Dan Ross Books In Order

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Dan Ross was the penname for Canadian bestselling author W.E.D Ross. He authored over 300 books in different genres and most under several female pseudonyms such as Rose Diana, Dana Rose, Lydia Colby, Frances Brooks, Ann Gilmer and many more. As Marilyn Ross he published popular Gothic stories including a popular series of books about vampire Barnabas Collins which is based on American television series Dark Shadows.

Dark Shadows, which aired on ABC Daytime from 1966 to 1971, captivated viewers and gained a cult following during its original run.

Even though it was canceled more than 40 years ago, its influence has lasted incredibly long.

Due to the show’s success, it has had a resurrection in a number of media, including comic book series, two films (a third is now in development), and a 1991 television version. The original author, Marilyn Ross, wrote 32 novels in the series that were based on the television program. These books have captured readers’ attention for years.

Canadian author Dan Ross, who wrote under the pseudonym Marilyn Ross, authored the original book series based on Dark Shadows. While not considered a literary giant like Shakespeare, Ross was highly prolific. You’ll love these new adventures with the Collins family, even with the odd criticism about the writing quality.
Victoria Winters is a likeable young woman who is searching for answers about her enigmatic history in the book Dark Shadows. Born into a New York foundling home and abandoned as a baby for unknown circumstances, Victoria has dedicated her life to uncovering information about her parents.

She takes a job as a governess at Collins House in Maine, hoping the wealthy and aristocratic Collins family might hold the key to her origins. Could she even be a long-lost member of the Collins clan herself? Dan Ross, writing under the pseudonym Marilyn Ross, never definitively answers these questions but let’s Victoria stumble through numerous clues, none of which seem to lead to the answers she seeks in the early volumes of the series. With skill, Ross delves into Victoria’s inner struggle, evoking the mystery and excitement surrounding her search.

Dark Shadows does a fantastic job of capturing the spooky mood with its detailed descriptions of the mansion and its surrounds. Character development is also excellent; in particular, the plot gains depth from the addition of secretive Elizabeth, unstable Roger, and rebellious Carolyn. Ernest Collins, Victoria’s love interest, heightens the suspense with his mysterious past and gloomy demeanor.

With a strange madwoman imprisoned up, a terrifying old home, and family secrets, the tale embraces classic Gothic tropes with enthusiasm. It’s definitely derivative, but it’s also a lot of fun.

While this first installment focuses more on suspense than the supernatural, readers can anticipate a gradual introduction to haunting mysteries in subsequent books by Dan Ross under the pseudonym Marilyn Ross.

A Hearse for Dark Harbor is the first book in Dark Harbor series. As Sarah Mac noted in her review, praising Dan Ross for literary finesse feels oddly out of place. Admirers of his Gothic books from the 1970s frequently find their fascination in the very awkwardness and quirks of the characters. The extraordinarily prolific Canadian author Ross did not value nuanced writing, complex character development, or well-crafted narratives. Rather, he stuck to tried-and-true methods, such as soap opera-style dialogue that summarises the action and makes predictions about how it will end. This helped to extend the word count and keep readers engrossed in the drama.

Fans of Dan Ross’s 1974–1975 Dark Harbor trilogy will find that A Hearse for Dark Harbor is a rare jewel among his works, offering more pleasure than aggravation. Ross skillfully crafts a compelling story around Rose Marks, a self-assured young secretary from New York who is searching for her missing roommate. Her investigation reveals a sinister commune or Satanic cult tucked away on Pirate Island, a little distance off Cape Cod, within an old monastery and leper colony.

Rose is not like other Ross heroines; she is a self-possessed, witty individual who spars deftly with the cult’s mysterious leader, Phil Waring. With his Manson-like charm and an odd past with a stage magician for a father, Waring adds theatricality to his dark rituals, a signature twist that Ross’s readers have grown to love. A Hearse for Dark Harbor stands out among Ross’s other works because it features a unique combination of mystery, cult intrigue, and unusual characters.

All of Ross’s disdain for hippies, communes, and their carefree lifestyle is vividly portrayed in this book. We frequently see the commune members—who are portrayed as filthy, slothful, and uncaring parents- indulging in narcotics throughout the story, including cannabis, heroin, and Mexican incense. They are also shown as being easily used by their guru, who publicly whips recalcitrant female members in front of the commune in order to impose discipline.

Key players in the story’s development, such as the seasoned sea captain and the resolute island doctor from the first book, are brought back by Ross in A Hearse for Dark Harbor. Additionally, he uses the chance to recast the roles of the characters from the first book. Joyce Mills loses some of her prominence, while Derek, her husband, changes from being a controlling mama’s boy in Ghost of Dark Harbor to a more admirable character.

It’s a story that blends mystery and local island flavor, enriched by Ross’s distinctive portrayal of characters and settings.

Cliffhaven is a standalone novel published in 1968. When Jean Gordon came back to Cliffhaven following her mother’s unsettling death, she anticipated tension between the two women competing for her father’s attention. However, what awaited her was far more sinister. An evil power appeared to be determined to drive her to the verge of madness and even death behind the historic walls of the house. Rumors in town stated that it was the wrath spirit of Rachel Hawkins, a troubled ancestor who passed away. But Jean couldn’t rule out the chance that someone she trusted- even her own father- might be harboring a more sinister agenda. The stifling atmosphere of the place made Jean doubt her grasp on reality as her anxiety and uncertainty grew.