Customer Reviews

MYSTERY OF THE BLAZING CLIFFS (Three Investigators Series)

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Once again, the three young detectives are on another case to save gullible buffoons. A rich, unbelievably naive, industrialist and his wife have enlisted the help of the three crime busters to solve what appears to be an alien invasion.

Mr. Charles Barron wisely fears the end of our economic system anticipating a time when gold and land will be the only form of wealth. Written in 1981, this book may be more prescient than we care to admit as we face our own financial crisis in 2011.

Mrs. Barron thinks about UFOs rather than financial calamities. Barron's kind wife predicts a UFO rescue of the earth as a giant spaceship is seen rising over the Barron ranch amidst mysterious blue flames. Corny dialog of the worse sort:
...makes wooden clogs that he sells to tourists. He writes poetry, too.

Anyhow...

I have the feeling,as I read more of this series, that the progressive decline in the plots over the decades and increase in story violence is a cultural barometer of sorts or maybe even a pop culture time capsule for the future to ponder. The degeneration of Jup Jones ect.

The reader is left to solve the plot as events on the Barron ranch spin like a flying saucer out of control! This is a buffoon book but still worth a read. Appearances are always deceiving with The Three Investigators!

While it may be somewhat fashionable to look down on any of the "Three Investigators" series after book #30, don't do it! "Blazing Cliffs" is an excellent read that, in many ways, seems even more timely today than when it was written in the late 70's / early 80's. A wealthy industialist who builds his own hideaway to escape a crumbling world economy and anarchists; his wife who is a believer in extraterestrials who will supposedly be arriving to take them to another planet. A supposed worldwide invasion by UFO's; and The Three Investigators.
It is up to The Three Investigators to figure out what is really going on and prevent a gigantic swindle from taking place.
Outrageous? Yes. Improbable? Probably. Entertaining? Absolutely! A very well done story that continue the fine history of the Three Investigators.