Mary Linn Roby: When the Witch is Dead

Last in our list by Mary Linn Roby is When the Witch is Dead. Published in May 1972, it is the story of Margaret Williams who is being manipulated by a woman involved in witchcraft who is now using her daughter as a pawn. Can a handsome stranger break this curse?

Allan Kass paints a lonely house on a dune from where we see our heroine fleeing. She is typical of his other gothic heroines with long hair, big earrings, and wide belts! I like that Allan doesn't create the same haunted castle in every cover although he probably had editor standards that had to be met. I'm sure that these were easily created, yet you can see the detail he puts in each picture.

Mary Linn Roby: The White Peacock

The White Peacock was published in March 1974 by Signet. Mary Linn Roby gives us a story of a dying matriarch and the art expert who has come to catalog the house and gets involved in the family, especially David, the handsome grandson of the house!

Allan Kass creates a manor house set in a beautiful woodland for this cover. Our heroine stands at the edge of a pond looking at someone or something. This cover has a very regency feel to it in look and dress and I like the muted colors.

Mary Linn Roby: The Silent Walls

The Silent Walls was published in October 1974. This story by Mary Linn Roby tells the tale of Ann Hever and how she flees to Tunis to escape the memory of a failed love affair. Soon she is friendly with an actress who invites her to her private island where she becomes a virtual prisoner. Can Robert, her lover, save her or is he being influenced by the actress and her friends?

While the castle looks like it belongs in England or Scotland, Allan Kass gives us a beautiful heroine to admire! She has a gypsy look to her with her dark hair and hoop earrings! She looks as if she's hiding from someone nearby. I love Allan's use of jewelry; it's one of his trademarks. I hope you enjoy this cover!

Mary Linn Roby: Shadow Over Grove House

Shadow Over Grove House was published by Signet in May 1973 for prolific gothic author Mary Linn Roby. Amanda is a widow since the tragic death three years earlier of her husband when a man with a disturbing resemblance to him appears to tell her that he was murdered! Can she believe this mysterious stranger's words?

Allan Kass creates an almost normal cover for this gothic. He does include the lighted window, but other than that, it's the angle of the heroine and the house behind her that give us a spooky feeling, along with the bare tree. I love the 1970's outfit and jewelry!

Mary Linn Roby: Reap the Whirlwind

Reap the Whirlwind was published in July 1972 by Signet and is the story of two families and the tyrant who ruled them all. This story is set in Scotland.

Allan Kass shows our heroine in a soft green gown as she wanders through a graveyard. We see a typical haunted mansion in the background and the light shows that it's either dusk or dawn. Our heroine is a pretty girl and even though this cover is over 40 years old, it could be used on a book today!

Mary Linn Roby: This Land Turns Evil Slowly

This Land Turns Evil Slowly was published in October 1971 for Mary Linn Roby by Signet. This story begins at the seaside where 20 years ago, an accident happened to one of Nora's friends. But coming back returns all of the guilt and ghosts of that day.

Allan Kass creates a heroine walking along the shore. Her dark purple dress is timeless but her jewelry isn't! I think her hair flying away looks odd but Allan seems to have her in motion. I like the white mist drifting in the background.

Mary Linn Roby: The House at Kilgallen

The House at Kilgallen was published by Signet in November 1973 for Mary Linn Roby. Mara Hanley is called to the Kilgallen estate because of the inheritance, which she should have no part. But the greed that surrounds her becomes a trap of evil and she's not sure if she can trust anyone.

What I like about Allan Kass's gothic romance illustrations is that he uses color as an emphasis. I like the soft green that surrounds this illustration and gives it an otherworldly feel. The heroine's hip clothing could be worn now, 40 years after this cover was painted!

Mary Linn Roby: Dig A Narrow Grave

Dig A Narrow Grave by Mary Linn Roby was published in March 1971 by Signet. Gothic romances were very popular in the 1970's. This story is about Paula, called to help a family where one was a psychotic killer!

Allan Kass shows our heroine at the edge of the woods where we see the gloomy mansion behind her. What I like about these is that we get to see Allan's earliest cover illustrations but also see how he doesn't veer too far from what other artists were illustrating for this genre. Allan didn't illustrate many gothics but I always look for his signature on the cover just to make sure!                                                               

Mary Linn Roby: And Die Remembering

Mary Linn Roby book, And Die Remembering, is a gothic romance published in June 1972 by Signet. This author wrote under other names and published regencies and gothics under this name.

Claudia came to visit an old college friend, but soon finds the mansion scary as a domestic drama escalates into hatred and murder.

Allan Kass creates a sufficiently spooky cover with our heroine arms up against the danger while we note a dark mansion in the background. This is the first of nine gothic books by this author illustrated by Kass.