Barbara Michaels

Barbara Michaels is the pen name of Barbara Louise Mertz, an accomplished author renowned for her captivating mystery and suspense novels often imbued with supernatural elements. Born in 1927 in Canton, Illinois, Mertz held a Ph.D. in Egyptology from the University of Chicago, which fueled her passion for writing. Under her real name, she authored scholarly works about ancient Egypt, while her Barbara Michaels persona allowed her to pen more than 30 thrilling novels like "Ammie, Come Home" and "The Crying Child." Praised for her intricate plots and strong, relatable characters, her legacy remains influential in the genre of supernatural fiction.