and Bad Karma, written under his pseudonym, Andrew Harper. His recent Bram Stoker-nominated short story, "I Am Infinite, I Contain Multitudes," can be found in the anthology The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror: Volume 11.
Barnesandnoble.com
224 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1999
51 people are currently reading
420 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 85 reviews
June 3, 2019
"We all know, gentlemen, that it is not advisable to allow the ladies to go into trade or follow masculine professions. There is a danger they may find out they are as competent as we!"
November 12, 2010
I picked up the book because of the cover (looked like gothic suspense) and flipped open the jacket to read that the characters included Nandor Fodor, Frank Podmore, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Harry Houdini, et al. That sparked my interest because it’s very rare to pick up any fiction book that has psychical researchers as characters.
However, it was a disappointment. The premise is of two ghost stories, told within the framework of skeptics and believers lounging in a gentlemen’s club. I’m not fond of “framed” stories, but if it is done well, it can be enlightening. In this book, the various characters then analyze the first ghost story according to each of their particular perspectives, which was somewhat interesting, but not very entertaining. They didn’t even bother beyond a few paragraphs for the second story, which already had a very weak ending.
So, even though the Bell Witch (Tennessee) and Connecticut poltergeists were fascinating tales, they were not particularly well done in this book. I haven’t read very many Barbara Michaels books, but this one was disappointing.
However, it was a disappointment. The premise is of two ghost stories, told within the framework of skeptics and believers lounging in a gentlemen’s club. I’m not fond of “framed” stories, but if it is done well, it can be enlightening. In this book, the various characters then analyze the first ghost story according to each of their particular perspectives, which was somewhat interesting, but not very entertaining. They didn’t even bother beyond a few paragraphs for the second story, which already had a very weak ending.
So, even though the Bell Witch (Tennessee) and Connecticut poltergeists were fascinating tales, they were not particularly well done in this book. I haven’t read very many Barbara Michaels books, but this one was disappointing.
June 11, 2023
It's an interesting concept: a few famous friends like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Harry Houdini and others gather at a private club to discuss paranormal legends that took place in Nineteenth Century America: the saga of the Bell Witch in Tennessee and the Phelps haunting in Connecticut. Those stories are not fiction, although the core truth of what occurred in them has always been very much up for debate.
And that's what Fedor, Doyle, Houdini, Lang and others do. The cases are chillingly recounted by Barbara Michaels - the first in the form of a third person narration presented by Houdini, the other a fictionalized first person account written by a lady guest to the group - and the club members then discuss and offer their solutions to what really happened.
There are no resolutions, obviously, although it is clear which answers Michaels preferred. I agree with her on one of them, but find the events of the other too complex to be so easily explained. This is still a fun read, even though the "gathering of minds" concept falls somewhat short. A decent pair of ghost stories to whittle away a few hours.
And that's what Fedor, Doyle, Houdini, Lang and others do. The cases are chillingly recounted by Barbara Michaels - the first in the form of a third person narration presented by Houdini, the other a fictionalized first person account written by a lady guest to the group - and the club members then discuss and offer their solutions to what really happened.
There are no resolutions, obviously, although it is clear which answers Michaels preferred. I agree with her on one of them, but find the events of the other too complex to be so easily explained. This is still a fun read, even though the "gathering of minds" concept falls somewhat short. A decent pair of ghost stories to whittle away a few hours.
December 29, 2012
As a huge fan of Barbara Michaels and a collector of her books, there are still some novels I haven't read. This was one of her more recently published novels under the name "Barbara Michaels ". (Most are aware of her pseudonym "Elizabeth Peters)
The premise was interesting, the synopsis promising a good old fashioned ghost story, which I'm always a sucker for.
There is an imaginary "club " that meets to discuss and theorize about famous cases of paranormal phenomena. The members of this club are Houdini, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Nandor Fodor and a famous crime author.
The first story was the infamous Bell Witch haunting. After a re -telling of the famous story, each member explains his own take on what really happened.
