A Zebra Mystery Puzzler #9 - You'll Die Tomorrow

One thing I remember liking about this series when it was first published, and I admittedly still enjoy it today, is that the authors who wrote more than one book in this series managed to use titles that immediately identified with the author and the character of the story.  For Marjorie J. Grove (a/k/a Martin Grove), each of the books with Maxine Reynolds was titled with "You'll Die..." something.  First, it was You'll Die When You Hear This ... then it was You'll Die Laughing.  Now, with Grove's third book in the series (numbered nine if the actual ongoing numbering of the series), we get another variation of this title. And since this book picks up literally right after Grove's second mystery in this series, it feels like returning to visit old friends again ...

You'll Die Tomorrow opens with Max waking up after a long flight home from London, where she was solved her last murder mystery.  In fact, there is a specific footnote referencing the last book on page 8, in case readers forgot.  Dealing with jet lag, the Hollywood gossip columnist must get up for her meeting with everybody's favorite agent, Ken Carson - a meeting that sets the ball rolling for Max's latest mystery.  While lunching with the older man, Max meets record producer Cory Collins, who is known for his wandering eye for women, and whose marriage to his second wife is rumored to be on the rocks.  Max is determined to get the story, so when Cory invites Max to his house for a party he is hosting, she jumps at the chance.  Of course, she intends to take her boyfriend, Rob Allan, with her so that Cory will know she is off-limits.

At the party, Max meets Cory's wife, Joyce (nicknamed "Joycie"), a woman who clearly enjoys the lavish lifestyle her husband provides.  But Max knows that lifestyle may be in jeopardy due to Cory's unhealthy love of gambling and the amount of money he loses during his jaunts to Las Vegas.  As coincidence would have it, Max is planning a short vacation to Aruba with Rob and - well, it turns out Cory and Joycie are also headed to Aruba at the same time!  Needless to say, Max's employer tells her to keep an eye on Cory and come back with some great columns for their magazine.  None of them realized that story would find Max involved in yet another murder mystery (although, for the reader, it is no surprise, since this is a murder mystery series!).  When Cory keels over dead at a craps table in one of the Aruba hotels, it is up to Max to figure out whodunnit.  Was it the young singer whose career Cory ruined years ago when she would not sleep with him, and who is now forced to sing in Aruba hotels just to make a living?  Was it the mysterious man with the briefcase who came out of the safe deposit room at the hotel with Cory earlier in the day, and with whom he was arguing at the time?  Was it Joycie Collins, who was worried her husband would squander away all of their money before she could divorce him?  Or was there someone else involved who Max had not yet seen?

Like Grove's previous books, the murder does not actually take place until nearly half-way through the book.  Grove has a habit in her (his) stories of spending quite a lot of time describing the meals and going into considerable detail about locations.  In fact, the hotels referenced in the book along the Palm Beach area of Aruba are actual places - the Concorde hotel (referred to as "the brand new Concorde" on page 53 because, at the time this book was published, that hotel had just opened its doors - now it has been renamed to the Riu Palace Antillas); the Sheraton hotel (which is now called the Aruba Grand, a part of the RIU Palace); the Caribbean hotel (which is now the Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino); the Americana hotel (which has also changed names a couple of times, now called the Occidental Grand Aruba); and the Holiday Inn (which appears to be the only hotel that still retains its original name!).  Thus, if anyone really wanted to explore the hotels and casinos mentioned in the book (and see the place where poor Cory died in the book), it is actually possible!  The casino where poor Cory is poisoned is the King International Casino in the Holiday Inn, which is what the casino was called back in the late '70s - it later became the Grand Holiday Casino, and now it is named the Excelsior Casino.  Thus, I have to suspect that Grove at some point prior to writing this mystery actually visited Aruba and was familiar with those beach front hotels.

While the previous Grove mysteries featured internal illustrations that were not as distinct and clear as many of the other books in this series, this particular one offers some beautiful art inside (as well as on the cover).  No signatures on any of the illustrations identify the artist, and there is, of course, no credit given on the copyright page.  However, if you have learned by now to really pay attention to the details in the internals, as well as on the cover, you will see that this one gives up some fairly easy-to-spot clues as to the killer's identity.  In fact, the mystery itself makes the killer's identity pretty obvious, although the motive is not necessarily what one suspects.  And unlike the last book, the cover scene does actually occur in the book (albeit with more characters and Max is not quire so close to the deceased).  

Another satisfying read - and looking ahead, it appears I will have a bit of a wait until Grove's next mystery, since the next one does not come along until book 18, some nine books after this one!

RATING:  8 black Las Vegas gambling chips out of 10 for giving readers a trip to Aruba for a somewhat easy mystery to solve!

Mystery in Blue - a pulp mystery by Gertrude E. Mallette

If you follow my posts, in my recent post about Terry Carvel's Theater Caravan ( ), I mentioned that the back cover of the dust jacket for that book listed some career girl books by author Gertrude E. Mallette.  When I saw that on the back of the book, I didn't think much of it, other than to look at the titles and their descriptions.  But when I did a search online and discovered that she also wrote this particular book, which I already had in my collection, I was pleasantly surprised!  I bought this book because I stumbled across it online and the title reminded me of the first Connie Blair mystery, The Clue in Blue.  So, I picked it up on a lark.  Once I learned the same author wrote a series of career girl books aimed at teen readers, I decided I should probably read this book and see what it was like! 

Set in World War II, Mystery in Blue is the story of Kerry Owen, a young career woman who has set out on a path to become a first-rate secretary.  After working at the district attorney's office for some time, she is re-assigned to a new job at the engineering firm of Gerard & Gerard, Inc. - which is owned by Napoleon Gerard and his son, Remy Gerard, both of whom are well known to Kerry.  She grew up with Remy, getting into trouble with him when they were kids.  She always knew his father to be a bit of a tyrant, which resulted in his nickname, "Old Emperor Gerard."  But it had been a number of years, and after high school, Kerry studied at the local university, while Remy went on to MIT and later served in the war.  Kerry is not surprised that Mr. Gerard does not recognize her, and she manages to impress him immediately with her skill and efficiency (although he certainly does not let her know that!).  Kerry also has to deal with Mr. Stickover, the office manager who manages to make it clear that he is more important to the office than she is!  Then there are the other men in the office - Mr. Allen and Mr. Grove.  And there's also that former secretary, Miss Bowen, who not only avails herself of Kerry's office when she is out to lunch, but she also makes it clear that Remy is HER man!

The mystery becomes apparent right away when a particular file is missing, and no one is able to find it.  Remy and Mr. Stickover (referred to as "Mr. Stick" by the men in the office, because of his tall, lean stature) seem very concerned about the missing file, and they tell Kerry to keep an eye out for it, and if it should turn up, get it to them right away.  Then stranger things begin to happen, as Kerry's stenograph pad disappears from her desk drawer, only to turn up later on the floor in the corner of the room.  Add into the mix a strangely coded note that Miss Bowen says she might have left in Kerry's office, as well as a stolen briefcase that contains some very important blueprints, and you've got yourself a war-time mystery of espionage and spies! Kerry is faced with the dilemma of sifting through all of the conversations she overhears, the odd actions she sees in the people around her, and the clues that she finds in her own stenograph book to determine who is the spy in the office and who is trying to undermine and steal the plans for the government project.

I give the author credit for appearing to use valid engineering terminology and coding for the story, as when Mr. Gerard first tests Kerry by given her what appears to be a strange equation (Joists 2x6 O P No 1 Com 16" oc), which she easily interprets as "the joists are to be of two-by-six-inch lumber, Oregon pine, number 1 common, and set sixteen inches apart on center" (p. 9).  As I know absolutely nothing about engineering, I can only assume this is a correct interpretation, as it certainly seem logical!  What I do know is that the metes and bounds legal description that Kerry later gives in the book to a telegraph operator is an actual way of describing property: "Beginning at a point north fifteen degrees, thirty minutes, ten seconds west, and from thence eighteen hundred and twenty feet et cetera" (48-49).  Having dealt in real estate law for enough years now, I easily recognize that type of description for real property.  And finally, that coded message of Miss Bowen, "Setono Circle RT 3: 60L2 R5" (122) turns out to have a very clever solution that definitely helps Kerry figure out exactly who is doing what in the office.  

There are several unexpected twists in the story regarding a couple of the characters - Kerry's (and the reader's!) impression and expectations of those characters are completely turned on their head by the end of the book.  This is not a bad thing though, as the reader realizes they were misleads intended to make Kerry (and the reader) believe one thing, while something else entirely was going on.  And Kerry's intuition and quick-thinking also serve to ferret out someone who is impersonating a federal officer, which serves to bring the mystery to a resolution for everyone involved.

The book was originally copyrighted in 1945, but the edition I have is the 1958 Berkley Edition.  I love the cover art for this edition, as it is definitely reminiscent of the Connie Blair book with the similar name.  The author, Gertrude E. Mallette.  I had a little difficulty learning about Ms. Mallette, as I found numerous sites that listed her books, but I could not find any biography of the author.  I did, however, come across a website that provided some history about Moraga, California that gave some interesting insight into Ms. Mallette's life (Moraga History).  It reveals that Gertrude E. Mallette "was an author of children's books and a writer for the Oakland Tribune newspaper.  She and her friend, Alberta Hortense, had worked together to plan a home for orphaned boys using land that Alberta inherited from her father.  Gertrude is credited with being responsible for the design of the original Hacienda de las Flores, and she and Alberta are said to have built the first story of the building.  Sadly, it appears the orphanage had to close when state inspectors found no male nurse on duty for the boys, and the two women turned it into a ranch.  In 1929, after the stock market crash, they were forced to sell the property.  Certainly some fascinating details about the author's life (and it also confirms the name "Gertrude E. Mallette" is not a pseudonym, but her actual name).

