Product Description
John Bellairs, the name in Gothic mysteries for middle graders, wrote terrifying tales full of adventure, attitude, and alarm. For years, young readers have crept, crawled, and gone bump in the night with the unlikely heroes of these Gothic novels: Lewis Barnavelt, Johnny Dixon, and Anthony Monday. Now, the ten top-selling titles feature an updated cover look. Loyal fans and enticed newcomers will love the series even more with this haunting new look! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

mystery in the mansion
I purchased this book for my 11 year old son.We read it together and I found it very weird.I can't say it was the worst book I've read but it certainly wasn't the best.It is about good vs. evil and some very strange things happen during the story.I don't think I will read another book from this author.

The Mansion in the Mist
If you are looking for a book filled with mystery, magic, and strong characters, then you have come to the right man. John Bellairs is a true wizard in writing books that will keep you on the edge of your seats, and the same is saidfor this book.

An Awesome Read!!!!!!
The book Mansion In The Mist, by John Bellairs was great! In this book this boy named Anthony and his friends Ms. Ells and Emersion went tothis spooky house. Anthony finds this chest and finds a pathway to this world where the autarches plan to destroy the world! Later he takes his friends in a wild world of adventure. Will Anthony and his friends find the hidden treasure or will it be to late?

Real Good Read!
I really enjoyed this story.It's a mystery, it's got some sci-fi, and it's definitely got some scary horror stuff.Anthony joins his good friend Miss Eells, the librarian, and her brother for a trip to her brothers old house on an island.When they get there, they find a mysterious room with a mysterious trunk.One day, they get inside the trunk, and it shoots them off to a whole other world in a whole other dimension, one where the people are trying to destroy the earth.Well, of course, Anthony figures out how to do the bad guys in and save the whole planet.This is a real good read.

A Great Book
I have never liked reading but this John Bellairs book, The Mansion in the Mist, kept me reading. I got hooked onto his books in 4th grade and ever since I have enjoyed his books.The Mansion in the Mist has a lot of discriptive words in it, sets the setting and gets off to a great start.All the way through the book he is consistant on good adjectives and is very interesting.I like his endings the most though because sometimes they are scary but in the end his makes sure everyone's O.K.I think John Bellairs is the best author!! ... Read more

Product Description
The House with a Clock in Its Walls; The Figure in the Shadows and The Letter, the Witch, and the Ring are three magically eerie tales gathered in this one-volume edition. The series opens as Lewis Barnavelt, a newly orphaned ten-year-old, comes to live with his Uncle Johnathan. Little does Lewis know that Uncle Johnathan and his next-door neighbor, Mrs. Zimmerman are witches. Lewis finds that he himself owns magical powers, and soon is thrust in a supernatural battle between good and evil. The second tale focuses on Grampa Barnavelt's old coin. Lewis thinks the coin is an amulet, but when he starts to wear it around his neck, bizarre things start to happen - and not all of them good. The last tale shifts the focus to thirteen-year-old Rose Rita, who is embittered because she cannot go to camp like Lewis. so Mrs. Zimmerman offers Rita an adventure of her own. But when a magical ring disappears, Rita gets more of an adventure than she bargained for. John Bellair's vivid characterization and and excruciatingly suspenseful plots make this series a thrilling ride! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Awesome
I loved this collection of this authors books and cannot wait to read more works by him. The book was in almost new condition and I enjoyed it greatly!! I finished the whole book in six days! Thanks!

Enchanting horror and a little bit of kid angst
John Bellairs is a master of children's horror that I'm afraid the world has forgotten in the Harry Potter rush. As much as I love all that good stuff, nothing beats Bellairs' aura on a little town in 1940's Michigan where anything spooky can happen.

The three novels in this volume ("The House with a Clock in its Walls", "The Figure in the Shadows", and "The Letter, the Witch, and the Ring") focus on a orphan boy named Lewis who has come to the town of New Zebedee to live with his eccentric uncle who just so happens to be a wizard. What proceeds is various dippings into the supernatural.

And these are not the "cute" supernatural, at least in the usual sense. Sure, Stephen King and Anne Rice would probably consider these adventures kid stuff, but they are they are perfectly creative enough for kids; honestly, I think they're more creative than most of the adult horror out there. Bellairs deals with necromancy, Biblical prophecy, possession, the whole nine yards, but all very tastefully done to be suitable to this age group.

Besides the horror, these are books about what it's like to be a kid. Bellairs gets into the heads of his characters with their thoughts and worries and hopes like few do whilst balancing another subject.

His writing is also absolutely enchanting. Without being flowery, he is a master of description with exellent pacing and a storytelling voice that just draws you in.

I know these are a couple decades old, but I adored this mans' works as a kid, and even now I can't think of many things better to do than curl up with these stories.

Still A Good Read
I read these books years ago, found them creepy, and forgot about them until recently.These are aimed at a young adult reader, but they're atmospheric and well written, and definitely make enjoyable adult reading.Check out the pages on the individual books for more info, but the three books in one edition is a great deal.These are also excellent for pre-teens and older who enjoy books on the supernatural.They do deal with themes of witchcraftand magic, but otherwise, contain no objectionable content.

Bellairs' Barnavelt/Zimmerman Trilogy
This volume contains:

The House with a Clock in its Walls (1973)
The Figure in the Shadows (1975)
The Letter, the Witch and the Ring (1976)

I have not read all of Bellairs' novels, so I cannot say whether these three are really his "best".But the grouping is appropriate for other reasons:These are in fact the first three of Bellair's supernatural horror novels for kids; each is a sequel to the last; and all three feature the characters Lewis Barnavelt, Jonathan Van Olden Barnavelt, Mrs. Zimmerman, and (in the last two novels) Rose-Rita Pottinger.Moreover, the collection is more-or-less complete, since these are the only ones featuring these characters that were written entirely by Bellairs and published during his lifetime.The "next" in the series, entitled "The Ghost in the Mirror" was published posthumously after being completed by Brad Strickland in 1993 (after a gap of 17 years, during which Bellairs switched to writing about Johnny Dixon and Anthony Monday).Strickland has gone on to write his own adventures in the series (with what success I cannot say).

HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS begins with the orphaned Lewis Barnavelt, aged 10, being sent to live with his crazy Uncle Jonathan, and his batty neighbor Mrs. Zimmerman.The Uncle and the neighbor both turn out to be magicians (of the benevolent sort), and the grand old house they inhabit is filled with magical artifacts and mysteries, including a strange ticking sound reputed to come from a hidden clock.Matters get serious after the insecure Lewis, in an attempt to impress a friend, ignores his uncle's warning that he should never attempt magic.Creepy, scary fun ensues.

The next two novels in the series are just as well written, and every bit as creepy and scary as the original.However, the grimness becomes a little more unrelenting, and some kids may even find it depressing.One reason for this is that Bellairs seems to have somewhat regretted sending mixed messages in his first book, by his positive portrayal of magic as practiced by Mrs. Zimmerman and Uncle Jonathan.In the course of these volumes Mrs. Zimmerman is almost completely deprived of her powers.Bellairs continues to pay lip service to the idea that they are both benevolent minor magicians, but he ceases to show them using magic to positive effect.Magic use becomes, for all practical purposes, almost entirely associated with evil, and any dabbling therein leads only to horrific consequences.

I don't think Bellairs is necessarily wrong to want to discourage kids from seeking occult powers.However, it is a possibly unintended effect of this decision that the stories become increasingly and unrelentingly horrific.While the first volume made it seem as though there were powerful forces of Good to compete with those of Evil, the two sequels start to seem a bit like reading H.P. Lovecraft, wherein Evil has all the power.

This edition contains the original illustrations for all 3 books.This means we get Edward Gorey for the first novel, which is good.Unfortunately, other artists illustrated the 2 sequels.The latter pictures do not enhance the stories, which would be better off without them.

Three tales in the Lewis Barnavelt series
John Bellairs is best known as the author of sixteen gothic mystery novels for young adults comprising the Lewis Barnavelt, Anthony Monday, and Johnny Dixon series. The three stories in this book are the first three in the Lewis Barnavelt series, although the last has more to do with his friend, Rose Rita.The tales collected in this book are "The House with a Clock in Its Walls," "The Figure in the Shadows," and "The Letter, the Witch, and the Ring."

So far from what I've read of this author, his characters tend to be elderly eccentrics, or ordinary children (no superkids, here).Lewis is resourceful, but with a child's fears and limitations.Most especially, he is afraid that his uncle won't like him, that the kids in his new school will make fun of him, and that he'll never have a friend.His uncle, Jonathan and neighbor, Mrs. Zimmerman are very likeable magicians.They play poker with Lewis and make him chocolate chip cookies and cocoa, and generally treat him as a small adult.

The House with a Clock in its Walls (1973) - illustrated by Edward Gorey

Lewis is a newly orphaned, plump ten-year-old, who wears "purple corduroy trousers, the kind that go `whip-whip' when you walk."The author often claimed that his imagination got stuck at ten, and here is Lewis, age ten, going to live with his Uncle Jonathan in New Zebedee, Michigan.The year is 1948, and New Zebedee bears a strong resemblance to Marshall, Michigan, where the author was born--- The Cronin House and the GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) Hall still stand in Marshall, just as their counterparts do in New Zebedee.

The only thing Uncle Jonathan is reluctant to talk about with Lewis is the ticking noise within the walls of his old mansion, recently acquired from a deceased magician.

Lewis discovers that his uncle makes midnight excursions throughout the house, stopping and restarting all of the old clocks.He slowly gets involved in the mystery of an undiscovered clock.The wizardly Izzard couple who used to live in the house are both dead, but what did they leave behind and why?

There are some genuinely frightening scenes in "The House with a Clock in its Walls"---most especially when Lewis tries to impress a new friend by stealing one of his uncle's magic books and taking it to the graveyard at midnight on Halloween---but I don't want to spoil the story for you (Hint:there's a scene straight out of "Count Magnus" by M.R. James when the lock pops off of the crypt).Let me say that this is a truly scary book, and if the author's imagination got stuck at ten, he must lived an awesomely spooky tenth year.

"The Figure in the Shadows" (1975) - illustrated by Mercer Mayer

Lewis wants desperately to believe that an old coin belonging to his Great-Great-Grampa Barnavelt has magical powers.He is being bullied at school and starts to wear the old Civil War coin around his neck for protection.Finally Lewis turns on the bully and beats him up, but he soon learns that the coin has other, even darker powers.

When Lewis begins to see a shadowy figure in a long coat and starts to get scary messages, he asks his friend, Rose Rita to take the coin and throw it away.She wrestles the coin away from him, but instead of throwing it into the storm drain, she hides it.

The bully starts in on Lewis again, and he decides he'll do anything to get the coin back again, even steal it from Rose Rita.

This story has a very spooky climax that will scare even the grown-ups who are reading it to their children.

"The Letter, the Witch, and the Ring" (1976) - illustrated by Richard Egielski

Rose Rita is mad at the world.Her friend, Lewis Barnavelt is going to Boy Scout camp for the summer, and he is the only one who appreciates her for what she is:a tomboy with a great pitching arm who has no interest in growing up into the world of proms and pretty gowns.When Mrs. Zimmerman offers to take her on a trip to see the farm she just inherited from her cousin, Oley, Rose Rita jumps at the chance.

Unfortunately when Mrs. Zimmerman and Rose Rita arrive at the farmhouse up in the woods of Northern Michigan, it has been ransacked.The ring that Oley had found and believed to be magic has been stolen.

When Mrs. Zimmerman herself disappears, it is up to Rose Rita to solve the deepening mystery.

Don't expect milksop magic or easy solutions from this author.Rose Rita has to confront both interior and exterior demons, and comes very close to death before Bellairs winds down to his usual cocoa and cookies (well, roasted marshmallows in this story) ending.
... Read more

Product Description
When Lewis, his uncle Jonathan, and their friends Rose Rita Pottinger and Mrs. Zimmermann take a trip to a small town near Lake Superior, they expect a pleasant vacation. Instead, they find themselves facing the ghastly Ishmael Izard, son of the fiendish creator of the Doomsday Clock that was once hidden in the walls of Uncle Jonathan's house. Ishmael himself is a cruel and heartless sorcerer, and he is determined to wreak vengeance upon the entire world. Will Lewis and his friends be strong enough to defeat him, or will their fate be decided by their most formidable foe yet? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Sienna Crossing Review
The reasons I like this book is the characterization where you have two different people who are friends named Rose Rita and Lewis. One is adventurous the other one isn't, one is athletic the other would rather eat chocolates and read books all summer. But this makes it a funny book even if it is a mystery.

Another thing I liked about the Tower at the End of the World was that it was a mystery, an adventure, and a scary story all together which made it interesting.

Also the imagery was very good because when it came to an action scene you felt as though you where there running from the hairy monster with yellow eyes or looking for the doomsday clock before it was too late. One quote I thought was exciting and scary was, "The creature suddenly reared, its arms spread wide in menace, its glowing yellow eyes flashing".

The last thing I thought was great was the ending because it gave you a sense of relief. The world didn't blow up by the doomsday clock. Izard was killed (again) and everybody that was good survived.

There are also follow ups for this book which I would highly recommend. It also could be turned into a scary movie but I don't think I would have the guts to watch it.

The end of the world
this book had it`s good parts and it`s bad. It started out slow
and spead up.like in the 1234 chapters it was so slow I was about bto stop reading, but then it started to get good slowly then bam! There was one of the main points. That happened through out the book.

It was an awsome book.It had some awsome scenes. My favorite was when Lewis got the heck scared out of him by that Japenese Siren. It was Funny and scary all in one. But that was only one good part.

I liked the character and the settings. The main character was unusal,a fat bookworm. Then there are the setting.An island in the middle of the great lakes, not a likly place were earthly desrtuction would come from.

A well writen book
The book The Tower at the End of the Worldis a very interesting novel that is written by Brad Stickland.This book takes place on the peninsula.In this book there
is an evil man named Isham Isard.Isham Isard is trying to take over the world, and he is being fueled by all the evil wizards.Mrs. Zimmerman, Uncle Jonathan, and Jonathan's nephew Lewis are trying to stop Isham Isard.This story takes place in the 1970's.Near the end of the book the main characters are challenged by their worst fear yet.Will they overcome this evil in the dark tower or will they perish against their worst enemy yet?
I liked this book.I think this book is a good book because it was suspenseful and scary.I would rate this book four out of five stars because there is a a powerful vilian and this adds to the plot.This is one of my favorite books because it is a mystery.I think other people will like this book.This book is part of a series.I suggest you read them.

go lewis, go rose rita!
I have to say that Lewis Barnevelt was my favorite character when i was little.I also have to say that the house with a clock in its walls & the figure in the shadows are two of the scariest books when you are nine.

read this book!

Back to the story of the first
The latest John-Bellairs-esque offering from Brad Strickland goes back to Bellairs' first book. While it might be possible to read "Tower" without having read the first John Bellairs book, "House With A Clock In Its Walls," it is probable that newbies won't understand. So go read that book. Then come read this book.

Lewis Barnavelt and Rose Rita Pottinger are romping around a lakeside with their friends and relatives, but things are not going to remain peaceful. Someone attacks Uncle Jonathan - but steals nothing valuable from the house. Lewis sees strange visions of impending death: a banshee, a Japanese specter with a huge toothy mouth, and a hairy beast with glowing eyes that is stalking him in his dreams and in his waking life. He also learns of a note that says he will die on a specified day. Unsurprisingly, Lewis is very freaked out by this.

And on a boat trip out on a lake, our heroes encounter a strange, misty island with a giant black tower. And they find a new supernatural mystery that stems from their first adventure: the son of Isaac and Selenna Izard's son, Ishmael. And Ishmael is not only a sorcerer, but he fully intends to destroy the world.

Strickland inserts the elements of Bellairs that we all love best: Evil wizards, sinister dreams, vague reasons to destroy the world, unabashedly sinister surroundings, things that appear and vanish without warning, hideous beasties, and evil magic that the good wizards wouldn't touch with a ten-foot wand. He also manages to harken back to "House" without overloading the reader with too much "this is how it happened," and manages to create a plot reminiscent of Bellairs' first book without repetition.

Characterization is seamless; Lewis and Rose Rita are just as we remember them, as are the ever-bantering Mrs. Zimmerman and Uncle Jonathan. So is the writing style, which remains spare unless something sinister is happening. If something hideous rears its head, the writing becomes creepily descriptive. My beefs? Well, there are a few threads that feel... well, un-picked-up by the end. A little too loose. In addition, one of the final scenes is somehow a little cheesy and a little too cute.

Few flaws aside, this is a wonderful spinechiller with a great climax, a deliciously BAAAAAD villain, and the quirky Bellairs heroes we know and love. ... Read more

Product Description
John Bellairs, the name in Gothic mysteries for middle graders, wrote terrifying tales full of adventure, attitude, and alarm. For years, young readers have crept, crawled, and gone bump in the night with the unlikely heroes of these Gothic novels: Lewis Barnavelt, Johnny Dixon, and Anthony Monday. Now, the ten top-selling titles feature an updated cover look. Loyal fans and enticed newcomers will love the series even more with this haunting new look! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (28)

The Figure In the Shadows Review
Have you ever been picked on?Felt like you wanted something that could just make you stronger?Well, that's how Lewis felt like.Not only was he sick of being picked on, he was sick of his best friend, Rose Rita, fighting his fights for him.One day, Lewis`s wizard- uncle/guardian shows Lewis his grandfathers lucky coin.Little did they know, the coin held enormous amounts of power and magic.Lewis decides to wear the coin as a lucky charm because it gives him a special feeling of bravery.But when a mysterious man keeps appearing, and trying to capture Lewis.Lewis and Rose Rita come to the conclusion of getting rid of the coin.Without the coin, Lewis feels weak and helpless.That feeling gives him the urge to get the coin back.As soon as he's wearing the coin again, he feels brave again.Of course though, the figure keeps appearing and one day- Lewis disappears.Will Rose Rita and Lewis's uncle find him?Or will he be lost forever?The only way to find out is to read the book.

I thought this book was very good for a kid aged 8-12.The book definitely ran a chill through my spine, but was very enjoyable.This is a great children's book for boys or girls.Although it is a shorter book, it was a great read because of the softer side, telling about his bullying struggles, and the intense side that involves magic.I would definitely recommend this to kids.

Not the scariest our Lewis has gone through
Eh... maybe it's just because I had just read "The House With a Clock in its Walls", but this book was little more than ho-hum. The imagination is just as good, but there is so much in the way of story left to be desired. Instead of the pure terror of the first book, this is geared more toward childhood relationships and completely ignores sheer freakiness.

Not as Thrilling as its Predecessor, but Interesting Nonetheless.
"The House With a Clock in Its Walls" has been my all-time favorite read since third grade, so i figured i might go beyond my little comfortable nest and try another book by Bellairs. This one claims to the the sequel to "Clock" but unfortunately fails to raise the stakes as high as those in "Clock" and suffers from the doldrums because of it. The exposition is so plain and the ending so pulled from the air and devoid of mystery that it can barely fill the shoes of its predecessor.
The writing at times seems stilted and awkward. I suppose I can describe the writing in this book as an experience similar to struggling to put on a twisted sweater: A bit of a struggle, but with moments of clarity- yes, there are really great images to be had in this book, but you have to rummage through the jumbled stuff first.

Second in a Great Trilogy
The second book in John Bellairs trilogy, The Figure in the Shadows, delighted me as much as the first. This book follows our same characters as the first book: Lewis, his Uncle Jonathan, and Mrs. Zimmerman, and adds Lewis' new best friend Rose Rita.

Lewis is still quite the unpopular kid at school as he was in the first book. He's still chunky, still no good at sports, and is still quite clumsy. He's getting picked on quite a bit at school. To try to cheer him up, his Uncle Jonathan goes through an old chest with Lewis and they root through all kinds of old treasures. Among them is an old "lucky coin." Mrs. Zimmerman declares that the coin has no magical value, but Lewis is not convinced and decides to wear the coin aware his neck. Things start to look better for Lewis, but with things looking better, a not so friendly side of Lewis appears (can we say "my precious").A figure in the shadows also appears as do some haunting messages.

The Figure in the Shadows is another delightfully creepy tale by John Bellairs and I'm so glad that chose to read this series! Next up is the Letter, The Witch, and the Ring...the final book in the trilogy.

2nd book in the 'Lewis Barnavelt' series
John Bellairs is best known as the author of sixteen gothic mystery novels for young adults comprising the Lewis Barnavelt, Anthony Monday, and Johnny Dixon series. "The Figure in the Shadows" (1975) is the second book in the Lewis Barnavelt series and is preceded by "The House with a Clock in Its Walls" (1973).

So far from what I've read of this author, his characters tend to be elderly eccentrics, or ordinary children (no superkids, here).Lewis is resourceful, but with a child's fears and limitations.Most especially, he is afraid that his uncle Jonathan might send him off to reform school if he discovers that his nephew has been dabbling in magic.

Lewis is a newly orphaned, plump, pre-adolescent boy who wears "purple corduroy trousers, the kind that go `whip-whip' when you walk."He went to live with his Uncle Jonathan (who is also a wizard) in New Zebedee, Michigan after his parents were killed in an automobile accident.It is the late 1940s, and New Zebedee bears a strong resemblance to Marshall, Michigan, where the author was born--- The Cronin House and the GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) Hall still stand in Marshall, just as their counterparts do in New Zebedee.

Lewis wants desperately to believe that an old coin belonging to his Great-Grampa Barnavelt has magical powers.He and his best friend, Rose Rita sneak a book out of Uncle Jonathan's occult library and perform a ceremony to `activate' the coin or `magical amulet' as Lewis likes to think of it.He is being bullied at school by a nasty character who stole his new Sherlock Holmes hat, so Lewis starts to wear the old Civil War coin around his neck for protection.Finally he turns on the bully and beats him up, but soon learns that the coin has other, even darker powers.

Late one night, Lewis hears the mail slot on the front door clang.When he picks up the postcard addressed to him, a line of writing appears on the back:"Venio" which means "I come" in Latin.

Lewis picks up a crumpled piece of notebook paper on the sidewalk with the same Latin message, and soon he begins to see a shadowy figure in a long coat.One night as he is walking home from the library, Lewis spots the figure standing under a street lamp.He goes up to it and "the figure walked forward out of the circle of lamplight.Now it was standing before Lewis.Lewis smelled something.He smelled cold ashes.Cold wet ashes."

After he manages to escape, Lewis is so frightened that he asks his friend, Rose Rita to take the coin and throw it away.She wrestles the coin away from him, but instead of throwing it into the storm drain, she hides it.

The bully starts in on Lewis again, and he decides he'll do anything to get the coin back again, even steal it from Rose Rita.

By the time we figure out who the shadowy figure is and why it smells like wet ashes, this story has taken a very frightening turn.Lewis has disappeared and it is up to his Uncle Jonathan, his neighbor, Mrs. Zimmerman, and his friend, Rose Rita to rescue him from a particularly unpleasant fate.
... Read more

Product Description
When Lewis Barnavelt and Rose Rita Pottinger explore an abandoned theater, they discover an unpublished opera score. Ignoring a strange omen, they show it to their music teacher, who heralds "The Day of Doom" as a masterpiece. Then eerie Henry Vanderhelm, the composer's grandson, arrives--with a plan to awaken the dead and enslave the world!. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

I appreciate the effort.However.
This is the book where I realized I really wish the Bellairs estate would put a stop to this.I also realized that if there are indeed outlines for these books that Strickland is working from, they're very loose outlines.I could maybe buy the previous book (The Ghost in the Mirror?The one with time-traveling in Amish country) as having been an incomplete Bellairs manuscript, but this is the book where I realized Strickland had the basic ingredients with no idea how to really make them work.

To compare, reread "The House With a Clock in Its Walls."The references work. The setting (including time) are spot-on.Bellairs's worlds function becuase they are COMPLETELY period pieces.Strickland just doesn't quite have it.When he uses references from the late 1940s/early 1950s they don't precisely work.It's like a Disney-world reenactment of the era.The same goes for use of character traits--it's like he knows that Uncle Johnathan calls Mrs. Zimmerman 'Prune Face' but writes it...because he knows Uncle Johnathan calls Mrs. Zimmerman 'Prune Face.'He's writing an imitation of John Bellairs, not in the style of John Bellairs.

I realized that I really wish they'd just let it go.

The story
This book is actually based on a town. In fact its the one i live in. Their is an old opera house that is all run down and John Bellairs wrote a book about it. He also based "The House With the Clock in its Walls" off a Marshall house.

"The dead will rise..."
"Doom of the Haunted Opera" is one of my favorite books by John Bellairs/Brad Strickland, a good mix of spookiness, humor, supernatural megalomania, and a dash of real human fears. Lewis Barnavelt and Rose Rita Pottinger are at their best here.

Jonathan Barnavelt receives the news that a friend -- another wizard -- has recently died, and posthumously asks that Jonathan and Mrs. Zimmermann take care of his old magical objects. The two leave New Zebedee, and Rose Rita and Lewis are left to their own devices. They explore an old opera house and find a crumbling old opera called "Day of Doom," by Immanuel Vanderhelm. As Lewis finds the opera, he sees a ghostly dead man who calls out "Beware the doom of the haunted opera! He means to be King of the Dead!"

Then a strange man appears in the town, claiming to Vanderhelm's grandson. He means to put on as performance of the opera, and at first everything appears to be all right. But soon all the adults in the town are enamored -- and enspelled -- by Henry Vanderhelm, communications with the outside world are cut off, wizards are locked in their houses, and Lewis sees a tomb statue come alive in the graveyard. With the help of a well-meaning ghost and a grandmotherly witch, can Rose Rita and Lewis hope to stop the raising of the dead?

Anyone who has suffered through a badly-performed opera will enjoy the idea of one being a necromancer's spell. The imaginative plot base is only one of the appealing things about "Doom." The incredibly grim and tense plot is leavened by humor, such as Jailbird the whistling cat and Finster, a ghost who inadvertantly freaks out Lewis with ghostly intonations, then makes himself sound more friendly. Aside from the usual fears of evil sorcerers, there is also the chilling fact that the capable adults are not present throughout much of the book -- we get to see how Lewis and Rose Rita can try to handle the situation on their own. Any kid who has had to deal with a crisis on their own can relate to the fear and frustration of the heroes in this book.

Lewis is, as always, a sweet timid boy who has more guts than he knows. Rose Rita is his equal friend (she can't really be classified as a sidekick) who has to take matters into her own hands when Lewis vanishes. Mrs. Jaeger is a little too vague to be entirely believable, but the idea of an absent-minded grandmotherly witch is a nice one. The deceased Finster is a good source for plot-related info, and mildly amusing as well. And Vanderhelm is an outstandingly sinister villain.

Full of the funny and the spooky, this is a first-rate thriller for fans of fantasy, horror, and John Bellairs. Excellent read.

A good book for those into mystery, and horror stories.
I felt that this book really drew me into its plot. The evil man trying to produce this opera made me realize how charming and innocent people sound when you don't have all the pieces of their life story. It was alsoexciting to see Rose Rita, and Mrs. Jaeger coming together to thicken andenrich the plot. The only criticism is that there's not much of an epilogueat the end of this story.

This was a pretty good book
I have reviewed this book as 8.It was a great book but it needed a better ending.Rose Rita and Lewis go searching through a sealed up opera house when Lewis finds a lost piece of Music.Little did he know he was bring a evil ghost back to life to try to take over the world. ... Read more

Product Description
Working on the few clues he has, Anthony Monday sets out to find a treasure that may or may not have been hidden by the town millionaire, Alpheus Winterborn, prior to his death, but the only way he will know is by completing a full search. Reprint. PW. " ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

A bit different than his other books, but great fun for all
I loved this book as a chid, so when I ran across it recently I decided to see how well it would hold up today.I'm happy to say that it was just as fun to read now as it was all those years ago.

As an adult it is not too difficult to figure out the mystery, but it's still a fun story.As a child it was quite exciting and I'm sure that children today will love it as well.Unlike most Bellairs novels, which are usually scary stories of wizards, monsters, and curses, this is a more straightforward mystery centered around the hunt for a hidden treasure, and as such it would be appropriate for children who might be scared by some of Bellairs' other books.

Hidden treasure never looked so good
Fans of Bellairs beware: This book is slightly different from most of them. While it has a lot of the Bellairs staples (meek young boy, eccentric buddy, evil adversary), it doesn't have any horror or supernatural elements. Despite that, it's an enjoyable little mystery with a twist at the end.

To get away from his money-obsessed mother, Anthony Monday accepts a job working with his friend Miss Eells at the library. But when he's dusting, he accidently uncovers clues to the seemingly hidden treasure of late millionaire Alpheus Winterborn. Though Miss Eells doesn't think the clues are anything but a joke, she helps Anthony hunt for the treasure. But Hugo Philpotts, the sinister nephew of old Winterborn, is also searching for the treasure.

At about this time, Anthony's father suffers a heart attack that temporarily makes him unable to wor. Terrified that his family is going to run out of money, Anthony becomes obsessed with finding Winterborn's treasure. And when Philpotts threatens his father's business, Anthony finds that he has only a few days to find the treasure...

Even if this isn't a horror book, it's a pretty good mystery. Bellairs did a good job with staples like hidden treasure, clues in a poem, the sinister relative and so on. There's that distinct, slightly unreal flavor of a child's daydream in his books, like this is the imagined adventure of a boy on a summer day. And even though there are no monstrous spiders or cackling sorcerers, the discoveries near the end make up for that. Action fans will especially enjoy a tense scene on a rainy rooftop near the finale.

Anthony Monday is a little darker in some ways than Bellairs' more popular heroes (Johnny Dixon andLewis Barnavelt), but he's very much in the same mold. Nice, quiet, unassuming, extremely loyal and normally very honest. Miss Eells, a ladylike librarion who can curse like a sailor (don't worry, parents, Bellairs never makes it clear just what she says), makes a good foil as the voice of experience and reason. And Philpotts becomes a little more ridiculous as the book goes on, but is an expert manipulator and very realistic.

I read this book expecting some thrills and chills, but didn't get many "chills." Despite that, one of Bellairs' few straight mysteries is good Gothic fun.

Good Story!
This is a good story and it's written very well.A thirteen year old boy, who is desperate to help his family out of their money troubles, searches for a treasure that may be just a practical joke.I didn't like the beginning of the story where Anthony is having trouble with his parents fighting all the time about money, but that's because John Bellairs wrote it so well.Anthony struggles with a lot of things, but everything works out and he's a big hero by the end of the story.

One of the BEST books I have ever read!!!!
This is a GREAT book. I highly reccomend it. Action packed, great storyline, and a spooky mystery, this book has it all!!!

Terrific book
The Treasure of Alpheus Winterborn is a terrific book. It is a fast paced mystery w/a dramatic and exciting climax. Readers of John Bellairs won't be disapointed. ... Read more

Product Description
John Bellairs, the name in Gothic mysteries for middle graders, wrote terrifying tales full of adventure, attitude, and alarm. For years, young readers have crept, crawled, and gone bump in the night with the unlikely heroes of these Gothic novels: Lewis Barnavelt, Johnny Dixon, and Anthony Monday. Now, the ten top-selling titles feature an updated cover look. Loyal fans and enticed newcomers will love the series even more with this haunting new look!Amazon.com Review
Lewis always dreamed of living in an old house full of secret passageways, hidden rooms, and big marble fireplaces. And suddenly, after the death of his parents, he finds himself in just such a mansion--his Uncle Jonathan's. When he discovers that his big friendly uncle is also a wizard, Lewis has a hard time keeping himself from jumping up and down in his seat. Unfortunately, what Lewis doesn't bank on is the fact that the previous owner of the mansion was also a wizard--but an evil one who has placed a tick-tocking clock somewhere in the bowels of the house, marking off the minutes until the end of the world. And when Lewis accidentally awakens the dead on Halloween night, the clock only ticks louder and faster. Doomsday draws near--unlessLewis can stop the clock!

This is a deliciously chilling tale, with healthy doses of humor and compassion thrown in for good measure. Edward Gorey's unmistakable pen and ink style (as seen in many picture books, including The Shrinking of Treehorn and OldPossum's Book of Practical Cats) perfectly complements John Bellairs's wry, touching story of a lonely boy, his quirky uncle, and the ghost of mansions past. (Ages 9 to 12) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Customer Reviews (94)

Tick...Tick...Tick
Wouldn't it be spooky to live in a house where you could constantly hear the ticking of an invisible clock in the walls? Lewis Barnavelt certainly thinks so. In John Bellairs' novel, The House With the Clock in Its Walls (Puffin Books, 1973), Lewis moves into a mysterious house with his quirky uncle, and is disturbed to hear ticking in the walls in every room. Lewis is determined to discover the answers to all the secrets, like what Uncle Jonathan is up to when he bangs on the walls at night? And why do Uncle Jonathan's playing cards make reference to a magical society? Lewis discovers that Uncle Jonathan is a wizard and is immediately fascinated. He becomes more involved in the world of magic until finally he tries a spell himself... and sets in motion the events that could end the entire world! Will Lewis be able to reverse his mistake and solve the mystery of the clock? This novel will keep the reader guessing and turning pages till the end. The characters are lovable, from kooky and kind-hearted Uncle Jonathan and his best friend Mrs. Zimmerman, who are constantly insulting each other, to poor chubby Lewis who has trouble making friends. This book is full of laughs and chills, mysteries and magic, family and cookies. And let's not forget... the end of the world!

If you like gothic horror, then you will love this book!
It is 1948, and with the death of his parents, Lewis Barnavelt now has to move in with his Uncle Jonathan. But, there are some strange things going on in his uncle's house. His uncle seems to be looking for something in the house, checking each and every wall. It seems that the house once belonged to an old warlock, and that Uncle dabbles in magic as well. The old man, Isaac Izard, had placed a magical clock in the house, and if you listened at the walls you could hear it ticking. Just what was the clock for? It's a mystery that will not wait, and becomes more pressing with every passing page!

