kjkbooks's review
2.0
Thoughts: I struggled with this book but wanted to persevere as I had not read any books by this author (under either her own name Barbara Mertz or her pseudonyms of Barbara Michaels or Elizabeth Peters). With an impressive amount of published books I thought I’d like to try one and when this copy was available through my local charity bookcase I thought it would be perfect to try.
However, I struggled with continuity of when the book was supposed to be written as it felt very old, turn of the century maybe but then there were references to the Beatles no longer being new music and I was left confused as to when it’s supposed to be. There was nothing I could feel wrong with the plot or story though so I may just not be a fan of the writing style or this particular story.
Favourite Quote:
"It is very hard to reverse every rational conviction you have ever held, overnight."
However, I struggled with continuity of when the book was supposed to be written as it felt very old, turn of the century maybe but then there were references to the Beatles no longer being new music and I was left confused as to when it’s supposed to be. There was nothing I could feel wrong with the plot or story though so I may just not be a fan of the writing style or this particular story.
Favourite Quote:
"It is very hard to reverse every rational conviction you have ever held, overnight."
lberestecki's review
4.0
This is definitely one of the better Barbara Michaels books I've read. It was close to being 4.5 stars. The mystery was interesting, and the book actually creeped me out, which doesn't happen a lot with horror novels for me. I did feel like the epilogue didn't totally fit with the rest of the story - it was an abrupt transition - but that was my only real complaint.
justasking27's review
4.0
Delightfully silly and wonderful, with all the gothic ghostliness you could want.
paperbackstash's review
4.0
Come on, just the title alone is worth a second glance, right?
As usual Michaels indulges in cozy storytelling with a different twist on her characters. Here the heroine of the story is suffering from desiring forbidden fruit, so to speak, but is highly moral and won't follow Eve's path. Between her urge for independence and witty humor - and thankfully less of a bitchy nature than many other Michaels characters - she's another likable act to follow. The sister Mary is an intriguing one, not a usual for Michaels, a little reminiscent of an early, watered down V.C. Andrews character. She's frail and fragile, being protected from all sides, yet with a cunning glint in her eye when it suits her. Her husband was just in between, a character to feel for but no one who overly stands out. Overall, as always, the blend is a gripping one that only serves the stories purpose.
Plot wise, it's another good one. You never know with her books whether there really is something supernatural, or whether it's something that ends up being disproven. I won't spoil that part for you, but will say the emphasis the supernatural is handled a little less than usual. It's the main theme of the story, but doesn't involve the same sort of endless debates, research, and multiple signs and symptoms other novels share. While not as detailed, it's still as mystifying, and I in no way could imagine the ending. In fact, the revelation was a smidge creepy, which is also abnormal for Michaels.
Pace wise, it's lightning as she hops on the plane in chapter one and conjures up important facts in her mind, then plunges right into the heart of the matter. A reader and fan of mysteries won't grow bored. The trademark love story is of course present as always, without much steam or surprise. Suspense is high when it's meant to be in scarce parts, and Michaels typical language use is appealing.
On the downside, while the story didn't drag its feet and remained interesting, I didn't stay 100% glued in all parts. More action would have spruced up a few scenes. This is one of Michael's earlier works and it wouldn't have hurt to flesh out a few characters more, particularly the good old doctor. His enthusiasm for his patients seemed a little overdone and stereotypical as well. It was never explained about his avid treatment of the psychiatrist, but the end result leaves the reader assuming it was all in the heroines head. From reading the story, to me it wasn't, and them having a sort of conversation about it would have been preferred. Overall a sweet ending (after the chilling part, of course)
If you're in the mood for a delightful little mystery with a tinge of morbidity, The Crying Child's your midnight companion.
As usual Michaels indulges in cozy storytelling with a different twist on her characters. Here the heroine of the story is suffering from desiring forbidden fruit, so to speak, but is highly moral and won't follow Eve's path. Between her urge for independence and witty humor - and thankfully less of a bitchy nature than many other Michaels characters - she's another likable act to follow. The sister Mary is an intriguing one, not a usual for Michaels, a little reminiscent of an early, watered down V.C. Andrews character. She's frail and fragile, being protected from all sides, yet with a cunning glint in her eye when it suits her. Her husband was just in between, a character to feel for but no one who overly stands out. Overall, as always, the blend is a gripping one that only serves the stories purpose.
Plot wise, it's another good one. You never know with her books whether there really is something supernatural, or whether it's something that ends up being disproven. I won't spoil that part for you, but will say the emphasis the supernatural is handled a little less than usual. It's the main theme of the story, but doesn't involve the same sort of endless debates, research, and multiple signs and symptoms other novels share. While not as detailed, it's still as mystifying, and I in no way could imagine the ending. In fact, the revelation was a smidge creepy, which is also abnormal for Michaels.
Pace wise, it's lightning as she hops on the plane in chapter one and conjures up important facts in her mind, then plunges right into the heart of the matter. A reader and fan of mysteries won't grow bored. The trademark love story is of course present as always, without much steam or surprise. Suspense is high when it's meant to be in scarce parts, and Michaels typical language use is appealing.
On the downside, while the story didn't drag its feet and remained interesting, I didn't stay 100% glued in all parts. More action would have spruced up a few scenes. This is one of Michael's earlier works and it wouldn't have hurt to flesh out a few characters more, particularly the good old doctor. His enthusiasm for his patients seemed a little overdone and stereotypical as well. It was never explained about his avid treatment of the psychiatrist, but the end result leaves the reader assuming it was all in the heroines head. From reading the story, to me it wasn't, and them having a sort of conversation about it would have been preferred. Overall a sweet ending (after the chilling part, of course)
If you're in the mood for a delightful little mystery with a tinge of morbidity, The Crying Child's your midnight companion.
katherineep's review
5.0
This is one of my favorite Barbara Michaels and one I've reread over and over. The story starts with Jo arriving on the island to cheer up her sister after a miscarriage and wind up in a full fledged ghost story with a big family secret. The characters are all likable (with the exception of Anne who irritated me) and sympathetic (not excluding Anne).
yeahdeadslow's review
2.0
Sometimes I get a craving for old school gothic novels, and I’ve enjoyed Barbara Michaels books in the past. That being said, I enjoyed some elements of this, but I was bored as well. I liked Jo the main character, but she got fobbed off into an undeveloped relationship with a guy who was lowkey misogynistic. What a catch.
pussreboots's review against another edition
4.0
A genuine ghost story which made for an entertaining read. Often Michaels opts for a more logical conclusion leaving the supernatural events to be explained by a nefarious slight of hand by one of the characters. In this book the ending is as Gothic as the house in which the story takes place.
donnaj71's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this story but felt it was a bit slow moving. I loved the idea of the story more than anything. I love stories that involve something that happened in the past. I love when they go back to look at what happened in the past to dig out secrets by look into genealogy or long forgotten items that have been stored away. This book wasn't very long but it sure seemed to take longer to get to the next stage of the story. I kept putting it down but I've read bigger books in shorter times; the story just kept losing my interest. I enjoyed the ending as it wasn't what I expected and not something I've read before in another book.
michellereadatrix's review against another edition
5.0
I read this for the first time when I was maybe 10-years-old or so. My mother and grandmother were fans of the author and it was easy for me to fall in love with her writing as well.
Aspects of the story are dated, certainly the musical references that are there to make the heroine seem young and hip, but it's still an enjoyable read.
The writer is more famous for the Elizabeth Peters books, but I'm a Barbara Michaels fan through and through and think any of the books issued under that name are worth a read.
Aspects of the story are dated, certainly the musical references that are there to make the heroine seem young and hip, but it's still an enjoyable read.
The writer is more famous for the Elizabeth Peters books, but I'm a Barbara Michaels fan through and through and think any of the books issued under that name are worth a read.
sistermagpie's review against another edition
3.0
Another fun Barbara Michaels ghost story, this one set in a creepy house in Maine full of towers that look out on the sea. Somewhere a baby's crying, calling Mary, who recently had a miscarriage, out to care for it. Her husband, Ran (talk about a romance hero name!) calls her sister, Jo, back to help her and the family sets out to solve the mystery along with the oh-so-New England couple who helps out at the house, Ran's best friend Will and a pantsuit-wearing glamorpuss psychiatrist.
As with the other Barbara Michaels I read, the book's almost more notable for the late 60s/early 70s amosphere than the spooky one. Jo is young and hip, arguing with her older sister about listening to the Beatles (who her sister insists on calling "The Insects"). Will has to get over his sexism to get together with Jo, though frankly he never seems to get over it as far as I can see. Early on he diagnoses Mary as suffering simply from being spoiled and petulant, having never had to deal with stress, despite the fact that Mary was orphaned young, raised a younger sister and has had several miscarriages. I was a little disappointed at the way none of the characters ever brought Mary into the mystery solving. As sexist as Will's dismissals are, I couldn't see why everyone else agreed that Mary ought to be treated like an invalid just because she was most vulnerable to the ghosts.
Jo herself has to get over her crush on older sister's handsome, sexy husband that she's been coveting since puberty--which I suspect was pretty daring at the time the book was written! In fact, the roles of women are obviously a central subject for the author, as one of the ghosts that haunt the house was also the victim of a misogynist society.
As with the other Barbara Michaels I read, the book's almost more notable for the late 60s/early 70s amosphere than the spooky one. Jo is young and hip, arguing with her older sister about listening to the Beatles (who her sister insists on calling "The Insects"). Will has to get over his sexism to get together with Jo, though frankly he never seems to get over it as far as I can see. Early on he diagnoses Mary as suffering simply from being spoiled and petulant, having never had to deal with stress, despite the fact that Mary was orphaned young, raised a younger sister and has had several miscarriages. I was a little disappointed at the way none of the characters ever brought Mary into the mystery solving. As sexist as Will's dismissals are, I couldn't see why everyone else agreed that Mary ought to be treated like an invalid just because she was most vulnerable to the ghosts.
Jo herself has to get over her crush on older sister's handsome, sexy husband that she's been coveting since puberty--which I suspect was pretty daring at the time the book was written! In fact, the roles of women are obviously a central subject for the author, as one of the ghosts that haunt the house was also the victim of a misogynist society.