Ghost of Dark Harbor

Dark Harbor #1

by Clarissa Ross, W.E.D. Ross (AKA)

SINISTER SHADOW OF EVIL

When her young daughter plunged over the cliff to her death, Joyce Mills had a breakdown and was sent to a mental institution. Now, as she walked again through the dark passages of Mills Castle, built high upon a rock, a series of terrifying occurrences lay in wait for her.

Her scarf was found tightly tied around a strangled cat's neck...a woman's gruesomely bloody face appeared in her mirror as she watched in horror... and the phantom ghost of long-dead Captain Peter Mills, who built the huge castle -- and then killed himself in it -- threatened her fragile sanity...indeed, her very life!

Genres: Gothic, Horror

261 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1974

About the author

William Edward Daniel Ross, W. E. Daniel "Dan" Ross (born 1912) is a bestselling Canadian novelist from Saint John, New Brunswick who wrote over 300 books in a variety of genres and under a variety of mostly female pseudonyms such as Laura Frances Brooks, Lydia Colby, Rose Dana, Jan Daniels, Ross Olin, Diane Randall, Clarissa Ross, Leslie Ames, Ruth Dorset, Ann Gilmer, Jane Rossiter, Dan Ross, Dana Ross, Marilyn Ross, Dan Roberts, and W.E.D. Ross. As Marilyn Ross he wrote popular Gothic fiction including a series of novels about the vampire Barnabas Collins based on the American TV series Dark Shadows (1966-71).

Reviews

[Sarah Mac · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh. Not one of the better Ross books—too much repetition & a weak motive for the villainy. Also, Derek treated Joyce like crap until literally the last page, continually condescending & patronizing & disbelieving, yet she forgives him without pause at the finale. Whut. 😶 He never even explains his sneakiness or curtness except to deny having an affair, so WTF is she supposed to think about his leaving at night, repeatedly implying she wasn’t cured, letting his mom & sister insult her, bitching & moaning whenever she was frightened, hauling her around by the arms, blaming her for strangling Timmy the cat? If I was Joyce I’d have dumped his ass & demanded a divorce. :P

All told, it was a weird plot with disparate pieces that didn’t hang together (& that’s not to mention being poorly written on a technical level). I’d blame many flaws on the era of composition, except Ross has other books where the hero turns out not to be the first dude the heroine is with and/or thinks she’ll end up with, so the finale here was an odd choice. And who killed poor Timmy?? Sheesh. Certain crimes demand answers, Ross! #JusticeforTimmy 🐱

[William · Rating 1 out of 5]

In 1974, Dan (aka Clarissa) Ross began a six novel series about Dark Harbor, the main town on Pirate Island, an island off the Massachusetts coast. At the time, other Gothic novelists, particularly Virginia Coffman, were also creating loosely connected series (see the Lucifer Cove series). The first novel in the series is a very silly murder mystery dressed up with an unpleasant story of gaslighting. Joyce Mills has been on the mainland for a year in a mental hospital, after the accidental death of her toddler. Upon returning home, she fears--and her family is convinced--that she's still crazy, as she seems to be menaced by the ghost of a sea captain. Meanwhile, what's her husband up to? The whole thing is silly--and, for Ross, seems rather long-winded. Joyce herself is an idiot, while her husband is petulant, spineless, and cruel. Ross specializes in unpleasant "heroes," and Derek Mills is one of them. The book is enlivened by nutty supporting characters, such as Joyce's shrink, who is obsessed with golf; a crusty old retired sea captain (sadly, not a ghost); a bitter, penurious alcoholic elderly poor relation (one of Ross's specialties); a glum cuckold; and a truly nasty mother-in-law and adopted daughter (why adopted? why ask why, with Ross) who love to bully poor Joyce. In fact, one of the only pleasures in "Ghost of Dark Harbor" is waiting for the moments when mother-in-law Regina or sister-in-law Mona corner her and insult her. But wait: there's more in the series!

[Ophelia · Rating 2 out of 5]

i disliked the writing style and the plot was pretty predictable but i kinda enjoyed it anyway. would probably not reccomend tho