Barnabas Collins versus the Warlock

Dark Shadows #11

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

David Collins and Amy Jennings, two charming, innocent children are suddenly turned into demons. At first their pranks only annoy Maggie Evans, their governess. But soon she realizes they have become malicious, bent on destroying all at Collinwood.

Convinced the children are possessed by a mysterious, supernatural power, and frightened for her life, Maggie turns for help to Barnabas Collins.

Will his powers be strong enough to overcome the evil forces that captured the minds of the children before they - and Barnabas - are completely at the mercy of the Devil himself?

Genres: Horror, Gothic, Fiction, Vampires, Mystery, Audiobook, Paranormal

Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 1969

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, Olin Ross, 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

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was one of the better entries in the series, mainly because the ending was such a surprise. Some of the novels in the series have been a little predictable, but I didn't see this one coming. Overall this has remained a very good series, as even the lesser volumes are enjoyable.

[WhatShouldIRead · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not one of the better entries in the Dark Shadows canon, but interesting and entertaining enough. The author really creates that foreboding gothic atmosphere and feeling into the books quite well and for that alone they are worth reading.

The book summary was somewhat misleading - though David and Amy were 'possessed' by a phantom, this wasn't the sole subject, but more as an afterthought while the story really focused on a phantom pirate and his buried gold in the swamp on the property and the psychic in search of it. I know, right, how far can that be from the kid-possessing thing?

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The possessed child motif has been used in many horror classics, notably Henry James's "Turn of the Screw." TV's Dark Shadows shamelessly plagiarized James in 1969, allowing little David Collins and his playmate Amy to be taken over by sinister spirit Quentin Collins. And here, in Dan ("Marilyn") Ross's book, we have the same story retold only in a different way.

Here the possessing spirit is one Asaph Clay, a long-dead warlock. He has a grudge against the Collins family and expresses his rage through David Collins and nine-year-old visitor Amy Jennings. The children's pranks become increasingly diabolical, much to the concern of their governess Maggie Evans. There's a seance, held at the great house on Widow's Hill. There's a body found on the Collinwood beach. There are "manifestations" of Asaph Clay himself. Yet it is implied that while the haunting of the children may be real, someone else---a living person---may be faking SOME of the ghostly appearances...

Suspicion falls on Barnabas Collins who must clear his own name. And the Barnabas-Maggie romance is resumed, with Maggie staunchly defending her vampire hero. I like this little book, silly though it is. It captures the eerie atmosphere of the TV show, and that's the most that one can expect from a Dark Shadows book.

[James Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really good story in the series. It starts with the legend of a pirate who buried his treasure in the swamp that is near Collinwood. A Dr. Bremmer claims to be an expert in the paranormal and holds seances in the house. His interest in the gold, though, is overwhelming. Then there's a problem with the supposed spirit of Asaph Clay and his hate for Phineas Collins and the Collins family.

Add to that David and Amy claiming someone is forcing them to behave very badly. There's also Maggie's declared love for Barnabas, a strange hippie, a variety of physical attacks and a police Chief who seems to want to arrest Barnabas. Hare, Barnabas' servant, plays a role and a skull also figures into the entire deal.

Maggie nearly dies several times plus there's also a long-standing love affairs that figures into all of this.

There's also reports of various young women being attacked, having no memory afterwards but marks on their necks. Plus there's also a death on the beach.

A lot goes on in this volume and it's really good.

[Jennifer Leonard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Is there no woman this man will fall in love with? Again, we fall into supernatural being versus supernatural being, with the life of Barnabas new paramour at risk once again. We get more background on the characters first introduced in Books 1-3, including Maggie and the children. This was a quick read, and pretty amusing, definitely worth listening to.

[Richard Tolleson · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Scooby Doo, Where are You?" premiered one month before this book was published, in October 1969. While the book was surely completed before Scooby launched, one cannot help but see the similarities between the final chapter of this book and the climactic scene of just about every episode of Scooby Doo. The book starts out promising enough, but soon spirals down into the by-now familiar plot line of these books: Barnabas Collins is accused of a series of strange murders, an innocent young girl (in this case Maggie Evans, since Alexandra Moltke's Victoria Winters had by now left the show) is in love with Barnabas, and there are unpleasant visitors at Collinwood. Why does Elizabeth allow all these people to traipse in and out of her estate? I don't blame Roger for going on a trip and missing this entire book.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

The 11th book in the series, based on the Soap Opera.
Maggie Evans is now in charge of looking after young David Collins and Amy Jennings.
But as of late they have been behaving badly, and blame a Phantom Man, who they say is forcing them to act badly.
Cousin Nina Collins arrives at Collinwood, with her husband, a doctor who studies the supernatural.
Cousin Barnabas is staying at the Old House. Though many find his behaviour odd(he is only seen after sun down) Maggie is drawn to him, and finds herself falling in love with him.
A fast moving story that is enjoyable, but asks you to check your common sense at the door.
No Roger Collins this time, and that's a pity.
The writer assumes that the reader is well aware of the Dark Shadows lore. Things are mentioned, but not fully explained, with the assumption that you can connect the dots/fill in the blanks.

[Barbara A. Welsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written and Entertaining Collins Family Mystery.

The story is well written and follows the characters from the television show Dark Shadows. The mannerisms of the characters are perfectly captured in the storyline and the descriptions bring you back to the pictures and the sets of the original television show. A good plot and development of mystery elements make these stories difficult to put down once you start reading each story. Brava, Marilyn Ross. Well done!
I'm an old fan of all the Dark Shadows series and movies.
I'm

[E. D. Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Marilyn Ross book, he was so good about turning out book after book. I wish I could do that. And I love the Dark Shadows books.
This one was good and suspenseful. A few winks to the reader, included.
I did have one little problem, it has to do with a particular item going missing, then turning up in the character's posession without explanation. Idk.
Rather than that, it was enjoyable. Not the best in the series, but worth the read. Fun and exciting.

[Mary Jo Rhoda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finally got to the book in the series that I read when I was younger, so was feeling some nostalgia for it.
I read it off and on over a few months. I feel like this series has great atmosphere but the formula is pretty tiring. Naive young girl falls in love with Barnabas and he “loves” her back.

The ending on this one was surprising though so I gave it four instead of three stars.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Barnabas Collins versus the Warlock

I choose the rating of five because I enjoy all of the books in the series. I would recommend the book to anyone who enjoys the mystery of Barnabas and his family .

[B.J. Burgess · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of Barnabas Collins Versus the Warlock is the strangest and most predictable book in Ross's Dark Shadows series. Please keep in mind that I thoroughly loved reading it, but hippies! Seriously? I understood. I understand. When the book was published in 1969, hippies were everywhere. -- ★★★½✰

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I'm done with the Dark Shadow series for now. It's starting to feel way too formulaic and I don't feel like any progress is happening in the larger arcs... also every single book has a new Barnabas love interest that somehow "won't work out".

[Carolina Dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good distracting read for a rather boring evening. It definitly kept my interest and I didn't have to think too much. However, I must admit the "phantom" was the last person I suspected.

[Laura Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

These books are so bad that I’m actually enjoying them because I can just listen to them on audiobook while I’m falling asleep and I’m not really missing much even when I do fall asleep, because after the first few books they become much too predictable.

[Sarospice · Rating 3 out of 5]

There isn't much of Barnabas vs. any Warlock but if Maggie Evans is a favorite character of yours from Dark Shadows, this is a story for her fans.

[Alan Ellias · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook read by Kathryn Leigh Scott!

[Stephen Osborne · Rating 3 out of 5]

What do you do when you have a lot of story but write to a formula, all your books having twelve chapters of nearly exact length? Well, apparently you start with your story "already in progress!" The story starts with the children, David and Amy, already acting like they've been possessed by some spirit. Soon after Cousin Nina and her elderly husband arrive and the mysteries at Collinwood deepen. The story was fun and, for all his writing failings, Ross can set a mood well. However, what a rushed ending! It was if he said, 'By God, I'm not going over 157 pages no matter what' and just summed up the ending in a paragraph or two.

[Larry Yonce · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bat, a Phantom Warlock, a grinning skull, murder, and "possessed" children!

The novel opens with a bang as Maggie Evans becomes mired in deadly quicksand at a swamp near Collinwood! The arrival of a cousin, Nina, her elderly husband, Dr. Eli Bremmer, and his secretary Noel Hart, quickly bring drama and intrigue to a summertime Collinwood. Roger Collins is completely absent from the estate and Carolyn is working and staying down in the village.
Vampire Barnabas stars in an entertaining mix of the supernatural and the earthly in a mystery plot that dovetails quite nicely in the final chapter. Overall a fun read.

[Vincent Darlage · Rating 1 out of 5]

This one was difficult to enjoy. It had a Scooby-Doo ending, and the ending didn't answer all the mysteries (including the primary one of who was influencing the kids). Elizabeth and Maggie were insipidly stupid and refusing to believe any evidence put in front of them.

[Andy · Rating 3 out of 5]

So much fun!!!

[Dale Rosso]

Good read.

[Mark Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wow. This book is really kooky. Characters behave in ways that make no sense. The relationship to the TV show is tenuous. Bizarre fun for the Dark Shadows fan.