The Gates

Samuel Johnson, a boy eager to prove he can act on his own, sets out with his dachshund Boswell to go trick-or-treating three days early. Their route brings them past 666 Crowley Road, where odd things are happening. The Abernathy family is dabbling in the occult with no real malice, but their experiments accidentally summon Satan. The summoning tears open a rift in reality, revealing a pair of huge gates that lead to Hell, and frightening creatures begin pressing to get through. Samuel must figure out whether a single small boy can stop them.

The story blends the clash of good and evil with ideas from physics and fantasy. Samuel is a peculiar, endearing kid, and he is joined by an unusual group of allies whose courage and support help him face a demonic threat. The book aims to capture the wonder and fear of childhood and to show how science, belief and affection might work together.

John Connolly is best known for his adult crime novels featuring the private investigator Charlie Parker. This is the first book in his Samuel Johnson series for younger readers.