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Johnny Dixon #9
The Drum, the Doll, and the Zombie
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!
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
21 people are currently reading
323 people want to read
About the author
Brad Strickland
135 books107 followersWilliam Bradley Strickland (b. 1947) is the author (or co-author) of over 60 novels and over 60 pieces of short fiction and poetry.
Born in New Hollard, Strickland earned his Ph.D. in American literature from the University of Georgia. He has taught English courses at the University of Georgia, Oglethorpe University, Truett-McConnell College, and, since 1987, at Gainesville State College.
His first novel was 1986's To Stand Beneath the Sun, followed quickly by the books in the Jeremy Moon trilogy.
Strickland has shared co-author credit on many of his books: with his wife, Barbara, on stories in the Star Trek and Are You Afraid of the Dark? properties; and with the late author Thomas Fuller, books in the Wishbone series, involving the popular Jack Russell Terrier from the Public Television series of the same name. Strickland and Fuller also collaborated on numerous original works, including the Pirate Hunter series, the Mars: Year One series, and the comedic mystery for adults, The Ghost Finds a Body.
After the death of John Bellairs, Strickland was approached by John’s son, Frank, to complete the two books his father had already started; these unfinished manuscripts became The Ghost in the Mirror and The Vengeance of the Witch-Finder. Strickland also wrote two books based on brief plot outlines left by Bellairs: The Drum, the Doll and the Zombie and The Doom of the Haunted Opera. Beginning in 1996, Strickland has kept Bellairs' legacy alive by writing the further adventures of Johnny Dixon and Lewis Barnavelt. Books in the corpus include The Hand of the Necromancer (1996); The Tower at the End of the World (2001); The House Where Nobody Lived (2006); and his most recent title, The Sign of the Sinister Sorcerer (2008).
In 2001, Strickland won received the Georgia Author of the Year Award, Children's/Young Adult Division, for When Mack Came Back, set in WWII-era Georgia. Strickland says the story "is based on the farm owned by [his] grandfather, where [I] often visited when [I] was a child." Kong: King of Skull Island was released in 2005, an illustrated tale by Strickland, author John Michlig, and fantasy artist Joe DeVito that serves as both a prequel and sequel to the epic story of the legendary ape.
Strickland is an active member of the Atlanta Radio Theatre Company, where he writes and performs in numerous audio drama projects. He was awarded the ARTC Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006. He is married to the former Barabara Justus and has two grown children.
Born in New Hollard, Strickland earned his Ph.D. in American literature from the University of Georgia. He has taught English courses at the University of Georgia, Oglethorpe University, Truett-McConnell College, and, since 1987, at Gainesville State College.
His first novel was 1986's To Stand Beneath the Sun, followed quickly by the books in the Jeremy Moon trilogy.
Strickland has shared co-author credit on many of his books: with his wife, Barbara, on stories in the Star Trek and Are You Afraid of the Dark? properties; and with the late author Thomas Fuller, books in the Wishbone series, involving the popular Jack Russell Terrier from the Public Television series of the same name. Strickland and Fuller also collaborated on numerous original works, including the Pirate Hunter series, the Mars: Year One series, and the comedic mystery for adults, The Ghost Finds a Body.
After the death of John Bellairs, Strickland was approached by John’s son, Frank, to complete the two books his father had already started; these unfinished manuscripts became The Ghost in the Mirror and The Vengeance of the Witch-Finder. Strickland also wrote two books based on brief plot outlines left by Bellairs: The Drum, the Doll and the Zombie and The Doom of the Haunted Opera. Beginning in 1996, Strickland has kept Bellairs' legacy alive by writing the further adventures of Johnny Dixon and Lewis Barnavelt. Books in the corpus include The Hand of the Necromancer (1996); The Tower at the End of the World (2001); The House Where Nobody Lived (2006); and his most recent title, The Sign of the Sinister Sorcerer (2008).
In 2001, Strickland won received the Georgia Author of the Year Award, Children's/Young Adult Division, for When Mack Came Back, set in WWII-era Georgia. Strickland says the story "is based on the farm owned by [his] grandfather, where [I] often visited when [I] was a child." Kong: King of Skull Island was released in 2005, an illustrated tale by Strickland, author John Michlig, and fantasy artist Joe DeVito that serves as both a prequel and sequel to the epic story of the legendary ape.
