Customer Reviews

The Three Investigators Series : The Mystery of the Sinister Scarecrow (Alfred Hitchcock Books)

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"Go to the ant, thou sluggard: consider her ways and be wise:..." Prov 6:6

When mutant ants invade a cornfield near a rich heiress' house, any sluggard will have no time to consider while he is running for his life!

Jupiter Jones, the intellectual boy investigator, impresses everyone with the fact that he knows the meaning of "entomology." Entomologist Dr. Woolley tells a dark tale of a phantom scarecrow who haunts the heiress' house and art museum owned by her family. All is not lost because The Three Investigators have found another case to justify keeping their secret trailer at the Jones Junkyard!

Letitia Radford isn't the only one who sees the Scarecrow, but she is the most affected because of her nervous disposition. What or who is the Scarecrow? Why do so many people think Europe is far better than California for Letitia's health? Questions the Three Investigators must use stealth and thought to solve in time to foil the two criminal plots unfolding against the priceless art collection.

The plot is somewhat contrived and based on luck as the investigators fortunately find a hastily written note about a departing freighter- a security guard accidentally confirms the Scarecrow in a chance meeting at a local cafe and the rare mutant army ants happen to be near a resident scientist who tells of their significance and unlucky proximity to the Radford mansion art museum complex with its insect phobic heiress. The SINISTER SCARECROW was written by M.V.Carey rather than Robert Arthur who wrote most other titles in this series.

This story takes place near the modern J.P. Getty mansion art museum complex also on the Coast Highway in California as was the Radford estate in the SINISTER SCARECROW ...maybe if you are lucky The Three Investigators will be there when you visit the Getty!

Well, it is just a kid's detective story so just read it to be entertained.

I really liked this one! Each book is a gem, but this one is more of a case of "Who Didn't Do it?" rather than a "Who Done it?" (that's the only spoiler i'll give)

Deadly mutant ants! A sinister scarecrow! A bunch of weird characters including a middle-aged "young" woman who is afraid of insects and scarecrows. A museum curator, An entomologist, a British butler and wife, and of course the three investigators! Just what's going on? You'll have to read the book.

M V Carey usually has the weirder plots of the three main authors (W Arden, R Arther & M V Carey), but while her mind may be...unique-it is usually entertaining. This book is without doubt among her best work!