Share for friends:

Read The Walker In Shadows (2006)

The Walker in Shadows (2006)

Online Book

Genre
Rating
3.81 of 5 Votes: 5
Your rating
ISBN
0060878169 (ISBN13: 9780060878160)
Language
English
Publisher
harpertorch

The Walker In Shadows (2006) - Plot & Excerpts

While written almost twenty years ago this is still a modern tale of secret passions, family quarrels and haunted houses with eerie appearances that are not of this world. The story is about Pat and Mark, a widow and her son who welcome new neighbors: Josef and his daughter Kathy into the house next door. Their homes are identical, build by the same architect and unknowingly to them they share a secret. Abandoned for a long time the house next door was solemn and dark but when new flesh moved in strange things started to happen. Unfriendly and hostile Joseph with his authoritative attitude kept Pat away until she got drawn into the lives of two strangers who managed to build a tangible hold on her and her son. Feelings, strong, some malevolent and others vague form between the neighbors, but when a secret romance starts to blossom things get hairy and the houses start to freak out. Apparently old history that dates back to the Civil War and the original owners doesn't want to leave the new owners in peace. New people in the house stir up freaky occurrences and that's when things get interesting! I dare not say anything else because this book is best savored when the reader doesn't know what waits around each corner.This was another fun read from Michaels, her characters were likable but with flaws, making them real to me, and from time to time Josef would annoy me with his macho remarks and outburst but the way the book progressed I couldn't help but like him. The atmosphere was brilliant, and eerie creepy stuff started to happen right away. This isn't a book that one has to sit around for hours waiting for something to go bump in the night. Fun, easy and totally seductive, the book drew me in and I felt compassion and care for the main characters. The history parts were a bit drawn out but they didn't take away from the story. The set up was huge and I only wish the ending had a little more of a bang, other than that I loved it. Who else but Michaels can combine a haunted house, a mysterious diary, secret lovers and ghosts into such a lovely story.- Kasia S.

Not really the book I thought it was going to be. I really enjoyed the first book I read by Barbara Michaels 'Witch', so I expected this one to be a great read.I was disappointed. This is a part ghost story but for me the ghostly goings on were brought in too quickly and no one in the book seemed to think it odd,which made it all seem very far fetched and unreaslistic. I was also surprised by how much history is crammed into the story, but not done very well or really added to the plot. A weak ending added to my frustration over this book, overall many little points ruined this book for me.

What do You think about The Walker In Shadows (2006)?

I know that reading a book first published in 1979 would be a bit dated. But that was not the problem with this book. There really wasn't anything to it. It was a ghost story, but not really frightening. It had some interesting Civil War history, but not enough to make it a good historical account. I didn't like any of the characters...let the ghost get them for all I cared. And I felt like the conversations between them were very contrived and not at all natural. I know that Barbara Michaels is a very popular writer, but just too 'lightweight' for me.
—Beverley Albright

I always enjoy re-reading my Barbara Michaels books. She consistantly differs from other "gothic" writers in that her characters are almost invariably on the sarcastic side, and she infuses her spooky stories with just enough humor to prevent them from taking themselves too seriously.The Walker in Shadows isn't my favorite Michaels book (that will always go to Ammie, Come Home), but it retains the flavor of her snarky, suspenseful, spooky style to provide a light, enjoyable read. I couldn't rate it higher then a 3 stars because I wasn't convinced over the romantic coupling she gave the two adult characters. It wasn't fleshed out enough to convince me, and it seemed to happen too quickly. Likewise, the spooky elements were well done, but the ending was somewhat lackluster and wrapped up too quickly as well.The only quibble I have with her books in general is that she tends to date her books with too many references to current events or personalities. The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, the gas crisis, long-haired hippies, etc. immediately take me out of her stories and back to the good 'ole '70's. It's inevitable that any old book will show it's age in one way or another, but that can be modified by keeping specific information out of a story (unless it pertains to the plot).All in all, not her best book, but good.
—Hannah

Write Review

(Review will shown on site after approval)

Read books by author Barbara Michaels

Read books in category Fiction