Dark Shadows: The Salem Branch by Lara Parker
]Written by the woman who played “Angelique” in the 60’s soap opera, this has a very slow start, but gets quite good towards the end. It starts so slowly, in fact, that I almost put it down. I suppose that’s to be expected in a “novelization” of a soap opera. But about halfway through, it started getting much better and I was only let down by the happily ever after ending.
The plot jumps between Collinwood Maine in 1971 (just after the series was cancelled) and Salem in 1692. As with the series, the same characters are in each time period, albeit with different names. In 1971, the Old House and land was sold to Antoinette (Angenlique) who is restoring it to it’s former glory (apparently, the house burned to the ground when the series was canceled) and populated by a bunch of hippies living on the land; and Barnabas may (or may not) have been cured of vampirism by Dr. Julia. In 1692, Angelique’s daughter, Miranda del Val is the main character with appearances by Amadeus Collins and others, including Cotton Mather. The culmination of this is the curse that plagues the Collins family to this day.
The book is very soap operaish, with lots of meaningful glances, introspective doubt, and wondering what the other person is thinking or doing and why. I, frankly, don’t remember too much about the show except for some of the characters (Barnabas, Quentin and Angelique, primarily). But it’s interesting to read, and, while the book could be tightened up a bit, it’s a worthwhile read.
I still didn’t like the pat ending, though.
