Book Reviews and More: Night of the Living Ted - Barry Hutchison

Thursday, 2 February 2023

Night of the Living Ted - Barry Hutchison - Living Ted Book 1

Night of the Living Ted

Living Ted Book 1

Barry J. Hutchison

aka Barry Hutchinson

aka J.D. Kirk

UK Edition:

Stripes Publishing

ISBN 9781847156730

eIBSN 9781847157607

ASIN B01M3NU8JC

North America Edition:

Delacorte Press

An imprint of

Penguin Random House

ISBN 9780593174289

eIBSN 9780593174296

ASIN B07ZC6HYCG

Several months before reading this I encountered the works of J.D. Kirk I also discovered that Kirk publishes children’s books as Barry Hutchison, and other adult fiction as Barry J. Hutchison. I have read 20 stories published under the Kirk Name and I am now branching out to the ones under the Hutchinson names, this is the 7 under that name. He is coming up on 175 books across the three pen names. If I had known that or I might not have picked up this first one. But I am very thankful I did. Friends call me a ‘completionist’ in that when I find an author I like, I try to read everything they have published. I have enjoyed all I have read from his pen and this one was no different.

The description of this story is:

“This Halloween season discover a new action-comedy series about two kids battling an army of evil teddy bears! What a nightmare! Can they save the day before bedtime?

After Lisa-Marie and her big brother, Vernon, visit a Create-A-Ted store, the unexpected happens.

Their teddy bears come to life!

But it turns out they aren't the only ones. All kinds of teddy bears--zombies, ghosts, aliens and more--are suddenly alive and creating mayhem . . . and soon there is an army of evil teddy bears on the loose!

Can Lisa-Marie and her big brother Vernon save themselves--and the world?

The Living Ted series appeals to readers of all ages with quick chapters, laugh-out-loud action scenes, and lively illustrations throughout.”

This story is an early chapter book. Or middle grade reader. It has 19 chapters and numerous illustrations by Lee Cosgrove. This illustrations are not scary, but I could absolutely see the story scaring some children. My son would love this story. My youngest daughter would not be happy if I let her read it, and might not sleep well for a while. However that being said, kids that like being scared and can handle the fright factor will love this story and I assume series. It is less dark than some of the goosebumps stories and is even less dark than what I have read from Hutchison’s Invisible Friends series.

The story is very humorous in places, and though I did not laugh out loud there were more than a few chuckles along the way. Every time the word Bearvis came up you picture him there on stage in Vegas. He constant way Veron refers to Lisa Marie as his step sister, and she never makes the ‘step’ distinction. The neighbourhood bully getting his own. How many times does Vernon faint or nearly faint. How many ways can a flick of a wand go badly. And Can Vernon and his sister Lisa Marie save the town from the Night of the Living Dead? To find out you will need to read this darkish tale!

This book marks the 29th offering from Hutchison I have read in the last 10 months, under the three names he publishes under. They have all been entertaining reads. Many an easy 5/5 stars, this a very solid 4. This story was a very entertaining read, but with the ending it will leave you desperate for the next instalment, and it appears to just be a trilogy so three and done. A good read from the pen of Barry Hutchison, aka Barry J. Hutchinson aka J.D. Kirk.

Books by J.D. Kirk:

The Bone House

…

DCI Logan Series:

The Last Bloody Straw

A Whisper of Sorrows

The Big Man Upstairs

A Death Most Monumental