Book #74: Clue #4: Mystery At The Masked Ball by A.E. Parker
A.E. Parker
Released: February 1st, 1993
My 17th book for 2025 was A.E. Parker's “Clue #4: Mystery At The Masked Ball”.
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 #4 was a difficult book to find. I remember looking in so many bookstores attempting to track this one down.
I obtained this book off eBay. I remember the day I got it. I was in grade school. I walked down our driveway at Clearview Terrace to the mailbox and had a package with my name on it. I tore it open and was thrilled at the newfound gold in my hand.
My favorite stories from this book are slim pickings. The book sounds intriguing with a Masked Ball mystery, but the stories fall flat. Thankfully the next book picks up in a strong way. The most notable ones are Mr. Boddy Kills a Guest, and A Mysterious Meeting.
Mr. Boddy Kills a Guest is interesting because all the evidence points to Mr. Boddy killing Mr. Green with the revolver. We know that Mr. Boddy can never be a suspect, which makes it all the more entertaining to see the evidence is stacked against him before the truth is revealed.
The second, A Mysterious Meeting, is fascinating because 2 of the guests conspire to commit crimes for one another. We have to track which guests are at the mansions at various points in time, and we learn that the guests are not always at the Boddy Mansion together at the same time (Mrs. Peacock is away for nearly a month), and some of the injured guests stay at home.
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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 - 5 (29 Overall):
1. For smacking into him.
2. For kicking him in the shin.
3. For threatening him by saying "dueling is illegal".
4. For finding it rude to break the law.
5. For daring to accuse him of plotting to kill Mrs. Peacock
Plum's Forgetfulness - 8 (53 Overall):
1. Forgot what he invented.
2. Forgot what it's like to be forgetful.
3. Forgot to pay his phone bill from 3 months ago and had his service cut off.
4. Forgot if he is in a locked bathroom.
5. Forgot why he is in the bathroom.
6. Forgot to bring his book to the meeting.
7. Nearly forgot to ask Mr. Boddy for a seating arrangement request.
8. Forgot he was dancing.
Peacock's Manners - 8 (29 Overall):
1. Finds it rude that Mr. Boddy can’t remember how long it’s been since they last met.
2. Finds the word "phooey" to be rude.
3. Finds it ruder that Miss Scarlet wasn’t talking to her as she said “phooey”.
4. Finds it vulgar that Miss Scarlet has real jewels on her toothbrush.
5. Once tried to wash out Mr. Green’s mouth for saying the dirty word “mud”.
6. Finds it rude to "break the law".
7. Finds the word "dead" rude.
8. Believes Mr. Boddy is rude for "playing with his food."
Unique features on the grounds of the Boddy Mansion - 0 (5 Overall):
Nothing new this time.
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 mysteries:
Allow Me To Introduce Myself...
1. Mr. Boddy Kills a Guest
2. Pick a Pocket, Any Pocket
3. A Tug-of-War
4. The Deadly Toothbrush
5. The Hobby Club
6. Seating Arrangements
7. The Mystery at the Masked Ball
8. Farewell, Mrs. Peacock
9. A Mysterious Meeting
10. Mr. Boddy Passes On
Here is what I learned:
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- Dedicated to Mrs. Jeffreys, Mrs. Schroeder, and Miss Tomaisson.
- The guests have rainbow colored bullets that pierce everything but human skin.
- Professor Plum forgets what he invented.
Mr. Boddy Kills a Guest
- Mr. Boddy is a billionaire, zillionaire, and a gazillionaire.
- Professor Plum forgets what it's like to be forgetful
- Mrs. Peacock finds it rude that Mr. Boddy can’t remember how long it’s been since they last met.
- Mrs. Peacock likes Mr. Green.
Pick a Pocket, Any Pocket
- Mr. Green gives speeches on “Ways to Get Rich”.
- Mr. Boddy has an Aunt Augusta.
- Aunt Augusta sent his birthday card a year too early.
- Professor Plum once invested in an umbrella company before a big drought.
- Mrs. Peacock is the author of the book “The Proper Way To Be Proper” at a retail of $100 per book.
- Miss Scarlet owns a lipstick company called “Simply Scarlet”.
- Professor Plum forgot to pay his phone bill from 3 months ago and had his service cut off.
A Tug-of-War
- Mr. Boddy hosts a game of tug-of-war.
- A rare Boddy treasure is a “kiss on the nose”.
The Deadly Toothbrush
- Miss Scarlett has a deadly toothbrush covered in rubies.
- The toothbrush had been in her family for generations.
- Mrs. Peacock finds the word “phooey” to be rude.
- Mrs. Peacock also finds it ruder that Miss Scarlet wasn’t talking to her as she said “phooey”.
- Miss Scarlet sleeps on the pool table in the Billiard Room due to her bed being too soft.
- Mrs. Peacock finds it vulgar that Miss Scarlet has real jewels on her toothbrush.
- Miss Scarlet never shares toothbrushes.
- Col Mustard challenges Miss Scarlet to a duel for smacking into him.
- Professor Plum forgets if he is in a locked bathroom.
- Professor Plum forgets why he is in the bathroom.
- Col Mustard fights imaginary duels in his head.
- On the grounds of the Boddy Mansion is a bramble bush.
- Mr. Green had 6 cavities at his dental check-up.
The Hobby Club
- Mr. Boddy hosts the meeting of the Hobby Club in the Lounge.
- Professor Plum’s new hobby is memory tricks.
- Professor Plum has read the book “Ten Days to a Better Memory”, which he found in the Library.
- Professor Plum forgets to bring his book to the meeting.
- According to Mrs. Peacock’s coin flip, Plum will never learn to be less absentminded.
- Mrs. Peacock’s new hobby is coin collecting.
- Her collection is worth $100,000.
- Mrs. Peacock has a penny with an upside-down Lincoln.
- Mr. Green’s new hobby is playing the kazoo.
- Mr. Green can play Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony on the kazoo.
- Col Mustard nearly challenges Mr. Green to a duel for kicking him in the shin.
- Miss Scarlet’s new hobby is ballet.
- Mrs. White’s new hobby is playing a small video game called “Kunga-Dunga”.
- Colonel Mustard’s new hobby is moth collecting.
- Mrs. Peacock does yoga.
Seating Arrangements
- Mr. Boddy hosts a Gourmet Society in his Study.
- Mrs. White is Mr. Boddy’s favorite member of the Gourmet Society.
- Professor Plum’s nearly forgets to ask Mr. Boddy for a seating arrangement request.
The Mystery at the Masked Ball
- Mr. Boddy conducts 300-piece orchestras.
- Mr. Boddy’s favorite waltz is “Let’s Waltz Walt’s Waltz”.
- Mr. Boddy hosts a Masked Ball with a $1,000 prize for best mask.
- Professor Plum’s forgot he was dancing.
- Mr. Boddy gets upset because none of his parties ever work out as planned.
Farewell, Mrs. Peacock
- Mrs. Peacock is given a death threat from a guest on a tape recorder during a snowstorm.
- Mrs. Peacock believes everyone hates her.
- Mrs. Peacock once tried to wash out Mr. Green’s mouth for saying the dirty word “mud”.
- Professor Plum threatens to kill Mrs. Peacock if she touches his research.
- Miss Scarlet wants to kill Mrs. Peacock for throwing out her makeup.
- Mrs. Peacock blackmails Mrs. White over a safecracking job.
- Col Mustard challenges Mrs. Peacock to a duel for threatening him by saying dueling is illegal.
- Mrs. Peacock finds it rude to break the law.
- Col Mustard challenges Mrs. Peacock to another duel for finding it rude to break the law.
- Mrs. Peacock finds the word “dead” rude.
- The guest who made the tape sabotaged the snowmobile.
- Col Mustard challenges Plum to a duel for daring to accuse him of plotting to kill Peacock.
A Mysterious Meeting
- Mr. Boddy pinches cheeks to revive people.
Mr. Boddy Passes On
- Mrs. Peacock believes Mr. Boddy is rude for “playing with his food”.
- Mr. Boddy asks to be pinched when he is unsure of being awake.
Recommended only for series completion.
On to Book #75: Clue #5: "Midnight Phone Calls" by A.E. Parker.
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