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House of Many Shadows
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 . . .
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1974
66 people are currently reading
988 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Michaels
95 books693 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 127 reviews
December 20, 2020
October is a good month for re-reading old favorites.
This story may be slightly old fashioned. Even I notice word and phrases that haven't been in use for some time... I first bought and read this novel in the beginning of the 1980's (!) when I wasn't much older than the heroine and in re-reading (again) I realize that the reason that this makes this a loved, favorite book is the same--Barbara Michaels had FUN writing this. I absolutely love her description of the house--actually feel like I am walking through the house and seeing everything as I read. Her characters are wonderful. I also love the bits and pieces of history and unusual look in the paranormal.
This story may be slightly old fashioned. Even I notice word and phrases that haven't been in use for some time... I first bought and read this novel in the beginning of the 1980's (!) when I wasn't much older than the heroine and in re-reading (again) I realize that the reason that this makes this a loved, favorite book is the same--Barbara Michaels had FUN writing this. I absolutely love her description of the house--actually feel like I am walking through the house and seeing everything as I read. Her characters are wonderful. I also love the bits and pieces of history and unusual look in the paranormal.
July 10, 2016
House of Many Shadows by Barbara Michaels is a 2006 Harper Touch publication.
I own a very nice set of Barbara Michaels novels, all set inside sleeves and prominently displayed on one of my bookshelves. However, as much as I loved this authors work back in the day, I could not remember reading this one.
However, I didn’t want to read my collector copy, afraid of damaging the book in some way, so I checked on my subscription service and found I was in luck! The book has been released in electronic format and is available across various services and online retailers.
I had thought to feature this book on my blog as part of my ‘Hidden Gems & Buried Treasures’ feature, but after reading it, maybe not.
This book was originally published way back in 1974 at the peak of the Gothic Paranormal mystery craze, and features a darker occult undertone, as well as bit of philosophy about time travel, for a lack of better term, which was at least thought provoking.
Meg is recovering from an accident which has left her suffering from disturbing hallucinations. When her cousin Sylvia offers Meg the use of an old mansion, one of her many homes, in exchange for doing some work on the place, Meg accepts. But, when she arrives, the caretaker, Andy, wastes no time getting on her bad side.
However, the two manage to find a way to co-exist, and end up working together to solve an old mystery.
First of all, the synopsis for the digital copy of this book is not the same as the one on the back of the old paperback version I own. This new ‘blurb’, is a little misleading, and the facts are inaccurate.
The relationship between Meg and Andy is tenuous at best, and Andy is far from considerate. In fact, his attitude was almost a deal breaker for me. Andy was so rude and the way he spoke to Meg was very disrespectful, which was a little puzzling due to Barbara's obvious feminist leanings.
The mystery is a little complex, very slow building, and isn’t all that interesting until the last quarter of the book. However, the theories presented did give me something to chew on.
While there are Gothic elements in this story, it isn’t as prominent as with some of her other paranormal novels. This one fails to highlight the author’s adept skill of creating a very creepy atmosphere that always had me chewing my nails. Although this is not, in my opinion, one of her best efforts, it still has its strong points, all of which concern the historic mystery Meg finds herself mired in.
Overall this one gets 3 stars
I own a very nice set of Barbara Michaels novels, all set inside sleeves and prominently displayed on one of my bookshelves. However, as much as I loved this authors work back in the day, I could not remember reading this one.
However, I didn’t want to read my collector copy, afraid of damaging the book in some way, so I checked on my subscription service and found I was in luck! The book has been released in electronic format and is available across various services and online retailers.
I had thought to feature this book on my blog as part of my ‘Hidden Gems & Buried Treasures’ feature, but after reading it, maybe not.
This book was originally published way back in 1974 at the peak of the Gothic Paranormal mystery craze, and features a darker occult undertone, as well as bit of philosophy about time travel, for a lack of better term, which was at least thought provoking.
Meg is recovering from an accident which has left her suffering from disturbing hallucinations. When her cousin Sylvia offers Meg the use of an old mansion, one of her many homes, in exchange for doing some work on the place, Meg accepts. But, when she arrives, the caretaker, Andy, wastes no time getting on her bad side.
However, the two manage to find a way to co-exist, and end up working together to solve an old mystery.
First of all, the synopsis for the digital copy of this book is not the same as the one on the back of the old paperback version I own. This new ‘blurb’, is a little misleading, and the facts are inaccurate.
The relationship between Meg and Andy is tenuous at best, and Andy is far from considerate. In fact, his attitude was almost a deal breaker for me. Andy was so rude and the way he spoke to Meg was very disrespectful, which was a little puzzling due to Barbara's obvious feminist leanings.
The mystery is a little complex, very slow building, and isn’t all that interesting until the last quarter of the book. However, the theories presented did give me something to chew on.
While there are Gothic elements in this story, it isn’t as prominent as with some of her other paranormal novels. This one fails to highlight the author’s adept skill of creating a very creepy atmosphere that always had me chewing my nails. Although this is not, in my opinion, one of her best efforts, it still has its strong points, all of which concern the historic mystery Meg finds herself mired in.
Overall this one gets 3 stars
March 29, 2015
A re-read
This is one of those books that is good, but not great, and then it warms up to you more at the end.
Barbara Michaels had an enthusiasm for old houses that shows clearly in almost all her gothic works, of which there were many. She also has a fondness for antiques. I noticed that in Agatha Christie's biography, she also loved houses, antiques, and traveling - which Barbara Michaels did as well under her real name, Barbara Mertz. (She had a PhD in Egyptology.) It's telling that antiques, old houses, and the cultural history of places is fascinating, each having countless stories and mysteries of their own waiting to be told.
House of Many Shadows has a slower pace because the mystery can only unravel slowly. The location isn't as interesting since, because of illness, finances, and plot, the two mains are almost exclusively isolated in one location (the house.) They go into town for research, but it's a small town and only feeds into the story of "THE HOUSE."
Meg has been offered a reprieve for six months by her unusual aunt Sylvia - to go to the country, the house, and stay there for six months. There they hope she will recover from a head injury that has been giving her visual and auditory hallucinations. On the property, a caretaker is also recovering from his own illness, finding solitude to be a balm in recovery.
There is no way a reader can guess the complex outcome of this one. Clues are too ambiguous, yet they are not teased. They drift down slow, steady, but they seem simple on the surface. In the end how it all ties together is actually layered. This gothic delivers the punches with the paranormal, but avoids cliches in doing so. When it seems like it is too simple, the next few chapters shows there is much to be discovered and the characters are back to square one.
The ending and the girl's face in the last vision a little haunting - I think I'll remember that shocked glance for awhile. This is only fitting since the characters have been slowly haunted (but not in classic methods) for the entire book.
Flimsy on the 'pure gothic angle', but rich with mystery and history. As a side bonus, I'm curious about embroidery now!
This is one of those books that is good, but not great, and then it warms up to you more at the end.
Barbara Michaels had an enthusiasm for old houses that shows clearly in almost all her gothic works, of which there were many. She also has a fondness for antiques. I noticed that in Agatha Christie's biography, she also loved houses, antiques, and traveling - which Barbara Michaels did as well under her real name, Barbara Mertz. (She had a PhD in Egyptology.) It's telling that antiques, old houses, and the cultural history of places is fascinating, each having countless stories and mysteries of their own waiting to be told.
House of Many Shadows has a slower pace because the mystery can only unravel slowly. The location isn't as interesting since, because of illness, finances, and plot, the two mains are almost exclusively isolated in one location (the house.) They go into town for research, but it's a small town and only feeds into the story of "THE HOUSE."
Meg has been offered a reprieve for six months by her unusual aunt Sylvia - to go to the country, the house, and stay there for six months. There they hope she will recover from a head injury that has been giving her visual and auditory hallucinations. On the property, a caretaker is also recovering from his own illness, finding solitude to be a balm in recovery.
There is no way a reader can guess the complex outcome of this one. Clues are too ambiguous, yet they are not teased. They drift down slow, steady, but they seem simple on the surface. In the end how it all ties together is actually layered. This gothic delivers the punches with the paranormal, but avoids cliches in doing so. When it seems like it is too simple, the next few chapters shows there is much to be discovered and the characters are back to square one.
The ending and the girl's face in the last vision a little haunting - I think I'll remember that shocked glance for awhile. This is only fitting since the characters have been slowly haunted (but not in classic methods) for the entire book.
Flimsy on the 'pure gothic angle', but rich with mystery and history. As a side bonus, I'm curious about embroidery now!
October 9, 2011
After reading some great books written by Michaels this is my second time being disappointed and I think I will require a lengthy break from her novels after this one. The book has some nice parts, that saves it form being a one star in my opinion, such as the descriptions of the house and the characters, I enjoyed reading about Meg and Andy's relationship, it was cozy to see two people spend so much time alone and try to solve the mystery of their cousin's haunted house in which they lived in, but come on, about eighty five percent of this book was them having conversations, it got so redundant that I was speed reading the last hundred pages to avoid growing gray hairs.
Barbara Michaels books fall in two categories, either some jealous person is trying to drive the main heroine crazy or there are real ghosts, this one falls into one of those categories as expected, and the mystery wasn't as interesting as I wish, too old fashioned and historical for my liking, it was hard to follow Meg's ideas about people who's lives she was trying to map out yet she never heard of them before. Meg used to have hallucinations and issues with her health, those strangely disappeared and what do you know, the moment she moved into Sylvia's house it became haunted, impeccable timing or easy way out for the writer to spin the lame ghost story?
I don't even know what else to say other than it wasn't scary at all, those who read it and shook with fear - are you for real? I am trying to recall one frightening moment, other than my eyes closing form boredom; it is frightfully boring - that I can attest to. I think this book needed more flesh and blood characters to make it interesting, it's hard to suspect anyone since there are only two people present in most of the chapters...
I would recommend other books by Michaels that are enjoyable but not this one. Few that I really liked are "Master of Blacktower", "The Walker in shadows", "Wait for what will come" and "Be buried in the rain". Those had some nice mix of characters and some light romance to make it interesting, evil old relatives and villains, and they were light on all the Civil War ghosts that Michaels loves to recycle, she seriously needs to stay far, far away from those...
Barbara Michaels books fall in two categories, either some jealous person is trying to drive the main heroine crazy or there are real ghosts, this one falls into one of those categories as expected, and the mystery wasn't as interesting as I wish, too old fashioned and historical for my liking, it was hard to follow Meg's ideas about people who's lives she was trying to map out yet she never heard of them before. Meg used to have hallucinations and issues with her health, those strangely disappeared and what do you know, the moment she moved into Sylvia's house it became haunted, impeccable timing or easy way out for the writer to spin the lame ghost story?
I don't even know what else to say other than it wasn't scary at all, those who read it and shook with fear - are you for real? I am trying to recall one frightening moment, other than my eyes closing form boredom; it is frightfully boring - that I can attest to. I think this book needed more flesh and blood characters to make it interesting, it's hard to suspect anyone since there are only two people present in most of the chapters...
I would recommend other books by Michaels that are enjoyable but not this one. Few that I really liked are "Master of Blacktower", "The Walker in shadows", "Wait for what will come" and "Be buried in the rain". Those had some nice mix of characters and some light romance to make it interesting, evil old relatives and villains, and they were light on all the Civil War ghosts that Michaels loves to recycle, she seriously needs to stay far, far away from those...
