The Secret of the Underground Room

Johnny Dixon #8

by John Bellairs

When Father Higgins disappears, Johnny Dixon and Professor Childermass discover disturbing clues which lead them to England and an encounter with a long-dead knight

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

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

John Bellairs (1938–1991) was an American novelist. He is best known for the children's classic The House with a Clock in its Walls (1973) and the fantasy novel The Face in the Frost (1969). Bellairs held a bachelor's degree from Notre Dame University and a master's in English from the University of Chicago. He later lived and wrote in Massachusetts.

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the 8th in the Johnny Dixon series and it take Johnny over the pond to Bristol, England and the Isle of Lundy. Their good friend Father Higgins has been possessed by a powerful spirit. They have to find a way to break the spell. The Professor and Fergie work with Johnny to save the world from this evil spirit.

John Bellairs sets a great tone and he has excellent pacing. John is simply a master at writing spooky for younger children. He hits all the right notes. If only there were some women in these stories. That is what is missing.

This one was a good read and it does the series proud. I really enjoy these books. They are wonderful and need to continue to be read.

[Andrija · Rating 3 out of 5]

John Bellairs books (especially the editions with covers and front pieces by Edward Gorey) fed my love of mystery and horror as a child. I tried reading 'normal' books like "The Pitcher with the Glass Arm" and other sports related fiction, it was an edition of The Mummy, The Will and the Crypt which captured me. I devoured every book Bellairs published in our local library. To this day, I hunt used bookstores for the Edward Gorey editions of those books, keeping them in a special shelf in my house.

The Secret of the Underground Room is not one of his better ones, alas. A very creepy premise involving Father Higgins possessed by a being intent on resurrecting heretical knights is very cool, and there are some very creepy moments in the end, but the book is very slow to start. One could tell this is one of his later books - it does't have the eerie verve of the early books. But I'm still glad to have it in my collection.

[Hilary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wow. I used to love the John Bellairs books as a child and I read them all voraciously. It's sad to find out now that he's actually a REALLY bad and formulaic writer. From the mysterious long-lost brother (who happens to know magic and be fabulously wealthy), to the deus ex machina of the preist at the end, there is only one word to describe this book: Ouch. Truly and seriously ouch.

[Kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

In spite of a couple of out-of-the-blue deus ex machina moments the book was one of the better. The suspense was gripping and the pacing much improved over the meandering pace of the early book. The action was smooth and the sense of menace very well done.

[Daisy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ahh.. I’m sorry, John Bellairs.. This story was just too convoluted for me. My (approximate) summary…

Father Higgins is kidnapped my a demon who pretends to be a priest in England to dig up his dead mom’s ashes to perform an evil ritual to bring back other demons from the dead.

Johnny Dixon, Professor, and Fergie go to England to save Father Higgins.

They go to a church in England and meet a scary priest. They know that Father Higgins is trapped inside because it looks like Higgy’s eyes.

Johnny Dixon sees a scary face in a window (?) But so does everyone else in the small town in England, and I’m not sure why.

Professor and - surprise! New character: his brother Humphrey are captured and put in jars. They think they’re wandering the desert (?) but they are in jars that Johnny and Fergie peer into.

I don’t know if that gives you an idea of how confusing the story was. I hope so. But it’s short! I’m also not sure I got all that correct.

[Cynthia Egbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

It hurts my heart as I read this last full Johnny Dixon novel written by John Bellairs and wish, even more than usual, that I could sit down to a long lunch with Bellairs and pick his brain and get a feel for why he makes some of the decisions he does in his books. I love the fact that the bad guy gets his comeuppance simply due to the strong personality and conviction of a worthy Catholic priest. Yes, there is perhaps too much use of deus ex machina on Bellairs' part but this was written for young people and so I am okay with the use of that device here. Once again a great story of good overcoming evil.

[Tiffany Spencer]

The Secret Underground Room
Johnny and the Professor are talking about Father Higgins coming back. Until recently he’d been the pastor of their church but got transferred. He’s not happy with the transfer because he doesn’t feel the people like him. He also thinks there’s a ghost in the house he’s living in. It was a young girl who walked up the side of the organ loft and then she vanished. Then he began to get notes tacked to various places in his home. They say random things that don’t make any sense. They don’t have any connection but Father thinks they are. They decide to go visit him.