Strickland is an active member of the Atlanta Radio Theatre Company, where he writes and performs in numerous audio drama projects. He was awarded the ARTC Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006. He is married to the former Barabara Justus and has two grown children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
August 14, 2018
I hate zombies and this book has zombies. I thought it was a scary book for the age group it was in. John Bellairs started this book and did not finish it before his death. Brad Strickland finished it and I wonder how much of the dialog was finished. At the beginning, Prof. Childermass seems off a bit. He is meaner than normal. I think it still turned out pretty well.
Voodoo was the big bad in this one. I have meet some Voodoo priestesses here and there and it is not all evil as media always uses it for black magic. There is good and white Voodoo and you never hear about that. Still, the evil stuff does exist and it is used here. They link it to a different type of evil Voodoo that an evil dictator of St. Ives is using.
I do wish there were a few new characters introduced here, but John keeps it simple. Johnny is still a bit scared but he always comes through when it is most important. There are Voodoo dolls and Zombies and people possessed and an evil Voodoo priestess. At the center of it all is a drum to call up the devil himself.
A great story for young readers who are into soft horror. You know it's still safe, but it keeps you on the edge of your seat. I have yet to decide if I will finish the series that Brad wrote or move on to other series of John's. Maybe someday.
As Toscanini said of the Mozart requiem when he stopped in the middle of the piece "The master laid down his pen".
I have loved reading these novels finally. I am a month behind and maybe I can catch back up and get another John Bellairs in for the month of August. I have done pretty well this year.
Voodoo was the big bad in this one. I have meet some Voodoo priestesses here and there and it is not all evil as media always uses it for black magic. There is good and white Voodoo and you never hear about that. Still, the evil stuff does exist and it is used here. They link it to a different type of evil Voodoo that an evil dictator of St. Ives is using.
I do wish there were a few new characters introduced here, but John keeps it simple. Johnny is still a bit scared but he always comes through when it is most important. There are Voodoo dolls and Zombies and people possessed and an evil Voodoo priestess. At the center of it all is a drum to call up the devil himself.
A great story for young readers who are into soft horror. You know it's still safe, but it keeps you on the edge of your seat. I have yet to decide if I will finish the series that Brad wrote or move on to other series of John's. Maybe someday.
As Toscanini said of the Mozart requiem when he stopped in the middle of the piece "The master laid down his pen".
I have loved reading these novels finally. I am a month behind and maybe I can catch back up and get another John Bellairs in for the month of August. I have done pretty well this year.
August 29, 2017
This is a YA horror, a posthumously finished novel of the Johnny Dixon Series. A fun 1 day read. There's not much depth in this single novel. Perhaps there is more in the series as a whole. It reads rather like a Golden Age horror which I find a plus. One likes the kids and the professors.
October 22, 2019
4 STARS
January 31, 2011
3 1/2 stars. I quite enjoyed it! Although sometimes I felt like I wanted a little more depth or details, the book moved along at a good pace. I liked Johnny Dixon and I liked the spooky, scary story.
This was my first John Bellairs book; I'd been wanting to read one of his for a while now, and this was completed by another author. I'm looking forward to reading one completely written by Bellairs, and also to reading more in the Johnny Dixon series.
This was my first John Bellairs book; I'd been wanting to read one of his for a while now, and this was completed by another author. I'm looking forward to reading one completely written by Bellairs, and also to reading more in the Johnny Dixon series.
February 28, 2013
I read the book aloud to my son to the end of Chapter 9. He picked it up himself and finished it off, because he didn't want to wait for me. The writing is pleasantly complex, with more details than seems to be the norm today. Challenging vocabulary also offers opportunities for vocabulary building without bogging down the story. I will definitely pick up more books by this author for my son to read.
February 8, 2025
Heck yeah! I was skeptical about Brad Strickland as a ghost writer, but he is great. He knows all the John Bellairs/Johnny Dixon tropes .. the goofy professor with his strawberry nose, Fergie being a smart alec, etc.