March 14, 2017
In House of Many Shadows, Meg Rittenhouse is having hallucinations after being hit by a car. Her doctor had told her to expect this and that they'll eventually wear off. But after seeing an elephant strolling down a busy street in New York, Meg has decided to find somewhere more relaxing to live. So, she calls up her rich cousin, Sylvia, for help. Sylvia agrees that Meg needs help and offers to let her stay at the large Victorian house she owns in the country. But the house has a twisted history and suddenly Meg is having joint hallucinations with Sylvia's step-son, Andy, about a family that lived on the grounds before the current house was even built.
Meg and Andy join together to discover who the people are in their visions and why there are shadows lurking around the house at night. As their research starts going deeper into what happened to the family who previously lived on the property, the hallucinations start becoming more real and revealing. The great thing about this book is that both Meg and Andy have had some issues that keeps you guessing if what they're seeing is really paranormal or if they're just feeding off of each other.
I liked that the mystery of the visions isn't the only thing that keeps the story moving. There’s Meg’s cataloging of the ancient furniture in the attic, which was oddly interesting to read about. There’s also Meg and Andy having to deal with their mutual frustration towards Sylvia, who isn't exactly known for having a very warm personality. Then there's the past tenant of the house, a cracked out painter, who is harassing Meg because he blames her for his being evicted.
Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys a good mystery or ghost story.
Meg and Andy join together to discover who the people are in their visions and why there are shadows lurking around the house at night. As their research starts going deeper into what happened to the family who previously lived on the property, the hallucinations start becoming more real and revealing. The great thing about this book is that both Meg and Andy have had some issues that keeps you guessing if what they're seeing is really paranormal or if they're just feeding off of each other.
I liked that the mystery of the visions isn't the only thing that keeps the story moving. There’s Meg’s cataloging of the ancient furniture in the attic, which was oddly interesting to read about. There’s also Meg and Andy having to deal with their mutual frustration towards Sylvia, who isn't exactly known for having a very warm personality. Then there's the past tenant of the house, a cracked out painter, who is harassing Meg because he blames her for his being evicted.
Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys a good mystery or ghost story.
November 18, 2024
Barbara Michaels (Barbara Mertz) was one of my favorite authors. I grew up reading her mysteries as both Michaels and Elizabeth Peters. She recently passed away and that has moved me to update my Michaels shelf to my Nook and re-read some old favorites. Mertz was a master of the romantic suspense genre and as Michaels she often added a supernatural flair. Reading this was like spending time with an old friend. And, I am not ashamed to say I did need to turn on the nightlight after reading it. I will be revisiting her writing as Elizabeth Peters soon. I like Amelia Peabody, but I love the Vicki Bliss books. Sir John Smythe has ruined me for all men; wickedly witty, just a bit dangerous and can quote John Donne while making love! Sigh!
April 30, 2011
This was one of my absolute favorite books when I was a teenager, and one of the only books that I've read over and over again. My mom used to go to used bookstores and buy me gothics (my favorite genre when I was a teen), and she picked this one up for me. This book, along with Watch the Wall My Darling by Jane Aiken Hodge were the two most read books in my personal library. And this book actually got me into needlepoint!
Want to read
March 7, 2013
October 24, 2025
When a car crash leaves Meg Rittenhouse suffering from strange hallucinations, an invitation to recuperate at her elderly relative's crumbling mansion in the Pennsylvania hills seems like the answer to her prayers. But she couldn't be more wrong. There, in a remote old house miles from anywhere, the terrible sights and sounds become 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.
I have read, at least once, everything that this author has ever written as Barbara Michaels, but it's been a l-o-n-g time, at least since the early 70's since I read this one. A trip down Memory Lane is long overdue.
Meg Rittenhouse is a young woman who was injured in a recent accident and has been experiencing hallucinations. Her doctor said her "mind was playing tricks on her". Sylvia, A wealthy relative offers to let Meg move into one of many houses that she owns to recuperate. What Sylvia calls a "house" is a large mansion in Pennsylvania, that comes with a caretaker, Andy Brenner, whose family had once owned the house. Meg soon discovers that Andy has his own "issues", and she suspects her cousin is allowing him to stay to also recover. A romance begins to blossom, and they discover that the hallucinations that are starting up again, are shared. Meg is more than relieved to learn that they are not just further evidence of her mental health but she unsure how to deal with the fact that she can no longer ignore...that the house might be haunted.
Meg and Andy work together to dig into the history of the house and soon discover who in the "netherworld" is trying to get their attention and why. They also find themselves becoming the target of the previous renter; a dangerous artist who is also an alcoholic that starts to harass them. The house is full of antiques, and the former tenant had made previous attempts to steal them, and he plans to try again. He and his wife are dangerous, and Meg and Andy are never entirely sure if the ghost activity is real or if the former renter is trying to scare them away.
Like I have found all of Barbara Michael's gothic mystery books, this one proved to be an enjoyable read. Anyone who likes cozy mysteries with a little paranormal activity will love her gothics. Andy, for all his gruff, turned out to be a little bit of a coward. Meg was the tough one...a strong woman, even if she was seeing things that weren’t there.... or were they?
There were, what felt like a few loose ends concerning the characters that made the story seem a little like the book wasn’t quite done. Barbara Michaels started me on my "ghost hunting" venture in books, so I was happy to pay an "old friend" a revisit. This was just as good as I had remembered the first time I read it. It's a dark spooky mystery that will produce the "required number of goosebumps" that a ghost story fanatic requires:) I would highly recommend this one or any of Barbara Michaels books for that matter. I'm not crazy about her series that takes place, I believe in Egypt with the archologist, but I sure some of you would like it. It's not "ghosty"...so, no goosebumps required:)
I have read, at least once, everything that this author has ever written as Barbara Michaels, but it's been a l-o-n-g time, at least since the early 70's since I read this one. A trip down Memory Lane is long overdue.
