The Puzzle in the Pond

Judy Bolton Mysteries #34

by Margaret Sutton

The thirty-eight volume Judy Bolton series was written during the thirty-five years from 1932-1967. It is one of the most successful and enduring girls' series ever published. The Judy Bolton books are noted not only for their fine plots and thrilling stories, but also for their realism and their social commentary. Unlike most other series characters, Judy and her friends age and mature in the series and often deal with important social issues. To many, Judy is a feminist in the best light-smart, capable, courageous, nurturing, and always unwavering in her true beliefs; a perfect role model.

Genres: Mystery

178 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1963

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

[Rebekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Is this--your typewriter?" she asked when she could find her voice.
George Anderson glared at her. "You knew this stuff was here, didn't you? I've read about you, always snooping around in empty houses and giving that brother of yours ghost stories for the Farringdon paper. you're Dr. Bolton's daughter, aren't you?"

Peter has been assigned by the FBI to round up the rest of the Mott gang from The Secret Quest so Judy and Peter are finally back home. As the book opens, she is up in her attic gathering ephemera for the Roulsville library display cases. The doorbell rings, and before you know it, she is hot on the trail of another adventure. Her young friend Holly's typewriter has been stolen! Their hot pursuit of the suspicious green car leads them to a shady furniture dealer whose stock seems to have been waterlogged at some point.

While in the neighborhood they visit the Jewel sisters of the previous book and meet their friend Meta, who is the sad and mysterious matron of a nearby orphanage. While there, they visit the beaver dam not far from the house and are joined by Horace and Honey. This is where the puzzle in the pond reveals itself. Imagine Judy's shock when she spies a distinctive table leg from a piece of furniture that was in her old house in Roulsville sticking out of the dam? The content of the Bolton home had been believed lost forever after the flood had devastated the small town 6 years ago. (The Vanishing Shadow, Judy Bolton #1). How did the table leg get to the pond which is upstream from the flood? While investigating the curious appearance of the table leg, we meet Danny, a resident of the orphanage who has been waiting 6 years for his father, who was once engaged to Meta, to come for him. Peter gets involved while trying to locate the rest of the Mott gang and it appears that Danny's father might be involved in criminal activity.

I enjoyed this much more than the previous 3 Judy Bolton mysteries. I like it when Judy is back home and we meet old friends in familiar surroundings, which are often smoothly incorporated into the mystery. This one includes a lot of history and background from previous books, which further adds to the enjoyment. Honey, Peter's sister, and Horace, Judy's brother are now in a better place than in the previous book, and are "almost engaged." Judy Bolton is best when read in order as time does progress and one book builds on the other, unlike with many other girls' series.

Margaret's talent for creating multilayered characters is at the forefront in this one. Holly has been a fixture since book #23, The Black Cat's Clue, as a teenage friend Judy has taken under her wing. But she is often silly and flighty. George Anderson, Danny's father, has a hair-trigger temper and flies off the handle easily. He is sulky and suspicious of everyone. Despite this, he does love his son and finds a happy ending with him and his former fiance. Even Danny comes across as "a vicious little monster" at one point. In the middle of the investigation, the orphanage burns to the ground in a dramatic scene. True character is revealed including the character of the community as a whole as everyone pitches in to help with the orphans, including the Boltons and Dobbs.

There were several unlikely events and unanswered questions in this one. Primarily, how did the Mott gang morph from industrial espionage involved in rocket science to looters and traffickers of stolen furniture? Will Alden Launt, Honey's sneaky co-worker and member of the Mott gang, be arrested at last? How did George, who abandoned his toddler son for 6 years in order to scrimp and save to open a business and make a home, afford a fancy honeymoon? It's best for the adult reader not to scrutinize some things too closely, I guess. And, as always, some threads may be picked up in future books.

https://rebekahsreadingsandwatchings....

[Nancy Bandusky · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this story in the series takes place directly after the Secret Quest, the mystery centers around the impact of the Roulsville flood that occurred in the first story, The Vanishing Shadow. Some of the information in The Puzzle in the Pond was not mentioned in the first story but does fill in nicely for the careful reader.

Characters that the reader was recently introduced to continue in this story while the usual old friends make an occasional appearance. As usual Judy and Peter end up working together as the mystery unfolds and they help an old romance start again.

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Judy sets off with her young friend Holly in pursuit of a stolen typewriter, little does she know that her adventures will intersect with her husband, Peter's latest assignment for the FBI. As usual, coincidences abound. Enjoyable, quickly read, fast-paced.

[LuAnn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh my, more conversations that don’t flow, suspecting people and jumping to conclusions with little evidence. I do like how Sutton weaves in the Roulsville flood from the first book in the series.