The Meg Duncan Mysteries were written by Holly Beth Walker in the late
1960's and early 1970's. Only 6 books long, the series takes place in Hidden
Springs, Virginia, but Meg does manage to travel around a bit as many young
sleuths do.
The Book List
 | Book 1--Meg and the Disappearing Diamonds
 | Mrs. Partlow's diamonds have been stolen and there have been other
strange attempted break-ins. Will Meg be able to find the diamond thief
and solve the mystery? |
|
| Book 2--Meg and the Secret of the Witch's Stairway
| The Ashley family silver has been missing since the Civil War. Can Meg
find it and help the elderly Ashley sisters and their mysterious young
cousin? |
|
| Book 3--Meg and the Mystery of the Black-Magic Cave
| Meg and Kerry visit Merrybones, Maine with Uncle Hal to help a friend.
Is there any truth to the rumors that witches inhabit the area? |
|
| Book 4--Meg and the Ghost of Hidden Springs
| The old Hannigan house is spookier than ever now that old Miss Amelia
has passed away. Her young heir, Kathleen, has to recreate a party which
ended tragically many years before or risk not inheriting the house. And
now Kathleen and her friends Meg and Kerry are hearing ghostly noises in
the house. Can Meg help Kathleen before she gets scared away? |
|
| Book 5--Meg and the Treasure Nobody Saw
| Meg discovers a family staying in the house of her friends, Bud and
Sally Haywood. The father is between jobs and very sick. Then someone
tries to rob the Haywood house. But why would anyone try to rob them
since the Haywood's' don't have anything worth stealing? |
|
| Book 6--Meg and the Mystery in Williamsburg
| Meg and Kerry go to Williamsburg with Uncle Hal to
help with a toy show. There is some intrigue around a talking baby doll
that
no longer works and two missing "clothespin" dolls.--Sent in by a
visitor named Jeanie |
|
Characters Major and Minor
The Duncan Family and Relatives
| Meg Duncan--aka Margaret Ashley Duncan the young heroine of the
series. Dark brown hair usually kept in braids and dark eyes, takes ballet
lessons.
| Thunder--Meg's Siamese cat |
|
| Mr. Duncan--Meg's father, works for the U.S. government in
Washington, D.C. Travels often. |
| Mrs. Duncan--Meg's mother died when Meg was very young. Her maiden
name was Ashley. |
| Harold Ashley--Meg's Uncle Hal on her mother's side, works at a
small museum in Washington, D.C. |
| Mr. and Mrs. Wilson--The caretaker and housekeeper who take care of
Meg during her father's many absences. |
| Miss Jenny Ashley--Distant cousin of Meg's mother, lives south of
town on the old Ashley plantation |
| Miss Clara Ashley--Distant cousin of Meg's mother, lives south of
town on the old Ashley plantation
| Curly--Miss Jenny and Miss Clara's dog |
|
| Glenn Morgan--Young cousin of Miss Clara and Miss Ashley |
The Carmody Clan
| Kerry--Meg's best friend, has 6 brothers and sisters
| Chappie--Kerry's horse |
|
| Mrs. Carmody aka Ma'am--The Carmody children's mother |
| Mr. Carmody aka Sir--The Carmody children's father |
| Mike--Kerry's brother |
| Tim--Kerry's brother, twin of Jim, 13 years old |
| Jim--Kerry's brother, twin of Tim, 13 years old |
| Cissie--Kerry's cousin who has a tendency to hide the things she
borrows.
| Cecil--Cissie's rag doll |
|
| Bertha--Carmody housekeeper |
Friends and Neighbors about Town
| Mrs. Partlow--Hannah Partlow, wealthy matron who resides at Holly
House near Meg's home. Shows up in several of the books.
| Callie--Mrs. Partlow's maid |
|
| Constable Hosey--Constable of Hidden Springs, he saves the day in
more than one of the books. |
| Mrs. Hosey--Constable's wife |
| Mr. Wayburn--Owns the town Pet Shop |
| Mrs. Wayburn--Neighbor, wife of pet shop owner |
| Miss Upshur--Neighbor |
| Miss Culpepper--Neighbor |
| Amelia Hannigan--Reclusive elderly spinster who lived in the
"haunted" Hannigan house. Deceased |
| Kathleen Martin--Miss Amelia's great-niece, her grandfather was
Collin Hannigan who ran away to California as a boy. |
| Mrs. Martin--Kathleen's mother |
| Jenny Grayham--Was Miss Amelia's house keeper when she lived. |
| Harley Grayham--Jenny Grayham's son |
| Mr. Carberry--Amelia Hannigan's lawyer |
Citizens of Merrybones, Maine
| I'm not going to list all the residents of Merrybones, Maine because they
only appear in The Mystery of the Black-Magic Cave. If someone is desperate
to know the list, email me and I will see what I can do. |
Villains
| Book 1--Mrs. Glynn and her performing poodles, Enfant, Petite, and
Jouet. Bill Purdy, Mrs. Glynn's partner/rival in the crime (read the
book) |
| Book 2--No major villains in this one, just missing silver. |
| Book 3--The villains in this book are all a bit pathetic. Dr.
Willoughby who stole several thousand dollars from a dead man when he
was 17 and has been trying to pay it back to the man's orphaned daughter
ever since. Nurse Armstrong who knew the doctors secret and sent
hateful letters to the orphan to keep anyone from finding out the doctors
secret. And finally a bakers dozen of pretend "witches" who
get blamed for all the spooky things, but turn out to be old boarding school
chums playing at a game they started 20 years ago. |
| Book 4--Harley Grayham turns out to be the villain in this one,
thinking that if he can keep Kathleen from inheriting the old Hannigan
house, his mother will inherit it. |
| Book 5--A sneaky little antique dealer is the villain here, but I haven't
found his name yet. I'll read #5 again soon and see if I just missed it. |
| Book 6--Scott Adams (further details unknown) |
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