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Classic Three Investigators #7
The Mystery of the Fiery Eye
The Three Investigators must solve an old man's riddle to uncover a great fortune for their friend, Gus. But they're racing against a sinister bunch of treasure hunters who are also hot on the trail. Who will arrive first at the mysterious Fiery Eye?
176 pages, Paperback
First published August 12, 1967
23 people are currently reading
694 people want to read
About the author
Robert Arthur
347 books299 followersRobert Arthur (1909-1969) was a versatile mystery writer born November 10, 1909, on Corregidor Island, where his father served as a U.S. Army officer. He is best known as the creator of The Three Investigators, a mystery book series for young people, but he began his career writing for the pulps, and later worked in both radio and television. He studied at William and Mary College for two years before earning a B.A. in English and an M.A. in Journalism from the University of Michigan. In 1931, he moved to New York City, where he wrote mysteries, fantasies, and horror stories for magazines like Weird Tales, Amazing Stories, Detective Fiction Weekly, and Black Mask throughout the 1930s.
Later, with David Kogan, he co-created and produced The Mysterious Traveler radio show (1944-1952), earning a 1953 Edgar Award. He and Kogan also won an Edgar, in 1950, for Murder By Experts. In 1959, Arthur relocated to Hollywood, scripting for The Twilight Zone and serving as story editor and writer for Alfred Hitchcock Presents, while ghost-editing numerous "Alfred Hitchcock" anthologies for adults and children.
In 1963, Arthur settled in Cape May, New Jersey, where he created The Three Investigators series with The Secret of Terror Castle (1964). He wrote ten novels in the series before his death in Philadelphia on May 2, 1969. The 43-title series, continued after his death by writers-for-hire working for Random House, was published in over twenty-five languages and thirty countries. (Originally branded as "Alfred Hitchcock and The Three Investigators", Random House dropped the Hitchcock name from the series after Hitchcock's death.)
In June of 2024, Hollow Tree Press reissued Robert Arthur's original ten novels as a sixtieth anniversary edition. Those editions have end notes written by his daughter and son-in-law, Elizabeth Arthur and Steven Bauer, and Hollow Tree Press is also publishing a twenty-six book New Three Investigators series written by Arthur and Bauer.
Later, with David Kogan, he co-created and produced The Mysterious Traveler radio show (1944-1952), earning a 1953 Edgar Award. He and Kogan also won an Edgar, in 1950, for Murder By Experts. In 1959, Arthur relocated to Hollywood, scripting for The Twilight Zone and serving as story editor and writer for Alfred Hitchcock Presents, while ghost-editing numerous "Alfred Hitchcock" anthologies for adults and children.
In 1963, Arthur settled in Cape May, New Jersey, where he created The Three Investigators series with The Secret of Terror Castle (1964). He wrote ten novels in the series before his death in Philadelphia on May 2, 1969. The 43-title series, continued after his death by writers-for-hire working for Random House, was published in over twenty-five languages and thirty countries. (Originally branded as "Alfred Hitchcock and The Three Investigators", Random House dropped the Hitchcock name from the series after Hitchcock's death.)
In June of 2024, Hollow Tree Press reissued Robert Arthur's original ten novels as a sixtieth anniversary edition. Those editions have end notes written by his daughter and son-in-law, Elizabeth Arthur and Steven Bauer, and Hollow Tree Press is also publishing a twenty-six book New Three Investigators series written by Arthur and Bauer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
May 3, 2025
This was a meandering book. One can see clearly when the author stops writing and when he is buying time, and bulking up his book. Maybe I am being harsh, but though most of the book was 3 star worthy, the solvency of the case was an idea plucked from a previous tome in this series
January 8, 2023
EDIT January 2023: Re-read this just now, I didn't remember much of the plot and it was bothering me. There's a number of coincidences () that make it more convenient than smart, and that's always annoying.
The character work isn't great, either. Gus may just the most underwritten supporting character in the series, he's got no personality and is kinda just..... there too. Pete and Bob aren't any good, either, it's one of the "Jupiter calls the shots the entire time, solves the entire mystery on his own and the other two just stand around saying 'Give Jupe some more time' 'I trust you, Jupe' etc". It's supposed to be THREE Investigators, not one. Pete and Bob don't do anything in this one.
The only thing I remembered from my previous read of the book is that Jupiter uses a clever trick to finally get to the Fiery Eye, and that was still true. It's probably the only thing I'll remember this time around as well.
_____________________________
Original review from 2020:
As mentioned before, I just bought this and The Mystery of the Blazing Cliffs for real cheap, and now I've read them both because they're quick and easy reads for me even when I'm unable to sit down and read for hours.
This one was better than The Blazing Cliffs, it was a lot smarter and intriguing; compared to Blazing Cliffs, it should be getting 4 stars, but I'm going to give it a 3 because it lacked the creepy factor that I like to see in these books. It was a standard mystery, even if it was intriguing.
The character work isn't great, either. Gus may just the most underwritten supporting character in the series, he's got no personality and is kinda just..... there too. Pete and Bob aren't any good, either, it's one of the "Jupiter calls the shots the entire time, solves the entire mystery on his own and the other two just stand around saying 'Give Jupe some more time' 'I trust you, Jupe' etc". It's supposed to be THREE Investigators, not one. Pete and Bob don't do anything in this one.
The only thing I remembered from my previous read of the book is that Jupiter uses a clever trick to finally get to the Fiery Eye, and that was still true. It's probably the only thing I'll remember this time around as well.
_____________________________
Original review from 2020:
As mentioned before, I just bought this and The Mystery of the Blazing Cliffs for real cheap, and now I've read them both because they're quick and easy reads for me even when I'm unable to sit down and read for hours.
This one was better than The Blazing Cliffs, it was a lot smarter and intriguing; compared to Blazing Cliffs, it should be getting 4 stars, but I'm going to give it a 3 because it lacked the creepy factor that I like to see in these books. It was a standard mystery, even if it was intriguing.
July 17, 2023
Story: ★★★★/5
Narrator: ★★★★★/5
Narrator: ★★★★★/5
September 22, 2015
I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as the previous books. I don't know if the formulaic stories are starting to wear on me, or it this one just wasn't as good.
