Book #73: Clue #3: The Case of The Invisible Cat by A.E. Parker
A.E. Parker
Released: December 1st, 1992
My 16th book for 2025 was A.E. Parker's “Clue #3: The Case of the Invisible Cat”.
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.
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Book #3 was a difficult book to find. I remember looking in so many bookstores attempting to track this one down.
I never really had a big opinion on this book. It was one of the last ones I read, and while I enjoyed it, it didn't hit me as strong as the last 2 books had. The writing picks up in the next few books, but at this point, the series felt like it was starting to get stale.
I don't really recall a lot of these stories as they weren't as well written as other books in this series. The ones that stand out from this book are Charades and Cloning Around.
The first one is about a game of Charades that goes awry. The guests keep guessing answers to crazy clues (some of the best by the bumbling Professor Plum). In the end, you must determine which charade killed Mrs. Peacock.
The second one is about a clone machine Professor Plum invents that creates multiple Mrs. Peacocks. This takes the series out of reality, and creates an entertaining tale because not only do you have to account for guests, but for multiple Mrs. Peacocks as well.
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I'm intrigued by some of the personality traits of the characters, so here is my 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 - 7 (24 Overall):
1. For calling him a thief.
2. For "daring to accuse him of cheating.
3. For questioning his judgment.
4. For mocking him.
5. For interrupting him.
6. For being told he "takes [the card game] too seriously."
7. (Encourages Mr. Boddy and Mrs. Peacock to duel) For stolen property.
Plum's Forgetfulness - 18 (45 Overall):
1. Forgot to put his pants on.
2. Forgot his fossils were worth less than $1 Million. In fact, they were worthless.
3. Forgot Mr. Green had a suitcase with $1 Million of stocks and bonds inside.
4. Forgot to order memory aid tapes.
5. Forgot which hand had the knife.
6. Forgot he was playing Charades.
7. Forgot his clue.
8. Forgot Mrs. Peacock "died".
9. Forgot what liquid he created.
10. Forgot why he walked out of the room.
11. Forgot his milk in the Kitchen.
12. Forgot he was supposed to lock up his valuables.
13. Forgot to open his eyes when waking up
14. Forgot why he is in Mr. Boddy's basement.
15. Forgot what comes after 3 when coordinating with the other guests.
16. Forgot the plan to burn the rope to freedom.
17. Forgot which invention he is using (his cloning machine).
18. Forgot what he was supposed to tell the guests from Mr. Boddy.
Peacock's Manners - 10 (21 Overall):
1. Believes it would not be proper to say what is in her suitcase aloud.
2. Cuts out any article in the paper that uses dirty words such as slime, sludge, and filth.
3. Finds it rude that somebody would stab Colonel Mustard to death with a knife.
4. Believes it is vulgar for Mr. Boddy to wear a maid’s outfit.
5. Considers the word “buffoons” to be a rude word and beneath Mrs. White.
6. Found it rude that the doctor doesn’t answer his phone.
7. finds it rude that Plum’s pen calls her a fuss-budget.
8. believes the word “dirty” is vulgar and rude.
9. Mrs. Peacock’s 2nd clone believes the first clone is rude for lying to Miss Scarlet.
10. Mrs. Peacock’s 3rd clone finds it to be rude manners for the second one to be lying.
Unique features on the grounds of the Boddy Mansion - 1 (5 Overall):
1. Tennis Court
Cover Counter:
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As I give the information I learned from the book, I will do it by chapter read. This novel contains the following mysterites:
Allow Me To Introduce Myself...
1. A Mixed Bag
2. Cut Down To Size
3. Dressed To Kill
4. Charades
5. Bad Taste
6. A Very Important Poison
7. Sound the Alarm!
8. The Case of the Invisible Cat
9. Cloning Around
10. The Late Mr. Boddy
Here is what I learned:
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- Dedicated to Andrew and Matthew.
- The cover features Col Mustard, Miss Scarlet, and Mrs. Peacock.
Allow Me To Introduce Myself...
- Miss Scarlet once hit Mr. Boddy with the Lead Pipe.
A Mixed Bag
- Col Mustard has priceless statues that he collected abroad while serving in the Army.
- Col Mustard challenged Mrs. White to a duel for calling him a thief.
- Professor Plum forgot to put his pants on.
- Other than his pants, Plum has forgotten what else is in his briefcase.
- Mrs. Peacock believes it would not be proper to say what is in her suitcase aloud.
- Mrs. White keeps a bobby pin in her white nightgown.
- Professor Plum forgot his fossils were worth less than $1 Million. In fact, they were worthless.
- Professor Plum forgot Mr. Green had a suitcase with $1 Million of stocks and bonds inside.
Cut Down To Size
- Mr. Boddy likes his coffee filled to the brim.
- His favorite song is “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”.
- Miss Scarlet once dated John Hartzbreaker.
- Col Mustard yodels.
- Professor Plum keeps forgetting to order memory aid tapes.
- Mrs. Peacock cuts out any article in the paper that uses dirty words such as slime, sludge, and filth.
- Mrs. Peacock finds it rude that somebody would stab Colonel Mustard to death with a knife.
Dressed To Kill
- Mrs. Peacock believes it is vulgar for Mr. Boddy to wear a maid’s outfit.
- Professor Plum forgot which hand had his knife.
Charades
- Professor Plum forgot he was playing charades.
- Professor Plum forgot his clue.
- Mrs. Peacock is the best charades player out of all the guests.
- Professor Plum forgot Mrs. Peacock died.
Bad Taste
- Mrs. Peacock believes “buffoons”to be a rude word and beneath Mrs. White.
- “Anything” is misspelled “Anyhing” on page 41.
- Each guests cooks something different
- Mr. Green cooks green salad.
- Miss Scarlet cooks chicken.
- Professor Plum cooks stewed plumbs.
- Mrs. Peacock cooks stew.
- Col. Mustard cooks mustard.
A Very Important Poison
- Mrs. White helps Mrs. Peacock cheat at Go Fish!
- Mr. Green also cheats at Go Fish!
- Col Mustard challenges all the other guests to a duel for “daring to accuse him of cheating”.
- Col Mustard challenges Mrs. White to a duel for “questioning his judgment”.
- Col Mustard challenges Mrs. White to another duel for “mocking him”.
- Col Mustard challenges Mr. Boddy to a duel for interrupting him.
- Col Mustard challenges Mr. Green to a duel for saying he “takes [the card game] too seriously.”
- Professor Plum forgot what liquid he created.
- Plum’s has invented a poison called Evappo, because once it’s inside the body, it evaporates.
- Mrs. Peacock found it rude that the doctor doesn’t answer his phone.
Sound The Alarm!
- Professor Plum forgot why he walked out of the room.
- Mr. Boddy once had a radar security system installed in the mansion.
- Mr. Boddy owns the “Lollapalossa”, the largest diamond in the world.
- Mr. Boddy has a security control center in his bedroom.
- Professor Plum forgot his milk in the Kitchen.
- The diamond is the size of a dinosaur egg.
The Case of the Invisible Cat
- Kitty Lyon is a famous cat burglar.
- She is nicknamed the “invisible cat“.
- Mr. Boddy develops a stutter with the word “not”.
- Miss Scarlet has an expensive dress once worn by Mara Hari.
- Mrs. Peacock has an expensive diamond ring.
- Colonel Mustard has a revolver with 6 golden bullets.
- Mr. Green carries insider information on him.
- Mrs. White has a lottery ticket that could be worth $1 million.
- Lightning defies conventional wisdom in Little Falls. First striking the gazebo, then the same place twice.
- Mr. Boddy carries $1 million in petty cash.
- Professor Plum forgets he is to lock up his valuables.
- Plum his invented an automatic writing pen.
- Mrs. Peacock finds it rude that Plum’s pen calls her a fuss-budget.
- Professor Plum forgets to open his eyes when waking up.
- Professor Plum forgets why he is in Mr. Boddy’s basement.
- Plum forgets what comes after 3 when coordinating with the other guests.
- Plum forgets the plan to burn the rope to freedom.
Cloning Around
- The grounds of the Boddy Mansion feature a tennis court.
- Plum invents a machine that serves tennis balls. It doubles as a movie projector.
- Professor Plum forgets which invention he is using. It is his cloning machine.
- Mrs. Peacock believes the word “dirty” is vulgar and rude.
- Mrs. Peacock’s 2nd clone believes the first clone is rude for lying to Miss Scarlet.
- Mrs. Peacock’s 3rd clone finds it to be rude manners for the second one to be lying.
- Plum’s clones are crazed killers, and they always lie.
The Late Mr. Boddy
- Professor Plum forgets what he is to tell the guests from Mr. Boddy.
- Col Mustard challenges Mr. Boddy and Mrs. Peacock to duel.
- Missscarletosis is a made up disaster for Miss Scarlet to steal money from Mr. Boddy.
- “Thrzonelloningoobuhdoo” is an ancient Sourdoo expression meaning “There’s only one thing to do.”
- Mr. Boddy knows a man named Bert.
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