Book #76: Clue #6: Booby-Trapped by A.E. Parker
A.E. Parker
Released: August 1st, 1994
My 19th book for 2025 was A.E. Parker's “Clue #6: Booby-Trapped!”.
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 #6 was the one that started it all. Booby-Trapped! remains my all-time favorite Clue book. Every chapter from start to finish is solid, engaging, and pack with loads of entertainment and Clue knowledge.
I found this in the Summitview Elementary School library I believe somewhere around 3rd-4th grade. I was thrilled to find a book written about my favorite board game.
This novel contains a lot of solid stories. I have a lot more favorites than just a few as per usual, so I'll detail my favorites below.
The first story segues out of the introduction by a gunshot in the Hall. Mr. Boddy reveals that he changed his door chime to a gunshot as a prank. It startles all of his guests, who happen to be carrying revolvers. This story involves pranks, blackmail, and keeping track of who knows what, who is inactive, and who has a motive. Great starter story,
The second story, A Dynamite Dinner features a dinner where Professor Plum reads about Mr. Boddy's mansion being demolished the next day. It's an entertaining tale that brings out the best in Mr. Green and Professor Plum's personalities as the guests run from room to room to catch the fuse to the bomb.
The third story, The Scarlet Key, details a weekend where Mr. Boddy passes out keys to his mansion for while he is away. He is due to attend the Zillionaire's conference on Zillionaire Island. The conference is cancelled last minute due to an extreme number of weather related incidents hitting the island all at once. Boddy experiences break-ins due to his guests forgetting their keys and wanting to steal his new sculpture. It features hilarious imagery such as Mr. Boddy missing a doorway by 2 inches while running in the dark. This story always appealed to me because I picture sitting alone in a dark mansion while the weather goes on outside.
Password Please is the fourth story, and it details Mr. Boddy getting set up with PC Banking. He can now control his zillions from the comfort of his home. This is a classic mystery where you need to keep track of weapons and who has what. It also has an eerie environment to it as a storms rage on outside while the guests attempt to subdue Mr. Boddy and steal his money.
Tall Tales shows us a story that is based on physical attributes. If you can keep track of what the other characters look like, it's easy to keep track. We also see sides of Miss Scarlet and Mrs. Peacock as Scarlet races around a winding road in her Jaguar with Mrs. Peacock nervously in tow.
Caught Blue-Handed is a story about Mr. Boddy keeping the Ball Room off-limits to his guests as he stores a priceless ballroom record collection in it. Each guest comes up with a zany excuse for why they need access to the room. There is even a funny segment in the paint store where Mr. Green asks about the professor who came in and purchased green paint. The salesman states that the professor claims he "could not remember his own name". Good stuff, and a classic array of scenes as various "painters" show up to paint the Ball Room and make off with Boddy's collection.
The Robot Butler is the classic tale of Horace the Butler. Mr. Boddy purchases him from the One Million Store (you know, the one where everything costs $1 Million). Horace is only programmed to recognize commands from 4 people. The rest have to wait until the next day. Horace is given commands to murder Colonel Mustard. This turns into a race around the mansion for Mustard's life.
Booby-Trapped is a thrilling tale about the guests booby-trapping the Study before Mr. Boddy goes about his nightly routine before bed. This is in response to him installing a security camera, after catching each of the guests committing a crime against him. The traps are novel, and it's fun to see disappearing floors, ceiling compartments, and even the secret passageway used as a way to hide people. Exciting and entertaining read.
This book brings back a lot of special memories for me. This was the first Clue book I ever read, and it started a fandom of the series that expanded from both the board game, and the days when I would play online at MSN Gaming Zone. It is a classic to me, and I was thrilled to reread it and review it.
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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 (44 Overall):
1. For trying to trick him
2. (The carpet) For trying to trick him.
3. (Threatens Mr. Green) For if he doesn't pass him the Wrench.
4. Challenges the entire hospital staff.
5. (The Door to the Ball Room) For not breaking open when he charges it.
6. (Horace the Butler) For killing him.
7. (Plum) For stealing his bathrobe.
Plum's Forgetfulness - 18 (93 Overall):
1. Forgot to leave his toothbrush at home.
2. Forgot why he was in the Dining Room.
3. Forgot to read aloud.
4. Forgot to tell Mr. Boddy about the demolition crew.
5. Forgot the message from the demolition crew to Mr. Boddy.
6. Forgot to write down where they planted the bomb.
7. Forgot the question Mr. Green asked him.
8. Forgot what he and Mr. Green were talking about.
9. Forgot to tell Mr. Green what room the bomb is in.
10. Forgot he was saying goodbye and not hello.
11. Forgot to bring his 3 keys.
12. Forgot why he was in the Kitchen.
13. Forgot why he needed the Wrench.
14. Forgot to tell the police he was not dead.
15. Forgot what all the commotion was about
16. Forgot his name at the paint shop.
17. Forgot to bring his bathrobe.
18. Forgot that he told Mrs. Peacock he booby-trapped the Study.
Peacock's Manners - 17 (60 Overall):
1. Feels it is bad manners to shoot at your guests.
2. Feels that playing jokes on your guests is rude and vulgar.
3. Finds reading the newspaper at dinner to be improper.
4. Finds it rude to shove and push.
5. Considers it bad manners to step on fingers and toes.
6. Finds riddles at dinner to be rude.
7. Finds fast food to be vulgar.
8. Fings Miss Scarlet talking about the men's attractiveness to be rude.
9. Believes it is impolite for Mr. Boddy to say his "hands are full" when they are clearly empty.
10. Finds the police inconsiderate for taping off the Kitchen.
11. Believes Mr. Green has no manners for pinching Mr. Boddy's nose.
12. Believes locked doors are bulgar and improper in polite society.
13. Finds Mr. Boddy mannerless for waking them up in the middle of the night and no-showing a meeting.
14. Believes sleepwear should never be discussed in polite society.
15. Believes it is improper to keep a diary.
16. Believes Mr. Boddy has no manners for spying on her by hanging a security camera in his mansion.
17. Finds Mr. Boddy to be a rude host for threatening to report to the police that she tried to steal earrings that once belonged to his mother.
Unique features on the grounds of the Boddy Mansion - 5 (12 Overall):
1. Gunshot Doorbell
2. A priceless Vinny Van-Go-Go Sculpture
3. PC Banking with access to zillions.
4. Priceless Ballroom Records
5. Horace the Butler (former)
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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. That Gun Rings A Bell
2. A Dynamite Dinner
3. The Scarlet Key
4. Password, Please
5. Tall Tales
6. Caught Blue-Handed
7. The Robot Butler
8. One of You Is The Murderer
9. Mr. Boddy's Surefire System
10. Booby-Trapped!
Here is what I learned:
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- For Greg Holch
- Mr. Boddy has a custom-made, titanium-lined mega-million-sized wallet.
- Pepper makes Miss Scarlet go crazy.
- Mrs. Peacock wears a twenty-piece bathing suit.
- Professor Plum is one of the world’s leading memory experts.
- Mr. Boddy has a door chime that sounds like a gunshot.
- Mrs. Peacock feels it is bad manners to shoot at your guests.
- Mrs. Peacock feels that playing jokes on your guests is rude and vulgar.
- Mrs. Peacock blackmails the guests with incriminating photos for $100,000 each.
- Professor Plum forgot to leave his toothbrush at home.
- Colonel Mustard challenges Mr. Green to a duel for trying to trick him.
- Professor Plum forgot why he was in the Dining Room.
- Mrs. Peacock feels reading the newspaper at dinner is improper.
- Professor Plum forgot to read aloud.
- Mr. Boddy lives at 292 Easy Street in Little Falls.
- Professor Plum forgot to tell Mr. Boddy about the demolition crew.
- Professor Plum forgot the message from the demolition crew.
- Professor Plum forgot to write down where they planted the bomb.
- Colonel Mustard challenges the carpet to a duel for tripping him.
- Professor Plum forgot the question Mr. Green asked him.
- Professor Plum forgot what he and Mr. Green were talking about.
- A six-foot-tall, two-foot-wide bomb is hard to miss.
- Professor Plum forgot to tell Mr. Green what room the bomb was in.
- Professor Plum forgot he saying goodbye and not hello.
- Mr. Boddy has a Vinny Van-Go-Go sculpture.
- According to Professor Plum, coat stands being on the right side of a Hall.
- Mr. Boddy is attending the annual Zillionaire’s Conference.
- This year’s topic is “What To Do When You Have More Money Than You Know What To Do With.”
- Mrs. Peacock finds it rude to shove and push.
- Mrs Peacock finds it bad manners to step on fingers and toes.
- The chairman of Zillionaire Island calls of the conference due to a tornado, hurricane, monsoon, blizzard, tidal wave, and an earthquake all striking the island at once.
- The chairman also has a sore throat.
- Professor Plum forgot to bring his 3 keys.
- Mr. Boddy’s birthday is November 13th.
- Mrs. Peacock finds riddles at dinner to be rude.
- Mr. Boddy made his first million on November 12th.
- Mr. Green and Mr. Boddy first met on November 11th.
- Colonel Mustard threatens to challenge Mr. Green to a duel if he doesn’t pass him the Wrench.
- Miss Scarlet drives a red Jaguar.
- Miss Scarlet stuffs her ears with cotton while she drives.
- Mrs. Peacock finds fast food to be vulgar.
- Mrs. Peacock believes being tardy to a tea party to be the height of rudeness, and should not be tolerated at all.
- Mrs. Peacock finds Miss Scarlet talking about the men’s attractiveness to be rude.
- Mrs. Peacock believes Miss Scarlet needs classes on how to be prim and proper.
- The Peacock School of Manners offers classes on how to be prim and proper.
- Mrs. Peacock finds it impolite for Mr. Boddy to say his “hands are full” despite being empty.
- Mrs. Peacock finds the police inconsiderate for taping off the Kitchen.
- Mrs. Peacock carries blue-handled scissors in her purse.
- Professor Plum enjoys eating walnuts.
- Professor Plum forgot why he was in the Kitchen.
- Professor Plum forgot why he needed the Wrench.
- Professor Plum forgot to tell the police that he was not dead.
- Colonel Mustard challenges the hospital staff to a duel.
- Colonel Mustard challenged the door to the Ball Room to a duel for not breaking open.
- Mr. Boddy collects old ballroom dance records.
- Mrs. Peacock believes Mr. Green has no manners for pinching Mr. Boddy’s nose.
- Mrs. Peacock believes locked doors are vulgar and improper in polite society.
- Professor Plum forgot what all the commotion was about.
- Professor Plum forgot his name.
- Mr. Boddy frequents the One Million Store, where everything costs $1 Million.
- Mr. Boddy has a robot butler named Horace.
- Mr. Green likes his tea with extra lemon.
- Miss Scarlet likes Cherry Cola with lots of chopped ice in it.
- Horace harbors feelings of hatred for their job.
- Colonel Mustard has blackmailed Miss Scarlet.
- Mr. Boddy has a robot butler instruction manual.
- For instances where the robot has been programmed to murder, the manual suggests to RUN!
- Colonel Mustard challenges Horace to a duel for killing him.
- Professor Plum suffers memory loss without 24 hours of sleep a day.
- Mrs. Peacock finds Mr. Boddy mannerless for waking them up in the middle of the night and no-showing a meeting.
- Miss Scarlet suffers from insomnia.
- Mrs. Peacock believes sleepwear should never be discussed in polite society.
- Professor Plum forgot to bring his bathrobe.
- Colonel Mustard challenges Plum to a duel for stealing his robe.
- Mrs. Peacock believes it is improper to keep a diary.
- Mrs. White keeps a diary.
- Colonel Mustard makes donuts with the revolver for the holes.
- Mrs. Peacock’s ring on her index finger houses an ink vat which she can then use her peacock feather to write with.
- Mr. Green’s stock has fallen to one cent per share.
- Mrs. Peacock believes Mr. Boddy has no manners for spying on her by hanging a security camera in his mansion.
- Mr. Boddy’s cameras do not begin recording until after midnight
- Mrs. Peacock commits most of her crimes after midnight.
- Mrs. Peacock finds Mr. Boddy to be a rude host for threatening to report to the police that she tried to steal earrings that once belonged to his mother.
- Professor Plum forgot that he told Peacock he booby-trapped the Study.
- Every night before bed, Mr. Boddy enjoys a nighty-night cup of hot cocoa, and places his empty mug on the mantel.
- Colonel Mustard owns a new camcorder.
- Each of the guests has booby-trapped the Study.
Overall, this is my favorite Clue book of them all. I have reread this book countless times since I first picked it up and have always been thrilled by it. If there is one book of the eighteen in the series that I suggest for someone to read, this is the one. Enjoy!
Highest Recommendation.
On to Book #77: Clue #7: "The Picture-Perfect Crime" by A.E. Parker.
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