Judy Bolton #28 The Haunted Fountain and #29 The Clue of the Broken Wing

In Judy Bolton #28, The Haunted Fountain, Judy remembers an old haunted fountain on the Brandt estate.  When Judy was young, the fountain seemingly spoke to her.  Judy and her friends go to the Brandt estate to visit the fountain, and they discover unfriendly tenants who warn them away.  Undaunted, Judy vows to find out who these people are and what they are doing in the Brandts' home.

I like the setting and pretty much everything about this book.  This is a very good book.

In Judy Bolton #29, The Clue of the Broken Wing, Blackberry discovers an broken china wing in Judy's garden.  Thinking little about the broken wing but taking it with her, Judy drives with Peter to New York City to visit Irene, Dale, and little Judy.

Judy is shocked to find that Tower House has been torn down and replaced by apartments.  When Judy inquires in the Lakes' home across the street, she spots a china angel that is missing a wing.  Dumbfounded, Judy discovers that the broken wing matches the angel!  When Mrs. Lake sees the broken wing, Judy is accused of abduction and murder!  Terrified, Judy runs from the Lakes' house.

Page 59 of A Guide to Judy Bolton Country quotes part of a letter to Margaret from her editor, Alice Thorne.  The guide notes that the letter likely refers to The Clue of the Broken Wing.  "You'll think I'm taking pot shots at Peter, but what bothers me is that he seems so cocksure and overbearing with Judy in this story that he isn't as likable as usual; also he tends to take the spotlight away from her."

Peter seems a bit quiet in this book, so I believe that Margaret took out what Alice Thorne didn't like.  There is one scene where Judy is talking to Irene and Dale, and Peter is present but very quiet.  It's almost like he isn't even there.

Even though Peter isn't overbearing in the published book, he is a bit annoying because he knows the solution to the mystery and does not tell Judy.  I wish that Margaret had kept Peter as a lawyer for the duration of the series instead of making him an FBI agent.  I liked the books better when Peter was more open with Judy.

The story is overall very good.