Antony Monday can't understand why his best friend Miss Eells, the town librarian, is so excited about an old Dutch oil lamp, but she buys it anyway. little do they know that the lamp was stolen from an underground tomb - a frightening tomb where eerie occult rituals used to be held.

Incoherent, but midwestern. ( )

Anthony Monday and his friend Miss Eells are once again embroiled in a spooky mystery. This time it involves and old oil lamp and the mysterious Willis Nightwood. What do the two have in common with evil spirits?

True, the lamp was stolen from a strange underground tomb on Nightwood's property and possibly part of some sort of occult rituals, but why when it is lit does murder happen and strange sightings of a man in a long black coat with cobwebs on his face come into play? What are the strange forces that are released when the lamp is lit?

John Bellairs' books may be on the list of juvenile books, but adults can get just as much enjoyment from then as a they would from an adult book. The characters are relate-able and there is just enough tension and mystery to keep you reading. ( )

Although this was a good story, the writing reminded me of something written back in the 1950s. This may have been intentional since the setting is in the 1950s. It has quirky names and for the most part, everything is laid out plainly for the reader. I place this as for very early middle grade. I tend to like most contemporary middle grade books, the writing of late has become more sophisticated and the stories more complex. ( )