Book #72: Clue #2: The Secret Secret Passageway by A.E. Parker
A.E. Parker
Released: October 1st, 1992
My 15th book for 2025 was A.E. Parker's “Clue #2: The Secret Secret Passage”.
General Summary:
Here's something I'll bet you didn't know, there were a series of books written back in the mid-1990's about the Parker Brother's game Clue. I grew up loving the Clue books. They were set up in a similar manner to Encyclopedia Brown. You would have an introduction where Mr. Boddy would introduce himself and welcome you to the mansion. With the exception of the first book, he would typically explain how he survived death in the previous book. He would then go on to introduce each of the 6 guests (including his maid). Usually this would segway into the first chapter by a loud crashing noise, or some other startling interruption. Readers are treated to 10-13 mysteries per book, and each chapter was a different story. At the end of each chapter, you were given either a Clue list (just like the ones used in the game) or a different format depending on the nature of the mystery.
Way back in Fall 1997, I discovered these books at the Summitview Elementary School library when I was in 3rd grade. They have provided countless hours of entertainment and are great rereads when looking for something to do.
I think the thing I love the most about these books are how it expands upon the story. Biographies aside, the other things I truly enjoy reading are books based on other classic franchises.
Originally, there were only 16 books, but 2 more were published in later years before they finally stopped. There was also a side series known as "Clue Jr.", but I never got into that series. The first 4 books are in the classic 80's illustration of the board game. Book #5 starts the new illustrations based on the 1990's version.
--------------------
Book #2 was a difficult book to find. I remember looking in so many bookstores attempting to track this one down.
I honestly do not recall how I obtained this one. I either received it for Christmas or won it in a bid on eBay. It wasn't as exciting as the first book, but it still had some good mysteries to read. With this book, we're still getting a feel for the characters (Who knew that pawns in a board game could have such eclectic backgrounds?). Actually, I may have gotten it from a random used book store.
My favorite stories from this one are The Secret Secret Passage, The Challenge, and Mr. Boddy's Pyramid.
The Secret Secret Passage involves a decades old secret, unbeknownst to Mr. Boddy himself. His great-grandfather built an extension on to the secret passageway from the Study to the Kitchen. The two additional passageways are behind the bookcase, and behind the fireplace. They all connect together behind the walls. I also learn where the secret passageways are located. Such as the grandfather clock housing the Study's passageway.
The Challenge involves my favorite character, Colonel Mustard. He is always challenging everyone to a duel. It's amusing to see him actually carry it out.
Mr. Boddy's Pyramid is the book's finale. This is the one that follows the classic Clue plot of "Who Killed Mr. Boddy?" Mr. Boddy builds a pyramid from which to be buried in. He announces to his guests that they will be responsible for burying him, and that the treasure inside will become theirs once he passes. This sets off a second-by-second breakdown of how Mr. Boddy spent his last minute alive on Earth...or so we are told.
Clue #2 had some interesting differences that set it apart.
This is the first time in the series where the title story opens up the book. I was always intrigued by the title of this book. It's cool to think that there is more to the secret passageways than Mr. Boddy and the guests even know.
It still features the classic 1980's era Clue characterizations for the front and back covers.
Something that struck me as odd, (and might just be a dirty mind on my part) for a "kid's book", it features some more suggestive adult material within its storylines. There’s a buildup and action to a climaxing event 😂.
Even on a violence level, it’s comical to see what we had available to us all growing up in the 1990’s.
And they wonder why we have unsolved mysteries…we literally had several generations grow up on a board game about finding clues to a murderer. And then we have a book telling us how to plan a mass murder.
--------------------
I'm intrigued by some of the personality traits of the characters, so starting here, I'm going to having a running counter of reoccurring traits of Colonel Mustard's Duels, Professor Plum's forgetfulness, and Mrs. Peacock's manner rules. I will also include unique features around the Boddy Mansion.
Mustard's Duel Challenges - 10 (17 Overall):
1. For challenging himself
2. Mrs. White for calling him silly.
3. Professor Plum to a duel for getting in his way.
4. Mrs. White to another for suggesting he doesn’t know the right side of bed to wake up on.
5. Mrs. White to another for calling him a sore loser.
6. White, Plum, and Peacock for laughing at him.
7. Mr. Boddy for saying he fights too many duels.
8. Mr. Boddy for trying to be nice.
9. Mr. Green for insulting him one too many times.
10. Green, Scarlet, and Plum for losing the argument about who would break the agreement to never fight again.
Plum's Forgetfulness - 14 (27 Overall):
1. Forgotten cures to every disease on Earth.
2. Forgot who he was.
3. Forgot about the secret secret passage.
4. Forgot why he was running in circles.
5. Forgot if his undershirt has holes in it.
6. Forgets what would happen if anything happened to him.
7. Forgot that "a watched beaker never boils".
8. Forgot what he found an instant cure for.
9. Forgot where he put the cure.
10. Forgot why he was holding his hand in the air as Col Mustard performs a trick shot with a live gun.
11. Forgot what his lecture was on.
12. Forgot who Albert Einstein was.
13. Forgot where he left his briefcase.
14. Forgot his entire speech.
Peacock's Manners - 6 (11 Overall):
1. Believes "grime" is a dirty word.
2. Finds "dueling" to be rude.
3. Felt Mr. Boddy was rude for laughing at a joke that he didn't tell them.
4. Protests a film on grounds that it features a scene of a white horses stepping in mud.
5. Believes "calling a bank at a late hour" is rude.
6. Believes "grabbing" is rude.
Unique features on the grounds of the Boddy Mansion - 3 (7 Total):
1. Secret Secret Passageway.
2. A skeleton of someone forgotten in the Secret Secret Passageway.
3. A full-scale Pyramid.
--------------------
As I give the information I learned from the book, I will do it by chapter read. This novel contains the following mysteries:
Allow Me To Introduce Myself...
1. The Secret Secret Passage
2. The Challenge
3. The Joke Contest
4. Mrs. White's Horrible Plan
5. Boddy Language
6. Plum's Plasma
7. A Show of Talent
8. Trick or Treat
9. The Wrong Briefcase
10. Mr. Boddy's Pyramid
Here is what I learned:
—————
- The cover features Miss Peacock, Professor Plum, and Mrs. White.
Allow Me To Introduce Myself...
- Mr. Boddy once hired a Plummer whose wrench flew all the way across the mansion and hit him on the head in the Library. Interestingly, he doesn’t remember hiring a plumber…
- Professor Plum has forgotten to cures to every disease on Earth.
- Mrs. Peacock believes “grime” is a dirty word.
- Miss Scarlet is always jealous to begin with.
- Col. Mustard once dueled himself.
- Mrs. White collects dangerous weapons
- Roddy Boddy wrote “The Secret Secret Passage”.
- A skeleton has been rotting away in Boddy Mansion.
- Professor Plum forgot who he was.
- In the Study, the secret passageway to the Kitchen is through the grandfather clock.
- Mr. Boddy doesn’t like the guests using the secret passageways.
- Professor Plum forgot about the secret secret passage.
- There is another secret passageway in the Study. When you pull the fire poker, a lever initiates and the fireplace turns.
- Professor Plum forgot why he was running in circles.
- Roddy Boddy is Mr. Boddy’s great-grandfather.
- Col Mustard challenges Mrs. White to a duel for calling him silly.
- Col Mustard challenges Professor Plum to a duel for getting in his way.
- Col Mustard challenges Mrs. White to another duel for suggesting he doesn’t know the right side of bed to wake up on.
- Mustard finished in last place in Mr. Boddy’s Tiddlywinks tournament.
- Col Mustard challenges Mrs. White to another due for calling him a sore loser.
- Mrs. Peacock is reading “How to Behave Properly While Asleep”.
- Col Mustard challenges White, Plum, and Peacock to a duel for laughing at him.
- Col Mustard challenges Mr. Boddy to a duel for saying he fights too many duels.
- Col Mustard challenges Mr. Boddy to a duel for trying to be nice.
- Col Mustard challenges Mr. Green to a duel for insulting him one too many times.
- Mrs. Peacock finds dueling to be rude.
- “Mr. Green. The time for speeches has ended. Prepare to die.” - Colonel Mustard.
- Col Mustard challenged Green, Scarlet, and Plum to another duel for losing the argument about who would break the agreement to never fight again.
- Mr. Boddy has a silver bell at the head of the table in the Dining Room.
- Mrs. Peacock feels Mr. Boddy was rude for laughing at a joke that he didn’t tell them.
- Professor Plum forgets if his undershirt has holes in it.
- Mrs. White was voted as the person with the funniest jokes by the guests.
- Professor Plum forgets what would happen if anything happened to him.
- Mrs. White was once included into the guests wills.
- Mrs. Peacock protests Mr. Boddy’s film “Boddy Language” over grounds that it has a white horse stepping in a puddle of mud.
- Mr. Boddy is credited in “Boddy Language” as “Gave Lots of Money”.
- Professor Plum forgot that “a watched beaker never boils”.
- Professor Plum forgot what he found an instant cure for.
- Plum shaves off one side of Mustard’s mustache with the knife.
- After Mustard is mortally wounded, Plum forgets where he put the cure.
- Miss Scarlet is a baton twirler.
- Professor Plum can juggle.
- Mr. Boddy hosts the first annual Boddy talent show.
- Professor Plum forgets why he is holding his hand in the air as Col Mustard performs a trick shot with a live gun.
- The book has a slightly more adult theme as it describes Mrs. White playing the Lead Pipe as a “flute”.
- For Halloween Mr. Boddy and the guests have different costumes.
- Professor Plum forgot what his lecture was on.
- Professor Plum forgot who Albert Einstein is.
- Professor Plum forgot where he left his briefcase.
- Mrs. Peacock believes calling a bank at a late hour is rude.
- Mr. Boddy has all 26 volumes of Boddy’s Encyclopedia Britannica.
- Mrs. Peacock believes grabbing is rude.
- Professor Plum forgot his entire speech.
- The grounds of Boddy Mansion feature a full-size pyramid.
- Mr. Boddy’s tomb is filled with millions of dollars worth of treasure.
- Mr. Boddy carries snake venom antidote.
Comments
Post a Comment