The Locked Room

Shivers #5

by M.D. Spenser

Knock Three Times for Fear!

Before, Brittany was just hurt and confused. Now, she's scared to death. First, her mother and father were divorced. Then her mother married another man. A very frightening man. . .

It's a horror show race against time as Brittany and her little brother battle their fear. They must find out exactly why that man loves there mother. And save themselves and their mom from the danger behind the door. . .

1996 Large Trade PAPERBACK by M.D. Spenser. Book #5 in the SHIVERS Books. Cover Illustration by Eddie Roseboom. Publisher Paradise Press,Inc.

Genres: Horror, Childrens, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Fiction

120 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

M.D. Spenser is a children's author, journalist and music critic. Born in the United States, he lives now in the UK.

"The Enchanted Attic," Book 1 of his popular SHIVERS series of novels for children, was republished as an e-book in August 2011. It is available at amazone.com, Barnes & Noble, Sony and iBookstory. Book 2, "A Ghastly Shade of Green," and Book 3, "Ghost Writer," followed shortly afterwards.


The rest of the 36-book series will be published as ebooks over time.

Also, an internet petition is circulating asking that the entire 36-book series be republished in paperback: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/md...

Reviews

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brittany, her brother, Eric and their mom move to a small town in California to live with their mom's new husband, Bill. Right away, Brittany starts experiencing scary things - even seeing and hearing a strange woman in the house.
It's not long before she and Eric discover a hidden room, with the possessions of all of Bill's ex-wives - who are all dead now. Can Brittany and Eric convince their mom that Bill is dangerous before it's too late?

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

very much a mystery or scray book it very creepy i give it 5 stars

[Owen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too much in the story was pointless and boring, believably obvious what was going on.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is about two kids that mom marries a evil person. He is old he never dies. Every wife that he marries he takes their wedding ring and murders them.

This was one of the best Shivers books I have ever read! I loved it it was intresting from beging to end, and it had such a creative idea.

[Alejandro Joseph · Rating 3 out of 5]

For some reason, M.D. Spenser decided to elongate this entry by making the font size a noticeable margin smaller. The pages are fatter in word count, in dumb-dumb terms. I can’t conceive why bro thought he needed to cook like that, but alright dudechacho. This book was rather dark for the series, having the villain be… I mean, shit, HE’S A SERIAL KILLER. No other way to say it. It’s a huge swing for a darker tone that I quite loved, and it partially saved this book for me. The characters are good, the writing was a bit better compared to other Shivers entries, and the climax was really solid. I also kinda liked the more character-driven approach of this one; alike to Nightmare Room, this one was more about the characters than the supernatural (yes, there is some supernatural stuff here… barely). But uh, this entry ain’t all rainbows and sunshine. This entry takes FOREVER to get going. Nothing happens until the final fourth of the book it feels, at least nothing plot-heavy. The title of the book doesn’t even come in play until then—which is insane. This book is an absolute bore of a Shivers volume that I wish was a lot shorter or had a lot more going on. So yeah, it’s uneventful and boring, and unnecessarily longer than other entries (by word count, not page count). The supernatural elements feel underwhelming too, and they felt more like an add-on than a necessity. I guess it was to keep it interesting? I can’t really tell, but they’re like an extra puzzle piece to an already completed puzzle: doesn’t fit but it could make another puzzle have you plenty more. That other puzzle was never fully built. Also, the intro is kinda ahh. Overall, 6.5/10. That climax and those ball-drops saved this sucker from what could’ve been the worst Shivers, so thank heavens for that. Otherwise this a dull ass entry that I meekly recommend just for the serial killer stuff; Bill was notably creepy anywho. ALSO: on page 55, M.D. Spenser fails to do math correctly; 1959-1967 is NOT an eighteen year gap, which makes Bill a pdf file. Lovely mistake-turned-innuendo.

[Emma Minazza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good read, reliving my youth reading these. Following the story of Lucy and Bill, mum and stepfather of Brittany and Eric. Something doesn't feel right with and around Bill but can Brittany and Eric find out what it is? Creepy old house, hidden rooms, locked doors with mysterious old keys, this book is full of secrets and mystery! Loved it!

[Wolverinefactor · Rating 2 out of 5]

First read book of 2018

They don’t even find the door until page 93 and there’s less than 120 pages...

I didn’t understand the last page at all.

The big reveal was obvious and once again is tidied up so fast that it’s unbelievable (yes I know it’s a kids book...)

[Danelle Our-Wolves-Den · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come... Many books are read aloud with the kids. They will be putting their thoughts together and the rating is how they rated the book. (I am enjoying the nostalgia of reading things from when I was a kid)

[Carmen Tudor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of great atmosphere here in a decided nod to the Bluebeard folktale. Will be of particular interest to anyone who, like me, loves horror/terror with a home setting.

[Jules · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was really confused at the very end of the book, but I still liked the story. Bill Beard haha.

[Louise · Rating 2 out of 5]

The pacing here is all off, with the majority of the action happening in the last 20 pages. Since it's derivative of a few other stories, there's potential here, but it doesn't manage to land.

[Amanda Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Man what a dark reveal at the end. This had great atmosphere and character development

[Chris Buensuceso · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok... This one good... I like this one...

[Manda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I came across Shivers after reading Goosebumps. The locked room was one of my favourites because I found it so exciting while reading it. All that mystery over a locked room. I miss those books : (

[Samantha Glasser · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book at a dollar store when I was a kid. It was clearly a rip-off of the Goosebumps books but the writing was good and I enjoyed it.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good!

[Mylah · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorites by him. He's a great writer.

[Michelle Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this as a kid and loved it. It didn't scare me, but I thought it was pleasently spooky.

[Emma]

This book freaked me out as a kid! When they're running from the step dad - eek!