Dana Girls #6 The Circle of Footprints

In Dana Girls #6, The Circle of Footprints, Louise and Jean become acquainted with the Doke family, who are very poor and in need of money.  Mason Doke's plane crashes and he later dies, leaving Mrs. Doke a widow.  A box of money is found in the Dokes' home, but Mrs. Doke fears that the money was stolen by her husband, so she refuses to use it.  The Danas are forced to hide the money for Mrs. Doke after a prowler tries to steal it.  Meanwhile, the girls try to find the actual owners of the money.

It is ridiculous how the girls continue to move the money from place to place, including a shed, a cellar, a cave, and a rocky ledge.  The money is placed everywhere except where it would actually be safe.

The plot of this book goes in circles, so the title is rather appropriate.  The story consists of way too many bizarre and improbable coincidences.  The Danas have a list of people who were swindled.  Each person they find just happens to know the very next person on the list or has some information that will lead the girls to the next person on the list.  The result is a very disjointed story that is held together by the coincidence of each person knowing the next person.

The book is very good at the start, but it gradually gets tiring.  The story is overall good.