The Mark on the Mirror

Judy Bolton Mysteries #15

by Margaret Sutton, Pelagie Doane (Illustrator)

Judy's relationship with Lorraine Lee is once again strained after she receives a mirror as a present at Judy and Lorraine's wedding shower. Lorraine is convinced that Arthur sent the present to Judy so that Judy would know he still cares about her. Judy is certain that Arthur did not send the mirror, but who did?

Even stranger is the note that came with the mirror stating "...which perhaps unwittingly, Birdie's little winglike fingers marked especially for me." A mysterious image of a bird had appeared on the mirror in the Bolton house shortly before it broke. But who put the image on the mirror?

Can there be a connection to the young girl named Birdella who lives across the street? Birdella's mother and father are fighting for her custody in court. Judy suspects that there is much more to this case than meets the eye and that some unknown person is the one who sent the mirror as a present.

Genres: Mystery, Childrens

206 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1942

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

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this Judy Bolton mystery long ago but had to re-read it for a trivia contest. This has a great story and a great mystery, although it isn't one of my favorites in the series.

Judy is haunted by birds. One is mysteriously drawn on the mirror in the family's hallway and then the mirror falls and breaks. Blackberry, her cat, kills a bird. At the bridal shower Judy's friends throw for her and spoiled Lorraine Lee, a masked messenger delivers a new mirror. What does the bird mark mean? The adopted unhappy little girl in this story has an unusual name. Of course, Judy unravels the mystery and all is well.

[Rebekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one features some questionable behavior on Judy and Peter's part and some editorial problems. But there is some great drama towards the end including a tense courtroom battle about the custody of an adopted child. It also has some sweet and amusing interaction between Peter and Judy who will be married in two weeks by the end of the story

[LuAnn · Rating 3 out of 5]

While Nancy Drew Mystery Stories involve implausibly interconnected and sensational mysteries, Judy Bolton Mysteries involve implausible leaps of logic about interconnected, everyday mysteries—and it drives me nuts! I think because the author works backwards from the solution, Judy’s deductions about the clues make sense to her, but they are not deductions most of us would make. The man who said, “It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts,” Sherlock Holmes, would surely roll over in his grave to hear them, if he actually had a grave!

The conclusions Judy reaches about the The Mark on the Mirror and the mysterious bridal shower package are a prime examples of this. But, as always, the stories, people and relationships are enough to keep me reading, and after 15 books, I’ve grown comfortably familiar with the characters and setting, if not overly fond of them. (Like any of the juvenile series, reading them as a youngster helps!)

[Nancy Bandusky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is your typical young girl's detective story, except for one thing: Judy, the detective, does make mistakes. Sometimes she says things she shouldn't, and sometimes she is too concerned about belonging to the "popular" group. Judy is "real" in the sense that she seems more human, more like real girls her age than some of those other girl detectives out there.

One of the many things I like about the Judy Bolton mysteries is that time passes. Judy grows up along with the other characters in her life. This story involves a wedding shower and a mysterious package that is delivered. While some of the scenes and dialogue may seem old-fashioned, I found it sweet and enjoyed returning to my past.

The only issue I had with the story is that there is a sub-mystery -- the empty rocking chair. The fact it took Judy so long to figure it out made me wonder how often she cared for her cat.

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the day of Judy's wedding shower, her beloved cat, Blackberry, catches and kills a baby bird. Thus begins Judy's feeling that she is being haunted by birds, when she discovers a drawing of one on the hall mirror. After the mirror falls and breaks, Judy believes it was her fault, until she receives a mystery gift of a replacement mirror. To set her friend Lorraine's mind at rest, Judy is determined to prove that Lorraine's fiance, Arthur, did not give her the mirror. A new neighbor, and divorced couple, and Honey's new job all play a part in this story, which Judy eventually pieces together. Enjoyable.

[Mikayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was another book that was only 'okay'. It was refreshing not to have the mystery all about gangsters. But Ella, a little girl in the story, was just like Judy. All the side characters seem to be just like Judy.

[C Krengel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read all if the Judy Bolton books as a young girl. This was one of my favorites. I still remember the little orphan girl, Birdella and her long lost brother.

[Mazzou B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always love old classic mysteries. Judy Bolton mysteries are some of the best because they are wholesome, realistic and easy to read. Perfect for children!

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading the books from my childhood, sometimes the mysteries are more interesting then the ones from today.