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Dark Shadows #30
Barnabas, Quentin and the Mad Magician
Can Barnabas and Quentin break the spell of black magic that has terrorized Collinwood?
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1971
138 people want to read
About the author
Marilyn Ross
126 books61 followersWilliam 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).
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 12, 2023
I'm giving this one four stars for various reasons. First, it seems that whenever Ross picks Carolyn Stoddard as the main protagonist, the story always seems better. I can see and hear Nancy Barrett as I'm reading. This is the last book in the 32 volume series where she has that role, so I kind of relished this book.
As a DS fan, I appreciated that the book was back in current time, and all of the Collinses of 1971 were in the book, alive and well. The strong points in the book were Carolyn, the evil antagonist of the magician and the great twist at the end, which is one of the top three of the entire series. Roger is as bombastic as ever and you can hear Joan Bennett's voice as Elizabeth Stoddard.
There were some downsides. Ross didn't seem to quite know what to do with Quentin this time. He did have a role, but it wasn't a strong as in past books. I did love that Julia was back and at Windcliff, although Ross doesn't name the facility. It's also great that Prof. Stokes is back, but unfortunately as a fellow doctor again, not as an expert in the occult. I don't like that role for him. Another annoyance is that Carolyn is addressed as Miss Collins. That's an incredible flaw in the editing, and I hope that can be cleaned up in the recent reprints of the series.
Overall, it's one of the better books in the series and makes for fun reading, especially during the summer!
As a DS fan, I appreciated that the book was back in current time, and all of the Collinses of 1971 were in the book, alive and well. The strong points in the book were Carolyn, the evil antagonist of the magician and the great twist at the end, which is one of the top three of the entire series. Roger is as bombastic as ever and you can hear Joan Bennett's voice as Elizabeth Stoddard.
There were some downsides. Ross didn't seem to quite know what to do with Quentin this time. He did have a role, but it wasn't a strong as in past books. I did love that Julia was back and at Windcliff, although Ross doesn't name the facility. It's also great that Prof. Stokes is back, but unfortunately as a fellow doctor again, not as an expert in the occult. I don't like that role for him. Another annoyance is that Carolyn is addressed as Miss Collins. That's an incredible flaw in the editing, and I hope that can be cleaned up in the recent reprints of the series.
Overall, it's one of the better books in the series and makes for fun reading, especially during the summer!
March 30, 2019
There's a sort of circus coming to Collinwood and they plan to set up near the mansion and even do a special performance for charity there. Cabrini is the guy running the show. Meanwhile at Collinwood Carolyn and her friend Beth are both excited about what is going on with Beth being especially excited.
Things go downhill rather quickly, though. Cabrini may very well be mad and have way of controlling people, especially Beth. There is a series of murders taking place around the area and Quentin is suspect. Some girls seem to be attacked by a vampire and Barnabas is a suspect even though he is no longer a vampire, Professor Hoffman's cure seeming to work rather well.
Beth becomes too involved in what is going on, though, and it's up to Barnabas and Carolyn to try to help her before it is too late.
It's another good story in the series. The very close relationship between Barnabas and Carolyn might upset some people but in my opinion it works out okay. Quentin's role is a little weak, almost as if he has been thrown in just to make sure his name is on the title. Still, I like the story.
Things go downhill rather quickly, though. Cabrini may very well be mad and have way of controlling people, especially Beth. There is a series of murders taking place around the area and Quentin is suspect. Some girls seem to be attacked by a vampire and Barnabas is a suspect even though he is no longer a vampire, Professor Hoffman's cure seeming to work rather well.
Beth becomes too involved in what is going on, though, and it's up to Barnabas and Carolyn to try to help her before it is too late.
It's another good story in the series. The very close relationship between Barnabas and Carolyn might upset some people but in my opinion it works out okay. Quentin's role is a little weak, almost as if he has been thrown in just to make sure his name is on the title. Still, I like the story.
October 26, 2021
Ross switches things up in this outing. Everyone recognizes Quentin, for once, but there is still the reveal of the real villain at the end. By the time this was written, the show had been off the air for some time, so I'm surprised they were still publishing these books--perhaps it was a contract that had a few books to go. At any rate, Carolyn is in love with a cured Barnabas, but as usual, he doesn't think he's the man for her. (When you look it with the right subtext, there's lots going on in these books.). People are dying right and left, and it's up to Barnabas to put a stop to it, because the local constabulary certainly aren't up to the task. I gave it 4 stars because it's Dark Shadows. It's no more than 3 stars for a non-DS fan.