Meg Rittenhouse is a young woman who was injured in a recent accident and has been experiencing hallucinations. Her doctor said her "mind was playing tricks on her". Sylvia, A wealthy relative offers to let Meg move into one of many houses that she owns to recuperate. What Sylvia calls a "house" is a large mansion in Pennsylvania, that comes with a caretaker, Andy Brenner, whose family had once owned the house. Meg soon discovers that Andy has his own "issues", and she suspects her cousin is allowing him to stay to also recover. A romance begins to blossom, and they discover that the hallucinations that are starting up again, are shared. Meg is more than relieved to learn that they are not just further evidence of her mental health but she unsure how to deal with the fact that she can no longer ignore...that the house might be haunted.
Meg and Andy work together to dig into the history of the house and soon discover who in the "netherworld" is trying to get their attention and why. They also find themselves becoming the target of the previous renter; a dangerous artist who is also an alcoholic that starts to harass them. The house is full of antiques, and the former tenant had made previous attempts to steal them, and he plans to try again. He and his wife are dangerous, and Meg and Andy are never entirely sure if the ghost activity is real or if the former renter is trying to scare them away.
Like I have found all of Barbara Michael's gothic mystery books, this one proved to be an enjoyable read. Anyone who likes cozy mysteries with a little paranormal activity will love her gothics. Andy, for all his gruff, turned out to be a little bit of a coward. Meg was the tough one...a strong woman, even if she was seeing things that weren’t there.... or were they?
There were, what felt like a few loose ends concerning the characters that made the story seem a little like the book wasn’t quite done. Barbara Michaels started me on my "ghost hunting" venture in books, so I was happy to pay an "old friend" a revisit. This was just as good as I had remembered the first time I read it. It's a dark spooky mystery that will produce the "required number of goosebumps" that a ghost story fanatic requires:) I would highly recommend this one or any of Barbara Michaels books for that matter. I'm not crazy about her series that takes place, I believe in Egypt with the archologist, but I sure some of you would like it. It's not "ghosty"...so, no goosebumps required:)
October 18, 2021
I didn't care for this book. It started out ok but once the female lead came in contact with the male lead, it went downhill. They were both ridiculous, especially the man. The amount of times he says he wish he could hit her and the times he was unjustly rude to her was obnoxious. I realize this book was written in the 70s but it was a woman author who I thought should know better even back then. A man even threatening violence against a woman is not romantic or charming. After the umpteenth time he was rude, I zoned out of the story. It was a boring mystery anyway. I expected way more from a Barbara Michaels book.
September 9, 2017
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
This book was hard for me to rate. I was really enjoying it right up until the end. I was SO let down by the ending.
Meg is recuperating at her cousin Sylvia's house-she'd had a head injury from a crash that left her seeing hallucinations. Also on hand is the caretaker, Andy, who is also Sylvia's stepson and a childhood nemesis of Meg's.
Meg has a hallucination while at the house, and and is dismayed until Andy states he can see it, too. The two then begin a quest to discover who the people in the visions are, and just what exactly happened to them.
There was all this great buildup as to what happened in the past to the people who Andy and Meg were seeing in their visions, and then it was just rushed through and explained away in a way that I felt was most unsatisfying.
I also didn't buy into the relationship between Meg and Andy. I could see a friendship by the end, but not them being in love with each other. I'd have also liked to have seen more insight into Andy's past.
All in all, though, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was more than a three star read for me, but the ending kept me from allowing it the full four stars I'd been planning before then.
This book was hard for me to rate. I was really enjoying it right up until the end. I was SO let down by the ending.
Meg is recuperating at her cousin Sylvia's house-she'd had a head injury from a crash that left her seeing hallucinations. Also on hand is the caretaker, Andy, who is also Sylvia's stepson and a childhood nemesis of Meg's.
Meg has a hallucination while at the house, and and is dismayed until Andy states he can see it, too. The two then begin a quest to discover who the people in the visions are, and just what exactly happened to them.
There was all this great buildup as to what happened in the past to the people who Andy and Meg were seeing in their visions, and then it was just rushed through and explained away in a way that I felt was most unsatisfying.
I also didn't buy into the relationship between Meg and Andy. I could see a friendship by the end, but not them being in love with each other. I'd have also liked to have seen more insight into Andy's past.
All in all, though, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was more than a three star read for me, but the ending kept me from allowing it the full four stars I'd been planning before then.
August 8, 2018
Well, I see that I previously rated this book three stars (based on my memory from the first time I read it many years ago). I will leave that three star rating intact, as obviously I enjoyed this book at one time, but I just tried to reread it and had to DNF at page 103.
This is not Michaels at her best. Like her other books, it suffers from too much discussion of the paranormal events...for every brief ghostly sighting, there seems to be pages of talk. At least in some of her other books, such as Ammie, Come Home, there are some genuinely creepy scenes in between all the yakkity yak. In this book, at least up to the point I called it quits, there was nothing even remotely scary. Mostly, the story seems to revolve around antiques. Maybe she should have called it House of Really Old Furniture. *Sigh.*
Honestly, I don't think it's the book's fault, but rather, that my tastes have changed.
This is not Michaels at her best. Like her other books, it suffers from too much discussion of the paranormal events...for every brief ghostly sighting, there seems to be pages of talk. At least in some of her other books, such as Ammie, Come Home, there are some genuinely creepy scenes in between all the yakkity yak. In this book, at least up to the point I called it quits, there was nothing even remotely scary. Mostly, the story seems to revolve around antiques. Maybe she should have called it House of Really Old Furniture. *Sigh.*
Honestly, I don't think it's the book's fault, but rather, that my tastes have changed.
May 6, 2024
The book started out well enough to my liking. Meg and Andy were trying to restore an old, huge house with an attic filled with antique furniture. They found mysteries, visions of rooms, and negative feelings at every turn, both outside and inside the house. Yet they seemed to be developing a beautiful relationship with each other.
As the book nears the halfway point, too many relatives of Andy's and other people of the past are brought into the story in odd ways. For me it made the story difficult to follow and confusing.
