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Melody Lane Mysteries #1
The Ghost of Melody Lane
Mystery surrounds the great organ in the home of the “Cameo Lady”—beloved friend of Carol and sponsor of the girls’ Choral Club. Three people see the “ghost” that wanders in the grove carrying a waxy white rose. And Carol finds the rose! In the end she finds the ghost too.
- GenresMystery
Hardcover
First published January 1, 1933
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28 people want to read
About the author
Lilian C. Garis
89 books5 followersLilian C. Garis , born Lilian C. McNamara (1873-14 April 1954), was an American author who wrote hundreds of books of juvenile fiction between around 1915 and the early 1940's. Prior to this, she was a reporter for the Newark Evening News in New Jersey.
For the Stratemeyer Syndicate, she wrote under the pseudonyms Margaret Penrose and Laura Lee Hope, with her works including some of the earliest books in the Bobbsey Twins series as well as the Dorothy Dale series.
Mrs. Garis also wrote books under her own name. Her husband, Howard Roger Garis, was also a Syndicate writer and DJ on WNJR. Her children, Roger and Cleo, also wrote juvenile fiction.
For the Stratemeyer Syndicate, she wrote under the pseudonyms Margaret Penrose and Laura Lee Hope, with her works including some of the earliest books in the Bobbsey Twins series as well as the Dorothy Dale series.
Mrs. Garis also wrote books under her own name. Her husband, Howard Roger Garis, was also a Syndicate writer and DJ on WNJR. Her children, Roger and Cleo, also wrote juvenile fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 9, 2012
At the time, Nancy drew was a big deal, so everybody was trying to create their own version. That's basically what this series is: watered down Nancy Drew.
It has all the same elements: the spunky young girl, her friends, a nice guy that may become a romantic interest etc, but it all feels very flat and by the numbers.
Even the mystery, one of those 'is the big, old house haunted?' ones, that I am generally a fan of is weak, lacks any suspense and has a resolution that makes you go 'really? that's it?'
Our hero, Carol, is likable enough, and unlike most girl detectives has money worries, which give her a bit of depth, but all she seems to do is worry, it's always someone else, either an adult or her 'maybe' boyfriend that fixes things.
The fact that she solves the mystery, while seemingly having spent the book really not doing much or thinking things through feels more like the author going 'What? I only have ten pages left? Better wrap this sucker up!' than Carol having any kind of investigative genius.
There's the occasion bit of humor or cleverness but otherwise there's nothing to make this stand out from the 42 other ND clones out there at the time and nothing that makes me interested in trying another one.
It has all the same elements: the spunky young girl, her friends, a nice guy that may become a romantic interest etc, but it all feels very flat and by the numbers.
Even the mystery, one of those 'is the big, old house haunted?' ones, that I am generally a fan of is weak, lacks any suspense and has a resolution that makes you go 'really? that's it?'
Our hero, Carol, is likable enough, and unlike most girl detectives has money worries, which give her a bit of depth, but all she seems to do is worry, it's always someone else, either an adult or her 'maybe' boyfriend that fixes things.
The fact that she solves the mystery, while seemingly having spent the book really not doing much or thinking things through feels more like the author going 'What? I only have ten pages left? Better wrap this sucker up!' than Carol having any kind of investigative genius.
There's the occasion bit of humor or cleverness but otherwise there's nothing to make this stand out from the 42 other ND clones out there at the time and nothing that makes me interested in trying another one.
October 15, 2020
Ghosts are floating amuck!
It's not a bad story, a bit slow in the beginning, but the actual mystery and it's conclusion is pretty good. There are some problems with the formatting in the Kindle version, but it can be overlooked, though it can be jarring at times. Simply put, this is basically Nancy Drew mixed with Scooby Doo in the 1920s.
It's not a bad story, a bit slow in the beginning, but the actual mystery and it's conclusion is pretty good. There are some problems with the formatting in the Kindle version, but it can be overlooked, though it can be jarring at times. Simply put, this is basically Nancy Drew mixed with Scooby Doo in the 1920s.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews