Hooray! A Barbara Michaels book I actually liked better upon rereading than I did as a teen! Barbara Michaels's books generally fall into the category of romantic suspense, although some of the earlier books are pure Gothic in tone. In Someone in the House, the two genres are well blended; the novel is set in present day (which, when it was written, was 1981), but takes place in a transplanted Gothic mansion, where the heroine Anne has come to write an English textbook with her friend Kevin. Evidence soon surfaces that there may be a ghostly presence in the house, specifically haunting Kevin's bedroom at night. Is it a human lover? A ghost? Some other kind of supernatural presence? Different suggestions are made by Anne herself, Kevin's pious aunt Bea, her skeptical suitor Roger, and the kindly Father Stephen. Can the group figure out the true nature of the haunting spirit? Is it benign, or is Kevin's very life in danger?It's so funny to reread these books I first read in my teens, because my perspective on the characters has changed so much. I have always liked that Michaels writes strong and intelligent heroines, and Anne is one I probably like even better now that I've been an academic myself. And I really liked Bea, who was also strong (when her ex-husband socked her, she punched him right back!) but demure enough to be embarrassed when she hears a woman's voice in her nephew's room. If there's any character who suffered upon this rereading, it was probably Kevin, whom my teenage hormones probably elevated more than he deserved. Don't get me wrong, he still sounds quite sexy, but struck me as rather feckless this time around.I can't really tell you what I disliked about this book when I read it as a teen. That is to say, I can't tell you without spoiling the ending; I remember quite well what I didn't like about it. I will tell you that my romantic sensibilities were upset, and that a lot of the books Michaels wrote in the '80s made me fear she was suffering some kind of depression; they just felt a bit sadder than her usual fare. But when I reread Someone in the House, this time the resolution didn't bother me, but instead felt rather thought-provoking. There were plenty of false leads planted (or were they?), but I can also see how the seeds were sown, particularly through the depiction of Anne's personality and past relationships. By its nature, it made me sad, but I'm not railing at its unfairness this time.
Barbara Michaels (who also writes as Elizabeth Peters) is a writer of consistently entertaining romantic thrillers, usually with supernatural overtones. After reading Someone in the House several times over the years since it was published, I've come to think that it's one of her best. Anne and Kevin are English professors, planning to write a textbook together; when Kevin's parents win the lottery and buy a country manor (transported intact from England at the beginning of World War II), he and Anne decide to spend the summer there, writing. Soon after they arrive, strange things start to happen, and Anne begins to feel that there is an inexplicable presence in the house. The story is full of Michaels' signature suspense, romance, and humor, but the utterly unexpected ending is what, for me, lifts this book above many of her others (though I note upon reading reviews at Amazon that my opinion isn't shared by most Michaels fans, so your mileage may vary).
What do You think about Someone In The House (2005)?
It took me a while to get into this book, but once I was about a third of the way into the story I got invested for a while. But then there were just so many theories being thrown around that I got un-invested again. I also though the ending was weird and not terribly satisfying. I might have liked the book better if I had liked any of the characters, but I basically disliked all of them. Some of that probably had to do with how the atmosphere of the house was affecting them, but it's tough for me to enjoy a book when I don't really care about the characters.
—Laura
I just got this through ILL. I like all of Barbara Michaels' books, and there are only a few I haven't read, so I'm trying to find them all and read them. Some are better than others, but her wit and good characters are always part of her novels. This one is set in rural PA in a transplanted castle. :) It is good so far and will probably be a fairly quick read for me. ***I'm done with it. :) I really enjoyed the intellectual depth of this book-- lots of theology and history in a romantic suspense novel. No one does this like Michaels-- at least no one I've read... I also wanted to add so I'd remember later that this had one of the saddest endings I've ever encountered in a Michaels book. That's why I respect her so much as an author; she doesn't follow the formula of romance here...
—Lisa Greer
Barbara Michaels is a favorite of mine for suspense stories. It's easy to be caught up in her stories, which at the time, 20-30 years ago, were probably modern suspense.The story is written from the point of view of Anne, a graduate student who is writing her about experiences during a summer spent at Greyhaven, a house that was moved brick by brick from England to Pennsylvania during the Roaring Twenties by a very rich man. Sixty years later, lottery winners are now the owners and they've left their son Kevin as the caretaker while they travel in Europe. Anne and Kevin intend to write a history textbook together; they are joined by Kevin's recently divorced Aunt Bea.The house is several centuries old, parts of it appear to date back as far as the days of William the Conqueror, so when mysterious events begin to take place, it's not a terrible surpise. However the cause of the events is fairly unique. To say more would likely spoil the enjoyment for future readers.I recommend this for people who like their suspense with a touch of the supernatural.
—Liz