Many parts of the book were boring. It's ok to say they had lunch, she did embroidery, and he looked over research papers. The author went on and on describing what was eaten, colors of her embroidery, and every research fact uncovered. All that detail wasn't necessary.
The only bright spot in the book was that it certainly seemed like Meg and Andy agreed that they loved each other, and that marriage was in their future.
Getting toward the end of the book, there wasn't a concrete solution to many of the situations, even once the reader reached the last page. The mysteries were only partly solved, causing the reader to be disappointed.
True to the title, I feel this book ended in shadows.
As the book nears the halfway point, too many relatives of Andy's and other people of the past are brought into the story in odd ways. For me it made the story difficult to follow and confusing.
Many parts of the book were boring. It's ok to say they had lunch, she did embroidery, and he looked over research papers. The author went on and on describing what was eaten, colors of her embroidery, and every research fact uncovered. All that detail wasn't necessary.
The only bright spot in the book was that it certainly seemed like Meg and Andy agreed that they loved each other, and that marriage was in their future.
Getting toward the end of the book, there wasn't a concrete solution to many of the situations, even once the reader reached the last page. The mysteries were only partly solved, causing the reader to be disappointed.
True to the title, I feel this book ended in shadows.
August 21, 2021
This book was... a bit strange. The plot really didn't get going until the last 75%, and before that there were pages and pages of discussion about antiques and Pennsylvania history, as well as pages and pages of conversations between the main characters that seemed to go nowhere. I didn't really feel the romance - the main characters felt more like a cantankerous pair of old friends than a couple, and seemed to get together only because the rest of the town was gossiping about it! The book was published in 1974, and the story does show its age technology-wise and in the discussions about the occult and pseudo-scientific/psychology topics. The ending was especially weird - In the end, I'm still not sure what to think.
March 4, 2021
It took a while to get into this book because the characters are not ones I recognize or can identify with, and the circumstances are somewhat bizarre. I did enjoy the house and getting to know Andy and Meg eventually. The history was great, too. I visited in Pennsylvania Dutch country long ago, and remember the open-air market I attended with a friend as being a remarkable experience, so many of the descriptions of furniture and symbols did resonate as did some of the history described. They were perhaps my favorite parts of the book.
Read
January 18, 2018Nice to revisit Barbara Michaels after many years. This is a typical work: ghostly goings-on in a big, spooky house and an additional touch of romance (which felt a bit perfunctory, especially since there seemed to be little mutual attraction or even liking between the MC and the love interest, and they spent most of the book sniping at each other).
January 13, 2020
I enjoyed this book very much. The main characters are - well, normal doesn't seem to be exactly the right word, but they are believable. It's a ghost story with a bit of time travel involved, and a threatening character haunts the pages as well.
January 15, 2023
One of the weaker Michael's books. If it weren't a book club read I would not have kept reading it.
March 16, 2025
Sheer brilliance! I have always loved Barbara Michaels's writing. She is brilliant at building the perfect atmosphere for a horror mystery. I devoured this one, just like all of her books, and enjoyed every morsel!
December 22, 2008
With House of Many Shadows, I jump pretty far back along Barbara Michaels' bibliography, from the mid-90's back to the mid-70's. Despite this being one of her older novels, it's actually not terribly dated; it helps that the setting is in the obligatory Creepy Old House in the Country, and that there are exactly two technology references that really date the book (a tape recorder and a dictaphone). Reading it, then, is a pleasantly timeless experience.
Meg Rittenhouse is suffering from hallucinations thanks to an accident, and so she's sent by a rich relation off to a quiet house in the country to recover. Ever so conveniently, the house is under the care of Andy Brenner, who used to antagonize the hell out of Meg when they were children--indicating to the wise reader, of course, that they were destined for True Love with the very first crabapple he ever threw at her. Not that Michaels makes it an easy road for them to follow, though. Meg's got her hallucinations, Andy's got his own emotional problems, and the frequently caustic chemistry between them is a nice change of pace from simple attraction. The creepiness du jour is suitably creepy, and although the subplot of a couple of shady characters who got displaced out of the country house by Meg's arrival never provides any real sense of menace, there's a good showdown to resolve it at the end. All in all, fun. Three and a half stars.
Meg Rittenhouse is suffering from hallucinations thanks to an accident, and so she's sent by a rich relation off to a quiet house in the country to recover. Ever so conveniently, the house is under the care of Andy Brenner, who used to antagonize the hell out of Meg when they were children--indicating to the wise reader, of course, that they were destined for True Love with the very first crabapple he ever threw at her. Not that Michaels makes it an easy road for them to follow, though. Meg's got her hallucinations, Andy's got his own emotional problems, and the frequently caustic chemistry between them is a nice change of pace from simple attraction. The creepiness du jour is suitably creepy, and although the subplot of a couple of shady characters who got displaced out of the country house by Meg's arrival never provides any real sense of menace, there's a good showdown to resolve it at the end. All in all, fun. Three and a half stars.
August 2, 2016
Rating 3.5
Another Barbara Michaels used bookstore find, I finished this one on an airplane. Not the best I've read of hers,but I did like it. Definitely picks up speed in the last half, and the resolution of the mystery is very satisfying.
Meg is housesitting in her friend Sylvia's gothic mansion while she recovers from a car accident which has given her hallucinations. It doesn't take long before she has what she thinks is another hallucination in this house, until she realizes Andy, the caretaker, is seeing it too. This begins a mystery of who is haunting the house, and why.
Meg and Andy have fought since they were children, but now have to work through their differences in order to solve the mystery.
The book was written in the early 70's, if I remember correctly, and at times it feels like it. Especially when it comes to Meg and Andy's relationship. It's as if Michaels is trying to figure out how feminism will work in a "present-day" novel. Andy's personality is a bit jarring, and he can be downright rude. However, he did manage to grow on me by the end.
