Book #80: Clue #10: The Screaming Skeleton by A.E. Parker
A.E. Parker
Released: September 1st, 1995
My 23th book for 2025 was A.E. Parker's “Clue #10: The Screaming Skeleton”.
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 #10 was a solid entry into the series
As a child, I found this at the old By The Books bookstore in downtown Waynesboro, PA. I remember the day I found it because my mom had needed to go downtown for something, and I talked her into going inside for a few minutes. As I browsed the kid's section, this was the only one available. I was delighted to find it tucked away in the corner. I could not wait to get home and read it.
Rereading this one again was a bit more difficult than I remember. I don't think it's so much that I disliked it, but more that I've been reading a lot of Clue lately haha. Took me about 3 weeks to finish this one (something that should have taken an hour or two). Also, work lately has had me exhausted beyond reason. So taking it a couple pages at a time.
We see the return of Mr. Boddy's private jet, we meet Mr. Boddy's nephew Frank Boddy, a dance-off, an apple-bobbing competition at a Halloween party, a team-based snowball fight, a battle over a family quilt, a pie eating competition between the guests, a reimagining of Princess and the Pea featuring Miss Scarlet, a Thanksgiving battle over a ring, and a final encounter over Mr. Boddy's prized skeleton.
The one thing I like about this one is that it really diversifies the stories. There is so much going on at the mansion that you're always wondering what's coming next.
My favorite stories are The Halloween Costume Caper, The Snowball Effect, Pie in Your Eye, and Pea is for Pretender.
In The Halloween Costume Caper, Mr. Boddy is preparing for Halloween. Part of the preparations is the bobbing for apples competition. The tub is filled with a golden apple, and the costumed guests must work to pull the prized fruit out of the tub.
In The Snowball Effect, All the guests are snowed into the Boddy Mansion. Mr. Boddy comes up with the idea to divide the guests into two teams, and battle it out for the ultimate snowball fight whodunnit.
In Pie in Your Eye, Mr. Boddy hosts his annual Pie Eating Competition held every May 5th (Cinco de Mayo). Miss Scarlet is the reigning champion, and works to defend her crown against other guests who dispute her claim. As the pie shifts around, the reader has to keep track of who ate what, or put what slice of pie back in order to figure out the winner.
In Pea is for Pretender, we see a Clue-based version of the Princess and the Pea. Mr. Boddy pulls out a dozen mattresses from the attic and sets Miss Scarlet up to see if she can feel the pea underneath. If so, she wins a tiara. Scarlet sets up to rig the experiment in her favor, but not without the other guests intervening to steal it for themselves.
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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 - 6 (71 Overall):
1. (Frank) Offers to show baby Frank Boddy how to Duel
2. (Mr. Boddy) For canceling a croquet tournament due to rain.
3. (Mrs. White) For pushing.
4. (Miss Scarlet) For suggesting she won the previous year's pie eating competition.
5. (Mrs. White) For persisting in name-calling.
6. Reverse Challenge - Miss Scarlet challenges Colonel Mustard to a duel.
Plum's Forgetfulness - 9 (96 Overall):
1. Forgot who his enemies are.
2. Forgot when and where a memory class he signed up for was located.
3. Forgot his glasses.
4. Forgot the time of the flight.
5. Forgot where he was sitting.
6. Forgot how to take care of a baby.
7. Forgot to wear a belt.
8. Forgot who wanted to see him.
9. Forgot he ate 11 slices of pie the year prior.
Peacock's Manners - 17 (77 Overall):
1. Killed her husband for not covering his mouth when he sneezed.
2. Believes murderers display very bad manners
3. Finds Miss Scarlet's assertion that Mr. Boddy wants them all to leave prior to unpacking, to be rude.
4. Believes it is rude to talk about money in polite company.
5. Believes it is proper to only have a small carry-on when flying.
6. Finds pizza revolting because you eat it with your fingers.
7. Believes challenging one's host to a duel is bad form.
8. Finds the waltz to be more dignified than the tango.
9. Horrified to hear Miss Scarlet likes to shake her booty round the clock.
10. Believes it is rude to threaten to carve someone into a Jack-O-Lantern.
11. Feels it was rude for Miss Scarlet to knock her out of the snowball fight.
12. Finds it rude that Mr. Boddy would banish the guests from a room in the mansion.
13. Considers Mustard and Scarlet very rude for arguing over who won.
14. Believes it is polite to keep the other guests company during the pie eating competition.
15. Believes plastic silverware is not proper for a formal occasion.
16. Finds Miss Scarlet rude for bumping into her.
17. Shocked that Mr. Boddy's life-sized skeleton is naked, believing it to be indecent.
Unique features on the grounds of the Boddy Mansion - 11 (30 Overall):
1. Mr. Boddy's private hangar.
2. A portrait of Mr. Boddy's grandfather in the Hall.
3. A portrait of Mr. Boddy's great-great-great uncle, Sir Reginald Arthur Charles Edward George Richard Boddy in the Ball Room.
