Barnabas, Quentin and the Magic Potion

Dark Shadows #25

by Marilyn Ross, W.E.D. Ross (AKA)

Barnabas predicts trouble for Collinwood when Nicholas Freeze, in whose antique shop Carolyn Stoddard works, discovers a centuries-old potion that promises eternal youth. Soon after, Mr. Freeze's daughter Hazel, tricked into taking the serum, dies. Carolyn is grief-stricken over her friend's death. Barnabas insists she stay on at the shop to watch Nicholas Freeze and his associates, one of whom Carolyn suspects is Quentin Collins, back at Collinwood in a disguise.

Then Carolyn sees Hazel's ghost.

She interprets this as a warning that Mr. Freeze has marked her for his next victim. Barnabas still refuses to let her quit.

Has Barnabas made a fatal mistake by deliberately endangering Carolyn's life? Or will his plan avenge Hazel's murder and put her spirit to rest?

Genres: Horror, Gothic, Novels, Fantasy

158 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1971

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

[Steve Wiggins · Rating 4 out of 5]

In my effort to read through the entire series of Dark Shadows books from my childhood, I’m reading them close enough together to notice some subtle changes. I mention elsewhere (Sects and Violence in the Ancient World) that this is the first book in the series to treat Quentin sympathetically. It also makes an effort to make the reader work to figure out who Quentin really is. The writing is still often ham-fisted, but it’s gothic and sometimes that’s enough.

This particular volume has Barnabas revealing himself as a vampire to Carolyn, and feeding off her. The series is always a bit cagey about what Elizabeth Stoddard really knows about their mysterious cousin. Like the wealthy, they keep secrets at Collinwood. Barnabas is also shown here in greater complexity than usual. This all makes for a somewhat more enjoyable reading experience.

There’s always a danger to going back to the books of your youth. Life has its eroding effects on all of us. We become more cynical and difficult to convince or impress. Childhood was that halcyon time of exploration and belief. Dark Shadows has always represented that for me. I return to it ever hopeful.

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

These are still formulaic for the most part, but at last we're starting to see Quentin shift from a total villain to more of a cursed hero. The whole thing with every woman he meets falling for Barnabas is beyond old by this point, but I suppose it's his vampire magnetism and that's just a big part of the story. The characters in this one were a little more unbelievable than usual, but it was still entertaining.

[Don Schmidt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm really giving this book 3.5 stars.

Another summer in Collinsport that has Carolyn working, this time for the father of a schoolmate of hers who will be returning to the town for the season. The mystery is the owner of the antique shop Carolyn will be working in. The other element is the theatre company who comes to town to perform summerstock.

Dan Ross's career in theatre in New England is most helpful as he integrates his knowledge into the story. I was going to give the book just three stars, but I added the .5 because of his knowledge of antiques, which added to the enjoyment of the story when time passed within the antique shop.

It has all the elements of the 24 books that preceded it, but like the series at the time Dan Ross was writing this book, Dark Shadows was turning a little more inward. The difference here is that the town of Collinsport was definitely still part of the story, although this book was missing any visits to the Blue Whale.

One almost gets the sense of the burnout that was happening on the show was also moving into Ross's writing. The DS novels were coming out almost once a month at this time. The stories are not quite as sharp as they were with the first half of the novels. With that being said, Ross makes you want to keep turning the page to see "whodunit".

[Richard Tolleson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carolyn Collins is in love with cousin Barnabas. Just one problem. He's a vampire. Unlike in most of the books in this series (I've read 25 of 'em now), Carolyn is aware that Barnabas is a vampire. She doesn't care--she's in love, damn it! Barnabas, ever the chivalrous one, romances her, but tells her all the while that he's not the right one for her. Barnabas, in addition to being a vampire, is also an actor, whose talents are highly prized at the Collinsport community theatre. While others in the community suspect Barnabas of vampiric shenanigans, he's careful to cover his tracks--even feeding reluctantly off of Carolyn at one point. But she forgives him because, you know, love. Carolyn is working a summer job at an antique shop alongside the owner's daughter. Carolyn finds a mysterious youth elixir in a hidden compartment in a piece of antique furniture. The owner, Mr. Freeze (yes, really) decides to experiment on his daughter. Meanwhile, another actor from the theatre wants to woo Carolyn, but she's not having it. There are mysterious deaths, an apparent ghostly sighting, and (sorry, I forget to mention this in all the hubbub), but Quentin is said to be on the loose as a werewolf. Trouble is, no one seems to be able to recognize Quentin in his human form because, as is the case in every single one of these books so far, QUENTIN IS A MASTER OF DISGUISE! As plots go, this is a lot more complex than books 1-25. Ol' "Marilyn" Ross really buckled down with his shoulder to the grindstone for this masterpiece. Definitely worth a read for DS fans--for others, it will be at least mildly entertaining.