May 22, 2023
There’s nothing really unexpected in Barnabas, Quentin and the Mad Magician beyond Barnabas being cured of his vampirism for this vignette. At first (and there will be spoilers here for those meeting the seventies for the first time) the game of guessing which character is Quentin soon gives way to the realization that he’ll be appearing as himself here. Not only that, but he’s definitely a good guy in this story, not mocking as he is in several episodes. Marilyn Ross does seem to warm to him over the series. But now some secrets must be revealed.
The mad magician (Cabrini) is an insane illusionist invited to stay at the next estate over from Collinwood for the summer. It’s wealthy owner, a blind poet—perhaps in reference to Homer—becomes querulous, suggesting perhaps he’s not who he claims to be. It seems Barnabas’ reputation as a vampire is well known, as is Quentin’s werewolf curse. Murders are set up to look like a werewolf is on the loose, so the authorities are after the innocent Quentin. Vampire attacks are staged, implicating Barnabas. Meanwhile Carolyn and her friend Beth are drawn into the magician’s show where Beth learns too much and pays the ultimate price for such knowledge.
As usual, the characters speak their minds with no tact or subtlety, getting themselves into trouble. Cabrini wants to murder Carolyn for also discovering his secret, but he survives the conflagration that destroys the mansion next door and we learn in the final pages that he is also the wealthy blind poet who’s been pulling the strings all along. I have a more nostalgic take on the tale over on my blog Sects and Violence in the Ancient World, but the goal of reading all the novels in the series is nearing its end. Hopefully I’ll finish it out this autumn, when vampires and werewolves come more readily to mind.
The mad magician (Cabrini) is an insane illusionist invited to stay at the next estate over from Collinwood for the summer. It’s wealthy owner, a blind poet—perhaps in reference to Homer—becomes querulous, suggesting perhaps he’s not who he claims to be. It seems Barnabas’ reputation as a vampire is well known, as is Quentin’s werewolf curse. Murders are set up to look like a werewolf is on the loose, so the authorities are after the innocent Quentin. Vampire attacks are staged, implicating Barnabas. Meanwhile Carolyn and her friend Beth are drawn into the magician’s show where Beth learns too much and pays the ultimate price for such knowledge.
As usual, the characters speak their minds with no tact or subtlety, getting themselves into trouble. Cabrini wants to murder Carolyn for also discovering his secret, but he survives the conflagration that destroys the mansion next door and we learn in the final pages that he is also the wealthy blind poet who’s been pulling the strings all along. I have a more nostalgic take on the tale over on my blog Sects and Violence in the Ancient World, but the goal of reading all the novels in the series is nearing its end. Hopefully I’ll finish it out this autumn, when vampires and werewolves come more readily to mind.
January 21, 2024
European magician Cabrini comes to Collinsport to prepare for an American tour; his stay coincides with a string of murders in the area. Bland entry in the series filled with too little plot development, lots of telling instead of showing, and way too much beating about the bush. Only the final chapter held any excitement at all. Disappointing.
November 8, 2020
There's a story that didn't seem to be from Maggie's perspective
December 31, 2023
After 30 books, this one finally seems to get the mix of elements right. Bonus points for Hoffman and Stokes, but minus points for casual racism and “kissing cousins.”
October 16, 2025
Another good volume. This one was more straightforward for the most part, although there was a twist at the end that left me slightly confused. Overall this has been a very good series.
January 17, 2012
Another Dark Shadows novel, not especially scary and mostly fluff. Evil magician Cabrini comes to town and casts a spell over naive Beth Mayberry, a pal of Carolyn Stoddard's. Carolyn tries, ineffectually, to save her friend. But a few chapters later Beth's body is found behind a gravestone in the family cemetery, whereupon Carolyn and Barnabas vow to expose Cabrini for the villain he is. Quentin makes a brief appearance, while Elizabeth and Roger lurk in the background. Not much else happening here.
Author Dan ("Marilyn") Ross "cured" Barnabas in a few of the books, this being one, but each time Barnabas reverts to vampirism again. Barnabas HAD to be a tortured and guilt-ridden blood-sucker, otherwise how could the series have gone on?
Author Dan ("Marilyn") Ross "cured" Barnabas in a few of the books, this being one, but each time Barnabas reverts to vampirism again. Barnabas HAD to be a tortured and guilt-ridden blood-sucker, otherwise how could the series have gone on?
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews