Rating: 
Summary: This was a big disappointment from my favorite author.
Review: I had planned on writing about how disappointed I was with Barbara Michaels' newst book, but all the other reviews have summed up my feelings perfectly. I hope for her sake, and for the sake of all her loyal readers, that Ms. Michaels reads these messages.
Rating:
Summary: I was extremely disappointed by this book
Review: I had this book on hold at the library for 2 months and couldn't wait to get my hands on it. Unfortunately it did not live up to my standards. The premise was an interesting one but I felt that there could have been more written and that the characters should not have torn the plots apart at the end. That really ruined the stories for me. I hope her next book is back to her usual style of suspense and romance.
Rating:
Summary: Dissapointed!
Review: I had waited sooo long for this novel to come out, and when its all been read and done, it was bad. boring and slow, with no intrest at all the novel just never hit it off. I love Barbara Michaels, but this just was not her.
Rating:
Summary: Not up to Ms. Michaels usual standards
Review: I have all of Ms. Michaels books whether she is writing as Barbara Michaels or Elizabeth Peters, and yes, I even have a serious one that she wrote under her given name Mertz. I waited impatiently for this book to come out and bought it just as soon as it hit the stands. I was extremely disappointed in this book. I hope new readers do not pick this book to start with. Ms. Michaels is a wonderful writer but all I could think of when I read this book was "Barbara, Barbara, Barbara, what happened?" This will not stop me from buying any new books Ms. Michaels should write. After all the wonderful books she has written and the hours of joy I have received from them one disappointment is nothing to fret over. While I was unhappy with "Other Worlds" I would like to say Thank You for all the other wonderful books you have written. I believe I am your biggest fan and still love you.
Rating: 
Summary: Explaining the unexplainable
Review: I have always enjoyed Barbara Michaels books, in fact AMMIE, COME HOME remains for me, one of the scariest novels I have ever read. OTHERWORLDS does not quite measure up. Using the point-of-view of both historical (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and Harry Houdini), as well as fictional characters; two stories of supernatural visitation are presented to the group, and invited to be explained. Naturally, each person "sees the elephant" from their own perspective. The supernatural tales are intriguing, and slightly scary -- but not chilling, and in the end, are unresolved. This book was a disappointment, and I hope Barbara Michaels returns to form with her next effort.
Rating:
Summary: Dear Barbara, What Has Happened To You?
Review: I have just read "Other Worlds" because I am a Barbara Michaels devotee from 30 years ago when I read "Ammie, Come Home". As a young teenager most of her books as a welcomed friend. I scour the bookstores for any new books by Barbara Michaels yet, it is with a twinge of sadness how her books have declined somewhat in their impact of atmospheric suspense that was at one time able to capture the reader's attention from page one! Or, maybe I am the one who has changed. I still eagerly purchase any of Ms. Michaels books with the hope that the queen of suspense will surprise me and make my hair stand on end! Also, I believe in being loyal, afterall I am a native Marylander, and the author resides a bit of a distance away from my home. How I would love to see the "historic farmhouse" her jacket covers say she lives in. What a treat! Sitting down with Ms. Michaels, wearing her wonderful hats, over a cup of tea, with dogs and cats about the place and all the while being enthralled in discovering some insights into an author's genius.... But I digress...forgive me. For, I can remember a time when The Washington Post's review of Ms. Michael's works were very apt in that "she is a writer so popular" that her books cannot stay on the shelves even in local libraries. But, where has the talented Barbara Michaels-- with that genius to create delicious atmostpheric delights disappeared to? Has she sold out, and merely goes through the motions of writing just to please her publisher? Heaven forbid! I believe her last wonderful book that was pure Michaels' genius was "Someone In The House"--- which was in the early to mid-1980's. I am nostalgic from way back, when I first read "The Master of Blacktower", Greygallows", "Ammie, Come Home", "The Dark On the Other Side", "Sons of the Wolf"...down through the intervening years with "Patriot's Dream"--in time for the Bicentennial of our Country and aptly set in Williamsburg, VA.", "The Crying Child", "Witch" followed sadly years later by "Be Buried In the Rain"," The Grey Beginning", "Vanish With the Rose", "House of Stone", "Stitches in Time", "The Dancing Floor" and now the most current in paperback "Other Worlds"---I find still lacking in that glorious suspensful genre she excelled at for so long. I know times change, so an author has to change too. But why change what was so captivating, and wonderfully suspenseful always with a touch of romance! I have not read the books under her other fictious name as Elizabeth Peters--perhaps I should switch to those books which provide her the outlet for brilliance in the studies of Egyptology. Afterall, she does have a PH.D. in the Egyptian history. But I will remain loyal and hope for a real thriller in the future that will once again but her name first and foremost at the top of the list of sheer genius in writing suspenseful stories that thankfully do not include vulgar language! But until that happens, Ms. Michaels, where are you?
Rating:
Summary: Me, too: disappointing offering from a fav author
Review: I have read all her works as Michaels or Elizabeth Peters and this is very poor, indeed. There are several others (Someone in the House, The Black Rainbow, The Copenhagen Connection) that also bomb, and I wonder what happened. Can't believe these are from the woman who has created and sustained Amelia Peabody & Co. for 20 years. I'll just pre-order The Falcon at the Portal and hope this book is a burp in an otherwise terrific body of work.
Rating:
Summary: Is this Barbara Michaels?
Review: I have read all of Barbara Michael's books, and all I can say is what happened? After she has written so many excellent books I don't intend to give up on her, but I really hope her next book is nothing like this one.
Rating:
Summary: Horribly disappointing
Review: I have read all the Barbara Michaels-Elizabeth Peters books, most of them several times. Also I live within ten miles of Adams, Tennessee, where the Bell Witch hauntings took place. Needless to say, I was excited when I heard the subject of her latest book. After reading it, I tend to wonder if she even wrote it, it was so bad. I'd rather believe that than believe she wrote something this awful. I'll buy her next one, but I'll pick it up and examine it first instead of grabbing it ecstatically off the shelf.
Rating:
Summary: Barbara -- what happened???
Review: I have read every Barbara Michaels book ever written, including her incarnation as Elizabeth Peters. I have loved each and every one! This book doesn't even seem to be her writing style. I was actually bored, and read to the end only because I just kept hoping to see the old Barbara Michaels take over. I never did. I don't know what happened, but I want the old Barbara back!
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