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Summary: One summer day Mrs. Zimmermann, Rose Rita, Lewis and Lewis's Uncle Jonathan are having lunch together. After lunch, Uncle Jonathan suddenly disappears. Lewis and Rose Rita find him in the cellar, knocked out by an unknown cause. When Uncle Jonathan recovers, he says he heard Lewis unscrewing the cellar light bulb just before he was knocked out. The four of them notice some footprints and follow them to the coal bin, where there is a hidden passage, but find no trace of any person or creature.
The group soon set off to the Northern Peninsula where they are to house-sit at a mansion. They meet up with Rose Rita's grandfather in a store. There they see a strange little man whose groceries fall out of his bags. His oddness arouses their suspicions. Everyone enjoys themselves looking after the mansion until Lewis receives a letter with strange pictures and Latin inscriptions. When he drops the letter, Lewis sees some ancient writings on it, known as runes. The paper with the runes writhes and squirms as if it has a life of its own. Mrs. Zimmermann translates the runes. They say "You Are Granted 48." She is puzzled and she, Rose Rita, and Lewis decide to try to figure out the meaning of these words later.
On the last day of their trip, Mrs. Zimmermann, Rose Rita, Lewis, Uncle Jonathan and Rose Rita's grandfather go to an island for a picnic lunch. From there, they see another strange, flickering island. They go over to the other island. There they find a mysterious tower and 12 assorted bundles and statues. The creepiness of the island scares everyone, and they depart. As they are leaving, Lewis sees a little black shadow creature reaching out a hand.
After returning home, Lewis sees a woman who asks Lewis if he thinks she is pretty. Then she rips open her veil, revealing a ghastly face with lots of sharp teeth. Pursued by the creature, Lewis runs home and goes back in time to the study of Isaac Izard, from "The House With A Clock In Its Walls." Lewis faints and fortunately wakes up in the present.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Zimmermann learns that the Izards have had a child named Ishmael, and are part of a strange cult. Mrs. Zimmermann's colleague believes that Ishmael is receiving black magic through this cult. Uncle Jonathan and Mrs. Zimmermann decide to return to the flickering island after Rose Rita figures out the island is really in another dimension.
Rose Rita secretly returns north and discovers that the island is called Gnomon Island. She learns that a man named Clusko is taking groceries to the island. Soon after, a girl named Marta tells Rose Rita that strange clouds have been appearing in the sky. Lewis and Mrs. Zimmermann also return to the Northern Peninsula and meet up with Rose Rita and Uncle Jonathan. Uncle Jonathan tells everyone that a man named Ladislav Clusko has attempted to make a bid on the house of Isaac Izard three weeks after Uncle Jonathan had bought it.
That night Lewis sees the hideous woman again in the door of his bedroom. Then Mrs. Zimmermann sees Clusko in town and traps him. He gives her some valuable information. Later he is mutilated and killed by Ishmael Izard. On the thirteenth, Lewis follows Mrs. Zimmermann when she goes to Gnomon Island. Ishmael Izard takes control over Mrs. Zimmermann, but Lewis, secretly watching, remains undetected. The next morning Jonathan and Rose Rita also go to the island. Lewis and Uncle Jonathan are also discovered, but Rose Rita manages to evade Ishmael Izard.
Lewis has brought along a book of Mrs. Zimmermann's spells. Concealed inside is the letter that Lewis received earlier. Izard takes the book believing he can undo Mrs. Zimmermann's spells, but the letter inside kills him. Rose Rita and Lewis rescue Mrs. Zimmermann and Uncle Jonathan. They must still destroy the clock that would bring the end of the world. The tower is the gnomon for a sun clock. The 12 strange bushels each stand for one hour on the clock. Mrs. Zimmermann quickly destroys the clock. Lewis Barnavelt and the rest of the cast save the world again.
Amazon.com: * * * *1/2
Behind the Books: A Closer Look at John Bellairs: "Devious, great sequel to the House With A Clock In Its Walls." * * * 1/2
