The Secret of Casa Grande - the first Mexican Mystery Stories for Girls

I picked up this book because I really liked the cover; however, I didn't realize until after I read it and did some research online that this is actually the first book in a series (albeit a short, three-book series!).  Thanks to Jennifer White's very informative website on series books (Series Books for Girls) I discovered that the author of this book, Helen Randolph (a pseudonym for Virginia Fairfax and Helen Allan Ripley, according to White's website), actually wrote two more books under the "Mexican Stories for Girls" banner - although the book I own is actually a reprint by Saalfield Publishing, which relabeled the series the "Randolph Series," according to Jennifer's website.  Regardless, the book did pique my interest, so I've already begun my search for the other two books!

The Secret of Casa Grande tells the story of two young girls - Jo Ann and her friend Peggy - who are visiting Peggy's friend, Florence, in Mexico.  Jo Ann is an impetuous and inquisitive girl, always looking for adventure and not afraid to jump in without thinking, while Peggy is much more reserved and thinks before she acts.  Florence and her father have lived in Mexico for a while, and she is constantly doing what she can to make sure her friends adhere to the customs and traditions of the people in the village.  While exploring the village, Jo Ann notices a window in Florence's house - a window on an upper floor that is not visible from inside the house.  Thus, a mystery is sparked as to what lies behind that window - is it a secret room?  An unused room that was walled-off?  Or something much darker?  Jo An is determined to find out, despite her friends' concerns.

 

The first half of the book follows Jo Ann as she tries to figure out how to get to the window, when there is no visible way on the side of the house to climb up the wall to get to the window and peer inside.  It is relatively tame when compared to most mysteries of that day, which were filled with a bit more adventure and action.  Once Jo Ann manages to figure out a way to get to the window and discovers what lies inside, that is when the mystery actually picks up pace, and the three girls actually share a rather enjoyable adventure (enjoyable to read, that is - probably not as much enjoyable for them!).  I do appreciate the realism provided by the author, as it is not exactly an easy task for the girls to reach the window, and it results in Jo Ann suffering a terrible sunburn from remaining on the roof under the hot sun for hours, as well as scraped knees and elbows that the girls suffer when the must make their way up and down the wall - not to mention that their journey into the tunnels below the house result in torn and filthy clothing, which is what one would expect from a trip into unknown underground tunnels.

 

What I did find to be somewhat off-putting, although not necessarily surprising for the time that the book was written (the copyright date is 1936), is the amount of racism that is blatant throughout the book.  Florence makes a number of off-hand remarks about the Mexican villagers, including the housekeeper and driver in her own home, disparaging them and their way of life.  It is clear that as a relatively well-to-do white girl, she feels superior to the villagers, and she pretty much says so in no uncertain terms!  Jo Ann even make several comments in the book that confirms her own view of superiority over the "lower class" people.  Now, I realize I have to view the book in terms of when it was written, and not judge it based upon our more enlightened views and understandings of today - but it still places a bit of a damper on the story, because I really wanted to like the main characters, but found it difficult to do so when they carried such racist opinions of those around them.

Outside of that one issue, the story itself was enjoyable, and while not an overly exciting mystery, it is one that builds the reader's interest gradually until you find yourself just as hooked as the three girls in finding out exactly what lies behind that window, and how it ultimately all connects to the small, crumbling church behind Florence's house.  Plus, the authors do give some rather nice descriptions of the Mexican architecture and locales, which is likely based on Ripley's own personal experience in Mexico (once again, info gleaned from White's wonderful and very informative website!).  Now I need to locate the other two books in this series and see how they compare with this first one.

RATING:  6 golden candlesticks out of 10 for a not-a-run-of-the-mill mystery set in a locale that may not be as familiar to most readers.