Book #75: Clue #5: Midnight Phone Calls by A.E. Parker
A.E. Parker
Released: April 1st, 1994
My 18th book for 2025 was A.E. Parker's “Clue #5: Midnight Phone Calls”.
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 #5 was a fun one to track down. I got this one early in my adventure to collect them all. Midnight Phone Calls remains as one of my favorite Clue books of all time. I love the style change from the 1980's Clue to update for the 1990's style. The stories were more entertaining. The reads were very enjoyable. I have read this one numerous times growing up. It is one of my favorites.
I found this one at the Montgomery Mall in Maryland. This was way back in the late 1990's, early 2000's when these books could still be found in stores. I'm talking Waldenbooks Era. Yeah...so long ago...still missed... We were going on vacation to the Outer Banks in North Carolina, but my dad still had to work on a Friday, so my mom, sister, and I went shopping. I remember getting 3 books this trip, but this was the one that stood out.
I love Midnight Phone Calls (the story). The idea of hanging out in a mansion during a rainstorm reading comic books reminds me of childhood in south-central Pennsylvania. I would read all sorts of comics in the late hours during the 1990's, from Simpsons to Dexter's Lab, Powerpuff Girls, Scooby-Doo, Batman, etc. Even Mad Magazine was in there too. I even remember a time when I had to stay at my grandma's house, and I picked up some comics to read late at night in the rec room. Classic memories.
The book reveals a lot of things going on at the Boddy mansion that he may be unaware of. His own funeral is arranged without him knowing. There are multiples of the classic Clue weapons. Mrs. Peacock knows self-defense. The guests know how to fly airplanes. The guests are wealthy in their own right.
My favorite stories from this book would be Party Crashers, Midnight Phone Calls
The first story, Party Crashers segways in from the introduction chapter. Mr. Boddy's private jet has crashed into the mansion with all the guests presumed dead. Suddenly they begin parachuting in one at a time, each one with a different account for what has happened. It's a great start to the book and showcases the different characters.
The second story is the title story, Midnight Phone Calls. Miss Scarlet leaves the party of guests during a rainstorm to make a phone call at midnight. The other guests notice her absence and look for different phones around the mansion to listen in on her call. This shows the expansiveness of the mansion, and it's cool to see landlines used in the story.
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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 - 8 (37 Overall):
1. For Mr. Green stating that Mustard was jealous that Miss Scarlet wanted to sit beside him in the cockpit.
2. For everyone lying.
3. For insulting Miss Scarlet.
4. (Nearly challenges) For an insult Miss Scarlet made against him on a private phone call.
5. For cheating at a shooting competition.
6. For teasing him.
7. For laughing at him.
8. For laughing at a funeral.
Plum's Forgetfulness - 22 (75 Overall):
1. Forgot his own name.
2. Forgot he was parachuting.
3. Forgot he escaped a plane crash.
4. Forgot he survived a plane crash.
5. Forgot if Miss Scarlet hit him.
6. Forgot that he is forgetful
7. Forgot Mrs. Peacock landed on his head.
8. Forgot he left his purple luggage on the plane.
9. Forgot he needed to make a phone call...at midnight.
10. Forgot the idea of Mr. Boddy banning weapons from the mansion.
11. Forgot what was in the safe he was breaking into
12. Forgot he was attending a Christmas party and not a Halloween one.
13. Forgot where he was running to.
14. Forgot his bathing suit.
15. Forgot a wild rhino escaped from the local zoo.
16. Forgot his announcement.
17. Forgot a wild rhino was on the loose.
18. Forgot he volunteered.
19. Forgot the instructions after having it explained to him.
20. Forgot what he was doing.
21. Forgot why he came to the mansion.
22. Forgot he was holding Mr. Boddy.
Peacock's Manners - 14 (43 Overall):
1. Once called the police because Mr. Boddy burped.
2. Believe it is rude to lie.
3. Believes it is impertinent and vulgar of Miss Scarlet to disagree with her over what happened.
4. Finds Professor Plum rude for taking the phone she wanted to use.
5. Finds Mr. Boddy rude for not answering her.
6. Believes it is not polite to keep secrets.
7. Finds the padlocks rude for being tough.
8. Believes it is rude of her mind to play tricks on her.
9. Believes criminals are rarely polite.
10. Finds it uncouth to be grateful about a dead person's will.
11. Finds it vulgar to talk about money at a funeral.
12. Finds fighting at a funeral the height of rudeness.
13. Finds it coarse to duel at a funeral.
14. Finds it rude for the reverend to be late to a funeral.
Unique features on the grounds of the Boddy Mansion - 2 (7 Overall):
1. Private Jet
2. A Swimming Pool
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. Party Crashers
2. Midnight Phone Calls
3. Wear Are The Weapons?
4. Blackout!
5. The Walls Have Eyes
6. The Guest Who Stole Christmas
7. A Room With A View
8. The Guest Who Couldn't Shoot Straight
9. A Purple Belt in Karate
10. Mr. Boddy's Funeral
Here is what I learned:
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- Book is dedicated to Jacob, Joshua, Hana Rose, Danny, Ahava, Claire, Aviva, Harvey, Arielle, Tobias, Atara.
Allow Me To Introduce Myself...
- Mr. Boddy has a private jet.
- Miss Scarlet once stole a heart made of gold from a jewelry shop.
- Professor Plum often forgets his own name.
- Mrs. Peacock once called the police because Mr. Boddy burped.
Party Crashers
- Mr. Body’s private jet is silver.
- Mr. Boddy is bald.
- The guests know how to parachute.
- Professor Plum forgot he was parachuting.