This story was just a rehash of theories that have been dicussed for years. Been there, done that.
The second story was not familiar to me, but had many similarities to the first story.
Certainly not Barbara Michaels at her best. A very disappointing read.
Overall a D .
The premise was interesting, the synopsis promising a good old fashioned ghost story, which I'm always a sucker for.
There is an imaginary "club " that meets to discuss and theorize about famous cases of paranormal phenomena. The members of this club are Houdini, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Nandor Fodor and a famous crime author.
The first story was the infamous Bell Witch haunting. After a re -telling of the famous story, each member explains his own take on what really happened.
This story was just a rehash of theories that have been dicussed for years. Been there, done that.
The second story was not familiar to me, but had many similarities to the first story.
Certainly not Barbara Michaels at her best. A very disappointing read.
Overall a D .
February 7, 2017
The men are famous and the time is the past. In a London Club, Houdini, Conan Doyle, and other psychic investigators and debunkers gather to tell ghost stories. Their purpose is to tell the tale, and then each will pick it apart to try to find an explanation for the phenomenon in question.
A really fun read on a rainy Saturday while curled up before the fire.
A really fun read on a rainy Saturday while curled up before the fire.
April 10, 2018
Review to follow. Pretty entertaining.
September 5, 2013
The premise was promising, but the work doesn't hang together a bit well. The first night, when the group discusses the Bell Witch, follows the plan--a series of events are dictated and then the group propose theories about what might really have happened. The writing in this section is disappointing. The second night deviates--we are treated to a well-written story about the Phelps family in Stratford, but the group is given almost no opportunity to discuss it. It is almost as if this work were published before Ms. Michaels had finished with it.
September 8, 2008
It was just two ghost stories, followed by an imaginary discussion of the story by A. Conan Doyl, Harry Houdini, etc. I didn't hear a change of voice as the story teller supossedly changed. The discourse was not what I had expected. It was OK for driving in the desert, I didn't have a replacement. But, I'm glad that I didn't buy the book.
February 27, 2016
Not the typical Barbara Michaels book. Entails a group of friends sitting around discussing and debunking a few old ghost stories that many would recognize like the Bell Witch. It is entertaining and well written, but fails to really engross the reader and bring you into the author's created world. It's just two well told spooky tales.
June 3, 2009
I appreciate that Michaels was trying something different with this novel (which is basically a gathering of Harry Houdini, Arthur Conan Doyle, and some other people telling stories), but it just didn't work. The book as whole didn't feel cohesive.
January 9, 2009
This book should go to another world and bother me NO MORE
May 27, 2018
I hadn’t picked up a Barbara Michaels book in a long time; mostly I’ve been adequately entertained by her alter ego, Elizabeth Peters, and the Amelia Peabody Emerson mysteries. I read most of Barbara Michaels’ Gothic romance novels when I was in high school. I wasn’t even aware that the author still published books under that pseudonym until I spotted
Other Worlds
in the bargain stacks. For three dollars, I didn’t have much to lose and brought the book home with me.
The Plot
The setting for Other Worlds is a private 19th century men’s club on a different plane than the earthly one. Various members of the Society for Psychical Research meet for two evenings of their favorite activity: formulating theories about the actual occurrences of the ghost story chosen as the topic for the evening. Some Society members are present on both evenings, but not all. Members bring in guests for the evening as well, to give new insights when members of the Society have tired of hearing each other’s pet theories applied to every case. Members include Harry Houdini, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and Andrew Lang, among others.
The First Evening: Harry Houdini presents that evening’s case about the Bell Witch. Allegedly a poltergeist invaded the home of John Bell and his family in early 19th century Tennessee and stayed for six years. The haunting started innocently enough with rapping and scratching noises, progressed to small physical acts such as pulling hair and pinching, and eventually spoke to the Bell family and their friends.
At the end of Houdini’s presentation, each gentleman presents his thoughts and hypothesis regarding the case and they debate a little longer and retire for the evening. The special guest that evening is a police inspector of great renown.
The Second Evening: The special guest presents that evening’s case, in the form of a fictionalized account of the haunting of the Phelps family in Stratford, Connecticut, in 1850. The newly married Reverend and Mrs. Phelps move into a large house in Stratford, from Philadelphia, with Mrs. Phelps four children, ages 16 to preschool, from her first marriage. The haunting began that spring with objects moving from the room where they’d been put to objects flying across the room. The ghost made up tableaux of stuffed figures as well as rearranged the furniture, left incomprehensible notes and ultimately tried to strangle one of the children.
At the end of the guest’s presentation, she gives her viewpoint first and exits, abruptly ending the session.
Elements of Style
Other Worlds is completely unlike any other book by Michaels/Peters that I’ve read so far, definitely a departure from her usual styles. After the first evening’s presentation, each member of the Society gives his point of view, contained in its own chapter. I expected the same set up after the second evening’s presentation of the case, particularly because some of the members of the Society had not come on the previous evening. I felt cheated that Michaels did not present several different theories about the origins of the Phelps ghost, merely gave the guest’s point of view, canny though it was. The brusque nature of the ending really annoyed me because Michaels could have used the members’ theories to build up to her climax with the guest’s theory about the case. Or maybe she was just tired of this book, didn’t feel up to developing theories for each person present, and took the easy out.
Otherwise, I did like the method of designating a chapter to each member or guest’s theory, much in the manner that different critiques of literary texts are arranged together in some critical textbooks. Michaels’ handling of several differing viewpoints and debate between the characters required skill and detailed research (some of the characters were real people, others I’m not sure about).
The narratives of the two ghost stories flowed well, mostly in chronological order. Besides more theories, I would have like a few more ghost stories as well, though I have to admit, I finished this book in less than 24 hours because after my first session with it (at night), I had to finish the tome in broad daylight to allay an overactive imagination.
Overall
Other Worlds has an interesting premise, I just wish there was more of it for me to gnaw on. I do, reservedly, recommend this book, though not as heartily as I would recommend any other book by Barbara Michaels/Elizabeth Peters. If you find Other Worlds on sale for three bucks, it’s worth the money merely for the time it takes to read it, or check it out from the library, but don’t pay full price.
The Plot
The setting for Other Worlds is a private 19th century men’s club on a different plane than the earthly one. Various members of the Society for Psychical Research meet for two evenings of their favorite activity: formulating theories about the actual occurrences of the ghost story chosen as the topic for the evening. Some Society members are present on both evenings, but not all. Members bring in guests for the evening as well, to give new insights when members of the Society have tired of hearing each other’s pet theories applied to every case. Members include Harry Houdini, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and Andrew Lang, among others.
The First Evening: Harry Houdini presents that evening’s case about the Bell Witch. Allegedly a poltergeist invaded the home of John Bell and his family in early 19th century Tennessee and stayed for six years. The haunting started innocently enough with rapping and scratching noises, progressed to small physical acts such as pulling hair and pinching, and eventually spoke to the Bell family and their friends.
At the end of Houdini’s presentation, each gentleman presents his thoughts and hypothesis regarding the case and they debate a little longer and retire for the evening. The special guest that evening is a police inspector of great renown.
The Second Evening: The special guest presents that evening’s case, in the form of a fictionalized account of the haunting of the Phelps family in Stratford, Connecticut, in 1850. The newly married Reverend and Mrs. Phelps move into a large house in Stratford, from Philadelphia, with Mrs. Phelps four children, ages 16 to preschool, from her first marriage. The haunting began that spring with objects moving from the room where they’d been put to objects flying across the room. The ghost made up tableaux of stuffed figures as well as rearranged the furniture, left incomprehensible notes and ultimately tried to strangle one of the children.
At the end of the guest’s presentation, she gives her viewpoint first and exits, abruptly ending the session.
Elements of Style
Other Worlds is completely unlike any other book by Michaels/Peters that I’ve read so far, definitely a departure from her usual styles. After the first evening’s presentation, each member of the Society gives his point of view, contained in its own chapter. I expected the same set up after the second evening’s presentation of the case, particularly because some of the members of the Society had not come on the previous evening. I felt cheated that Michaels did not present several different theories about the origins of the Phelps ghost, merely gave the guest’s point of view, canny though it was. The brusque nature of the ending really annoyed me because Michaels could have used the members’ theories to build up to her climax with the guest’s theory about the case. Or maybe she was just tired of this book, didn’t feel up to developing theories for each person present, and took the easy out.
Otherwise, I did like the method of designating a chapter to each member or guest’s theory, much in the manner that different critiques of literary texts are arranged together in some critical textbooks. Michaels’ handling of several differing viewpoints and debate between the characters required skill and detailed research (some of the characters were real people, others I’m not sure about).
The narratives of the two ghost stories flowed well, mostly in chronological order. Besides more theories, I would have like a few more ghost stories as well, though I have to admit, I finished this book in less than 24 hours because after my first session with it (at night), I had to finish the tome in broad daylight to allay an overactive imagination.
Overall
Other Worlds has an interesting premise, I just wish there was more of it for me to gnaw on. I do, reservedly, recommend this book, though not as heartily as I would recommend any other book by Barbara Michaels/Elizabeth Peters. If you find Other Worlds on sale for three bucks, it’s worth the money merely for the time it takes to read it, or check it out from the library, but don’t pay full price.
September 8, 2017
Re-read on abridged audio. I liked this two-short-ghost-story tale more than the first time I read it, but it's still lacking. The Bell Witch and the Phelps case are interesting, the idea of famous detectives, skeptics, and psychical believers still has merit, but the book just doesn't work at all, with no real point to the discussion of the cases and no real resolution. The portrayal of the Phelps case through a first-person piece of fiction takes up too much time and is jarring compared to the third-person viewpoint in the other part of the book. There's a bit of Alfred Hitchcock compiled short stories here but there ought to have been more stories to make this more interesting. At the time, it felt like MPM was on a deadline and flung at her publisher two unfinished pieces that they made her link together, and I could be mistaken but I feel like it was the point she stopped focusing on the Michaels gothic and started going full tilt at the Peters Amelia Peabody series. I guess I could only excuse this mediocrity if she was fulfilling a contract...but mediocre Michaels is still miles ahead of top-form other authors.
April 8, 2018
This was an odd sort of book that I really am puzzled about. I usually love Barbara Michaels' works but this one left me cold. It felt like a throwaway, carelessly written or even unfinished without the author's usual panache. The premise sounded so promising--a club of famous "seekers" and intelligent men (and one woman later) who discuss and try to solve unsolvable mysteries. Although a bit derivative of Agatha Christie, it sounded good but failed to deliver. There were even a few careless anachronisms. If we are to believe that the story is set in the time of Conan Doyle, Houdini, et.al. then talking about television and houses "wired for electricity" certainly are out of place! I also was puzzled by the mysterious woman who shows up with the second mystery story. Are we to believe that it's Amelia Peabody? The only clues to her identity certainly make you imagine that: the whiskey and soda as a preferred drink and the fact that she describes her husband as having little if no patience. But, wait, doesn't' that break a nom de plume rule of some sort? Amusing though the speculation is, I was again, left with a limp opinion of this effort. Too bad.
August 24, 2021
Well, the title certainly sounds like it could be creepy and interesting and typical of a Barbara Michaels gothic thriller. The reality, unfortunately, is nothing like her usual tales. I'm sorry, but I found it dry and dull. I recognize the Bell Witch, so I don't expect a satisfying conclusion-- or indeed, anything from this retelling to be worth this slog... I just can't. Not right now. Maybe I'll pick it up again at a later date, but for now, it's a DNF! I stopped 15% of the way through. On to greener pastures!
(Incidentally, this is the second DNF I have for this author. With the other one, Smoke and Mirrors, I think I quit after the first page or two, because something annoyed me, I peeked at a few reviews, and I had my suspicions confirmed. Political plot? Heavy on the "Democrats are good, Republicans are evil"? Oh, good grief! No, thanks! Life's too short.)
