Die drei ??? und die Perlenvögel

Alfred Hitchcock and The Three Investigators #37

by Marc Brandel

Vögel und Perlen spielen diesmal die Hauptrolle im Kriminalfall des bewährten jugendlichen Detektivgespanns. Alles fängt mit einem merkwürdigen neuen Bekannten an, den die drei ??? in einem Restaurant kennen lernen und der bei seiner überstürzten Abfahrt eine Kiste vergisst - eine Kiste, deren Inhalt es in sich hat ! Und kurz darauf bittet Miss Melody, eine exzentrische Vogelliebhaberin, die drei ??? verzweifelt um Hilfe, denn mit ihren Vögeln geschieht Schreckliches...

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Childrens, Audiobook, Young Adult, Detective, Crime

126 pages, Paperback

First published April 12, 1983

About the author

Original name, Marcus Beresford; name legally changed during the 1960's. Author of eleven novels, contributor to The Three Investigators series. Author of the play "The Man Who Let It Rain," first produced in London at Theatre Royal. Contributed to numerous television series, including "Kraft Theater," "Playhouse 90," "Amos Burke," "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour", "Honey West", "Barnaby Jones," and "Fantasy Island." Author of teleplays for the BBC and for ITV. Contributed to periodicals, including Colliers, Atlantic Monthly, New York Times, and Cosmopolitan.

Reviews

[Sonja Rosa Lisa ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Justus, Peter und Bob lernen in einem Café einen Mann kennen, der beim Verlassen des Cafés eine Kiste vergisst. Die drei Detektive öffnen die Kiste; in ihr ist eine Brieftaube. Sie nehmen das Tier mit. Am nächsten Tag sitzt in ihrer Box eine andere Brieftaube. Diese hat drei Zehen, die Brieftaube vom Vortag hatte nur zwei. Ein neuer Fall für Justus, Peter und Bob!
😊 Für mich ein gut durchschnittlicher Fall. Ich mochte es, dass Tiere hier eine wesentliche Rolle spielen. Ansonsten gute Ermittlungsarbeit und mäßige Spannung, aber gute Unterhaltung!

[Lea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ich bin immer kein großer Fan der Auflösung a la "Justus hat alles einfach so kapiert und erzählt es uns am Ende". Ansonsten mag ich die Einbindung der Vögel, aber richtig spannend ist der Fall nicht. Die Gespräche sind altbacken und klingen hölzern, aber irgendwie ist das natürlich auch "sehr klassisch" für die richtig alten Folgen. Wobei es sich noch älter liest als von 1986.

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book with a lot going on. While minding their own business in a diner, a guy gives them a package, which contains a pigeon. A lady hires them to find out who is killing her birds, someone switches pigeons, and it all comes down to a simple solution.

Not bad, but the distractions were too obviously distractions.

[Nadja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Die Folge gefällt mir immer wieder sehr! (Jan. 2024)

[Vintagebooklvr · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like that the three investigators aren't perfect like the Hardy Boys. Jupiter is the smart one but he doesn't play sports. His lack of physical fitness is a handicap at time. They aren't all insanely brave.

For all their secret entrances a number of their adversaries figure them out and find their way to their headquarters.

These books are unique and memorable.

[Niki · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's fine, nothing extremely memorable. Could have been way funnier and lighthearted, especially in the scene with Pete and the balloons. The mystery was pretty clever.

[Chrisanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the 3 Investigators growing up---partially cause I identified with chubby JJ. Yet I was savvy enough to get that there was a formula. The library had the first 10 and then odd sequels that had somehow managed to be purchased separate from the series or maybe were just better quality and thus survived the many purges that happened before I got ahold of it (This one is now purged).

This one sticks out in my memory because it somehow managed to be simultaneously grotesquely terrifying and slapstick-esque for a key scene. I can still see the page, remember the events, and feel the utter confusion that I felt as my brain wasn't sure whether to laugh or to be anxious. I chose laughter and I'd like to say it made all the difference.

For this book it obviously has. But, in life, it's a habit I need to re-cultivate.

[Lacy H Buckhault · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was out of my comfort zone reading this book. Simply because I’m not really into mystery… nor children’s mystery. But, I gave it a go.

To me, it was slow starting off. However, once you finished that first chapter, the intensity grew. The characters really fit their personalities. The story really took off.

But the plot twist. That’s what caught me off guard. (When you read the book, you’ll see what I’m saying.)

The part that I didn’t really care for, was the ending. To me, at least, the ending didn’t fit the story 100%. Again, just my opinion.

