Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Doesn't play fair, August 13, 2000
As a longtime fan of Barbara Michaels, I really wanted to like this book--and I expected to, since after all it has all the elements I look for in her work: a spunky heroine; a spooky, potentially haunted house; and, of course, potential romance. And Michaels does, as usual, create wonderful suspense and chills. What I disliked about this book is that it doesn't play fair: most of the action is consumed with what turns out to be a red herring, and I felt jarred and betrayed when the mystery was finally resolved in a completely unexpected way. My other major complaint is the severely downbeat ending. Those like me who expect and want a happy romantic ending will be depressed and disappointed when they get to the last page of Someone in the House. Yes, it's a twist on the formula, but since it comes out of nowhere, it seems less like an innovation than a nasty (and unfair) shock. I give three stars because Michaels is consistently a wonderful writer, but this is not a book I will recommend.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Work Showing Ms. Michaels' Skill, February 25, 2003
This book got off to a great start immediately. It was almost instantly obvious that this was not going to be a typical book, and although I have always loved Barbara Michaels writing style I was releived that she could be original and unpredictable. There was humor, suspense and the story built as it went. Just when you thought you couldn't possibly be shocked any further, Ms. Michaels threw a curve at the ending. The characters of Bea, Roger, Father Stevens, Kevin, were all very real, likeable, and interesting. Throughout the book, the suspensese became more intense, the humor climaxed, and the author threw in wonderfully fascinating bits of history. There was even some conflict between the various characters and their religious beliefs. This novel keeps you guesing all the way to the end, and then drops a surprising bombshell. True romantics like myself will have to fight the need to hate the ending, but anyone with any love of literature will be surprised and possibly in awe of Ms. Michaels' ability to stray from form and try something new.
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful until the end, February 2, 2003
By A Customer
This book started out with sharp humor and a thrill, and got better and better as it went. Ann, the main character, was witty, funny, realistic and vulnerable, and the other characters of Bea, Roger, Father Stevens, Kevin, etc, were well-drawn, likeable and intriguing. Throughout the book, the suspense rose, the humor continued, fascinating bits of history were brought in, and an intriguing conflict between the various characters' Christianity and atheism was introduced and well tied in with the conflict between Christianity and ancient religions in the house. A storm lead to an exciting climax. Then...thud. The ending was a complete let down; it was as if the author got tired of the story or ran into a deadline and just plunked it down. I enjoyed the rest of the book so much that the ending was quite a disappointment and I almost felt cheated. I look forward to reading other books by this author, and I hope in those the endings match the quality of the stories.
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