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Lewis Barnavelt #12
The Sign of the Sinister Sorcerer
Lewis's hopes for a peaceful summer vacation are shattered as one accident after another plagues him. Is all his bad luck really just a coincidence? Or does it have something to do with the mysterious hooded figure he keeps seeing?
188 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2008
8 people are currently reading
746 people want to read
About the author
Brad Strickland
137 books109 followersWilliam Bradley Strickland (b. 1947) is the author (or co-author) of over 60 novels and over 60 pieces of short fiction and poetry.
Born in New Hollard, Strickland earned his Ph.D. in American literature from the University of Georgia. He has taught English courses at the University of Georgia, Oglethorpe University, Truett-McConnell College, and, since 1987, at Gainesville State College.
His first novel was 1986's To Stand Beneath the Sun, followed quickly by the books in the Jeremy Moon trilogy.
Strickland has shared co-author credit on many of his books: with his wife, Barbara, on stories in the Star Trek and Are You Afraid of the Dark? properties; and with the late author Thomas Fuller, books in the Wishbone series, involving the popular Jack Russell Terrier from the Public Television series of the same name. Strickland and Fuller also collaborated on numerous original works, including the Pirate Hunter series, the Mars: Year One series, and the comedic mystery for adults, The Ghost Finds a Body.
After the death of John Bellairs, Strickland was approached by John’s son, Frank, to complete the two books his father had already started; these unfinished manuscripts became The Ghost in the Mirror and The Vengeance of the Witch-Finder. Strickland also wrote two books based on brief plot outlines left by Bellairs: The Drum, the Doll and the Zombie and The Doom of the Haunted Opera. Beginning in 1996, Strickland has kept Bellairs' legacy alive by writing the further adventures of Johnny Dixon and Lewis Barnavelt. Books in the corpus include The Hand of the Necromancer (1996); The Tower at the End of the World (2001); The House Where Nobody Lived (2006); and his most recent title, The Sign of the Sinister Sorcerer (2008).
In 2001, Strickland won received the Georgia Author of the Year Award, Children's/Young Adult Division, for When Mack Came Back, set in WWII-era Georgia. Strickland says the story "is based on the farm owned by [his] grandfather, where [I] often visited when [I] was a child." Kong: King of Skull Island was released in 2005, an illustrated tale by Strickland, author John Michlig, and fantasy artist Joe DeVito that serves as both a prequel and sequel to the epic story of the legendary ape.
Strickland is an active member of the Atlanta Radio Theatre Company, where he writes and performs in numerous audio drama projects. He was awarded the ARTC Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006. He is married to the former Barabara Justus and has two grown children.
Born in New Hollard, Strickland earned his Ph.D. in American literature from the University of Georgia. He has taught English courses at the University of Georgia, Oglethorpe University, Truett-McConnell College, and, since 1987, at Gainesville State College.
His first novel was 1986's To Stand Beneath the Sun, followed quickly by the books in the Jeremy Moon trilogy.
Strickland has shared co-author credit on many of his books: with his wife, Barbara, on stories in the Star Trek and Are You Afraid of the Dark? properties; and with the late author Thomas Fuller, books in the Wishbone series, involving the popular Jack Russell Terrier from the Public Television series of the same name. Strickland and Fuller also collaborated on numerous original works, including the Pirate Hunter series, the Mars: Year One series, and the comedic mystery for adults, The Ghost Finds a Body.
After the death of John Bellairs, Strickland was approached by John’s son, Frank, to complete the two books his father had already started; these unfinished manuscripts became The Ghost in the Mirror and The Vengeance of the Witch-Finder. Strickland also wrote two books based on brief plot outlines left by Bellairs: The Drum, the Doll and the Zombie and The Doom of the Haunted Opera. Beginning in 1996, Strickland has kept Bellairs' legacy alive by writing the further adventures of Johnny Dixon and Lewis Barnavelt. Books in the corpus include The Hand of the Necromancer (1996); The Tower at the End of the World (2001); The House Where Nobody Lived (2006); and his most recent title, The Sign of the Sinister Sorcerer (2008).
In 2001, Strickland won received the Georgia Author of the Year Award, Children's/Young Adult Division, for When Mack Came Back, set in WWII-era Georgia. Strickland says the story "is based on the farm owned by [his] grandfather, where [I] often visited when [I] was a child." Kong: King of Skull Island was released in 2005, an illustrated tale by Strickland, author John Michlig, and fantasy artist Joe DeVito that serves as both a prequel and sequel to the epic story of the legendary ape.
Strickland is an active member of the Atlanta Radio Theatre Company, where he writes and performs in numerous audio drama projects. He was awarded the ARTC Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006. He is married to the former Barabara Justus and has two grown children.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
March 20, 2022
Lewis Barnavelt has plans for a nice, quiet summer vacation. But things start going wrong; one after the other - and you know what they say about bad luck coming in threes? Is it something to do with the mysterious hooded figure he keeps seeing? It’s up to him, Rose Rita, uncle Jonathan and Mrs Zimmerman to get to the bottom of it.
