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Summary: Just before her cousin Oley dies, Mrs. Zimmermann receives a letter from him. In it, Oley tells her he has discovered a very powerful ring. Mrs. Zimmermann invites Rose Rita to go up to the farm with her to investigate. On the way there, they run out of gas, so they must stop at the gas station where Mrs. Zimmermann's old enemy, Gert Bigger, works. The two women are mad at each other over an old boyfriend.
When Mrs. Zimmermann and Rose Rita arrive at the farm, the place is a mess. It seems as though someone has been looking for something -- The Ring! Mrs. Zimmermann does not believe this, but Rose Rita does. That night, Rose Rita has many thoughts and visions and becomes suspicious of Gert Bigger. One night, after Rose Rita has gone to bed, she hears Mrs. Zimmermann walking around. Then she hears the door open and close. Rose Rita runs down the stairs, but Mrs. Zimmermann is not there. Rose Rita runs outside. She is livid with anger. She runs and runs until she falls to the ground.
When Rose Rita wakes up, a girl about her own age is there. The girl tells Rose Rita her name is Aggie. Rose Rita stays at Aggie's house until she gets a little better. She tells Aggie all about the ring, the letter, and Mrs. Zimmermann. Rose Rita asks Aggie what she thinks of Gert Bigger, because she suspects that Gert has taken Mrs. Zimmermann. Aggie says she thinks Gert is a witch.
The girls decide to sneak over to Gert Bigger's store and see what is going on. When they get there, they find a way in through a cellar door. Rose Rita enters the house while Aggie stays outside to be the lookout. As Rose Rita walks past a room, it appears as though someone is in it. She looks in and sees Gert Bigger. All of a sudden Rose Rita is in a dark room, and she cannot move! She sees Gert Bigger walking around the room. Gert tells Rose Rita how much she hates Mrs. Zimmermann and that she is a witch. She even tells Rose Rita that she has taken Mrs. Zimmermann and the ring! Gert says she has cast a spell that will kill Rose Rita and Mrs. Zimmermann in the morning. To find out what happens next, read the book.
Be careful what you wish for.
School Library Journal: "Adroitly blends the everyday with the supernatural."
Children's Book Review Service: "Fresh, gripping, and finely drawn."
Publishers Weekly: "A remarkably well-wrought, suspenseful finale to a grand thriller threesome."
Amazon.com: * * * * *
Behind the Books: A Closer Look at John Bellairs: * * * * *, "Chilling... arguably the best book in the series."
