Mystery at Redtop Hill - a Whitman tween-age book

This is one of those rare one-off books that I picked up because I had seen it often enough in used book stores and antique malls, and I'd seen enough people mention it online, that I decided I might as well give it a try.  Finding a copy of the book in good condition is not easy, as the Whitman hardcover books had a tendency to come apart fairly easy.  Thankfully, I found one that, even though it has some bumps on the top and bottom of the spine, is still tightly bound with crisp, clean pages and a brightly colored cover.  I was not really sure what to expect with the story, as I literally knew nothing about it, other than the cover that shows three youngsters watching a car coming up the road - oh, and the fact it is labeled as "A Whitman Tween-Age Book."  This phrase, according to the first page (before even the title page!), is an "In-between books for in-between readers" - or, as described in the back of the book: "Not too easy, Not too hard, Just LOTS OF FUN!"  And quite frankly, I think that is the perfect description for this book.

Mystery at Redtop Hill is the story of Steve Lambert, his best friend, Tod Wilson, and Tod's annoying little sister, Nancy.  In the story, the Lamberts and the Wilsons spend every summer in the country hills of New York on property they bought from Major Clyde Elting, a widower whose own farmhouse is in disrepair and who never leaves his house.  Until now!  And this is where the mystery begins for these three youngsters.  A mysterious stranger has come to the area, and he makes frequent visits to Major Clyde's farm, sometimes taking the Major away for a bit before bringing him back.  The children are curious, so they spy on the meetings, hoping to figure out what is going on.  The Major enjoys having the children visit his farm each summer, but this stranger takes an instant disliking to them (and that feeling is mutual!).  Sure enough, the kids uncover a clue that reveals the true nature of the stranger's visits, and it is up to them to save Major Clyde from making a huge mistake.

The mystery is not overly complicated, and it's not one that needs numerous clues for the children to solve the case.  Rather, it is a simple case of a stranger trying to trick an aging man into selling him his property so he can renovate it into something he deems to be more profitable for the times.  The author, Marjory Schwalje, is new to me.  It turns out she has written a number of books for young readers (including a few Raggedy Ann and Andy books), with this one being the only one I see for "in-between" readers.  I found her obituary online, revealing she died in 2012.  She was a teacher and freelance writer, having authored more than 20 books, and she was also a Braille transcriber.  Her writing style is clear and concise, and she manages to give each of her characters a distinct personality that make the story enjoyable to read.

The book is illustrated by Charles Greer, who I recognize as having illustrated some of the Miss Pickerell books that I read growing up.  There are a number of full-page illustrations in the book, as well as several two-page, color spreads that add some life to the story.  The drawings are a bit rough and cartoony, but they are fun, and let's face it - that's what this story is intended to be. 

One thing about the story that did bring a smile to my face is the fact that the nearest town to Redtop Hill in the story happens to be Cooperstown, New York!  Having just visited there myself last year, it was fun to read yet another story set around the area.  At one point, the children even go with their mothers to Cooperstown, where they take a boat tour on Lake Otsego, and the captain of the boat provides a brief history of the lake's name, as well as points out the mountain, known as The Sleeping Lion, at the northern end of the lake (p. 81)!  It turns out this book, published in 1965, came out seven years before the Nancy Drew book set in the same location (The Secret of Mirror Bay).

Taking into consideration the age group the book is aimed at, I'd say the author did a great job telling a fun, enjoyable, easy-to-read story.

RATING:  8 large brown stoneware crocks out of 10 for a mystery worth the read for book lovers of any age.