4. Costumes from Cackling Cath's Costume Consortium.
5. A Fountain
6. A Front Garden
7. A shelf of first edition etiquette books.
8. A priceless collection of swords.
9. A patchwork quilt that has been in the Boddy family for generations.
10. A stack of mattresses in the attic.
11. A life-size human skeleton.
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. Murder in the Cockpit
2. Baby Booty
3. Dance Until You Drop
4. The Halloween Costume Caper
5. The Snowball Effect
6. The Case Is All Sewed Up
7. Pie in Your Eye
8. Pea Is For Pretender
9. The Thanksgiving Murder
10. The Screaming Skeleton
Here is what I learned:
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- For Matt.
- Colonel Mustard once offended himself.
- Rumor has it, Mrs. Peacock killed her husband because he didn’t cover his mouth when he sneezed.
- Mrs. Peacock believes murderers display very bad manners.
- Professor Plum has forgotten who his enemies are.
- Professor Plum forgot when and where a memory class he signed up for was located.
- First time the introduction does not segue into the next chapter.
- Mrs. Peacock finds Miss Scarlet’s assertion that Mr. Boddy wants them all to leave prior to unpacking, to be rude.
- Professor Plum forgot his glasses.
- Mr. Boddy flies his guests to Europe for lunch and antique shopping in France.
- Mr. Boddy is a licensed pilot.
- Mrs. Peacock believes it is rude to talk about money in polite company.
- Professor Plum forgot the time of the flight.
- On the far grounds of the Boddy Mansion is the Boddy Private Hangar.
- Mrs. Peacock believes it is proper to only have a small carry-on when flying.
- Professor Plum forgot where he was sitting.
- Mrs. Peacock finds pizza revolting because you eat it with your fingers.
- Mrs. White likes mushrooms on her pizza.
- Miss Scarlet likes pepperoni on her pizza.
- Mr. Boddy had a nephew, Francis Boddy.
- The family calls him “Frank”.
- Professor Plum forgets how to take care of babies.
- Mr. Boddy has a $3,000 babysitting budget.
- Miss Scarlet had a Ruby bracelet.
- Colonel Mustard offers to show Frank how to duel.
- Mr. Boddy has a portrait of his grandfather in the Hall.
- Colonel Mustard challenges Mr. Boddy to a duel for canceling a croquet tournament due to rain.
- Mrs. Peacock believes challenging one’s host to a duel is bad form.
- The tango is a type of dance from South America.
- Mrs. Peacock finds the waltz to be more dignified than the tango.
- Mrs. Peacock is horrified to hear Miss Scarlet likes to shake her booty around the clock.
- Mr. Boddy has a picture of his great-great-great uncle, Sir Reginald Arthur Chairs Edward George Richard Boddy in the Ball Room.
- Professor Plum once ruptured his disc dancing.
- Mr. Boddy loves Halloween.
- At the Halloween party the year prior, Mrs. White went dressed as Mr. Boddy so she could “be a billionaire for the night”.
- Mr. Boddy orders his costumes from Cackling Cathy’s Costume Consortium.
- Mr. Peacock believes it is rude to threaten to carve someone into a Jack-o-Lantern.
- Colonel Mustard challenges Mrs. White to a duel for pushing.
- Boddy Mansion features a fountain and a front garden.
- Professor Plum forgot to wear a belt.
- Colonel Mustard prefers dueling to snowball fights.
- Mrs. Peacock feels it was rude for Miss Scarlet to knock her out of the snowball fight.
- Mr. Boddy has a shelf of First Edition etiquette books.
- Mr. Boddy has a priceless collection of swords.
- Professor Plum forgot who wanted to see him.
- Mr. Boddy had a large patchwork quilt that had been in his family for generations.
- Mrs. Peacock finds it rude that Mr. Boddy would banish the guests from a room in the mansion.
- Mr. Boddy hides family photos in his quilt.
- May 5th is National Pie Day along with Cinco de Mayo.
- Mr. Boddy holds his annual pie eating completion every May 5th.
- Professor Plum forgot he ate 11 slices of pie the year prior.
- Colonel Mustard challenges Miss Scarlet to a duel for suggesting she won the prior year’s competition.
- Mrs. Peacock considers Mustard and Scarlet very rude for arguing over who won.
- Mrs. Peacock believes it is polite to keep the other guests company during the pie eating competition.
- Colonel Mustard expressed disappointment that papers have no duels to report.
- According to Plum, old fairy tabbies are the root of all literature.
- Miss Scarlet’s favorite fairy table is the Princess and the Pea.
- Colonel Mustard challenges Mrs. White to a duel for persisting in name-calling.
- Miss Scarlet always sleeps with her fuzzy teddy bear.
- Miss Scarlet challenges Colonel Mustard to a duel.
- Miss Scarlet ironically forgot to set a place at the table for Plum.
- Mrs. Peacock believed plastic silverware is not proper for a formal occasion.
- Mrs. Peacock finds Miss Scarlet rude for bumping into her.
- Last time Professor Plum was in charge of the fireplace, he nearly burned the mansion down.
- The Boddy Mansion features a life-size human skeleton.
- Mrs. Peacock is shocked that the skeleton is naked, believing it to be indecent.
Overall, a pretty good Clue novel. It has some uniqueness to it, entertaining mysteries, and is an enjoyable edition. Definitely check it out.
Recommended.
On to Book #81: Clue #11: "Death by Candlelight" by A.E. Parker.
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