But I ultimately did like the story. It was a cute little story. I will say I’m hooked. I want to read the rest of the books within the series of The Three Investigators.

[Marco Giorgini · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not one of the best T3I novels - but a still quite enjoyable one.
While Jupiter Jones is on a diet (!) in this mystery we're going to find a two-toed pigeon and a lot of birds (someone of them, dead), two Japanese fellas, a blinking-eye man, and a lot of bicycle riding along the coastline. The plot is nice and not so easy to fully guess, our heroes do a lot of intriguing stuff, and even the scenes with Hector Sebastian are good.
Not more stars just because the mystery theme is not as compelling as most of the ones in the first books - but I liked it.

[Joe Stevens · Rating 2 out of 5]

Clever enough mystery but it reminded me of the second book in the series about parrots and how much more creative and interesting those first books were. These later books are formula and becoming dark with animals dying, guns produced frequently and general unpleasantness to end the chapter in suspense but for no other reason.

[Mark · Rating 2 out of 5]

A pigeon with a missing toe leads three young sleuths to a group of ingenious thieves. Someone is killing Miss Melody's birds and her woods are littered with victims including a pet magpie who's been bringing home pearls. And a pigeon with a missing toe who is carrying a secret message.
I think this might be only the second time I’ve read this and, I’ll be honest, I can’t see there being a third. I’m not overly a fan of the titles post number 30 but the central mystery of this feels very slight and the denouement is over almost before it’s begun. It also features two things which didn’t sit well with me - animals being killed and Pete being put into a situation where, quite literally, his life was in danger but as soon as it was over, it seemed as if it has never happened. Worse, there are changes made to both the characters and the style that didn’t sit well with me (this was Brandel’s second book of the series after “Kidnapped Whale” - and he’s carried over the fact that Jupe is short and described as ‘pudgy’ several times). Bob doesn’t have a lot to do - he pushes his glasses up his nose a few times - and the introduction mentions his shorthand, which I’ve never read before and bearing in mind his dad works for an LA paper, why wouldn’t he use a recognised script? Sebastian also creates more issues with Don, his housekeeper - I know the man is comic relief, but the joke is wearing thin now - and the joke of the end chapter is not only forced but unfunny. On the plus side, this is the first time I’ve seen “Emergency One” used since “Vanishing Treasure”. Worth a read for completists but I wouldn’t recommend it as a good taster for the series as a whole.

[sonofabook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Justus Jonas, Peter Shaw und Bob Andrews sitzen nach einem Badenachmittag im Meer in einem Restaurant, als ein immer blinzelnder Mann, welcher sich als Blinky vorstellt, sich zu ihnen gesellt.
Unter seinem Arm hält er eine Dose.
Als er plötzlich verschwindet und die Dose bei den Dreien am Tisch lässt, nehmen diese die kleine Box mit in ihre Zentrale. Doch dann hören sie Geräusche aus der Box und stellen fest, dass sie eine Taube enthält. Eine Brieftaube mit nur zwei Krallen an einem Fuß.
Als sie am nächsten Tag erneut in der Zentrale sind stellen sie fest, dass die Taube ausgetauscht wurde. Aber warum?
Nun führt sie ihre Ermittlungen zu einer Vogelexpertin, und dem renommiertesten Juwelier der Stadt.
Doch was haben Juwelen damit zu tun und wieso sterben auf einmal die Vögel der Dame?
Die drei stehen vor mehreren Rätseln.

Absolut überzeugend muss ich sagen. Von einem gemächlichen Start wird es immer spannender mit coolen Wendungen und endlich mal einer schönen Auflösung.
Man fiebert jederzeit mit in dieser Folge und genießt es einfach dem Fall zu folgen, vor allem, weil man nicht genau weiß wer was wie damit zu tun hat. Zumal man hier und da in die Irre geführt wird.
Absolute Empfehlung!

[Cliff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Random happenstance is the word of the day again for yet another Three Investigators case.

You know, despite the frequent mention that they paid for their phone line with the income from their cases...the Three Investigators take on almost entirely pro bono work. Speaking of monetary matters, perhaps the weakest link in this particular novel is that the crime seems to be a fairly low yield for the investment of time.

I have decided, however, to try and draw up a continuity timeline for the series. If the books are published in chronological order, 10 years have elapsed from the Secret of Terror Castle through the Mystery of the Cranky Collector. With some minor liberties as to the sequence of events, I figure that could be condensed down into 6 years. Someone desperately needed a continuity editor to work on this series. :)

[Jason Towers · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second Three Investigators book by the author of The Kidnapped Whale. Two books are enough to make me a fan of Marc Brandel's style. This one was quite the compulsive read. More clear unfussy prose and the plot absolutely cracks along. (Also more offhand racism, and a bit of animal gore.) The baddie's machinations might leave child readers baffled, but there's a lump of exposition at the end. 3½ rounded down.
#T3I

[Biondatina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another adventure with the three kid detectives Jupiter Jones, the "brain", Pete Crenshaw and Bob Andrews. This story is about pigeons, a two-toed homing pigeon overnight turn to a three toes. Someone kill the pigeons and poison the hawks... and the three detectives have a mystery to solve.

[Charley Schnuff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Irgendwie bin ich unentschlossen bei dieser Folge - einerseits finde ich das, was mit den Vögeln passiert schon heftig und die Geschichte dahinter war auch gut konstruiert, aber irgendwie war die Auflösung am Ende zu abrupt, selbst für die drei ???.

[JBooks · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh man....
Mich hat das Buch rein gar nicht abgeholt...

[Roger · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the blandest in the series, so far. But not the worst. 2.75 stars!

[Milia Rasmussen · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was fine. Not as great as some of the other books in the series. But it was ok.

[Maro · Rating 3 out of 5]

tauben sind toll

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

bester Fall bisher

[Oliver Nizet · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Mystery of the Two-Toed Pigeon by Marc Brandel is about a detective business called The Three Investigators run by Jupiter Jones, Pete Crenshaw, and Bob Andrews. Jupiter is heavyset boy who leads the crew and tends to be the main solver of the mysteries. Pete is an animal enthusiast and Bob is a bookworm. Jupiter’s uncle, Titus, has a junkyard and that is where the detectives’ secret headquarters is located. The headquarters is hidden behind lots of junk, and to be able to enter you must climb through different secret passages. The story takes place in present day United States. In this particular mystery, the kids happen to bring home a two-toed homing pigeon that was left at a restaurant. This pigeon gets swapped out for one with three toes overnight and the detectives get suspicious. They figure out that some criminals are using homing pigeons for stealing by having the pigeon carry the stolen item home.
I thought this was a good book, but I gave it 4 out of 5 Stars because it was a bit slow. The plot was good, but I felt that it could have gotten to the point a bit sooner. Overall, this was a good book and I recommend it to anyone who likes the mystery genre in general and also to people who like interesting animals. This novel is part of a forty-two book series called the The Three Investigators and if you like this book, I’m sure you’ll like the others. In conclusion, this is a great mystery book that is part of a seemingly never ending series.

[Tanja · Rating 3 out of 5]

Das ursprüngliche Zuhause dieser Rezension ist der WortWelten-Blog:
http://wort-welten.blogspot.de/

Zusammenfassung:

Als die drei Fragezeichen nach einem Tag am Meer in einem Diner an der Steilküste Rast machen, begegnen sie einem seltsamen dauer-blinzelnden Mann. Einem Mann, der es alsbald so eilig hat, das Restaurant zu verlassen, dass er eine kleine Kiste vergisst. Im Bestreben, dem Mann, den man Blinky nennt, die Kiste wieder zurück zu geben, öffnen sie diese und stolpern damit mitten hinein in einen neuen Fall ...


Fazit:

Und wieder ein Teil der Reihe, den ich als Kind in Hörbuchform geliebt habe. Wirklich geliebt. Als Buch dann doch eine kleine Enttäuschung, um gerecht zu sein. Dennoch lesenswert und so alt das Buch auch ist - immerhin 32 Jahre -, trotz allem noch zeitgemäß irgendwie und unterhaltsam auf eine etwas ungewöhnliche Weise. Dennoch noch verdiente drei Welten von meiner Seite ...

[Elizabeth S · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one features a pretty good mystery. I could figure out parts of it, and felt clever for doing so. And other parts were "oh, I get it now" moments when All is revealed at the end. One of the fun things about this one is the use of subplots, which don't appear very often further into the series. In this one, Jupiter is working on a diet. Read the book to see how well it works. :)

[Maya · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorites on this series..

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This was a little more imaginative than some of the Three Investigators novels. It also had plenty of carnage of the avian variety, as in this one birds get ripped apart by hawks, beaten to death and even poisoned. Putting the animal violence aside, I will say this one took some thought. The mystery involved a scheme that was very ingenious and interesting involving cultured pearls and homing pigeons.

Another good mystery with an interesting cast of characters!