Well, I must say that I am a huge fan of John Bellairs' excellent book, The Face in the Frost. I finally broke down, and got myself his second most well-known book, The House with a Clock in Its Walls, and I must say that I am most impressed! The book is excellent, having that same feeling of gothic horror. I enjoyed the characters, and interesting mystery.

So, if you like gothic horror, then you will love this book. There's a reason why it's considered a classic of young-adult fantasy - read it and find out for yourself!

My FAVORITE book EVER!
I remember reading this book as a kid and LOVED, LOVED, LOVED IT! I even remember an "after school movie special" of this book. It is my all-time favorite book EVER!!! And NO ONE beats Gorey's illustrations!

If you like gothic horror, then you will love this book!
It is 1948, and with the death of his parents, Lewis Barnavelt now has to move in with his Uncle Jonathan. But, there are some strange things going on in his uncle's house. His uncle seems to be looking for something in the house, checking each and every wall. It seems that the house once belonged to an old warlock, and that Uncle dabbles in magic as well. The old man, Isaac Izard, had placed a magical clock in the house, and if you listened at the walls you could hear it ticking. Just what was the clock for? It's a mystery that will not wait, and becomes more pressing with every passing page!

Well, I must say that I am a huge fan of John Bellairs' excellent book, The Face in the Frost. I finally broke down, and got myself his second most well-known book, The House with a Clock in Its Walls, and I must say that I am most impressed! The book is excellent, having that same feeling of gothic horror. I enjoyed the characters, and interesting mystery.

So, if you like gothic horror, then you will love this book. There's a reason why it's considered a classic of young-adult fantasy - read it and find out for yourself!

John Bellairs's classic children's horror fantasy - if you're looking to give your kids the creepy crawlies...
One wonders what terrific novels would've emerged from John Bellairs' fertile mind had he been allowed to make a living writing adult fiction. If one goes by his quite awesome adult fantasy novel The Face in the Frost, then I'm thinking the world has really missed out. THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS was originally intended to be grown-up reading, but no publishing house was biting. Bellairs was instead advised to rewrite the thing as a children's novel, and this pretty much cemented Bellairs's career as a children's writer.

As a kid I read this book and its sequels The Figure In the Shadows (Lewis Barnavelt) and The Letter, the Witch, and the Ring over and over to the point that I wore out the pages. As an adult I still find these stories gripping and suspenseful and fraught with gothic overtones. Still, after tearing thru THE FACE IN THE FROST, I bemoan Bellairs' turning away from writing more adult fantasies. John Bellairs created two other series, respectively featuring Anthony Monday and Johnny Dixon. But in no way do they resonate as strongly as the Lewis Barnavelt trilogy. And I have to say this, while I laud THE FACE IN THE FROST to bits, I do count THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS as my favorite John Bellairs book. It had that much of an impact on me when I was a child.

It's 1948 and shy and chubby 10-year-old Lewis Barnavelt, newly orphaned, has just moved to Michigan, to the quaint little community of New Zebedee and into his very strange Uncle Jonathan's sprawling mansion at 100 High Street. Lewis instantly feels at home in this grand old house, with its many unexplored rooms and secret passages. He vey quickly grows fond of his uncle, whose peculiar ways are matched by his lavish kindness, and of their friendly next door neighbor, Mrs. Zimmermann. But here's the thing: each night at midnight, Lewis hears his uncle patrolling the grounds, venturing into each room and randomly tapping on the walls. And Lewis's bump of curiosity perks up. Maybe it has to do with that incessant ticking noise seeming to originate from every wall in the house. Maybe it has to do with Lewis's uncle being a wizard.

Uncle Jonathan isn't a powerful wizard (Mrs. Zimmermann, it turns out, is a more powerful witch, and with a collegiate degree in magic at that), but Jonathan definitely knows more than just sleight-of-hand tricks. He can even eclipse the moon. And yet, even though Uncle Jonathan tries to hide it, he's clearly nervous about the ticking, which in the next few months seems to progressively get louder and louder. Lewis learns that before Uncle Jonathan came to live in it, the malevolent warlock Isaac Izard and his wife witch Selenna used to inhabit the mansion, and who knows what dark enchantments were worked during their stay?

For Lewis, times at school are horrible as ever. Squeamish and plump, it's hard for him to make friends, and when he does end up making one, he goes above and beyond in his attempts to keep the friendship going. Lewis, trying to impress his friend, ends up at the graveyard dabbling in black magic. And then the spell goes horribly, horribly wrong (or horribly right, since it actually worked). It was only supposed to be an innocent attempt at resurrection. What are the odds that Lewis would inadvertently perform the spell in front of the tomb of Selenna Izard? It wouldn't be too long from that moment that Lewis Barnavelt, his Uncle Jonathan, and the benevolent Mrs. Zimmermann would be facing peril and pursuit and a desperate search for the clock in the walls inexorably ticking down the end of the world.

Concerning children's literature, I stand John Bellairs up with the greats and most definitely with the more contemporary likes of R.L. Stine, Diana Wynne Jones and J.K. Rowling. Bellairs demonstrated this knack for seamlessly weaving in the ordinary with the occult. He introduced elements of warmth and whimsy, most felt in Lewis's relationships with his uncle and with Mrs. Zimmermann. I remember the big smile on my mug when reading passages of these comfy-homey practitioners of magic, indulging in their craft to amuse each other and Lewis. I was thinking when I first read this book: Man, Lewis has it so good, with a wizard for an uncle who fills his days with wonder and shows him Historical Illusions and plays poker with him. And Lewis has it so good, living in a mysterious house in which he runs into cool things like the mechanical Fuse Box Dwarf and the magic coat rack which allows one peeks into exotic places (although sometimes it'll just give out Dow-Jones averages and livestock reports).

That sense of charming affability works to sucker you in, though, because, at the same time, Bellairs is also building and building on that ominous suspense, starting you off with that uneasy tingle, gradually rising to a palpable tension, culminating in a crescendo of chilling supernatural terror. Bellairs does this very well. In the end, after an assortment of genuinely creepy moments, it falls to the meek but likeable young protagonist to save the day.

For a while now, author Brad Strickland has taken over the writing of the Lewis Barnavelt series, beginning in 1993 with The Ghost in the Mirror (Lewis Barnavelt), which had been an unfinished work of Bellairs. Strickland has kept the stories pretty faithful to Bellairs's sensibilities. And, frankly, I'm just grateful that there are stories still being told about Lewis, Rose Rita, Uncle Jonathan, and Mrs. Zimmermann. I hung out with them as a child, and even nowadays I don't mind at all catching up with these weird, wonderful folks from New Zebedee. But it starts with THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS. For young readers seeking to experience a new set of the willies, the heebie-jeebies, or the creepy crawlies, this book will most definitely do. ... Read more

Product Description
John Bellairs, the name in Gothic mysteries for middle graders, wrote terrifying tales full of adventure, attitude, and alarm. For years, young readers have crept, crawled, and gone bump in the night with the unlikely heroes of these Gothic novels: Lewis Barnavelt, Johnny Dixon, and Anthony Monday. Now, the ten top-selling titles feature an updated cover look. Loyal fans and enticed newcomers will love the series even more with this haunting new look! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

A John Bellairs Masterpiece
I love the three series of books by John Bellairs and "The Spell of the Sorcerer's Skull" does not disappoint. Lots of suspense and the plot is masterfully weaved from start to finish.

very mature horror
for a children's story, this is very mature horror. in this book by horror genius, john bellairs, we have the classic good vs. evil. there are also elements of satanism, roman catholicism countering the satanism, latin incantions, holy water, its...yeah pretty heavy stuff for grade schoolers. its still quite worthwhile to read, as i read them as a child and loved them. yes, they are terrifying, but they are extremely well written, in an easy flowing narrative that makes it simple for children to follow. enjoy these classic additions to children's gothic horror (a...strange genre indeed).

Spell of the Sorcerer's Skull
At the begining of the I wanted to read a different book because it was really boring.More towards the end of the book It started to get WAY better.Over all I thought it was a really good book.

The Spell of the Sorcerser's Skull
AT FIRST THE BOOK,WAS FAIRLY INTERESTING.THEN DURING THE MIDDLE OF THE BOOK IT STARTED TO GET TO BE LIKE SNORESVILLE.THEN IN THE END OF THE BOOK IT STARTED TO BE WHERE I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO READ DURING READING TIME.OVER ALL IN THE END I THOUGHT IT WAS A PRETTY GOOD BOOK.

"Scary and Suspensful"
In the book The Spell of the Sorcerer's Skull is about Johnny and one of his best friends Professor Childermass.When Professor Childermass is taken away by an un-named force, Johnny has to go and save him.Johnny takes Fergie (his best friend) and Farther Higgins along with him not even knowing what he was getting himself into.The three men follow all of the clues that the professor may have left at the place where the disappearance happened.They finally get to an island where their troubles run thick.
I liked this book because it was very suspenseful and it made you want to read on and on so that you could find out what happened next.I also liked this book because Johnny has to go through a lot and it shows how much of a friends he is to Professor Childermass. ... Read more

Product Description
At first, Johnny Dixon doesn't believe Professor Childermass's story about Evaristus Sloane, the insane inventor of a fiendish, baseball-pitching robot. Then Johnny sees faces at his window at night, and senses he's being followed. Old Sloane has invented a new, improved robot, and he only needs one thing to bring it to life--Johnny's eyes.A unique plot, marvelous characters, and non-stop suspense make for deliciously wicked fun. -- Booklist ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Loved it since I was a child
A librarian recommended this to me when I was a little girl. Buy it. You'll like it. The ending and plot were superb. If
you are debating buying this book I would have to say buy it. It's a children's book.

Favorite book from my childhood
I started with this one and read the rest.This was still my favorite.What a title!

The Eyes of the Killer Robot
John Bellairs books are quite intresting.But this book was not his best from what i've heard.There just wasn't enough action or mystery.I kept predicting what would happen and that isn't very mysterious to me.I would definitely like to read more of his books just not this one.

eerie = interesting
I read this when I was in elementary school. (I'm 23 now.) I didn't enjoy reading at all until college. But of the few books I bothered with I remember loving this one. It was just so bizarre and sinister to a kid. Edward Gorey's illustrations creeped me out. (check out his own books.) If you want a book that will enthrall your child with its eerieness, choose this one.

I grew up to love books like The Third Policeman, movies like Eyes Wide Shut, TV shows like Twin Peaks, composers like Berlioz, and painters like Magritte. Do your kids a favor and weird 'em out!

"They took my eyes..."
With a title like "Eyes of the Killer Robot," who could resist? While cheesy idiocy is implied in the title, the actual plot couldn't be further from it. This is an example of how Bellairs triumphs with his horror-fantasy stories, which so easily could descend into such ghastly cheese, but don't.

A stock-market plunge and a baseball game set off this book. Professor Childermass loses thousands of dollars in a sudden company collapse, shortly after it is announced that a star baseball player will offer ten thousand to anyone who can strike him out. It brings to Childermass's mind (he informs both us and the timid Johnny Dixon) an old memory: Of how a brilliant but insane inventor once offered a baseball team (which had Johnny's grandfather on it) a pitching robot. He strikes on the scheme of finding the robot and using it to strike out the baseball player (and cover his losses).

Unsurprisingly, this is not a Good Idea. They find the robot, but then Johnny sees a strange specter: An eyeless man who wanders around moaning, "They took my eyes." The robot itself remains lifeless until a pair of strange glass eyes are put in its face. As it rampages through the town, the heroic trio make two other discoveries: Its inventor is not dead, and he's coming after Johnny with evil intent...

Bellairs is in top form here. Magic is mixed with the real world, and various occultic workings that wuill make your skin crawl. He does an especially good job with the villains: one is insane, and the other is frightening sane but absolutely amoral. As ever, his dialogue is snappy and his descriptive sense is either funny or just spinechilling; the settings are those of nice small towns with essentially pleasant people -- both of which can turn horrifying at any moment. His ghosts are simply unparalleled. And I agree with "Hallie" -- it takes a writer with guts and skill who can believably put his preteen hero in such realistic danger without outraging the reader.

Johnny is, as is usual with Mr. Bellairs, a meek but willing Charlie Brown type; I have yet to meet a reader of these books who doesn't like him or his counterparts. Fergie is a little more outgoing, the sort of dead-loyal friend that everyone wants. And the professor is... well, the professor.

Bad points? None that I can think of, except that the wonderfully crabby priest Father Higgins appears for only two pages. (Though the idea of him wearing an umpire's vest and a clerical collar is too funny for words) I would have liked more Higgy, and this teaser leads to nothing. Additionally, Professor Childermass seems to be acting a little too impulsively at the beginning. (Find a rampaging robot and put it back together -- what a surprise that it all blows up in their faces).

This is, overall, a delightfully creepy mystery/fantasy/horror story that any good kid reader will enjoy, and a few reminiscing adults might as well. ... Read more

Product Description
"Gravely ill." The haunting words keep repeating themselves over and over in Johnny Dixon's brain. After all the tests, doctors still can't find any earthly reason why Johnny's father lies unconscious. Could it be that Johnny's tangles with a malevolent creature have caused his father to be its latest victim? To save him, Johnny and his friends Professor Childermass and Fergie Ferguson must not only enter into battle with the fearsome fiend, they must fight it in the realm of its own unearthly world! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

More of a smirk than a grin
I have been an avid fan of John Bellairs for a number of years and when he died a few years ago, I was relieved and pleased when Brad Stickland took up where Bellairs had left off. However, the Wrath of the Grinning Ghost...while entertaining, never quite captures the level of suspense and spookiness that Bellairs always managed and that Strickland himself has accomplished up to this point. Some of the characters are never really developed...the fortune teller is an example...and the main characters that we have all come to know and love, just seem like half hearted shadows of their former selves. While not Strickland's best, it's still worth reading. But, if this is your first taste of Bellairs, you may be better off trying some of his pre-Strickland offerings. Any one of them would be worth your time.

Good to see Johnny again
I found Brad Strickland's imitation of John Bellairs good, though in the end it clearly lacked the soul of Bellairs work. However, I am glad thatJohnny is back, along with the rest of the gang. I have been a Belliars fanfor a long time and am happy that strickland is keeping bellairs charactersalive

Good, but not Bellairs
Johnny Dixon is one of my favorite literary characters and I was glad to see someone keep him alive after the untimely death of Bellairs.The book was good and began well enough, but was missing the dark and sinisterelements that made Bellairs so brilliant.The humor interjected byBrewster felt out of place and the plot did not compare to those of pastbooks.The whole fortune teller and other world travel seemed a bithokey...I miss the Catholic undertones and grim scenarios faced by Johnnyin the past.The Professor was also denied the passages that make him suchan old (but lovable) crab.I hope Strickland writes future novels withdarker villans and plots as well as greater involvement of Father Higginsand Prof. Coote.Overall, it was enjoyable and I look forward to newtitles.

Strickland has created an excellent book.
Another worthy sucessor to John Bellair's books.Kudos for the return of Brewster! ... Read more

Product Description
When Anthony Monday stumbles upon a book that reveals a frightening plan to turn the world into an icy wasteland, he knows that he must find the person responsible and stop him before it is too late. Reprint. SLJ. " ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Really? I don't agree...
I usually really enjoy John Bellairs's books, and i've read most of them, but compared to the others, this one was a bit of a disappointment. I felt that it was one of those mysteries where you can't just figure it out by common knowledge and the clues from the book, but you have to wait until the main characters figure it out. Which I guess, isn't neccessarily a bad thing...
It was still pretty good, but I wouldn't call it a mystery. I didn't hate it but I didn't really like it as much as his others. For some reason, there wasn't as much suspense in this one.
Oh well. It was still pretty good overall. But if you're interested in a mystery that will keep you hooked, go for Joan Lowery Nixon.:)

Wonderful and imaginative
I read this and several other books by John Bellairs as a child and for some reason was thinking of them tonight. I was so excited to look here and see how many others there are that I didn't know about! Great reading and I can't wait to order the rest! This one is so good, as is the mummy, the will, and the crypt, the house with a clock in its walls, and the first one I read, the treasure of alpheas winterbourne

More than just a book for young readers
When I was in 7th grade, I read every John Bellairs book that the library had.His modern gothic tales of dark suspense were unlike any other stories to be found, and they captivated me entirely with their mysticalcharm.Some 14 or 15 years later, the memory of his stories remained sostrong in my mind that I recently sought out and read "The Dark Secretof Weatherend" once again.And once again, I was taken under thespell of Bellairs' literary magic, enjoying it as much as I had so longago.

Every one of his books is excellent.The writing, the intrigue, thedark mood he creates for the reader, are crafted with mastery.They areideally suited for reading to children, especially since the hero is alwaysa young boy or girl, and are entirely unique in the realm of children'sliterature.It is that very quality that makes them just as enjoyable forthe mature reader.At such a low price, I highly reccommend anyone whoenjoys reading to check them out."Dark Secret" is a perfectplace to start.

The only similar comparisons I can make to the stories ofBellairs are the poems and illustrations of Edward Gorey, the films of TimBurton, and the music of Danny Elfman.If you like one, you'll probablylike them all.

If you like Harry Potter....
then you'll LOVE books by John Bellairs!This man invented mysteries for young readers.Try it, and you won't be able to put it down.The characters are easily to identify with as they seem like ordinary kids, yetthey have extraordinary adventures!Bellairs is funny, intelligent andentertaining in his writing.Read it to your kids as a bedtime story, andYOU'LL keep reading it to yourself long after they've nodded off.

Chills once again
It's a nice one that gives you that creeping feeling, and is interesting. Its thrilling ending is synomous with John Bellairs. ... Read more

Product Description
A summer trip becomes a dangerous journey into the past when Rose Rita unwittingly accompanies Mrs. Zimmerman, a woman hoping to regain her magical powers, until she loses her memory and leaves them stranded in the year 1828. Reprint. AB. SLJ. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

"Yes, I Have a Little Bit of Magic..."
I may not be the best person to review John Bellairs' "The Ghost in the Mirror," since it is clearly one book of many in a series, and I've only just arrived. When I picked up my copy from the library, I had no idea that it was part of a larger set, when in fact, Bellairs has written sixteen books that contain the characters found within this book.

I should say at this point that Bellairs' passed away in 1991, leaving behind several unfinished manuscripts. It is John Strickland who has completed many of his stories, including this one. But I certainly couldn't see a drop in quality, or any obvious change in style. But then again, I'm a newcomer and this review can only judge the merits of this one particular book. It may therefore be inadequate in assessing its worth as part of a longer-running series, but maybe I can fairly review "The Ghost in the Mirror" without either the baggage or advantage of the other books.

Mrs Zimmermann is a witch, though one who has lost her powers (I'm guessing the reasons as to how can be found in anther book) and feeling a bit lonely considering her good friends Jonathan and Lewis Barnavelt has gone to Europe (again, I can only assume that they have a larger part to play in other installments). She has her young friend Rose Rita to keep her company, but Mrs Zimmermann is troubled by eerie shadows and visions that appear on her walls and ceilings every night.

But she believes that her old teacher Granny Wetherbee is trying to contact her, asking her for help. She soon has herself and Rose Rita on a road-trip to Pennsylvania where Granny Wetherbee used to live in order to solve the mystery. The adventure really starts when the two of them drive through a tunnel...and arrive on the other side to find themselves in the middle of 1828's freezing cold winter (as opposed to 1951's warm and muggy summer).

Rose Rita is nervous, but Mrs Zimmermann is excited, as the two find themselves a part of a Pennsylvania Dutch family who are in serious trouble. The Wiess family are the victims of slander, with their Grandpa Dexel accused of hexing, and the two time-travelers know what tragic fate awaits the family should they not take action against the forces that oppose them.

Throw in some magic mirrors, sinister spells, buried treasure, and a spooky graveyard or two and you have a satisfying read, especially for young readers who enjoy getting spooked. There are a couple of clichés: Mrs Zimmermann gets temporary amnesia, and the main villain pauses in his evil plan to give a lengthy monologue about the whys and wherefores of his evil, but the pace is brisk, the characterization is solid, and the plot-points hang together nicely and are brought to their logical conclusion.

I enjoyed the friendship between the elderly Mrs Zimmerman and the young Rose Rita (how often do you find an old lady/young girl team-up in children's literature?) and there is a critical eye fixed upon the damaging consequences of gossip and hearsay.

For a time-slip adventure, there is little in the way of exploring life as it was lived in a different time and place (though I did appreciate a detail that explain the Pennsylvania *Dutch* weren't actually Dutch at all). There are other little tidbits of course, such as the food and transportation used in the 1800s, as well as plenty arcane knowledge about the magical arts, but the past isn't brought vividly to life. Though once again I'm going to have to rely on guess-work and assume that such things aren't really the point of these stories.

I'm sure that getting the most enjoyment of these books relies on one's foreknowledge of the other books, where the characters appear as old friends rather than new acquaintances, and the problems that they face have context (such as how Mrs Zimmermann lost her powers, why Rose Rita cringes every time she thinks of her first dance, and what exactly Jonathan and Lewis got up to in Europe - though perhaps that last one's in a later book).

So my advice to you: start at the beginning. I ran a quick search, and found that The House With a Clock In Its Walls (Lewis Barnavelt) is the first John Bellairs book, which is almost certainly a much better starting place for this series than "The Ghost in the Mirror." With an atmosphere that's somewhat reminiscent of The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 1), which in turn is based on the dreary stylings of Edgar Allan Poe, I'd recommend Bellairs to young readers (or old) who enjoy a little Gothic creepiness mixed into their reading material.

The Girls From New Zebedee Take A Spooky Roadtrip
This nice addition to the series gives Rose Rita and Mrs. Zimmerman a chance to hit the road, spend some time together and develop their friendship ... while fighting unearthly dangers of course!

If possible, you should read the earlier books first, but don't miss this one. The story is just fine by itself, but it will make you want to read the earlier and later books as well.

I especially liked the description of early American farm life (which was a hard life indeed!) There were also a couple of nice puzzles for Rosa Rita to solve and I challenge the reader to try to figure them out before she does!

The Ghost in theMirror
Mrs.Zimmermann a witch goes on a vacation with Rose Rita Pottinger.Mrs.Zimmermann and Rose Rita discover that instead of going to their vacation spot they travel back to 1928 in Pennslvania Dutch country when it's winter time.When Mrs.Zimmermann and Rose Rita are in Pennslvania Dutch they have different adventures.Mrs.Zimmermann even loses her memories and her magic powers.Without Mrs.Zimmermann's powers how will Rose Rita Pottinger ever be able to get home?I thought this book was very entertaining because it was interesting.

"Ghost" a solid thriller
"Ghost in the Mirror" is one of several books that the late John Bellairs left unfinished at the time of his death. Those books were finished by Brad Strickland, utilizing the author's remaining outlines. It's a solid thriller with a few seams showing, but overall a good read for those not yet ready for Stephen King.

Kindly witch Mrs. Zimmermann has lost her magic, except for a sixth sense and a residual aura of unusable protective magic, and Rose Rita Pottinger has broken her ankle. Her friends Jonathan and Lewis Barnavelt have left the two behind, while on their European vacation. But suddenly Mrs. Zimmermann is called on a mission into the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country, and Rose Rita comes with her. Naturally, nothing proceeds as expected. Their car is transported back in time and crashes, leaving the two staying with the kindly Weiss family.

But the mystery deepens when the reason for their time travelling is revealed -- the ghost of the witch Hilda Wetherbee tells them that she has transported them back in time to save a good wizard, Grandpa Drexel, who is fated to die on the first of April. But an evil presence disrupts the message from Granny Wetherbee, and Mrs. Zimmermann becomes stricken with partial amnesia Rose Rita becomes increasingly suspicious that a hexer -- an evil witch -- is trying to drive out the Weiss family. But how can a de-magicked witch and a bespelled modern girl hope to stop a hexer -- and a demon?

This is neither the spookiest nor the tightest of Bellairs' fantasy-horror books, and it suffers slightly from an unfortunate cliche (time travel) and a dependence on previous Bellairs books. But it's a solid time-travel/ghost-story, with some hideously chilling scenes and some interesting new characters. There's a bit of a dull section in the middle, but Strickland picks up the pace near the end with some delightfully Bellairsian scenes of horror when Rose Rita inadvertantly conjures up the demon Aziel. And for people looking for a little educational info, there's some enlightening passages about the Pennsylvania Dutch.

Rose Rita is shown without the shadow of Lewis here, and while she is not quite as interesting as the timid ex-altar boy, she's a good heroine who shows a lot of the characteristics of her best friend. Mrs. Zimmermann is given extra dimension as she tries to regain her magical powers and gets stricken with amnesia. We also get to see two dimensions of Hilda Wetherbee -- as the ghost of a crabby old witch, and as a little girl who befriends Rose Rita. Favorites Jonathan and Lewis Barnavelt even show up for a cameo appearance.

While not the most outstanding of Bellairs' books, this is a good, spooky read, especially for fans of Rose Rita and Mrs. Zimmermann. Not to be missed.

Scary Book
I recommend this book to anyone who is 12 years old and older. This book is a story of friendship and bravery. One of the brave things that Rose Rita did was when she started reading a spell book that would let out a monster, but she couldn't stop reading the book. For example, she was thinking, "What was it? A smart person could get out of the trap-if he took every step backwards! That was it! But what did that mean?" She was brave because she wouldn't let the monster out. One of the things that Grampa Drexel showed was his friendship. For example, when Rose Rita asked Grampa Drexel this "Can I ask you a big, big favor? Will you help Mrs. Zimmerman get her magic back?"This was a sign of friendship because he helped get her magic back. This book should be recommended to anyone who likes mysteries and fantasy. ... Read more

Product Description
John Bellairs, the name in Gothic mysteries for middle graders, wrote terrifying tales full of adventure, attitude, and alarm. For years, young readers have crept, crawled, and gone bump in the night with the unlikely heroes of these Gothic novels: Lewis Barnavelt, Johnny Dixon, and Anthony Monday. Now, the ten top-selling titles feature an updated cover look. Loyal fans and enticed newcomers will love the series even more with this haunting new look! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

True terror
It is books like this that make me with I was still teenage girl.

Heck, how often to you find a female coming-of-age story blended with a supernatural story so horrific and gripping? Bellairs' straight-forward detailed writing keeps it all wonderful, and I found myself consumed by both the teen angst and the freaky mystery.

Rose Rita is about to enter junior high. Being that she is a die-hard tomboy, the idea of entering a world full of skirts and school dances is absolutely terrifying. She spends a good deal of the book trying to decide where a girl like her fits into the world.

But it's not all angst. It's John Bellairs, and that means sheer freakiness. She attends her neighbor on a road trip to look at an inherited farm. What they find is classic Bellairs horror of witches and grudges and magic.

The story is entrancing, emotional, and downright freaky. Bellairs keeps up a fantastic adventure while still managing to get into the head of a girl going through an awkward phase.

Sheer imagination, sheer emotion, and sheer joy.

Great Conclusion to a Wonderful Series
The Letter, The Witch, and The Ring is the final book in John Bellairs trilogy and was a great ending to this series for young adults. This series was first published in the 70's and I'm sure it's well known by many children's and young adult author's today.

The last book in the series turns it's focus from Lewis to Rose Rita, Lewis' best friend. Lewis has gone off to boy scout camp for the summer and Rose Rita is upset because she is left alone, without her friend. Rose Rita is also going through an identity crisis. She's 13 and finding that she's not like other girls. She'd rather dress like a boy and play sports. She's more about adventure and wants to go to boy scout camp with Lewis. Mrs. Zimmerman, Lewis' next door neighboor, picks up on Rose Rita's sadness and offers her an adventure for the summer.

Mrs. Zimmerman has received a letter from her recently deceased cousin. He has left her his farm in his will and along with the farm, he has left her a magic ring. Mrs. Zimmerman is an experienced witch and doesn't know if the ring truly exists but thinks it's in her best interest to go investigate. Her and Rose Rita embark on a summer adventure with many twists and turns in what is definitely the most suspenseful novel of the trilogy.

I really enjoyed this series. The books are witty, adventurous, gloomy, magical, and above all very human. Great for children. Bellairs did a great job examining real life issues in children and young adults. Lewis is a child dealing with the loss of both of his parents, being over weight, unpopular, and not your "typical male". Rose Rita is a tomboy, likes sports, hates dresses, and likes to hang out with boys. He addresses these issues perfectly and builds these characters as strong, bold, unique individuals that are empowered and brave. Two thumbs way up for John Bellairs!

An uncommonly scary witch
John Bellairs is best known as the author of sixteen gothic mystery novels for young adults comprising the Lewis Barnavelt, Anthony Monday, and Johnny Dixon series. "The Letter, the Witch, and the Ring" (1976) is the third book in the Lewis Barnavelt series, although the story is really about his friend, Rose Rita.

So far from what I've read of this author, his characters tend to be elderly eccentrics, or ordinary children (no superkids, here).Rose Rita is a tomboy with a great pitching arm, but she is currently mad at the world.Her friend, Lewis Barnavelt is going to Boy Scout camp for the summer, and he is the only one who appreciates her for what she is:a girl who has no interest in growing up into a world of "skirts and nylons, lipsticks and powder puffs, dating and dancing" which are all waiting for her in Junior High---It's a shame Rita Rose feels obligated to make a choice between sports and dating, but this is early 1950s America.

When old Mrs. Zimmerman offers to take Rose Rita on a trip to see the farm she just inherited from her cousin, Oley, she jumps at the chance.Her father is reluctant to let her go because Mrs. Zimmerman is reputed to be the town screwball, but he finally gives in to Rose Rita and her mother.

Luckily he doesn't know that Mrs. Zimmerman is a witch.

Rose Rita sees her friend pull up in her brand-new 1950 Plymouth and off they go for a couple of weeks in the woods of Northern Michigan.

Unfortunately the new green Plymouth runs out of gas a few miles from Mrs. Zimmerman's newly inherited farmhouse, and the two must trek to the nearest gas station.A really nasty old woman overcharges Mrs. Zimmerman for a can of gas, and Mrs. Zimmerman recognizes her as Gert Bigger, an old rival in love.(Rose Rita has difficulty believing that either one of them could have loved or been loved).

When Mrs. Zimmerman and Rose Rita finally arrive at the farmhouse in the woods, they realize that it has been ransacked.The ring that Oley had found and believed to be magic has been stolen.

When Mrs. Zimmerman herself disappears, it is up to Rose Rita to solve the deepening mystery.

Don't expect milksop magic or easy solutions from this author.Rose Rita has to confront both interior and exterior demons, and comes very close to death before Bellairs winds down to his usual cocoa and cookies (well, roasted marshmallows in this story) ending.

The best in the Lewis Barnavelt series!
John Bellairs' "The Letter, the Witch and the Ring" was the last in his Lewis Barnavelt series that he saw through completion before his death in 1991, Brad Strickland then continued the series, but never reached near the great thrill involved in this outstanding adventure."The Letter, the Witch and the Ring" follows "The Figure in the Shadows" which I found rather disappointing and is the third in "The House with a Clock in its Walls" or Lewis Barnavelt series, this one however, hardly includes Lewis, instead, Rose Rita Pottinger introduced at the end of the first book stars in this great sequel.

Rose Rita Pottinger isn't looking forward to summer, her best friend Lewis is going away to camp and she'll be left all alone, there's an opportunity for her to join a girls camp, but she does not want to spend summer with other girls, mainly because she is a tomboy and believes that boys get to have all the fun.Nearby, Mrs. Zimmermann receives a letter from her late cousin Oley inviting her to pay a visit to the now deserted farm up in Wisconsin, which Mrs. Zimmermann has now inherited as well as an old snake-shaped ring which Cousin Oley believes might be magic.Mrs. Zimmermann invites Rose Rita in what-seems like an ordinary trip to the north, instead what they encounter is a thrilling unforgettable adventure facing the wicked witch Gert Bigger!

When Mrs. Zimmermann and Rose Rita arrive at Oley's Farm in the old green 1950 Playmouth (Named Bessie), they find that the place has been broken into and the ring stolen.Now the mystery is, who would want the ring and for what?Things go very wrong and seem to be getting worse and worse, more frightening for Rose Rita, especially after Mrs. Zimmermann mysteriously disappears.Luckily for Rose Rita, she's able to meet some new friends there, for instance, the Sipes family, who although sometimes become trouble for the girl, their intentions are always good.

What I loved most about this great book was its atmosphere, it seems surrounded by a somewhat gloomy, yet cozy feeling and the different events are chilling, sometimes you might even feel your heart-rate speed up enourmously.Indeed the greatest among all of the Lewis Barnavelt series I have read!A winner!

Rose Rita takes center stage
Rose Rita Pottinger, introduced in THE FIGURE IN THE SHADOWS, takes center stage with the elderly witch Mrs. Zimmermann in this book.

Mrs. Zimmermann, who lost her powers in the last book, takes Rose Rita with her on vacation after Rose Rita's best friend Lewis goes off to Boy Scout camp.They start off visiting a farm that Mrs. Z has inherited, but find that a ring that her cousin had believed to be magic is missing.Mrs. Z dismisses it but Rose Rita isn't so sure.As they continue on their trip, they find themselves stalked by supernatural events, and it comes to a head when they return to the old farm and confront their enemy, a person with a bitter grudge who will go to any length to get revenge.

This book deals with the problems of growing up; Rose Rita isn't sure she wants to grow up, and as a tomboy is afraid of the whole dresses-and-dating thing, something a lot of girls deal with.The writing is full of evocative passages describing the small towns they go through on their vacation, reminding me of many of my own childhood vacations.The villain is evil, to be sure, but also fairly tragic when we get a flash that they're a victim of longtime domestic violence.

This is good fun, moving at a leisurely pace at times, but also with genuinely chilling moments.The central message is to be at peace with who you are, and to make the best of yourself, rather than wanting to be something you're not.

For a long time, this was the last in the Barnavelt series, until THE GHOST IN THE MIRROR was published after Bellairs' death, with additional material by Brad Strickland. ... Read more

Product Description
While visiting his cousin in England, Lewis Barnavelt accidentally unleashes the ghost of the wicked Malachiah Pruitt, a three hundred-year old maniacal wizard. Reprint. PW. VY. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A mazing tale
John Bellairs is best known as the author of fifteen gothic mystery novels for young adults, plus four similar works completed by Brad Strickland after Bellairs's death."The Vengeance of the Witch-Finder" (1993) is the next-to-the-last book in the Lewis Barnavelt series, and was completed by Brad Strickland.It takes place in 1951, mainly at the Barnavelt mansion in England.