Plus, this book has voodoo! And takes place mostly in Durham, NH. What more can you ask for?
Eager to read more from Strickland.
Plus, this book has voodoo! And takes place mostly in Durham, NH. What more can you ask for?
Eager to read more from Strickland.
December 31, 2017
As with 'The Hand of the Necromancer', I really enjoyed Strickland's handling of the Bellairs characters. He brings out the crankiness of the professor (and even uses the professor's proclivity for ranting as a plot point near the end of the book), and he also explores some of the secondary characters, like Charles Coote and Johnny's dad, who provides a thoughtful little sub-plot for Johnny. Strickland is a pro at preserving the world created by Bellairs while imagining new details of his own.
The story itself is more well thought out than any of the previous Bellairs books. It sets up the surprises nicely, and careful readers will be able to piece together the final weapon that saves the day.
There is one little touch I especially liked that may be a bit of a spoiler. Note that when Todd Lamort, who has been spending the night at Charles Coote's house, tells the professor that he couldn't sleep in the bedroom because the constantly running toilet keeps him awake at night. Later on we find out why the toilet keeps running.
Finally, I liked the fact that the story ends in traditional Bellairs fashion, with the characters together, happy, and celebrating - in this case on new years' eve, the same day I finished the book and wrote this review.
The story itself is more well thought out than any of the previous Bellairs books. It sets up the surprises nicely, and careful readers will be able to piece together the final weapon that saves the day.
There is one little touch I especially liked that may be a bit of a spoiler. Note that when Todd Lamort, who has been spending the night at Charles Coote's house, tells the professor that he couldn't sleep in the bedroom because the constantly running toilet keeps him awake at night. Later on we find out why the toilet keeps running.
Finally, I liked the fact that the story ends in traditional Bellairs fashion, with the characters together, happy, and celebrating - in this case on new years' eve, the same day I finished the book and wrote this review.
February 4, 2016
Johnny and Fergie are once again drawn into a spooky and mysterious situation. One that includes zombies!
Professor Childermass' friend Dr. Coote brings a strange looking drum over, looking to find out more about it. It has strange images drawn on it and there are bones around it to help keep the drum heads on. Is it involved in a supernatural world? Will it cause harm? And just what is 'voudon' all about?
The friends find themselves going to a graveyard to get answers and discovering a real zombie! And then there is that old hag that keeps appearing, whose name is Mama Sinestra. Is she as evil as she looks?
And did I mention that Dr. Coote fell ill shortly after showing the drum to Dr. Childermass and is in the hospital during all this happening?
Pretty scary and a good read. I do like John Bellairs' work.
Professor Childermass' friend Dr. Coote brings a strange looking drum over, looking to find out more about it. It has strange images drawn on it and there are bones around it to help keep the drum heads on. Is it involved in a supernatural world? Will it cause harm? And just what is 'voudon' all about?
The friends find themselves going to a graveyard to get answers and discovering a real zombie! And then there is that old hag that keeps appearing, whose name is Mama Sinestra. Is she as evil as she looks?
And did I mention that Dr. Coote fell ill shortly after showing the drum to Dr. Childermass and is in the hospital during all this happening?
Pretty scary and a good read. I do like John Bellairs' work.
October 7, 2010
Although Johnny Dixon is my favorite of Bellairs' protagonists, the evil voodoo flavor of this novel doesn't really do him justice. The zombie is a pretty lackluster element, and the "evil voodoo" angle is troubling in its characterization of indigenous religions. Strickland takes pains to establish that this particular brand of voodoo is evil because it is in the service of a fascist dictator, but it doesn't quite lift the feeling of slightly racist cliche. Kudos to Strickland, however, for dangling Prof Coote over the proverbial cliff.
March 6, 2016
I loved this book. This is actually a book for kids - maybe junior high age. But I loved it anyway. It is a gothic horror book with very likable characters (at least the good guys), great settings, and a sensible plot in its own way. I've always loved John Bellairs' books. This is one that was finished by Brad Strickland after Bellairs' death, and it is true to the spirit and style of John Bellairs.
