Someone in the House

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful until the end
Review: As a longtime fan of Barbara Michaels, I really wanted to like this book--and I expected to, since after all it has all the elements I look for in her work: a spunky heroine; a spooky, potentially haunted house; and, of course, potential romance. And Michaels does, as usual, create wonderful suspense and chills. What I disliked about this book is that it doesn't play fair: most of the action is consumed with what turns out to be a red herring, and I felt jarred and betrayed when the mystery was finally resolved in a completely unexpected way. My other major complaint is the severely downbeat ending. Those like me who expect and want a happy romantic ending will be depressed and disappointed when they get to the last page of Someone in the House. Yes, it's a twist on the formula, but since it comes out of nowhere, it seems less like an innovation than a nasty (and unfair) shock. I give three stars because Michaels is consistently a wonderful writer, but this is not a book I will recommend.

Rating:
Summary: Doesn't play fair
Review: As a longtime fan of Barbara Michaels, I really wanted to like this book--and I expected to, since after all it has all the elements I look for in her work: a spunky heroine; a spooky, potentially haunted house; and, of course, potential romance. And Michaels does, as usual, create wonderful suspense and chills. What I disliked about this book is that it doesn't play fair: most of the action is consumed with what turns out to be a red herring, and I felt jarred and betrayed when the mystery was finally resolved in a completely unexpected way. My other major complaint is the severely downbeat ending. Those like me who expect and want a happy romantic ending will be depressed and disappointed when they get to the last page of Someone in the House. Yes, it's a twist on the formula, but since it comes out of nowhere, it seems less like an innovation than a nasty (and unfair) shock. I give three stars because Michaels is consistently a wonderful writer, but this is not a book I will recommend.

Rating:
Summary: one of her best
Review: i could not put this down!from start to finish,a none stop joy ride!the ghosts and characters in this novel are the most realistic shes written!i can not wait until her next!

Rating:
Summary: Haunting
Review: I have always been a greater fan of Barbara Mertz's other nom de guerre, Elizabeth Peters, but Barbara Michaels is the author to pick up for a rainy autumn night. "Someone In the House" is Michaels at her most expressive and potent. I know you're not supposed to be emotionally moved by a dime thriller, but I must say that I was. Deeply. There is a distinctly untraditional Michaels conclusion that stands out all the more because of its uniqueness. The fact that Michaels strayed from her "formula" on this one proves that it meant something significant to her. This significance, I believe, resonated in me. A tour de force!

Rating:
Summary: Excellent... I was on the edge of my seat!
Review: I listened to this as a book on tape and it was fabulous. I found myself sitting in my driveway not wanting to turn off the car and stop listening! Excellent... something new with every chapter and lots of plot twists you don't expect. I highly recommend it!

Rating:
Summary: A Bit of a Let Down
Review: I love most of the novels by Barbara Michaels and was surprised when I found a novel I had not yet read. "Someone in the House" started out a novel of wit, humor, and mystery but the ending felt rushed and anticlimatic. As a fan of Barbara Michaels I'm glad I read the novel, though I would not recommend it to anyone who was not a die hard fan.

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating & memorable
Review: It's been more than 8 years since I read this book, but it was powerfully written and has stayed with me. The story unfolded in a well-plotted manner, and the twists were wonderful. The ending was unexpected but perfect. I'm more a fan of Barbara Mertz's Elizabeth Peters books, but this book reminded me why I devoured every single Barbara Michaels book my high school library had.

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating & memorable
Review: It's been more than 8 years since I read this book, but it was powerfully written and has stayed with me. The story unfolded in a well-plotted manner, and the twists were wonderful. The ending was unexpected but perfect. I'm more a fan of Barbara Mertz's Elizabeth Peters books, but this book reminded me why I devoured every single Barbara Michaels book my high school library had.

Rating:
Summary: A Work Showing Ms. Michaels' Skill
Review: This book got off to a great start immediately. It was almost instantly obvious that this was not going to be a typical book, and although I have always loved Barbara Michaels writing style I was releived that she could be original and unpredictable. There was humor, suspense and the story built as it went. Just when you thought you couldn't possibly be shocked any further, Ms. Michaels threw a curve at the ending.

The characters of Bea, Roger, Father Stevens, Kevin, were all very real, likeable, and interesting. Throughout the book, the suspensese became more intense, the humor climaxed, and the author threw in wonderfully fascinating bits of history. There was even some conflict between the various characters and their religious beliefs. This novel keeps you guesing all the way to the end, and then drops a surprising bombshell. True romantics like myself will have to fight the need to hate the ending, but anyone with any love of literature will be surprised and possibly in awe of Ms. Michaels' ability to stray from form and try something new.

Rating:
Summary: A Work Showing Ms. Michaels' Skill
Review: This book got off to a great start immediately. It was almost instantly obvious that this was not going to be a typical book, and although I have always loved Barbara Michaels writing style I was releived that she could be original and unpredictable. There was humor, suspense and the story built as it went. Just when you thought you couldn't possibly be shocked any further, Ms. Michaels threw a curve at the ending.

The characters of Bea, Roger, Father Stevens, Kevin, were all very real, likeable, and interesting. Throughout the book, the suspensese became more intense, the humor climaxed, and the author threw in wonderfully fascinating bits of history. There was even some conflict between the various characters and their religious beliefs. This novel keeps you guesing all the way to the end, and then drops a surprising bombshell. True romantics like myself will have to fight the need to hate the ending, but anyone with any love of literature will be surprised and possibly in awe of Ms. Michaels' ability to stray from form and try something new.