[James Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend of Caroline named Hazel is coming to spend the summer. She is going to work at her father's antique shop and Caroline will work with her. The guy running it is nasty as can be, though, and the other guy working there has a major problem with drinking.

Caroline finds some bottles that supposedly contain a serum for eternal life and it's not long before the nasty father and a drunk doctor decide to experiment with these, thinking they can make a huge amount of money.

Meanwhile the theater in town is run by a theater director who is interested in Barnabas being in his plays. Another guy is there, though, and Caroline suspects him of being Quentin.

There are some things that don't seem to match the other books I've read in the series (although I admittedly have not yet all of them.) Caroline is passionately in love with Barnabas. She discovers his secret in this book but that makes no different to her.

Anyhow, the nasty father gives Hazel the serum and it seems as if she dies. An aging female actress is also given the serum and things don't end up well. Then Caroline seems to see the ghost of Hazel. Caroline becomes the target of the mad father and drunk doctor but someone shows up to settle matters.

All in all it's a very interesting and good story in the series.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good Dark Shadows novel.
Now of course, these books sometimes bear little resemblance to the Soap Opera on which they are based.
I saw another reviewer say they consider these an alternate timeline. I think that's a good way to look at it.
Carolyn, Elizabeth, Roger and Barnabas are all here. As usual,the writer nails Roger. He's spot on. Quentin continues to get the short end of the stick in these books. The David Shelby Quentin is nowhere to be found. And Carolyn's feelings towards Barnabas are a bit much at times.
This story does do a couple of things differently. No spoilers here.
There was one but bit I found amusing,when someone discovers Barnabas in his coffin,they have a very unique take/idea on how to use that knowledge.

[Kevin Carter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a good one. The writer obviously knows nothing about how summer theatre works. Characters make even more horrible stupid choices than normal in these books. Roger is just a one-dimensional crank. Just...no.

[Andy · Rating 3 out of 5]

And did you know Dark Shadows has it's own channel on Pluto TV? Dark Shadows all the time!!!! WOOT!!

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

An okay read. This book is rather sloppily written, as if author Dan ("Marilyn") Ross were in a great hurry to finish it by some specified deadline. And probably he was, having had to churn out a new Dark Shadows novel every few weeks or so! BARNABAS, QUENTIN AND THE MAGIC POTION is not, therefore, the most shining example of his work. And in many ways it contradicts (or violates) Ross's own alternate history of the Collins family...

Here our heroine, Carolyn Stoddard renews her romance with Barnabas Collins. But she's also being pursued by Quentin, who seems eager to atone for his past misdeeds. The story opens with Carolyn taking a summer job at a local antique barn. There she finds a purported "elixir of life" and of course, the elixir falls immediately into the wrong hands. Carolyn seeks Barnabas's advice and help but temporarily loses faith in her idol after seeing him feasting on one of her girl friends.

But the strangest part of the book is Barnabas's sudden friendship with Quentin---up till now, his deadliest enemy, his Nemesis---and his reference to Quentin as just a "friendly rival" for Carolyn's hand. In today's vernacular, WTF? Quentin, in the last few novels, has been portrayed as pure evil. He has worshipped Satan, he has murdered innocent people and in his werewolf guise he has even torn out throats. So why would Barnabas suddenly view this monster as a suitable potential husband for Carolyn? Barnabas goes on to compare Quentin's lycanthropy to his own affliction, adding: "Even a curse must have a lifespan. Let us hope that someday one of us can finally pledge his heart to you." It's no compliment to Carolyn that he would so cavalierly hand her over to his worst enemy like that. What CAN Barnabas be thinking...?

No explanation is ever given us. Why Quentin is suddenly viewed as acceptable, after all the bad history between these two men, will always be a mystery. Barnabas, Quentin and the Change of Attitude. Did something happen offstage? We'll never know, fellow fans, 'cause Ross didn't ever write it!

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oof this one has some pretty insidious “veiled” anti-semitism with regard to Mister Freeze. From mentions of his nose in narration to characters discussing how he spends his mornings counting his money, it’s just gross.

Poor Quentin. No one has any idea what to do with him.

Also: please stop with the cousin f*€#ing.

All that said, the friendly/ supportive relationship
between Carolyn and Barnabas is quite good, as well as the step forward of having Elizabeth and Roger know the secret of Barnabas.

[Larry Yonce · Rating 2 out of 5]

"In a moment the hypodermic needle would shoot the elixir of madness into her veins, and she'd be doomed like the others!"
Mediocre entry in the series with Quentin once again in "master of disguise" mode. Story features not one but two alcoholics and Barnabas on stage after dark performing in an Ibsen play (!) Whole thing is downright peculiar and disappointing. At the end one of the villains is held at gunpoint...and, then, (!) What happens next left me scratching my head.

[Dale Rosso · Rating 5 out of 5]

Someone always dies at Collinwood...Definately a cursed family.