Book #86: Clue #16: Danger After Dark by A.E. Parker
A.E. Parker
Released: April 1st, 1997
My 29th book for 2025 was A.E. Parker's “Clue #16: Danger After Dark”.
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 #16 is one of my favorite books in the series. The stories are a bit sillier, but it was one of the first ones I read as a child, and I have always enjoyed it. I received this one for Christmas one year. It's one of the shorter books.
In this one, we see nervous ticks of the various guests, a doll that is worth a million dollars, a visit to an amusement park, a huge case of mistaken identity, a competition to create the most disgusting ice cream sundae, a variation of Simon Says, a jewel-encrusted candlestick tale, a small-horse riding competition, a musically inspired tale, and a tale about rumors going too far.
This book was amazing as a kid. I grew a bit somber each time I finished reading this one as a child. I had always believed it to be the final Clue novel until I discovered Books 17 and 18 in later years.
My favorite stories are Riding Around, Sundae School, and Danger After Dark.
In Riding Around, Mr. Boddy has purchased a local amusement park and takes his guests to enjoy a day at his expense. We track the favorite snack foods of the different guests, as well as their favorite rides. At the end, you must name the guest, the ride, and the food they are presently consuming (the factors change numerous times in this one, and it's a bit to keep up with mentally).
In Sundae School, Mr. Boddy holds a dessert competition among the guests. The only condition is that it must be the most disgusting sundae every created. Some of the ingredients are quite ingenious, guaranteed to make your stomach churn.
In Danger After Dark, a series of rumors has begun to spread over the mansion. As anger and humiliation arises, the guests soon seek retribution on each other, and Mr. Boddy. I always believed this to be the final Clue story, which made me a bit sad at times growing up.
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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 (115 Overall):
1. (Mr. Green) For chattering his teeth.
2. (Mr. Green) For teasing him about having a dollhouse.
3. (Mr. Green) For thinking he is Professor Plum.
4. (Mrs. White thinking she is Colonel Mustard) Challenges herself to a duel.
5. (Mrs. White) For believing she is him.
6. (Mr. Boddy) For not letting a guest back into the game.
7. (Mr. Green) For saying he was the best horseback rider.
8. (Professor Plum) For passing him in the horse race.
Plum's Forgetfulness - 9 (142 Overall):
1. Forgot where he put his brain.
2. Forgot his knees were knocking.
3. Forgot ventriloquist dolls are called "dummies".
4. Forgot who he was.
5. Forgot he was stealing a candle.
6. Forgot he was in a horse race.
7. Forgot where he left his quilt.
8. Forgot that the furnace was broken.
9. Forgot how to play musical instruments.
Peacock's Manners - 8 (158 Overall):
1. Finds Mr. Green to be rude for chattering his teeth.
2. Believes it is not polite to point.
3. Feels it is not polite to suggest [Mr. Boddy's doll figurine] belongs somewhere other than a room in the Boddy Mansion.
4. Finds it rude to want to change places in line.
5. Believes manners are the most important thing when riding.
6. Believes it is rude to be so far behind in a race.
7. Believes it would be rude to not tell Plum where his quilt is when she found it.
8. Feels that spreading rumors is rude.
Unique features on the grounds of the Boddy Mansion - 8 (92 Overall):
1. The original manuscript, the true confessions of notorious art thief Leonardo da Snitchy.
2. A valuable doll figurine.
3. Corny Park, an amusement park.
4. A special laboratory built for Professor Plum.
5. A jade ice cream cone.
6. A private playground.
7. Horse stables with new horses.
8. Quilts that are slash-proof, crash-proof, and bulletproof.
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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. Nervous Habits
2. The Million-Dollar Dolly
3. Riding Around
4. Who's Who?
5. Sundae School
6. Money May I?
7. Burning the Candle at Both Ends
8. A Little Horse
9. A Sour Note
10. Danger After Dark
Here is what I learned:
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- First Clue novel by Dona Smith.
- Mr. Boddy faints forms the smell of garlic fumes.
- Professor Plum forgot where he put his brain.
- Colonel Mustard challenged Mr. Green to a duel for chattering his teeth.
- Boddy Mansion: The original manuscript, the true confessions of notorious art thief Leonardo da Snitchy.
- Mrs. Peacock finds Mr. Green to be rude for chattering his teeth.
- Professor Plum forgot his knees were knocking.
- Mrs. Peacock was once forced to write “I will not steal”, 5,000 times as punishment by Mr. Boddy.
- Boddy Mansion: a valuable doll figurine.
- Professor Plum forgot ventriloquist dolls are called “Dummies”.
- Colonel Mustard challenged Mr. Green to a duel for teasing him about having a dollhouse.
- Mrs. Peacock believes it is not polite to point.
- Mr. Boddy reads a book by Roald Doll.
- Mrs. Peacock feels it is not polite to suggest the doll belongs somewhere other than a room in the Boddy Mansion.
- Mrs. Peacock enjoys chili squares with whipped cream.
- Boddy Mansion: Corny Park, an amusement park.
- Miss Scarlet enjoys roller coasters and cotton candy.
- Professor Plum enjoys the Ferris Wheel and peanuts.
- Mrs. White enjoys the merry-go-round and popcorn.
- Mr. Green enjoys Bumper Cars and candy apples.
- Mrs. Peacock enjoys the merry-go-round and cotton candy.
- Colonel Mustard enjoys the Ferris Wheel and candy apples.
- Boddy Mansion: A special laboratory built for Professor Plum.
- Professor Plum is working on a miracle perfume that gives perfect memory.
- Professor Plum forgot who he was.
- Mr. Green wears Giorgio Pastrami suits in lime-green.
- Colonel Mustard challenges Mr. Green to a duel for thinking he is Professor Plum.
- Miss Scarlet (believing herself to be Peacock) finds her red dress scandalous.
- Mrs. White (believing herself to be Colonel Mustard) challenges herself to a duel.
- Colonel Mustard challenges Mrs. White to a duel for believing she is him.
- Colonel Mustard (believing himself to be Mrs. Peacock) finds himself rude for challenging people to duels.
- Miss Scarlet (believing herself to be Mrs. Peacock) finds Colonel Mustard rude for wearing her dress.
- Miss Scarlet (believing herself to be Plum) forgot what she said.
- Mr. Boddy’s neighbors suffer from mistaken identity.
- Boddy Mansion: a jade ice cream cone.
- Boddy Mansion: Private playground.
- Mr. Boddy likes to play “Money May I?”
- Mrs. Peacock finds it rude to want to change places in line.
- Colonel Mustard challenged Mr. Boddy to a duel for not letting a guest back into the game.
- Miss Scarlet had an old flame run off with a rattlesnake charmer.
- Miss Scarlet snores.
- Professor Plum forgot he was stealing a candle.
- Boddy Mansion: Horse stables with new horses.
- Mrs. Peacock believes that manners are the most importantly thing when riding.
- Colonel Mustard challenged Mr. Green to a duel for saying they were the best horseback rider.
- Mrs. Peacock believed it is rude to be so far behind in a race.
- Colonel Mustard challenged Professor Plum to a duel for passing him.
- Professor Plum forgot he was in a horse race.
- Professor Plum forgot where he left his quilt.
- Professor Plum forgot that the furnace was broken.
- Mrs. Peacock becomes rude when she is cold.
- Colonel Mustard cannot duel when freezing.
- Professor Plum forgot how to play musical instruments.
- Mrs. Peacock believes it would be rude to not tell Plum where his quilt is when she found it.
- Boddy Mansion: quilts that are slash-proof, crash-proof, and bulletproof.
- According to a rumor, Mrs. White graduated from the Trash Can Housekeeping School.
- Colonel Mustard over lost a “Duel-your-way-out-of-a-paper-bag-with-scissors” competition.
- Mrs. Peacock feels that spreading rumors is rude.
- According to rumor, Professor Plum forget the differences between earmuffs and shoes.
- Despite believing it, Professor Plum forgot the incident.
- According to rumor, Mrs. Peacock’s only course in manners was from Sparkey’s Pet Obedience School.
Overall, one of my favorites in the series, albeit for more sentimental memories. Still good stuff.
Recommended.
On to Book #87: Clue #17: "The Clue in the Crystal Ball" by A.E. Parker.
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