The international boy this time was English, so they are sticking with that plot device. This time they are searching for a cursed ruby. It's a pretty typical mystery, with nothing special and no big surprises. Still not bad, just less than what I expect from the series.
The international boy this time was English, so they are sticking with that plot device. This time they are searching for a cursed ruby. It's a pretty typical mystery, with nothing special and no big surprises. Still not bad, just less than what I expect from the series.
April 4, 2022
Einer meiner absoluten Lieblingsfolgen. <3
March 30, 2017
Ich hatte mir eine englische Taschenbuchausgabe aus den Neunzigern mit diesem grässlichen Cover gekauft:
Trotz des eher bescheuerten Aussehens, hat es Spaß gemacht, es auf Englisch zu lesen. Ich finde das gerade auch die sehr alten Illustrationen einen Charme haben, auch wenn besonders Peter und Bob so gar nicht meinem Bild entsprechen.
Sprachlich habe ich gelernt, dass die Telefonlawine im Original "Ghost-to-Ghost Hookup" heißt, wobei das Ghost ein Codewort für die ganzen Kinder ist. Mhm. Da bin ich mal wirklich froh, dass hier nicht wortwörtlich übersetzt wurde. Warum man aus Worthington allerdings Morton gemacht hat, erschließt sich mir nicht. Ist das für deutsche Augen/Ohren wirklich so viel leichter? Dass aus den Bayern Hans und Konrad die Iren Kenneth und Patrick wurden, verstehe ich da schon besser.
Der Fall selbst? Ein mittelmäßiger. Das ganze wirkt eher sehr formular-haft und etwas gezwungen. So richtig spannend ist es auch nicht, und ihr englischer Auftraggeber August August nimmt irgendwie nie so richtig Gestalt an.
Trotz des eher bescheuerten Aussehens, hat es Spaß gemacht, es auf Englisch zu lesen. Ich finde das gerade auch die sehr alten Illustrationen einen Charme haben, auch wenn besonders Peter und Bob so gar nicht meinem Bild entsprechen.
Sprachlich habe ich gelernt, dass die Telefonlawine im Original "Ghost-to-Ghost Hookup" heißt, wobei das Ghost ein Codewort für die ganzen Kinder ist. Mhm. Da bin ich mal wirklich froh, dass hier nicht wortwörtlich übersetzt wurde. Warum man aus Worthington allerdings Morton gemacht hat, erschließt sich mir nicht. Ist das für deutsche Augen/Ohren wirklich so viel leichter? Dass aus den Bayern Hans und Konrad die Iren Kenneth und Patrick wurden, verstehe ich da schon besser.
Der Fall selbst? Ein mittelmäßiger. Das ganze wirkt eher sehr formular-haft und etwas gezwungen. So richtig spannend ist es auch nicht, und ihr englischer Auftraggeber August August nimmt irgendwie nie so richtig Gestalt an.
June 1, 2019
There was a time, during my middle teens, when I positively used to worship these books! I found the Three Investigators much more intelligent than the Hardy Boys. Especially Jupiter Jones, the stocky First Investigator.
This story, about a so-called "cursed stone" from India, follows the standard trope of the adventure story but thankfully, is not racist. I loved the trail of the cryptic clues leading to the treasure - similar to that in The Mystery of the Stuttering Parrot.
This story, about a so-called "cursed stone" from India, follows the standard trope of the adventure story but thankfully, is not racist. I loved the trail of the cryptic clues leading to the treasure - similar to that in The Mystery of the Stuttering Parrot.
August 21, 2020
Tim Grobe macht ein super Job und der Fall ist einfach spitze! Eine spannende Schnitzeljagd mit vielen undursichtigen Gegnern!
(Momentane Rangliste der Hörbücher:
1. Karpatenhund
2. Fluch des Rubins
3. Gespensterschloss
4. Super-Papagei )
(Momentane Rangliste der Hörbücher:
1. Karpatenhund
2. Fluch des Rubins
3. Gespensterschloss
4. Super-Papagei )
May 12, 2017
2009 review - Alfred Hitchcock approaches the boys with their latest case, endeavouring to help an English boy (August August) to find his inheritance, a jewel called The Fiery Eye. The only clue is a cryptic letter but also on the trail of the jewel is a sinister Indian and a gang of thieves. This is fast paced, good fun and features Liz Logan, a talkative young girl who desperately wants to be an investigator herself (and who, I now know, is based on Robert Arthur’s daughter Elizabeth). Very enjoyable, with virtually all of the regular cast in attendance, this is well worth a look.
2013 update - My 2009 review stands completely, this is well-written and fast paced (though the ending is a bit curt and I wonder why they didn’t write Hitchcock’s round-up as a chapter, rather than a summary). I still think Liz is a great character and really wish we could have seen more of her and the business with the Rent ‘N Ride Auto Agency is handled well. The thirty days (as mentioned in Terror Castle) is now up (meaning they’ve solved six cases in less than a month!) and even though Jupe argues the ’30 days of 24 hours each’ line it doesn’t wash, but ties nicely into the Arthur-books arc, especially since Jupiter alludes to this plan in ‘The Secret Of Terror Castle’. It’s also worth mentioning the locations, with the Jones Junkyard used extensively and the house in Dial Canyon is very evocatively described. Brilliant fun, with a good atmosphere and a cracking pace, this is a great read.
2017 update - I stand by the previous reviews completely, this has a great pace, a good atmosphere and locations and is good fun (and also highlights Robert Arthur’s love for Sherlock Holmes).
2013 update - My 2009 review stands completely, this is well-written and fast paced (though the ending is a bit curt and I wonder why they didn’t write Hitchcock’s round-up as a chapter, rather than a summary). I still think Liz is a great character and really wish we could have seen more of her and the business with the Rent ‘N Ride Auto Agency is handled well. The thirty days (as mentioned in Terror Castle) is now up (meaning they’ve solved six cases in less than a month!) and even though Jupe argues the ’30 days of 24 hours each’ line it doesn’t wash, but ties nicely into the Arthur-books arc, especially since Jupiter alludes to this plan in ‘The Secret Of Terror Castle’. It’s also worth mentioning the locations, with the Jones Junkyard used extensively and the house in Dial Canyon is very evocatively described. Brilliant fun, with a good atmosphere and a cracking pace, this is a great read.
2017 update - I stand by the previous reviews completely, this has a great pace, a good atmosphere and locations and is good fun (and also highlights Robert Arthur’s love for Sherlock Holmes).
September 9, 2018
I adore riddles! We get a fun one in a cryptic message this time. I beat Jupe to the punch and figured it out before him. Sorry, Jupiter. Better luck next time.
We have a missing jewel, some mysterious busts, a riddle, and a boy named August August. (Really? So dumb). Anyway, the Three Investigators are on the case, and when I say the Three Investigators I mean Jupiter Jones, with a little bit of Bob Andrews thrown in for basic library research. Pete, you are dead weight, my friend. I fail to see you investigate anything. More like One Investigator and his Tag Along Friends, amirite?
The mystery is a good one and I remember this one fondly. Remember, I am re-reading the whole series so you don't have to! You're welcome.
We have a missing jewel, some mysterious busts, a riddle, and a boy named August August. (Really? So dumb). Anyway, the Three Investigators are on the case, and when I say the Three Investigators I mean Jupiter Jones, with a little bit of Bob Andrews thrown in for basic library research. Pete, you are dead weight, my friend. I fail to see you investigate anything. More like One Investigator and his Tag Along Friends, amirite?
The mystery is a good one and I remember this one fondly. Remember, I am re-reading the whole series so you don't have to! You're welcome.
April 21, 2024
'The Mystery of the Fiery Eye' (The Three Investigators #7) by Robert Arthur.
Rating: 4.5/5.
Review:
The Mystery of the Fiery Eye is another solid entry in the original T3I canon. I hadn't read this book during my school days, so this was a completely fresh story I was jumping into.
Just like the previous couple of books, this book features a foreign kid – who approaches the young sleuths with a mysterious riddle that contains clues to his inheritance. Time is of the essence, though, and the Three Investigators must have to race against time trying to solve the mystery until it is far too late!
The mystery was engrossing and kept me guessing until the end. I had assumed that the initial clues about the figurehead busts might be a misdirection, but the author kept the twists and turns incoming and, as a result, succeeded in keeping me invested throughout the book.
I would have easily devoured this book in a single setting, but certain unfortunate circumstances kept me from finishing the book for days. Somehow, I managed to read just a few chapters every day, but I think the overall wait and the slow reading pace added to the anticipation and thrill of solving the mystery. I was stuck in one of the most difficult phases of my life, but this simple mystery book was a great companion during those troubling times. And, perhaps, that's one of the reasons why I ended up rating this book much higher than some of the recent T3I reads.
“Here’s my telephone number.” Liz was following him, scribbling on a card in her hand as she walked. “There. Liz Logan, that’s the name. I’ll be waiting to hear from you. Golly, I can hardly wait to take part in a real investigation!”
Bob took the card and climbed into the truck beside Hans, not even noticing the blue sedan that passed them. He was thinking that Liz seemed like a pretty nice sort, and maybe a girl could help them sometime. It was true Jupiter had little use for girls, but if the right occasion ever arose, he’d suggest they call Liz Logan.
Rating: 4.5/5.
Review:
The Mystery of the Fiery Eye is another solid entry in the original T3I canon. I hadn't read this book during my school days, so this was a completely fresh story I was jumping into.
Just like the previous couple of books, this book features a foreign kid – who approaches the young sleuths with a mysterious riddle that contains clues to his inheritance. Time is of the essence, though, and the Three Investigators must have to race against time trying to solve the mystery until it is far too late!
The mystery was engrossing and kept me guessing until the end. I had assumed that the initial clues about the figurehead busts might be a misdirection, but the author kept the twists and turns incoming and, as a result, succeeded in keeping me invested throughout the book.
I would have easily devoured this book in a single setting, but certain unfortunate circumstances kept me from finishing the book for days. Somehow, I managed to read just a few chapters every day, but I think the overall wait and the slow reading pace added to the anticipation and thrill of solving the mystery. I was stuck in one of the most difficult phases of my life, but this simple mystery book was a great companion during those troubling times. And, perhaps, that's one of the reasons why I ended up rating this book much higher than some of the recent T3I reads.
January 10, 2017
AH&T3I Update: 7 read, 21 hardbacks to go!
Confidence renewed! What a great addition to the series! All of the titles in the Three Investigators series are great stories, but after the first 5 titles were absolutely awesome, I recently lamented that the sixth book seemed to be fairly "Hardy Boy-ish" in structure. The sixth book seemed to rely more on lucky breaks and improbable finds than on good old fashioned deduction of the facts. That is not really a bad thing. It is just not what I expect or want out of a Three Investigators book. Well, Robert Arthur found the original series formula again for the seventh title. Rather than relying on supernatural luck to help move the plot along, the plot of the Fiery Eye involves more of Sherlock Holmes-style deduction methods to reach its conclusion. The Rolls-Royce car is back--perhaps for a limited time only--and so are the bikes, the salvage yard trucks, the secret headquarters, and a number of more realistic setbacks for the boys causing a number of twists and turns with the story. At least three times the case looks hopeless due to these setbacks, yet the plot moves forward not because of a seemingly lucky break but rather a new take, a new insight, or a new deduction of the clues visible since early in the text. Those new deductions shed new light and opens new paths for the boys to take which leads to the solution of the mystery. The Mystery of the Fiery Eye is brilliant and an awesome read for ALL readers, but it is especially special for those of us who wish to "delve deeper" into the mysteries of the Three Investigators!
Confidence renewed! What a great addition to the series! All of the titles in the Three Investigators series are great stories, but after the first 5 titles were absolutely awesome, I recently lamented that the sixth book seemed to be fairly "Hardy Boy-ish" in structure. The sixth book seemed to rely more on lucky breaks and improbable finds than on good old fashioned deduction of the facts. That is not really a bad thing. It is just not what I expect or want out of a Three Investigators book. Well, Robert Arthur found the original series formula again for the seventh title. Rather than relying on supernatural luck to help move the plot along, the plot of the Fiery Eye involves more of Sherlock Holmes-style deduction methods to reach its conclusion. The Rolls-Royce car is back--perhaps for a limited time only--and so are the bikes, the salvage yard trucks, the secret headquarters, and a number of more realistic setbacks for the boys causing a number of twists and turns with the story. At least three times the case looks hopeless due to these setbacks, yet the plot moves forward not because of a seemingly lucky break but rather a new take, a new insight, or a new deduction of the clues visible since early in the text. Those new deductions shed new light and opens new paths for the boys to take which leads to the solution of the mystery. The Mystery of the Fiery Eye is brilliant and an awesome read for ALL readers, but it is especially special for those of us who wish to "delve deeper" into the mysteries of the Three Investigators!
May 9, 2012
The best childhood series I read starting in the fourth grade. The best of the so called "syndicate Books" Reading them now brings back the memories and pleasure I had when reading them as a child.
October 29, 2017
One of the best stories in the Three Investigator series since the Stuttering Parrot. Excellent pacing, tension, and riddles.
July 6, 2025
2009 review - Alfred Hitchcock approaches the boys with their latest case, endeavouring to help an English boy (August August) to find his inheritance, a jewel called The Fiery Eye. The only clue is a cryptic letter but also on the trail of the jewel is a sinister Indian and a gang of thieves. This is fast paced, good fun and features Liz Logan, a talkative young girl who desperately wants to be an investigator herself (and who, I now know, is based on Robert Arthur’s daughter Elizabeth). Very enjoyable, with virtually all of the regular cast in attendance, this is well worth a look.
2013 update - My 2009 review stands completely, this is well-written and fast paced (though the ending is a bit curt and I wonder why they didn’t write Hitchcock’s round-up as a chapter, rather than a summary). I still think Liz is a great character and really wish we could have seen more of her and the business with the Rent ‘N Ride Auto Agency is handled well. The thirty days (as mentioned in Terror Castle) is now up (meaning they’ve solved six cases in less than a month!) and even though Jupe argues the ’30 days of 24 hours each’ line it doesn’t wash, but ties nicely into the Arthur-books arc, especially since Jupiter alludes to this plan in ‘The Secret Of Terror Castle’. It’s also worth mentioning the locations, with the Jones Junkyard used extensively and the house in Dial Canyon is very evocatively described. Brilliant fun, with a good atmosphere and a cracking pace, this is a great read.
2017 update - I stand by the previous reviews completely, this has a great pace, a good atmosphere and locations and is good fun (and also highlights Robert Arthur’s love for Sherlock Holmes).
2021 update - completely agree with the above, though I’m surprised I haven’t mentioned before that Blackbeard the parrot briefly appears. Great read.
2025 re-read - completely agree with the above, a thoroughly enjoyable re-read.
2013 update - My 2009 review stands completely, this is well-written and fast paced (though the ending is a bit curt and I wonder why they didn’t write Hitchcock’s round-up as a chapter, rather than a summary). I still think Liz is a great character and really wish we could have seen more of her and the business with the Rent ‘N Ride Auto Agency is handled well. The thirty days (as mentioned in Terror Castle) is now up (meaning they’ve solved six cases in less than a month!) and even though Jupe argues the ’30 days of 24 hours each’ line it doesn’t wash, but ties nicely into the Arthur-books arc, especially since Jupiter alludes to this plan in ‘The Secret Of Terror Castle’. It’s also worth mentioning the locations, with the Jones Junkyard used extensively and the house in Dial Canyon is very evocatively described. Brilliant fun, with a good atmosphere and a cracking pace, this is a great read.
2017 update - I stand by the previous reviews completely, this has a great pace, a good atmosphere and locations and is good fun (and also highlights Robert Arthur’s love for Sherlock Holmes).
2021 update - completely agree with the above, though I’m surprised I haven’t mentioned before that Blackbeard the parrot briefly appears. Great read.
2025 re-read - completely agree with the above, a thoroughly enjoyable re-read.
April 6, 2021
I've been reading this series for about 40 years. I don't ever search them out or go to a bookstore to buy them but if I stumble across the series (usually in an antique or co-op store) I buy the books. I was at an antique store the other day and I saw two Three Investigator books that I had never read on a corner shelf and picked them up.
Good stuff.
It contains all of the usual things you'll find in a Three Investigators book:
Mystery pops up out of nowhere, appearance by Alfred Hitchcock, Worthington and the Rolls, mix-ups, red herrings, shady characters, Jupiter's latest scientific method for mystery solving, down to the wire solution to the mystery.
Love this series - always a good time when I find one I haven't read before.
Good stuff.
It contains all of the usual things you'll find in a Three Investigators book:
Mystery pops up out of nowhere, appearance by Alfred Hitchcock, Worthington and the Rolls, mix-ups, red herrings, shady characters, Jupiter's latest scientific method for mystery solving, down to the wire solution to the mystery.
Love this series - always a good time when I find one I haven't read before.
April 25, 2025
Free reward | Not one of the better entries in the series. | My copy is ex-library, and someone had carefully marked it multiple places as book 33 in the series, which it is not. This is the book that's the source of the Rolls being forever available, which comes up constantly in the series. It's a Hector Sebastian, not a Hitchcock, and Jupiter is the only character in the book, basically. If it had ended with a reveal that it was all an imagination game played alone by Jones, that would have been believable. Children are locked in a cellar and tied to a chair and threatened with a bladed weapon and a gun, but the adults who do these things face no consequences. As a kid I would have read it and thought it was fine, but even then I would have known others in the series were better.
October 6, 2018
Three young boys run an investigation agency and are contacted by Alfred Hitchcock to find a missing inheritance for someone called August August.
Firstly, what a mean set of parents August has. But apart from that, the book was fast moving, had a number of twists and turns, and kept me interested. Lost a star because everything wrapped up very quickly in the end.
This was the first of the Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators books I've read, but I'll seek out more as it was enjoyable.
Firstly, what a mean set of parents August has. But apart from that, the book was fast moving, had a number of twists and turns, and kept me interested. Lost a star because everything wrapped up very quickly in the end.
This was the first of the Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators books I've read, but I'll seek out more as it was enjoyable.
October 5, 2017
3.75 Fun read, easy to follow and loved the old time talk. Well that's just smashing! Wish people still talked like that! I also enjoyed that at the end of the book Alfred Hitchcock sort of came in and wrapped up any lose ends, very complete that way. Most likely meant for younger audiences.
November 13, 2018
V rámci žánru skvelá knižka s príchuťou nostalgie. Jedna z lepších záhad Troch pátračov, klasický Robert Arthur sa nezaprie.
January 6, 2022
This is the first time for me to read “Trio Detektif”. My mom recommend it to me at the first place and yes, i read it now. I love it.
December 16, 2018
In this outing Alfred Hitchcock brings the mystery to Jupiter, Bob, and Pete. He introduces them to his young English friend, August August. Gus, as he prefers to be called, is looking for help solving a riddle left him as part of an inheritance from his Great-Uncle Horatio who recently died in California. Presumably, if the riddle can be solved, there is some sort of "treasure" to be found. Jupiter assumes it must be valuable, since Great-Uncle Horatio went to great trouble to code the directions to its whereabouts. In fact, along the way, they discover that the treasure is a valuable ruby called the Fiery Eye and that a set of busts from Horatio's estate may hold a clue.
As with most jewels in mysteries of this sort--there is a legend of danger surrounding the gem. The Investigators and Gus will also discover that an sinister Indian man and a gang of thugs are hot on the trail of the jewel as well. Will the boys outwit the thieves and see that Gus gets his rightful inheritance?
I love revisiting this series that I first found when I went with my then best friend and her family on a shopping trip to the big malls in Ft. Wayne. That's when Walden Books and B. Dalton were still a thing and I insisted on stopping in all the bookstores. Not too long ago I started reading the titles I had missed when I was young--the first was The Mystery of the Talking Skull which I got from the library. I was disappointed that the books had been rereleased without the Hitchcock connection. That was part of the charm for me--I've now started looking for vintage editions (like the one pictured above) where Hitchcock still provides the introductions and interacts with the boys.
These books are good solid stories for young readers. The mystery isn't terribly intricate, but it is interesting and exciting enough to keep one turning the pages. It's good fun and the clues are such that the young reader has a chance to solve the mystery before Jupe does. As an adult, I enjoy revisiting the friends of my childhood and tagging along on their adventures.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
As with most jewels in mysteries of this sort--there is a legend of danger surrounding the gem. The Investigators and Gus will also discover that an sinister Indian man and a gang of thugs are hot on the trail of the jewel as well. Will the boys outwit the thieves and see that Gus gets his rightful inheritance?
I love revisiting this series that I first found when I went with my then best friend and her family on a shopping trip to the big malls in Ft. Wayne. That's when Walden Books and B. Dalton were still a thing and I insisted on stopping in all the bookstores. Not too long ago I started reading the titles I had missed when I was young--the first was The Mystery of the Talking Skull which I got from the library. I was disappointed that the books had been rereleased without the Hitchcock connection. That was part of the charm for me--I've now started looking for vintage editions (like the one pictured above) where Hitchcock still provides the introductions and interacts with the boys.
These books are good solid stories for young readers. The mystery isn't terribly intricate, but it is interesting and exciting enough to keep one turning the pages. It's good fun and the clues are such that the young reader has a chance to solve the mystery before Jupe does. As an adult, I enjoy revisiting the friends of my childhood and tagging along on their adventures.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
May 10, 2021
Sehr spannender und mysteriöser Fall!
September 24, 2024
After 'The Secret of Skeleton Island' changed not only the location of a 'Three Investigators' story, but its entire structure, feeling far more like a 'Hardy Boys' mystery, Robert Arthur brought this series back to its roots for book seven, 'The Mystery of the Fiery Eye', and that's a good thing, but the results, I feel, are mixed. There's a lot of good here but a lot of convenience, too.
Both appear in the set-up. Alfred Hitchcock has another case for the Three Investigators, so he has them come in to meet his young English friend, August August. That's a glorious name to start out, even if he chooses to go by Gus, but there's also a real mystery because Gus has an inheritance and has no idea what it is, beyond it being a fortune. It's from his great-uncle, Horatio August, and it's described in a cryptic note that he'd left with his lawyers. That's even better. Gus is therefore one more supporting character from a foreign land, this one merely from mine, the UK.
The note suggests that Horatio paid for this fortune and owns it, so presumably can safely leave it to Gus, but there's an inherent danger surrounding it that should disperse after fifty years. That's a surefire way to intrigue Jupiter Jones, especially as there are rules around it. It cannot be seized or stolen, only bought, given or found. And that's it! There's no detail around what this fortune is or where it can be found, at least not explicitly. There's more to the note, of course, but it's all just as cryptic as the talk about its malevolence. Thus Hitch calls in the boys.
I tend to like the novels that are built around puzzles, not least my favourite, 'The Mystery of the Stuttering Parrot', which is also action-packed. Given that Blackbeard, the mynah bird who helped solve that mystery, makes an appearance here, we can't help but look for comparisons, but this is a little less action-packed and the mystery is structured differently.
It doesn't take them long, for instance, to discover through Bob's research that August's fortune must be the Fiery Eye, a ruby the size of a pigeon's egg of great value that has a long and violent history behind it. Its many owners have generally found it to bring misfortune, so it was eventually gifted by a maharajah in India to the Temple of Justice, located in an imaginary mountain village called Pleshiwar, which is sacred to warlike mountain tribesmen. The last time it was documented was mounted to the forehead of the temple deity there, but it went missing years ago and clearly ended up in the hands of Horatio August. The curse surrounding it lasts for fifty years, which may be already or soon up.
So far, so good, and that discovery was through proper research, but the coincidences soon mount up. For instance, the note says that time is of the essence, but Gus couldn't get over to the States for a couple of months, so it may already be up, especially as his great-uncle's executor has already emptied his house to pay his debts and its owner aims to demolish it soon so that he can build new houses on the land. It gradually becomes clear that a set of plaster busts that bought by some junk dealer must play a part. If only that junk dealer was Titus Jones... oh, wait! It was! And so a magic coincidence means that they suddenly have a lead where they should be none.
Incidentally, these busts are a clear homage to a Sherlock Holmes story, called 'The Adventure of the Six Napoleons', which Jupe calls out within the text. That's very deliberate, as the late Horatio August was a huge fan of those stories and even met Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Given that Jupe was always a young American take on Holmes, with Pete and Bob divvying up Watson duties, that's an appropriate homage and one handled very nicely too.
Of course, others know about the Fiery Eye too, because it's a perfect MacGuffin, and they want it badly. I rather liked the fact that, for the longest time, we aren't given any names for these many seekers, just descriptions. Black Moustache is clearly dangerous. Three Dots may well be too. And Rough Voice and Deep Voice are probably mere henchmen, but that doesn't make them any safer. Eventually we learn names and that humanises them all, but Arthur does delay that as long as he possibly can.
Another aspect I liked here was the inclusion of a fan. There's a need for a ghost-to-ghost hookup again, to locate a particular plaster bust that Titus has already sold by the time they realise it's a key to the mystery, so the details go out and the boys wait for responses. One comes in from a Liz Logan, whose mother has the Octavian in question. They retrieve it with a refunded payment and that would be that, except that Liz wants in on the mystery. As her mother points out, "she lives in a world all her own, full of mysterious spies and sinister criminals."
That makes her a natural pick for a female operative, should they ever need one. I can't remember at this point if they ever did, but that opportunity may have vanished after Arthur's death, as she was apparently based on his own daughter Elizabeth, who confirmed it in an interview. I'm all for additional sidekicks popping in and out of the series, as needed. Of course, there should only ever be the Three Investigators, but that doesn't mean help isn't appropriate. After all, the Bavarian twins, Hans and Konrad, are kind of like sidekicks already, and Worthington is another.
Talking of Worthington, this is the book where we address the time limit attached to Jupe's use of the golden Rolls Royce. He won it for thirty days (of twenty-four hours each, as we've often been reminded in prior books) and we learn here that they expired during the previous volume, as the boys were solving the secret of Skeleton Island in the east. That does mean, I should add, that the first five adventures all took place within a mere month, which makes them rather full of action. I wonder if anyone's crunched the numbers to see how long each of those five took.
Arthur had already floated that Jupe had a plan for this and we learn here that it was to interpret that unusual wording literally. They may have run through thirty days, but not thirty times twenty-four hours. However, the agency is swift to deny that interpretation and that's that, but Gus, once the mystery is solved and he gets his inheritance in the form of a large cheque, thanks the boys by ensuring their future use of the car. That's a worthy thank you and it stops Worthington being lost to the series, as well as keeping the boys mobile. You simply can't get around southern California well enough on bicycles to make it viable otherwise.
I enjoyed this, but not as much as some of the early books. As clever as the mystery is, there are a lot more coincidences needed to get to the solution than I'm willing to tolerate. Gus isn't much of a supporting character either. He's nice enough and his name is fantastic, but he doesn't get close to as much to do as some of his more exotic equivalents in earlier books. Also, all the horror adjacent plots thus far had an extra element that this one mostly lacks. It's there a little in the curse of the ruby, but that's a lot more ignorable than the shocks in books like 'The Secret of Terror Castle' and 'The Mystery of the Green Ghost'.
I'll be back next month with a look at 'The Mystery of Silver Spider', which I remember a little, as it takes the boys as far from California as I recall the series ever taking them, all the way across the pond to a fictional European nation called Varania.
Originally posted at the Nameless Zine in February 2024:
https://www.thenamelesszine.org/Odds-...
Index of all my Nameless Zine reviews:
https://books.apocalypselaterempire.com/
Both appear in the set-up. Alfred Hitchcock has another case for the Three Investigators, so he has them come in to meet his young English friend, August August. That's a glorious name to start out, even if he chooses to go by Gus, but there's also a real mystery because Gus has an inheritance and has no idea what it is, beyond it being a fortune. It's from his great-uncle, Horatio August, and it's described in a cryptic note that he'd left with his lawyers. That's even better. Gus is therefore one more supporting character from a foreign land, this one merely from mine, the UK.
The note suggests that Horatio paid for this fortune and owns it, so presumably can safely leave it to Gus, but there's an inherent danger surrounding it that should disperse after fifty years. That's a surefire way to intrigue Jupiter Jones, especially as there are rules around it. It cannot be seized or stolen, only bought, given or found. And that's it! There's no detail around what this fortune is or where it can be found, at least not explicitly. There's more to the note, of course, but it's all just as cryptic as the talk about its malevolence. Thus Hitch calls in the boys.
I tend to like the novels that are built around puzzles, not least my favourite, 'The Mystery of the Stuttering Parrot', which is also action-packed. Given that Blackbeard, the mynah bird who helped solve that mystery, makes an appearance here, we can't help but look for comparisons, but this is a little less action-packed and the mystery is structured differently.
It doesn't take them long, for instance, to discover through Bob's research that August's fortune must be the Fiery Eye, a ruby the size of a pigeon's egg of great value that has a long and violent history behind it. Its many owners have generally found it to bring misfortune, so it was eventually gifted by a maharajah in India to the Temple of Justice, located in an imaginary mountain village called Pleshiwar, which is sacred to warlike mountain tribesmen. The last time it was documented was mounted to the forehead of the temple deity there, but it went missing years ago and clearly ended up in the hands of Horatio August. The curse surrounding it lasts for fifty years, which may be already or soon up.
So far, so good, and that discovery was through proper research, but the coincidences soon mount up. For instance, the note says that time is of the essence, but Gus couldn't get over to the States for a couple of months, so it may already be up, especially as his great-uncle's executor has already emptied his house to pay his debts and its owner aims to demolish it soon so that he can build new houses on the land. It gradually becomes clear that a set of plaster busts that bought by some junk dealer must play a part. If only that junk dealer was Titus Jones... oh, wait! It was! And so a magic coincidence means that they suddenly have a lead where they should be none.
Incidentally, these busts are a clear homage to a Sherlock Holmes story, called 'The Adventure of the Six Napoleons', which Jupe calls out within the text. That's very deliberate, as the late Horatio August was a huge fan of those stories and even met Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Given that Jupe was always a young American take on Holmes, with Pete and Bob divvying up Watson duties, that's an appropriate homage and one handled very nicely too.
Of course, others know about the Fiery Eye too, because it's a perfect MacGuffin, and they want it badly. I rather liked the fact that, for the longest time, we aren't given any names for these many seekers, just descriptions. Black Moustache is clearly dangerous. Three Dots may well be too. And Rough Voice and Deep Voice are probably mere henchmen, but that doesn't make them any safer. Eventually we learn names and that humanises them all, but Arthur does delay that as long as he possibly can.
Another aspect I liked here was the inclusion of a fan. There's a need for a ghost-to-ghost hookup again, to locate a particular plaster bust that Titus has already sold by the time they realise it's a key to the mystery, so the details go out and the boys wait for responses. One comes in from a Liz Logan, whose mother has the Octavian in question. They retrieve it with a refunded payment and that would be that, except that Liz wants in on the mystery. As her mother points out, "she lives in a world all her own, full of mysterious spies and sinister criminals."
That makes her a natural pick for a female operative, should they ever need one. I can't remember at this point if they ever did, but that opportunity may have vanished after Arthur's death, as she was apparently based on his own daughter Elizabeth, who confirmed it in an interview. I'm all for additional sidekicks popping in and out of the series, as needed. Of course, there should only ever be the Three Investigators, but that doesn't mean help isn't appropriate. After all, the Bavarian twins, Hans and Konrad, are kind of like sidekicks already, and Worthington is another.
Talking of Worthington, this is the book where we address the time limit attached to Jupe's use of the golden Rolls Royce. He won it for thirty days (of twenty-four hours each, as we've often been reminded in prior books) and we learn here that they expired during the previous volume, as the boys were solving the secret of Skeleton Island in the east. That does mean, I should add, that the first five adventures all took place within a mere month, which makes them rather full of action. I wonder if anyone's crunched the numbers to see how long each of those five took.
Arthur had already floated that Jupe had a plan for this and we learn here that it was to interpret that unusual wording literally. They may have run through thirty days, but not thirty times twenty-four hours. However, the agency is swift to deny that interpretation and that's that, but Gus, once the mystery is solved and he gets his inheritance in the form of a large cheque, thanks the boys by ensuring their future use of the car. That's a worthy thank you and it stops Worthington being lost to the series, as well as keeping the boys mobile. You simply can't get around southern California well enough on bicycles to make it viable otherwise.
I enjoyed this, but not as much as some of the early books. As clever as the mystery is, there are a lot more coincidences needed to get to the solution than I'm willing to tolerate. Gus isn't much of a supporting character either. He's nice enough and his name is fantastic, but he doesn't get close to as much to do as some of his more exotic equivalents in earlier books. Also, all the horror adjacent plots thus far had an extra element that this one mostly lacks. It's there a little in the curse of the ruby, but that's a lot more ignorable than the shocks in books like 'The Secret of Terror Castle' and 'The Mystery of the Green Ghost'.
I'll be back next month with a look at 'The Mystery of Silver Spider', which I remember a little, as it takes the boys as far from California as I recall the series ever taking them, all the way across the pond to a fictional European nation called Varania.
Originally posted at the Nameless Zine in February 2024:
https://www.thenamelesszine.org/Odds-...
Index of all my Nameless Zine reviews:
https://books.apocalypselaterempire.com/
May 19, 2021
2009 review - Alfred Hitchcock approaches the boys with their latest case, endeavouring to help an English boy (August August) to find his inheritance, a jewel called The Fiery Eye. The only clue is a cryptic letter but also on the trail of the jewel is a sinister Indian and a gang of thieves. This is fast paced, good fun and features Liz Logan, a talkative young girl who desperately wants to be an investigator herself (and who, I now know, is based on Robert Arthur’s daughter Elizabeth). Very enjoyable, with virtually all of the regular cast in attendance, this is well worth a look.
2013 update - My 2009 review stands completely, this is well-written and fast paced (though the ending is a bit curt and I wonder why they didn’t write Hitchcock’s round-up as a chapter, rather than a summary). I still think Liz is a great character and really wish we could have seen more of her and the business with the Rent ‘N Ride Auto Agency is handled well. The thirty days (as mentioned in Terror Castle) is now up (meaning they’ve solved six cases in less than a month!) and even though Jupe argues the ’30 days of 24 hours each’ line it doesn’t wash, but ties nicely into the Arthur-books arc, especially since Jupiter alludes to this plan in ‘The Secret Of Terror Castle’. It’s also worth mentioning the locations, with the Jones Junkyard used extensively and the house in Dial Canyon is very evocatively described. Brilliant fun, with a good atmosphere and a cracking pace, this is a great read.
2017 update - I stand by the previous reviews completely, this has a great pace, a good atmosphere and locations and is good fun (and also highlights Robert Arthur’s love for Sherlock Holmes).
2021 update - completely agree with the above, though I’m surprised I haven’t mentioned before that this features a mention of Blackbeard the parrot. Great read.
2013 update - My 2009 review stands completely, this is well-written and fast paced (though the ending is a bit curt and I wonder why they didn’t write Hitchcock’s round-up as a chapter, rather than a summary). I still think Liz is a great character and really wish we could have seen more of her and the business with the Rent ‘N Ride Auto Agency is handled well. The thirty days (as mentioned in Terror Castle) is now up (meaning they’ve solved six cases in less than a month!) and even though Jupe argues the ’30 days of 24 hours each’ line it doesn’t wash, but ties nicely into the Arthur-books arc, especially since Jupiter alludes to this plan in ‘The Secret Of Terror Castle’. It’s also worth mentioning the locations, with the Jones Junkyard used extensively and the house in Dial Canyon is very evocatively described. Brilliant fun, with a good atmosphere and a cracking pace, this is a great read.
2017 update - I stand by the previous reviews completely, this has a great pace, a good atmosphere and locations and is good fun (and also highlights Robert Arthur’s love for Sherlock Holmes).
2021 update - completely agree with the above, though I’m surprised I haven’t mentioned before that this features a mention of Blackbeard the parrot. Great read.
May 1, 2009
Trio detektif kembali dihadapkan pada suatu misteri berdasarkan pesan wasiat orang yang sudah mati. Ternyata jawabannya ada di dekat markas mereka sendiri. Tepatnya di salvage yard. Tepatnya ada pada salah satu barang dagangan paman dan bibi Jupiter Jones. Sayangnya, Aunt Mathilda kadung menjualnya kepada entah siapa. Berkat bantuan ghost-to-ghost hookup, trio detektif kembali menemukannya. Tapi bener ga sih jawabannya ada di situ? Ternyata hanya ada pesan, "Anda belum beruntung. Coba lagi!" Hehehehe, intinya pesan semacam itu lah...
Selain harus memecahkan misteri dalam wasiat untuk menemukan harta bernilai, mereka juga harus menghadapi sekelompok penjahat dan seseorang bertampang seram yang berasal dari Pleshiwar, India. Juga kenyataan bahwa hadiah menumpang golden Rolls Royce sudah berakhir masanya.
Selain harus memecahkan misteri dalam wasiat untuk menemukan harta bernilai, mereka juga harus menghadapi sekelompok penjahat dan seseorang bertampang seram yang berasal dari Pleshiwar, India. Juga kenyataan bahwa hadiah menumpang golden Rolls Royce sudah berakhir masanya.
October 29, 2015
Alhamdulillah akhirnya bisa merasakan kembali keseruan, berdebar-debar, kening berkerut membaca petualangan trio detektif :D
aih kayaknya kalau jadi Liz Logan aku akan melakukan hal yang sama..
menawarkan diri untuk bergabung menjadi bagian trio detektif..
hehehe
tapi kalau aku bergabung judulnya bukan trio detektif lagi dong? XD
I had fun!
aih kayaknya kalau jadi Liz Logan aku akan melakukan hal yang sama..
menawarkan diri untuk bergabung menjadi bagian trio detektif..
hehehe
tapi kalau aku bergabung judulnya bukan trio detektif lagi dong? XD
I had fun!
August 1, 2017
This book in the series is a fun one. Jupe gets to have some fun by pretending to read Bob's mind, the use of the Rolls Royce is lost and then bought for them to use permanently, and we meet a boy who's first name is the same as his last name.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 31, 2020
In der fünften deutschen Hörspielfolge helfen die drei Detektive einem jungen Engländer (mit dem einfallsreichen Namen August August), der von seinem verstorbenen Onkel offenbar ein wertvolles Erbe vermacht bekommen hat – nur weiß niemand, worum es sich dabei genau handelt, denn der Mann hat in seinem Testament nur einen kryptischen Text hinterlassen, der vermutlich Hinweise auf den ominösen Schatz enthält. Justus Jonas, Peter Shaw und Bob Andrews machen sich also daran, das Rätsel zu entschlüsseln und ihrem jungen Klienten sein wohlverdientes Erbe zu beschaffen – doch sie sind allem Anschein nach nicht die einzigen, die es auf den geheimnisvollen Schatz abgesehen haben...
Natürlich läuft auch dieser Fall der drei ??? wieder nach dem üblichen Schema ab und besteht erneut größtenteils darin, dass die drei Detektive und mindestens ein zwielichtiger Gegenspieler einem mysteriösen Gegenstand hinterher jagen. Dennoch ist auch diese Folge wieder kurzweilig und die Schatzsuche sehr abwechslungsreich, wenngleich mal wieder der Faktor Zufall nicht zu kurz kommt (so hat Onkel Titus natürlich just in dem Moment 13 alte Gipsbüsten in seinen Besitz gebracht, in dem diese auch für den aktuellen Fall relevant werden...). Trotzdem macht die Folge Spaß und bietet interessante Charaktere wie den ominösen Mr. Rhandur oder die ambitionierte Möchtegern-Detektivin Lisa, die auch von Sprecherseite gut interpretiert werden. Allerdings kommt es am Ende zu ärgerlichen Unstimmigkeiten, die offenbar der Kürzung der Buchvorlage auf die Hörspiellänge geschuldet sind. Dadurch bleiben leider Teile der Handlung unbeantwortet in der Luft hängen, was den ansonsten sehr guten Gesamteindruck ein wenig trübt.
Natürlich läuft auch dieser Fall der drei ??? wieder nach dem üblichen Schema ab und besteht erneut größtenteils darin, dass die drei Detektive und mindestens ein zwielichtiger Gegenspieler einem mysteriösen Gegenstand hinterher jagen. Dennoch ist auch diese Folge wieder kurzweilig und die Schatzsuche sehr abwechslungsreich, wenngleich mal wieder der Faktor Zufall nicht zu kurz kommt (so hat Onkel Titus natürlich just in dem Moment 13 alte Gipsbüsten in seinen Besitz gebracht, in dem diese auch für den aktuellen Fall relevant werden...). Trotzdem macht die Folge Spaß und bietet interessante Charaktere wie den ominösen Mr. Rhandur oder die ambitionierte Möchtegern-Detektivin Lisa, die auch von Sprecherseite gut interpretiert werden. Allerdings kommt es am Ende zu ärgerlichen Unstimmigkeiten, die offenbar der Kürzung der Buchvorlage auf die Hörspiellänge geschuldet sind. Dadurch bleiben leider Teile der Handlung unbeantwortet in der Luft hängen, was den ansonsten sehr guten Gesamteindruck ein wenig trübt.
January 11, 2021
This is another solid, if somewhat unexceptional, entry in the series. It provides yet another friend from overseas to the Investigators, in this case a young British boy who needs help making sense of a strange legacy from a late uncle. The mystery has a few surprising twists and turns while still offering plenty of opportunity for the reader to solve it along with the protagonists, and the inclusion of some explicit nods to Sherlock Holmes are a nice touch. The story's choice of antagonists is probably its weakest link, and the reason it is not more memorable. Most of the investigators' foes are the sort of generic criminals they've faced several times before in the series, with the only standout being a foreigner whose portrayal, while reasonably respectful for the period and genre, nonetheless plays into dated Orientalist fantasies. Bottom line: if you're interested in trying the series, there are better places to start, but if you're a fan, this is another entertaining adventure that won't disappoint (too much).
Also noteworthy: while series novels of this vintage don't tend to have much in the way of book-to-book continuity, the early volumes in this series do gradually build up some key elements of the formula; this one features a small but significant subplot related to the boys' long-term transportation arrangements, which hardcore fans might find interesting.
Also noteworthy: while series novels of this vintage don't tend to have much in the way of book-to-book continuity, the early volumes in this series do gradually build up some key elements of the formula; this one features a small but significant subplot related to the boys' long-term transportation arrangements, which hardcore fans might find interesting.
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