This is the last book in the Lewis Barnavelt series, created by John Bellairs and continued by Brad Strickland. I think he’s done a great job, the style seems exactly the same and the thrills and spooks are aplenty.
I read the John Bellairs books when I was a kid and LOVED them. I first found him in a little library in Newcastle, UK and was swept away to small town
America, where weird & wonderful things happened in droves. Now my 11yo son is doing a reading challenge for school, he watched The House with a Clock in its Walls & loved it, so I suggested this book. We’ve read it together each night for the past two weeks and he’s loved it too (I can’t tell you how happy this makes me!). Yes I had to explain some 1950s references and a fair few Americanisms but that didn’t detract his enjoyment. And he wants to read another! Epic parenting pass for me! 🙌
This is the last book in the Lewis Barnavelt series, created by John Bellairs and continued by Brad Strickland. I think he’s done a great job, the style seems exactly the same and the thrills and spooks are aplenty.
I read the John Bellairs books when I was a kid and LOVED them. I first found him in a little library in Newcastle, UK and was swept away to small town
America, where weird & wonderful things happened in droves. Now my 11yo son is doing a reading challenge for school, he watched The House with a Clock in its Walls & loved it, so I suggested this book. We’ve read it together each night for the past two weeks and he’s loved it too (I can’t tell you how happy this makes me!). Yes I had to explain some 1950s references and a fair few Americanisms but that didn’t detract his enjoyment. And he wants to read another! Epic parenting pass for me! 🙌
October 1, 2019
I actually rather liked this book, but the fact that it is the last of the Lewis Barnavelt books detracts from that. While I feel that Brad Strickland did not intend this to be the final book in the series, it is nonetheless the end. As a consequence, I was looking for some sense of closure or at least an epic adversary.
I did appreciate that we finally got a dose of Jonathan's history. And I thought that all of the other characters were well utilized, instead of sitting idly.
I wonder if Strickland had ever planned on creating a crossover between the various Bellairs' series. When you consider that Anthony Monday was in Minnesota and Lewis Barnavelt was just one state over in Michigan, it's not all that farfetched. Maybe bringing in Johnny Dixon from Massachusetts would be a stretch, but it would make sense to try and bring the three together.
I did appreciate that we finally got a dose of Jonathan's history. And I thought that all of the other characters were well utilized, instead of sitting idly.
I wonder if Strickland had ever planned on creating a crossover between the various Bellairs' series. When you consider that Anthony Monday was in Minnesota and Lewis Barnavelt was just one state over in Michigan, it's not all that farfetched. Maybe bringing in Johnny Dixon from Massachusetts would be a stretch, but it would make sense to try and bring the three together.
January 14, 2009
Not the best in the series but these are a guilty pleasure for me so I read them all anyway. The very best are the original books by John Bellairs (for example, The House With a Clock In Its Walls) but Brad Strickland does a good job duplicating the feel of these scary but ultimately safe (the action pauses for everyone to have milk and chocolate cake) mysteries.
September 29, 2025
After 5 years and about double that in interlibrary loans, I’ve finally reached the final book of Lewis Barnavelt’s magical adventures! Brad Strickland sends us off with an exciting escapade to wrap things up, pitting Lewis, his uncle Jonathan, Mrs. Zimmerman, and Rose Rita against another of Jonathan’s old sorcerer pals - the sinister sorcerer alluded to in the book’s title. This story utilizes the magical rule of three, a basic tenant that most people who read in the genre are likely to have come across, and weaves the magical sign throughout the story to create a clever narrative that has us wondering until the final chapters whether Lewis will manage to survive his threefold curse. Of course, we know full well that he’ll come out on top - he is the hero, all - but Strickland uses his well-honed skills to keep us entertained with magical lore, background on Uncle Jonathan’s warlock training, and a little bit of European flair for good measure. It’s hard to stack any book in the series against John Bellairs’ original tale of witchcraft and highjinx, but Strickland pulls all the same tricks out of the hat to give us one last grand showdown and the story stands up well. It’s almost too bad that we have to end things here, but all good series must come to an end - and now it’s time to delve into Bellairs’ other magical mystery tales with another presumably fun cast of characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 3, 2024
And so we come to the end of the Lewis Barnavelt series. And I'm really sad that it's over. It was a good one, though, and a very fitting end to the series. These books have been absolutely excellent, and both authors of the series did a wonderful job. In all honesty, it's hard for me to tell where Bellairs stops and Strickland picks up.
This story had great pacing and a real sense of tension and danger. There were a couple of juicy twists, too, that kept me on the edge of my seat. Great book. I hope there's more to come.
This story had great pacing and a real sense of tension and danger. There were a couple of juicy twists, too, that kept me on the edge of my seat. Great book. I hope there's more to come.
November 15, 2018
The final Lewis Barnavelt novel doesn't build to as climactic a finish as the final Johnny Dixon did, but the run-of-the-mill supernatural adventure still has its charm, and provides a new window into the origins of Uncle Jonathan and his magic. There are a few effective and memorable moments here, most notably the "puppet" scene, but overall there's no way to tell this is the grand finale of the series.
October 28, 2021
Amazing book! I wish it wasn’t the last in the series! I want these books to go on forever!
When a new kid moves to town, Lewis and Rose Rita are excited to make a new friend. Soon, strange things begin happening in 3s though. Once Uncle Johnathans cane goes missing, it’s up to Lewis, Rose Rita, Mrs. Zimmerman and Johnathan to save the day!
Great plot and even though it was sort of easy to figure things out, it was enjoyable all the same. Such a great book/series and I’m sad to see it go.
When a new kid moves to town, Lewis and Rose Rita are excited to make a new friend. Soon, strange things begin happening in 3s though. Once Uncle Johnathans cane goes missing, it’s up to Lewis, Rose Rita, Mrs. Zimmerman and Johnathan to save the day!
Great plot and even though it was sort of easy to figure things out, it was enjoyable all the same. Such a great book/series and I’m sad to see it go.
July 26, 2018
I am sad that this is my last visit with Lewis and company. I really have come to love these characters. No, this is not great literature, but it is fun and spooky and I really am grateful that Strickland continued the series after we lost Bellairs. I think more than anything I have enjoyed spending the last few months back in the 1950's small town America.
January 20, 2024
The last volume in the Lewis Barnavelt series! I am a bit sad to see this over without a big revelation, but on its own this is a great book. It might be the most high stakes one in the series in the end, since uncle Jonathan disappears on this one.
March 19, 2024
This was a pretty good end to the series - Lewis and Rose Rita are finally encouraged to help with the magical predicament they all get into. However, I'm disappointed that they weren't set up to study magic themselves.
June 18, 2019
I just wish there were more books!
September 3, 2021
Will review at Fantasy Literature.
November 14, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. I have enjoyed all the books in this series. They are all worth reading. Just a shame that it’s the last one.
September 27, 2023
🥺🥺🥺🥲I’ll miss the adventures of this family 🥺I loved every book and story
October 21, 2025
This was like a carbon copy of the previous books with different ingredients.
July 20, 2021
I'm a Louis Barnavelt fan and this is another tale of Louis, his uncle, and his neighbor, as well as his friend, Rose Rita, and the magical mysteries that temporarily elude them. The plot is foiled, although there is some squirming in the middle when you wonder just how they are going to work things out.
November 26, 2011
I can't say it's great, but it's Strickland's strongest outing in a long while. This novel explores the magic angle a bit more, clearly responding to Harry Potter. Uncle Jonathan has an interesting part to play, and there is a twist ending that works very well. The resolution feels earned and at-home.
This is the last entry in the Lewis Barnavelt series to date. And although Strickland has done some good things with the series, and delivered an exciting tale in this outing, my ambivalence about the series continues to grow. It's not that Strickland is a bad writer. It's just that these later books seem slapped together and...uncoordinated. The Bellairs world has lots of potential, but Strickland needs to juice up some of the details and fit his plots and story structures into the grim New England gothic texture that Bellairs created. It just needs some extra effort, and maybe an editor with more vision for the future of the series.
In any case, I'd suggest dropping the Barnavelts and delving into Johnny Dixon/Prof. Childermass again. There's a reason Bellairs did that.
This is the last entry in the Lewis Barnavelt series to date. And although Strickland has done some good things with the series, and delivered an exciting tale in this outing, my ambivalence about the series continues to grow. It's not that Strickland is a bad writer. It's just that these later books seem slapped together and...uncoordinated. The Bellairs world has lots of potential, but Strickland needs to juice up some of the details and fit his plots and story structures into the grim New England gothic texture that Bellairs created. It just needs some extra effort, and maybe an editor with more vision for the future of the series.
In any case, I'd suggest dropping the Barnavelts and delving into Johnny Dixon/Prof. Childermass again. There's a reason Bellairs did that.
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December 27, 2023Different. The villain isn't really present until the last 30 pages.
Sti very good. Spooky comfort food. These characters feel like home. And the writing rocks.
Sti very good. Spooky comfort food. These characters feel like home. And the writing rocks.
September 8, 2010
I am so grateful that Brad Strickland is continuing to write for my favorite childhood literary characters.
Lewis Barnavelt once again finds himself in trouble because of his naivete. While the book was a little more emotional than the writings of John Bellairs, I was happy to read about their continued adventures.
Lewis Barnavelt once again finds himself in trouble because of his naivete. While the book was a little more emotional than the writings of John Bellairs, I was happy to read about their continued adventures.
March 29, 2010
Okay, this really wasn't that scary. But I liked the characters-actually, I loved the characters. And I could see where this would appeal to 4th or 5th graders who like scary stuff, but not too scary. And I kinda liked the old-fashioned flavor.
January 26, 2009
Truly a juvenile fiction book. I thought there would be more mystery, more magic, more story line. It was ok but I doubt I'll read any of the other Bellairs mysteries.
January 18, 2011
Interesting, yet, odd!
September 7, 2016
What a great book to end the series with. I'm just sad that the series is done with, I really loved these books and the characters.
April 20, 2017
I think all right this book but I through was fantasy or something just fantasy and mystery both because meet stranger wear red robe meaning you think can trust with stranger but maybe dangerous or help or friendly cause some hide in somewhere pocket or secret.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews