Book #79: Clue #9: Mystery In The Moonlight by A.E. Parker
A.E. Parker
Released: June 1st, 1995
My 22nd book for 2025 was A.E. Parker's “Clue #9: Mystery In The Moonlight”.
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 #9 was one of the later books for me to read. I had seen this one in a few used bookstores before I picked it up. I got it from an online seller on eBay. I always thought the cover looked unique and bright. The visuals of the mansion with guests walking around cautiously sets the stage for another exciting read.
Because of the late reading of this one, rereading this book felt fresh and new because I have only read it one other time before.
I did something unique when I returned to this book. I have a daily habit of walking. Typically I hit over 20,000 steps per day. As I read this book, I decided to walk from where I live to Thornwald Park in Carlisle, PA. As I walked through the park, I saw a series of benches. I sat in every one and read each of the chapters by hopping on down the trail. It was a great was to read, get exercise and enjoy one of the unique places around town. The only down side is, it was about 90+ degrees.
This book features a return to classic Clue form, where the personality traits of the guests are once again woven well into the stories. Something missing from the previous few books.
My favorite stories from this book are Go Fly A Kite and There Went The Bride.
In Go Fly A Kite, Mr. Boddy has his guests engage in a kite flying competition. Chaos ensues when guests forget which kite is theirs, get them tangled up, and attempt to thwart the others in the competition. One of the funniest segments appears here, when Colonel Mustard believes Mr. Boddy has challenged him to a "duel with kites".
In There Went The Bride, Miss Scarlet is set to be married on short notice in the mansion. As the guests get her gifts, and Mr. Boddy prepares things of value for her, it is determined that she staged her own wedding to get things from people, and plans to skip town with her newfound goods and wealth. It's entertaining to think of one of the guests typing the knot. Especially to an unnamed character (which we later understand why they are unnamed).
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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 (65 Overall):
1. (Mrs. Peacock) For disliking dogs.
2. (Mr. Boddy) Nearly challenges him for not starting the game quick enough.
3. (Unknown Object) For being a ghost
4. (Mr. Boddy) Believed Mr. Boddy challenged him to a duel with kites.
5. (Professor Plum) For not being careful.
6. Open Challenge to anyone who is not his friend.
7. (Professor Plum) For interrupting the Valentine's exchange.
Plum's Forgetfulness - 11 (87 Overall):
1. Forgot his favorite breed of dog.
2. Forgot why he likes the secret passageway from the Kitchen to the Study.
3. Forgot the name of the book he was looking for in the library.
4. Forgot the last time he had an idea.
5. Forgot his kite was purple.
6. Forgot if he ever had lips for dessert before.
7. Forgot if he enjoyed a cookie or not.
8. Forgot the guests were guessing.
9. Forgot what he paid thousands of dollars for.
10. Forgot what he is allergic to.
11. Forgot where he put his weapon.
Peacock's Manners - 10 (60 Overall):
1. Finds dogs to be so rude.
2. Does not enjoy talking about her hose "losing his marbles into his soup" at the dinner table.
3. Finds it morbid of Mr. Green to say the wax figure will long outlive Mr. Boddy.
4. Believes a skirt getting caught up in the wind is improper.
5. Believes one should ask permission to eat a cookie each day.
6. Finds Mrs. White rude for calling her a nut.
7. Finds it rude to keep people waiting.
8. Finds the talk of allergies to be rude.
9. Finds it rude to kick out guests after inviting them over.
10. Believes it is polite to keep a driver company while waiting.
Unique features on the grounds of the Boddy Mansion - 5 (19 Overall):
1. Hidden bodies of supposed victims.
2. A bloodhound named "Reggie".
3. A wax figure of Mr. Boddy commissioned by the World Wax Museum.
4. Cherry trees.
5. A telescope.
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. On The Scent
2. Alphabet Soup
3. Seeing Double
4. Stormy Weather
5. Go Fly A Kite
6. The Case of the Blue-Ribbon Cookies
7. There Went the Bride
8. My Funny Valentine
9. Mystery in the Moonlight
10. Saying Good-bye Can Be Murder
Here is what I learned:
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- First book written by Marie Jacks.
- For all of our readers…
- Mrs. White knows where all the bodies are buried at the mansion.
- Colonel Mustard tells women to calm down.
- Mr. Boddy has a new bloodhound named Reggie.
- He is named after Mr. Boddy.
- Mrs. White has a cousin named Barton.
- Mr. Boddy has a pronounced nose, dark hair, and drooping ears. Something he and Reggie share in common.
- Mrs. Peacock finds dogs to be so rude.
- Colonel Mustard challenges Mrs. Peacock to a duel for disliking dogs.
- Miss Scarlets likes Poodles.
- Colonel Mustard likes Bulldogs.
- Professor Plum forgot his favorite breed.
- Bloodhounds are famous for helping to solve crimes.
- There are callbacks to the second novel when they refer to the “secret secret passageways” behind the fireplace, bookcase, and red chair.
- Professor Plum forgets why he likes the secret passageway from the Kitchen to the Study.
- Mrs. Peacock has a priceless emerald brooch.
- Professor Plum forgot the name of the book he was looking for in the Library.
- Miss Scarlet pairs caviar with caramel popcorn.
- Mrs. Peacock does not enjoy talking about her host losing his marbles into his soup at the dinner table.
- Mr. Boddy’s favorite first course is alphabet soup.
- Mr. Green’s mother taught him to never play with his food.
- Colonel Mustard (nearly) challenges Mr. Boddy to a duel for not starting the game quick enough.
- Colonel Mustard watching boxing.
- Colonel Mustard challenges an unknown object to a duel for being a ghost.
- Miss Scarlet has a jewel-encrusted Swiss watch.
- Mr. Boddy has a wax figure of himself. It was commissioned by the World Wax Museum for their display “World’s Richest People”.
- It was designed by sculptor Claude Money.
- The figure has sapphires for eyes.
- It is stuffed with over 100 jewels.
- It features an emerald toe clasp, genuine pearl buttons, a jade buckle on the belt, and diamond-soled shoes.
- The figure is worth double of Mr. Boddy’s net worth.
- Mrs. Peacock finds it morbid of Mr. Green to say the wax figure will long outlive Mr. Boddy.
- Mr. Boddy asks Colonel Mustard to stand guard over the figure for the night.
- Professor Plum had to stir a hot pot of wax until dawn.
- Mr. Boddy hired a band to play classic tunes in his garden with him on a Gold Trumpet.
- A lightning bolt hit the nearby power station.
- Mr. Boddy has picked up some self-defense skills.
- He hogties a thieving guest.
- The Boddy Mansion features Cherry Trees.
- Mrs. Peacock believes a skirt getting caught up in the wind is improper.
- Professor Plum forgets the last time he had an idea.
- Colonel Mustard at one point thinks Mr. Boddy challenged him to a duel with kites.
- Professor Plum forgot his kite was purple.
- Mr. Boddy and the guests eat a hearty dinner of flavorful cream of mushroom soup, followed by lamb chops served with mint sauce or pheasant under glass. The main course came with roasted potatoes, steamed asparagus, and a salad.
- Professor Plum forgot if he ever had lips for dessert before.
- Mrs. Peacock’s mother would make chocolate chips cookies with nuts.
- She would eat one every day, after asking her mother’s permission.
- Mrs. Peacock believes one should ask permission to eat a cookie each day.
- Mr. Green’s mother made oatmeal cookies.
- He made his first dollar selling them after school.
- Colonel Mustard’s mother made a delectable ginger cookie.
- She used imported ginger.
- Professor Plum’s mother never made him and cookies.
- Instead she made him Strawberry and Rhubarb pie.
- Mrs. Peacock finds Mrs. White rude for calling her a nut.
- Colonel Mustard overnighted his ginger from the Far East.
- Professor Plum forgot if he enjoyed a cookie or not.
- Miss Scarlet does not work for a living.
- Professor Plum forgot they were guessing.
- Mrs. Peacock finds it rude to keep people waiting.
- Mrs. Peacock always cries at weddings.
- Professor Plum forgot what he paid thousands of dollars for.
- Miss Scarlet knows judo.
- Professor Plum forgot he didn’t have a weapon a minute ago.
- Colonel Mustard challenges Professor Plum to a duel for not being careful.
- Colonel Mustard challenges anyone who isn’t his friend to a duel.
- Colonel Mustard challenges Plum to a duel for interrupting the valentines exchange.
- Miss Scarlet finds full moons romantic.
- Colonel Mustard believes a full moon is the perfect time to fight a duel.
- Mrs. Peacock suffers from allergies.
- Mr. Green is allergic to chalk dust.
- Professor Plum forgot what he is allergic to.
- Colonel Mustard suffers from hay fever.
- Miss Scarlet is allergic to mold.
- Mrs. White is allergic to dust.
- Mrs. Peacock finds the talk of allergies to be rude.
- Werewolves only come out during a full moon.
- Professor Plum is allergic to feathers.
- Miss Scarlet pairs caviar with mandarin oranges.
- Mrs. Peacock finds it rude to kick out guests after inviting them over.
- Robberies are up in Little Falls.
- Colonel Mustard has never fought a duel with a Wrench.
- Professor Plum forgot where he put his weapon.
- Mrs. Peacock believes it is polite to keep a driver company while waiting.
- Mrs. Peacock’s driver only speaks Hungarian.
- Mr. Boddy would rather die than turn over his safe.
Recommended.
On to Book #80: Clue #10: "The Screaming Skeleton" by A.E. Parker.
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