The Devil's Door-bell   by Anthony Horowitz Magnet, 1987, 160 pages, ISBN 0416457002

How easy was it to get stuck into this book?
Reasonably easily. It begins with Martin's foster mother murdering a policeman, which draws you in immediately.

Who are the main characters?
Martin Hopkins, an orphan, his sinister new foster mother, Elvira Crow, and Richard Cole, a journalist who befriends Martin and helps him. Later on in the book otheir characters i.e. Sir Matthew Marsh step in to play their part.

What's the storyline?
When Martin's parents are killed, Martin is sent by his relatives to live with a foster mother, one Elvira Crow, in Yorkshire, Lesser Malling. The inhabitants of Lesser Malling seem to be expecting something - something to do with Martin. They call him Elvira's boy. And when the only person that helps Martin is viciously murdered, Martin is left to fend for himself. Soon Martin duiscovers that he has astonishing powers, for he is one of The Five. And he must keep the Old Ones from returning, or the worlds population will be forced into slavery by the ancient, almost mystical Old Ones.

How's it written?
It was written with action, adventure, horror, fantasy, a touch of unexpected but not unwelcome humour... I could go on! Basically it has got a bit of everything. It may be short, but it's a fantastic book, highly detailed in every way. So here comes the big question... WHY DID IT EVER GO OUT OF PRINT? The Devil's Door-bell is arguably Horowitz's best written and most exciting book.

Other books by the same author that Eliot Scott-Faulkner knows about?
The Night of The Scorpion, The Silver citadel (mouth-wateringly good), Granny, Groosham Grange, Return to Groosham Grange, The switch, The devil and his boy, Stormbreaker, Point blanc, Skeleton key, Eagle strike, The Falcon's Malteser, South by South East, Public enemy no.2, The french confection, The blurred man, I know what you did last Wednesday, Myths and Legends.

The overall verdict is
A cool-read

Print Review

Unable to post comments at this time