Horror

The Drum, the Doll, and the Zombie

The Drum, the Doll, and the Zombie

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  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2023-01-24 11:21:35
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Brad Strickland
  • ISBN：B0BBSGHKQR
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Summary

When Johnny Dixon， Professor Childermass， and Fergie Ferguson have a party for their friend Dr。 Coote， they expect the evening to be a blast - and it is！ - but not quite the way they have in mind。 As Fergie pounds out a rhythm on a small drum， a howling wind shakes the house and something explodes。 Soon Johnny， the professor， and Fergie are in a battle with the fearsome Priests of the Midnight Blood for Dr。 Coote's life - and their own。

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Reviews

Simon Boyce ，

Another Book I read as a Child and really Liked

Avid Cobwebber ，

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 reprodu 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。 。。。more

Charles Lupo ，

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 tha 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。 。。。more

Shea ，

This is a creepy fun read， perfect for a Halloween weekend。 I enjoyed "The House with the Clock In Its Walls" by John Bellairs so when I found this book among the donations for the Friends of the Library sale I grabbed it。 The story has many twists and turns and I never knew where it was going。 As with any good YA story the kids play a major role even when， as in this case， the adults are not incompetent。 The story is set in the 1950s so it is almost historical fiction as well。 This is a creepy fun read， perfect for a Halloween weekend。 I enjoyed "The House with the Clock In Its Walls" by John Bellairs so when I found this book among the donations for the Friends of the Library sale I grabbed it。 The story has many twists and turns and I never knew where it was going。 As with any good YA story the kids play a major role even when， as in this case， the adults are not incompetent。 The story is set in the 1950s so it is almost historical fiction as well。 。。。more

Kris ，

Not one of the best books， but enjoyable nevertheless。 Fergie was a bit tiresome and overly obnoxious in places， the skeptical act doesn't really work when he's dealt with warlocks， time travel other cases of possession。 Still the plot does move well， the action is well done and the situation enough tense to give younger readers some tense moments。 Not one of the best books， but enjoyable nevertheless。 Fergie was a bit tiresome and overly obnoxious in places， the skeptical act doesn't really work when he's dealt with warlocks， time travel other cases of possession。 Still the plot does move well， the action is well done and the situation enough tense to give younger readers some tense moments。 。。。more

Cynthia Egbert ，

I am grateful to Brad Strickland for finishing this book after Bellairs' death。 I am not sure if this will be my last visit Johnny or not。 How I wish that Bellairs had stayed around much longer。 Sigh。 There are three more books in the series written by Strickland and I love these characters so much that I am tempted to read the final three but that will have to wait until libraries are open again。 This one， with its venture into voodoo and zombies offered up some pretty good chills！ I am grateful to Brad Strickland for finishing this book after Bellairs' death。 I am not sure if this will be my last visit Johnny or not。 How I wish that Bellairs had stayed around much longer。 Sigh。 There are three more books in the series written by Strickland and I love these characters so much that I am tempted to read the final three but that will have to wait until libraries are open again。 This one， with its venture into voodoo and zombies offered up some pretty good chills！ 。。。more

Cliff ，

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 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。 。。。more

Ken B ，

4 STARS

Calista ，

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 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。 。。。more

Reece Smith ，

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。 T 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。 。。。more

Bill ，

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。 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。 。。。more

Becky ，

Not terrible， writing is competent， some parts quite suspenseful， but middle lag really got to me。 Might go back to it， might not。

Kerry ，

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'。 ？？？ 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'。 ？？？ 。。。more

Michelle Wardhaugh ，

This was one of the most exciting of the series。 There were creepy monsters， menacing voodoo witches， and threatening zombies。 Our favorite characters went through terrible dangers and had difficult decisions to make。 Enjoy the thrills。

Greg Kerestan ，

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）。 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）。 。。。more

Diane ，

old fashioned melodramaThis 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。 old fashioned melodramaThis 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。 。。。more

Susan ，

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。 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。 。。。more

Noah ，

Ok YA horror。 Brad makes Bellairs' characters talk weird。 Ok YA horror。 Brad makes Bellairs' characters talk weird。 。。。more

Chazzi ，

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 zombi 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。 。。。more

D。M。 Dutcher ，

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。 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。 。。。more

Leaflet ，

Voo-dou！ Zombies！

Jonathan Peto ，

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。 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。 。。。more

Lisa Kucharski ，

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。

Jackie Billings ，

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。 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。 。。。more

Jan Yip ，

childhood favorite。。。。I Loved all John Bellairs' books！ childhood favorite。。。。I Loved all John Bellairs' books！ 。。。more

Qt ，

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。 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。 。。。more

Justin K。 Rivers ，

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 dan 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。 。。。more

Marthar ，

pretty great book。

Sarah ，

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。 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。 。。。more

Melina ，

I think this is one of my favorite series of books。 A very whimsical plot， fun characters and events， a great， easy read。

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=The Drum, the Doll, and the Zombie

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=The Drum, the Doll, and the Zombie&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,The Drum, the Doll, and the Zombie&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0