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The Happy Hollisters #25
The Happy Hollisters and the Swiss Echo Mystery
Business had originally brought the Hollister family to Europe. Then a new and exciting mystery led Pete, Pam, Holly, Ricky, Sue, and Mrs. Hollister on a thrilling chase while Mr. Hollister returned to America.
High in the Swiss Alps, a suspicious stranger in a cable car dropped a large black key which the Hollisters found. An insurance investigator named Johann Meyer was following the stranger, an international jewel thief. Mr. Meyer told the Hollisters about his dangerous case--to find a large diamond that had been stolen from Holland. When Mr. Meyer's small plane was reported missing over the mountains, the Hollisters decided to help.
The trail took them to a small village high in the mountains where Holly thought she saw the stranger again. But the man escaped before they could catch him. Then Pete and Pam discovered a ruined chalet which yielded another clue--a round metal disc that they later identified as a diamond saw. But who, they wondered, was blowing the long Alpine horn which echoed off the mountain peaks and where did the medallion necklace that Pam had found fit into the case?
Clue piles on clue as the irrepressible Hollisters track down each new lead, learn about Swiss life and customs, rescue Mr. Meyer, and recover a valuable diamond.
High in the Swiss Alps, a suspicious stranger in a cable car dropped a large black key which the Hollisters found. An insurance investigator named Johann Meyer was following the stranger, an international jewel thief. Mr. Meyer told the Hollisters about his dangerous case--to find a large diamond that had been stolen from Holland. When Mr. Meyer's small plane was reported missing over the mountains, the Hollisters decided to help.
The trail took them to a small village high in the mountains where Holly thought she saw the stranger again. But the man escaped before they could catch him. Then Pete and Pam discovered a ruined chalet which yielded another clue--a round metal disc that they later identified as a diamond saw. But who, they wondered, was blowing the long Alpine horn which echoed off the mountain peaks and where did the medallion necklace that Pam had found fit into the case?
Clue piles on clue as the irrepressible Hollisters track down each new lead, learn about Swiss life and customs, rescue Mr. Meyer, and recover a valuable diamond.
184 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1963
33 people are currently reading
103 people want to read
About the author
Jerry West
92 books51 followersThe Happy Hollisters by Jerry West was actually written by Andrew E. Svenson, a prolific yet somewhat anonymous, writer of books for children. Jerry West was the pen name assigned to Svenson when he started writing The Happy Hollisters for the Stratemeyer Syndicate. The Stratemeyer Syndicate was a book packager, well-known for its development of children’s book series including Tom Swift, The Bobbsey Twins, The Hardy Boys, and Nancy Drew. Many of these series were intended to have long publishing lives, and were written by multiple authors using the same pseudonym. The Happy Hollisters, however, were all written by Andrew Svenson, whose identity as Jerry West was kept secret until several years after his death in 1975.
Andrew Svenson was born in Belleville, NJ, in 1910, and his interest in writing started early. He was editor of his high school newspaper and yearbook at Barringer High School in Newark, and then went on to study Creative Writing at the University of Pittsburgh. After his graduation in 1932, he worked as a reporter and editor for the Newark Star Eagle and the Newark Evening News. He also taught creative writing courses at Rutgers University and Upsala College.
Andrew Svenson was encouraged by his friend Howard Garis (author of Uncle Wiggily) to try his hand at juvenile fiction. He joined the Stratemeyer Syndicate as a writer in 1948, where he contributed to established series as Franklin W. Dixon (The Hardy Boys) and as Laura Lee Hope (The Bobbsey Twins). The first volume in his own original series, The Happy Hollisters, was published in 1953 by Doubleday & Company, and he was made a partner in the Stratemeyer Syndicate in 1961. As he wrote and developed 33 titles in The Happy Hollisters, he was also creating additional series for children under other pen names: Bret King by Dan Scott and The Tollivers by Alan Stone, one of the first series written about and for African-American children.
Under various pseudonyms, Andrew Svenson wrote more than 70 adventure and mystery novels for children, which were published in 17 languages and sold millions of copies. The Hollister family was modeled on his own family and he often used actual Svenson family events and travels as the foundation for The Happy Hollisters books. He also kept copious newspaper clippings for story ideas, and interviewed hundreds of school children and teachers for additional suggestions. These ideas were then worked into his storylines, adding an educational element that was appreciated by parents and educators alike. The children loved the stories for their elements of danger and excitement geared to their comprehension level.
After his death in 1975, the Stratemeyer Syndicate assigned all rights to The Happy Hollisters to his widow, Marian Svenson; they subsequently became the property of The Hollister Family Properties Trust. The current publication was initiated by Andrew E. Svenson III, grandson of the author, on behalf of The Hollister Family Properties Trust.
Andrew Svenson was born in Belleville, NJ, in 1910, and his interest in writing started early. He was editor of his high school newspaper and yearbook at Barringer High School in Newark, and then went on to study Creative Writing at the University of Pittsburgh. After his graduation in 1932, he worked as a reporter and editor for the Newark Star Eagle and the Newark Evening News. He also taught creative writing courses at Rutgers University and Upsala College.
Andrew Svenson was encouraged by his friend Howard Garis (author of Uncle Wiggily) to try his hand at juvenile fiction. He joined the Stratemeyer Syndicate as a writer in 1948, where he contributed to established series as Franklin W. Dixon (The Hardy Boys) and as Laura Lee Hope (The Bobbsey Twins). The first volume in his own original series, The Happy Hollisters, was published in 1953 by Doubleday & Company, and he was made a partner in the Stratemeyer Syndicate in 1961. As he wrote and developed 33 titles in The Happy Hollisters, he was also creating additional series for children under other pen names: Bret King by Dan Scott and The Tollivers by Alan Stone, one of the first series written about and for African-American children.
Under various pseudonyms, Andrew Svenson wrote more than 70 adventure and mystery novels for children, which were published in 17 languages and sold millions of copies. The Hollister family was modeled on his own family and he often used actual Svenson family events and travels as the foundation for The Happy Hollisters books. He also kept copious newspaper clippings for story ideas, and interviewed hundreds of school children and teachers for additional suggestions. These ideas were then worked into his storylines, adding an educational element that was appreciated by parents and educators alike. The children loved the stories for their elements of danger and excitement geared to their comprehension level.
After his death in 1975, the Stratemeyer Syndicate assigned all rights to The Happy Hollisters to his widow, Marian Svenson; they subsequently became the property of The Hollister Family Properties Trust. The current publication was initiated by Andrew E. Svenson III, grandson of the author, on behalf of The Hollister Family Properties Trust.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 4, 2023
Surprisingly good, with some of the most accurate Swiss German I've ever seen in print (in the English language, of course). I laughed out loud at the "would you like some melted cheese wheel and potatoes?" (Raclette! Ha ha ha!). Jawohl!. Bless.
A ludicrous plot line of the usual Hardy Boys' variety, only featuring a much younger set. Constant exclamations of "Crickets!" and "Yikes!", a present-but-weirdly-inconsequential mother in tow, an international diamond crime syndicate, and an independent private eye for an insurance corporation who happens to need help in his professional capacities from a bunch of wholesome American kids and their mother on vacation.
It's mildly educational, too, though since this book has been written, there are now 26 Swiss cantons (not 22). The cable car at Felsenegg near Zürich is still there (it's not 'high in the Swiss Alps' at all, as the jacket summary suggests, but on the flattish Swiss plateau), and though it was suggested that having snow there in June was exceptional, I can't really emphasize just how unlikely that would be.
The book's official summary constitutes one big spoiler, I suppose for anxious parents wanting to be certain this book is 'acceptable content' for their children (it probably is - they say their prayers and attend church... only that's really a disappointment, because, assuming they found a rare Protestant ('Reformiert') mountain village, the service would all be in Swiss German in Grindelwald! Would have enjoyed hearing Vater unser im Himmel, geheiligt werde dein Name...., which was more notably absent in the abyssmal Christian Evangelical Greta's Dream series! Bizarre!). Anyway, here's the spoilerish summary and pretty much the entirety of the plot:
One of the scenes I found sweet was visiting the one-room Kindergarten in Grindelwald (with a decidedly easy-going teacher!) and learning a little German rhyme. I guess the author didn't know that the English word for enzian is "gentian", but I loved that these gorgeous, typically royal blue/navy/deep purple flowers were mentioned. I like the cows, too (they are that friendly, most of the time!). I liked how little Sue got to wear the local Trachtenmode of Grindelwald (see cover, at bottom), which is dirndl-like but slightly different to the Austrian style.
It's quite dated though (Pam is given an 'automatic translator device', which sounds like it works much like a pocket calculator, grinding audibly as it spits out the translated word; the boys get palm-sized Walkie Talkies, which, naturally, enable them to save the day). There's a scene with 10 year old Pam and 6 year old Holly riding on the highway on the back of a man's motorcycle who's trying to race the train to the next station, and none of them are wearing helmets. And at first I thought there was a weirdly racist scene, but then I ended up learning something about Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity and realised, ah, they could be turbanned (the turbans were drawn in the Sikh fashion, so I was suspicious).
Speaking of the illustrations - lovely. :) In blue ink and full pages. I only wish there had been more of them.
All in all, a sweet, retro Swiss read for young independent readers (or as a read aloud), and for those who won't be asking questions like, "Why go to the trouble of hauling a generator, a phonograph and 'a really big amplifier' further up a tall mountain to have a sneaky audible signal? And why not just cut the stupid diamond NOW, today, and decamp immediately? Why so many people involved? Why bother with the kids when you could, you know, just move elsewhere? Why lower a kid into a crevasse on a rope when experienced mountaineers with ice picks and climbing gear are at large? Why adopt a 10 year old American girl as a hiking club's temporary mascot in the first place anyway?", "Why wouldn't you assume that the valuable necklace was stashed loot, and that the name on the mitten could be the thief's who stashed it, not the owner?", etc. ;)
A ludicrous plot line of the usual Hardy Boys' variety, only featuring a much younger set. Constant exclamations of "Crickets!" and "Yikes!", a present-but-weirdly-inconsequential mother in tow, an international diamond crime syndicate, and an independent private eye for an insurance corporation who happens to need help in his professional capacities from a bunch of wholesome American kids and their mother on vacation.
It's mildly educational, too, though since this book has been written, there are now 26 Swiss cantons (not 22). The cable car at Felsenegg near Zürich is still there (it's not 'high in the Swiss Alps' at all, as the jacket summary suggests, but on the flattish Swiss plateau), and though it was suggested that having snow there in June was exceptional, I can't really emphasize just how unlikely that would be.
The book's official summary constitutes one big spoiler, I suppose for anxious parents wanting to be certain this book is 'acceptable content' for their children (it probably is - they say their prayers and attend church... only that's really a disappointment, because, assuming they found a rare Protestant ('Reformiert') mountain village, the service would all be in Swiss German in Grindelwald! Would have enjoyed hearing Vater unser im Himmel, geheiligt werde dein Name...., which was more notably absent in the abyssmal Christian Evangelical Greta's Dream series! Bizarre!). Anyway, here's the spoilerish summary and pretty much the entirety of the plot:
The Happy Hollisters and the Swiss Echo MysterySettings are: Zürich and area, then Luzern (Lucerne), and up to Grindelwald. From Grindelwald back to Luzern, where they catch a small plane to Geneva. From Geneva they go all the way to the remote and beautiful Val d'Herens, catching a Postbus from the station (it really does feel like the bus is scraping both sides of the houses in the old villages, btw!). From there, the Postbus back to the station and a direct train (?! What?! You're dreaming!) to Grindelwald (I just put this into the SBB trip planner for fun: from Evolene or Les Hauderes or wherever they were meant to be in the valley, they'd go back by bus to Sion. From Sion, they'd take a train across Valais/Wallis to Visp. They'd need to change to a different gauge railway at Visp and travel to Spiez. From Spiez they'd change and take a train to Interlaken. From Interlaken, they'd need to change to the cog-railway to travel to Grindelwald. That's 4 or 5 hours, and longer if you want to stop for lunch or something. I just wanted to mention it, because getting around Switzerland by train is remarkably easy, but of course you cannot go 'as the crow flies'!!!).
BY JERRY WEST
Illustrated by Helen S. Hamilton
Business had originally brought the Hollister family to Europe. Then a new and exciting mystery led Pete, Pam, Holly, Ricky, Sue and Mrs. Hollister on a thrilling chase while Mr. Hollister returned to America.
High in the Swiss Alps, a suspicious stranger in a cable car dropped a large black key which the Hollisters found. An insurance investigator named Johann Meyer ws following the stranger, an international jewel thief. Mr. Meyer told the Hollisters about his dangerous case - to find a large diamond that had been stolen from Holland. When Mr. Meyer's small plane was reported missing over the mountains, the Hollisters decided to help.
The trail took them to a small village high in the mountains where Holly thought she saw the stranger again. But the man escaped before the could catch him. Then Pete and Pam discovered a ruined chalet which yielded another clue - a round metal disc that they later identified as a diamond saw. But who, they wondered, was blowing the long Alpine horn which echoed off the mountain peaks and where did the medallion necklace that Pam had found fit into the case?
Clue piles on clue as the irrepresible Hollisters track down each new lead, learn about Swiss life and customs, rescue Mr. Meyer, and recover a valuable diamond.
One of the scenes I found sweet was visiting the one-room Kindergarten in Grindelwald (with a decidedly easy-going teacher!) and learning a little German rhyme. I guess the author didn't know that the English word for enzian is "gentian", but I loved that these gorgeous, typically royal blue/navy/deep purple flowers were mentioned. I like the cows, too (they are that friendly, most of the time!). I liked how little Sue got to wear the local Trachtenmode of Grindelwald (see cover, at bottom), which is dirndl-like but slightly different to the Austrian style.
It's quite dated though (Pam is given an 'automatic translator device', which sounds like it works much like a pocket calculator, grinding audibly as it spits out the translated word; the boys get palm-sized Walkie Talkies, which, naturally, enable them to save the day). There's a scene with 10 year old Pam and 6 year old Holly riding on the highway on the back of a man's motorcycle who's trying to race the train to the next station, and none of them are wearing helmets. And at first I thought there was a weirdly racist scene, but then I ended up learning something about Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity and realised, ah, they could be turbanned (the turbans were drawn in the Sikh fashion, so I was suspicious).
Speaking of the illustrations - lovely. :) In blue ink and full pages. I only wish there had been more of them.
All in all, a sweet, retro Swiss read for young independent readers (or as a read aloud), and for those who won't be asking questions like, "Why go to the trouble of hauling a generator, a phonograph and 'a really big amplifier' further up a tall mountain to have a sneaky audible signal? And why not just cut the stupid diamond NOW, today, and decamp immediately? Why so many people involved? Why bother with the kids when you could, you know, just move elsewhere? Why lower a kid into a crevasse on a rope when experienced mountaineers with ice picks and climbing gear are at large? Why adopt a 10 year old American girl as a hiking club's temporary mascot in the first place anyway?", "Why wouldn't you assume that the valuable necklace was stashed loot, and that the name on the mitten could be the thief's who stashed it, not the owner?", etc. ;)
September 20, 2021
Growing up I didn't read lot of America Children's books, so I grabbed the opportunity to read this when the book came along.
I enjoyed reading this book. It's simple and easy, with enjoyable characters. Reading as an adult, some things did feel a bit childish but not enough to put me off.
The story incorporated a lot about the place it was set in, its people and their culture. I really liked that.
I know a little more about the Swiss and Switzerland now. :)
I enjoyed reading this book. It's simple and easy, with enjoyable characters. Reading as an adult, some things did feel a bit childish but not enough to put me off.
The story incorporated a lot about the place it was set in, its people and their culture. I really liked that.
I know a little more about the Swiss and Switzerland now. :)
January 15, 2019
A good mystery, but definitely written for its day. These children can do anything, like keeping up with adults climbing a mountain, and other tasks that 9 to 12 year olds just can't do.
Even with that, the mystery itself is well-thought out and written. An insurance investigator, while chasing a diamond thief, literally crashes into two of the Hollister children. Herr Meyer introduces himself and explains what happened. The children find a clue, and begin assisting with the case. With a few changes in language, it could certainly be updated for today.
