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During the first night in Peregrine's mansion, they see a man in the window. On another night, Peregrine's corpse is stolen. One day in town, the professor bumps into a man, and chessmen fall from the man's coat. The professor remembers a part of the poem about chessmen and is deep in thought. Clues keep turning up, hinting that something terrible is going to happen. Then, after some particularly scary events take place, the trio decide to go on a boating trip. While on the trip, Fergie and Johnny sneak out at night and go to an island. A sinister man comes up to them and says some crazy things about killing everyone in the world. On another night, the threesome see some things left over from a powerful magic ritual involving some chessmen and and a chess board.
After another terrifying experience, Professor Childermass decides to leave his brother's mansion, thereby giving up the chance that it will be his, according to his brother's will. After returning to Duston Heights, Massachusetts, Fergie and Johnny find out that the professor is still pursuing some clues about the ritual. With the help of Charles Coote, a friend of the professor who knows a lot about magic, the professor finds out when the ritual will take place. Professor Childermass and Charles Coote then embark on a daring journey to the mansion, with the fate of the world hanging in the balance. Johnny and Fergie secretly decide to follow the professor and Coote to the mansion in Stone Arabia.
Upon arrival, Johnny and Fergie are captured by the sinister man and brought to a morgue where it is extremely cold. There they find the professor and Coote, who are unconscious and nearly frozen to death. The local witch, Crazy Annie, shows up, searching for some ingredients for a magic potion. She has a strange key, which she shows to Johnny and Fergie. The three of them go to the mansion to save the world from the sinister man. When they arrive, the man has already started the ritual that will end the world. He is using the head of the taxi driver who brought him to the mansion, which is very fresh and bloody because it has just been chopped off. Then Crazy Annie pulls out the magical key. The key casts a spell over the sinister man and his evil plot is thwarted. The world is saved, at least for the time being....
The world is not as safe as it seems.
Booklist: "Bellairs fans should welcome this one."
Amazon.com: * * * * 1/2
Behind the Books: A Closer Look at John Bellairs: "Intelligent, true supernatural events." * * * 1/2
