Smoke and Mirrors

by Barbara Michaels

When young Erin Hartsock joins the staff working on the senatorial campaign of charismatic ongresswoman Rosemary White Marshall, her idealism is turned upside down by the intrigue, romance, danger, and malevolence surrounding her and her colleagues. Reprint.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Romance, Gothic, Suspense, Romantic Suspense, Contemporary

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Barbara 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.

Reviews

[Paula Brandon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Erin Hartsock unexpectedly lands a job in the team of Rosemary White Marshall, who is running for the senate. As she become enamoured with the world of politics, she notices something isn't quite right. There have been a series of mysterious fires. It seems there might be something in the past that a member of Rosemary's team is willing to keep secret.

This was an okay mystery, but a bit boring. Nothing really happens for the longest time. The focus is on Rosemary's campaign and the various day to day duties of her team in trying to win against an opponent who is in front and who has more money to spend on the campaign. Even though published in 1989, the book had a pleasing left-wing slant to it, with a bit of discussion of gender and racial politics. Erin could sometimes be frustrating. She keeps whinging about people being condescending to her, but if she stopped acting like a child, maybe they would!

There isn't much else to say! Mostly boring and unremarkable, it's not one that you should go out of your way to track down!

[Beverly · Rating 3 out of 5]

The mystery was good if you can get past the stupid Democrat propoganda.

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Couldn't get into this one

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set during a senatorial campaign in Virginia in the same year George H. W. was elected, this book, and its commentary on feminism seems a little out of date and also very contemporary. I guess it is a matter of language since the situation isn't all that different. The heroine, meek and mild, goes to work for a woman running as the Democratic candidate for a senate seat. Secrets, perhaps in the candidate's (dead) husband's past might derail her campaign. Her Republican rival is undone by being caught with another woman at a seedy hotel--how quaint.

[Sheri South · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'd just finished the spooktastic AMMIE, COME HOME and was all ready for a Barbara Michaels glom when I found this one cheap at a used-book sale. What a disappointment! The mystery didn't really get interesting until the last 100 pages or so--and what I was given in the meantime amounted to little more than a political screed. This would have been annoying even if I'd shared the authors political convictions, but it's rather offensive when everyone who shares your own views is either (a) an idiot or (b) eeeeevil (cue maniacal laughter). Our Candidate, meanwhile, is so saintly that she sponsors a bill banning political ads on television. (I would have thought more highly of her faithful acolytes if even one of them had suggested that her primary reason for wanting to do away with TV ads was that she couldn't afford them. Which she can't, because she won't accept money from those eeeevil PACs, you know.)

I couldn't really root for the romance, either. Nick was too amoral for my tastes, using a grieving mother's pain for making political hay (but it's okay, because he felt kind of guilty about it. But it did completely turn Our Candidate's fortunes around, so there is that.)

As for our heroine, the political novice, by the end of the book she's spouting such gems as this: "I think that's one area in which women have an edge over men; we can give each other support because we aren't ashamed to admit we make a mistake now and then." (Oh, really? In my experience (and I say this as a genuine, card-carrying woman) NO ONE can be more vindictive, or hold grudges longer, than a woman.) Or this: "Politics isn't an exact science, Nick; it isn't perfect, or perfectable. How can it be, when its practitioners are imperfect human beings?"

All in all, I felt this was, as another reviewer put it, Democratic part propaganda disguised as a mystery. I think I'll hold off on that glom, after all.

[Joan Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

Smoke and Mirrors is an interesting mystery set in the chaos of a house full of volunteers supporting a political candidate for the US Senate (a woman who has fulfilled her dead husband's tenure, and is now seeking election for herself). The book was written in 1989, so lacks a lot of the modern communication options - such as everyone having cell phones. Not that it matters, except that a reader might wonder why these things are not being used, as the rest of the text does not betray the time period.

Michaels has the same ability as Ngaio Marsh to handle a dozen characters in the same space all talking and doing things and contributing to the confusion of the reader, while keeping them all straight in her mind and bringing the story to a logical conclusion.

I'm not a fan of politics, but the workings of the campaign did not overwhelm the story, with the exception of a final little lecture by the author as a conclusion.

The plot is complex and takes several satisfying twists.

One technique was used that annoys me. At one point the protagonist, Erin, discovers a photograph that we are led to believe reveals a big piece of the puzzle, but we are not told who is in the photo.

[Susanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elizabeth Peters/Barbara Michaels writes terrific strong women. In this political thriller, published in 1989, she introduced Erin, a naive young woman who never goes anywhere or does anything, and allows her roommate to boss her around. Until she goes to work for an underdog political campaign and finds her spine. Well written, and thoroughly enjoyable.

[Elli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even having read it before, I still found it hard to put this book down. My only complaint is that I don't really like Nick & feel like he has to grow up a bit more before he's worthy, but Erin & Rosemary make me smile.

[Mir · Rating 2 out of 5]

A young woman goes to work for another woman's political campaign, and discovers she is being threatened. The mystery here is weak, and the politics heavy-handed.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

She is my favorite guilty pleasure! As usual she delivered a great read, interesting characters and a fun plot!

[Kathy Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the death of her father and in the hopes of making a new start, Erin Hartsock arrives in Washington DC. After some disappointing jobs and being passed over for earned promotions, Erin is convinced by her roommate to write to her mother's college friend Rosemary White Marshall who is running for the Senate.

Rosemary likes Erin and offers her one of the few paid positions on her otherwise shoestring campaign. Erin finds herself doing all sorts of work from cleaning to working on speeches. She also finds herself over her head in the world of politics and working with people who are much more knowledgeable.

Rosemary is a wonderful person filled with a politician's charisma and Erin comes to like her. She's less sure about Rosemary's secretary Kay who will be her immediate supervisor and seems like a demanding and mercurial person jealous of anyone who captures Rosemary's attention.

There are quite a few others working on the campaign. Joe Esler is the campaign manager, Jeff Ross is the legal consultant, Nick McDermott is a volunteer who writes speeches and manages media and is tasked with keeping everyone's spirits up. And Will who does the research and is a professor at a local college.

When pranks start happening - a few small fires - it first looks like Erin is the one who is responsible. But Nick stands up for her and the two begin an investigation into the pranks. And when Kay is found dead of an apparent drug overdose it is clear that someone is quite dangerous. And that villain is quite determined to keep secrets from the past buried in it.

This was entertaining but also dated. The birth of Women's Lib is clear in the story. Erin seems to sitch between being a person ready to demand her rights and a person who is submissive and subservient. The men's attitudes, especially Nick's, vacillate between protecting the little woman and treating women like intelligent equals.

There was almost too much going on in this story between the political campaign and the murder investigation and figuring out what buried secret from the past might be unearthed. However, I did enjoy the writing and the mystery.

[Marilyn Fontane · Rating 2 out of 5]

Smoke and Mirrors by Barbara Michaels (Elizabeth Peters) is a disappointment. I love Amelia Peabody and Vicki Bliss, and have just started reading the stand alone books written under the Barbara Michaels plume-de-nom. The Sea King's Daughter stood up just fine. However, in this novel Erin Hartsock joins the campaign of Rosemary Marshall for congress. Okay, you expect a little political talk, but not the whole book. There are a few fires, a death, some fear on Erin's part that she may be next, but I was never worried about her. None of the action was particularly interesting. Oh, it was well-enough written that I finished it--and was interested in who the arsonist was, but only slightly so. The relationship between Erin and Nick was hardly exciting. Pick a different book.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of my least favorite Barbara Michaels books, which still puts it ahead of many others of its genre. I didn't care for the partisanship in this story, which is alienating to anyone who doesn't share the author's political beliefs. Also, the heroine goes from passive to confrontational very quickly and without sufficient justification, and the male love interest, who is supposed to be funny, mostly comes across as annoying. Still, I love Michaels' style of writing. Intelligent and witty, she gives just enough information to keep the reader guessing. Try her other books, you'll probably like them better.

