The Living Portrait

Judy Bolton Mysteries #18

by Margaret Sutton, Pelagie Doane (Illustrator)

"She's trying to get out of the frame," declares Roberta. For some strange reason, Roberta insists that the portrait hanging over the mantel is alive. Roberta also claims that the lady in the portrait is her teacher, Miss Gray, but Judy dismisses Roberta's claim as a make-believe story.

Roberta also relates the story of how a man came to the door wanting to buy the portrait. He was quite insistent, but Roberta refused to let him inside the house. Roberta believes the man would have paid a great deal of money for the portrait. Why is the portrait so important to the man? Why does Roberta believe the portrait is alive?

These questions mystify Judy. The case becomes even more puzzling when Judy and Roberta hear an intruder in the house, and when they investigate they discover that the girl's face has changed expression! The explanation for this unbelievable event makes for a thrilling solution to the mystery of the living portrait.

Genres: Mystery, Childrens, Young Adult

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1947

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

[Rebekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another enjoyable Judy Bolton! There are some great scenes between Judy and Peter. And Horace, Judy's brother, was showcased a bit too. Some of Roberta's behavior was frustrating but it was all accounted for later. It is a very clever little mystery with lots of clues for young readers to follow and solve even ahead of Judy, which can be a treat for mystery fans. In fact, Judy behaves a little out of character in this one. For an adult reader, she is very slow to catch on to the fact that the portrait was switched out with a copy and slow to get out of bed to investigate an intruder. To Margaret Sutton's credit, though, she has Judy own her mistakes and makes a point of Judy being embarrassed at herself. She also tears off following Peter to a trap he has set for a dangerous criminal and almost gets her and Monica, an innocent bystander shot. But once again, Judy owns her thoughtlessness. This is what is so great about Judy Bolton. She is not always level-headed, competent, and wise. In this one, we even have a little temper tantrum and a hint of sulking. As a reader, you sometimes want to yell at her, but the weaknesses and faults are usually acknowledged and dealt with.

https://rebekahsreadingsandwatchings....

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I re-read this book for a trivia contest. It's book #18 of the Judy Bolton series, a series that I love.

Judy has a portrait of a young woman hanging on her living room wall. Her foster daughter Roberta insists that she comes out of the frame and walks. Indeed, the portrait seems to have a different expression than it did at first. Meanwhile, husband Peter Dobbs, an FBI agent, is on the trail of money stolen from bank messengers. Now without me telling you, you know that the two cases are related. Margaret Sutton knows the formula to build up the mystery and then tie all the ends neatly together- and catch the crook.

[James Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another of the Judy Bolton books. In this one she's married to Peter Dobbs and they are taking care of a young girl named Roberta. The story centers on a portrait of a woman that tends to spook both Judy and Roberta. Peter works for the F.B.I. and the portrait also involves him later in the story.
Peter's problem is to find a bank robber and money stolen from the bank. Judy and Roberta tell him they have both heard strange noises in their house and that the portrait seems to alive but has also changed, the woman in the portrait looking somewhat different.

The two, of course, end up being parts of a whole and the rest of the goes into how Peter, Judy and Roberta work together to figure out just what is going on. It's a good addition to the series.

[LuAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this story that takes place in Judy and Peter's newlywed home as they set up housekeeping in the house Judy inherited from her grandmother along with the "foster daughter" Roberta who entered their lives two mysteries ago. I enjoy Roberta's presence and the liveliness she brings to the stories. The mystery, too, centers on their house, specifically a portrait of a young woman Judy's brother bought her at an auction house that hangs above their fireplace. I'm glad Peter is able to involve Judy in the FBI cases he is working on.

[Galina Fredrickson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Judy is newly married and living in a farmhouse she inherited along with Roberta and her husband. She had purchased a portrait that hangs above the mantlepiece and it seems like it might be haunted.
The suspense is so good and you're spooked because the characters are spooked. The ending was also a nice wrap up.

3-starsbecause there were some confusing bits such as how a barn can burn down within easy walking distance of the farmhouse and no one notice a thing.

Also, as a note, this book was written right around the heyday of the dress doctors. The homemaker/housewife comments sprinkled throughout and Judy's contentment with being her husbands [unpaid] secretary follows right along those times. Or that the only positive description of a character was that she was a 'tidy housewife', as if that's her entirety wrapped up. None of this is worth not finishing the book over as it is well worth the read, but it does feel weird to a younger generation.

[Nancy Bandusky · Rating 4 out of 5]

The series continues now with Judy married to Peter and boarding a young girl, Roberta. A new character, Tuffy, enters the household and causes turmoil for poor Blackberry (and Judy). The book has the delightful Christian worldview with the mention of church and Horace at one time thinking of being a minister. The book is a bit dated with the idea of Peter giving Judy an allowance to run the household. At times Judy seems a bit off as when a noise occurs during the night, it takes her a long time to finally decide to investigate, but in a different situation she is her usual impetuous self and puts not only her and her brother's life in danger but a new friend's too. The book is a quick and enjoyable read.

[Pamela Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel this series changes in a substantial way about halfway through, a little before this volume. As Judy gets a little older and is now married, the plots are a bit more complicated and have a bit more depth. I like the early ones too, but they are quite different.

Blackberry has a nice role in this one - as a black cat lover I was getting a little worried he was getting written out of the series!

I have written about the series at some length in blog posts which can be found by searching Pams-Pictorama.com or at: https://pams-pictorama.com/2020/03/28...

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe 3.5 stars. It is hard to put down a Judy Bolton mystery, but it is also hard to really comprehend exactly what happens and how Judy solves the mystery. Now married, Judy and Peter are living in her late grandparents' house, with young Roberta, their boarder. Judy purchased a painting recently at an auction, and it seems to be the source of a series of mysterious events. Enjoyable.

[Johanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great! Judy and Peter are newly married and they are fostering Roberta. I like how they have Judy and Peter be a mother and father figure. It's an exciting book also. I think these books are way better than Nancy Drew.

[Jeanmarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

another great Judy Bolton book