I found the second of this series at an antique shop a few months ago and finally picked it up to read on Sunday, expecting a stand-alone with some sort of continuity as is the case with most series like this. About a quarter through, some of that continuity was implied but not explained, so I went in search of the first book, this one. And for late 1940s boy adventure, it’s not bad. The ambiguity of the age of the two main characters and their independence and knowledge might have been deliberate to appeal to a broader age demographic, but there were more than a few incongruities with the ages that the authors (husband and wife team writing as Bruce Campbell) were trying to portray. The flow was pretty well crafted until the end and the story for the most part seemed realistic until the end. the authors did waver a bit towards the end with a few naive points for the primary character that seemed, well, out of character for what they had developed. The wrap up was a little too quick and a little too pat, and wasn’t as baffling as the description but the book (and ending) fit the genre and is similar to others I’ve read from the period written. Still, a light fun read which gave me the missing parts to continue with The Riddle of the Stone Element.

[I rarely summarize plots of fiction in my reviews mostly out of respect for the author but also for the reader because I don’t like to spoil the read for others, even with a “spoiler alert” warning.] ( )

Better than the usual run of older YA mysteries. I found it still readable as an adult much later. ( )