If you enjoy this type of young adult fare, and want to take a break from Nancy, Frank, and Joe, then this series is for you.
Find it! Read it!
Even with that, the mystery itself is well-thought out and written. An insurance investigator, while chasing a diamond thief, literally crashes into two of the Hollister children. Herr Meyer introduces himself and explains what happened. The children find a clue, and begin assisting with the case. With a few changes in language, it could certainly be updated for today.
If you enjoy this type of young adult fare, and want to take a break from Nancy, Frank, and Joe, then this series is for you.
Find it! Read it!
April 17, 2021
The Happy Hollisters and the Swiss Echo Mystery by Jerry West
Kids stay behind with mom and explore the Swiss area. They find many more mysteries and love haring about the mountains.
The herders and the chalets where hidden treasures are located. They fear for their pilot friend who's plane crashed...
He had given them toys to try out: walkie talkies and Eng to Germ hand translator of words. They come in handy in solving the mysteries and gathering clues.
Love how all the people they meet are so kind to them. They hold many clues the kids will use.
Love the hand drawn sketches. Never expected this ending, whoa!
Kids stay behind with mom and explore the Swiss area. They find many more mysteries and love haring about the mountains.
The herders and the chalets where hidden treasures are located. They fear for their pilot friend who's plane crashed...
He had given them toys to try out: walkie talkies and Eng to Germ hand translator of words. They come in handy in solving the mysteries and gathering clues.
Love how all the people they meet are so kind to them. They hold many clues the kids will use.
Love the hand drawn sketches. Never expected this ending, whoa!
November 8, 2019
Classic
I read this series of books as a child so when I saw one being offered for free I decided to re-read one. It brought back so many memories. They're a little dated but still a great read for children
I read this series of books as a child so when I saw one being offered for free I decided to re-read one. It brought back so many memories. They're a little dated but still a great read for children
March 19, 2021
I love mysteries and this book really exciting. It as fun to read because it had bad guys in it.
August 3, 2021
Did not finish. Too boring for the kids, weird since the others are so engaging.
May 18, 2022
I like this book because it tells about a diamonds and it shows how a family showing kindness
March 14, 2025
Not my favorite of the series, but fine.
June 20, 2025
A cute book much like Nancy Drew about a young detective. Nancy drew is better but this one was ok.
March 24, 2016
Los Hollister es la serie de libros que me inició definitivamente en la lectura. Recuerdo haber leído el primero y, con todo el dinero que había ahorrado por mi primera comunión y en todos los años anteriores, ir a por los 32 restantes, que costaban 600 pelas cada uno. Los compré todos en la feria del libro de Ceuta, lo recuerdo perfectamente, y volví a mi casa con dos bolsas y una mochila llenas de libros, que me duraron tres meses exactamente, para sorpresa/preocupación de mi madre.
Cada libro es el mismo, con aventuras algo diferentes, y con los mismo personajes, que no evolucionan nada en toda la serie. Pete, Pam, Holly, Ricky, Sue, puedo recitar sus nombres treinta años después sin consultarlo. Yo siempre fui de los Hollister, despreciando a quieres eran de los siete secretos, los Cinco o (puaj) Puck.
Junto a Mortadelo, los tres investigadores de Alfred Hitchcock y (a petición de mi padre) las aventuras de Guillermo, comenzaron a formar mi universo lector. Y por ello, aunque sean libros de lo más intrascendente, los considero fundamentales.
Cada libro es el mismo, con aventuras algo diferentes, y con los mismo personajes, que no evolucionan nada en toda la serie. Pete, Pam, Holly, Ricky, Sue, puedo recitar sus nombres treinta años después sin consultarlo. Yo siempre fui de los Hollister, despreciando a quieres eran de los siete secretos, los Cinco o (puaj) Puck.
Junto a Mortadelo, los tres investigadores de Alfred Hitchcock y (a petición de mi padre) las aventuras de Guillermo, comenzaron a formar mi universo lector. Y por ello, aunque sean libros de lo más intrascendente, los considero fundamentales.
August 5, 2016
one of my favorites! and learnesd to enjoy swiss cheese and potato! :-)
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews