A Ted Wilford Mystery, no. 4 - The Singing Trees Mystery

Ted Wilford is back in the saddle in this fourth book of the Ted Wilford mystery series.  While the last book found Ted's older brother, Ronald, off solving the mystery, this one finds Ted and his best friend, Nelson, trying to figure out who is vandalizing the local Y camp, where they will be serving as junior counselors for a week.  Could the answer lie in a treaty signed by a prior property owner many years ago with the Indians of the area, a treaty that has been missing for too many years?  Or does the answer really lie in a missing inheritance that has led many people to believe the fortune still lies somewhere on the Y camp property?  And just how does a serpent rock and a forest of singing trees factor into all of this?

Author Norvin Pallas weaves yet another satisfying tale with The Singing Trees Mystery.  While the actual singing trees play very little part in the overall mystery, they do make a unique background story that leads a young boy at the camp to disappear not once, but twice (leading to a very daring rescue in a snowstorm at night near the end of the book).  Ted and Nelson certainly have no intention of becoming involved in yet another mystery, but fate has other plans.  When they arrive at the Y camp, they discover that a number of the cabin's windows have been shattered, mattresses have been sliced up, and the canoes have been damaged beyond repair.  What is odd, however, is that nothing has been stolen.  All of the supplies that Mr. Blair (the director of the camp) and Mr. Krillman (the manager of the property) had brought into the camp was untouched.  Nelson believes it was simply the act of some juvenile delinquents; but Ted is not so sure.

Of course, when you factor in the appearance of a ghost in the middle of the night, as well as a warning message that appears and disappears and an air raid siren that sounds unexpectedly, it quickly becomes apparent that something else is going on.  When Mr. Krillman finds his office files rifled through, Ted is certain that some is looking for something in the camp.  An intercepted message meant for Ted's rival, Ken Kutler, confirms Ted's suspicions, and with Mr. Krillman's help, Ted and Nelson make several efforts to capture the ghost vandal.  Ultimately, though, it is young Joey, a rambunctious boy with a penchant for telling tall tales, who leads Ted to discover the who and why behind the vandalism and clear up a mystery that has been left unsolved for many decades.

Pallas continues to age his characters, as Ted and Nelson are now seniors, preparing to graduate and enter into the working world.  While not integral to the immediate mystery, but definitely a part of the ongoing tale of Ted's emerging reporter status, Pallas throws in a confrontation with Carl Allison, the reporter who took over Ronald Wilford's job when Ron moved to the big city.  There is also some development of the friendship/rivalry between Ted and Ken, who try to remain friends even while competing for the same stories for their respective papers.

One thing that definitely makes this book a product of its time (the mid-1950s) is the reference to "trailerites" and the transient nature of people who life in trailers.  In fact, one of Ted's fellow classmates is not allowed back in school due to his status as a "trailerite," which leads him to do some devious acts (which are not quite criminal, but definitely not in good fun).

And while I'm happy that Wildside Press is reprinting these books, I do wish a bit more care was taken in the editing and printing process.  The synopsis at the front of this book, while indicating it is The Singing Trees Mystery, gives a description of the next book, The Empty House Mystery.  Further, the acknowledgement at the front of the book still thanks Steve Romberger, "whose copy of The Secret of Thunder Mountain was ultimately used to create this edition...", despite the fact that Thunder Mountain was actually three books ago!  Of course, neither of these things actually affect the story itself, so I suppose I can't get too worked up over it.

I hope that Wildside continues to reprint more of this series, as I currently have only been able to obtain books 1 through 7, and book 11.  I'm not sure why books 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, and 15 have yet to be reprinted.  Only time will tell...

RATING:  9 broken treaties of friendship out of 10 for giving readers a very likable protagonist who has believable self-doubt, but at the same time, a heart to help others!