April 23, 2018
Here, John Bellairs meets Brad Strickland halfway, with Strickland taking over the series from this point onward. Their styles are extremely similar, and it's hard to tell where the one ends and the other begins. As a Johnny Dixon novel, this one holds up fairly well; there are a few differences close readers can note (this is easily the most gruesome installation so far, with the pillow creature's exorcism standing out in that regard).
August 26, 2010
Short but sweet. I really enjoyed this and it just flew by. I liked all the characterizations and the plot was really cool. I'm intrigued that this was an unfinished Bellairs - it's the first time I've read him but I definitely want to read more. I'll be curious to see if I notice a difference. Very glad I picked this one up.
July 26, 2012
I loved John Bellairs as a kid, and re-reading these books as an adult has not disappointed me. These books are not sugar coated, the stories are actually terrifying, and Bellairs' nods to Tolkein and Lovecraft and his other predecessors are delightful. Johnny Dixon is my favorite protagonist, and Brad Strickland did a wonderful job completing this book.
November 12, 2013
Good, but not the best. Professor Childemass must deal with a colleague who has been rendered catatonic by a voodoo curse. Johnny as always helps him out. It's brief, but spookier and more serious than usual kid's lit. I'd probably pick another, earlier book to start out with if you are new to the series, but it's spooky fun that doesn't try to explain everythign away.
December 12, 2008
This is the last book Bellairs wrote concerning Johnny Dixon before his death, and it was later completed by Brad Strickland. The story elements are pure Bellairs, and the ending doesn't feel as rushed as some of the other Strickland-completed novels. Still an amazing read.
October 14, 2012
Great book to read in the month of Halloween! Zombies and scary rituals of voodoo! While this was a book that Bellairs started, a friend and fan of his (Strickland) helped finish the book. I feel he did a great job at finishing it off.
January 5, 2017
old fashioned melodrama
This is an old fashioned melodramatic short novel I got on Book Bub. It seems written for peculiar young adults not fussy about good writing. This is number 9 in a fairly long series. Don't bother I say.
This is an old fashioned melodramatic short novel I got on Book Bub. It seems written for peculiar young adults not fussy about good writing. This is number 9 in a fairly long series. Don't bother I say.
May 18, 2017
Enjoyed this but it had a much more modern feel that the others - is that Strickland's influence? Also, I always thought Fergie lived in a poorer part of town but In this book it is described as 'snooty'. ???
June 8, 2007
john bellairs was a hero of my childhood.
April 10, 2009
Grades 5+. Thirteen-year-old Johnny Dixon and his friend Prof. Childermass try to save the life of the elderly Dr. Coote, and find themselves facing the forces of menacing voodoo cult.
August 18, 2009
I think this is one of my favorite series of books. A very whimsical plot, fun characters and events, a great, easy read.
October 12, 2010
pretty great book.
September 17, 2013
Voo-dou! Zombies!
April 2, 2015
Ok YA horror. Brad makes Bellairs' characters talk weird.
May 23, 2017
Not terrible, writing is competent, some parts quite suspenseful, but middle lag really got to me. Might go back to it, might not.
January 4, 2020
I think this volume was the last of the Johnny Dixon books to be written in part by John Bellairs. I think that it shows a bit already. Much of Brad Strickland's penchant for describing the more visceral scenarios appears in this book. But the storyline is very typical of Bellairs' later work. He started to test the waters with alternative magics...in this one, it's voodoo.
The positives here are that story arcs are quite clever in how they interact.
The negatives are that it does start to stretch the imagination a bit that Fergie continues to be foolish one as well as the skeptic, in lieu of just how much he's already seen to be real. It's also impressive how versatile Professor Childermass' knowledge truly is, when he is able to research and combat a high level vodoun priestess, yet still fall for the thinnest of lies. And perhaps lastly, the foe's uncanny ability to be several steps ahead of our protagonists.
The positives here are that story arcs are quite clever in how they interact.
