The Mystery of Collinwood

Dark Shadows #4

by Marilyn Ross

Victoria watched the black-cloaked figure. Suddenly she remembered the legend. To meet the Phantom Mariner is to be warned of your own death!

Genres: Gothic, Horror, Mystery, Fiction, Vampires, Fantasy, Media Tie In

159 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1968

About the author

William Edward Daniel Ross, W. E. Daniel "Dan" Ross (born 1912) is a bestselling Canadian novelist from Saint John, New Brunswick who wrote over 300 books in a variety of genres and under a variety of mostly female pseudonyms such as Laura Frances Brooks, Lydia Colby, Rose Dana, Jan Daniels, Olin Ross, Diane Randall, Clarissa Ross, Leslie Ames, Ruth Dorset, Ann Gilmer, Jane Rossiter, Dan Ross, Dana Ross, Marilyn Ross, Dan Roberts, and W.E.D. Ross. As Marilyn Ross he wrote popular Gothic fiction including a series of novels about the vampire Barnabas Collins based on the American TV series Dark Shadows (1966-71).

Reviews

[Justin Tate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our dear Victoria Winters is subject to yet another barrage of murder attempts. It’s a Scooby Doo formula caper like the others, but also the most satisfying since the dynamite first book. Some of the best characters make brief reappearances. Carolyn, the groovy teenager, arrives from school to help with an impromptu dance. And Ernest, Victoria’s semi-fiancé, visits after his own lengthy hiatus.

Unfortunately, there’s another woman visiting the Collinwood estate who’s playing for his affections. Will Ernest stick to his marriage plans with Victoria? Or will he be swept away by his former confidant? And is someone trying to off Victoria to cut her out of the picture completely?

We still don’t know Victoria’s origins and whether she is related to the Collins family. This is problematic, because there’s a possibly she’s related to Earnest which would make their wedding rather awkward. The fact that the competing woman, Linda, must also fall somewhere on the Collins family tree is bizarre.

While I’m still obsessed with the spooky mansion and odd family therein, it’s disappointing that atmosphere and characterization has largely been absent since everything was set-up in the first book. Looking forward to the vampire’s introduction in Book 6 so the formula can get a big jolt.

[♥Milica♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ohhh that Linda, I don't like her at all!! I know everything is going to be ~alright~ once Barnabas shows up, but the anticipation is killing me. Also, the ending was giving Scooby Doo, but I'm not mad about it, please get even sillier!!

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like 98% of the problems at Collinwood House could be solved if the characters would just mind their own business.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I consider this the weakest of the early titles but it's still a good read. Collins House here finally becomes COLLINWOOD, the name used in the TV series. Victoria has a frightening encounter with the Phantom Mariner, purportedly an omen of impending death. Although one of the characters later is found to have impersonated the phantom, Ross also implies that the INITIAL haunting may have been real. And it is also revealed that Elizabeth and Roger have a black sheep older brother, Mark, who (Victoria suspects) may hold the key to her past. Mark's daughter Linda looks enough like Victoria to be her sister...and what if that should actually prove to be the case?

Linda is infatuated with Victoria's true love, Ernest Collins, and vies for his attention. Meanwhile, there are attacks on our heroine's life. Victoria may pay a heavy price for her involvement with the Collins family! Burke Devlin also plays a large part in the story---not as Victoria's love interest (which he was in the TV show) but as a dear friend.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fourth book in the series. Only one left until Barnabas Collins arrives and takes the spotlight off of Miss Victoria Winters.
As with the previous 2 books, David and Carolyn are off page. Though Carolyn does pop up for a little at the end. Matt Morgan is around a little. Joe Haskell makes a non speaking cameo. Burke Delvin has a small but significant part.
So once again Victoria, Roger and Elizabeth are the main characters here.
Victoria is still trying to find out just who she is, the secrets of her past.
Several strangers are at Collinwood, and soon Victoria is convinced her life is in danger.
A good entry in the series. A reminder of how different the shows direction was, before Barnabas appeared.
No real Supernatural stuff though.

[Julie Barrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Mystery of Collinwood by Marilyn Ross
I used to watch the show Collingwood after school, every day religiously about vampires and werewolves.
The main opening screen was actually filmed in Newport, RI, closeby to where we live.
This story is about the seafaring business the Collins run out of northeast Maine. I never heard this part of the story line but it even sounds interesting.
After the hurricane that hits visitors come and things are very mysterious as Victoria tries to figure out if she is really a Collins.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Dark Shadows books were my first murder mysteries and made me fall head over heels in love with the genre. I "cut my teeth on them" when I was eight years old. Suffice to say that there is a lot of sentimental value attached to these books. If I am not much mistaken this one is my favorite of the whole series. Victoria Winters will always be my favorite protagonist of the series, maybe because the first five were about her and I felt some "loyalty withdrawals" when she went away.

[Kandice · Rating 2 out of 5]

Clearly I am reading these for the nostalgic feeling they give me and NOT for the story. Or the writing! I bought a "lot" of these on ebay and will certainly work my way through them, but until Barnabas shows up, good old Victoria may drive me insane.

There was never a more trusting, vapid young orphan EVER! Oh, and don't forget attractive, the sole adjective Ross uses for any female.

[Laura Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite enjoy the unexpected twists and turns of these tales but they aren’t that special.

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay so at this point Barnabus still hasn't shown up, but he better show up soon so he can be the focus of the stories because otherwise Victoria Winters isn't going to last much longer. In the first four novels she's almost been killed like 14 times. But she still sticks it out at Collinwood, bless her heart.

Also, if I hear Elizabeth called "attractive" one more time, or Roger called "weakly handsome", I'm going to have some type of fit. And as I said before, while Roger was never a favorite character of the show, he's a downright ass in the novels.

So as I stated in my previous review, the novels are very formulaic. Strangers show up, Victoria is almost killed several times, and there's a big mystery reveal at the end. Thankfully, these are still good reads, and the mysteries aren't bad. I have a feeling when Barnabus shows up the tone of the novels will change, and I don't know if that's good or bad at this point. In any case, I do enjoy this series, and will be continuing with it.

[Ronald Wilcox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hmmmm, what to say? Marilyn Ross writes dialogue for the main characters that truly reflects the way each of them speak in the TV series.

Unfortunately this book diverges so far from the TV series in storyline. It includes a number of Collins family members not from the TV series which makes for a storyline that feels disjointed.

As usual, someone is terrorizing the main protagonist of the series, Victoria Winters, making her fear for her life. This time it is a ghostly figure, the Phantom Mariner, who suddenly appears after a guest to Collinwood tells its ghostly story.

Good suspense story in its own right but would have been better if tied into the storyline better of the Dark Shadows series from the 1960’s. Works decent as a stand-alone novel although definitely better for true fans of the series.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

The most feeble of the first four Dark Shadows books, especially due to the conclusion you see coming early on and the repetitive nightmare situations Victoria gets into (poor, foolish Vicky). It’s still a fun, pulpy read.

[Deacon D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

So goofy! So melodramatic!

So damn entertaining.

(The cover price on this delightfully book-stinky old paperback is only 50¢. ☺)

[Mary]

Prompts for reading challenges: continue a series, vampires, weather event, secrets, misdirection, based on a TV show/movie, female author, audiobook. Visibly/physically disabled character. Fanatical character. Mystery/detective story. Has to do with the word murder.

Maine, 1960s.

In book four of the series, Victoria is still rather naive and easily manipulated, often putting herself in potentially dangerous situations. Then, Elizabeth seems to be as dismissive of Victoria's very real fears and experiences, as she is friendly and defensive of her in other situations.

The books seem to follow a certain pattern, with new characters introduced who stay on the property, who seem to have it in for Victoria personally for one reason or another. Bizarre things happen that endanger Victoria, and then Elizabeth never believes her and makes her feel badly for expressing her genuine, fact-based concerns. And sometimes even Victoria will, as a victim of gaslighting or abuse often will, DEFEND the people who actually make threats against her life.

Four books in, I'm still waiting for the vampire, Barnabus Collins, to show up. The plot lines are predictable and repetitive -- each book is so similar. Victoria is ditzy and foolish -- this book seems to show that very strongly. I was going to continue reading this series, but honestly I'm rather fed up with her as a protagonist.






SPOILERS:

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Oh, Victoria, ditch that wishy washy, cheating Ernest and leave already! Tell you what, if the dude I'm interested in "accidentally" gives in to an earnest kiss from a woman who threatened to steal him from me, she can keep him. If he dances with her at a party held in my honor, after I catch him kissing her "accidentally", and he tells me I'm overreacting, again, she can keep him.

So, people get attacked, locked up, etc. Spooky ghost running around. But hey let's just try to forget all about it and not make a big deal out of it. It's hilarious. Real people wouldn't react the way soap opera people react to things.

[James Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

They left Barnabas off the cover since he's not in the story, unlike a couple of other covers.

Victoria is still in love with Earnest Collins who is away. Margaret Lucas is a woman who has rented a small cottage from the Collins and has a servant named Carlos.

Professor Veno and his daughter come to the house to stay for a bit. (There are a number of events that repeat very closely events in the novel Victoria Winters, and this is the first of them.)

Linda looks like Victoria (another repeat). Linda also knows Earnest and is interested in him. Elizabeth likes Veno and Roger dislikes him (another repeat).

There's a story about the Phantom Mariner and, if you see him, you will die soon. Victoria sees the phantom (as in the other book she saw what she took as the ghost of Stella.)

Victoria and Burke Devlin have a lot of conversations in the book. Victoria is suspicious of the professor, but Elizabeth takes his side (yet another repeat).

(Another point I'm wondering about. If the cliff is so dangerous, why hasn't a tall fence been put around the edge of it?)

Victoria runs into trouble in the cellar (another repeat) and there are many attempts made on her life. The professor has developed an early form of taser by putting batteries in his cane and rigging it up so it gives off an electric charge.

We also find out that at least two of the people in the story are not at all who they claim to be. It's a decent mystery although there is too much repetition of events from the other novel.

[Gary Peterson · Rating 2 out of 5]

That Meddling Foundling or the Professor Puts the Zest into Incest

The weakest of the series thus far and a chore to finish. So formulaic with contrived cliffhangers closing out almost every chapter. The conclusion with its Scooby-Doo villain reveal and unmasking was mind-bogglingly bad. Yet another father and daughter take up residence at Collinwood, bringing mayhem and murder in their wake. And another surly chauffeur figures into the plot. Only four books in and Dan "Marilyn" Ross is repeating himself, drawing on a creative well that appears to have already run dry.

This book also demonstrates the yawning chasm that exists between the "Rossverse" and the television series' continuity. In his opening novel Ross introduced Elizabeth and Roger's hitherto unrevealed kid brother Ernest. And here the Collins family tree sprouts yet another new branch in elder brother Mark Collins, who performs in a traveling paranormal show under the name "Mark Veno," and whom everyone refers to as "the Professor." His daughter Linda works as his assistant, and like Will Grant's cousin Nora a couple books ago, bears an uncanny resemblance to Vicky. Could this be a clue to Vicky's origin?

Oh, little Vicky, in search of self. Ross really overplays this tired plot device, one that the TV series let go fallow early on. Burke Devlin is the voice crying in the wilderness and telling Vicky to stop seeing hints of her parentage in every tenuous clue.

Speaking of Burke, you know the Rossverse has crossed the Rubicon forever separating it from the series when Elizabeth (a) throws a lavish costume ball at Collinwood, (b) invites Burke, and (c) promises Burke a waltz! Devlin's contempt and determination to destroy the Collinses for Roger's treachery is wholly absent from these novels. I think Vicky takes advantage of Burke, who clearly has fallen in love with her, by dropping in on him for encouragement and counsel over coffee. Here she requests he dispatch his detectives to discover whether Mark Collins' wife is alive and the whereabouts of a second child. I'm sure such investigations aren't free.

I knew Margaret Lucas aka "the invalid" was going to play a larger role than simply an old woman occupying the cottage for whom the girls would visit and read. But I did not anticipate the role she did eventually play! Once the thrill was passed and one looks back over the course of events, I'm not sure it worked. I mean, how did Margaret sneak into Collinwood, steal Mark's cane, konk Vicky on the noggin, and make good her escape? Carlos the hunchbacked troglodyte gypsy chauffeur was an obvious red herring. I admit I liked his scenes and am sure Ross had fun writing his quirky dialogue peppered with veiled warnings.

The romance was really ratchetted up in this novel with Vicky caught in a love triangle with Ernest and Linda, who was aggressively vying for Ernest's affections. But Vicky had no reason to fear because, as I kept vainly shouting at the deaf, tanned pages of my 55-year-old paperback, "Linda is Ernest's niece!" Why was that glaringly obvious fact never once raised by any of the intelligent characters populating the book? It's especially unsettling because matchmaker Mark Collins was knowingly stoking an incestuous romance between his daughter and his own younger brother!

On a related note, if Vicky were as she suspected the daughter of Mark Collins, she too would be Ernest's niece, ending the romance cold and retroactively adding an ick-factor to all those long kisses. (Cf. Ray and Lucy on Dallas.)

It proved impossible for me to envision the thoughtful, poised, and level-headed Alexandra Moltke as the Victoria Winters of this novel. Vicky's failing to learn from past experiences grew increasingly vexing. The nadir was when Vicky left the safety of her room to wander the dark corridors of Collinwood because she heard Roger's voice calling her. When the voice didn't respond to her questions and just kept repeating "Victoria" you'd think she'd grow suspicious, right? Nope. She's lured into and locked in a room into which a vial of acid is tossed. And later she allows herself to linger in the attic alone and is shocked--shocked!--when she's locked in! As if that inevitable outcome wasn't obvious to all of us reading that chapter. And then she yells out for Carolyn, blaming her for locking the door. C'mon, Vicky! Seriously, how many times can Vicky be locked in rooms, lured away from the safe path, and duped into danger?

Finally, that shock ending with Vicky almost garroted and only saving herself by gunning down her assailant. Wow, I did not see that coming! But after that mind-blowing development everyone takes it in stride, as if this sort of thing were simply an occupational hazard of being a Collins. Ross rushes us through a week or two of inquest with everyone getting off scot-free. Oh, except for Carlos, who got a "stern reprimand by the coroner" (p. 158).

By the closing page, I concluded the Vicky and Ernest romance had played itself out. Ernest is off again to debut the new concerto he somehow composed when not courting Vicky and tamping down her jealousy over lovesick Linda's advances. I hope his character is absent from the next novel, which will thankfully be the last before Barnabas debuts. David was absent from this book as was Carolyn until a brief and inconsequential appearance near the end. Joe Haskell got one mention. Vicky and Burke meeting for coffee was a wide-open opportunity to introduce Maggie Evans, but that didn't happen. And hey, what's with Ross referring to the Collinsport Inn as a "shabby little hostelry"? (p. 138). I took umbrage at that slight as I've always enjoyed the scenes in that quaint hotel and its coffee shop.

Onward to The Curse of Collinwood, which I hope course corrects after this misfired muddle of a terror-tinged turgid romance.

[Megan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Maybe on its own this book would be good, but this is the fourth in the series and it's legit the same story all over again. There's nothing new. All of the points from the other books like a bonus Collins, mysterious creepy guests, Victoria thinking her identity is somehow wrapped up in the house guests, people trying to kill her, no one believing Vicki that she almost had a near death experience, Vicki gets some romantic action, and there's a Scooby-Doo villian reveal complete with mask. It's just a boring and tiring formula and I really really hope the series does better when it starts to focus on Barnabas.

[Captain_Creepy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have enjoyed all four books in the series so far but they are becoming quite formulaic. It seems like cheating to consistently have Carolyn and David gone for some reason or another all of the time. I would prefer it if all of the characters were in play more often. Those quibbles aside I truly do enjoy these stories as they are simple little whodunnits for the most part, and I love the setting and all of the characters. It will be interesting when a certain famous character is introduced to see how the books change, but until then, you can find me at the Blue Whale leaning on the jukebox.

[Judy Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Mystery of Collinwood is the 4th book in the Dark Shadows series. Victoria Winters is trying to find who her parents are. She meets more of the Collins family in this book. The dark basement and hallways allow many attempts on her life.

Still no sign of any vampires.

This book did surprise me at the end. I did not pick the correct person as the attacker. A good read.

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, that Vicky Winters just won't learn will she??? Interesting to note the development of characters voices thru the progression of books. Well done Kathryn!!!!

[Kat Starwolf · Rating 4 out of 5]

More Drama for Victoria!

Victoria Winters runs into more trouble as a new ‘guest’ and friend of the family, a Professor Veno, and his teen-aged daughter (only a few years younger than twenty-something Victoria, herself) come to Collinwood for a short stay.

While Victoria’s fairly ‘new’ romance with the Collins’ cousin and well-known musician, Ernest Collins is satisfactorily progressing, Victoria feels less than positive about this new romance when she is threatened by the Professor, then by a ghostly figure wearing a cape and a skeleton’s mask known as the Phantom Mariner, who threatens her life and warns her to leave. And then she learns that Linda, the Professor’s daughter, is in love with Ernest Collins too, and plans on doing everything in her power to ensure that Victoria and Ernest never get together.

It’s obvious that someone wants Victoria not just out of the way, but dead, as she dodges one personal attack after another. But the attacks are becoming more frequent, and don’t seem to abate, even after Victoria finally confides in Ernest only to begin wondering – especially once she sees Ernest in the arms of the Professor’s daughter and kissing her – if he really would rather be with the other girl?

Good storyline. As for the ‘mystery of Collinwood,’ I’m not sure what that was supposed to be. At least in THIS particular book. Unless the reference was to the ‘Phantom Mariner.’

Short but easy to read quickly – averages about 12 chapters or approximately 150 pages.

[Mary Jo Rhoda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am listening to the audiobook versions of this series on Hoopla.
Huge improvement from previous stories in the series so far. Great gothic atmosphere and mystery with a twist at the end that took me completely by surprise. A love triangle that made things interesting, although Victoria was a lot nicer to Linda in the beginning than I would have been (lol).

Victoria is as naive as ever for the most part, but I was happier to see her grow a little bit of a backbone when confronting Ernest about Linda.
And I have to say, how many times is Victoria going to be strangled or have other attempts made on her life at this house with this family?? I mean there were 3 or 4 in this book alone. I would have been long gone by now!

Glad I decided to keep up with the series and looking forward to book 5 and the eventual introduction of Barnabas Collins (vampire) :)

[Richard Tolleson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would say this has a plot right out of Scooby Doo, except it predates Scooby by a year or so. A pre-Barnabas Collinwood is haunted by a ghostly mariner. Jenkies! You won't believe who the phantom really is. And she would have gotten away with it too, if it hadn't been for that blasted meddling Burke Devlin. Anyway, it's a fun diversion, if not great literature. The Victoria Winters portrayed in these novels is so whimpy, you half wish for a ghost to take her away. Despite the fact that Barnabas is on the cover, he's not in the book. He doesn't show up until book #6 in the series, Barnabas Collins.

[Melissa Snow · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe 2.5 stars. The formulaic plotting is just too familiar at this point. How many times will someone try to kill poor Victoria before she gives up Collinwood? I always enjoy returning to the Dark Shadows characters, though I'm always a little disappointed that they're not all quite like their TV counterparts. And the silly elements — Ernest and Victoria's great love despite barely knowing each other, the emotional roller coaster as plot device — lose their charm with repetition.

[Ted Wenskus · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was not great, I'm afraid. The Creature of the Month was a legend known to the locals as The Phantom Mariner. And perhaps this is due to the time period I grew up in, but all I could hear every time I saw this phrase is Scooby Doo saying, "P-p-pirate ghost!" And sure enough, that meddling kid Victoria Winters unmasks the baddie at the end. Now, I'm all for some camp, but this one just pushed that limit too far.

[Craig · Rating 2 out of 5]

What is it with the 60s/ 70s obsession with incest and cousin f***ing?

Also: another secret Collins family member! Good Lord…get a new plot already.

This haunt, the Phantom Mariner, is good, but not nearly as exciting as the Pantyhose Killer or Zombie from other books in the series. I’m ready to move on to the Carolyn-centered books.

[Kenneth Funk · Rating 2 out of 5]

Four books into this series and it is getting really repetitive. In each book Victoria Winters fixates on some person as her probably parents and then she proceeds to have a series of unfortunate incidents. Quite honestly I would run for the hills if my life had been threatened so many times.

[Colton · Rating 3 out of 5]

New Characters:
Professor Mark Veno, mentalist
Linda Veno, his daughter who is in love with Ernest
Margaret Lucas, an ill woman staying at Collinwood
Carlos, Margaret’s servant
The Phantom Mariner, a ghost from Collins’ family past

Continuing narrative: Victoria’s parentage

[Cat · Rating 3 out of 5]

This could have easily been four out of five because all of the compelling elements were there - but something didn’t work within the cogs and it landed kind of flat. I’m still here for it all though! Desire the dud of an ending it’s all still atmospheric and compelling.

[Pat]

Dark Shadows

I choose 5 star because I love The Dark Shadows series . I recommend the book to anyone who watched the TV show years ago and wants to re visit Collingwood.