While I didn't love their relationship, I did love how the mystery unfolded, and the resolution was not obvious. I usually can figure it out ahead of time in these novels, and I wasn't able to this time. I liked the second half much better than the first half.
Another Barbara Michaels used bookstore find, I finished this one on an airplane. Not the best I've read of hers,but I did like it. Definitely picks up speed in the last half, and the resolution of the mystery is very satisfying.
Meg is housesitting in her friend Sylvia's gothic mansion while she recovers from a car accident which has given her hallucinations. It doesn't take long before she has what she thinks is another hallucination in this house, until she realizes Andy, the caretaker, is seeing it too. This begins a mystery of who is haunting the house, and why.
Meg and Andy have fought since they were children, but now have to work through their differences in order to solve the mystery.
The book was written in the early 70's, if I remember correctly, and at times it feels like it. Especially when it comes to Meg and Andy's relationship. It's as if Michaels is trying to figure out how feminism will work in a "present-day" novel. Andy's personality is a bit jarring, and he can be downright rude. However, he did manage to grow on me by the end.
While I didn't love their relationship, I did love how the mystery unfolded, and the resolution was not obvious. I usually can figure it out ahead of time in these novels, and I wasn't able to this time. I liked the second half much better than the first half.
January 5, 2008
You know what? I love mysteries, and I don't mean high literary ones. For my money, it is tough to beat Barbara Michaels. With a Ph.D. in Egyptology, her work is unique, and it is chock full of philosophy as well as wonderfully round characters. I liked the atmosphere and main characters in this novel very much.
March 13, 2014
Now I remember why I read every single Barbara Michaels book I could find in the high school and public library... This is really good, entertaining stuff! Who doesn't love a romance with some mystery and a nice, creepy haunting!? I'm very glad I decided to revisit this author. Her books are a lot of fun!
June 13, 2021
Fun gothic-y read!
Full review: http://iwishilivedinalibrary.blogspot...
Full review: http://iwishilivedinalibrary.blogspot...
December 26, 2013
Good ghost story, mixing modern day (well, 1974) characters and times with ghostly characters from the 1740s.
October 3, 2025
When a car crash leaves Meg Rittenhouse suffering from strange hallucinations, an invitation to recuperate at her elderly relative's crumbling mansion in the Pennsylvania hills seems like the answer to her prayers. But she couldn't be more wrong. There, in a remote old house miles from anywhere, the terrible sights and sounds become 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.
I have read, at least once, everything that this author has ever written as Barbara Michaels, but it's been a l-o-n-g time, at least since the early 70's since I read this one. A trip down Memory Lane is long overdue.
Meg Rittenhouse is a young woman who was injured in a recent accident and has been experiencing hallucinations. Her doctor said her "mind was playing tricks on her". Sylvia, A wealthy relative offers to let Meg move into one of many houses that she owns to recuperate. What Sylvia calls a "house" is a large mansion in Pennsylvania, that comes with a caretaker, Andy Brenner, whose family had once owned the house. Meg soon discovers that Andy has his own "issues", and she suspects her cousin is allowing him to stay to also recover. A romance begins to blossom, and they discover that the hallucinations that are starting up again, are shared. Meg is more than relieved to learn that they are not just further evidence of her mental health but she unsure how to deal with the fact that she can no longer ignore...that the house might be haunted.
Meg and Andy work together to dig into the history of the house and soon discover who in the "netherworld" is trying to get their attention and why. They also find themselves becoming the target of the previous renter; a dangerous artist who is also an alcoholic that starts to harass them. The house is full of antiques, and the former tenant had made previous attempts to steal them, and he plans to try again. He and his wife are dangerous, and Meg and Andy are never entirely sure if the ghost activity is real or if the former renter is trying to scare them away.
Like I have found all of Barbara Michael's gothic mystery books, this one proved to be an enjoyable read. Anyone who likes cozy mysteries with a little paranormal activity will love her gothics. Andy, for all his gruff, turned out to be a little bit of a coward. Meg was the tough one...a strong woman, even if she was seeing things that weren’t there.... or were they?
There were, what felt like a few loose ends concerning the characters that made the story seem a little like the book wasn’t quite done. Barbara Michaels started me on my "ghost hunting" venture in books, so I was happy to pay an "old friend" a revisit. This was just as good as I had remembered the first time I read it. It's a dark spooky mystery that will produce the "required number of goosebumps" that a ghost story fanatic requires:) I would highly recommend this one or any of Barbara Michaels books for that matter. I'm not crazy about her series that takes place, I believe in Egypt with the archologist, but I sure some of you would like it. It's not "ghosty"...so, no goosebumps required:)
I have read, at least once, everything that this author has ever written as Barbara Michaels, but it's been a l-o-n-g time, at least since the early 70's since I read this one. A trip down Memory Lane is long overdue.
Meg Rittenhouse is a young woman who was injured in a recent accident and has been experiencing hallucinations. Her doctor said her "mind was playing tricks on her". Sylvia, A wealthy relative offers to let Meg move into one of many houses that she owns to recuperate. What Sylvia calls a "house" is a large mansion in Pennsylvania, that comes with a caretaker, Andy Brenner, whose family had once owned the house. Meg soon discovers that Andy has his own "issues", and she suspects her cousin is allowing him to stay to also recover. A romance begins to blossom, and they discover that the hallucinations that are starting up again, are shared. Meg is more than relieved to learn that they are not just further evidence of her mental health but she unsure how to deal with the fact that she can no longer ignore...that the house might be haunted.
Meg and Andy work together to dig into the history of the house and soon discover who in the "netherworld" is trying to get their attention and why. They also find themselves becoming the target of the previous renter; a dangerous artist who is also an alcoholic that starts to harass them. The house is full of antiques, and the former tenant had made previous attempts to steal them, and he plans to try again. He and his wife are dangerous, and Meg and Andy are never entirely sure if the ghost activity is real or if the former renter is trying to scare them away.
