A young sleuth and his professor friend fight voodoo, black magic, and
a hungry zombie horde . . .
The drum is small, no bigger than a plastic cup, and decorated with
sun-bleached bones. It is a token from the island of St. Ives, whose
voodoo cults are infamous around the world, and it is one of the most
dangerous objects Johnny Dixon has ever held. When he raps the little
drum, the wind howls, and an explosion rocks the house. There are more
surprises to come. An inquisitive young man, Johnny has tangled with all
manner of supernatural beasts along with his friend Professor
Childermass, and now they will confront the living dead.
The drum summons up a whirlwind of black magic and throws one of the
professor's colleagues into a strange trance. To rescue him, Johnny and
the professor must defeat an evil sorceress, and send her zombies back
to where they belong.
From the author of the Lewis Barnavelt novels, including The House with
a Clock in Its Walls, the Johnny Dixon series is full of fun,
adventure, and supernatural chills, along with "believable and likable
characters" who are a delight to spend time with (The New York Times).