Dark Shadows by Marilyn Ross

Dark Shadows is a book series based on and inspired by the American gothic horror television series of the same name. Thirty three novels, including the novelization of House of Dark Shadows, were published by Paperback Library from 1966 to 1972. The novels were by W. E. D. Ross writing as Marilyn Ross.

About

The novels, with the exception of the House of Dark Shadows film novelization, do not share the continuity of the television series. House of Dark Shadows was an adaptation of the 1927 MGM film. Many novels follow a formula involving the heroine, who: (1) arrives at, or is already living at, Collinwood; (2) falling in love with Barnabas Collins, not realizing he is a vampire; (3) and then falling prey to a supernatural threat, or unspeakable horror, requiring Barnabas to rescue her. By the novel's conclusion, the heroine discovers or suspects Barnabas is a vampire but she remains smitten by him. This prompts Barnabas to depart rather than risk poisoning her beauty with his vampiric curse.

An unresolved plot featured in both the television and novel series was the explanation of Victoria Winters' origin. Ross planned to reveal Victoria as Barnabas' long-lost daughter, conceived in the 1940s when Barnabas was temporarily free of the vampiric curse. Her biological mother, who died young, was to be revealed as the best friend of Elizabeth Collins Stoddard. When actress Alexandra Moltke left the television series in 1968, the rights holders instructed Ross to remove the character from any future novels.^[1]

Many printings feature production stills from the television series as the book cover. The stills chosen have little to do with the novel's plot.

Novels

No.	Title	Release Date	Heroine	Notes
1	Dark Shadows	December 1966	Victoria Winters	Partial re-telling of Victoria Winters's arrival in Collinsport. Originally printed with an illustrated cover, subsequent editions featured a photographic cover featuring Alexandra Moltke with Jonathan Frid, although the character of Barnabas Collins does not appear.
2	Victoria Winters	March 1967	Victoria Winters
3	Strangers at Collins House	September 1967	Victoria Winters	Partially takes place in 1916.
4	The Mystery of Collinwood	January 1968	Victoria Winters
5	The Curse of Collinwood	May 1968	Victoria Winters	The only book in series not to be printed with a photographic cover. Derek and Esther Collns terrorize Collinsport as Zombies!
6	Barnabas Collins	November 1968	Margaret Collins	Takes place in the early 1900s. First book to feature Barnabas Collins. In the TV series Barnabas was chained to his coffin in 1796 and not released until 1967. Ross offers an alternate timeline in which Barnabas was never held captive at all.
7	The Secret of Barnabas Collins	January 1969	Lady Clare Duncan	Takes place in 1870.
8	The Demon of Barnabas Collins	April 1969	Rita Glenn	The first book to present Barnabas in a heroic vein rather than as the villain, following the trend set by the television series.
9	The Foe of Barnabas Collins	July 1969	Paula Collins Jennings	Takes place in 1910. Features the character of Chris Jennings, although presented here as a villain rather than the sympathetic victim depicted in the television series. It also features a rare appearance by Angelique.
10	The Phantom and Barnabas Collins	September 1969	Maggie Evans	Takes place in 1880 (courtesy Maggie travelling through time!).
11	Barnabas Collins vs. the Warlock	October 1969	Maggie Evans	A homage to Henry James' 1898 novella The Turn of the Screw.
12	The Peril of Barnabas Collins	November 1969	Diana Hastings
13	Barnabas Collins and the Mysterious Ghost	January 1970	Diana Samson
14	Barnabas Collins and Quentin's Demon	February 1970	Lara Balfour	Introduces the character of Quentin Collins to the range. Takes place in 1895.
15	Barnabas Collins and the Gypsy Witch	March 1970	Roxanna Collins	Takes place in the 1890s.
16	Barnabas, Quentin and the Mummy's Curse	April 1970	Maggie Evans	Professor Anthony Collins awakens a shambling, bandage-draped Egyptian terror to prowl Collinwood, Plot never realized before the TV series was cancelled.
17	Barnabas, Quentin and the Avenging Ghost	May 1970	Carolyn Stoddard
18	Barnabas, Quentin and the Nightmare Assassin	June 1970	Carolyn Stoddard	Takes place in 1869, again courtesy time travel!
19	Barnabas, Quentin and the Crystal Coffin	July 1970	Betty Ward	A homage to Edgar Allan Poe's 1844 short story The Premature Burial, a text also used in the television series for inspiration. The bulk of the story takes place in 1897.
20	Barnabas, Quentin and the Witch's Curse	August 1970	Anita Burgess	Takes place in 1900.
21	Barnabas, Quentin and the Haunted Cave	September 1970	Harriet Turnbridge	Though most of the book is set in modern day, Harriet experiences strange dream sequences set in 1705.
22	Barnabas, Quentin and the Frightened Bride	October 1970	Ann Hayward	Takes place in 1920.
	House of Dark Shadows	October 1970	Maggie Evans	Novelization. Includes scenes cut from the film. Features 16 pages of B&W production stills.
23	Barnabas, Quentin and the Scorpio Curse	November 1970	Diana Collins
24	Barnabas, Quentin and the Serpent	December 1970	Irma Collins	Takes place in 1870.
25	Barnabas, Quentin and the Magic Potion	January 1971	Carolyn Stoddard	This story marks a sudden shift in the characterization of Quentin Collins, who up to this point in the range had been portrayed as an enemy of Barnabas.
26	Barnabas, Quentin and the Body Snatchers	February 1971	Marjorie Gray	This is the only book in the series told in the omniscient point of view. It also features a rare appearance by Julia Hoffman. It is an homage to Jack Finney's 1955 science fiction novel The Body Snatchers.
27	Barnabas, Quentin and Dr. Jekyll's Son	April 1971	Emily Collins	Takes place in 1908. As suggested by its title, a homage to Robert Louis Stevenson's 1886 novella Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, a text also used in the television series for inspiration. Published the same month TV series aired its final episode.
28	Barnabas, Quentin and the Grave Robbers	June 1971	Paula Sullivan	Takes place in 1830. First book published after the TV series was cancelled.
29	Barnabas, Quentin and the Sea Ghost	August 1971	Norah Bliss	Features a rare appearance by Julia Hoffman and Professor Stokes.
30	Barnabas, Quentin and the Mad Magician	October 1971	Carolyn Stoddard
31	Barnabas, Quentin and the Hidden Tomb	December 1971	Ellen Drury	Takes place in 1866.
32	Barnabas, Quentin and the Vampire Beauty	March 1972	Adele Marriot