Arden Blake #3 Missing at the Marshlands by Cleo Garis

In Missing at the Marshlands, Arden, Sim, and Terry stay with Terry’s mother in Oceanedge.  A Russian painter stays in a nearby houseboat, and he has several mysterious visitors.  When the man vanishes, the girls begin looking for him. Meanwhile, the girls also hope to help an underprivileged girl named Melissa who lives in the area.  Melissa is mistreated by her father, and the girls want to help her.

I found it interesting that the girls tan on the beach and use tanning oil.  I don't know that I have ever read a vintage series book from the 1930s where the girls actually tan on the beach.

From page 67:

"Looks to me as though we've dropped right into the middle of another mystery," Terry announced, nodding her read wisely.  "Maybe there are always mysteries, but only wise girls really discover them."

This is a good book.

A. L. Burt books can be bad due to little care in proofreading, but this series is a solid one.  It is better than many Burt series, although it is not one of the outstanding ones.

Arden Blake #2 The Mystery of Jockey Hollow by Cleo Garis

In The Mystery of Jockey Hollow, Arden, Sim, and Terry stay at Sim’s house.  Their friend, Dot Keene, joins them.  The girls learn about Sycamore Hall, which is to be torn down so that a highway can be built.  The old house is said to be haunted, and the demolition workers are constantly frightened away by strange sounds.

Elderly Mrs. Howe claims ownership of the old house, but she cannot find the will.  If the will can be found, then Mrs. Howe will receive money for the house.  Arden and her friends look for the will as they search for the cause of the mysterious events that have frightened the workers.

Page 87:

"Sim was not yet an expert driver and often went blocks out of her way to avoid turning."

As I mentioned in my previous review, I like the bits of realism included in Cleo Garis' books.  Most old series books depict the protagonist teenagers as excellent drivers.  It is a refreshing change to have a teenage driver still be learning how to drive well.

On page 161, the negro cook is referred to as a "slave."  "If you’re going down, would you mind having that little slave bring me up some coffee?"

This book is enjoyable.  It is better than the first book, although a bit odd in places.  For instance, towards the end of the story, the girls throw a Christmas party inside the house that is in the process of being torn down.  That’s a bit foolhardy. 

Arden Blake #1 The Orchard Secret by Cleo Garis

In The Orchard Secret, Arden Blake, Sim Westover, and Terry Landry arrive at Cedar Ridge College to begin their freshman year. The girls are warned of a danger in the old apple orchard that is near the college.  They also hear about a missing man.  Meanwhile, Arden is disappointed to learn that the college's swimming pool is unusable, since Sim agreed to come to Cedar Ridge solely based on its swimming pool.  Arden thinks that the missing man might be in the surrounding area, and she hopes that she can locate the man and claim the reward so that the swimming pool can be repaired.

The opening of the book is not as good as it should have been.  The girls are not described until page 19.  On the first page of the story, Arden and Sim’s surnames are given, but Terry’s is not.  This is a bit awkward.

The first day of college is in session on page 63.  "Something of an organization was arranged, the roll was checked and corrected, names were asked and given, everyone was on edge and nervous, even the instructors."  I like that the instructors were said to be nervous, because this is true.  Cleo Garis included some little bits of realism in her books that I really enjoy.

This is not a strong book, but I find it enjoyable.  It is a good average book from the 1930s.  It isn't as compelling as the better older series books, but it is far better than the many substandard series books.