Saboteurs on the River

Penny Parker Mystery Stories #9

by Mildred A. Wirt

Saboteurs dynamite a bridge, and a man named Burt Ottman is accused of the crime based on evidence supplied by Penny. Penny feels that Burt is innocent, so she plans to find the culprits in order to exonerate Burt. Penny seeks the help of a man named Old Noah who lives in an ark filled with animals while he awaits the second great flood. Old Noah plays a role in bringing the saboteurs to justice.

Genres: Mystery, Young Adult, Ebooks

211 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1943

About the author

Mildred Augustine Wirt Benson (aka: Mildred Benson)

Writing under Stratemeyer Syndicate pen name Carolyn Keene from 1929 to 1947, she contributed to 23 of the first 25 originally published Nancy Drew mysteries. She was one of 28 individuals who helped produce the Syndicate's Nancy Drew mystery books from 1929 to 1984.

Edward Stratemeyer hired Benson in 1926. She was paid a flat fee of $125 for the first Nancy Drew book written using an outline provided by the syndicate.

Other pseudonyms: Frank Bell, Joan Clark, Julia K. Duncan, Alice B. Emerson, Frances K. Judd, Don Palmer, Helen Louise Thorndyke, Dorothy West, Ann Wirt

Reviews

[Zain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very Entertaining.

Penny Parker is a very nosy girl. Her big nose gets her into a lot of trouble. The good news is that she also has an ability to solve crimes and certain problems.

One of the things that she has to deal with in this story is the saboteurs of the bridges in Riverview. One of the most important bridges in Riverview has been blown up. Penny may have found a clue as to who may have done it.

She is on the case. No one has told her to go get ‘em! She has been on the case before she even knows there is a case to get on. The only way she will get off this case is if it is solved.

She and her friend Louise are both in a very serious situation right now. They both have been on the case for the last couple of days. They are in a rush to get the bad guys out of action.

Evidence is showing up the right way. Penny and Louise have been spying on the saboteurs and they are getting good results. They will soon be able to relax and let the police do the rest of the work.

Written during the late thirties or early forties, this book is still a relevant mystery. And except for the prices for coffee, sandwiches and gas, this book could be written in modern times. So it will be getting four stars.

Four stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Jessaka · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know about this book. It seemed much more unrealistic than other books that had been written by Mildred Wirt. Mildred Wirt was the author of the 1st several Carolyn keene novels. She also wrote mystery novels on her own, and this was 1 of them.

Written in 1943, She decided to bring world war 2 to America. She had a group of men hiding out in the town of Riverview, and they were trying to dynamite bridges. It was never told who they were. Nazis? Or Nazi sympathizers or japanese sympathizers?

It is left up to Penny Parker and her friend Louise to save the day. Maybe I'm just getting too old for these books. Or may be I just need to read books that were put out Bye the company that did the Carolyn keene series they had more control over there ghost writers. Or maybe she was riding to the audience that knew all these things such as, why at dark all the lights in the city went out when the sirens came on. Air raid drills. Yes, that is it. She was writing to those who knew what was going on in the world back then. I had to think about it for a while and remembered my mother telling me that they used to black in their windows at
night.


Then a man named Noah was building an ark on the river and filling it full of animals. Would they have a loud that back in 1943? Well maybe they would, but I'm not really sure of that. At least this book makes 1 ask questions.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining mystery listening

This kindle novella is free from Amazon book 9 of 17

Penny Parker and friends are involved in the mystery of the bombing of a bridge. They uncover a gang of saboteurs leading to a happy ending.

I would recommend this series and author to readers of mystery novels. 2024

[Laura Bang · Rating 3 out of 5]

The quality of the Penny Parker stories varies widely and this is definitely one of the lesser ones.

The main mystery has to do with a plot to sabotage the bridges in Riverview. The real mystery, though, is why the titular saboteurs are targeting the bridges and not the munitions plant that is casually mentioned in a couple of conversations. Like, at one point, Penny points out that since one bridge was damaged, there is now only one bridge to bring supplies to the munitions plant. This left me wondering: 1) why don't the saboteurs just target the munitions plant instead of the bridges and 2) if both bridges are destroyed, can't they just ferry supplies across the river??? Needless to say, the whole sabotage thing is never really explained other than that it was done by a gang of anti-American probably-Germans.

The "B" mystery involves a man who calls himself Noah and lives on an ark he built on a river with a bunch of animals awaiting a flood.... (But not two of each kind of animal because that was "impractical." So apparently he is just "liberating" people's farm animals? Because basically all the animals are farm animals, but like no one is complaining about a rash of farm thefts?)

Another mystery is the way in which there are many effects of the war (this was published in 1943) but no one actually ever says that there is a war going on. Apparently there are just random "test blackouts" and air raid wardens and young men keep disappearing (whether they are abducted by aliens or enlisting in the armed forces is never specified...) and there are a few food shortages (poor Penny has to make do with a sad vanilla sundae with just walnuts, no chocolate).

The plot is bananas and makes absolutely no sense, but the sheer absurdity made me laugh multiple times, which made it less of a slog than some of the other lesser Penny Parker mysteries. Also there are some fun moments between Penny and Lou (I love Louise). Sadly, no Leaping Lena, though (not even a mention).

[Rhys Pierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Penny Parker mystery is more fast paced than the others I read and the heroine gets involved in a quest to earn money for her car. I appreciated the prosaic motivation as I find myself weary of detectives involved for curiosity.

[Norman Cook · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was clearly published during wartime, as the main plot involves foreign spies who try to blow up an important bridge (there is also an air raid drill that plays a minor part in the story). Why the saboteurs want to destroy the bridge and not the mentioned-in-passing munitions factory in the town is not explained. There is not a lot of nuance in this story, but there are a number of head-scratching moments, such as the crazy old man who built an ark on the river in anticipation of a flood, or why teenage Penny never seems to go to school or get grounded for repeatedly disobeying her father. Still, it's a quick, fun read.

[Daniela Sorgente · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a light and cute read. The character of the girl detective is definitely very reminiscent of Nancy Drew.
We see that it was written and takes place in 1943: at one point they carry out blackout tests and there is talk of munitions factories. The saboteurs of the title try to blow up a bridge leading to the munitions factory. The motive remains unclear.