Dreamer beware

by Ruth H. Wissmann

Evelyn who returns to her godmother's house where the latter's husband died along with the wife of the young man Evelyn once loved. But there's a third ghostly presence--is it Evelyn's. She's not quite sure whether she's alive or dead and the planchette helps more than pinching herself.

Genres: Gothic

184 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1977

Reviews

[Adrian Griffiths · Rating 1 out of 5]

A young woman called Evelyn gets a letter urging her to return to her childhood home, which of course is a sinister mansion in the middle of nowhere. She arrives to find out that the house is haunted. Luckily there is not one but two eligible bachelors for her to moon over while she experiences the paranormal events.

Unusual in the fact that the whole household acknowledges that the house is haunted, instead of the heroine being the only one persecuted, and I like that the supernatural elements in this one are actually genuine, but I did not like the ridiculous mechanism via which Evelyn was able to work out who the villain was - it really stretched the suspension of disbelief required to take the climax seriously.

[Sherrill Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gothic novel in an English style, altho this takes place in Pasadena, (or perhaps Altadena?) California. Evelyn Vail, who is a former ballerina, goes back to Oak Haven seven years later, at the behest of Melissa, who was married to George. Seven years ago, Evelyn had been in love with Brad, but turned him down to pursue her career. Brad's brother, Wayne, confesses that he loves her, always has, and never loved his wife, Janet.
Mrs. Thorpe, the aged and mysterious housekeeper, uses an Ouija Board and cards and scares herself and anyone around her. She accuses Evelyn of being dead.
The house is haunted, ostensibly by two -- or is it three? -- people. One is Wayne s dead wife, Janet, a supposed harridan, who refused to relinquish Wayne to anyone; she jumped(?) out of an upstairs window. Another is Evelyn's Uncle George, (married to Melissa), mother to both Wayne and Brad, who became a lecherous old man before he died. There is also Dr. Earl Boland, a calming influence, who explains that psychokinesis is possible without an adolescent in attendance (for those of us dummies); he is endorsed by Wayne who credits the British Psychological Society, the New York Academy of Sciences, and etc. There you have the five people required for a mystery novel.
There is a lot of drinking; brandy, whiskey, coffee. The novel moves along, suspensefully for 183 pp. It was a page turner for me!

[Nattie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I tried to read this book for over two weeks, and I just couldn't make it happen. I hope for my sake that I bought this on the cheap.