[The Prisoners of September is a] real reader's book. The plot is as nicely convoluted and ironically involved as one has come to expect; the characters have a touch of the eccentric excess that so delights: but the great fascination to the committed reader is that Mr. Garfield uses words so well, so prodigally, so precisely, so colourfully, powerfully, brilliantly. (p. 66)

Here are mystery and madness, violence and virtue, terror, conspiracy, coincidence, character, humour and surprise….

Mr. Garfield has been accused of self-indulgence—there seems little here. And it is asked: For whom does Mr. Garfield now write? Surely he writes for those who love fine words and a strong story. However, it will be a well-schooled adolescent that copes easily with this. (p. 67)

C.E.J. Smith, in Children's Book Review (© 1975 Five Owls Press Ltd.; all rights reserved), Summer, 1975.

[The Prisoners of September] marks a turning-point in...