(Incidentally, this is the second DNF I have for this author. With the other one, Smoke and Mirrors, I think I quit after the first page or two, because something annoyed me, I peeked at a few reviews, and I had my suspicions confirmed. Political plot? Heavy on the "Democrats are good, Republicans are evil"? Oh, good grief! No, thanks! Life's too short.)
May 16, 2024
I'm generally a fan of Barbara Michaels (another pen name is Elizabeth Peters) but this one was a bit weird. I really just skimmed the whole second half. Fortunately, it's not very long.
Essentially, she's writing as an observer of a group of aficionados of the occult who meet periodically to discuss stories of ghosts, etc. and get to the truth of things. FWIW the writing is very much of the time.
There are two stories, told on two consecutive evenings. One of the number relates the tale -- over multiple chapters, and then the succeeding 4 or 5 chapters is each attendee's opinion on the veracity and what really happened. But there's no way, really, to achieve any certainty so it was all left a bit up in the air. I initially gave it 3 stars, 'cause I did basically finish it, but, really it's probably not worth much more than 2 for me.
Essentially, she's writing as an observer of a group of aficionados of the occult who meet periodically to discuss stories of ghosts, etc. and get to the truth of things. FWIW the writing is very much of the time.
There are two stories, told on two consecutive evenings. One of the number relates the tale -- over multiple chapters, and then the succeeding 4 or 5 chapters is each attendee's opinion on the veracity and what really happened. But there's no way, really, to achieve any certainty so it was all left a bit up in the air. I initially gave it 3 stars, 'cause I did basically finish it, but, really it's probably not worth much more than 2 for me.
June 25, 2024
It’s a fun piece to read, but it was far less fanfic-trope than I was hoping for. (Arthur Conan Doyle and Houdini team up to solve mysteries! I am here for the Scooby Doo shenanigans!!) This book is more like old men trying to debunk ghost stories around the campfire. Not disappointing to read, but not the fun I was looking for. This book is quite a clever way for the author to have published a couple of incomplete ideas that she couldn’t quite work out into their own individual novels, though, and kudos for that.
The ghost stories themselves are fun enough, if you’re into that sort of thing. In fact, if you enjoy things like Buzzfeed Unsolved or Ghost Files, this may be right up your alley. The last couple of lines are my favorite; (paraphrasing) “we didn’t reach a definite conclusion, but wasn’t it a fun evening?” And honestly, that’s all I look for sometimes.
The ghost stories themselves are fun enough, if you’re into that sort of thing. In fact, if you enjoy things like Buzzfeed Unsolved or Ghost Files, this may be right up your alley. The last couple of lines are my favorite; (paraphrasing) “we didn’t reach a definite conclusion, but wasn’t it a fun evening?” And honestly, that’s all I look for sometimes.
November 18, 2025
I wanted to listen to this as I thought it would be a good spooky post Halloween read. It actually only had 2 tales in it. I enjoy Barbara Michaels normally. This was ok. However, it was not as good as expected as her characters first told the tales; then after each discussed what they believed really happened instead of paranormal events. That alone ruined the enjoyment of the ghost stories for me. Also, they told the tale of the Bell Witch & their were some inaccurate details there. I’m originally from TN & the version she told was quite a bit different from all the books I had read on it. Plus the biggest thing is that she got the county where the event originally occurred wrong. It supposedly happened in Adams County TN. I listened to the audiobook & the narrator was great as usual though. (This was a very difficult audiotape to find.)
May 28, 2020
I really enjoyed the two ghost stories (or whatever they were) told in this book. I didn't so much care for the talk of the people discussing how the "tricks" could have been done by the various people or children present. It is too difficult to analyze stories like that without being present to investigate and it also takes all the fun out of it for me. I just enjoy the creepy stories. It was interesting to think of all of those real people from history being together in a men's club type atmosphere to discuss their opinions but I think I would have been happier if that was left out and one more creepy story was added in it's place.
July 15, 2022
The actual stories - those of the "Bell Witch" and a Connecticut haunting - were great, thoroughly and enjoyably told.
However, the framework of the "Gentleman's Club" and the group of Doyle, Houdini, et al. was contrived.
The suggestions for solutions were mildly interesting but shallow.
Not sure if I was supposed to recognize the female author or not, but both she and the preacher at the end of the first story seemed like convenient escapes when Ms. Michaels didn't know how to end the tale.
Not up to par with her other works.
However, the framework of the "Gentleman's Club" and the group of Doyle, Houdini, et al. was contrived.
The suggestions for solutions were mildly interesting but shallow.
Not sure if I was supposed to recognize the female author or not, but both she and the preacher at the end of the first story seemed like convenient escapes when Ms. Michaels didn't know how to end the tale.
Not up to par with her other works.
April 4, 2018
I neither liked or disliked this book, hence the three stars. I did finish, but I just felt disinterested. Barbara Michaels has always been an author I've enjoyed -- I own several of her other books including Shattered Silk, which is one of my favorites. OTHER WORLDS just fell flat with me. Too much narrative and I failed to connect with the characters. It's a ghost story, like many of her other books and it's not a bad book. It just wasn't for me.
October 6, 2017
I like most of Barbara Michaels work. She writes beautifully, although her earlier works, like this one, tend to the gothic and melodramatic. This is more like two short stories put together, but they detail two famous cases of poltergeist activity, in the setting of a group of eminent Victorians analyzing the cases to try to come up with an explanation. Interesting, but not gripping.
July 12, 2024
I enjoyed the parts of the story where incidences of haunting or supernatural activity were happening, but I didn't really enjoy the parts where the characters supposedly telling the stories then sat around and analyzed the stories, trying to decide how they'd really happened. Overall, I'm not 100 percent sure what the author's purpose was, or what I was meant to take away from this.
January 30, 2022
This book is a fictional meeting between well known ghost enthusiasts and skeptics. They read a ghost story in great detail, then discuss. They do this for two stories. I found it a good recent once I realized what the book was and it's definitely worth at least one read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 8, 2022
I have enjoyed most of her books, but author Michaels really missed the mark on this. Stitches in Time, Patriot's Dream, Vanish With The Rose and Ammee Come Home are all very satisfying tales of the supernatural. Other Worlds is not. Good writing style, but I found it pretty boring.
July 6, 2023
Somewhat boring. The two tales are recounted by a group of well known and lesser known occult dabblers. Except for Doyle, I don’t feel like any of them had distinct personalities. We aren’t even given enough to know who the woman is.
The stories themselves weren’t told very well. The first was given a bit disjointedly, the second was a narrator who relied more on feeling than fact.
Of course there was the usual Barbara Michaels’ rant against husbands. She refused to believe that there were men who were actually kind to their wives (she only seems to believe that of her own creations). Of course she also makes it clear that she believed women of the past were passive unintelligent creatures.
The stories themselves weren’t told very well. The first was given a bit disjointedly, the second was a narrator who relied more on feeling than fact.
Of course there was the usual Barbara Michaels’ rant against husbands. She refused to believe that there were men who were actually kind to their wives (she only seems to believe that of her own creations). Of course she also makes it clear that she believed women of the past were passive unintelligent creatures.
July 16, 2024
The idea of four men getting together to go over spiritual scenarios was intriguing enough for me to read the book. The four men had very different points of view of two stories of poltergeist subjects, the Bell Witch and Reverend Phelps spirits. I wish the ending had a little more explanation.
May 17, 2018
Hmmm....not my most favorite of Barbara Michaels...a rather strange book....I still read it, but not one I will be keeping
March 12, 2019
I DNF'd it at 50%. What I read was interesting. I would actually would like to look more into more stories about The Bell Witch. But it didnt feel cohesive enough.
August 23, 2019
Great read if you like Barbara Michaels.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews