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Judy Bolton Mysteries #9
The Mysterious Half Cat
Judy is thrilled when she learns that her old friend, Dora Scott, is returning to Farringdon. The girls plan a huge welcoming party for Scottie at the railroad station, but Judy realizes that their plans were a mistake when she sees Scottie's reaction. Scottie is tired and impatient and has her little sister Carol in tow.
Carol is a very unusual child who is unresponsive to all sound except music and whistling. Scottie expects Judy to help her find a way to help Carol. Judy is uncertain how to proceed and feels that Scottie expects too much of her.
Judy also has two other mysteries to solve. Something mysterious is happening at the Chinese laundry in Farringdon, and objects keep disappearing from the houses on Grove Street. How Judy solves Carol's problem and how it relates to the other mysterious happenings makes for a thrilling story.
Carol is a very unusual child who is unresponsive to all sound except music and whistling. Scottie expects Judy to help her find a way to help Carol. Judy is uncertain how to proceed and feels that Scottie expects too much of her.
Judy also has two other mysteries to solve. Something mysterious is happening at the Chinese laundry in Farringdon, and objects keep disappearing from the houses on Grove Street. How Judy solves Carol's problem and how it relates to the other mysterious happenings makes for a thrilling story.
215 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1936
1 person is currently reading
92 people want to read
About the author
Margaret Sutton
100 books49 followersMargaret 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.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
March 20, 2017
This may be one of the strangest books I have ever read, if not the strangest. I should have known from the title.
October 18, 2024
**3 1/2 stars**
I had decidedly mixed feelings about this one. At the beginning of the book, Judy is awakened from a horrible nightmare in which Blackberry, her beloved cat, is hit by a car and cut in half! Peter and Arthur appear and Blackberry, still cut in two, gets up and follows them. The top half follows Arthur and the bottom half follows Peter as they head in opposite directions. Although obviously symbolic of Judy’s feelings being torn between the two young men, this image was very disturbing to me and it is one of the recurring themes in the book. An old beggar approaches the front porch where Judy is telling Honey about her dream and Honey buys the old man’s dream book to interpret it. The old man warns her against dreaming of cats a coincidence which startles Judy. Peter comes by and shows the girls a mysterious coded note which he found in front of Wing Lee’s Chinese laundry. Judy is intrigued.
When the mail comes, Judy is surprised and pleased to receive a letter from an old playmate, Dora”Scottie” Scott, who had moved to Alaska before the Roulsville flood. Scottie is coming back home with her little sister Carol. She is all alone in the world now and hopes to stay with the Boltons while she searches for lost relatives. Judy is very excited and of course the Bolton family starts making preparations to welcome Scottie and Carol into their home. Remembering that Scottie was always one for adventure and excitement, Judy thinks that maybe the mysterious note might be a good mystery for them to solve together. Judy goes to talk with Wing Lee about the note and he tells her that “spooks” come to his laundry every Wednesday. This is right up Judy’s alley and she hides out in his basement overnight (on a school night no less!) to investigate. She gets locked in and hears strange sounds and someone talking about splitting a cat in half! What?! How can Judy’s dream be connected to an old beggar, and nefarious doings in Wing Lee’s cellar? I, for one, was baffled. Surely Judy does not have psychic dreams?!
In addition to the mystery of the “Half Cat”, Scottie and Carol’s troubles take center stage. When Scottie arrives, she is nothing like the girl Judy remembers. She is unpleasant, ungrateful and unappreciative of Judy’s efforts to make her welcome and involve her in adventure. She is also exhausted because she can not let Carol out of her sight. There is something wrong with Carol’s brain which causes her to go into trances or fly into destructive rages. She also seems to be hearing impaired. Poor Scottie has a lot on her plate, but sometimes the interested, curious, and fun-loving Scottie peeks through. Judy powers through Scottie’s sometimes nasty behaviour and sets to work to help her and Carol and solve the mystery of the “half-cat” into the bargain.
One has to appreciate the unusual step of incorporating a child who, these days, would be considered “on the spectrum” or having serious brain damage into a children's mystery series. But it was disturbing and painful. Margaret never shied away, even in her early books, from addressing controversial topics to her young readers. In fact, Carol’s problems reflect a tragic circumstance in Margaret Sutton’s own life. How Carol’s behavior affects Scottie emotionally is very layered and authentic. The portrayal of the old beggar is also complex with paranoia, guilt, hoarding, the corruption of wealth, and repentance coming into the mix.
How Judy’s dream seemed to be repeated in real life is neatly explained at the end, to my satisfaction and relief. And Judy’s efforts, with the help of the whole gang, result in tying a kind of “half-cat”, the old beggar, and Scottie and Carol together into a hopeful happy ending. The end of the book sees Judy graduating from high school and and anxiously looking towards an uncertain future.
“Holy Christmas!” Horace exclaimed way down in his throat. “What do you call that?” “The Half Cat!” gasped Scottie, one had to her heart. Even Judy found herself clutching Arthur’s coat sleeve in that moment of frozen terror… Let’s get out of here,” Horace whispered hoarsely and began helping Scottie through the window…..“Wait a minute!” Judy detained him “I have an idea.”
I had decidedly mixed feelings about this one. At the beginning of the book, Judy is awakened from a horrible nightmare in which Blackberry, her beloved cat, is hit by a car and cut in half! Peter and Arthur appear and Blackberry, still cut in two, gets up and follows them. The top half follows Arthur and the bottom half follows Peter as they head in opposite directions. Although obviously symbolic of Judy’s feelings being torn between the two young men, this image was very disturbing to me and it is one of the recurring themes in the book. An old beggar approaches the front porch where Judy is telling Honey about her dream and Honey buys the old man’s dream book to interpret it. The old man warns her against dreaming of cats a coincidence which startles Judy. Peter comes by and shows the girls a mysterious coded note which he found in front of Wing Lee’s Chinese laundry. Judy is intrigued.
When the mail comes, Judy is surprised and pleased to receive a letter from an old playmate, Dora”Scottie” Scott, who had moved to Alaska before the Roulsville flood. Scottie is coming back home with her little sister Carol. She is all alone in the world now and hopes to stay with the Boltons while she searches for lost relatives. Judy is very excited and of course the Bolton family starts making preparations to welcome Scottie and Carol into their home. Remembering that Scottie was always one for adventure and excitement, Judy thinks that maybe the mysterious note might be a good mystery for them to solve together. Judy goes to talk with Wing Lee about the note and he tells her that “spooks” come to his laundry every Wednesday. This is right up Judy’s alley and she hides out in his basement overnight (on a school night no less!) to investigate. She gets locked in and hears strange sounds and someone talking about splitting a cat in half! What?! How can Judy’s dream be connected to an old beggar, and nefarious doings in Wing Lee’s cellar? I, for one, was baffled. Surely Judy does not have psychic dreams?!
In addition to the mystery of the “Half Cat”, Scottie and Carol’s troubles take center stage. When Scottie arrives, she is nothing like the girl Judy remembers. She is unpleasant, ungrateful and unappreciative of Judy’s efforts to make her welcome and involve her in adventure. She is also exhausted because she can not let Carol out of her sight. There is something wrong with Carol’s brain which causes her to go into trances or fly into destructive rages. She also seems to be hearing impaired. Poor Scottie has a lot on her plate, but sometimes the interested, curious, and fun-loving Scottie peeks through. Judy powers through Scottie’s sometimes nasty behaviour and sets to work to help her and Carol and solve the mystery of the “half-cat” into the bargain.
One has to appreciate the unusual step of incorporating a child who, these days, would be considered “on the spectrum” or having serious brain damage into a children's mystery series. But it was disturbing and painful. Margaret never shied away, even in her early books, from addressing controversial topics to her young readers. In fact, Carol’s problems reflect a tragic circumstance in Margaret Sutton’s own life. How Carol’s behavior affects Scottie emotionally is very layered and authentic. The portrayal of the old beggar is also complex with paranoia, guilt, hoarding, the corruption of wealth, and repentance coming into the mix.
How Judy’s dream seemed to be repeated in real life is neatly explained at the end, to my satisfaction and relief. And Judy’s efforts, with the help of the whole gang, result in tying a kind of “half-cat”, the old beggar, and Scottie and Carol together into a hopeful happy ending. The end of the book sees Judy graduating from high school and and anxiously looking towards an uncertain future.
January 16, 2012
Recently came across a trove of girls' mysteries from my long-ago youth. I recall trips to the book section of Jordan Marsh store were a treat as I could stock up on the latest issues of Nancy Drew, Dana Girls, Judy Bolton and Black Stallion books. My memory had given Judy Bolton a favored place above Nancy Drew in the girl sleuth department. Upon rereading this book, however, I find it was fairly horrendous! There was the to-be-expected period racial stereotyping and some blatant social prejudice re the people living on the "wrong side of town".
I felt this story was all over the place with angry flare-ups over petty slights and a far-fetched specialist operation that miraculously brings about a happy ending. Just too many coincidences - and the way Judy and friends flouted the law was not to be believed. Judy here is a senior in High School yet she is running around town in the wee small hours of the morning with her chums (or alone) following the conveniently present clues with nary a peep out of her indulgent parents. [Never a 'where have you been, young lady?' Instead she gets praised for her cleverness. Pu-lease!]
Two stars for the nostalgia aspect. Have to read a couple more to see if Judy improves.
I felt this story was all over the place with angry flare-ups over petty slights and a far-fetched specialist operation that miraculously brings about a happy ending. Just too many coincidences - and the way Judy and friends flouted the law was not to be believed. Judy here is a senior in High School yet she is running around town in the wee small hours of the morning with her chums (or alone) following the conveniently present clues with nary a peep out of her indulgent parents. [Never a 'where have you been, young lady?' Instead she gets praised for her cleverness. Pu-lease!]
Two stars for the nostalgia aspect. Have to read a couple more to see if Judy improves.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2022
This was the first Judy Bolton title I read, a number of years back—so it’s the book that got me excited about the Judy Bolton series. Re-reading it now really points out how much you gain by reading them in order—there are a lot of characters who appear from book to book, and it helps to have the background. This is a good story involving Judy’s friend Scottie—and her sister, Carol, who has some kind of illness that keeps her from speaking. As usual, Judy gets into hot water with everyone before finally making the bold move to solve the mystery, based on her powers of deduction, and following her instincts. I was impressed, going back to this book, by some mature and complex ideas. There’s a lot of stuff about dreams, and at one point Judy suspects: “…the old man’s dreams, like many other person’s, were only half remembered and the rest reconstructed from the imagination after he was awake.” That’s a concept you might be hearing for the first time, regardless of your age. I also like the overarching theme about the corrupting nature of wealth, from the miser’s hoarding and paranoia—to his shame, after being robbed of his treasures, and his inability to ask for help. These books aren’t merely adventures and mysteries, they also contain a bit of social commentary, for sure. Plus, Judy’s cat, Blackberry, also plays a significant role in this story, which could almost be goofy at one point, and sentimental at another, but because it’s Blackberry that’s all okay because we love Blackberry!
September 20, 2019
The ten-year-old girl I used to be would have been in seventh heaven reading this. Adult me was almost there.
It was a fairly tame Judy Bolton book (she's been kidnapped and gone toe-to-toe with hardened criminals over the years, much like Nancy Drew), but she's about seventeen or eighteen here, so its tameness understandable. Published during the Great Depression, I realize that it is dated, but still entertaining. I read a lot of girl detective novels as a preteen and Judy Bolton stole my heart from Nancy Drew. Which is because Judy Bolton grew up, she wasn't a victim of the Peter Pan syndrome like Nancy Drew (and the baby sitters club).
A few spots were awkward (the way they received Scottie at the train station made me want to die), but they're kids in the thirties. I'll allow things to be different.
A few things could have been cleared up a little earlier if everyone would have been open and honest.
Overall, I was content. I read it in a couple of hours. I liked it. I really was happy to read a new (to me) Judy Bolton book since I've read all the other ones I own at least three times.
I had almost forgotten the choice between Peter and Arthur. (I know how it ends eventually.) I've also realized that I'm still missing quite a few of the books. Now here's my dilemma.... Do I go for more Trixie Beldens or more Judy Boltons or more Nancy Drews? (I'll end up going for all three, plus some more obscure ones, including Cherry Ames.)
It was a fairly tame Judy Bolton book (she's been kidnapped and gone toe-to-toe with hardened criminals over the years, much like Nancy Drew), but she's about seventeen or eighteen here, so its tameness understandable. Published during the Great Depression, I realize that it is dated, but still entertaining. I read a lot of girl detective novels as a preteen and Judy Bolton stole my heart from Nancy Drew. Which is because Judy Bolton grew up, she wasn't a victim of the Peter Pan syndrome like Nancy Drew (and the baby sitters club).
A few spots were awkward (the way they received Scottie at the train station made me want to die), but they're kids in the thirties. I'll allow things to be different.
A few things could have been cleared up a little earlier if everyone would have been open and honest.
Overall, I was content. I read it in a couple of hours. I liked it. I really was happy to read a new (to me) Judy Bolton book since I've read all the other ones I own at least three times.
I had almost forgotten the choice between Peter and Arthur. (I know how it ends eventually.) I've also realized that I'm still missing quite a few of the books. Now here's my dilemma.... Do I go for more Trixie Beldens or more Judy Boltons or more Nancy Drews? (I'll end up going for all three, plus some more obscure ones, including Cherry Ames.)
March 16, 2017
This is a girls series book from 1936, a "Judy Bolton mystery". Judy is in no way Nancy Drew: she breaks the law (for the greater good, of course), she gets mad, and she gets kissed. Also unlike Nancy she goes to high school, neglects her studies in favor of sleuthing, and is in love with a law school student (or maybe vice-versa).
The story is very exciting, and totally ridiculous.
I would recommend this book to young girls who are sick of Nancy Drew's perfection, and older, nostalgic women (such as myself).
The story is very exciting, and totally ridiculous.
I would recommend this book to young girls who are sick of Nancy Drew's perfection, and older, nostalgic women (such as myself).
September 4, 2012
Despite my first impression, this is not apparently one of the Stratemeyer Syndicate's creation; it seems to have been brought to an end as a result of pressure from Stratemeyer to eliminate competition for their Nancy Drew series.
October 19, 2015
This is another Judy Bolton book that just doesn't hang together well. The leaps of logic don't always make sense and Judy and her guest's mood swings were irritating. Perhaps the author's personal difficulties around this time affected the quality as I believe the books improve after this.
December 19, 2008
A rather frenetic Judy Bolton mystery. Some racist attitudes, but this is an old book picking up on norms of its era.
March 5, 2012
Oh my Gosh! Re-reading the whole series after 40 years...and my 1 Star rating in no way should deter you from reading these! Each one is a gem, but I really wonder what the author was thinking in creating some of these characters! Every page was more shocking than the one before it -- just really, really nasty people saying nasty things! i loved it! These women were so mean to each other! Yet -- Scottie is a houseguest AND her small sister, staying with the Boltons free of charge -- yet she says the meanest things to Judy! Ms. Sutton -- what were you thinking! But again -- each one of these books is a gem; I love them all. But this one (and although i read all of these when I was about 10, i have no recollection of it) is just particularly ODD.
October 20, 2023
book 9
Judys old friend Dora Scott, or "Scottie", as Judy calls her, has arrived in Farringdon, where the Boltons have presided since book 2. Judys friends plan a welcome party and endless activities to make Scottie feel welcome and have fun, but Scotties arrival is anything but the excitement she had hoped for. Scottie is not the same girl Judy once remembered, Scottie dragging her little sister in tow, is worn and tired from being forced to play mother. Carol, gives the appearance of being deaf, except when music and whistling are present. Judys Father and others are baffled by this strange little girl, can they get to the bottom of this strange occurrence? Judy has her hands full in this book with mysteries, first carol, then objects keep going missing from one of the houses in the area, and oddities are occurring at a Chinese laundry mat. Will Judy be able to solve all these mysteries with the help of friends? Will Judy be able to help her friend Scottie be the gentle person she remembers?
Judys old friend Dora Scott, or "Scottie", as Judy calls her, has arrived in Farringdon, where the Boltons have presided since book 2. Judys friends plan a welcome party and endless activities to make Scottie feel welcome and have fun, but Scotties arrival is anything but the excitement she had hoped for. Scottie is not the same girl Judy once remembered, Scottie dragging her little sister in tow, is worn and tired from being forced to play mother. Carol, gives the appearance of being deaf, except when music and whistling are present. Judys Father and others are baffled by this strange little girl, can they get to the bottom of this strange occurrence? Judy has her hands full in this book with mysteries, first carol, then objects keep going missing from one of the houses in the area, and oddities are occurring at a Chinese laundry mat. Will Judy be able to solve all these mysteries with the help of friends? Will Judy be able to help her friend Scottie be the gentle person she remembers?
May 29, 2018
Judy is very excited at receiving the news that her old friend Dora Scott, known as Scottie, will be returning from Alaska. She can't wait to see her and her little sister, Carol. She even tries to rustle up a mystery to interest her. But nothing turns out quite as Judy expects. Instead Scottie wants Judy to find her relatives, whom she has lost touch with. In addition, young Carol seems to have trouble understanding speech, also she can hear music (and loves it). But Judy persists, and finds that the disparate clues she has gathered really do fit together — and lead to a relative for Scottie and Carol. Enjoyable.
November 28, 2018
One of the aspects that I enjoy in this series and in this book is that the characters have flaws - no one is "perfect." There are prejudices, hurtful attitudes, and a fear of the future as this book ends with Judy graduating from high school. With a new/old friend introduced to the series, fewer of the previous friends are involved in this mystery; however, both Peter and Arthur are still vying for Judy's attention.
January 20, 2023
I've set myself the task of reading all the Judy Bolton's in order and have now reached #9. I have to be honest, if this was the first "Judy" I picked up it would very definitely be the last! Some of the other titles were a little far fetched but this one - wow. Judy's leaps of logic based on very thin clues was beyond belief and worst of all the whole way Judy's old girlhood friend behaved almost from the minute she arrives is just awful. To be a guest in someone's home and treat them so horribly? I don't think the world has changed that much that this kind of behavior would have been acceptable in the 1930s!
May 30, 2021
The Mysterious Half Cat was kind of a strange little book. No doubt this is due to the fact that it was published in 1936 and times have changed in a big way since that time. The book is also meant for a younger audience. Nevertheless, it was fun to read as it was like a glimpse into the past.
December 4, 2025
Needed a light read, but Judy’s mystery this time involved orphans, an elderly beggar, and a seriously ill child, and then there’s that title and the image it brings forth. Nevertheless, Judy Bolton persists with nary a question about why a secret teenage boys club met covered in white sheets.
February 16, 2019
I thought this book was great! Judy graduates at the end of the book, which was fun.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 26, 2020
A little unbelievable about Carol's brain issue.
April 9, 2022
Judy Graduates from high school. But you will miss it if you blink.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews