The Haunted Attic

Judy Bolton Mysteries #2

by Margaret Sutton

The Boltons move into a large rambling house reputed to be haunted. Even the brave Judy is thoroughly frightened by the eerie "crying ghost."

Genres: Mystery, Young Adult, Fiction, Childrens, Classics, Mystery Thriller, Middle Grade

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1932

About the author

Margaret Sutton was born Rachel Irene Beebe in Odin, Pennsylvania in 1903. She was the daughter of Victor Beebe, a well-known historian, and Estella Andrews Beebe. Being a spirited nonconformist, she dropped out of high school, but in 1920, graduated from the Rochester Business Institute. After graduation, she worked for several years as a secretary and in printing. During that time, she met William Sutton at a church dance in New York City. After a courtship exchanging poems and playing chess, they were married in 1924, and she began writing stories for her husband's daughter, Dorothy. Her first Judy Bolton Mystery was published in 1932 under the pen name Margaret Sutton. Ms. Sutton wove many real events and places into the Judy Bolton stories through the 35-year history of the series. She also wrote numerous stories for children and young adults. She was also active in social causes, joining the historic March on Washington in 1964. In 1965, her husband of more than 40 years died. In 1975, after traveling extensively, she married a long-time family friend, Everett Hunting. They moved to Berkeley, California and made their home there until 1993 when they moved back to Pennsylvania. Mr. Hunting died shortly after they moved. In 2001, at the age of 98, Margaret Sutton died in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, not far from her native Potter County.

Reviews

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read all the Judy Bolton books when I was a young girl. Aprox. 65
I was named after her by my sister.

About 5 years ago I found a fan club for her on line and I joined it and bought and re-read every book along with the group. The Haunted Attic was my favorite as a young girl and now as an young lady of 72.

I gave my collection to my granddaughter Ashley and it started her reading and she now is in college and plans go into criminal justice.
Hmmmm!! Maybe I started something.

These books are a fun read for the young at heart..
Plus they have wonderful memories of past history.'
They actually take place in a real town in Pennsylvania and fans
go there once a year to meet and talk about the books.. and go to the places referred to in the books..
One of the fans is the authors daughter and a few of her cousin.

Judy Bolton is part of who I am...

[Josiah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Judy Bolton isn't as well-known a teen detective as Nancy Drew, but from the 1930s through the '60s the book series about her was among the most popular of its type. After a harrowing adventure to kick things off in the first episode, The Vanishing Shadow, the Boltons are moving to Farringdon to start a new life in a reputedly haunted mansion. Judy and her older brother Horace are eager to tackle the challenge of staying in a "haunted house" that for years has sent tenants scrambling to get out; the siblings intend to prove there's no ghost. The mansion has an unhappy history, having served as headquarters for a criminal named Vine Thompson and her two cruel sons. Grand theft was a daily fact of life for the Thompsons, and legend says the consequences persist twenty years later via supernatural manifestation. Are Judy and Horace up to debunking this tall tale?

Moving to a new town and making friends is hard for a teen girl, but at least Judy already knows Lois Farringdon-Pett and her brother Arthur. Lois will introduce Judy to the girls at school, but she cautions her not to get her hopes up that one girl, Lorraine Lee, will accept her as a friend. Lorraine can be peculiar, and might be jealous if she thinks Judy is encroaching on her friendship with Lois. Good-natured as Judy is, her first weeks at school go badly, and things worsen as the girls become convinced she doesn't belong in their social circle. Meanwhile, at the house, Judy and Horace explore the attic above her bedroom, where unexplained noises are heard at all hours of the night. They make some discoveries: a white, malnourished cat (Horace names him Ghost), and a trunk filled with valuable jewels that Vine Thompson or her sons must have stashed away. Competing for the right to say they were the Bolton who broke the case, Judy and Horace only occasionally clue each other in on what they've found. The date of Judy's Halloween party is approaching, at which point she expects to have solved the mystery of the haunted house so she can deliver a delicious denouement for her friends and neighbors. Is a ghost at large in the Bolton residence, or is a human responsible for the "haunting"? If it's a human, what are they trying to achieve? Judy's friendship with Lois has undergone a lot of stress since she started school, but maybe their bond isn't dead yet. The solution to the haunted attic mystery just might set everything right.

I like the story's old-fashioned feel, but The Haunted Attic could be a lot more cohesive. I struggled to keep straight the timeline of Vine Thompson's death in relation to the present day. The fact that Horace keeps most of his detective work secret from Judy prevents us, too, from seeing the clues as he finds them, so we spend a disagreeable amount of the book not knowing how the investigation is progressing. I can't say I loved the drama among Judy, Lois, and their school peers, but I suppose it's believable. The subplot surrounding Peter Dobbs's parentage is strange; has he really lived his first two decades not knowing if the man and woman who raised him are his parents or grandparents? The Haunted Attic ranks well below the best installments in Carolyn Keene's original Nancy Drew series, but I'd rate it one and a half stars, and I want to try more Judy Bolton books. I have high hopes the franchise is a worthwhile cultural experience.

[Rebekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Judy, You weren't talking to the mill girls?" "Why not? They are our neighbors, you know."... "That's all the more reason why you should be careful of your associates. Suppose you were classed as one the mill girls? You wouldn't have a single friend in High School."... Please Judy, for my sake, keep away from the mill girls. they're not our kind."

Picking up right where The Vanishing Shadow left off, this 2nd in the Judy Bolton series has plenty of mysteries and drama to occupy her as she settles into her new home in Farringdon. In addition, Margaret Sutton also explores class snobbery and the cruelty that popular cliques can inflict on outsiders.

After moving into the big rented house on Grove Street which is said to be haunted by the ghost of Vine Thompson, a sort of Ma Barker character, Judy starts to experience strange sightings and mysterious attic noises herself. The whole community thinks the house is haunted and this is affecting Dr. Bolton’s formerly thriving Roulsville practice as no one wants to come to his home office. Judy, who does not believe in ghosts, vows to solve the mystery in time for the big Halloween party she intends to throw. Along the way, Judy and her brother Horace discover hidden stolen jewelry on the property, and big trunk full of fancy vintage clothing and poignant love letters, not to mention a half-starved white kitten Horace adopts and names “Ghost.”

Meanwhile, Judy is having trouble fitting in at school despite her friendship with socially prominent and popular Lois Farrington-Pett. Lois gives her a friendship ring identical to the one she gave Lorraine a long time ago but wants Judy to keep it secret. Judy's confidence and optimism take a blow when she is not immediately accepted by the popular kids. She is not rich, is a stranger, makes more than one faux pas, and has become friendly with the wrong crowd who go to the high school on the poor blue-collar side of town. To make matters worse, Lorraine’s ring has been stolen by burglars and when she sees what she thinks is her ring on Judy’s finger the accusations start flying. As in The Vanishing Shadow, Judy's refusal to break a promise results in all sorts of mayhem, and unfortunately, Lois is quarantined at home with Scarlet Fever and can’t come to Judy’s defense and straighten things out. Things get a lot worse before they get better which makes for a very exciting and dramatic book.

And that’s not even the end of it! In addition to ghosts of dead criminals, the discovery of stolen loot, and teen drama, we have the mystery of  Judy's friend and supporter, Peter’s, parentage which has been kept secret from him by the Dobbses, whom Peter calls his grandparents. All finally gather at Judy's Halloween Party (which is a story in itself!) where all of the mysteries are solved, ghosts uncovered, and criminals caught. It is truly a party for the ages, the likes of which surely had never been seen before in sophisticated and staid Farringdon. We even have social progress made with somewhat of a truce between social factions and Judy accepted by both the popular kids and the factory girls. The third book in the series will continue to build on the secrets of Peter's past and the criminal Vine gang in very unexpected and shocking ways.

https://rebekahsreadingsandwatchings....

[Deana David Lissenberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE these Judy Bolton books-- just discovering them now that I'm 40! I'm on a vintage young adult kick. They are just what you think -- they ooze charm, are romantic, visual, exciting, a little predictable. But they do make fun reading. I'm tearing through all the Margaret Sutton titles and fining I'm really looking forward to bedtime and picking up my books again!

[Bev · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second in the Judy Bolton series. After the flood in the first book wiped out their home (as well as many others in the town of Roulsville), Judy and her family move into a new home in Farringdon. The house was previously owned by a family with thieves among their members and the mother (and leader of the gang) was killed in the house. It's said that she haunts the place and many strange lights, weird noises, and even a ghostly specter have been seen and heard. Judy and her brother Horace aren't afraid of the rumors--and plan to root out the truth behind the "ghost."

Some of the items stolen belonged to Lorraine Lee's family. Lorraine is a wealthy, popular girl at the new high school that Judy will attend and is someone she hopes to be friends with. She will face some difficulties with that--Lorraine is jealous of Judy's friendship with Lois Farringdon-Pett (Lorraine's best friend) and suspicious of her friendliness with girls who attend the mill school. But Judy hopes that an investigation into the ghost will also help her track down Lorraine's family heirlooms and that her wish to be friends will be granted.

Judy and her brother Horace begin finding clues in the apparently haunted attic that explain the noises, lights, and even the white "ghost" that has appeared at the window. But it is Judy who discovers the secret hiding place of all the stolen items and arranges for the Chief of Police to be on hand at her Halloween party--just in time to catch the "ghosts" who are responsible for the haunting. There is also a sub-plot involving Peter Dobbs, Judy's childhood friend who has never known the truth of his parentage. Judy manages to sort that out as well.

There is a lot to like about the Judy Bolton mysteries. She is a down-to-earth girl detective and perhaps a bit more realistic than Nancy Drew. She isn't nearly as well-to-do and she ages with her books--from high school through a marriage later in the series. As with all these early young adult mystery stories there are a lot of coincidences and a lot of interweaving of the plots, but very enjoyable and fun to read. One thing that I didn't care much for in this one was Judy's preoccupation with being liked by the fashionable set at school and Lois's treatment of Judy over the Halloween party invitations. Honestly, if you've already promised a friend to attend their party, then any future invitations should be turned down--no matter who they're from. On the other hand, Judy does have an extreme reaction to Lois in return. Of course, this sort of high school dramatics is a thing, I know--though not a thing I ever understood. Fortunately, it's all smoothed out in the end. Just as the stolen items are found and the bad guys are caught and the mysteries are explained. Good clean fun and light entertainment.

First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. thanks.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Haunted Attic was written by Margaret Sutton and published in 1932. It is the second book in the Judy Bolton mystery series. In this book Judy and her family move into an old house that is rumored to be haunted. Apparently a crook named Vine Thompson was murdered there. Judy and her brother Horace are determined to solve the mystery behind the ghost. Besides this main mystery, Judy is concerned with making friends at her new highschool, planning a Halloween party and helping her friend Peter discover who his real parents are.

I read a few Judy Bolton books as a teenager and wanted to go back and read the series from start to finish. Judy Bolton is unique from the other mystery series for young readers from this time period. This is because the series wasn’t ghost written, Judy ages as the series goes on and they seem to have a bit more of a realistic tone to them. I’m really loving the series so far. Judy is just a delight. She’s so caring, spunky, brave and yet struggles with a temper. She seems so real. In this one she was struggling with fitting in at high school. A lot of the pettiness she faces and her difficult emotions she deals with having to go to school everyday while people make assumptions about her made her seem like a relatable young character. There is just always some sadness or tragedy to some part of the storyline in these books as well that make them more lifelike. Yet for the most part they feel happy and cozy. They just strike a perfect balance.

I enjoyed the mystery in this one and I had fun with the characters as they got together to solve the mystery. Also, the Halloween party was a delight! Part of me wishes I had read this at Halloween.

I can’t wait to continue on with this series and if you like mystery series for young people from the first half of the 20th century, you will adore Judy Bolton!!

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy a good mystery and I'm a sucker for old books, so I picked this one up at a secondhand shop on a whim. I wasn't disappointed by the mystery, it was very well put-together and the conclusion was very satisfying. Unfortunately the Mean Girls subplot came with a side of Spite Party, and I kept wishing Judy had just thrown Lois's ring back in her face the moment she started acting like a jerk. Still, I was glad when that plot resolved itself and the other girls came to Judy's party anyway. I was definitely more invested in the mystery, which is a good sign that at least the subplot didn't completely bleed into the main plot.

[Jacquie Sewell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't put a read date in because I have read this book and every other one in the series so often that I have lost track. My love of Judy Bolton started in the 60s and continues to this day. Margaret Sutton based many of her stories on real events and created in Judy the best girl detective that ever sleuthed her way through a novel. Unlike other girl detectives of the era, Judy matured as the books progressed. The stories are well plotted, suspenseful and believable.

[Nancy Bandusky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second in a series where time moves along and the characters grow up. This novel lets the reader get to learn more about the characters that we met in the first book and meet new ones that will play important roles as the series/lives progress.
This is one of my favorites as it involves Judy dealing with "class" issues as well as fitting in at her new high school and forming friendships.

[Lois · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am enjoying re-visiting the past and reading some of the Judy Bolton books that I read many years ago while in high school. This is the second in the series, and it picks up the events of the first book and continues the story. It's a quick read, but it held my interest. In fact, I couldn't put it down until I had "solved the mystery" along with Judy.

[James Crawford · Rating 3 out of 5]

1932.
Judy and her family move into a house that is supposed to be haunted. It belonged at one time to Vine Thompson who was the leader of a gang and who died but left behind hidden loot.
Judy has major problems at school since some students make the assumption that she stole a valuable ring and are now shunning her. The house seems to cause problems since she hears various strange-sounding noises at night

A sub-mystery revolves around Peter who doesn't know who his parents were. His grandparents refuse to give him any information about them.

Judy plans to hold a Halloween party, but it seems the attitude of the girls at school will cause them to shun her party. Still, there are the mill girls that she can invite

The book shows just how quickly students can turn on another one, and how easily it is to not bother to find out if one is really what you accuse them of being or not. The various scenes are well done, especially the attic.

There are also some racist things, though, as when the book notes "Judy had never seen a Negro except in pictures and this one fascinated her..."There are also some other things that show the strength of prejudice at the time

Another problem I had is that Horace, Judy's brother, seems to do more detective work that Judy does. Thus, I have mixed feelings about this particular story.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read this book as a child, as it was passed on to me by my grandmother. I've read several of the Judy Bolton books but this one has remained my favorite.

The Bolton moves to a new home in a new town, which once belonged to a family of thieves. It's also said to be haunted by a past owner, who was murdered in the house. While Judy and her brother Horace try to solve the mystery of the noises in their attic of their new home, Judy is torn between her friendship with a girl from a wealthy family and friendships with girls whose families have little money. (Some things do not change: how teenage cliques form and can turn on each other, the social strata of high schools.)

The revelation of the "ghost" at Horace's party was memorable for me, as it was not a typical source of a haunting.

One thing I liked about Judy Bolton vs. Nancy Drew was how Judy matured and went through life changes. She married Peter Dobbs and at the time the series ended, was slated to become a mother. Nancy Drew (at least in the original 56-book series) remained perpetually 18 years old, so it was refreshing to see one of the "girl sleuths" grow and change.

[Stephanie]

A childhood favorite that rereading reveals to be terribly rickety in terms of plot, but still satisfying in a nostalgic way. I hadn't recalled there being so much about class: Judy Bolton (like Nancy Drew, but better) lives on the dividing line between the more affluent and working class neighborhoods, and wants to be friends with both the girls who go to high school ("her set") and the girls who work at the mill. Gee whiz, she's a neat girl!

[Sep · Rating 5 out of 5]

Judy Bolton gave Nancy Drew a run for her money in the early "girls' mysteries" genre. Judy is less perfect than Nancy and actually goes to school, has fights with friends, and has a haunted attic. Margaret Sutton wrote a whole series of these. I'll see if I can find some more. I believe in the later ones, Judy grows up and gets engaged. In this book she is in her first year of high school. Some interesting class struggles between the regular high school and technical school.

[Maureen]

I received a few of these mystery books as a teenager. I loved them then and am now rereading them. Loved them then and love them now. It is interesting how the mind works and what you can find if you look . You will always find a reasonable answer to any situation. Judy and Horace did in the Haunted Attic. Now it is no longer haunted. They are a quick read.

[Jackie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was much better than the first and had a lot more mystery. I really enjoyed this one as it gave Judy, the main character a reality check in a way. She's a character you could relate to, or your grandmother could if she grew up in the time period of the book.

[Nora · Rating 4 out of 5]

I admit it. I love girls series books. I have been reading Judy Bolton books this summer. Well, it's summer and they are fun.

[Danine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like attics. I loved this book.

[Arlene Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

so much more fun than Nancy Drew - she was a real kid!

[MARLENE RANTZ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another very good Judy Bolton Mystery.

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

PLOT:
After losing her home in the Rouslville flood Judy Bolton is excited to be moving into her new home in Farringdon. The home was offered to the Bolton family for free due to the fact that the house is considered haunted. A former tenant, gangster Vine Thompson, had been shot and killed in the house and people claim her spirit now haunts it. Aspiring renters and local thrill seeking teenagers all claim they have seen a ghost waving it's arms in the attic window as well as heard Vine Thompsons voice calling out. Vine's son also was allegedly seen going into the house but never exiting. Judy, along with her reporter brother are excited to solve this mystery.

REVIEW:
- I do not understand why everyone tolerates Lorraine's behavior. I think Lois' pledge to remain best friends with Lorraine, simply because the girls' mothers were best friends, is silly. If Lois and Lorraine really were best friends than Lois should be able to tell Lorraine how disgusting her behavior is and to stop it.

- I like Irene in this book (something that I can not say after book 13) and I enjoy the concept of the mill girls who are all down-to-earth and friendly. Irene is such a fascinating character, especially when being compared to the wealthy characters. She's a teenager girl who seems to be the sole financial supporter of her household which includes just her disabled father and, in this book, a no-good boarder. She works at the silk mill during the day and attends the mills night school with her co-workers.

- I enjoyed Judy and Horace's relationship in this book. Horace is a really nice brother, always helping Judy and wanting to protect her but not in a toxic, gender-roles way. I liked the scene where Judy screams out in the night and Horace runs over to check on her. She says she's fine but he waits in her room for 10 more minutes to make sure everything is ok before going back to bed. I thought that was really sweet. I like that they don't always get along perfectly either. I think their relationship is very realistic for siblings.

- I didn't like the way Judy treated The Ghost, which is a cat Horace finds. He essentially gives it to Judy but Judy does not want it because it is half starved, dirty, and doesn't go with her rooms color scheme. I also did not like how Judy waits to feed the starving cat until after it is bathed.

- You can read the rest of my review on my blog, vintagegirlsbooks.blogspot.com

OVERVIEW:
Overall I enjoyed this book. In my opinion the Judy Bolton serious is above and beyond any other girls series ever written. The plots are always so detailed and can take you down a twisting road but always remain so easy to keep up with and never get confusing.

[Anna O. · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the first book we were left with the fact that Judy and her family have nowhere to live after the damage that was done from the flood. Luckily because of Horaces newfound courage and bravery, which seems to miraculously have cured his less than desirable qualities to his sister, his family is rewarded with a home. The rent is cheap, and all seems well-- until they get to the house.

It's an old house, that definitely needs to be fixed up, the Boltons buy all new furniture and make the place home at last. They soon find out, their house once belonged to an infamous family of thieves and is reputedly haunted by the ghost of the previous owner who was murdered. When noises start coming through the house at random times, it's up to Judy and Horace to get to the bottom of this seemingly, "ghost". Judy and Horace decide to have a ghost party, at which time they hope to unmask the supposed ghost. Will Judy and Horace be able to get to the bottom of the mystery in time?

[Tamsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one really brings (what I guess will be) Judy's inner circle together: Judy, Arthur, Lois, and Lorraine. I wonder if Peter and Horace will be in the loop or more as beloved outsiders? P.S. I predict Peter and Judy will end up together. At least, I am rooting for them over an Arthur/Judy mashup. Crossing my fingers for more police chief Kelly in the future also.

Some horrors for the 2019 reader: Judy goes to a new friend's home/mansion and: "A colored maid in a white cap and apron answered the door. Judy had never seen a negro except in pictures and this one fascinated her, the dark eyes, the shining teeth..." Fucking jesus, you guys. And then just two short pages later: "'Please, Judy, for my sake, keep away from those mill girls. They're not our kind.'" Also this less offensive remark (but snotty) remark about a sickly cat: "'It sounds as if he has asthma,' Judy said in disgust."

[Paola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely better than the first book and still relatable to this day. High school girls in 1932 were bitchy too, so that hasn't changed much lol. Overall, I liked the pace and style of this book much more than the first Judy Bolton mystery. This dove into classicism, jealousy, and friendship in a much more detailed way than the first book did. Horace, Judy's brother, is still annoying but much less of a "sissy" but still a bit naive and gullible. Judy, at 15, comes off as more mature. I can see a triangle forming already between Peter, Judy and Arthur. I would recommend this book to anyone really. Yes, it's geared towards younger readers and the mystery isn't really all that hard to figure out but it's still enjoyable overall. I look forward to reading the rest of this series.

[Maggie Holmes · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a weaker story in some ways but it does introduce us to Irene and the other mill girls. I can see why the bullying would appeal to young readers. Horace is starting to get stronger.
The most interesting part was that this edition had an introduction by Margaret Sutton telling how she came to write the stories. Most of them were based on true events. She was making up stories to tell her step-daughter. Never knew that.

[Jessica Dudenhofer Beery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story!!! Loved it as much as the first one...glad I ordered #3 so it's sitting here waiting for me. Love the innocent, clean (and yet exciting) mystery! And yeah, if I was a girl, I'd totally have a crush on Peter. :-)
I appreciated how the author made a point to show that things done in anger have repercussions...and that the heroine isn't a perfect individual. Judy learned a few important lessons about friendship in this one.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I missed the Judy Bolton books growing up (probably because I didn't like Nancy Drew), and I've only read the first 10 or so as an adult. I really enjoyed these, and sometime when I have the time (and the money) I would like to track down the series and read them in order.

[Aidan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Finished this book in a day! it was really intresting!! never boring except for at the beginning!

[Sheralyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books as a child, it took me forever to find it again. I have always loved the story and somehow failed to notice it was a series.

[Wilma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good mystery story.....