John Hart

The only writer in history to win consecutive Edgar Awards for Best Novel, New York Times bestselling author John Hart returns to the world of his most beloved novel, The Last Child Building on the world first seen in The Last Child ("A magnificent creation" -- The Washington Post ), John Hart delivers a stunning vision of a secret world, rarely seen. It's been ten years since the events that changed Johnny Merrimon's life and rocked his hometown...

Jack and Betty are saved from the fiery pit by Umala (Russ Vincent), a native who now realizes that his enemies are the white men working for Grood. The latter orders his henchmen to shoot Jack and his friends on sight. Blair and his fellow henchmen combined with Princess Alura natives maneuver the adventurers toward a dangerous rope-bridge spanning a chasm. Anxious to reach Umala's village and safety, Jack and his friends start across the rickety...

Heading an aviation company that develops atom-powered motors, Jim Fairfield (Pierre Watkin) learns from his chief scientists, Vic Hardy (Hugh Prosser), that cosmic radiations are being employed for experiments at a point outside Aherica. This information is told to Jim's nephew Billy Fairfield (Joe Brown Jr.) his niece Betty Fairfield (Rosemary LaPlanche), and to their best friend Jack Armstrong (John Hart). They decide to investigate further before...

Jack and Uncle Jim who have been trailing the truck are set upon by Grood's henchmen. The timely arrival of Umala and friendly natives saves the situation' Billy is rescued. Grood now plans to eliminate Umala and his followers for their aid to Jack and the Fairfields. He attempts to arouse the natives through the voice of Xalta (his own method for controlling the island.) When Princess Alura doubts the authenticity of Xalta's, the natives are angered....

Betty reaches the well just in time to save Jack, Uncle Jim, and Billy. Uncle Jim then decides to confront Grood, now suspected to be the brains behind the terrible scheme, and intimates a knowledge of the secret caverns where experiments are in progress. Grood refuses to be drawn out. Bill then hides in a packing case at the trading post, hoping to be taken to the secret laboratory. Grood learns of this and radios instructions to his henchmen that...

Jack retains consciousness long enough to douse the poison gas bomb with sand, saving himself and Uncle Jim. Later, Pierce joins them, still pretending friendship, to look for Vic Hardy. They are trailed by Blair who, when questioned at length, gives them false directions to Hardy's location. Pierce radios Zorn, using a miniature transmitter, that the party will pass near a secret well. A net camouflage is thrown over the well opening. Jack, Uncle...

The figure in the path of the death ray was Pierce and he was killed, Grood's henchmen capture Jack and Uncle Jim and take them to the laboratory. But Vic Hardy is there, and he knocks out the guard. Hardy remains behind, hoping to circumvent Grood's scheme for wold domination. Jack and Uncle Jim, joined by Billy, go to Pierce's mill. Grood's henchmen are there, placing the beam gun on a truck which also carries explosives. Jack gets on the truck...

The knives fly wild when two shots ring out. Uncle Jim arrived with Billy and Umala just in time. But they are surrounded by hostile natives After a fight between Umala and Naga (Frank Mario), Princess Alura's traitorous prime minister, with Umala victorious. the white men are freed, and Princess Alura resumes her royal throne. Meanwhile, Grood learns that Jack and his friends plan an attack on the underground stronghold. The Cosmic Beam Annahilator...

Jack, unharmed by the fall, escapes his opponent, commandeers Grood's truck and rescues Uncle Jim and Billy. They cannot carry off the Beam Gun, but take the activator tube, an important part of the weapon. Pierce starts out for the underground laboratory to find a substitute for the activator. Jack and Uncle Jim also head there determined to smash Grood's diabolical scheme to dominate the world. The two parties meet and fight. A door to the laboratory...

After his twin sister Alyssa disappears, thirteen year-old Johnny Merrimon is determined to find her. When a second girl disappears from his rural North Carolina town, Johnny makes a discovery that sends shock waves through the community in this multi-layered tale of broken families and deadly secrets.