Both series were originally inspired by the successful ABC soap opera Dark Shadows, which ran from 1966 to 1971.

[1] After four issues as The Sinister House of Secret Love,[2] which featured Gothic romance/horror stories written by Michael Fleisher and others, the title changed to Secrets of Sinister House, and the original format and romance angle were abandoned the following issue.

In issue #16, Eve was removed as host — as editor Joe Orlando departed from the title, replaced by Jack C. Harris — to focus on the concept of the "sinister houses".

The following month, she began nudging Destiny out of Weird Mystery Tales.

Edited by Joe Orlando and E. Nelson Bridwell, contributors to the title included Alfredo Alcala (issues #6, 13, 14), Robert Kanigher (#6, 9, 11), Sam Glanzman (#7), Michael William Kaluta (covers for issues #6, 7), Maxene Fabe (#8 & 11), Ruben Yandoc (#8 & 11), Jack Oleck (#9, 12, 13), Neal Adams (#10), Mike Sekowsky (#14), and Alex Niño (#8, 11-13).