[Melody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written back when politics was more reasonable than today. The story of a young woman who gets a job in a campaign for a woman running for senate. Her opponent has held the seat for years despite known affairs as well as dirty dealing here and there. She wants to run a clean campaign. But soon strange things start to happen at campaign headquarters’s, mostly small incidents of fire here and there. Finally someone dies, not in a fire but in an apparent suicide or perhaps accidental overdose. But alas the autopsy reveals otherwise. The culprit was a surprise to me and that doesn’t happen often. Loosing Barbara Micheals was a huge loss to mystery/suspense fiction.

[Sunni · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought the subject of politics was scary enough, but then I read Mrs. Michael's book. Politics took a whole new meaning for me. I am not usually naive, but if Smoke and Mirrors is anything like true politics than I have been oblivious. Mrs. Michael's weaves a thrilling tale that kept me on the edge of my seat through the use of very believable characters, and an enticing plot. The story makes you think, and get involved, and it is obvious that Mrs. Michaels is a born story-teller.

[Kaitlyn Dunnett · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love most Barbara Michaels/Elizabeth Peters novels, so I really wanted to like this one, but it was not only horribly dated (except for the sad fact that some political issues still aren't resolved thirty plus years later), it was also slow moving. Some sections were downright boring. The resolution of the mystery, which wasn't much of one and had little suspense to it, was both abrupt and plagued by loose ends.

[Julie Dunagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s Elizabeth Peters, of course it’s good!

I have loved everything she as written in all her pseudonyms. Most have a “theme”. A subject matter she delves into with gusto. I love that I’m always learning from them. This book is about politics. But so much more. It reminds me of The West Wing in that it shows the political machinations but leaves you with a sense of idealism. Anyway it’s a good book. Read it.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Erin Hartsock has been in Washington, DC for a while when she goes to work for Congresswoman Rosemary Marshall, who is running for senator. She meets Joe, Jeff, Nick, Will, and others working on Rosemary’s campaign. Then odd fires start happening, including one desecrating Edward Marshall’s grave. Who is setting the fires and why? Then someone dies and the autopsy reveals that it was murder.

[Kelly · Rating 1 out of 5]

So boring!!!! (unless you love details about a political campaign). I was expecting one of the other ghost stories and suspense, but no! Nothing but politics, blah, blah, blah. Pass this one up and get one of her Amelia Peabody books.

[Roberta Wall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting

[MystKnight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taste of the political machinations and behinds the scenes.
Most enjoyable.

[Lara Miller · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really liked Barbara Michaels as a teenager. As an adult I still find her mysteries readable, but after so many they start to feel the same.

[Sheila Lent · Rating 2 out of 5]

It did not stand the test of time. Rather dated.

[Pariskarol · Rating 1 out of 5]

Don't try to fool me with the old house on the cover. This is a book about political maneuvering. What a strange side road for this author to take!

[Lisa Shower · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging......

Yet just a bit tedious as well. It took me nearly half of the book to fully engage, not the authors finest!

[Kristen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't believe I'm saying this about a Barbara Michaels book, because usually I love all her stories, but this was the first one I was sort of "meh" about. It wasn't terrible, it just wasn't what I've come to expect from her, which is a book I don't want to put down because I'm dying to know how it ends. This one wasn't that kind of story.

Erin Hartsock is an idealistic, but naive and inexperienced new member of the staff of the campaign for up-and-coming politician Rosemary Marshall. Although Erin knows nothing about politics, she has a slight family connection to the Marshalls [Rosemary took over the seat of her deceased husband Ed which she's now running to maintain] so she is hired on the personal staff to live at Rosemary's home and do anything that needs to be done.

Erin quickly finds herself liking the game of politics and respecting Rosemary and her platform, so she starts to genuinely support the candidate and want to learn. With a quirkly group of misfits and oddballs forming the remainder of Rosemary's staff, Erin gets an unusual, but thorough education in how to run a campaign.

But disturbing incidents have been plaguing the campaign and the candidate, most of them involving fires, and although nobody wants to admit it, everyone is worried about who's responsible and why the perpetrator has it in for Rosemary's campaign.

As Erin starts to have personal feelings for another member of the staff, she and he decide to do some investigating to find out what's going on. Little do they know where their amateur sleuthing will lead.

I think my main problems with this book were two-fold. One, that I really didn't much like the character of Erin - I found her insipid and whiny and more than a little annoying. While all of Michaels' main characters tend to have some foible or dark secret affecting them, they are usually likeable, or at least sympathetic but I didn't feel that for Erin until almost the end of the book, so that affected my connection to her and her story somewhate.

The other issue I had was that the actual plot took way to long to set up. It felt like almost the entire first half of the book was descriptions of rooms, buildings, houses and people's clothing. While I don't mind some description to help create a picture in my mind of the people and places in the story, in this book there was just way too much of that for me. It distracted me from the plot, rather than adding to the story, as description ought to do.

All that said, however, Barbara Michaels is just too good a writer to ever write a BAD story. The ending and the eventual explanation of what was really going on was well-done and full of the excitement and drama one expects in every Michaels book. Overall, I enjoyed it, just not to the same degree I have enjoyed most of her other stories.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[LiB · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very unconvincing as a thriller and quite interesting as a realistic description of the mundane slog of a senatorial election campaign in the 80‘s, back when shame and scandal could actually cost a candidate their career. It probably would have worked better if the peculiar murder plot was dropped, leaving a novel about broke young staffers in an underfunded underdog campaign. It takes a while to warm up to the heroine, but I loved her character arc from useless cynic to competent idealist.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The producers of this audiobook did this novel a real disservice by not advertising the fact that this is a rerelease of a book first published in 1989. In that context, the book makes sense. Without knowing that, the book feels hopelessly out of touch and deeply flawed in terms of its attitude towards feminism, sexual misconduct and gender politics. It wasn’t until about 75% of the way through the book that I was able to place the setting in 1989. If that had been clear up front, or presented as historical fiction, I would have been able to enjoy and examine the sensibilities of the time during which it was set. I googled the book part way through and could only find references to the 2024 release date. It wasn't until I did a deeper dive after finishing the book and searched with the author's original pen name that I could find the original publication date.
Overall, this book seemed slow at times. Any real mystery didn't present itself until the last third of the novel so the plot seemed forced at times. Once I understood the context around the time setting, it made me really appreciate what life in the 80s really looked like for women and made me appreciate even more what the women of my mother's generation faced both in the work place and on the domestic front. i recommend this book for anyone interested in exploring that concept. I'm not sure I would recommend it for someone simply looking for a good escape read.

[Alison C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Smoke and Mirrors, by Barbara Michaels, is a multiple-time re-read for me; I first encountered Ms. Michaels (aka Elizabeth Peters) in the early 1980s and have read just about everything she's written - and re-read a fair number of them too. This one is particularly apt during an election season, as the setting is that of a US Senate campaign in about 1988. Young Erin Hartsock goes to work for charismatic Congresswoman Rosemary Marshall, who has given up her cozy seat in the House to run for Senate. But mysterious occurrences - the appearance of a sinister "poppet," several small fires - start to plague the campaign, and Erin and Nick McDermott, campaign media consultant and love interest, must try to determine what in Rosemary's past is returning to haunt her, before those minor incidents turn deadly.... Michaels' writing is a pleasing mixture of humour, romance and gothic suggestion, but what I especially enjoy about this book is the political angle. For example, at one point Rosemary rails against PACs: "....in actual fact, PACs were set up to get around the laws limiting the amount of individual campaign contributions. If I could afford it, I'd refuse to take PAC money, even from organizations whose aims I would ordinarily support...." Wonder what she would make of today's Super-PACs!