Book review: The Secret of the Underground Room
Once again Johnny Dixon and Professor Childermass are called upon to battle the forces of evil, this time to rescue their friend Father Higgins, who has somehow fallen into the clutches of the ghost of a medieval English knight. After reporting a series of strange and upsetting events that have happened to him in his new parish, Father Higgins disappears and the trail leads Johnny and the Professor to Glastonbury, England. There they meet the diabolical Rufus Masterman, whom the Professor recognizes as Father Higgins under the control of an evil spirit. Just how evil is soon made clear as Johnny, his friend Fergie, the Professor, and the Professor's brother Humphrey follow the few clues they have to the island of Lundy in the Bristol Channel. There, Masterman intends to locate and reanimate the bodies of seven evil brother knights who sold their souls to the devil in ancient times. As usual, Bellairs moves things along briskly, with enough chills to satisfy readers not quite ready for Stephen King. Characters are drawn with broad brush strokes, and new readers will soon know as much as old fans about the irascible but wise Professor Childermass, dependable Fergie, and loyal Johnny, whose sense of duty gives him the courage to face danger. Where Bellairs's other books are popular, this will be a welcome addition.
Elaine Fort Weischedel
Turner Free Library, Randolph, MA
Copyright 1991
Reed Business Information, Inc.
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