Father Higgns says he saw the ghost again standing by his bed. She led him to the side door of the church and motioned behind the organ loft. He found a package lying in the dust. He took it back to his study and shows them a glass plate on it is a card that says “to raise the dead”. He says he hasn’t had a good night sleep since it’s been there. He keeps dreaming of his mother who died several years ago. Then he wakes up in the study with a piece of glass in his hands. He says he’s never been a sleepwalker. It seems to make sense to the Professor. He says he had his mother on his mind is all and that he was probably seeing things that weren’t there. He then shows them the notes. They say “The Church of the Faceless Images.” “Half a Moon Is Bad. A Full moon May be Worse . Or Is It?” “Remember the Funeral of King Charles the First” “Son of Man Shall These Bones Live” “Drake Cake Bustard Custard. Go on.” “When Vega is High In The Sky One Must be Destroyed.” “You Might BE Wrong About Everything.” The Professor thinkgs it’s just a prank. Higgins thinks it’s supernatural forces. Johhny thinks he should come back, but he says that it would just make him look crazy.

One night Johnny’s grandpa says he thought he sees Father Higgins standing outside under the street light. When Johhny goes out to check tho there’s just silence. He hears a door slam from somewhere. Johhny later has a bad dream there’s a knocking coming from the closet. Then awakens to find a man sitting next to his bed who looks like Father Higgins. When he looks what lies in the chair is a teaspoon. The handle is shaped like a bearded man in a long robe. Under his feet on a pedestal is the name “Thomas”. There’s a price tag but the price is scratched out and it’s place are letters SNCUSB

The Professor comes by the next morning looking disheveled. He says Father Higgins has disappeared. There are search parties and they’re even draining the river. Later when alone Johnny shows the Professor the spoon. He says it’s an “Apostle Spoon”. People use to buy them in sets and hang them on wooden racks. There are twelve. Appropriately it’s the “Thomas” spoon as that was Father Higgens's first name. The letters are three metals. The next day, the Professor asks Johnny if he’d like to go to England with him.

He says he spoke to a friend and he says the sppon is made of Britainia metal. It’s composed of the three metals that were on the tag. His mother is buried there and the Professor thinks he has a crazy idea that he’s going to use the glass to bring his mother back to life. Or maybe he’s under a spell. He says he bets he’ll head to Glasenbury. He asks if Fergie can go and the Professor says that’s fine with him, So, they all go to London.First they go to the church where Mrs. Higgins died They find the plot but there’s no evidence it’s been disturbed or tampered with. A clergyman catches them and quickly rushes them off. Outside he tells them the eyes of the clergyman belonged to Father Higgins. He says that was Father Higgins. An evil spirit has invided his body..

The next morning they find out someone broke into the church and stole the ashes of “a lady” buried there. (from one of the waiters). They next head to the bus station and asks the ticket seller about the old clergyman. He remembers him immediately and says he acted paranoid. The ticket seller says he brought a ticket to Bristle and he wrote a traveler's check. They then head to Bristle. They see him while dining at the Grant Hotel For now they do nothing about Dr. Mastermon. Later that night, the Professor bumps into Dr.Mastermon in the corridor. He chants an incantation “Lord show us this creature as he really is” (but they call it a Latin prayer) and he makes a cross. For a minute, he sees Father Higgns, then he hears a casps of thunder in his head and he goes down. When he wakes up he’s in the hospital.

When Johnny and Fergie visit they tell the Professor that they found out Dr. Mastermom has checked out that morning. For some days the boys just sightsee while the Professor researches his clues at the library. One night Johnny awakens and hears scratching at the window. Then he sees an old man at the window with hungry eyes and sunken cheeks. He can’t tell what the man’s saying. Then his face melts into the rin. Ironically Johnny finds out the next morning from the Professor other men have reported seeing faces as well.

On evening, on the way to the boarding house all three see a man watching them. He’s bearded, burly, and tall. But when the Professor looks up there’s no one there. He brushes it off and says it was probably some old bum. That night they hear more on the radio about more and more people seeing the ghostly apparitions. The next evening, after going to see the Suspension bridge, when they come home the Professor is there and so is the man they saw in the alley. The Professor introduces him as his dead brother. It turns out he faked his death because life got to hard, but he’s back to help. He has ESP. He then tells the tale of The Demisco Knights. They were pirates and warrior who looted and killed and had built themselves a castle. Six of them sold their souls to the devil for power. They wanted to be superhuman but some people got together cast a spell on them and held them in an underground room. One got away and died but his spirit haunted the earth trying to figure out a way to get the others back. This spirit is Dr. Mastermon (Rufus).

Masstermon must have went to the place their spirits were, but there harmless without there bodies. He says he thinks maybe Father is resisting him or Mastermon is waiting for a certain time. He says they have to go to Londy and find the underground room and stop the spirits from getting thire bodies back. After having dinner at Humphrey’s, they return back to the hotel. The wind starts to pick up and they see a strange man. He makes a motion with his hands and Johnny is lifted into the air. Luckily the Professor says some words, the wind stops, and Johhny is lowered. Humphrey appears and says he sensed Maastermon and he was glad he showed up in time. He says it’ll be safer if they stay with him that night. (It was him, not the Professor that said the words). The next day they head to Londy. But there’s a terrible storm and they have to stay at an Inn.

Something awakens Johnny at night again and he checks the Professor and Humphrey’s room and they’re gone. So, Fergie and Johnny go out to look for them. They find a shop full of bottles and there’s a light on. The sign says Mastermon’s Bottle Shop. It’s not long before they see Dr. Mastermom and be beckons for them to come inside. They obey because something seems to be pulling them. On the inside they see what’s inside the bottles. (The faces of the Professor and Humphrey). Thunder bursts inside their heads and when they awake the shop is dark and empty. Johhny and Fergie decide to go to Londy. Once there they find The Church of the Faceless Images.

They tap some stones but can’t find any hollow ones (indicating an underground room). After midnight, Jonny sees Mastermon. So, he and Fergie follow him to a chapel. They wait until Mastermom disappears and they discover the stones have a hollow sound. They remove the stones and find the underground room and go down the stairway. They find five mummies dressed as monks. On a altar is a half circle of glass. Rufus Mastermon holds the other half. He’s only amused by the crucifix Johnny wears and snaps it. He says he’ll decide what to do with them later. First, he has to get on with what he came to do. He tries to fit the two pieces together but can’t. He ends up dropping and shattering the glass. The mummies come alive for a second and come rushing toward the person that looks like Father Higgins. He smashes the other piece and they crumble.

Afterward, the see the star of Vega. It all makes sense. Mastermon couldn’t complete his ritual until the star of Vega was in the sky. Father Higgins doesn’t remember much of how he got there. The last he remembers he was going to do a baptism. He has a squirt bottle with him filled with holy water. The Professor and Humphrey are back at the inn. It’s not over tho because Johnny is visited that night by the ghost of Mastermon. He invites him to join him in the darkness. Father comes out tho and throws holy water in his face. In seconds there’s just a scorch mark on the rug. Humphrey has a theory and starts to examine Johnny’s clothes. In them is a piece with golden fish in it. So he takes the piece of (glass to his lab to unspell it. He says if you change a amulets shape you take the force out of it. He says just in case, they’ll throw it in the river. The next day they go home. Humphrey stays in London. When they get home, Father is transdered back to Saint Micheal's.

My Thoughts
It wasn’t bad it was just similar to the last one I read and I’m starting to detect a pattern in this series. Someone always goes missing. They have to travel to a far-off place. There’s always a priest involved (either on the journey to get the missing person back, or he is the missing person). Then the resolve is usually VERY very short. The whole book focuses on the how (how do we solve this). Then it’s solved in the blink of an eye. At the end of the book, there’s a cookout. The story is interesting. Secret Underground rooms usually are. I’ve even had dreams of those. No sword carrying centuary old ghost in mine tho. For an October read it was decent. There were some clues I didn’t get but for the most part, I understood the connection.

Rating: 6

[EA Solinas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gruff and lovable Father Higgins is one of the better supporting characters in John Bellairs' many books.

And in "The Secret of the Underground Room," the evil-battling priest slips into the spotlight in an intriguing ghost story. Though not Bellairs' best, it's a chilling and fast-paced thriller for the pre-Stephen King set -- sleepwalking, undead pirates, and a situation that Johnny and Professor Childermass can put right.

Johnny Dixon is depressed when his friend Father Higgins is transferred to a different parish. Father Higgins isn't much happier, since he dislikes his new congregation, and his estranged mother has just died. Soon he visits his friends Johnny and Professor Childermass, claiming that a ghost has been trying to contact him, that he is sleepwalking, and he shows them a strange glassy half-plate with golden fishes in it, and a cryptic rhyme.

Soon afterward, Father Higgins vanishes. The professor, Johnny, and Fergie go to England in an effort to track him -- and find that he is in the grip of a demonic dead knight, part of the pirate De Marisco knights that died long ago -- after some sold their souls to the devil. Now the evil knight known as Masterman is trying to set his old comrades free...

"The Secret of the Underground Room" has all the staples of a good Bellairs book -- evil creatures that will either destroy the world or conquer it, spinechilling cliffhangers, cryptic rhymes, and a lot of witty banter between Childermass and other characters. But the strongest part of it is the good-hearted characters who are never quite overwhelmed by evil.

Perhaps its greatest weaknesses are that the pacing seems to meander, and some of the plot twists are a bit strained. (Where did Bellairs get the line, "And in case you're wondering, he has developed his powers of ESP"?) But he imbues the story with an eerie, unnverving quality, where dark shadowy things can be found in half-forgotten places.

Johnny and Fergie are good as always, the meek Charlie Brown altar boy and the cocky gutsy kid who complement each other like peanut-butter and jelly. Father Higgins is given extra dimension, provided with his sad past with his estranged mother and his wish that he had reconciled with her. And Professor Childermass is his usual grumpy, irritable, generous and brave self.

"Secret of the Underground Room" is not Bellairs' best, but it's definitely a solid ghost-story with plenty of wit and chills.

[Alec Hawkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are YA books written in a time when author’s and publishers were still trying to figure out how to write supernatural horror for children. This book contains some of the scariest moments in all of Bellairs work (‘Salem’s Lot level chills in this one) and the gang goes to England! Tons of fun.

[Dustin Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I'd forgotten about this 'series' (they're all standalones, with the same handful of characters) that I read as a kid. Well, 11 year old anyway. What with the current scandals, a story about a 13 year old whose best friends are a 70-something professor and a catholic priest of unspecified age might be seen as creepy, in pratice they aren't. Not in this book, in any case. This was not one of Bellairs' finest (but is was the last) but it was a good re-introduction. I'm looking forward, now, to 'A House With a Clock Within Its Walls' and 'The Eyes of the Killer Robot'. A little darkness, some magic (white and black), riddles, Catholic traditions, likeable characters and an early 1950's setting make these books worth reading. But don't start with this one.

[D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second-to-the-last of Bellairs's books is a strong entry in the series. While not may favorite, it certainly shows that Bellairs still knew how to create a compelling story. In this one, Johnny Dixon, his best friend Fergie, and Professor Childermass are called upon to help Father Higgins discover what's causing strange disturbances in Higgin's new church. As usually happens, Johnny, Fergie, and The Professor find themselves caught up in all sort of creepy happenings, and they have to prevent a long-dead fiend from taking over the world.

There are several nice, creepy moments, but nothing that will give anybody nightmares here.

Recommended for readers who like it creepy, but not TOO creepy.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bellairs' penultimate gothic horror for children is quite bittersweet. On the one hand it's nice to see the characters in a new adventure that features a trip to England full of interesting historical details. But on the other, the overall plot seems a jumbled mess that is never quite 'believably' made cohesive. Events happen quick and the ultimate conclusion(s) both end in lackluster fashions. Despite its flaws I'll take it over one less Bellairs book, and there are a few moments of spine-tingling macabre that Bellairs became known for. I actually thought this was his last, only to find now there is one more I hadn't realized existed...

[Arthur · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this great series when The Curse of the Blue Figurine,and The Mummy, the Will, and the Crypt were reprinted by Puffin,and through a book club.
Unfortunately Bellairs died, fortunately the series is co-authored to its finish with Brad Strickland.
Themes run from monsters to superstitious magic. To my surprise religious beliefs play a strong part too. Woven with zeal of mystery. Add adventure. In this latest installment, the last solely by Bellairs, Father Higgins disappears. Rod Childermass, Fergus and Johnny search in England for the Pastor, incidentally he is possessed by a evil spirit. They meet with Rod's thought to be dead brother Humphrey.

[D.M. Dutcher · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not one of his best.

Johnny and his friend Professor Childermass find that their priest friend is suffering from what looks to be a ghost. That ghost has malevolent plans for him, and soon the two of them are racing to England to prevent the resurrection of an unholy evil. Unfortunately the plot is unsatisfying, and the book feels rushed; events just happen instead of being foreshadowed, and plot elements come out of nowhere. It's still an enjoyable book, and one of the few series to treat Catholicism respectfully while not skimping on spooky chills.

[Laurel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yup, starting my year by rereading Bellairs. It struck me how much these books are basically H.P. Lovecraft-meets-Shirley Jackson for strange fussy children — the obsession with geographical detail! The vague but precise period setting! The accepted presence, slightly surprising but ultimately matter-of-fact, of unearthly forces! Among the best of New England gothic. I don't know why these haven't been reissued yet in a deluxe box set with all the deluxe Edward Gorey illustrations, because I would eat. that. up.

[Brian Rogers · Rating 1 out of 5]

In my "lets read children's lit I should have read" quest I picked up a few John Bellairs books from the library book sale. He had come highly recommended, and the House With a Clock in its Walls was pretty good. This, on the converse, was an interminable slog of poor pacing, plot advancement via a succession of un-grounded hypothesis, pure supposition and deus ex machina topped off with a cherry of anticlimax. It was only its short length and sheer stubborness on my part that I didn't abandon it halfway through.

Ugh. This sucker goes back to the library.

[Justin K. Rivers · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last Prof. Childermass/Johnny Dixon story that Bellairs wrote before he died, it is also one of the shortest. But Bellairs makes every moment count, with some very high and personal stakes involved in the fate of Father Higgins, and a strange, atmospheric trip to a ruined castle in England. Again, Bellairs weakens his story by some unimpressive coincidences, and the resolution did not quite seem earned. But the concept and the chill-factor are Bellairs at his best.

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I stumbled upon a whole shelf of Bellairs' books at a school library. The Edward Gorey covers grabbed me right away. I love Masterpiece Mystery and have a Gorey calendar with postcards that I occasionally send when I'm feeling gothic. This book was really cool. It featured possession, England, a Catholic priest, thought dead brothers and a 50s setting that was so much fun to inhabit for a while. I can't believe that I never knew about Gorey until now. I would have loved him when I was a kid.

[Marjanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun Johnny Dixon book, and (of course) a very quick read. The story was interesting. However, Professor Childermas saves and earns a lot more than you would think from the earlier books and (unfortunately) and other character just shows up out of the blue. It is a little unbelievable. Anyhow a fun story.

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not one of my favorites (of Bellairs) but still a fun read. Slow start, and the young protagonists Johnny and Fergie end up simply being there for the action, rather than taking much part in the actual culmination (though they get themselves there int he first place). The suspense, though is as chilling as any of Bellairs' books. And of course, they're just as good for adults as for kids.

[Miranda W. 8 Rdg · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Secret of the Underground Room was an amazing book written by John Bellairs. He used mystery of ghosts to tell the story and let the readers know that this book is extremely scary. It was an easy book and I recommend this book to people to love to read about possession. This book should become a Newberry award winner.

[Christopher · Rating 2 out of 5]

Despite his reputation, I'm just not sold on Bellairs. The characterizations are flat and Johnny Dixon himself isn't much of a proactive hero -- things mainly happen to him, not the other way around. Too many coincidences to swallow in this one, and it really doesn't get interesting until the final stretch.

[Lisa Kucharski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice scary story from Bellairs taking Johnny and his friend all the way to England! A nice event happens for Prof Childermass... he finds someone who was missing.

I like the fact that they get to save Father Higgins, since it was Father Higgins that has saved both Johnny and the Professor once.

[Greg Kerestan · Rating 3 out of 5]

John Bellairs's last solo outing before his death, volume 8 hasn't lost its charm but shows signs of wear; the bottle shop and riddling seem like retreads of prior Dixon stories, though the British setting gives it a little charm of its own.

[Susy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars
Three months further and I can't remember anything about this book even though I did like the adventurous vibes.

Characters 7
Atmosphere 7
Writing Style 6
Premise 7
Plot 6
Pace 7
Length 8
Structure/Setup 6
Enjoyment/Engrossment 6
Narration 7

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

just resurrected an old favorite from childhood. not as good now as it was before, but still a good, light read. cant wait to pick up the rest of the johnny dixon/professor childermass series!

[Margot Note]

It's a kid's book, but I love Bellairs' spookiness and the Edward Gorey illustrations.

[Jan Yip · Rating 5 out of 5]

childhood favorite....I Loved all John Bellairs' books!

[Chuck · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not one of his classics.

[Stuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the darkest YA books I've read. Black magic, possessions, evil undead knights. I wish I had found these as a kiddo, I would have LOVED them.