The Walker in Shadows [Paperback]

Barbara Michaels (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1992

The house next door stood empty for years, an eerie mirror image of Pat Robbins' well-tended home. Until the day the Friedrichses moved in. Pat's teenaged son fell head over heels for Kathy, his new neighbor. But in a furious battle of wills, Kathy's father made his message clear: stay away. Even the house seemed to be warning them of the deadly secrets among its shadows - and the evil within its heart...

Editorial Reviews

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.

--This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

From AudioFile

Laurel Lefkow's characterization amplifies the dated gender stereotypes of this mystery surrounding a Civil War-era house. The female characters (a mother and the girl her son is infatuated with) speak in voices as lightweight as one would expect in women who are deferential to all males. The son and the father of the girl exude machismo as they vie for the women's affections and seek to outmaneuver one another in finding the reason for the disturbances in the house. The narrative voice is a bit annoying in its movement between full-voice and a half-whisper. However, as the book progresses, the volume ranges become less pronounced, and it becomes easier to find a comfortable and effective listening volume. J.E.M. © AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 321 pages
• Publisher: Berkley (September 1, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425133990
• ISBN-13: 978-0425133996
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,549,954 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars absolutely wonderful, June 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Walker in Shadows (Paperback)

I read this book when it first came out. I loved it then and have loved it each time I've read it since then. It's become a book that I take off the shelf when the fancy strikes me to read a perfectly written ghost story with romance and humor thrown in. The characters are wonderfully developed. Ms. Michaels has the ability to bring humor into a story without being forced. It's scary enough to keep you on the edge and along the way you laugh. I've read the book several times and will keep it on my book shelf for a future read. If you can get a copy--do so!

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't miss this one!, September 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Walker in Shadows (Paperback)

I started reading Barbara Michaels' (aka Elizabeth Peters) novels a loooong time ago. Of the three spookiest, this is one, along with Ammie Come Home and The Crying Child. Every time I re-read one of these three, I get the cold shudders. The atmospheres are wonderfully creepy, and the characters are like normal, real-life folks who find themselves in seemingly impossible situations. Grab this author's books wherever and whenever you can, and turn on all the lights in the house before you start reading!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Charming, creepy, alluring..., January 7, 2008

By 

- Kasia S. (New York City) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Walker in Shadows (Mass Market Paperback)

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.