This book was originally written three years prior to the release of the first Connie Blair mystery, The Clue in Blue, so I'm looking forward to reading that particular mystery to see how it compares to this one other than in name (especially since Connie herself could be considered a career girl who gets into the advertising industry).

RATING:  9 slips of pink paper out of 10 for a different type of career girl mystery with enough twists and turns to give you whiplash!

Harlequin Gothic Romance Series No. 32001 - The Satyr Ring

"She borrowed a dead girl's name ... and had to play a game whose rules she didn't know" (cover blurb)

If you had ever told me at any time of my life that I would read and enjoy a Harlequin romance novel, I would have told you that you were crazy.  I grew up watching my mom and her best friend devouring Harlequin romances, trading off books and reading them as fast as they were published.  I scoffed at the lurid covers and had absolutely no interest whatsoever in the love stories contained within each one.  Instead, growing up, I developed a love for mysteries, starting with Nancy Drew and other children's series books, then graduating into Dark Shadows on television, and as I entered my teen and adult years, cultivated my continuing love of mysteries.  The one common thread among all of those are the gothic elements - the stormy nights, the dark mansions, the deadly secrets, the hidden rooms, the untold pasts.  I was enthralled by these plots, and so my passion for the gothics of the '60s and '70s, and even into the early '80s was only a natural progression.  What I never knew until a little over a year go was that Harlequin attempted their own line of gothic novels in the early 1980s. It didn't last long, only publishing 18 books in the series; however, I had to have them - I mean, the cover art and titles along make them worth it!  After tracking them all down, I decided I could not begin reading them (and being the anal-retentive person I am, I had to start with the first book in the series...)

The Satyr Ring is written by Alison Quinn, who, as far as I could uncover, has only written one other gothic novel, which is also in this Harlequin Gothic Romance series (book 4).  I could find literally nothing about Alison Quinn online, so I have no idea if this is the author's real name or merely the pseudonym of a male or female author who did not want their own name associated with the work.  The copyright page indicates the story is © 1983 (the same year as the publication) by Alison Quinn, so perhaps it is the author's real name.  In any event, this first foray into the realm of Harlequin gothic tales is a period piece, set in the mid-1940s after the end of the second World War.  The story is told in the first-person narrative (which is not my favorite style) of the protagonist, Sarah Smith (and, yes, all I could think of was Sarah Jane Smith, probably the most famous of all Doctor Who companions - and since the story does open over in England, perhaps the author was just paying a little homage).  Despite this point of view, I did find myself drawn into the story, caring about Sarah and the events that were spiraling around her.

The book opens with a soap-opera style story - a young woman (Sarah) who is an amnesiac, works at a hospital in post-war London where she is caring for another young woman who was in a horrible automobile accident.  Strangely enough, the injured woman bears a striking resemblance to Sarah.  Before the woman dies, she begs Sarah to go to America and be with her grandfather.  When the dead woman's husband finally shows up at the hospital, Sarah sneaks out of the hospital with the woman's passport, airplane ticket, and money, and flies to Maine, where she is prepared to inform the woman's grandfather of her passing.  Upon touchdown, however, Sarah is shocked to find the woman's husband on the same plane as her, and she faints ... only to awaken in Starr Mansion, where Andre Tate informs her that she will have to assume the identity of Roma Tate (his dead wife) in order to keep Roma's dying grandfather alive.  She soon learns that Benjamin Starr has changed his will, leaving everything to Roma upon his death - much to the consternation of Roma's stepmother, who was anticipating inheriting the large estate upon the old man's passing!  Sarah unwillingly agrees to go along with it, only until Grandfather Starr gets better, and then she intends to tell him the truth.  Little does she know the web of lies and secrets she is about to get tangled up in!

A deadly bobcat named Satan that was Roma's pet cat ... a suspicious Aunt Clara who is determined to get that fortune ... a stepbrother that insists he and Roma had planned to get married before the fortune-hunting Andre entered the picture ... and a strange satyr ring that is the only link to Sarah's past - a ring that Andre seems intent on keeping away from her.  A shove down the cellar stairs and a near drowning convince Sarah that someone wants to kill her ... and when she ultimately finds her precious ring hidden in a drawer in Andre's attic studio (where he paints), Sarah reaches her breaking point, and she runs away - only to get drawn back when Grandfather Starr dies, and Sarah finally discovers that the deception she undertook to play Roma Tate was one she was made for - quite literally!  Her past catches up to her, and Sarah finally remembers who she truly is and discovers a shocking connection to Starr Mansion, Andre Tate, and the entire nightmare in which she has been living!

Aside from the first person point-of-view, I did enjoy the story.  As indicated, it definitely had the soap opera elements to it, what with the woman with amnesia, the look-alike woman, the deception of one woman playing the role of the other - all of these tropes have been used in soaps for decades.  The dark mansion overlooking the Maine cliff, with the ocean crashing on the rocks below is very reminiscent of Dark Shadows, as is the young woman who comes to the mansion, never knowing that she has a secret connection to the people who live there.  A combination of soap opera, gothic, and mystery definitely add up to a really good story.

The cover art is gorgeous, and while it hints at the whole look-alike scenario (with Sarah looking into the mirror and seeing Roma instead of herself, and only Sarah is wearing the satyr ring), there is no actual scene like this anywhere in the book.  It is, however, a nice departure from the typical woman in a flowing dress running away from a dark mansion in the background.   It is rather nice to have a different visual on the cover, and the shadows and expression on Sarah's face definitely give it a spooky feel.

A great start to this series, and here's hoping the rest of the books measure up to this one!

RATING:  9 glasses of cold milk out of 10 for a suspenseful tale of deception, secrets, lost memories, mystery, and murder - with a pet bobcat thrown in for good measure!

Terry Carvel's Theater Caravan - an Alma Benecke Sasse novel

This is yet another one of those books that I have heard about for years and years, but I never thought I would actually ever read the book, let alone own a copy.  Yet, thanks to my wonderful friend, Geoffrey S. Lapin, who gifted me with a copy of the book this past summer, I know have a beautiful copy of Alma Benecke Sasse's novel for young adults.  And for those who do not know, Alma Sasse was the ghostwriter for the 29th Nancy Drew Mystery Story, The Mystery at the Ski Jump (1952).  Thus, I was aware of her name, and I was aware that she had written this particular book; I just never thought I'd have a copy of the book, especially in dust jacket, since it has always seemed so elusive.  But now I was able to sit down and enjoy this wonderful tale of a young woman's dream of running a community theater in her hometown...

Terry Carvel's Theater Caravan (notice the alliteration in the title ... T.C., T.C.) is the story of college senior Terry Carvel.  There is no mystery to this story, unlike Sasse's Nancy Drew tale or her other book, The Mystery of the Chinese Box.  Rather, this more akin to a career girl story, as the protagonist graduates college and sets about to fulfill her dream of establishing a community theater and directing local talent in plays for her hometown.  In fact, Sasse writes a Foreword to the book that specifically states the book "...is written for all those eager, dramatically minded young people whose Caravan of Dreams is, in some way, connected with the stage."  And the story opens with Terry reading the announcement on the college bulletin board that auditions for the annual commencement play are about to be held.  Terry, who is a drama student, "had dreamed of taking part ever since her freshman days" (p. 2).  Interestingly enough, Sasse does not describe her lead character as beautiful - in fact, she makes it clear that Terry is "certainly not beautiful; her mouth a trifle too wide, with good-humored quirks at each corner.  In fact only the eyes redeemed her features from plainness.  These were a heritage from her Irish mother and a deep sea blue" (p. 4).  Most protagonists in young adult books are always beautiful, or at the very least pretty in some way; so it is refreshing to see a book where the lead character is as plain as likely many of her readers were!

Although this book was published in 1943 (with even the disclaimer at the front of the book indicating the book was manufactured under wartime conditions in conformity with all government regulations controlling the use of paper and other materials), it is clear from reading that the story takes place prior to the United States entering World War II.  There are several mentions of the possibility of the country entering war, and even at the end, one of the main characters reveals that he has registered with the government, and it is likely he will be called "if war comes" (p. 238).  Whether this is an indication that Sasse actually wrote the story prior to the country entering the War, or if she simply decided to set the tale prior to the War to avoid any complications a wartime setting might create, I suppose we will never know.  In any event, even with the thought of war looming over the characters, they never lose their zest for life.

The story itself follows Terry as she auditions for her college's commencement play (which happens to be Madame Butterfly).  Her hopes are high until she learns that the auditions will be conducted in the presence of Carl Milton Zorkoff, who is described in the book as being "the greatest stage director since Belasco" (p. 25).  While Zorkoff is a fictional character, Belasco is a direct reference to David Belasco, who was an American director and playwright who just so happened to be the first writer to adapt Madame Butterfly for the stage!  Later in the story, Terry's competition for the coveted role in the play makes references to Billie Burke, Anna Neagle, Leslie Howard, and Lionel Barrymore (p. 27), all actors who got their start in the theater before moving on to Hollywood. Thus, Sasse knew her stuff when she threw these references into the story.  Anyway, Terry is a bit disappointed that she does not land the lead, but she does get the next best part - but even better, she is asked by the director at one point to assist with directing when he has to be away for a few days!  Terry gets a taste of running the show, and before you know it, her aspirations for opening a community theater are burning brighter than ever before!

The play is a success, and along the way, Terry becomes friends with Don Mackaye, a young man who handles all of the lighting and electrical matters for the college plays.  It's pretty obvious from the moment he is introduced that he and Terry will become much more than friends, but it literally takes the entire book for that to happen!  Of course, along with Don comes his little dog, Brutus, who Don affectionately refers to as "Et tu" - and anyone who knows theater will immediately get the reference; if not, then go look it up (it will do you good to do some research!).  At one point, Terry's godfather, Dr. Jed, and Don become boarders at the Carvel house while Terry's father goes to California for the summer to regain his strength after an automobile accident (which occurred before the opening of the story).  This only serves to keep them in close contact with one another, so even after Terry's graduation and her escapades in starting that community theater, Don is a constant presence in her life.  And while we are on the subject of Don, he shares a similar physical aspect with Terry - he's "not exactly handsome," as Terry describes him, but his eyes twinkle and he has a nice, wide smile (p. 141).  Funny how both Terry's and Don's physical traits are specifically played down, while their character and personality are played up to their fullest.  What a great way for Sasse to remind her readers that it is not always about looks!

One might notice while reading this book that even though this is not a mystery series book, Sasse does follow some of the same plot devices as many of those series did back in the day.  Terry lives with her father, who is a professional (albeit on a sabbatical at the moment); her mother died when she was young; and they have a live-in housekeeper (by the name of Timmie!) who has helped raise Terry and is always looking out for her well-being.  Gee, does that sound like the set-up of a very familiar female sleuth that we all know and love?  There are no big chapter cliffhangers, though, and there is nothing to really build up suspense.  Instead, the reader follows along as Terry first takes a summer job working with neighborhood children to put on a play for their families; then moves up to having the production put on at the local movie house as part of a series of amateur nights; and ultimately to convincing the community at large that they would benefit from the theater and directing her first of many plays using local members of the community as her actors!  And, frankly, I'm surprised she moves the story at a natural pace, as it takes place not just over the summer, but into the fall, over the Christmas holidays, through the next spring, and int the next summer!  So, Terry does not see her success come overnight - it takes a lot of hard work and determination on her part.

And for her part, Sasse does utilize a number of real theatrical references throughout the book.  One of the first plays Terry directs is The Bishop Misbehaves (p. 192), which is a comedy that originally premiered in England back in 1934 before opening on Broadway in 1935.  Later, when Terry goes to visit her friend Vi in Seattle, she is overjoyed at the chance to visit The Showboat Theater, the Penthouse Theater, and the Repertory Playhouse (p. 201).  All three are actual theaters that existed at the time this book was published - The Showboat Theater opened in 1938 (demolished in 1994); The Penthouse Theater was built in 1940 (which is still in use today, albeit in a new location): and the Repertory Playhouse opened its doors in 1930 (but closed them in 1950, after which it was acquired by the University of Washington).  I love when authors integrate some of the real world into their stories, as it breathes some life into them that grounds them in reality!

The book does end on a bittersweet note - one of Terry's actors, an elderly gentleman who always wanted to try his hand on the stage, passes away and bequeaths a sum of money to Terry to help get the Stanbrook Repertory Playhouse off the ground.  While the bequest is definitely generous and just what Terry needs to get her career started, it is also sad that one of the characters that you grow to enjoy reading about dies for that to happen.  But, again, these are things that happen in real life, so it blurs that line between fiction and the real world.

The only thing I was actually disappointed about when I finished this book is that we see very little time in the story actually spent at the theater or on the stage.  We get the build up of Terry trying to get actors, find a stage, etc. - but we see very few, if any, rehearsals, and we only get brief snippets of the actual plays themselves.  I was really hoping to see the book focused on the ups and downs of trying to put on one, or maybe two plays.  Instead, we jump from the commencement play to the children's play to the first community play, to the caravan play (yes, before the book closes, a nearby town asks Terry to bring her troupe over to their area to put on one of their plays, and that is where the title of the story comes from), with more time spent on the in-between moments as Terry tries to get her act together than we do with the plays themselves.  But, I guess that is part of what makes a career girl story - it's the drama of trying to build up to and succeed in the chosen career and not actually about the career itself.

One last thing I wanted to mention before I sign off - on the back cover of the dust jacket, there is a listing of books by Gertrude E. Mallette, headlined as "Books for Girls Interested in Careers."  Some of the titles include No Vacancies, Private Props, Single Stones, Inside Out, and others.  I did quick search online to see if I could find any of these books, and I was surprised to discover she wrote a book that I already had (and did not even realize...)  If you're wondering what that is, well, you'll find out in just a few posts...

RATING:  9 big boxes of chocolates out of 10 for a story that delves into numerous sides of the community theater and the truth that it truly does take a community to put it all together!