Like I have found all of Barbara Michael's gothic mystery books, this one proved to be an enjoyable read. Anyone who likes cozy mysteries with a little paranormal activity will love her gothics. Andy, for all his gruff, turned out to be a little bit of a coward. Meg was the tough one...a strong woman, even if she was seeing things that weren’t there.... or were they?
There were, what felt like a few loose ends concerning the characters that made the story seem a little like the book wasn’t quite done. Barbara Michaels started me on my "ghost hunting" venture in books, so I was happy to pay an "old friend" a revisit. This was just as good as I had remembered the first time I read it. It's a dark spooky mystery that will produce the "required number of goosebumps" that a ghost story fanatic requires:) I would highly recommend this one or any of Barbara Michaels books for that matter. I'm not crazy about her series that takes place, I believe in Egypt with the archologist, but I sure some of you would like it. It's not "ghosty"...so, no goosebumps required:)
April 25, 2016
First off, that blurb isn't entirely accurate. Andy is "kind" and "considerate"? Those aren't the first words I would've chosen to describe him, but ok... Also, Meg isn't staying with her cousin-- and there are no black shapes dancing in the shadows. But other than that, great job, blurb-writer!
I've lost track of how many of Barbara Michaels' gothic/paranormal novels I've read. Quite a few, at this point. I have a love-hate relationship with this author. There's almost always something to complain about (irritatingly militant feminism, for instance), but on the whole, I enjoy her work and can rely on it to whisk me away from reality. They're usually comforting and cozy, with what I consider to be fairly mild elements of suspense. Is there such a thing as "gentle horror"? That's about the extent of anything I've come across in her books, so far. Maybe there's a handful of slightly creepy moments, but nothing to make me worry about things that go bump in the night.
This particular novel is typical of the author, which means that I found it entertaining. Not her best, but also not her worst-- though I think I say that about most of her books, and I'm not exactly sure what is the best of her work...
The cast of characters is fairly limited, but I think that might be in its favor, since it necessitates more interaction between what characters there are. The romance element could've done with a little beefing up (as is usually the case), but it's pleasantly there in the background. The spooky mystery is... of acceptable quality. There were no stunning, unbelievably amazing developments that I can recall, but it kept me interested, and there are a few genuinely eerie moments.
All told, a decent "cozy gothic/paranormal", if that's not a contradiction in terms.
Specifics (with SPOILERS):
--I could tell that this was one of the author's older novels, though I wasn't sure how old. (It was published in the mid-70s.) Though there are only a couple of mentions of out-dated technology (a tape recorder, for example), it just has a "vintage" feeling. The types of antiques that are popular... The distaste for the Victorians... The (mercifully brief) sermon on Betty Friedan and the plight of the housewife... However, I think what dated the book the most was the slang used by the druggie guy, who tells her he can't "split" until he gets some "bread".
--"Good Lord, you can buy a gun in this country as easily as you can buy a pack of cigarettes." Ha! Really? ...Mkay, if you say so.
--"...a collection of nineteenth-century needlework that amused Meg as much as it offended her aesthetic sensibilities. Some of the doilies in the box might have been pretty if they had been crocheted in plain white thread. The most subdued had five different shades of scarlet, from brownish red to cherry, plus lilac, green, and gold."
--If there was a mention of Egypt or mummies, I missed it. Disappointing, because I've made a point of noticing at least one such reference in just about every Barbara Michaels book I've read. (g)
--"You ought to be able to get at least a year's lodging out of Sylvia. Even she knows you can't write a book in six months." "You overestimate Sylvia. Like most people, she thinks you can write a book in six days if you work at it." (Writers do seem to enjoy venting through their literary characters!)
--"...Sylvia looked like the kind of woman who walked the aisles of the supermarket with a little hand computer, ticking off the prices as she filled her shopping cart." First, me-ow. Second, "a little hand computer". I suppose she means a calculator? I guess they really haven't been around that long. Amazing how much technology has changed in the past forty or so years...
--The embroidery angle was interesting. I've never done embroidery (beyond some very basic cross-stitch, as a pre-teen), but maybe someday it would be fun to give it a try.
I've lost track of how many of Barbara Michaels' gothic/paranormal novels I've read. Quite a few, at this point. I have a love-hate relationship with this author. There's almost always something to complain about (irritatingly militant feminism, for instance), but on the whole, I enjoy her work and can rely on it to whisk me away from reality. They're usually comforting and cozy, with what I consider to be fairly mild elements of suspense. Is there such a thing as "gentle horror"? That's about the extent of anything I've come across in her books, so far. Maybe there's a handful of slightly creepy moments, but nothing to make me worry about things that go bump in the night.
This particular novel is typical of the author, which means that I found it entertaining. Not her best, but also not her worst-- though I think I say that about most of her books, and I'm not exactly sure what is the best of her work...
The cast of characters is fairly limited, but I think that might be in its favor, since it necessitates more interaction between what characters there are. The romance element could've done with a little beefing up (as is usually the case), but it's pleasantly there in the background. The spooky mystery is... of acceptable quality. There were no stunning, unbelievably amazing developments that I can recall, but it kept me interested, and there are a few genuinely eerie moments.
All told, a decent "cozy gothic/paranormal", if that's not a contradiction in terms.
Specifics (with SPOILERS):
--I could tell that this was one of the author's older novels, though I wasn't sure how old. (It was published in the mid-70s.) Though there are only a couple of mentions of out-dated technology (a tape recorder, for example), it just has a "vintage" feeling. The types of antiques that are popular... The distaste for the Victorians... The (mercifully brief) sermon on Betty Friedan and the plight of the housewife... However, I think what dated the book the most was the slang used by the druggie guy, who tells her he can't "split" until he gets some "bread".
--"Good Lord, you can buy a gun in this country as easily as you can buy a pack of cigarettes." Ha! Really? ...Mkay, if you say so.
--"...a collection of nineteenth-century needlework that amused Meg as much as it offended her aesthetic sensibilities. Some of the doilies in the box might have been pretty if they had been crocheted in plain white thread. The most subdued had five different shades of scarlet, from brownish red to cherry, plus lilac, green, and gold."
--If there was a mention of Egypt or mummies, I missed it. Disappointing, because I've made a point of noticing at least one such reference in just about every Barbara Michaels book I've read. (g)
--"You ought to be able to get at least a year's lodging out of Sylvia. Even she knows you can't write a book in six months." "You overestimate Sylvia. Like most people, she thinks you can write a book in six days if you work at it." (Writers do seem to enjoy venting through their literary characters!)
--"...Sylvia looked like the kind of woman who walked the aisles of the supermarket with a little hand computer, ticking off the prices as she filled her shopping cart." First, me-ow. Second, "a little hand computer". I suppose she means a calculator? I guess they really haven't been around that long. Amazing how much technology has changed in the past forty or so years...
--The embroidery angle was interesting. I've never done embroidery (beyond some very basic cross-stitch, as a pre-teen), but maybe someday it would be fun to give it a try.
August 2, 2018
I loved this book. I wish I had read it sooner. I've had it on my shelf for a long time.
This book has the elements I love the most in a mystery. A crime or tragic event that happened in the past and people in the present trying to figure it out.
A young woman, Meg, was in an accident and sustained a head injury. She begins to see and hear hallucinations and the doctor recommended she take some time off and rest. He is sure the hallucinations will go away with time. Her cousin Sophia who is well off sets her up in one of her properties in the country for 6 months so she can rest. It is an old Gothic Victorian house full of antique furniture. Sophia gives meg the task of making an itemized list of the furniture in the attic and deciding which to furnish the rooms with and the caretaker for the house would move things and help with repairs as needed. Sophia said she wants to donate the house for a historical museum and expects Meg to help for payment for her stay. When Meg arrives she is surprised to learn that the caretaker is her cousin Sophia´s stepson who used to tease her and play evil pranks on her when she was younger. Later, when Meg sees one of the hallucinations she is shocked when he reveals that it wasn't just her. He saw it too.
This book has the elements I love the most in a mystery. A crime or tragic event that happened in the past and people in the present trying to figure it out.
A young woman, Meg, was in an accident and sustained a head injury. She begins to see and hear hallucinations and the doctor recommended she take some time off and rest. He is sure the hallucinations will go away with time. Her cousin Sophia who is well off sets her up in one of her properties in the country for 6 months so she can rest. It is an old Gothic Victorian house full of antique furniture. Sophia gives meg the task of making an itemized list of the furniture in the attic and deciding which to furnish the rooms with and the caretaker for the house would move things and help with repairs as needed. Sophia said she wants to donate the house for a historical museum and expects Meg to help for payment for her stay. When Meg arrives she is surprised to learn that the caretaker is her cousin Sophia´s stepson who used to tease her and play evil pranks on her when she was younger. Later, when Meg sees one of the hallucinations she is shocked when he reveals that it wasn't just her. He saw it too.
September 26, 2024
I bought a bunch of old Barbara Michaels books from ebay. The first that I read was "Patriot's Dream" and it was solid. I remember reading "House of Many Shadows" when I was in high school which was many years ago so while there was still nostalgia, I realized there was a lot that I missed. It is quite cheeky at times, the male love interest is a bit of a dud, but the main character was a lot of fun. The premise is that Meg, staying at one of her cousin's homes, starts seeing scenes from the past. The horror aspect is that it involves a murder so it becomes a murder mystery. The thing with Michaels book is you, the reader, just accept that the main character can see what she sees and don't look too hard into a reason why. The 'why' of the sight is not important. Like 'Patriot's Dream', it is finding out what happened that is the point, which I like the most. I wouldn't watch youtube videos of long ago mysteries if I didn't like this kind of angle in a story. Michaels is not a fancy writer. She's very straightforward and her characters can be likable but shady which I really like a lot. So it is now 2 for 2 on my Barbara Michaels ebay haul/read. It isn't a 5 star, but it is another solid 4 star for me.
April 30, 2021
This book won keeper status on my bookshelf, beside other Barbara Michaels books I've loved.
This book was a pleasant surprise, after a slow start, things became decidedly spooky after she moves into the country home her elder cousin owns. The house is vacant, but Andy Brenner, a man she knew as a child when growing up, lives in the caretaker's cottage and takes care of the property. But is the house truly vacant. Meg is suffering from hallucinations since she sustained a head injury after being struck by a hit-and-run driver. Her elder cousin Sylvia invites her to move into the house to get peace and fresh air that her doctor recommended.
Meg thinks she may just be crazy, until Andy experiences the visual hallucinations that Meg sees when he touches her. I don't want to say much more, what I have said so far is in the book description. The house holds many secrets and it takes both Andy and Meg to uncover them.
This was an excellent book and the last 100 pages were so absorbing that I couldn't put it down. I highly recommend this to anyone who likes a good mystery with a supernatural twist.
This book was a pleasant surprise, after a slow start, things became decidedly spooky after she moves into the country home her elder cousin owns. The house is vacant, but Andy Brenner, a man she knew as a child when growing up, lives in the caretaker's cottage and takes care of the property. But is the house truly vacant. Meg is suffering from hallucinations since she sustained a head injury after being struck by a hit-and-run driver. Her elder cousin Sylvia invites her to move into the house to get peace and fresh air that her doctor recommended.
Meg thinks she may just be crazy, until Andy experiences the visual hallucinations that Meg sees when he touches her. I don't want to say much more, what I have said so far is in the book description. The house holds many secrets and it takes both Andy and Meg to uncover them.
This was an excellent book and the last 100 pages were so absorbing that I couldn't put it down. I highly recommend this to anyone who likes a good mystery with a supernatural twist.
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