Into the Darkness [Mass Market Paperback]

Barbara Michaels (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 24, 2008

Meg Venturi never expected the windfall she inherits when her grandfather dies. For some unknown reason the eccentric old millionaire has left her his profitable antique jewelry business. But there is a catch. Meg must share the business with an aloof, mysterious, and somewhat sinister young man called A. L. Riley. The town is whispering about her enigmatic new partner. Rumors spread about unspoken secrets, a dark and disturbing legacy . . . and murder. Soon a series of troubling events has Meg looking uncomfortably over her shoulder. The longer she stays in this tiny New England village the clearer two very troubling truths become: that all that glitters is definitely not gold . . . and that someone will stop at nothing to drive her away.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Meg Venturi is the quintessential Barbara Michaels ( Smoke and Mirrors ) heroine, with a fierce independence and caustic wit barely hiding her romantic soul. Meg's intelligence and grit are put to the test when she returns to her New England home after inheriting half of her grandfather's prestigious jewelry business and finds she must share the operation with a new co-owner, a sinister and enigmatic man called A. L. Riley. But a series of threatening events convinces Meg that somebody wants her out of town. The well-meaning but relentlessly nosy townspeople appear to know more than they're letting on, and a fine collection of garrulous businessmen, surly former classmates and exotic relatives keep Meg on her toes--and constantly looking over her shoulder. An underlying past tragedy involving Meg's father is connected somehow to her present traumas, and Meg must summon all her formidable skills not only to survive, but to get to the root of her deepening problems. Memorable characters and complex mystery make this one of the Michaels's best novels of romantic suspense. Doubleday Book Club alternate.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Elizabeth Peters (writing as Barbara Michaels) was born and brought up in Illinois and earned her Ph.D. in Egyptology from the University of Chicago's famed Oriental Institute. Peters was named Grandmaster at the inaugural Anthony Awards in 1986, Grandmaster by the Mystery Writers of America at the Edgar® Awards in 1998, and given The Lifetime Achievement Award at Malice Domestic in 2003. She lives in an historic farmhouse in western Maryland.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Harper; Reprint edition (June 24, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061249645
• ISBN-13: 978-0061249648
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #107,157 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Quite possibly the finest character development by Michaels, September 13, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Into the Darkness (Paperback)

I am a faithful reader of Ms. Michael's, and trust me, this is one of her most enjoyable books. Not only are the characters likeable, they're so well developed you'll miss them when you're done with the book. Riley is, hands down, her all-time best hero, but the biggest selling point of this book is its ending, which will have you hovering in mid air beyond the edge of your seat. If you didn't love Barbara Michaels before reading this book, you will by the time you've finished.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gem of a mystery, July 10, 2002

By 

E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Into the Darkness (Paperback)

Barbara Michaels pens two kinds of thrillers -- lackluster and dull with unsympathetic characters, and sparkling, vivid and populated by "real" people. This, thankfully, is one of the latter, a delightfully twisted mystery that sparkles as much as any of the gems.

Meg Venturi becomes the heiress to a jewelry fortune when her grandfather unexpectedly dies; among the conditions of her grandfather's will are that she must take over half of the ownership of his respected gem and jewelry store. The other half is the domain of his partner, a dark, silent, mysterious man named Riley, whom the townspeople suspect of having killed the elder Venturi. Meg is unsure about Riley, but she does know that he is brilliant with jewelry.

But then strange, sinister happenings begin to occur around Meg. As she tries to unravel the dark mysteries that destroyed her grandfather before his time, she becomes the target of a killer with a mission that stems back to a scandal many years before...

"Into the Darkness" has many of the best attributes of a Barbara Michaels novel: the witty dialogue, subtle characterizations, strong heroine, unusual romance, and a wide range of supporting characters who are never what they seem. Readers who enjoyed lessons on roses, maze gardens, and old Gothic novels will enjoy the informative lessons on jewelry and gems. As she always does in her best books, Michaels includes plenty of information that will stick in the mind without being annoying.

Meg Venturi is a standard Michaels heroine: tough, no-nonsence, mildly sarcastic with a bit of trauma in her background to add extra dimension. Riley is more of a dark horse: it's hard to tell what he's thinking or why, from his first scene onward. Supporting characters like the despicable wimp Candy, her boor husband, the seemingly fragile Mrs. Venturi and hearty Uncle George are all well-rounded from the start, but with hidden depths that are revealed as the book goes on. Even the grandfather is a very alive figure, despite the fact that he dies at the beginning of the novel.

This is more of an "Elizabeth Peters" mystery than a Barbara Michaels one, as there is virtually no supernatural influence, no cults or ghosts or werewolves or anything of the sort. But it is an excellent mystery for those of you who like a little sexy pizzazz, past scandal, and a lesson or two with your guilty pleasure.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Gem of a Mystery, November 23, 2000

By 

Ann E. Nichols (Sierra Vista, AZ United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Into the Darkness (Paperback)

Whether the author is writing as "Barbara Michaels" or as "Elizabeth Peters", you are likely to get strong and interesting characters. At heart, this mystery has a lot in common with the gothic romances I read in my youth (except that the heroine's grandfather was popular instead of universally hated by the villagers). I enjoyed the painless lessons on jewels (particularly since I also find diamonds boring). Heroine Meg has four men to consider: Nick, her current boyfriend from New York; Cliff, her handsome stepcousin; Darren, the old schoolmate become family lawyer; and the aloof, mysterious Riley, widely believed to have murdered his benefactor, Meg's grandfather. The old hand at gothic romances will be looking for the clues that will spell out which of these men is the blackguard in disguise -- and will probably still be surprised in the end. There's a Old Family Scandal that needs to be revisited, a housekeeper who loves to play the roles of certain famous fictional housekeepers (including the infamous Mrs. Danvers), an old-fashioned gentlewoman of a grandmother, and a treat of a cat (unless you're a cat-hater). There are other characters with their own stories and personalities. I'll leave you to make their acquaintance in your own good time. Notes: Meg's grandfather's opinion to the contrary, it takes courage to seek therapy. It takes more courage to try again if the first professional you turn to doesn't work out. For those who have read many of the author's books under both names, I should explain that INTO THE DARKNESS is really in the Elizabeth Peters style so they won't read this book with the wrong expectations, as I did.