Witch

This is the first Barbara Michaels/Elizabeth Peters book I have read and while it was not what I expected, it won't be my last. It's not quite the ghost story that the jacket synopsis would lead you to believe, but it does contain some more realistic elements that can be just as creepy. With her grown family all going their separate ways, Ellen March decides to buy a house. Not just any house, her dream house. She finally finds it, nestled in the woods of a small town populated by people with even smaller minds. And the fact that she is living in the former house of the town "witch" is already one strike against her. But still life is pretty good and she's happy in her new home and getting to know her handsome new neighbor, Norman McKay. But with a strange phobia, a delinquent nephew, and some surly housekeepers, Norman's got his own problems. And when Ellen starts seeing the shadows of a woman in her home, things get even worse. In the end, I wouldn't really consider this book a ghost story, although that element of it does get wrapped up and explained. It's more a story of the dark side of small town living. My only problem with the characters in this book is the fact that Ellen seems so much like a child at times, with her emotional reactions and thoughts. Her daughter seems much more sensible and adult, but Ellen is still a very like-able character. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who is already a fan of Elizabeth Peters' works as Barbara Michaels, or anyone who is looking to be.

My first Barbara Michaels book I read and one of my favorites. Highly recommended!

It's nice to read an old-fashioned "creepy old house" novel where the main character and her love interest behave themselves. This story, though obstensibly horrific, was actually quite cozy. However, the shadow that Ellen saw from the corner of her eye each night--the hanging shadow--was pretty scary. I haven't read too much Barbara Michaels as of yet. This was a good start. Greygallows is next on my list.

This book kept me on my toes all the time. I would recommend to anyone who like Barbara Michaels.