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A Connie Blair Mystery #8
The Gray Menace
It's contest time at Atlantic City! – and Connie is there to cover the cooking contest for a Reid and Renshaw appliance account.
Everything seems to be running fairly smoothly when Connie checks into the resort hotel, and she looks forward to an interesting stay. But later, when Connie finds a small purse and attempts to return it to its owner, she finds herself walking into a roomful of trouble. Attacked from behind, Connie has no idea who her mysterious assailant could be – but she has a hotel full of people to pick from. Everyone is under suspicion, from aged, aristocratic Miss Whitney; to Paul, the bellhop and part-time dog walker; to the chambermaid . . . and, for good measure, any one of a hundred other employees or guests whom she doesn't know! And, later, when a golden falcon brooch is missing, Connie herself is accused of stealing the piece. Determined to clear herself and, at the same time, find her mysterious attacker, Connie digs deeper into the case and comes up with something quite unexpected . . . a cache of stolen jewelry.
Everything seems to be running fairly smoothly when Connie checks into the resort hotel, and she looks forward to an interesting stay. But later, when Connie finds a small purse and attempts to return it to its owner, she finds herself walking into a roomful of trouble. Attacked from behind, Connie has no idea who her mysterious assailant could be – but she has a hotel full of people to pick from. Everyone is under suspicion, from aged, aristocratic Miss Whitney; to Paul, the bellhop and part-time dog walker; to the chambermaid . . . and, for good measure, any one of a hundred other employees or guests whom she doesn't know! And, later, when a golden falcon brooch is missing, Connie herself is accused of stealing the piece. Determined to clear herself and, at the same time, find her mysterious attacker, Connie digs deeper into the case and comes up with something quite unexpected . . . a cache of stolen jewelry.
- GenresMystery
Hardback
First published January 1, 1953
About the author
Betsy Allen
53 books5 followersBetsy Allen was a pseudonym used by Betty Cavanna for books one through eleven of the Connie Blair mysteries. The author of book 12 was Anne Warner Miller of Philadelphia.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 3, 2015
The beginning of this book really got me hooked. Connie is at an old hotel in New Jersey to work on human interest stories for a cooking competition. It's February so the weather is cloudy and off. The weather and location together really were just the perfect setting.
The problem with this book is that after the action starts in the first few chapters (Connie getting strangled, the brooch being stolen, Connie getting accused) it really kind of peters out until the last few chapters. It doesn't advance anywhere. There's small things happening that makes everyone of the suspects look more and more guilty but no one starts to stand out. I was able to guess who the culprit was in the last few chapters and not the beginning like I normally do with these books which means there really was no signs of who it was at all which of course is a bad thing since readers like to try to solve the mystery too.
Some other things worth mentioning are:
-There's a scene where the dog in the story steals one of the cooking contestants sausage. They chase the dog down the beach for the sausage. Even after the dog has taken it into the ocean they want it back. When they get it back they say "good as new". Eww.
-Connie goes unconscious 4 times which has got to be some kind of record.
-When she gets hit over the head there's actually an injury. Nancy Drew gets hit over the head alllll the time and is always fine once she regains consciousness. Connie however gets her head busted open, has to have stitches, and stay in bed for a few days. She also worries she might have a concussion and so makes sure not to fall asleep where as Nancy Drew always sleeps off her concussions.
-In the first chapter Connie meets/flirts with 4 guys. I was thinking that's a lot of guys to bring in in the first chapter. Then one of the characters says exactly that.
-It's mentioned how good looking Connie is a LOT in this one. It literally is describing her as every man thinking she is the most beautiful woman alive. That got super annoying.
The problem with this book is that after the action starts in the first few chapters (Connie getting strangled, the brooch being stolen, Connie getting accused) it really kind of peters out until the last few chapters. It doesn't advance anywhere. There's small things happening that makes everyone of the suspects look more and more guilty but no one starts to stand out. I was able to guess who the culprit was in the last few chapters and not the beginning like I normally do with these books which means there really was no signs of who it was at all which of course is a bad thing since readers like to try to solve the mystery too.
Some other things worth mentioning are:
-There's a scene where the dog in the story steals one of the cooking contestants sausage. They chase the dog down the beach for the sausage. Even after the dog has taken it into the ocean they want it back. When they get it back they say "good as new". Eww.
-Connie goes unconscious 4 times which has got to be some kind of record.
-When she gets hit over the head there's actually an injury. Nancy Drew gets hit over the head alllll the time and is always fine once she regains consciousness. Connie however gets her head busted open, has to have stitches, and stay in bed for a few days. She also worries she might have a concussion and so makes sure not to fall asleep where as Nancy Drew always sleeps off her concussions.
-In the first chapter Connie meets/flirts with 4 guys. I was thinking that's a lot of guys to bring in in the first chapter. Then one of the characters says exactly that.
-It's mentioned how good looking Connie is a LOT in this one. It literally is describing her as every man thinking she is the most beautiful woman alive. That got super annoying.
January 22, 2025
4.5🌟 Another adventure-filled Connie Blair mystery!
The gray theme of this book perfectly matches the foggy, dark, cloudy and gloomy weather of February in New Jersey. Connie goes on a work trip to Atlantic City to write cover stories for a cooking contest (hosted by a popular stove brand that her advertising company supports).
Not only is Connie embroiled in another unexpected mystery, but her safety is also in jeopardy. This intelligent and spunky reporter is not quite sure who to trust and how everything fits together when an expensive jeweled brooch is stolen. Luckily, Connie's wits are about her and she's able to cleverly tackle the villain in the end.
If you love vintage YA detective mysteries featuring poodles, Atlantic City, hotel settings, the month of February and cooking contests, you'll love The Gray Menace!
NOTE: Out of the 8 books I've read so far, only one was a 4 star read. The others have all been 4.5 stars. So excited to read the last few in this series! Hooray for Connie Blair!
The gray theme of this book perfectly matches the foggy, dark, cloudy and gloomy weather of February in New Jersey. Connie goes on a work trip to Atlantic City to write cover stories for a cooking contest (hosted by a popular stove brand that her advertising company supports).
Not only is Connie embroiled in another unexpected mystery, but her safety is also in jeopardy. This intelligent and spunky reporter is not quite sure who to trust and how everything fits together when an expensive jeweled brooch is stolen. Luckily, Connie's wits are about her and she's able to cleverly tackle the villain in the end.
If you love vintage YA detective mysteries featuring poodles, Atlantic City, hotel settings, the month of February and cooking contests, you'll love The Gray Menace!
NOTE: Out of the 8 books I've read so far, only one was a 4 star read. The others have all been 4.5 stars. So excited to read the last few in this series! Hooray for Connie Blair!
March 23, 2023
Connie is in Atlantic City in the off-season, where an advertising client is sponsoring a cooking contest. But the mystery occurs at the hotel where she is staying. An elderly guest loses an antique brooch — and Connie becomes a suspect! To clear herself she investigates, putting herself in grave danger, but coming up trumps in the end — with the help of a poodle!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews