The Leipzig Vampire

Mostly Ghosts #2

by Mary Anderson

Amy and Jamie Ferguson are twins. Jamie is brilliant and logical, while Amy is psychic-an ability she keeps hidden from everyone except Jamie. One day she discovers that she can communicate with the spirit of an ancestor who served as an army officer in the Revolutionary War. His advice is sometimes misleading, often helpful and always exciting.
In The Leipzig Vampire Gustav Manheim, an eminent German scientist, comes to town to do research. Jamie and Amy have a sneaking suspicion that Dr. Manheim, is secretly working on an evil project. They decide to investigate. What awaits them behind the doctor's closed dark doors?

Genres: Vampires

128 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1987

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author with this name in the Goodreads database.

Born in 1939, Mary Anderson is an American author of mystery novels for children and young adults.

Reviews

[Dan C · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF

I don't care for the Ferguson twins- Amy is psychic and Jamie is supposedly smart. She saved his life in the first book, and saved the day multiple times, so why does he constantly not believe or trust her? So the plot can take place, is why. The name of this book completely spoils the whole start to the book- it's obvious the "mysterious" main character is a vampire (not a spoiler), so why all this buildup for chapters and chapters wondering if he is. The reader already knows he is because it's the title of the book.

The author was born in 1939 and I think is just a little too far-removed from the target demographic too. Not always the case, but it is here. The writing is a little old-timey in places, not contemporary for when it came out (late 80s).

Lastly there is the early 90's trope of a Revolutionary War ghost-- why is this a thing? 'Jebediah Stereotype' appears and talks in supposed '1700s speak'- not sure WTH he was supposed to be saying. Doubt the target audience could either. Total miss of a book imo.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recalled the title of this book as I was reading another book that mentioned Leipzig. I remember as a child not understanding what this word meant and mispronouncing it in my head as I read it... Don't remember much about the actual story, however.

[Matthew Herring · Rating 3 out of 5]

A favorite of mine when I was a kid, the writing and dialogue are surprisingly polished for a tween book. Less polished, however, is the plot.

[Angie Lisle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this series as a kid!