Book 56, 2025

The Mystery of the Fiery Eye by Robert Arthur

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


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With one day left in the month, I cheated a bit and chose to read a YA book, which I knew I could knock back in short order. One more book for the month, huzzah! I read The Mystery of the Fiery Eye by Robert Arthur, which is the 7th in the “Three Investigators” series of classic, young adult mysteries. The main characters are boys Jupiter Jones, Bob Andrews, and Pete Crenshaw.

There’s been a dearth of mysteries for the Three Investigators to solve, until a former detective turned mystery writer calls them to help the son of a friend of his. The son, Gus, has been left an inheritance by his reclusive great-uncle, but the only clue is a cryptic letter sent to him. The boys eagerly take on the case, which they learn involves an infamous gem and the gang of thugs who are intent on claiming it first. The race is on for the boys to solve the clues hidden in the letter and secure the Fiery Eye before Gus’ inheritance is lost forever.

This was a quick read, not only because it was novella length, but also because the plot zipped along. There were red herrings, mysterious characters, and a dash of danger. It was fun, in a nostalgic way, to see the boys pedaling their bikes all over, making (and waiting for) telephone calls, and doing research at the library.

Favorite line: “I am fighting an enraged chair, and I think I’m winning.”

Fun story, four stars