The House With a Clock in Its Walls by John Bellairs

(pb; 1973. First book in the  Lewis Barnavelt mysteries. Illustrations by Edward Gorey.)

From the back cover

“When Lewis Barnavelt, an orphan, comes to stay with his uncle Jonathan, he expects to meet an ordinary person. But he is wrong. Uncle Jonathan and his next-door neighbor, Mrs Zimmerman, are both witches! Lewis is thrilled. At first, watching magic is enough. Then Lewis experiments with magic himself, and unknowingly resurrects the terrifying former owner of the house, a woman name Serenna Izard. It seems that Serenna and her husband built a timepiece into the walls─a clock that could obliterate humankind. And only the Barnavelts can stop it!”

Review

House is a fun, fast-moving tale of magic, spookiness and familial warmth, along with a bad guys worth hissing at: great, atmospheric children’s book, this, one worth owning.

Followed by The Figure in the Shadows.

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The resulting film was released stateside on September 21, 2018. Eli Roth directed it (he also played Comrade Ivan). Eric Kripke wrote the screenplay.

Owen Viccaro played Lewis Barnavelt. Jack Black played Jonathan Barnavelt. Cate Blanchett played Florence Zimmerman.

Kyle MacLachlan played Isaac Izard. Renée Elise Goldsberry played Selena Izard. Colleen Camp played Mrs. Hanchett.