The negatives are that it does start to stretch the imagination a bit that Fergie continues to be foolish one as well as the skeptic, in lieu of just how much he's already seen to be real. It's also impressive how versatile Professor Childermass' knowledge truly is, when he is able to research and combat a high level vodoun priestess, yet still fall for the thinnest of lies. And perhaps lastly, the foe's uncanny ability to be several steps ahead of our protagonists.
Read
November 19, 2023Ending where it all began. This is the last Dixon book Bellairs worked on before his death, and the first one I ever encountered at my local library in mid-90s Tulsa, Oklahoma. I was already hooked on Bradbury and (no thanks to an ill-advised Thanksgiving trip to New Orleans when I was 11) super fascinated by voodoo, so the spine of this screeched at me from the shelves. The cover freaked me out, the lettering freaked me out, and you bet this story freaked me out--I had uncanny flashbacks rereading this some 25 years later. That freaky little pillow monster is straight out of Eraserhead.
Unfortunately, while I love this book, it does stand out compared to the others--I would kill to see the brief the publishers gave Strickland when he took this project on. I was thrown out by a few in-narration exclamation points (And then the body inside it sat up!) but straight-up jumped when I read this that Professor Childermass had been consulting a friend over at MISKATONIC University.
Unfortunately, while I love this book, it does stand out compared to the others--I would kill to see the brief the publishers gave Strickland when he took this project on. I was thrown out by a few in-narration exclamation points (And then the body inside it sat up!) but straight-up jumped when I read this that Professor Childermass had been consulting a friend over at MISKATONIC University.
August 23, 2023
Scary good fun and a more traditional take on the zombie tale. I'm not a fan of zombies (the shuffling, drooling, man-eating kind). In fact, I find the trope to be tired and almost irritating (and I really hate hearing about how much butt everyone thinks they'll kick during the zombie apocalypse). But, I do enjoy a good voodoo zombie story, so this was right up my alley. The story was actually very good (not that I would suspect anything different from Bellairs) and it was exciting to see what would come next. This was the first book that was co-written with Brad Strickland, and I'll admit that I went into things with a bit of trepidation. But, it was really good and I have no complaints.
When I was a kid, I tried to read this series, but this cover totally scared me! Glad I got over that and went back to read it after all.
When I was a kid, I tried to read this series, but this cover totally scared me! Glad I got over that and went back to read it after all.
January 20, 2022
This is a great Bellairs, except he didn't write much of it. According to Strickland, who "completed" the tale, it was just a paragraph jotted on a page--and he made it a whole book.
That's how sharp the idea is, and shows the talents of all involved: it's so good, in fact, I didn't recognize that Bellairs didn't write the whole thing until many years after my childhood infatuation with the book. I was disappointed it was truly his. His style is so distinct, yet Strickland is a master at reproducing it. The professor is as cranky as ever, Johnny is as timid as a shrinking violet, and Fergie still his ebullient-without-sayin'-so self.
Get the one with the Edward Gorey illustrations, and you are set for life.
That's how sharp the idea is, and shows the talents of all involved: it's so good, in fact, I didn't recognize that Bellairs didn't write the whole thing until many years after my childhood infatuation with the book. I was disappointed it was truly his. His style is so distinct, yet Strickland is a master at reproducing it. The professor is as cranky as ever, Johnny is as timid as a shrinking violet, and Fergie still his ebullient-without-sayin'-so self.
Get the one with the Edward Gorey illustrations, and you are set for life.
January 4, 2022
This was the first Bard Strickland book that I read. I think he did an admirable job with Johnny Dixon. I enjoyed this far more than the Time Trolley, and it reminded me a great deal of the Mummy, Will, and the Crypt.
One thing that Bellairs (and now Strickland) do not do is reference any of the other books, at all. It would make the Dixon books feel more alive if Fergie just said something like "This reminds me of the Glomus estate". It doesn't need to be a spoiler, just a nod to the reader that yes these characters have been on other adventures together.
One thing that Bellairs (and now Strickland) do not do is reference any of the other books, at all. It would make the Dixon books feel more alive if Fergie just said something like "This reminds me of the Glomus estate". It doesn't need to be a spoiler, just a nod to the reader that yes these characters have been on other adventures together.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews