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The Dark on the Other Side
Everywhere she turns, Linda Randolph hears from empty dark corners and lonely rooms. But it is the house itself that speaks the loudest, telling Linda to run for her life. Her husband, Gordon, the noted statesman and scholar, suggests she's losing her mind. Linda almost hopes it's true, because the alternate explanation is too terrible to that Gordon is intimately involved with dark, diabolical forces beyond the scope of the natural and rational. Either Linda Randolph is half-mad ... or her husband is pure evil.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1970
72 people are currently reading
489 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Michaels
95 books688 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 41 reviews
March 29, 2015
My second re-read of Barbara Michaels this year.
It had the potential to rock a lot more than it did - it would have made a brilliant little novella. Instead, the middle sagged and slowed so much it became dull. The beginning was interesting, if not misleading into making the main seem completely unlikeable. The end was great, though, as is Michael's trademark. I do wish a page or two was more fleshed out for finale though. Looks like there are more things in heaven and earth after all...
Characterization isn't much to write home on. Michael is likeable enough, but his cat is the more amusing of the pair. Gordon was charismatic, as he was supposed to be, and perhaps the best written. The 'witch' friend Andrea was more annoying and draining than anything else. Maybe she was supposed to be comical, maybe she was supposed to be intriguing, but that mark was missed by an inch or so.
The lead woman, Linda, is never likeable, even when she shrugs off the bitchy persona. She switches from a weakling I wanted to shake to a woman who is trying too hard to be convincing in her strength. I really thought there'd be more on the servant side, some sort of revealed treachery or something, to explain how horribly she treated the maid. I guess living in that household would make one grouchy.
I wonder, after her salvation, did she miraculously sober up and kick the bottle habit too?
I'd think that would crimp their relationship. Sadly the relationship connection at the end isn't that realistic, anyway.
It's a shame the pacing was so unsteady, as the plot and potential were full-fledged GOTH. Michaels went heavier on that than normal. The end used a creation she rarely did in her other books. She used her usual religious pondering and intellectual hammering at existence of the supernatural.
I can definitely see the trademark Michaels with this one...but almost like another writer was influencing her as well. Good, but certainly not great. She did a lot better with other books.
It had the potential to rock a lot more than it did - it would have made a brilliant little novella. Instead, the middle sagged and slowed so much it became dull. The beginning was interesting, if not misleading into making the main seem completely unlikeable. The end was great, though, as is Michael's trademark. I do wish a page or two was more fleshed out for finale though. Looks like there are more things in heaven and earth after all...
Characterization isn't much to write home on. Michael is likeable enough, but his cat is the more amusing of the pair. Gordon was charismatic, as he was supposed to be, and perhaps the best written. The 'witch' friend Andrea was more annoying and draining than anything else. Maybe she was supposed to be comical, maybe she was supposed to be intriguing, but that mark was missed by an inch or so.
The lead woman, Linda, is never likeable, even when she shrugs off the bitchy persona. She switches from a weakling I wanted to shake to a woman who is trying too hard to be convincing in her strength. I really thought there'd be more on the servant side, some sort of revealed treachery or something, to explain how horribly she treated the maid. I guess living in that household would make one grouchy.
I wonder, after her salvation, did she miraculously sober up and kick the bottle habit too?
I'd think that would crimp their relationship. Sadly the relationship connection at the end isn't that realistic, anyway.
It's a shame the pacing was so unsteady, as the plot and potential were full-fledged GOTH. Michaels went heavier on that than normal. The end used a creation she rarely did in her other books. She used her usual religious pondering and intellectual hammering at existence of the supernatural.
I can definitely see the trademark Michaels with this one...but almost like another writer was influencing her as well. Good, but certainly not great. She did a lot better with other books.
August 11, 2015
What an excellent book! I don't understand the negative reviews on here; they seem to have read a different book than I did. My attention was caught from the first chapter and I found the story absolutely mesmerizing. This is by far the most interesting, most atmospheric, and the best executed of the Barbara Michaels novels I've read. I'm a gothic romantic snob - most of them are too cliche and the heroines too damsel in distress for me. (And I won't even go into my opinion on the heroes.) But this takes the usual stereotypes and breathes reality and a sense of urgency into them, while ensuring that what you see isn't ever all there is to it.
The narrative switches from the female and male perspective, and every chapter makes us doubt our perception of who is good and who is evil in this story. We label a character as the hero, and then they do something absolutely unexpected that makes us label them the villain; we label them sane, and then crazy - changing perceptions all the time. It creates the best sense of mystery I've come across in years. And that's just the mystery of the characters. The mystery of the plot itself keeps us guessing just as much. Is it a psychological thriller, demonic possession, magic, Satanism, werewolves - or just one crazy girl? We don't know until the very last chapter. The anticipation glued me to the book.
And the leading lady turned the stereotype of weakling gothic romantic heroines on its head. I simultaneously identified strongly with her, felt sorry for her, and feared her; the story makes us guess if she's the damsel in distress or the villainess.
This is the only Barbara Michaels that has given me a wickedly delicious sense of fear and made me afraid of the dark after reading. When I finished the book, I felt like I was coming out of a spell, just as the characters were in the story. Brilliant.
The narrative switches from the female and male perspective, and every chapter makes us doubt our perception of who is good and who is evil in this story. We label a character as the hero, and then they do something absolutely unexpected that makes us label them the villain; we label them sane, and then crazy - changing perceptions all the time. It creates the best sense of mystery I've come across in years. And that's just the mystery of the characters. The mystery of the plot itself keeps us guessing just as much. Is it a psychological thriller, demonic possession, magic, Satanism, werewolves - or just one crazy girl? We don't know until the very last chapter. The anticipation glued me to the book.
And the leading lady turned the stereotype of weakling gothic romantic heroines on its head. I simultaneously identified strongly with her, felt sorry for her, and feared her; the story makes us guess if she's the damsel in distress or the villainess.
This is the only Barbara Michaels that has given me a wickedly delicious sense of fear and made me afraid of the dark after reading. When I finished the book, I felt like I was coming out of a spell, just as the characters were in the story. Brilliant.
March 13, 2014
This is not your usual Michaels' book and that's a good thing. We don't have the happy heroine slowly drawn into the toils of evil. We start out with a demon-haunted woman and a loving husband who cannot imagine why his beloved wife has so turned against him that she's drinking herself to death *and* occasionally attempting his life.
Slowly the story's suspense builds as we are drawn, page by page, into a web of darkness...
Yes, it's dated, having been written in 1970. Sometimes there are too many coincidences and hair'sbreadth escapes for modern tastes. But if you want a *genuinely* scary book, with real dangers and a non-sexy supernatural side, this is the book for you. I only wish Michaels had written a series revolving around the character of Dr. Galen Rosenberg.
I've re-read it numerous times since my youth. It always gets me. One to be read with the lights on.
Slowly the story's suspense builds as we are drawn, page by page, into a web of darkness...
Yes, it's dated, having been written in 1970. Sometimes there are too many coincidences and hair'sbreadth escapes for modern tastes. But if you want a *genuinely* scary book, with real dangers and a non-sexy supernatural side, this is the book for you. I only wish Michaels had written a series revolving around the character of Dr. Galen Rosenberg.
I've re-read it numerous times since my youth. It always gets me. One to be read with the lights on.
January 3, 2015
Oh my, where to start? This one was very spooky and gave me nightmares. I think it is because the novel is really about trust and misplaced trust. It is about manipulation and emotional abuse. The occult trappings are just a way to explore those themes.
The novel is certainly a product of the times. Originally written in 1970, this book pulls upon the culture of the time. During that time period, more than one author used occult themes. Given the abilities of Barbara Michaels, it isn't surprising that she succeeded in producing a haunting book.
It isn't a book I would read frequently, but it is one that will stick with me. If I could give it 4.5 stars, I would.
The novel is certainly a product of the times. Originally written in 1970, this book pulls upon the culture of the time. During that time period, more than one author used occult themes. Given the abilities of Barbara Michaels, it isn't surprising that she succeeded in producing a haunting book.
It isn't a book I would read frequently, but it is one that will stick with me. If I could give it 4.5 stars, I would.
December 27, 2018
This was the first book of Barbara Michaels that I did not care for. It did not flow well and many chapters and character interactions did not make sense to the story. I hope this is just a one off bad one and her other books are as good as the first of hers that I read.
May 17, 2013
One of the things that's always fun about Barbara Michaels books is that dated quality they have--earlier ones especially tend to have some discussion about women wearing slacks, for instance, and this one is no question. A writer interviews the would-be subject of his next biography and becomes enthralled by his very very beautiful but troubled young wife. Is she crazy, or is the husband?
It wasn't scary, but it did have a nicely weird ending that was pretty fun. Is the whole thing psychological or is it supernatural? There's times where it seems to tip both ways. I especially liked the evil, doughy secretary who turns out to be an unsavory ex-priest. And the husband's particular brand of evil was pretty gripping, preying on talented, vulnerable people and sucking the talent right out of them.
It wasn't scary, but it did have a nicely weird ending that was pretty fun. Is the whole thing psychological or is it supernatural? There's times where it seems to tip both ways. I especially liked the evil, doughy secretary who turns out to be an unsavory ex-priest. And the husband's particular brand of evil was pretty gripping, preying on talented, vulnerable people and sucking the talent right out of them.
January 23, 2017
I truly enjoyed this! It was the type of book where I'd put it down to go do something, and when I'd come back, I'd think, 'now what was I watching before I got up? What movie? What show?' and then I'd realize that it hadn't been a show at all, but this book. An interesting beginning (I can say that now that I've finished) where you truly do not like the female protagonist. An interesting move on Barbara's part, maybe portraying her to us as she appeared to Michael at that first meeting, giving us an insight into why he sided with the husband in the very beginning. A very nice, fascinating book that had you cycling through supernatural to logic and then back to supernatural throughout it's entirety.
November 26, 2016
The Dark on the Other Side is a bit darker — if you’ll forbid the term — than the usual fare from Barbara Michaels (one of the pseudonyms used by Barbara Mertz). Pretty much all that the other reviews have said is true: The plot really drags in the middle, and the alley cat Napoleon is the most interesting character in the entire novel. Deus ex machina abound, and you can see the ending coming a mile away — which is why I didn’t bother waiting for it. Did not finish.
Barbara Michaels can usually weave an amusing and intriguing paranormal romance; don’t judge her by this disaster.
Barbara Michaels can usually weave an amusing and intriguing paranormal romance; don’t judge her by this disaster.
August 6, 2021
I found the characters flat and unlikeable, and the plot full of pages and pages of long, boring dialogue that goes nowhere. Since in most of the Barbara Michaels novels I've read the plot takes a while to get going (usually at the 50-75% mark), this was not a good sign. I did end up skimming through to the end, but I found the ending disappointing - too conventionally horror and not psychological horror like I expected.
July 23, 2008
This, hands down, is perhaps the strangest read of the entire Michaels set for me purely on the grounds that it spends almost more time in the hero's POV than it does in the heroine's. This is unusual for Michaels books--and for the Peters ones as well, with the notable exceptions of the large stretches from Ramses' POV in the Amelia Peabodies. And as of the time this book was written, I'm not entirely convinced that Michaels had the knack of writing from a male POV down. The scenes from Michael's POV in this book feel way more awkward to me than the Ramses ones do in the much later Amelia Peabodies.
And really, that's my overall perception of a lot of the elements of this book: all the right pieces gathered together, but not quite managing to fit smoothly yet. The book can't decide what exactly's up with its bad guy: is he a Satanist? A werewolf? An emotional vampire? All three? Elements that are much more deftly handled in later Michaels works feel stilted to me here, as if she hadn't really found her voice yet. Overall, I give this one two and a half stars--minus two for the overall stilted feel of the plot, but plus a half again for trying to spend some time in the hero's POV as well as the heroine's and therefore expanding the story's range a little.
And really, that's my overall perception of a lot of the elements of this book: all the right pieces gathered together, but not quite managing to fit smoothly yet. The book can't decide what exactly's up with its bad guy: is he a Satanist? A werewolf? An emotional vampire? All three? Elements that are much more deftly handled in later Michaels works feel stilted to me here, as if she hadn't really found her voice yet. Overall, I give this one two and a half stars--minus two for the overall stilted feel of the plot, but plus a half again for trying to spend some time in the hero's POV as well as the heroine's and therefore expanding the story's range a little.
April 21, 2009
Normally I love Barbara Michaels' books, as well as her alter ego, Elizabeth Peters. I have to say, however, that this is not one of her stronger books. Written in 1970, it appears she is capitalizing on a renewed (still present?) interest in witchcraft, popular in American culture at that time, and subsequently has written a book around this phenonmenon. In attempting to build suspense at the beginning, all she does is prolong the story from taking hold. I would think she is trying to keep the reader guessing as to which person is the protagonist, which the antagonist, but it just clouds the plot and truly made me impatient. Once the road was clear, there was more allusion to things dark, rather than actual activity. Interestingly enough, the library from which I got this book has it filed in the YA section. Odd. I will continue to read her books, because I believe she is a master storyteller, but this one is definitely not one of her better attempts.
July 14, 2018
Yikes... this was pretty bad. The general plotline had potential, but the writing style was so stilted that I barely even understood what was going on for the majority of the book. The characters were bland and unlikable, the suspense was minimal, and the writing quality was amateurish. This is the worst book I've read in a long time (at least out of the ones I was actually able to finish, so I guess there have been worse ones). Since other reviewers stated that this is one of Barbara Michaels most poorly written books, I am willing to give her another chance. I'll just pick one of her books that has a higher overall rating. As mentioned above, I do think that the story idea was excellent. It was just horribly executed.
May 27, 2014
I greatly prefer the books that this author writes as Elizabeth Peters, but her Barbara Michaels books are quick and entertaining reads. I enjoyed this book a lot for the first half, but the second half of the book was a bit much. The possibility of the supernatural was a bit dramatic in the context of the rest of the story, but I do understand the purpose of it. My biggest issue was that the relationship between the two main characters developed out of nowhere - all of the sudden they just loved each other. Overall, I would recommend this book as a summer read if you are amused by cheesy paranormal thrillers.
February 12, 2008
Another wonderful Gothic tale. Nothing earth-shattering, but it was a fun read.
November 28, 2016
REALLY like Barbara Michaels/Elizabeth Peters!!!! Can't really remember when I 1st read this title....but '75 is close enough!!
July 29, 2021
The book was so fascinating for the first half. I couldn't put it down. I needed to know how it played out, was the main character truly mad? How was her husband gaslighting her? What was the deal with her dress? I found the woman lead fascinating, if off-putting, although she definitely has far less autonomy than the typical Michaels lead, which was frustrating for me.
As I've often noticed, my theory is better than the book itself (I thought the evil husband was using his wife as a magical conduit and turning her into a Scarlet woman or something... he was not.)
I didn't care for the male lead at ALL and I found the ending wholly unsatisfying, there was no resolution at all for the woman, and the guy's narrative ends in a very abrupt manner.
Basically, it could have been AMAZING, but it fell short in so many ways.
As I've often noticed, my theory is better than the book itself (I thought the evil husband was using his wife as a magical conduit and turning her into a Scarlet woman or something... he was not.)
I didn't care for the male lead at ALL and I found the ending wholly unsatisfying, there was no resolution at all for the woman, and the guy's narrative ends in a very abrupt manner.
Basically, it could have been AMAZING, but it fell short in so many ways.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2020
Good Plot And Atmosphere, But Those Characters...
This was a hard book for me to get into, because the characters start out as so unlikable. I wanted to know what was going on, but I hate reading about jerks. I managed to push past it and the characters become more complex and sympathetic, but still, it was a lot of time to get there.
I like the whole crazy or supernatural plot, one of my favorites in the genre when done decently, and the plot is decent. Not the best, not the worst. It did feel spooky at times, and the element of doubt was nice.
But overall, nothing was more memorable than the not amazing characters (and maybe that last line). There are better examples of the genre; I don't recommend this, though it's not so bad that I'd actively steer people away. With more sympathetic characters, I think I'd really like this, but they aren't, so I don't.
This was a hard book for me to get into, because the characters start out as so unlikable. I wanted to know what was going on, but I hate reading about jerks. I managed to push past it and the characters become more complex and sympathetic, but still, it was a lot of time to get there.
I like the whole crazy or supernatural plot, one of my favorites in the genre when done decently, and the plot is decent. Not the best, not the worst. It did feel spooky at times, and the element of doubt was nice.
But overall, nothing was more memorable than the not amazing characters (and maybe that last line). There are better examples of the genre; I don't recommend this, though it's not so bad that I'd actively steer people away. With more sympathetic characters, I think I'd really like this, but they aren't, so I don't.
October 26, 2019
Good suspenseful story. I didn't like it as well as Ammie, Come Home though. I don't think the characters were as loveable. It's a slow burner, I almost gave up on it away about the 5th chapter but once it gets going you see how subtle it is and it's one of those that the more you think about it you keep going "oh! Oooooh! I wonder...." so yes. Would recommend but be prepared for more slow, subtle developments
September 14, 2017
Not a mystery per se-more gothic but not horror. Interesting sometimes engrossing but sometimes far fetched scenarios- like the instant attraction of Michael to Linda and the murder attempt in Michael's apartment. It was hard to get a fix on Michael's character-could have been developed more. Loved the cat Napoleon. Could have beefed up Andrea's character to let the reader know her better.
January 1, 2021
This book was slow to start for me. UNTIL.... I started reading it like a Hitchcock film. Then it was perfect! The cadence fit. I could picture the dialogue (which is the majority of the book) occurring during the scenes of the movie, could almost put faces on the characters. That made the book much easier to read.
April 15, 2023
Disappointing! The first half of the book was as if the first 100 pages were lost and the reader was tossed in the middle of a story whose key points were missing. There was no terror and the the first half was describing things and situations that the reader had no clue about. Not a good or interesting story.
December 23, 2017
I enjoyed this. Not my favorite Barbara Michaels, but still a good story.
June 19, 2020
Couldn't finish this after making it halfway thru. Stilted writing, characters I couldn't connect with.
January 19, 2023
The beginning had a lot of potential… can someone explain Napoleon the cat and what he did at the end? I was very confused but the cat was probably my favorite character… 😹
July 4, 2023
Sooooo creepy
January 19, 2024
Mildly creepy gothic romance from 1970; heavy on the gothic, light on the romance -- the way I like it :)
February 23, 2025
Really disappointed with this book! Very slow start and disjointed plot.
April 28, 2016
I remember liking this book when I was much, much younger, and far more earnestly romantic!
Unrelieved by even the faintest glimmer of humor, this was a bit of a slog. Leaden dialogue. Sadly lacking in women characters, too. Besides the beautiful heroine, there's a strange old white witch, and a few walk-ons, like a vapid maid and a "like, fer sure" hippy girl. Also weirdly without setting; so strange, considering how much fun Michaels / Peters has with her novels (set firmly in Maryland! or Egypt!) It's as if some editor told her to remove all references to geography. I wasn't even really sure at first what country it was in! The affectionately drawn portrait of small town inhabitants in Naked Once More show what the author would later be capable of. I fled this novel's clutches to one of the author's much better written (and much later) novels.
Unrelieved by even the faintest glimmer of humor, this was a bit of a slog. Leaden dialogue. Sadly lacking in women characters, too. Besides the beautiful heroine, there's a strange old white witch, and a few walk-ons, like a vapid maid and a "like, fer sure" hippy girl. Also weirdly without setting; so strange, considering how much fun Michaels / Peters has with her novels (set firmly in Maryland! or Egypt!) It's as if some editor told her to remove all references to geography. I wasn't even really sure at first what country it was in! The affectionately drawn portrait of small town inhabitants in Naked Once More show what the author would later be capable of. I fled this novel's clutches to one of the author's much better written (and much later) novels.
March 26, 2025
In this short novel, the main female character at first, comes across as a snotty rich bitch type, but little by little, as you learn more about what’s going on, you gain sympathy for her. Yes, the book is certainly dated - written in 1970, but hey all the classic works are “dated” too! Others have complained about the exposition in this novel, but I Loove the exposition! And here it’s done right. The whole Plato’s cave discussion between the male protagonist and his psychiatrist friend is actually for me, a favorite scene in this book.
Unfortunately, the “white” witch is portrayed unsympathetically as a meddlesome idiot. (To be fair, Michael’s later books contain more sympathy and understanding of paganism and wicca.) Two things: I wish the witch had been portrayed as a wise woman, and I wish she and the psychiatrist had been retained throughout Michael’s opus as recurring characters. I think they would have made great foils for each other’s belief systems. 4.5 stars.
Unfortunately, the “white” witch is portrayed unsympathetically as a meddlesome idiot. (To be fair, Michael’s later books contain more sympathy and understanding of paganism and wicca.) Two things: I wish the witch had been portrayed as a wise woman, and I wish she and the psychiatrist had been retained throughout Michael’s opus as recurring characters. I think they would have made great foils for each other’s belief systems. 4.5 stars.
February 4, 2017
The copy I got from the library had "Not worth the read" on the inside front cover. I don't appreciate anonymous critiques or those who deface books, so I read it anyway. Mistake! Full of black magic, demons, Satanic services, etc. Really quite a disturbing volume. Definitely don't read it at night, on a dark time of the moon. Not one of her better efforts, I'm afraid.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews