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The Crimson Thread
This collection of literature attempts to compile many of the classic, timeless works that have stood the test of time and offer them at a reduced, affordable price, in an attractive volume so that everyone can enjoy them.
- GenresEbooks
78 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1925
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About the author
Roy J. Snell
247 books8 followersRoy Judson Snell wrote more than 84 novels for young adults under his own name and also using the pseudonyms David O'Hara, James Craig and Joseph Marino.
His tales were mostly directed at boys, though he wrote at least one series of mysteries for girls. He also wrote some animal fantasy tales for younger children and they began with 'Little White Fox and His Artic Friends' (1916). He was later to say that he sold the book for "the great sum of $6.24".
He also wrote a series entitled 'Radio- Phone Boys', which began with 'Curly Carson Listens In' (1922).
Born in Laddonia, Missouri, Snell moved to the Sycamore area and there he learned his father's trade of erecting windmills. He entered Wheaton academy after his 19th birthday, graduated, and then worked his way through Wheaton College, finishing with the class of
1906.
His brother's death led to him entering the ministry and he accepted the pastorate of a small church in rural Southern Illinois. After only a year he became principal of a church supported
school in the Cumberland Mountains of Kentucky. "A person could just as
likely get shot as not there," Snell once remarked, and he added, "It was a constant struggle to see who would
take over the school — the big boys or me." He eventually won and gained the respect of his students and their parents alike.
He then spent two semesters' graduate study at Harvard, after which he went as a Congregationalist missionary to Alaska. While there he was responsible for over 350 Eskimos and 2,500 reindeer. He returned to
the area the following year, and afterwards he earned his B.D. degree at Chicago Seminary and his master's degree from the University of Chicago.
He briefly served in France with the Y.M.C.A. during World War 1, service which interrupted his new-found writing
career. Once he returned to the United States he began to write in earnest.
A dozen books flowed from his pen, most of them on adventure and mystery themes for youngsters, and then the author began lecturing and for the following 30 years he gave illustrated talks about his many travels.
He had a lengthy career as a novelist, claiming that he often wrote 2,000 words per hour, and was later to say, "You have to develop a second personality to write. It's a hard thing to do. Oftentimes I felt like giving up the whole business."
He continued, "I had all the luck on my side. If I were a young man today, I'd hesitate going into a writing career. I wouldn't know where to start. Kids don't read as much today with TV and movies. No I've had my day and I got out of it just what I wanted."
Readers also got what they wanted for as a testimony to his skill, more than one and one-half million copies of his books were sold.
He died in Wheaton, Illinois.
His tales were mostly directed at boys, though he wrote at least one series of mysteries for girls. He also wrote some animal fantasy tales for younger children and they began with 'Little White Fox and His Artic Friends' (1916). He was later to say that he sold the book for "the great sum of $6.24".
He also wrote a series entitled 'Radio- Phone Boys', which began with 'Curly Carson Listens In' (1922).
Born in Laddonia, Missouri, Snell moved to the Sycamore area and there he learned his father's trade of erecting windmills. He entered Wheaton academy after his 19th birthday, graduated, and then worked his way through Wheaton College, finishing with the class of
1906.
His brother's death led to him entering the ministry and he accepted the pastorate of a small church in rural Southern Illinois. After only a year he became principal of a church supported
school in the Cumberland Mountains of Kentucky. "A person could just as
likely get shot as not there," Snell once remarked, and he added, "It was a constant struggle to see who would
take over the school — the big boys or me." He eventually won and gained the respect of his students and their parents alike.
He then spent two semesters' graduate study at Harvard, after which he went as a Congregationalist missionary to Alaska. While there he was responsible for over 350 Eskimos and 2,500 reindeer. He returned to
the area the following year, and afterwards he earned his B.D. degree at Chicago Seminary and his master's degree from the University of Chicago.
He briefly served in France with the Y.M.C.A. during World War 1, service which interrupted his new-found writing
career. Once he returned to the United States he began to write in earnest.
A dozen books flowed from his pen, most of them on adventure and mystery themes for youngsters, and then the author began lecturing and for the following 30 years he gave illustrated talks about his many travels.
He had a lengthy career as a novelist, claiming that he often wrote 2,000 words per hour, and was later to say, "You have to develop a second personality to write. It's a hard thing to do. Oftentimes I felt like giving up the whole business."
He continued, "I had all the luck on my side. If I were a young man today, I'd hesitate going into a writing career. I wouldn't know where to start. Kids don't read as much today with TV and movies. No I've had my day and I got out of it just what I wanted."
Readers also got what they wanted for as a testimony to his skill, more than one and one-half million copies of his books were sold.
He died in Wheaton, Illinois.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 30, 2016
This was by far the best of Roy Snell's books in the "An Adventure Story for Girls" series. The entire mystery, which contained many threads of its own, took place in a 2 week period before Christmas.
Lucile Tucker is working during college break in the book department of a large department store. Halfway through the book another of Snell's characters from other stories comes in- Florence Huyler, who gets a job as an elevator operator at the same store.
The mysteries: Who is the beautiful woman Lucile sees in a dark corridor at 10 PM who steals her worn but serviceable coat and leaves a beautiful expensive fur in its place?
Who is Cordie, a girl who Lucile saves from being kidnapped, takes in, and gets a job?
Who is the woman who calls herself the "Spirit of Christmas", posts every day in the newspapers where she will be, and offers $200 in gold to the person who shakes her hand and calls her the Spirit of Christmas?
Why does Lucile frequently find a crimson thread drawn through material and twice knotted and what does it mean?
Why did someone steal an iron ring used for cutting cord and put a diamond in it?
What has happened to best-selling author Jeffrey Farnsworth whose book, "Blue Flames" sold 2000 copies in their department store alone?
Why does co-worker Laurie Seymour (a man) act suspicious and leave the store by the package chute one night?
Then Florence has her own mysteries:
Who is Meg, the girl who looks exactly like her and trades places with her one day?
What secret surprise is in the bag she bought at an auction? And why does a villainous man follow her and try to get it back?
I loved the idea of the "Spirit of Christmas". I also loved the idea that Florence had of giving herself a Christmas surprise by bidding on a bag (satchel?) at an auction. Like Storage Wars these bags and trunks were left as payment and were not ever returned for. Any contents inside the sealed bag belongs to the bidder who wins the auction for it. And of course, Florence's bag contains something valuable.
Lucile Tucker is working during college break in the book department of a large department store. Halfway through the book another of Snell's characters from other stories comes in- Florence Huyler, who gets a job as an elevator operator at the same store.
The mysteries: Who is the beautiful woman Lucile sees in a dark corridor at 10 PM who steals her worn but serviceable coat and leaves a beautiful expensive fur in its place?
Who is Cordie, a girl who Lucile saves from being kidnapped, takes in, and gets a job?
Who is the woman who calls herself the "Spirit of Christmas", posts every day in the newspapers where she will be, and offers $200 in gold to the person who shakes her hand and calls her the Spirit of Christmas?
Why does Lucile frequently find a crimson thread drawn through material and twice knotted and what does it mean?
Why did someone steal an iron ring used for cutting cord and put a diamond in it?
What has happened to best-selling author Jeffrey Farnsworth whose book, "Blue Flames" sold 2000 copies in their department store alone?
Why does co-worker Laurie Seymour (a man) act suspicious and leave the store by the package chute one night?
Then Florence has her own mysteries:
Who is Meg, the girl who looks exactly like her and trades places with her one day?
What secret surprise is in the bag she bought at an auction? And why does a villainous man follow her and try to get it back?
I loved the idea of the "Spirit of Christmas". I also loved the idea that Florence had of giving herself a Christmas surprise by bidding on a bag (satchel?) at an auction. Like Storage Wars these bags and trunks were left as payment and were not ever returned for. Any contents inside the sealed bag belongs to the bidder who wins the auction for it. And of course, Florence's bag contains something valuable.
September 27, 2019
This book was a little odd to say the least- not like one of my favourite books by Roy J Snell: Sally Scott of the WAVES.
It was very confusing and the mystery was only interesting near the end.
It was very confusing and the mystery was only interesting near the end.
July 28, 2025
Blech!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews