A forgotten past. A haunting truth. A Gothic romance steeped in shadows.
Set in the tradition of mid-century gothic paperbacks, Along a Dark Path by Velda Johnston invites readers into a world of crumbling estates, secrets buried in ivy, and a heroine pursued by memories she cannot name. First printed in 1967 by Dell Publishing, this vintage mass market paperback is a prime example of the paperback gothic boom—where romance and terror walk hand in hand.
This first printing features classic tagline suspense (“She was tormented by the blackness of a past she could not remember...”) and stunning period cover art by pulp illustrator Bob Schinella, whose evocative imagery helped define the gothic paperback aesthetic of the era.
A gripping psychological thriller, Along a Dark Path traces one woman’s descent into a maze of deception, danger, and dread, where every shadow hides a secret and paranoia feels like prophecy. For fans of Barbara Michaels, Phyllis Whitney, or the fog-draped corridors of Dark Shadows, this is more than a novel—it’s a collectible artifact from the golden age of paperback suspense.
Editorial Reviews
“Johnson weaves a web of suspense so taut, you’ll question every character’s motives. A forgotten gem of 1960s psychological noir.” —Classic Crime Revue
“The tension builds like a storm—unrelenting and inevitable. A masterclass in mid-century pulp storytelling.” —Vintage Mysteries Quarterly
About the Author
Velda Johnson was a master of mid-20th-century suspense fiction, though details about her life remain elusive—adding to her mystique. Writing during the heyday of pulp paperbacks, she crafted taut, psychologically nuanced thrillers that often explored themes of isolation and mistrust. Along a Dark Path stands as one of her most sought-after works, reflecting the era’s fascination with domestic noir and unreliable narrators. Her legacy endures among devotees of vintage crime fiction, though she remains an enigmatic figure in the genre.