Kristie at College a/k/a Quarry Ghost - a Milderd Benson mystery story

For many years, I have heard about Mildred Wirt Benson's novel, Quarry Ghost, which was first published back in 1959.  It is not an easy book to find (especially if you want it in good condition), and when you do find it, the prices are likely to be quite high.  I never really held out any hope of finding a copy of the book, so it sat on my "want list" for quite a few years.  Well, one of the interesting things about this book is that one year after its U.S. publication, the book was also published over in Great Britain - the only catch, it was issued under a different title!  What's even more odd is that the British title does not even give one little hint of a mystery; rather, the title under which the book was published across the pond would make one think it is simply a typical girl's college-life book!  However, when I happened across a dust-jacketed copy of the British edition for under $20, I snatched it up - and FINALLY, I was able to read Benson's last novel written for young adults...

Kristie at College is an innocuous title that gives absolutely not hint of mystery whatsoever.  In fact, the cover depicts a dark-haired girl carrying her schoolbook, while behind her other college students mingle in front of a plain brick building.  The only way one would know this was a mystery story was to read the synopsis on the inside front flap, which talks about Kristie becoming "deeply involved" in a controversy with one of the college professors and a dinosaur relic that has disappeared under his watch.  Kristie, a journalism student at Hagers College, gets the scoop from a stranger who shows up at the office of the school newspaper late one night.  He informs Kristie that he has been sent by a Canadian museum to purchase the dinosaur egg that was acquired by members of the college from an expedition in the Gobi Desert (p. 13).  Kristie takes down the information, and her story makes it to the front page of the next day's edition of the collegiate newspaper - but that's where the trouble begins!

Benson gives her readers a well-crafted mystery, where the mysterious informant disappears, the college professor who is in charge of the dinosaur egg is acting shady, and Kristie's own aspirations to be editor of the college newspaper are put at risk because of her unvetted story!  To only complicate matters, Kristie, who is on one of the school's swim teams, is invited to join a scuba-diving club who make regular trips to the local quarry to explore - but her introduction to scuba-diving and the quarry quickly escalates to a situation of extreme danger when a "ghost" seems to be haunting the place.  The ghost not only frightens some of the club members, but it also sabotages some of the students' equipment and attacks Kristie when she is under the water!  Kristie begins to realize, though, the ghost seems thoroughly focused on a portion of the quarry the students have labeled "the black hole," as it is deeper than the rest and completely dark when one swims down into it.  She soon discovers that the missing dinosaur relic, the ghost, and the black hole are all connected - and the odd, rather large man who lives in the woods outside of the quarry is a part of it all!

To any seasoned mystery reader, the solution to the conundrum is not at all hard to figure out; but it is the getting there that is all the fun.  And Benson makes it fun, because not only do we have the danger and suspense surrounding the ghost and the underwater dangers, but we get the not-so-friendly competition between Kristie and the professor's daughter, Marcia Radcliff.   After all, every good protagonist needs a nemesis to keep them on their toes!  And along the way, Kristie learns a bit about good sportsmanship, priorities, and what really matters most.  Of course, as can be expected (this is a young adult story), Kristie does end up getting the editorship, largely due to her part in finding the missing dinosaur and revealing the true criminal in the matter, and she also wins the final swimming competition, mostly due to the amount of underwater exercise she got while with the scuba club.  Thus, all's well that ends well, and as Marcia so aptly concludes the story, "With either flippers or slippers, Kristie Coleman will never be out of her depth!"

I suppose it should not be surprising that Benson would integrate her career as a journalist and her love of swimming into this tale.  As most fans are aware, Benson spent a number of years working as a journalist, which, like Kristie in the book, began in her college years working as the yearbook editor and also on The Daily Iowan, the college newspaper (Mildred Wirt Benson: College Years). In addition, while in college, Benson excelled in swimming, as well as diving, becoming a member of the "Seals Club."  According to the University of Iowa, "a photo of [Benson's] beautiful swan dive into the Iowa River is often reproduced and has become on of the Iowa Women's Archives' iconic images" (Mildred Wirt Benson: College Years).  Thus, one might wonder if perhaps Benson imprinted a part of her own life and experiences into Kristie Coleman as she was writing this book!

And apparently, Benson's daughter took after her when it came to swimming, as Benson gives a dedication of this book: "To Peggy, champion swimmer, who lost a race and launched a story."  

Personally, I prefer the Quarry Ghost title, and the cover to Quarry Ghost is much more in line with the main plot of the story.  However, I am just happy to have found a reasonably priced copy of Kristie at College, so at least I have the story to have read and enjoyed.  Maybe one day I'll come across a copy of Quarry Ghost, and I can add that to my collection - but until then, Kristie will sit upon my shelf with my other Mildred Wirt Benson mysteries!

RATING:  10 lost license plates out of 10 for a great mystery and a nice book-end for Benson's children's book writing career!

Return to Romance: the Strange Love Stories of Ogden Whitney

Prior to reading this collection, I had never heard the name Ogden Whitney before.  Apparently, Mr. Whitney was a comic book artist and writer whose work mostly appeared in the golden age of comics, although he continued to work into the 1960s.  While I did not know the name, upon researching his work, I found I have heard of one of his more popular creations - Herbie (a comic about a "short, fat, deadpan young Herbie, constantly nursing a lollipop... [who was] one of comics' most powerful beings" - Herbie, by Ogden Whitney).  While I have never read an issue, I have certainly seen some of the comics at conventions and in comic stores over the years.  Surprisingly, though, I learned he provided art for issues of T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents and No-Man for Tower Comics, as well as for The Two-Gun Kid over at Marvel Comics.  But what this collection showcases is some of Whitney's work in the romance genre - particularly for My Romantic Adventures published by Best Syndicated Features in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

Return to Romance (The Strange Love Stories of ... Ogden Whitney) collects nine stories published between 1959 and 1964 in various issues of My Romantic Adventures (issues 97, 110, 112, 121, 127, 130, 131, 132, and 138, although not presented in that order in this collection).  While the title of the book identifies these romantic tales as "strange love stories," the back cover blurb describes the stories as "an unsettling vision of midcentury American romance as a devastating power struggle, a form of intimate psychological warfare dressed up in pearls and flannel suits ... his men and women scheme and clash dominate and escape.  It is darkly hilarious, truly terrifying - and yes, occasionally even a bit romantic."  The introduction by Liana Finck and the afteward by Dan Nadel (one of the editors of this collection) both attempt to explain how these stories are twisted versions of the standard romance comics on the stands at the time, and that they stand out as some of the weirdest romance comics ever.  Yet, after reading all nine stories, I have to say - I did not find the stories to be twisted or weird at all - in fact, I found the stories to probably be more grounded in reality than most of the romance comic stories I have ever read!

Take, for example, the first story in this collection - "Return to Romance" (which is obviously the story for which this collection is named).  It is the story of Stan and Astrid Franklin.  Stan is a photographer and Astrid is his formerly beautiful wife.  But married life has caused a certain amount of settling, and Astrid has settled into the role of housewife without thinking about her appearance.  She has let herself go to the point where Stan divorces her for a younger, more attractive woman.  But the story does not end there!  Whitney gives Astrid the insight to realize what has happened, so she sets about restoring her vitality and beauty, and by the end of the story, Stan once again only has eyes for his former wife!   In today's society, this story may seem to place emphasis on the wrong things (i.e., a woman must be beautiful in order to keep a man!), but I think it goes much deeper than that.  I think Whitney's tale gives the reader a much more important moral - just because you are married no longer means you have to work at the relationship - you should still take care and keep that romance and love alive, and obviously that includes the outer appearance (after all - how many women complain about their husbands who, once they got married, let themselves go and become fat and bald - let's face it, it goes both ways!).  Thus, I would not call this story strange, but rather, an object lesson.

And so it goes with the remainder of the stories ... "The Red-Haired Boy and the Pug-Nosed Girl" is a tale of misunderstandings and competition that any number of people will be able to identify with ... "The Brainless Type" reminds readers that one must not judge someone based on preconceived notions ... "I Want a Real Man" actually gives readers a role-reversal of sorts, with the man being the object of the story, having to come to terms with what kind of person he really wants to be ... "Beat Romance" is another story about preconceived ideas (this time about how a doctor views a younger generation) ... "It's Never Too Late to Love" is a soap opera-style tale of a woman whose niece sets about to steal her one true love ... "The Guy You Love" gives readers a chance to decide whether love is more important than security ... "Courage and Kisses" deals with bravery and cowardice and how both can affect love ... and "Hard-Hearted Hannah" tells the story of a young woman burned by love, who sets out to prove that she does not need anyone else to succeed in life.

While the stories do provide happy endings for their protagonists, they do not come through good fortune or pure luck; rather, they come through hard work, sweat, and tears on the part of the protagonists, and usually, those lead characters learn a thing or two about life itself along the way.  These are, honestly, some of the best romance stories I have read.  And the art is somewhat minimalist in nature, as many of the panels have little to no backgrounds at all - simply the characters against a colored backdrop.  Which, quite frankly, works for these stories, as it keeps the reader attuned to the characters and not distracted by overly detailed scenery or backgrounds.  While I admit, I do love finely drawn detailed panels in comics (look at anything by George Perez, or check out the Mary Perkins, On Stage strip), they would not fit in these stories.  These stories are about the characters, not their settings.  What is behind them is, in most cases, irrelevant.  It is the drama that is occurring between and among the characters that drives Whitney's stories, so all the rest is unnecessary.  

If you are a fan of romance comics, then this is one collection that is a must-have for you to read!

RATING:  10 snazzy French import dresses out of 10 for not-so-strange tales of romance and reality that will really stop and make you think!

Ravensridge - a Magnum Gothic original

I had every expectation from the first page that I was not going to like this book.  With those opening two words, "My nerves..." (p. 5), I was already disappointed.  I am not a big fan of first person narrative. I can tolerate it when the story is sufficiently good, or if I am already a fan of the particular characters in the book.  But as a general rule, I prefer reading third-person narrative stories.  But, I took a breath and went on reading, figuring I could work my way through the story and at least see what happens and how it all turns out.  Well, despite the first person POV, by the third page of the story, I was thoroughly hooked.  And by the end of the book, I realized how glad I was that I did not put it aside after those first words.  This book has literally become on of my favorite gothic reads!

Ravensridge, published in 1971 under the "Magnum Gothic Original" imprint, was written by Jennifer Hale. According to the Paperback Warrior blog, Jennifer Hale is a pen name for Frank E. Smith (1919-1984), who was a successful author of police procedural novels.  Smith apparently used several other pseudonyms, but he began using "Jennifer Hale" for the five gothic novels he wrote between 1971 and 1978, including this one.  Thus, we have yet another male author hiding behind a female pen name for purposes of writing and selling gothic stories.  But I give Smith credit, as the story rates definitely on the high end when it comes to gothic greatness.  The book has everything a reader will want to see in a gothic story - a dark, gloomy house; a mysterious family with secrets; the death of a past resident under strange circumstances; a young protagonist who is thrust into the middle of all this darkness; threats that escalate as the story progresses; and danger, suspense, and mystery that keep the reader turning page after page after page!

Melissa Manion is the heroine of this particular novel.  She is a professional photographer who has come to Ravensridge at the invitation of her friend, Charles Courtney, to photograph the house and all of its priceless antiques.  But from the moment she arrives on the dark and stormy night, it is clear things are not right at the old house.  The housekeeper, Miss Kane, has no idea who she is or why she is there, and she makes it clear to Melissa that she is not welcome.  Charles is not at home, and Charles' older brother, Philip, was unaware of her visit, but he warily welcomes her into their home.  The groundskeeper and all-around handyman, Lennie, let's it slip that there have been deaths of other women in the past at the house.  And the young maid, Helen, is skittish and scared, worried that there will be more death in this house, particularly now that Melissa has arrived!  And last, but not least, the arrival of Stephanie Doyle, the woman who claims to be Charles' fiance and who is determined that Melissa will not steal her man away (despite the fact Melissa is not interested in Charles and plainly tells her so!).  Then, when Charles does finally appear, he is haggard and depressed.  There is so much going on at Ravensridge that Melissa begins to wonder if her coming there was a mistake...

Oh, yes, let's not forget the local townsfolk, as they definitely play a large part in the story.  There's Earl Mitchell, whose sister Nancy was killed in the local cemetery - and he firmly believes Philip Courtney was the one who did it!  There's Alan Greer, the man that some people claim Philip's wife ran away with (although others believe his wife is dead, murdered by someone at Ravensridge!).  And we musn't forget Floyd Emmert, the former deputy sheriff and brother to Philip's wife, who has insinuated his way into Ravensridge with his other daughter.  Of course, there is also Burt Loftus, a dangerous man who believes Charles is having an affair with his wife - and who gives Melissa a very terse warning to pass on to Charles when she sees him: stay away from his wife, or Charles will find himself as dead as Nancy Mitchell!

Plenty of characters, plenty of secrets, and plenty of suspicions to go around!  And poor Melissa finds herself drawn into all of it.  At first, it is innocuous enough - a missing lipstick, a stolen photograph.  But then matters begin to escalate.  A large gargoyle falls from the roof of the old house, nearly crushing Melissa.  Then, she is nearly killed when a gas line is opened in her room while she is asleep - a sleep from which she nearly never awakens!  It all culminates in the Lost Souls Cave on the outskirts of the Courtneys' property, where Melissa faces off against an insane evil that has been terrorizing Ravensridge for some time - and our young heroine nearly loses her life, only to be rescued by the man she at one time thought might have been behind all of the horrors at the old house.  

I was drawn into the story from the first few pages, and I simply could not put it down until I had finished it.  The suspense, the mystery, the drama, the characters, the setting - they all blend together so seamlessly to create a terrifying tale of gothic horror that any fan will thoroughly enjoy.  The cover art is gorgeous, with a semblance of connection to the story (even though the winged creature is not technically a gargoyle, and neither is is located on the upper roof of the house, but at least it signifies some form of danger from a statue in the tale...); however, there is no artist signature and no artist is identified on the copyright page or the back cover - so we are left to wonder who painted this haunting image.

This is DEFINITELY a gothic novel I highly recommend - well worth the read!

RATING:  10 expensive wide-angled lenses out of 10 for a story of mystery and suspense superbly written in true gothic fashion.