This book can be read in conjunction with "The Ghost in the Mirror" which takes place simultaneously with `Witch-Finder' and stars Lewis Barnavelt's friends, Rose Rita Pottinger and Mrs. Florence Zimmermann.

When orphaned Lewis Barnavelt, now age thirteen, and his Uncle Jonathan go on vacation in Europe, they drop in on their English cousin Pelham, who owns the ancestral Barnavelt Manor. The housekeeper's son Bertie, who is blind, takes Lewis on a tour of the old mansion and grounds.

Lewis is especially interested in the maze, which he has read about but never seen, and his new friend Bertie shows him the trick of reaching its center.From the description given in `Witch-Finder,' it was probably a hedged labyrinth of the sort that became fashionable in the late sixteenth century (see M.R. James's story, "Mr. Humphreys and His Inheritance" for a similar tale of a maze and the awfulness at its center).

All is well, until Lewis discovers an old map of the maze with what might be a treasure in the center.He sets out on a midnight excursion, accompanied by Bertie, to the hidden heart of the maze.

Instead of treasure, Lewis accidentally unleashes a demon that summons the ghost of the witch-finder Malachiah Pruitt, three hundred years dead.Lewis and Bertie barely escape the maze with their lives.

Back during Cromwell's reign in England, Malachiah Pruitt had accused one of Lewis's ancestors of witchery and tried to have him burned at the stake. Now Pruitt's ghost has been set free by Lewis and Bertie.

`Witch-Finder' is full of deliciously spooky occurrences, and I enjoyed the `Sherlock and Watson' role-playing of the two boys as they try to solve the horrible predicament they've gotten themselves into (along with everyone else in the mansion).

Jolly good fun
Lewis Barnavelt's Sherlock Holmes deerstalker comes in handy in this bone-chilling (no pun intended) adventure in the present and past of England -- and one of its darker secrets.

Lewis Barnavelt accompanies his uncle Jonathan to England, where they are visiting an older cousin. The cousin also has a housekeeper, and Lewis soon befriends Bertie, the housekeeper's blind son. Bertie and Lewis soon begin exploring happily in a hedge maze, until they find a strange monument in the center. When they pry a brick loose, some invisible, laughing creature escapes and chases them back to the house.

Soon afterward, the adults at Barnavelt Manor start behaving strangely. The cousin becomes sly and cackling, the housekeeper is like a sinister wind-up doll, and the gardener is snarling. Lewis suspects that somehow, this is all connected to a psychotic Puritan witch-finder, Malachiah Pruitt, who once made life miserable for Lewis's ancestor... until the ancestor struck back somehow. And now Pruitt is somehow back for revenge against the Barnavelts.

It's always sort of a guilty pleasure to read one of these books, where horror is handled in a way both lavish and sparing. Something as minor as the rustle of twigs or a funny-looking gravestone can be significant and can strike horror in the reader. Writing-wise, this is one of the better ones. Strickland, who completed the book, knows well how to flesh out Bellairs' storyline. The atmosphere is chilling and almost claustrophobic, in that the walls keep closing in on our heroes. The main problem, perhaps, is that there is relatively little humor leavening the story, except for the continuing Watson-Holmes joke between Bertie and Lewis. On the flip side, late in the book is one of the most touching scenes I have ever read in a Bellairs and/or Strickland book, between Lewis and Jonathan.

Characterizations are very nice. Lewis gains a little more self-confidence and loses a little weight; Jonathan is a little less zesty than usual, but he is also absent for large sections of the book. Bertie is a nice sidekick for Lewis, and his means of knowing that there is something wrong despite his blindness is well done. (The best meaning of stiff-upper-lip) The housekeeper and cousin are a little two-dimensional, but then dimension is not needed. Malachiah Pruitt is a wonderfully sinister villain -- great idea, to make one of the Puritan witch-hunters a psychotic wanna-rule-the-world type. (Though his ambitions to rule the world did feel a little tacked on)

For those of you who are not yet ready to read Stephen King, try these John Bellairs books. Spooky, bone-rattling fun.

The best one of the Lewis Barnevelt series
Jonathon and Lewis go off to England to sight see and visit a relative. Lewis gets into a mystery at the big,old, house.***I have reviewed several other of his books so check them out! ... Read more

Product Description
Johnny Dixon, Fergie and Professor Childermass comply with a strange will left by the Professor's brother, which requires them to spend the summer at a desolate estate where they encounter a madman bent on destroying the world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

good book
have to say that since the edition wasn't listed for the book, i thought this was an edward gorey illustrated edition.otherwise, the book is in great shape and a great read.

An Incoherent Effort Near theEnd of the Author's Life
I have yet to read everything by Bellairs, so I do not know if this is his worst effort, but I rather hope it is.

Bellairs died in March, 1991 at the age of 53 of cardiovascular disease, and was in poor health towards the end of his life.I have heard (but have been unable to confirm) that toward the end he obtained the assistance of a ghost-writer to help him complete some of his manuscripts.

However, this volume does not read like it was written by a ghostwriter.At least part of it reads like genuine Bellairs, except it seems like poor Mr. Bellairs is losing it.His imagination remains intact, but he seems unable to put his ideas to the service of a coherent story.There are a number of bizarre and colorful happenings, but they never really come together.Even the characters' behavior seems inconsistent, incoherent, and contrived -- for instance, Johnny is foolhardy one minute and blubbering with fear the next.One would think that, by now, he would have learned from past mistakes, as well as developed stronger nerves.

The story features a highly implausible artifact:a statue perched on top a 300 foot column, with no adequate explanation as to why even an eccentric millionaire would create such an item.The heroes (who include an elderly man) enter the column and climb the stairs to the top, without ever breaking a sweat.We assume this bizarre feature is part of the mystery, but the story ends with no explanation as to why it was included in the tale.Still, it is one of the more memorable features of the story.

There is virtually no effort to develop the idea of the titular "Chessmen."They turn out to be nothing more than an arbitrary ingredient in a magic ritual, with no explanation as to how chessmen, specifically, are relevant to the magic.This could have been called "The Chamberpot of Doom" and it would have made no difference to the story.You would merely have to go through it and replace all references to chessmen with references to a chamberpot.

If you must own this book, make sure you get an edition with cover art by Edward Gorey.

Bellairs' best work seems to be his early work, particularly The House With a Clock in its Walls and its first two sequels.

The Chessmen of Doom
It was passible. I was let down. It's just more of the same. The Mummy, the Will and the Crypt were better and spookier

The Chessmen of BOREdoom
The Chessmen of Doom being the first Jonny Dixon book i've read, really disappointed me.A friend of mines recommended this book to me.From him, he says that it really freaked him out...as a KID!At first, i was pretty interested at the beginning with the nice paced beginning.Then the real problem began as the story unfolds.To avoild spoilers, i'll just say that everything that is intended to scare the readers, every attempt, failed by my standards.If you were actually scard by this novel, i can safely say that you're gutless or haven't read much horror books.I mean seeing ghosts in dreams, outside windows, as well as sleepwalking, finding empty coffins and stupid riddles is not my idea of a horroe/mystery book.Johnny Dixon to me is the most uncreative, unoriginal writer i know!
Next is the problem i had with the characters. In the beginning it starts off with three main characters who are the professor, John and Fergie.As the story unfolds, they are joined by random characters like Dr. Coote and Crazy Annie.Talk about randomness.
To sum it up, this book is a waste of time and should be avoided at ALL COSTS.

Great Book!
The Chessmen of Doom was the best book I've ever read! If you like mystery books, get this, but don't read it at night. ... Read more

Product Description
John Bellairs, the name in Gothic mysteries for middle graders, wrote terrifying tales full of adventure, attitude, and alarm. For years, young readers have crept, crawled, and gone bump in the night with the unlikely heroes of these Gothic novels: Lewis Barnavelt, Johnny Dixon, and Anthony Monday. Now, the ten top-selling titles feature an updated cover look. Loyal fans and enticed newcomers will love the series even more with this haunting new look! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

Classic
This was the first Bellairs book I read and is easily among the best. I have to say that they get formulaic after some time, but I really enjoy the character interaction and the way Bellairs develops the world in which these characters live.

My children will read these book.

Ah, Nostalgia...
I first read this book way back in the sixth grade.I remember finishing it on the bus with a friend sitting in the seat next to me.He was a faster reader than I and was urging me to turn the pages as the climax came.I remember it being a great book, so here--six years later (or is it seven?) I had to order it from Amazon to go over it again.And I can say... it's pretty good.

But I can't say it's as good as I remember, but that's because I was younger then.I could identify with Johnny more when I was close to his age.Or maybe I was his age at the time.

You wouldn't know there was a phrase in writing to "show, don't tell" by reading this book.There's a lot of telling.And it's quite apparent that the book is geared at a younger audience by its writing.But the story itself can easily be enjoyed regardless of age.

The events proceeded at a decent speed and Mr. Bellairs spun a pretty good tale.The figurine, the ring, Father Baart, it all works together to make the adventure a unique and interesting one.I would recommend it.

Fun and Scary
This was my first John Bellairs book.I remember picking it up in a bookstore when I was a kid of 11 or 12.From the moment, I turned the first page, I couldn't put it down.And I wanted to devour every John Bellairs book that was out there.This is a scary but fun read.

Still with me after all these years
This was the first of many John Bellairs books I read over twenty years ago.Recently I dug out my tattered and dog-eared copy and gave it another spin.I was pleased to discover it's still a wonderful read. Though his writing style doesn't quite move me as much as it once did, his story telling and characters have stood the test of time. The sheer fact that even now, in my 30's this book can still warm my heart and chill my spine is a testiment to Bellairs' craftsmanship.Thinking back on the effect he had on me all those years ago I can always remember being scared, but pleasantly so.Scared enough that you want to turn the page, but aren't afraid to turn the lights off.I've bought copies of this book, and others of Bellairs' for my young nephews, and would highly recommend them for any readers around the age of ten or so, you may have in your life.There's a pretty good chance that twenty years from now, they'll still cherish them.

This book made me fall in love with reading, and remained my favorite for 5 years
I read this book in 4th grade, and it remained my favorite novel until well into high school.At one point, the characters are going down a dimly lit staircase, and the tension was so vivid that I had to put my covers over my head.It was only then that I realized the book wasn't real.John Bellairs is an exceptional writer.Before this book, I didn't like reading much;after this book, I became a fanatic. ... Read more

Product Description
Lewis Barnavelt is back! And this time, our lovable underdog/hero has stumbled upon something more powerful than even his overactive imagination can dream up. A camping trip with his Scout troop leads Lewis straight to an old grave and a mysterious, magical whistle. When Lewis discovers that this whistle has the power to stop the boys who insist upon bullying him, he is left with a tough decision.Does he continue to use the whistle, which he suspects might not be fully benign? Is Lewis strong enough to face the potent spirit that he is unknowingly summoning?

Brad Strickland continues to attract readers to the best-selling series begun by the late John Bellairs. Fans of the series will delight in the familiar cast of Lewis, his uncle Jonathan, and best friend Rose Rita Pottinger. Those new to the books will be lured in by the masterfully written supernatural elements and hair-raising situations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Exceptional chiller
After the death of kid-horror author John Bellairs, fan/author Brad Strickland took over the duty of finishing his manuscripts -- and then writing new novels based on the older books. Though his first few books were wobbly, "The Whistle, the Grave, and the Ghost" shows that Strickland has settled solidly into Bellairs' niche.

Lewis Barnavelt, on a camping trip with his Scout troop, wanders away from the campfire. He soon finds a dirty silver whistle, and a strange grave with the inscription "Hic Iacet Lamia" (Here Lies Lamia). That night, something rips a hole in his tent. Uneasy about the whistle and grave, Lewis investigates further, and discovers that a lamia is an ancient female vampire. Rose Rita dismisses the idea, but Lewis is dubious -- especially when he has dreams about an eyeless creature sniffing him out.

Mrs. Zimmerman and Uncle Jonathan investigate the woods, and don't find anything odd. But when Lewis is cornered by a couple of bullies, he finds the whistle in his pocket, and blows it. A snakelike creature appears and attacks the boys, who are hospitalized with a strange blood problem. And Lewis learns that there was something in that grave that wants not just his blood -- but his life. His friends seek out the help of the only person who can stop the lamia...

It's getting harder and harder to tell the difference between vintage Bellairs and the newer stuff by Strickland. Strickland has gained the knack for creepy dreams, horrific monsters with visceral shocks, and bits of old myth and legend. He's also incorporated the Roman Catholic elements that Bellairs did, in the priest Father Foley, who plays a key part.

The pacing and descriptions are spot-on, and the creepy visions and gradual buildup of tension are well-done. Lewis's subtle changes as the lamia starts to take him over are especially well-done. The primary flaw is that the climactic battle is rather fragmented (it just isn't fair to end a chapter like Chapter Thirteen was).

Lewis is well-written here, the bullied underdog with the occasional dark impulse; Rose Rita is the matter-of-fact counterpart whose duty it is to work out what is going wrong in her friend. Mrs. Zimmerman and Jonathan Barnavelt are their old lovable selves.

With "The Whistle, the Grave and the Ghost," Strickland's steady footing on the Bellairs series is reestablished. Creepy, icky, and tightly written, this is among his best.

Brad, you�ve raised it to a whole new level!
I'm a huge fan of the Bellairs/Strickland books.The Whistle, the Grave and the Ghost has everything all of the best Bellairs books have.It also has more.Much more.In this book we dig deeper into almost every character.We learn more and more things about them.Lewis Barnavelt, for example, is just as he's always been; shy, a bit chubby, thoughtful and persistent.But, in The Whistle, the Grave and the Ghost, he's a few years older, and with those years comes just a little bit more wisdom.It's wonderful to read about how he deals with his trials through slightly, very slightly, more mature eyes.Jonathan Barnavelt is, as always, caring and jolly.We get a broader sense of his magical abilities, and for how much he truly cares for his nephew.Rose Rita Pottinger has also grown.It's a young woman (with that same heart and spirit of steel) that helps save the day.Mrs. Zimmermann, Jonathan's neighbor and bona fide good witch is, perhaps, the character that changes least.And that's as it should be.She was already just about perfect.The most profound difference, and welcomed improvement, between The Whistle, the Grave and the Ghost and most, if not all, of the previous Bellairs and Strickland books, is the antagonist.There's no campy explanation of world conquest a la Scooby Doo in this book: "Well, since you're going to die anyway, why not tell you my brilliant plan!Ha!Ha!Haaaa!"This villain doesn't care for such things.There's no husband/wife or master/servant team of adversaries.This villain is alone.There's no bumbling magician trying to conjure an enormous and lethal spell he can barely control.This villain is very capably deadly.This villain is pure evil.Plain and simple.This is the most primordially terrifying villain of all the Bellairs and Strickland books.We get inside this villain's head, too.We learn not only what she does, but why she wants to do it.In the end, there are no loose ends.Every loop has closure.Everything works and makes sense.Finally, this book, in all the right moments, is very funny.My compliments, again, to you, Brad Strickland, for bringing us the rare gift of a fabulous story.Not just that.A well-written fabulous story.Please keep it up.To the reader, the Bellairs/Strickland veteran and beginner alike, pick up this book ... Read more

Product Description
John Bellairs, the name in Gothic mysteries for middle graders, wrote terrifying tales full of adventure, attitude, and alarm. For years, young readers have crept, crawled, and gone bump in the night with the unlikely heroes of these Gothic novels: Lewis Barnavelt, Johnny Dixon, and Anthony Monday. Now, the ten top-selling titles feature an updated cover look. Loyal fans and enticed newcomers will love the series even more with this haunting new look! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Gothic, Mysterious, Magical, And Spellbinding.
This was the first John Bellairs book I picked up as a kid - it had an interesting and spooky cover illustrated by the famous Edward Gorey. It should be noted that John Bellairs was a talented but very intense author - his series is generally for 5th graders and up. This particular title has the least occult references. (Or its tied with the The Trolley to Yesterday. The book begins in the 1950's where Johnny Dixon and his friend the professor Childermas visit a rich eccentric's manision who has recently died. The rich man's family offers a reward if someone can figure out a strange puzzle that may point to a will hidden leaving $$ to the heirs. Johnny seems to always be working on the puzzle even when other strange events occur while he is away at a camp. While away at camp he meets characters that lead him to a ghostly affair indeed and a surprise ending. The writing of Mr. Bellairs is gorgeous and gothic-tinged. This book could easily be enjoyed by adults who will love the historical references and the spine tingling atmosphere.

Great Read!!
I got into John Bellairs when I was a kid of course and I enjoyed his books back then.I am 33 years old now with a kid of my own and I recently thought of him as well as other great books that I got into in my younger years and ordered a few of his books, among others.This was one of the books that I ordered and it is just as good now than it was when I was younger.I totally suggest this book as well as all the Johnny Dixon series.If you love magical stories, then this is the book for you.

What a story!!!!!!
This story by John Bellairs has a suspensing and mysterious plot.Johhny Dixon's persistence and determination won him 10,000 dollars.Although he is smart enough to figure out Mr. Glomus's riddle and will, he would also have to escape from a mummy to get the will.I would recommend this book to everyone because this story could inspire many people to go out on their own and have their own adventures.Although he wanted to find the will for the 10,000 dollars, he wanted it to save his grandma.This shows that he is not greedy.

excellent book but pretty dark themes for a kid
I loved this entire series when I was a kid and read them all repeatedly.There is no question that the author is talented... the plots are facinating and the characters are vivid and sympathetic.This series is sure to catch the imagination of any child that is interested in mystery or the supernatural.

One caveat, however: these books are pretty dark.There's a lot of evil and anger portrayed, and I'm not sure if that's the sort of thing a child should be dwelling on.The protagonists are healthy role models and their intentions are good, but the book paints a pretty dark and scary picture of the rest of the world.

Wonderful Book
I read this book when I was in third grade. Here I am, about to go to law school, and I still remember the details. The story keeps you hanging on the whole length of the book. I would recommend this book for anyone who loves a good mystery, loves to be held in suspense, and who can handle staying up late, because you won't want to put it down. ... Read more

Product Description
Magic Mirrors is a collection of the adult fantasy and humorous works of John Bellairs. This collection includes The Face in the Frost, The Dolphin Cross (a previously unpublished fragment sequel to The Face in the Frost), The Pedant and the Shuffly, and Saint Fidgita and Other Parodies. The collection introduction is by Bruce Coville. There is also a special introduction to the Dolphin Cross by Ellen Kushner.

The Face in the Frost is a fantasy novel that centers on two accomplished wizards, Prospero ("and not the one you're thinking of") and Roger Bacon, tracking down the source of a great magical evil. Playfully written with frightening dips into necromancy, the novel includes talking mirrors, carriages made out of turnips and miniature wizards bobbing through underground rivers in miniature ships, but also disturbing imagery including magically mummified animals, melting cities, and souls trapped within their own graves. Bellairs said, "The Face in the Frost was an attempt to write in the Tolkien manner. I was much taken by The Lord of the Rings and wanted to do a modest work on those lines. In reading the latter book I was struck by the fact that Gandalf was not much of a person just a good guy. So I gave Prospero, my wizard, most of my phobias and crotchets. It was simply meant as entertainment and any profundity will have to be read in."

The Dolphin Cross is an unfinished fragment (about the first third) of the sequel to The Face in the Frost, and shares the two protagonists from that novel, Prospero and Roger Bacon. In this adventure, Prospero is kidnapped and exiled to a lonely island. He escapes and manages to unravel some of the mystery as to who would want to do this and why?

The Pedant and the Shuffly is a short, illustrated fable detailing the chaotic encounter of the two title characters. The evil magician Snodrog ensnares his victims with his inescapable logic and transforms them into Flimsies (stained handkerchiefs)...until the kindly sorcerer, Sir Bertram Crabtree-Gore (Esq.) enlists the help of a magical Shuffly (Latin name: Scuffulans Hirsutus)...and Snodrog meets his match!

St. Fidgeta and Other Parodies is a collection of short stories satirizing the rites and rituals of Second Vatican Council era Catholicism. A mixture of mock scholarship, parodies of ecclesiastical language and manner, puns, jokes and occasional strokes of inspired foolishness.
Table of Contents ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Magic Mirrors
It's a pity John Bellairs didn't write more adult fiction too.It was really interesting, being an author myself, seeing one of his books in progress.Magic Mirrors (NESFA's Choice)Definitely worth the read.A.A.Riley, Author of The Key of AramathThe Key of Aramath

All the out of print Bellairs are back
This is a collection of John Bellairs' works that were not explicitly written for children.It includes The Face in the Frost; the first 150 or so pages of the unfinished sequel manuscript, The Dolphin Cross; St Fidgeta & Other Parodies; and The Pedant & The Shuffly.

The Face in the Frost is one of the best books I have ever read, and I am so glad it's back in print now.It's at turns hilarious & very scary, full of silly obscure magicians.A wizard called Prospero (not the one you are thinking of either) lives in a faraway land & his best friend is Roger Bacon (who is exactly the one you are thinking of, unless you are thinking of Francis).Someone - or something - starts trying to kill Prospero, as well as scaring the daylights out of the entire kingdom, & Prospero and Roger must try to discover its source & stop it.Lin Carter blurbed on a previous edition that it was probably the best fantasy book since The Lord of the Rings, & I agree.(It's also completely different from The Lord of the Rings.)

The Dolphin Cross finds Prospero in a bit of trouble again, with plenty of strange happenings & more creepy animate leaves.If you've read The Face in the Frost, you've probably been wishing for a sequel for the last 20 years or however long, so this really need no introduction, except to remind you that there is no ending, it's only 150 pages & then it stops.Only Bellairs' kids books sold well enough I guess.

St Fidgeta and Other Parodies is a series of parodies of pre-Vatican II American Catholicism.I'm not Catholic & I'm pretty sure I was born after Vatican II, but I think they're funny.From the adman brainstorming how to run the Pope's visit to NY to the wonderful parody of church architecture, it's all interesting and ranges from mildly funny to LOL.

The Pedant and the Shuffly is Bellairs' other classic besides Face in the Frost.It is an illustrated novella about Sir Bertram Crabtree-Gore, Esq, who encounters an evil pedant named Snodrog who uses faulty logic to make people believe they don't exist, at which point they turn into small linen napkins which float about and do his will.Obviously Sir Bertram can't let this situation continue, and goes to enlist the help of a Shuffly to defeat the pedant.The best parts are the parodies about obscure academic & religious things, as always in Bellairs. ... Read more