Ruth Fielding and Her Crowning Victory

Often when a series ends, there are more volumes in preparation. For instance, the last Judy Bolton book, The Secret at the Sand Castle, mentions the next title, The Strange Likeness, which was never published since the series was abruptly canceled. As I finished reading the last Ruth Fielding book, Ruth Fielding and Her Crowning Victory, I have to conclude that Mildred Wirt knew that it was to be the final title.

On page 202, Ruth reflects upon everything that has ever happened to her:

At her chum's words, Ruth's fancy took a panoramic sweep back over the many exciting adventures that had been her lot since she had left the Red Mill so many years ago. There had been war days, though not so exciting as her experiences in Bellogia; thrilling weeks on Legend Island and in foreign countries, with glorious vacations spent at ranches, plantations and summer resorts. By her own efforts she had raised herself to a commanding position in the motion picture world. Yet Helen was undoubtedly right. No honor she had ever received could compare with this surpassing achievement—her crowning victory.

And the very last paragraph of the book on page 210 reads:

"But now I really mean it. If there are any more adventures in our little family, they will be passed on to June!"

It is always sad to read the final pages of the final volume in any good series. However, it is nice that the series did not end with any obvious loose ends. One thing I hate about how the Beverly Gray series ended is that we never did get to see for certain who Lenora would marry. I have always wondered which man Clair Blank would have had Lenora choose.

I now have two choices for the next series to read: the Barbara Ann series by Ruth Grosby and the Betty Gordon series by Alice B. Emerson. While I am very eager to read the Barbara Ann series, I believe I will choose the Betty Gordon series, simply because it was "written" by Alice B. Emerson, just like the Ruth Fielding series. The Ruth Fielding and Betty Gordon series are like sister series, with the titles in both series listed on the copyright pages of all of the books in each series.