Review by Dot Emm.
This review is based on the original Random House novel, not the current abridged versions (available from Amazon.com above) in which the character of Alfred Hitchcock is removed from the books. I urge everyone to purchase the originals via www.abe.com or any used bookstore.
Introducing the characters
Alfred Hitchcock � world-famous English film director, famous for his movies of suspense.
Jupiter Jones � �First Investigator.� Stocky and unathletic, the brains of the trio.
Pete Crenshaw � �Second Investigator.� Tall, athletic, but nervous with it
Bob Andrews � �Records and Research.� Studious, intelligent, good natured
Worthington � their British chauffeur. An amiable fellow who enjoys helping the detectives.
�Skinny� Norris � a school mate of the three boys, a snob and a prankster who always tries to make life difficult for them.
Jonathan �The Whisperer� Rex � the one-time business manager of silent-film actor Steven Terrill
Charlie Grant � an ex makeup-man, friend of both Rex and Terrill
Aunt Matilda Jones � a large, good natured woman, who along with her husband Titus have raised Jupiter Jones since he was a baby. When she sees Jupe or his friends she has only one idea � put them to work!
Uncle Titus Jones - Owner of the Jones Junkyard. A struggling business until Jupiter suggests he change the name to the Jones Salvage Yard, and work to make the business unique.
Hans and Konrad � Blond Bavarian brothers who work for the Jones Salvage Yard
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The Three Investigators
???
We Investigate Anything
Teen-age friends Jupiter Jones, Pete Crenshaw, and Bob Andrews, based in Rocky Beach, California, had long been thinking of starting a detective agency. After �Jupe� wins the use of a Rolls Royce car and chauffeur for thirty days in a contest, he decides that now that they have such sophisticated transportation, the time is ripe for them to take the plunge. All they need is one case to properly launch �The Three Investigators.� Jupiter Jones is the �brains� of the group, a one-time child actor with a practically photographic memory, a maturity beyond his years, and a zest for solving puzzles. This zest is also felt by good natured Pete Crenshaw, the �muscles� of the group, and Bob Andrews, known as �Records� who does the research. These two are by no means dull-witted, they simply do not have the superior intelligence of their good friend. Jupiter also has the good fortune to live in a junkyward with his Aunt and Uncle, and possess a burnt-out motor home which he has converted into a headquarters for their detection efforts.
| The [salvage] yard was a fascinating spot for any boy, and its unusual character was obvious from as far away as one could see the board fence that surrounded it. Mr. Titus Jones had used a number of different colors of paint, aquired as junk, to paint the fence. Some of the local artists had helped him, because Mr. Jones was always letting them have some little piece of junk they needed, free.
The whole front section was covered with trees and flowers and green lakes and swans, and even an ocean scene. The other sides had other pictures. It was probably the most colorful junkyard in the country.
Bob rode past the front gate, which consisted of two enormous iron gates from an estate that had burned down. He went on almosrt a hundred yards further and stopped near the corner, where the fence showed a green ocean with a two-masted sailing ship foundering in a raging storm. Bob dismounted and found the two green boards Jupe had made into a private gate. That was Green Gate One. He pushed against the eye of a fish that was looking out of the water at the sinking ship, and the boards swung up. |
Pete Crenshaw�s father, a special effects man who works in one of Hollywood�s movie studios, has informed Pete that the great director Alfred Hitchcock is looking for a real haunted house to use in his next movie.
Jupiter decides that this is the case the Investigators must take on. If they succeed in finding such a house, Bob Andrews� father, a newspaper reporter, will chronicle this successful first case for them, and if Alfred Hitchcock will write an introduction for the book, Jupe feels that the career of the Three Investigators will be assured. They visit Hitchcock at his studios to offer their services. Hitchock is skeptical at first � he already has location scouts scouring locations in cities rich in supernatural lore, such as Salem, Massachusetts and Charleston, South Carolina. Jupe suggests that it will be more cost efficient if they can find a house for Hitchcock in the local area. Still skeptical, Hitchcock nevertheless agrees to let them try, making no guarantees.
The house that Jupe chooses to investigate has been given the nickname �Terror Castle.� Originally called Terrill�s Castle, because it was built for silent movie star Steven Terrill, the house was designed to look like the haunted castle set used in one of his pictures � and was decorated with all sorts of props and furniture used in his films.
Terrill was known as �The Man with a Million Faces� (shades of Lon Chaney Sr.!) Unfortunately, when the Talkies came into vogue, it was discovered that he had a high squeaky voice and lisped. (Shades of John Gilbert!) His career over in a sudden crash, Terrill retired to his Castle, living the life of a hermit. After a few years, after he�d been forgotten by the fickle public, a wrecked car was discovered, having run off the road and crashed down over the cliffs, a few miles north of Hollywood, the body washed out to sea. Police trace the license plate numbers and learn the car belonged to Terrill. They find Terrill�s castle deserted, and a note on a table: ��Though the world will never see me alive again, my spirit will never leave this place. The castle will be forevermore accursed.��
For thirty years, the huge castle had stood alone at the end of isolated Black Canyon, deserted. Real estate agents have been unable to rent it to anyone � indeed, moving men have been too afraid to stay in the castle long enough to remove any of the original furnishings. Everyone who has ever entered the castle soon feels a sense of overwhelming terror and rushes out. Is the castle haunted by the ghost of Steven Terrill? Or is it haunted by one of the ghosts that inhabits some of the building materials that Terrill had had imported from castles and such-like in Scotland and England in order to build his own? This is the puzzle that Jupiter sets himself and his friends to discover, not without a few thrills and chills along the way.
| ''Probably only imagination,'' Jupiter told him. ''We actually saw and heard nothing to frighten us. Yet we felt frightened. Thwe question is, why?''
''What do you mean, why?'' Pete asked. ''Any old deserted house is kind of frightening, and that place is so scary it would frighten spooks!''
''Perhaps that is the answer,'' Jupiter agreed. ''We must visit Terror Castle again and -''
And then the telephone rang.
They stared at it. The telephone had never rung before. Jupiter had had it installed less than a week ago when they had definitely decided they would start some kind of business. They planned to pay the charges from the money they made repairing broken items for Mr. Jones. It was listed in Jupiter's name, but of course the listing hadn't been put in the telephone book yet. So far, no one else knew they had it. Yet her eit was ringing!
It rang again. Peter gulped. ''Well, answer it.'' he said.
''I will.'' Jupiter picked it up. ''Hello,'' he said into the phone. ''Hello?''
He held the phone close to a microphone and speaker he had put together from the parts of an old radio. This made it possible for them all to hear what was said. But all they could hear was a curious humming, far off.
''Hello,'' he said once more. But there was still no answer, so finally he hung up.
''Probably a wrong number,'' he stated. ''As I was saying-''
The phone rang again.
They stared at it. Jupiter reached for it as if someone was holding onto his arm for dear life.
They heard the strange humming again, sounding far off and lonesome. Then they heard a voice that seemed to be gargling, as if the speaker hadn't talked in years but was trying hard to say something.
''Stay-'' the voice said. Then, as if it were a great effort, as if it were the most tremendous effort imaginable, the voice got out another word.
''-away.'' it said. ''Stay....away''
Then it died out in a long gasp, and again there was just a weird humming noise.
''Stay away from what?'' Jupiter asked the telephone.
But the telephone didn't answer. It just went on humming.
He hung up. For a long moment no one said anything. Then Pete stood up.
''I've got to get home.'' he said. ''I just remembered something I have to tend to.''
''Me, too.'' Bob hopped up. ''I'll go with you.''
''Possibly Aunt Mathilda would like me to do some errands,'' Jupiter said, and he got up too. They practically fell over one another in their eagerness to get out of Headequarters.
The voice on the phone hadn't finished the sentence. But they didn't have any trouble figuring out what he - or it - or whatever it was - had been trying to tell them.
Stay away from Terror Castle!
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Jupiter Jones, Pete Crenshaw and Bob Andrews are a likeable trio of detectives, surrounded by a colorful cast of characters that make this novel a joy to read. It is a juvenile novel, certainly, but most adults will enjoy it also for its genuinely mysterious puzzle and the atmosphere it evokes of the bygone silent-move days. The presence of Alfred Hitchcock (who �writes� the introduction and has a cameo in each of the books in this series) is a unique casting coup and a definite plus for the series. Highly recommended to mystery lovers of all ages.
The Secret of Terror Castle, and eight of the original books in the series, are currently available in abridged edition which eliminate the character of Alfred Hitchcock (who died many years ago) and replaced him with movie producer ''Mr. Sebastian.'' This alteration spoils the charm of the originals, but perhaps it was necessary if the investigators are going to appeal to a 21st century audience who have never known a time when videotape machines and computers did not exist in practically every house hold.
Nevertheless I cannot recommend them. The original editions are available from used bookstores: www.abe.com.
External site:
http://www.threeinvestigatorsbooks.homestead.com/: Collecting the Three Investigators
The books:
Alfred Hitchcock and The Three Investigators in...
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Title |
Copyright |
Author |
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1. The Secret Of Terror Castle
2. The Mystery Of The Stuttering Parrot
3. The Mystery Of The Whispering Mummy
4. The Mystery Of The Green Ghost
5. The Mystery Of The Vanishing Treasure
6. The Secret Of Skeleton Island
7. The Mystery Of The Fiery Eye
8. The Mystery Of The Silver Spider
9. The Mystery Of The Screaming Clock
10. The Mystery Of The Moaning Cave
11. The Mystery Of The Talking Skull
12. The Mystery Of The Laughing Shadow
13. The Secret Of The Crooked Cat
14. The Mystery Of The Coughing Dragon
15. The Mystery Of The Flaming Footprints
16. The Mystery Of The Nervous Lion
17. The Mystery Of The Singing Serpent
18. The Mystery Of The Shrinking House
19. Secret Of Phantom Lake
20. The Mystery Of Monster Mountain
21. The Secret Of The Haunted Mirror
22. The Mystery Of The Dead Man's Riddle
23. The Mystery Of The Invisible Dog
24. The Mystery Of Death Trap Mine
25. The Mystery Of The Dancing Devil
26. The Mystery Of The Headless Horse
27. The Mystery Of The Magic Circle
28. The Mystery Of The Deadly Double
29. The Mystery Of The Sinister Scarecrow
30. The Secret Of The Shark Reef |
1964
1964
1965
1965
1966
1966
1967
1967
1968
1968
1969
1969
1970
1970
1971
1971
1972
1972
1973
1973
1974
1974
1975
1976
1976
1977
1978
1978
1979
1979 |
Robert Arthur
Robert Arthur
Robert Arthur
Robert Arthur
Robert Arthur
Robert Arthur
Robert Arthur
Robert Arthur
Robert Arthur
William Arden
Robert Arthur
William Arden
William Arden
Nick West
M. V. Carey
Nick West
M. V. Carey
William Arden
William Arden
M. V. Carey
M. V. Carey
William Arden
M. V. Carey
M.V. Carey
William Arden
William Arden
M. V. Carey
William Arden
M. V. Carey
William Arden |
The Three Investigators in...
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Title |
Copyright |
Author |
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31. The Mystery Of The Scar-Faced Beggar
32. The Mystery Of The Blazing Cliffs
33. The Mystery Of The Purple Pirate
34. The Mystery Of The Wandering Cave Man
35. The Mystery Of The Kidnapped Whale
36. The Mystery Of The Missing Mermaid
37. The Mystery Of The Two-Toed Pigeon
38. The Mystery Of The Smashing Glass
39. The Mystery Of The Trail Of Terror
40. The Mystery Of The Rogues' Reunion
41. The Mystery Of The Creep-Show Crooks
42. The Mystery Of Wrecker's Rock
43. The Mystery Of The Cranky Collector |
1981
1981
1982
1982
1983
1983
1984
1984
1984
1985
1985
1986
1987 |
M. V. Carey
M. V. Carey
William Arden
M . V. Carey
Marc Brandel
M. V. Carey
Marc Brandel
William Arden
M. V. Carey
Marc Brandel
M. V. Carey
William Arden
M. V. Carey |
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