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rjdenney's review against another edition
4.0
This is one of the few Bellairs books that I never got to and now I finally have. I really enjoyed this one, it had plenty of thrilling and creepy moments and of course a heaping dose of magic. This one takes place in England, which was an interesting and cool setting for this book. I had a lot of fun reading this one. :)
sher221bb's review against another edition
5.0
The adventures of lewis Barnavelt Always surprise me, and I love that....
I'm grateful for discoverd this wonderful story and I really excited to see more of lewis...
I'm grateful for discoverd this wonderful story and I really excited to see more of lewis...
calistareads's review against another edition
4.0
I appreciate that this story is making sort of like a duology. The previous Lewis book had Rose Rita and Mrs. Zimmerman traveling back in time while Lewis and Jonathan were in Europe. So this book is the story about Lewis and Jonathon’s trip to Europe. They are happening simultaneously. I hope the next book they are all 4 back together again. That would work out well.
Lewis and his uncle are in London and then go visit Lewis’s cousin who lives in a run down manor. Lewis is pretending to be Sherlock Holmes which I love that part and one night he happens to release an evil spirit that had been entombed. The story gets going from there.
It is up to Lewis and his cousin to solve this dilemma on their own and save the day.
There is a hedge maze and labyrinth on the property that comes into play and a very clever secret passage in the maze. I love it. So well thought out. The house is pretty creepy and there are plenty of creepy characters in this one. The end is rather scary, I would think the intended audience of middle grade would love it.
The more I read of John Bellairs, the more I respect his genius. His prose are so straight forward and its obvious how smart the man was. I almost want to write a story like he did. They are so good. There are only 3 more I haven’t read before. Then his works are complete for me. It has been fun. I can’t wait to read the next one.
Lewis and his uncle are in London and then go visit Lewis’s cousin who lives in a run down manor. Lewis is pretending to be Sherlock Holmes which I love that part and one night he happens to release an evil spirit that had been entombed. The story gets going from there.
It is up to Lewis and his cousin to solve this dilemma on their own and save the day.
There is a hedge maze and labyrinth on the property that comes into play and a very clever secret passage in the maze. I love it. So well thought out. The house is pretty creepy and there are plenty of creepy characters in this one. The end is rather scary, I would think the intended audience of middle grade would love it.
The more I read of John Bellairs, the more I respect his genius. His prose are so straight forward and its obvious how smart the man was. I almost want to write a story like he did. They are so good. There are only 3 more I haven’t read before. Then his works are complete for me. It has been fun. I can’t wait to read the next one.
manwithanagenda's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
The second of two manuscripts finished by Brad Strickland after John Bellairs' death. This was a more typical novel for Bellairs, following shy Lewis and his new friend Bertie as they cause and avert supernatural misfortune at the Barnavelt ancestral estate in England.
My opinion of this has improved since childhood, I remember being disappointed there wasn't more done with an actual "FOR REAL" gothic country house. But, you guys, there's a haunted hedge maze.
This text had more of that authentic Bellairs flavor, following Lewis' adoration of Sherlock Holmes, the English Civil War, and little details about mid-century tourism. I could have used a party-line joke when telephones came into it, but to each their own.
Lewis & Rose Rita
Next: 'The Doom of the Haunted Opera'
Previous: 'The Ghost in the Mirror'
My opinion of this has improved since childhood, I remember being disappointed there wasn't more done with an actual "FOR REAL" gothic country house. But, you guys, there's a haunted hedge maze.
This text had more of that authentic Bellairs flavor, following Lewis' adoration of Sherlock Holmes, the English Civil War, and little details about mid-century tourism. I could have used a party-line joke when telephones came into it, but to each their own.
Lewis & Rose Rita
Next: 'The Doom of the Haunted Opera'
Previous: 'The Ghost in the Mirror'
scaifea's review against another edition
4.0
Jonathan and Lewis travel to Europe to visit Jonathan's cousin, Pelly, and while staying at Pelly's old manor house, Lewis and his new friend, Bertie, accidentally release an evil witch-finder ghost on the grounds.
We love Bellairs and Charlie has really been enjoying them as our occasional bedtime read-alouds, but this one got a bit too creepy for him in the middle. We took a break for a couple of days and then he wanted to get back to it, and we were able to finish it then. It's good knowing that everything always turns out right in the end, and I think that helped. The characters are great and the stories are fun, so I suspect that Charlie will choose to continue with the series.
We love Bellairs and Charlie has really been enjoying them as our occasional bedtime read-alouds, but this one got a bit too creepy for him in the middle. We took a break for a couple of days and then he wanted to get back to it, and we were able to finish it then. It's good knowing that everything always turns out right in the end, and I think that helped. The characters are great and the stories are fun, so I suspect that Charlie will choose to continue with the series.
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