- Professor Plum forgot he escaped a place crash.
- Colonel Mustard knows how to fly Mr. Buddy’s private jet.
- Mr. Green once drove Mr. Boddy’s golf cart through the Billiard Room wall.
- Professor Plum forgot he survived.
- Mrs. Peacock believes it is very rude of Miss Scarlet to lie.
- Mrs. Peacock believes it is impertinent and vulgar of Miss Scarlet to disagree with her over what happened.
- Professor Plum evidently knows how to fly a plane.
- Professor Plum forgot if Miss Scarlet hit him.
- Professor Plum forgot that he is forgetful.
- Professor Plum forgot Mrs. Peacock landed on his head.
- Mr. Green knows how to fly a plane.
- Colonel Mustard challenged Mr. Green to a duel because Miss Scarlet wanted to sit next to Mr. Green in the cockpit.
- Colonel Mustard challenged everyone to a duel for lying.
- Professor Plum forgot he left his purple luggage on the plane.
Midnight Phone Calls
- Mr. Boddy has an excellent collection of comic books.
- Colonel Mustard challenged Mr. Green to a duel for insulting Miss Scarlet.
- All of Mr. Boddy’s guests are on diets.
- Professor Plum forgot he needed to make a phone call…at midnight.
- Mrs. Peacock finds Plum rude for taking the phone she wanted to use.
- Colonel Mustard nearly challenges the phone to a duel for an insult Miss Scarlet made against him.
- Miss Scarlet enjoys ruby red jelly beans.
Wear Are The Weapons?
- Colonel Mustard challenges Miss Scarlet to a duel for cheating at a shooting competition.
- Colonel Mustard challenges Mr. Green to a duel for teasing him.
- Colonel Mustard challenges Mrs. Peacock to a duel for laughing at him.
- Mr. Boddy rarely raises his voice.
- Professor Plum forgot the idea of Mr. Boddy banning weapons from the mansion.
- Professor Plum can tie a double-Windsor-sharp-point knot.
Blackout!
- Mrs. White has a mini-tape recorder in her sleeve that says “Very good sir”.
- Mr. Boddy has a portrait of his father, Daddy Boddy, hanging in the Dining Room.
- Mr. Boddy is terrified of the dark.
- Mrs. Peacock finds Mr. Boddy rude for not answering her.
The Walls Have Eyes
- The grandfather clock in the Ball Room chimes 8 times at 7 o’clock.
- There is a safe behind the painting in the Ball Room.
- There is a painting of Mr. Boddy’s mother, Bessie Boddy, in the Ball Room.
- The Bessie Boddy painting contains secret peepholes.
- There is a secret peephole in the Conservatory wall.
- There is a two-way mirror on the Lounge dresser.
- Mrs. White owns a telescope.
- Professor Plum forgot what was in the safe he was breaking into.
The Guest Who Stole Christmas
- Mr. Boddy hosts an annual Christmas party.
- Miss Scarlett dresses up like a reindeer.
- Professor Plums dresses as a purple skeleton because he forgot it was a Christmas party and not a Halloween party.
- Mrs. Peacock believes it is not polite to keep secrets.
- Mr. Boddy padlocks the Christmas presents.
- Mrs. Peacock finds the padlocks being tough rude.
- Mr. Boddy spent $1 Million on Christmas ornaments.
A Room With A View
- Professor Plum drives a Volkswagen.
- Plum owns a Great Dane.
- Mrs. Peacock can play Chopin on piano.
- Mrs. Peacock believes it is rude of her mind to play tricks on her.
- Professor Plum forgot where he was running to.
The Guest Who Couldn't Shoot Straight
- Professor Plum forgot his bathing suit.
- Plum sunbathes in the nude.
- The grounds of the Boddy Mansion feature a swimming pool.
- Professor Plum forgot a wild rhino escaped from the local zoo.
- Professor Plum forgot his announcement.
- Colonel Mustard once hunted rhino in faraway Bagel-Bagel.
- There is a set of Revolvers that match the guests color preferences.
- Professor Plum forgot a wild rhino was on the loose.
- An angry rhino races around mansions from right to left.
A Purple Belt In Karate
- Mr. Boddy hosts the First International Monopoly Tournament.
- Mrs. Peacock is one of the world’s greatest self-defense experts.
- Professor Plum forgot he volunteered.
- Professor Plum forgot the instructions after having it explained to him.
- Professor Plum forgot what he was doing.
- Mrs. Peacock believes criminals are rarely polite.
- Mrs. Peacock knows the “Kung Fu Klobber”.
Mr. Boddy's Funeral
- Mr. Body’s funeral is at 2pm in the Ball Room.
- Professor Plum forgot why he came to the mansion.
- Mrs. Peacock finds it uncouth to be grateful about a dead person’s will.
- Mrs. Peacock finds it vulgar to talk about money at a funeral.
- Colonel Mustard challenges Mr. Green to a duel for laughing at a funeral.
- Mrs. Peacock finds fighting at a funeral the height of rudeness.
- Mrs. Peacock finds it coarse to duel at a funeral.
- Mrs. Peacock finds it rude for the reverend to be late to a funeral.
- Mr. Boddy somehow allowed a funeral to be setup in his mansion without his knowledge
- Professor Plum forgot he was holding Mr. Boddy.
Overall, this was one of the best Clue books. Out of the 5 I have reviewed so far, this one is my favorite. The characters are established. The stories are thrilling. The imaginative visuals are great. I have read this one numerous times over the years and have always returned to it for a quick read.
Highly Recommended.
On to Book #76: Clue #6: "Booby Trapped!" by A.E. Parker.
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