chez_jae: (Books)
The Mystery of the Fiery Eye (Alfred Hitchcock and The Three Investigators, #7)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
chez_jae: (Archer book)
Trixie Belden and the Mystery of the Castaway Children (Trixie Belden, #21)Trixie Belden and the Mystery of the Castaway Children by Kathryn Kenny

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


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In the wee hours of the morning, I finished the book Trixie Belden and the Castaway Children by Kathryn Kenny. It's the 21st Trixie Belden mystery.

A summer rain storm brings more than just cooler weather to the Belden household when they discover a baby in the dog's house! The Beldens leap into action to care for the malnourished infant, calling in reinforcements from the neighbors who provide clothing, formula, and bottles. The police are content to allow the Beldens to continue taking care of the baby while they begin searching for any reported missing children. When they discover that both a young boy and a baby went missing from a family, they learn the baby belongs to the Dodges, but no one knows what has become of the older son...until a ransom note appears in the mail. Trixie soon dives into the mystery, finding clues the indicate the older boy is still in the area and traveling on his pony. No one seems to know if kidnappers actually have Davy or not, but as their demands escalate, everyone in the Belden household may be in danger.

The plot in this one got convoluted, but it did keep me engaged. Familiar characters are portrayed well, and even the new/transient characters came across as fully realized.

Favorite line: "Shouldn't he have a name?" // "If we didn't already have a Bobby, we could name him Bob White," Honey said. // "We don't have a Clancy," Mart said impishly. // "Nobody names a three-month old baby Clancy!" Di exclaimed. // "I should hope not," Mart told her. "Most of the Clancys I know were named months earlier than that."

Cute story, four stars.
chez_jae: (Archer book)
The Mystery Of Hollow Inn (Samantha Wolf Mysteries, #1)The Mystery Of Hollow Inn by Tara Ellis

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


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I managed to knock back an entire ebook last night. It was The Mystery of Hollow Inn by Tara Ellis. It's the first in the "Samantha Wolf" series of young adult mysteries. Think modern day Nancy Drew or Trixie Belden.

Sam and her friend Ally are excited to spend a couple weeks in Montana with Sam's aunt and uncle. Beth and Bill purchased an old mansion and have turned it into an inn. However, problems are dogging their dreams. There have been acts of vandalism and reports of ghost sightings. Sam thinks the legend of lost treasure has something to do with it, and she and Ally set out to prove it. The girls use an old poem, found hidden in the journal of the original owner, for clues as to where the treasure may be hidden. Unknown to them, someone else is watching their every move and may beat them to the prize.

Since this was a young adult novel I wasn't expecting anything complicated. However, the narrative lacked the more polished plotting of the olden girl sleuth books I've read. Nevertheless, it was a fun read. Characters would have benefitted from more fleshing out, and I would have liked to see the girls just out having fun instead of being consumed with their mysterious treasure hunt.

Favorite line: "Here comes the moon again." Lame, but nothing really jumped out at me.

I have other books in this series, which I'll read eventually. For now, this one earns an average score.
chez_jae: (Archer book)
The Mystery of the Shrinking House (Alfred Hitchcock and The Three Investigators, #18)The Mystery of the Shrinking House by William Arden

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Now that Shark Week is over, I've resumed reading. On Sunday, I read The Mystery of the Shrinking House, by William Arden, cover to cover. It's the 18th part of "The Three Investigators" vintage young adult mystery series. The main characters are friends (and investigators!) Jupiter Jones, Pete Crenshaw, and Bob Andrews.

Jupiter accompanies his Uncle Titus on a buying trip for the salvage yard that Titus owns. There, Jupe is convinced he saw someone in black climbing up the side of the house. Everyone assures him he must have merely seen the play of light and shadow, but when several people show a keen interest in the several paintings that Titus buys, Jupiter senses a mystery and gets his friends involved. The paintings were all the same, except that the house in each of them seemed to become smaller and smaller. Convinced the series of paintings hold the key to something far more valuable, The Three Investigators turn their attention to solving the mystery of the shrinking house.

The books in this series are difficult to find, so reading this one was a delight. My enjoyment was tempered somewhat by the rather serious scrapes the boys got into, however, including being abducted and tied up, and getting locked into rooms or buildings at various times. At what point do you call the police?! Nevertheless, it was a fun read.

Favorite line: "Well, here goes. Geronimo, fellows!"

I wish I could give this 3 1/2 stars, but I'll be magnanimous and round it up to four.
chez_jae: (Archer book)
Trixie Belden and the Mystery Off Old Telegraph Road (Trixie Belden, #20)Trixie Belden and the Mystery Off Old Telegraph Road by Kathryn Kenny

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I managed to knock back The Mystery Off Old Telegraph Road yesterday. It's the 20th installment in the "Trixie Belden" series of young adult mysteries, starring intrepid teenage sleuth, Trixie.

When the high school holds an art fair to raise money for the art department, Trixie is dismayed to see how few entries there are. She learns that the art department is vastly underfunded. In an effort to help, Trixie enlists the Bob-Whites to hold a bikeathon to raise money. Things are going well, until menacing phone calls threaten to derail the bikeathon. Trixie can't help but wonder if it's connected to her friend Honey's dastardly cousin, Ben, or to the charred piece of a forged Deutsche mark she finds near the abandoned house on Old Telegraph Road. Although her friends and family warn her to leave well enough alone, Trixie can't help but stick her nose into things, endangering not only the bikeathon, but herself as well.

The story was enjoyable enough. Not my favorite Trixie Belden book, nor my least favorite. The tension introduced between Trixie and Honey was new. Usually these books include plenty of Trixie and her friends just being kids, but this one focused mainly on the mystery and Trixie's investigation.

Favorite line: "We don't dare fight anymore. It's too dangerous!"

'Holding breath' line: It was only then that she realized she'd been holding her breath.

Fun enough story, but just average for a Trixie Belden book; thus, it gets an average score of three.
chez_jae: (Archer book)
Trixie Belden and the Secret of the Unseen Treasure (Trixie Belden, #19)Trixie Belden and the Secret of the Unseen Treasure by Kathryn Kenny

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I began reading The Secret of the Unseen Treasure late last night, and I finished it early this evening. It's the 19th installment in the "Trixie Belden" mystery series, written by Kathryn Kenny.

Trixie and her fellow Bob-Whites of the Glen find themselves embroiled in another mystery when they spot someone trying to set fire to nice Mrs Elliott's shed. They race in on horseback and save the day, but now Trixie can't quit thinking about why someone would want to ruin Mrs Elliott's flower selling business. As the BWGs delve deeper, they uncover a ruse involving stolen Social Security checks, other incidents of sabotage, and a shady marijuana growing business. Trixie can't believe that Mrs Elliott or her stepson, Max, are involved, and she's determined to get to the bottom of things.

This was one of the more fun and perplexing Trixie mysteries. I thoroughly enjoyed it, which is why I managed to knock it back in a short time.

Favorite line: "Why couldn't my sister be interested in something safe and sensible...like hockey or professional wrestling?"

Very good, a perfect read for young and old alike. Four stars.
chez_jae: (Books)
Halloween Magic & Mayhem (Magic & Mayhem, #1)Halloween Magic & Mayhem by Stella Wilkinson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I began an ebook novella last night and finished it this morning. It was Halloween Magic & Mayhem by Stella Wilkinson, and it's the first in the "Magical Misadventures of Emily Rand" series.

It's an exciting time for Emily. Halloween is nigh, she's on the verge of turning 16, and she's invited to a party that will also be attended by her crush, Sean. On the eve of Halloween, Emily's Aunt Iris tells her she is a witch and will come into her power once she turns 16. Emily is skeptical at first, but Iris bequeaths her a wand and a Grimoire that belonged to Emily's mother.

Fascinated, Emily takes the items home and begins reading the grimoire. At midnight, a ghost appears in her room. She learns that Peter has always been there, but only now can she see him. By the time the Halloween is over, Emily will have inadvertently raised zombies, met Iris' coven, and danced naked with them under the full moon in an attempt to undo her out of control spell. All Emily wanted was to go to the party in hopes of kissing Sean.

As this was intended for young adults, there wasn't much substance to it, but it was a light, entertaining read. Emily is relatable as a teenage protagonist, and her familiar, a crow named Bob, was a fun side-kick.

Favorite line: I rolled my eyes. "Yeah , right, and monkeys might fly out of my butt."

Giving it 4 stars.
chez_jae: (Books)
Trixie Belden and the Mystery of the Phantom Grasshopper (Trixie Belden, #18)Trixie Belden and the Mystery of the Phantom Grasshopper by Kathryn Kenny

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Embracing Auld Lang Syne, my first read of the year was The Mystery of the Phantom Grasshopper, which is the 18th book in the "Trixie Belden" series of mysteries for young adults. This one was written by Kathyn Kenny.

Trixie and the rest of the Bob-Whites are planning a fundraiser to bring in the money needed to re-copper the town's old grasshopper weather vane atop Town Hall. Locals refer to the weather vane as Hoppy, and it's said that Hoppy will bring good luck if you greet him on your way by Town Hall. However, it seems Hoppy's luck has run out when he turns up missing after a storm. When a search doesn't locate the grasshopper nearby, it's presumed someone stole it. After all, Hoppy is an antique and rumored to have been created by a renowned coppersmith. Trixie is convinced that the stranger she's seen around town had something to do with Hoppy's disappearance and that one of her favorite teacher's aides, Miss Lawler, may be in cahoots.

This story wasn't as smooth-flowing as other Trixie Belden mysteries have been. It didn't help that there was no blurb on the back cover to summarize what the story was about. Instead, the back cover featured a teaser scene, like one expects to read inside the front cover. It was still interesting to see how Trixie got involved and put her mind into puzzling out what happened to Hoppy.

Favorite line: "It was a awful big huge a-nor-mous giant bug!"
Lame, but nothing really jumped out at me...hopped out at me? Hee!

A lite, entertaining read, if not all that great. Average score.
chez_jae: (Books)
Nightcat (Kitty Castle, #1)Nightcat by Celesta Thiessen

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Last night I read the ebook novella Nightcat, the first installment in the "Kitty Castle" series by authors Celesta and Keziah Thiessen. I hadn't realized it was meant for a...shall we say 'younger audience' until I began reading it. I waffled over whether to count it or not, but it was chaptered, so I'm including it.

In this story, the princes and princesses of the realm (what realm, we don't know) are left in the care of their tutor while their parents, the king and queen, go forth in an effort to stop dragons from destroying the kingdom. When following their night cat (named, appropriately enough, Nightcat) one evening, the children discover the secret of night cats and dragons. Will it enable them to help save their kingdom?

So, yeah. The story was simplistic and didn't feature much in the way of characterizations or plot. I mean, it was cute, but not really what I had in mind when I downloaded it.

Favorite line: "I remember that she had lots of cats!"

I'll give it a generous score of three.
chez_jae: (Books)
The Mystery of the Uninvited Guest (Trixie Belden #17)The Mystery of the Uninvited Guest by Kathryn Kenny

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Last night, I finished reading The Mystery of the Uninvited Guest by Kathryn Kenny. It's the 17th installment in the "Trixie Belden" series that I enjoyed in my youth. :D

Trixie and her family and friends are busy preparing for the upcoming wedding of Jim's cousin, Juliana, to her fiance, Hans. It's during this time that Trixie's cousin, Hallie, comes to stay for a few weeks. Trixie and Hallie have never quite gotten along, and Trixie resents her pretty cousin's presence. There are more pressing concerns, however, when the home of Trixie's friend, Diana, is robbed, along with several other homes in the area. At the same time, Trixie's little brother, Bobby, is acting strangely. He claims to have seen a wheelchair in the woods. When food begins disappearing from the Belden home, and many locals have their bicycles, scooters, etc stolen, Trixie can't help but think everything is connected. Adding to the chaos is a strange woman who claims to be a friend of the family of either Juliana and Hans and insists on being invited to the wedding, and when Juliana's engagement ring disappears, it's up to Trixie and the Bob-Whites, along with some help from Hallie, to save the day.

There was almost too much going on in this book, and it wasn't easy keeping up with it. I put things together before Trixie did, but it was fun to watch her solve the mystery.

Favorite line: "Sometimes my ears have more sense than my eyes."

Not my favorite of the series, but a good, nostalgic read. Four stars.
chez_jae: (Books)
The book I finished reading last night was quite a departure for me. It was Emma Lou - Her Book by Mary M Mears. The book was published in 1896, and it read like a diary written by teenage Emma Lou Hansen. This is not something I would ordinarily read, but I had planned to meet a friend for dinner after work, but I had some time to kill first. I had good intentions of taking my work book with me to read, but I forgot it. So, I went to a local resale shop to browse, and I happened upon an old book in the children's books section. I think I was much more pleased to buy a book from 1896 for $2.00 than anything. Ha ha! However, I began reading it that evening while waiting for my friend, and then I kept it in my desk to read if I ended up staying at the office for lunch. I only had one chapter left, which is why I brought it home last night to finish.

As mentioned, the book read like a diary, written by our intrepid heroine. Emma Lou is a fifteen year-old girl, from a family of modest means. She's smart as a whip, though, and when a local school district asks her to fill in teaching its students, Emma Lou jumps at the chance. She is soon discouraged by the sad state of the school house, and when a good storm destroys the building, Emma Lou is relieved to be rid of the job. From there, the narrative rambles along, telling bits of her life, including her travels to Lanark to visit an aunt, and a competition she deliberately lost so that another girl could win, to her next job of copying sermons for a local pastor.

Emma Lou is too serious by far, but she's an earnest young woman, and she has a keen sense of right and wrong. Initially, I thought to read the book as a lark, but I actually found it interesting. It was fun to read about traditions and chores and fashions, as well as Emma Lou's first communication via telegram. In short, it was quaint, but quite delightful.

Favorite line: "How appropriate that they should be called 'old maids', for have not the natural hopes of both been blighted?"
"Oh no," I returned, "Most old maids are old maids because they refused to have their hopes blighted."


:D

Surprisingly good read, four stars:

****
chez_jae: (Books)
I had the day off of work, and I used the down time to finish reading another Trixie Belden book. It was The Mystery of the Blinking Eye, by Kathryn Kenny, and it's the 12th book in the series.

This one was much more exciting than the last one I read. In the story, Trixie and her fellow Bob-Whites are in New York City to meet up with some friends from Iowa. At the airport, Trixie helps an elderly woman get to the proper gate to catch a plane, and the woman gives Trixie a small, straw purse that contains a note. The woman is a fortune teller, and the note warns Trixie of danger.

Later, Trixie discovers an odd little idol in an antique shop and buys it. Afterward, strange things begin happening, including several attempts by thieves to steal the idol from Trixie. She is astonished to realize that the events are unfolding in accordance to the fortune given her by the woman.

The story was fast-paced and exciting, and it was even dangerous at various points. Very good!

Four stars:

★★★★
chez_jae: (Books)
I needed some lighter fare after so many murder mysteries and urban fantasies, so I broke out another Trixie Belden book and read it. This was #10 in the series, The Marshland Mystery, by Kathryn Kenny.

The story wasn't so much a mystery to solve, however. Instead, Trixie's friend Honey had guests staying at her family home, including a precocious, seven year-old violin prodigy named Gaye. I spent most of the book wanting to give the little brat a swat. At one point, she ran away, but Trixie was able to put some clues together and find where the girl was hiding. During the hunt for her, Trixie stumbles on an old cottage in the marsh, where she meets a sweet little old lady whose home is in danger of being torn down to make way for a new, paved road. Trixie and her friends jump in to help by offering to assist the woman with selling some of her household items. Instead, they discover that an old brass box that had been in the woman's family for years was actually more valuable than thought.

These are cute, lighthearted stories that remind me of my own childhood. I typically give them four stars, but this one gets only three.

★★★
chez_jae: (Books)
On Thursday, I finished reading Trixie Belden and the Happy Valley Mystery by Kathryn Kenny. It's the ninth installment of the vintage "Trixie Belden" mysteries that I grew up reading.

In this story, Trixie and the rest of the Bob-Whites travel to Iowa to visit her uncle's farm. Uncle Andrew has been having trouble with someone stealing his sheep, and Trixie vows to solve the mystery for him. She and her brothers and friends meet some of the local teens and make new friends. They all help out on the farm, and in the meantime, Trixie searches for clues and digs up information. When she makes a couple of wrong assumptions, Trixie is teased for it, but that only makes her more determined to succeed.

In addition to the plot, the author introduces a budding romance between Trixie and Jim.

All in all, a fun, light read.

★★★★
chez_jae: (Books)
Book #15 was a wee cheat, in that I read Trixie Belden #6 - Mystery in Arizona. I enjoyed it, but the mystery wasn't all that mysterious or dramatic. Still, there was always a lot going on, and it kept my attention.

Book #16 was Great Restorations, by fandom's own lovely [profile] libby_drew. The characters were to swoon for! *swoons* There was drama and UST and wonderful secondary characters and...why aren't you reading this book?! I promise, you won't be disappointed. Go, buy, read! *shoos you off*
chez_jae: (Books)
I am a terrible cheat, and I don't care. *sticks out tongue*

When I was a child, probably a tween, I read a book that I loved so much I've never forgotten it. Took me awhile, but it finally occurred to me to search for it on Amazon. I couldn't quite recall the name--I thought it was "The Galloping Ghost Rock", and that didn't come up. I tried "Ghost Rock" instead, and JACKPOT!

My much beloved book was "The Ghost Rock Mystery" by Mary C Jane. I bought a used copy, and I spent about an hour reading it tonight. Yes, it's a children's book, but it's chaptered so it's not like I read "Green Eggs and Ham" and counted it. There was much of the story I had forgotten, and it was almost like reading it for the first time again. I did get a bit of a "wtf" chuckle out of some of it, however. The book was written in 1956, and some of the notions were outdated to the point of hilarity, especially the "poor Aunt Annabelle needs a man around to help her" bit.

Nevertheless, it was as exciting as I remembered, and I truly enjoyed reading it. I know I've said this before when I've mentioned reading Trixie Belden books, but if there was a book or a series you loved as a child, I strongly recommend picking it up and reading it again. It's such a delight to rediscover the pleasures of youth.

Two down, 23 to go!

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