Kay Tracey #18 The Mysterious Neighbors

In Kay Tracey #18, The Mysterious Neighbors, the Traceys vacation in Mrs. Ball's houseboat on the Sharon River.  Ethel Eaton also vacations on the river in a houseboat.  Some strange men, called the "mysterious neighbors," are spending time on the Sharon River in their houseboat, the Ajax.

Bill Tracey is helping Frank Leeson with a case involving his company.  Harry Spicer is after Mr. Leeson and is threatening him.  Mr. Leeson and his daughter also decide to vacation on the Sharon River in a houseboat.  So pretty much everyone in the world is on the Sharon River in a houseboat.

Kay and her friends are on summer vacation, which is the third summer vacation in the series.

Kay's Aunt Harriet sends her a present.  Ah, good old Aunt Harriet.  The Dana Girls also have an Aunt Harriet, named after Harriet Stratemeyer Adams.

This book contains some animal cruelty, but fortunately, the animal is not injured.  Mrs. Ball's cat, Midnight, is lassoed and yanked into the river.  The cat is then yanked around in the water with the rope while it struggles not to drown.  Fortunately, Kay rescues the cat from the perpetrator.

The houseboat catches on fire on page 48.  Later, Cousin Bill is abducted and placed in the hold of a government ship.  Near the end of the book, Cousin Bill's car is stolen.

In the Garden City and Books, Inc. editions, very minor edits were made to the first two pages and the last page.  Otherwise, the texts appear to be exactly the same.

I enjoyed this final book in the Kay Tracey series.

I made some observations as I read through the series.  Wilma's poetry is the worst in the books by Mildred Wirt Benson (#3-12 and 14).  The poetry is also pretty bad in the books written by Elizabeth Duffield Ward (#1 and 2).  The poetry is not as bad in the books written by Anna Perot Rose Wright, because her text often does not include the verses (#15-18).  Edna Stratemeyer Squier has the best poetry by Wilma, because the poetry is kept down to just two lines (#13).

I noticed that chemistry is very important to this series, appearing as an important part of the plot of a number of the books.  I wonder if Edna Stratemeyer Squier was especially fond of chemistry, since she wrote most of the outlines for this series.

Betty and Wilma do not have beaus.  Kay does have a beau, Ronald, but he is often not around.

I have always been quite fond of the Kay Tracey series, and my opinion remained the same upon this reading.  I still really like the Kay Tracey series.

Books That I Have Not Liked

Some people get annoyed when another series book enthusiast does not like books that they like.  I have found this to be especially true for some people who like the boys' series books.  When I published my reviews of the Hardy Boys series, at least three Hardy Boys collectors made a point of telling me that they did not agree with some of my reviews.  Well, okay.  I'm female, not male.  My take on boys' series will not be the same as the target audience.  I can't help that.

In this post, I bravely admit to not liking some books that others greatly enjoy.

I have a lovely British edition of The Bobbsey Twins at Mystery Mansion.  The book is so pretty, and I want to like it.  I have tried the Bobbsey Twins in the past with no success.  I tried reading my British edition of Mystery Mansion, but I couldn't get through it.  The problem is simply that the text is too young for my taste.  The Bobbsey Twins series is charming, but it's not for me.

I tried to read the first Seckatary Hawkins book, Stoner's Boy.  It wasn't bad, but I couldn't get into it.  I read a few chapters and quit.  Seck is beloved by many, but I won't ever be one of them.

I read the first Don Sturdy book, Don Sturdy on the Desert of Mystery.  I did overall enjoy the book, but some parts were not that interesting to me.  Don Sturdy is a boys' book through and through, and that's the problem for me.  The attitude towards the natives, the interest in killing animals, and the desire to profit from ivory did not resonate with me.  I have several of the Don Sturdy books, but I will likely never read them.

Several collectors speak very highly of the Hal Keen series by Hugh Lloyd.  The series is extremely scarce, especially in dust jacket, and is very collectible.  The enthusiastic comments have led me to believe that the Hal Keen series is one not to miss.

I read Hal Keen #1, The Hermit of Gordon's Creek.  I do not like the writing style at all, and I find the story to be bland.  I do not like Hal's manner of speech or that of the other characters.  I quit reading the book on page 72 and read a few other books before I forced myself to continue reading.  I only was able to finish the book because I was curious as to whether I had guessed the true culprit at the very beginning of the book.  I was correct.  The man I selected as the culprit is a character that I immediately intensely disliked from the start.  It also should be noted that I did not like Hal Keen or any of the other characters.

Phillip Hart is the author of quite a few books for boys published by A. L. Burt, most of which sound quite interesting.  James Keeline recently discovered that Phillip Hart is a pseudonym of Harriet Pyne Grove.  Uh-oh.  I have a strong aversion to Harriet Pyne Grove's writing, but I wanted to make sure that I would not like the Phillip Hart books.

I tried to read The Flight of the Mystic Owls by Phillip Hart.  The first problem is that the Mystic Owls go by Indian names, so in the text the boys are referred to by both names, which is confusing.  Aside from that, the story does not start out too bad. Unfortunately, Grove's excessive use of quotation marks and lengthy sentences with multiple clauses make the book very hard to read.  I made it to page 39 where this horrendous sentence caused me to quit the book.

Adna and Roy, who disclaimed being in the least literary and "dee-spised Latin," had been coached by the rest and urged on to victory in the examination by the rest of the Mystic Owls, who declared that not only would it be a disgrace to the lodge if Red and Pat didn't pass, but they would run a great risk of being compelled by disappointed and disgruntled parents of being obliged to remain at home and "take summer school," which would, of course, be "the limit" under the circumstances. 

I cannot read another book by Harriet Pyne Grove.  I just can't.  After reading the first 39 pages of The Flight of the Mystic Owls, I have no doubt that Phillip Hart is indeed Harriet Pyne Grove.  No other series book author would write like that.

In conclusion, keep in mind that I did not state that these books are not good.  I stated that I do not like them.  There is a difference.

The Sea Runners' Cache and Secret of the Armor Room by Capwell Wyckoff

In The Sea Runners' Cache, friends Bruce, Cal, and Scotty stay with Scotty's Uncle Ed on the south New Jersey shore.  Uncle Ed is having trouble with people sabotaging his fishing business.  Uncle Ed also wants to purchase an old home that is on the nearby shore, but the home is taken off the market and unknown persons are prowling inside the house.  The boys work on solving both mysteries as they enjoy their time on the coast.

I tend not to like books that are set on the coast and are centered around fishing and lobster boats.  I have no idea why I do not enjoy this setting, but I almost always have trouble enjoying the stories or enjoy them much less than books with other settings.

The setting caused me not to enjoy this book as much as Wyckoff's other books.  The story is fine, and this is probably a very good book.  However, I was bored during parts of the story, and I was especially bored during the climax of the story.  During the climax, too much happens simultaneously, and I did not care about any of it.

In The Secret of the Armor Room, Dave, Ren, and Dilly learn that Professor Sterns is having trouble with prowlers inside his house.  Items keep getting moved around in the room where the professor keeps his artifacts.  The boys begin to investigate, and they soon have several suspects.

I did not make any notes about this book when I read it, so I don't have any further comment except that I did enjoy the book.

Kay Tracey #17 The Mansion of Secrets

In Kay Tracey #17, The Mansion of Secrets, Cousin Bill is handling the estate of Manuel Greely.  Greely's grandnephew, Peter, is the heir and plans to sell the old mansion and surrounding property to a westerner who wants to open a dude ranch.  Unexpectedly, Kay and her friends find blueprints that show the location of many hiding places in the house.  The girls check a few of the locations and find jewelry, rare bibles, and other valuable items.

An intruder is discovered in the house, and later, someone steals the blueprints.  Cousin Bill hires a watchman, but even he cannot prevent the intruder from entering the house again and again.  Can Kay and her friends find the valuables before they are stolen?

The plot of this book is somewhat similar to the Nancy Drew book, The Sign of the Twisted Candles, with hidden valuables throughout the home.

This is the kind of story that a collector can appreciate.  Mr. Greely was a collector, and the hidden valuables are items from his collection.  The book includes a passage explaining about the rare bibles, and the content is interesting.

This book has many crazy and exciting events.  The girls get trapped in a closet by a dog.  Wilma gets an electric shock and is knocked out.  Ronald falls down a laundry chute to the basement, and Kay joins him soon after because she walks through a dark passage without a flashlight.  Kay's finger gets smashed and stuck between a heavy file cabinet and the wall.  A big pheasant flies through a window, breaking it.

On pages 105 and 106, Ronald "petulantly" complains, "You promised to spend the day with me."  Ronald doesn't realize that he is supposed to do the bidding of the teenage sleuth.  That's his role, and he shouldn't expect more. 

The later editions by Garden City and Books, Inc. have the same text as the original Cupples and Leon books.

This story flows quite well.  I read it quickly and enjoyed every scene.  This book is excellent.

North Point Cabin Mystery and Mystery of Gaither Cove by Capwell Wyckoff

The North Point Cabin Mystery and The Mystery at Gaither Cove were published by A. L. Burt in 1932.  The books were later reprinted by Saalfield.

In The North Point Cabin Mystery, Lance, Tim, and Brad stay in a cabin on Desolate Lake.  They learn about a mail carrier who was accused of a theft several years before.  The mail carrier vanished, so everyone believes him to be guilty.  The boys uncover a clue that reveals that the mail carrier had been abducted.  The boys search for additional clues in hopes of solving the mystery.

This is a very good book.

In The Mystery of Gaither Cove, Ken, Brent, and Laurie travel across country by automobile to visit their old friend, Ted, who now lives in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas.  The four boys go on a camping trip near a cabin where a strange old man lives.  The man lights a lantern each night while he hides nearby watching his cabin.  The man is generally believed to be superstitious, but the boys feel that there is another explanation.  Meanwhile, Dana, a chicken thief encountered by the boys as they traveled to Arkansas, is staying in the woods near them.  The boys try to capture Dana as they investigate the strange old man who lights the lantern.

This is also a very good book.

Kay Tracey #16 The Double Disguise

In Kay Tracey #16, The Double Disguise, Kay spends the night with Miss Janey, whose luggage has just been stolen by a young man.  During the night, Kay sees Miss Janey speak to a strange woman dressed in a black robe.  Kay learns that this woman is Nanna, and Miss Janey trusts her completely.  Nanna has told Miss Janey where she can find her luggage.

Kay learns that Miss Janey is heir to a valuable chemical formula.  The papers have been stolen, and someone else has announced the discovery.  Kay must prove that Miss Janey's formula was stolen before she loses her inheritance.

Miss Janey reminds me of Mrs. Putney from the Nancy Drew book, The Ghost of Blackwood Hall.

The various mishaps include the following.  Ethel gets in a car crash.  Betty and Wilma are buried in an avalanche.  Kay is saved from a fire in Miss Janey's chemistry lab.  A carriage and horses plunge over a cliff, and the horses are put down since their legs are broken.

Ethel tells everyone that Kay has been cheating in Chemistry and that she has stolen Miss Janey's formula.  At first, the school officials believe Ethel's story, but Kay is later able to convince them of her innocence.

Kay discovers the solution to Miss Janey's formula.  Of course she does.  Kay is brilliant.

The first page of the Garden City and Books, Inc. editions was partially rewritten.  Otherwise, the text of the Cupples and Leon edition appears to be identical to the later editions.

I overall enjoyed this story, but I found it somewhat lacking.

In the Camp of the Black Rider and Mystery at Lake Retreat by Capwell Wyckoff

In the Camp of the Black Rider was published by A. L. Burt in 1931 and was later reprinted by Saalfield.  In this story, Ted Thorn is the son of the owner of a lumber company.  He and his best friend, Buck Dalton, have been working at the lumber company during the summer.  They plan to go camping soon before they begin college.

Mr. Calvert summons Ted to a meeting.  Mr. Calvert proposes that Ted and Buck take the boys of the Boys' Club on a camping trip to Black Riders' Camp, which is in a remote area in the woods.  The camp is named for a group of men who performed raids during the Revolutionary War.  The camp is said to be haunted by the Black Riders.  Soon after the Boys' Club's arrival in camp, strangers prowl the camp at night, performing mischief.  Ted, Buck, and their young charges keep watch and try to find the culprits.

Much of the action occurs at night in the middle of the woods with no light except for lanterns or a campfire.

This is an amazingly good book.  I was not bored by a single paragraph.  Every single passage is interesting.  This is a very captivating book, and I cannot praise it enough.  Series books do not get better than this one.  This book is equal to the best of the best of all series books and is excellent to the nth degree.  I was disappointed when I finished the story, because I wanted it to last longer than it did.

After reading a book like In the Camp of the Black Rider, the next book read ends up a disappointment, because few books can compare.  I read The Mystery at Lake Retreat next.  It was lackluster in comparison, but that does not mean that the book is bad.

The Mystery at Lake Retreat was published by A. L. Burt in 1931 and later reprinted by Saalfield.

In The Mystery at Lake Retreat, Dave, Dilly, and Ren travel to Lake Retreat to go camping.  Soon after the boys are settled, they discover prowlers around their camp.  They learn about a strange recluse who lives nearby, and soon, they realize that the recluse, known as the Lakeman, threatens their safety.

This is a good to very good book, but it pales in comparison to In the Camp of the Black Rider.

eBay Update + 15% Off on eBay and Etsy through June 3

I have a promotion for 15% off all of my books on both eBay and Etsy.  There is no minimum order, so all orders qualify.  The offer ends Sunday, June 3, 2018.  If you see this blog post after June 3, 2018, the offer will no longer be active and will not be honored.

Jennifer's Series Books on eBay

Jennifer's Series Books on Etsy

This may be the last sale I run on eBay.  As is typical, eBay is tightening its control over sellers, ostensibly to give buyers a better experience.  Beginning in late June, eBay will only allow sales to be run on items that have been listed for at least 14 days.  eBay says that this is so that buyers will have price transparency.

New items cannot be included in a sale, because the buyer doesn't know if the seller artificially raised the price before listing it.  So eBay feels it is better for new items not to be on sale, since the seller might be trying to pull a scam.  How about letting buyers make the decision on whether the seller's price was artificially raised before the item was put on sale?  But then, eBay doesn't think buyers are smart enough to figure that out.

I do not use eBay's "Good 'Til Canceled" option for my listings.  This is because I typically float more than 250 listings each month on my allotted 250 free listings.  If I were to use "Good 'Til Canceled," then I would lose control on when my items get relisted, since eBay would do it for me.  This would cause me to pay listing fees on some items where I can avoid the fees.

Since future sales will require items to be listed at least 14 days, I would have to use "Good 'Til Canceled" in order to have all of my listings qualify for the sale.  I briefly considered whether I would want to switch to "Good 'Til Canceled," but I decided that I do not want to lose control of whether I pay listing fees for some listings.

I believe that eBay's change in the sales requirement is being done solely to put more control on sellers like me so that we cannot float more than 250 listings each month.

I had already been thinking about moving more of my books to Etsy due to some other eBay issues.  I am going to do just that.  Far more series books are being listed on Etsy than were a few years ago.  We do tend to follow each other around, and since more of us are now listing on Etsy, others have followed.