Book #87: Clue #17: The Clue In The Crystal Ball by A.E. Parker
A.E. Parker
Released: July 1st, 1997
My 30th book for 2025 was A.E. Parker's “Clue #17: The Clue in the Crystal Ball”.
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 #30 for 2025. I know it's been a slow crawl recently. Lots of things going on, but still more reading to go. My goal is 63 for the year. 33 more to go.
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Book #17 felt different to read. As a child, I had always believed there were only 16 Clue books. So for years, after reading Danger After Dark, I believed I was reading the concluding chapters in the Clue series. I was stunned to discover that 2 more books had been written.
I found them on eBay back in the early 2000's, but did not actually read them until later on. I enjoyed another 10 mysteries, but I believe something about this one set it apart from the series. It's Clue...but different. I'm not sure if it's writing style or what but something reads differently here.
In this book, we see stories featuring various phobias, a mouse hunt, a fight for a diamond, a tale about standing in a line and the order, a truth serum, a taste test involving the guest's favorite soft drinks, a story involving the counting of letters and words, a story about a secret stairway, hair dying, and a crystal ball with a deceitful genie.
My favorite stories are Friday the Thirteenth, Taste Test, and The Secret Stairway.
In Friday the Thirteenth, we discover the various phobias that plagues the guests of Boddy Mansion. Adding to the madness is the fact that it is a Friday the 13th as well. I love the Friday the 13th movies, so simply having it as a title made my day (even if there is no Jason Voorhees).
In Taste Test, Mr. Boddy conducts an experiment where he pours each guest's favorite drink, has them sample each one, and then list which drink is which. It's cool to see the variety of tastes that differ from one guest to another. It's also funny to see their personality traits clash.
In The Secret Stairway, we learn that a secret stairway has been installed by Mr. Boddy in the mansion should he ever need to escape danger. The only problem is, he can't seem to remember where he had it installed. The guests form a search party to locate the staircase. I always found this one similar to The Secret Secret Passageway. I enjoyed this story a bit more though. It's intriguing to think of a newfound structure within the confines of a map we've come to know extensively. Mr. Banister, the man who built the staircase, has some fun at the expense of Mr. Boddy and the guests by playing dumb about where he built 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 - 3 (118 Overall):
1. (Minnie Boddy) For leaving her mice at the mansion.
2. (Miss Scarlet) For shooting him.
3. (Mr. Banister) for not revealing the location of the secret staircase.
Plum's Forgetfulness - 8 (150 Overall):
1. Forgot what his phobia was.
2. Forgot what everyone was talking about.
3. Forgot what he was doing.
4. Forgot why he was going upstairs.
5. Forgot he put truth serum in the guests' orange juice.
6. Forgot why he had the Candlestick.
7. Forgot what all the sodas taste like.
8. Forgot where he put his raincoat.
Peacock's Manners - 5 (163 Overall):
1. Believes running around screaming about a harmless cat is rude.
2. Finds mice to be rude creatures.
3. Finds Mr. Green rude for trying to kill her.
4. Finds Mrs. White impolite for trying to hit her with the Lead Pipe.
5. Finds the color of Mrs. White's dyed hair to be vulgar.
Unique features on the grounds of the Boddy Mansion - 6 (98 Overall):
1. The famous Ersatz Diamond, discovered by astronauts on their voyage to the planet Xaoh.
2. A fig tree, a rose bush, duck pond, a pine tree, a swing, a fir tree, a weeping willow, and a grape arbor.
3. A show cat.
4. A necklace containing every letter of the alphabet.
5. A secret stairway to the outside.
6. A solid gold goldfish.
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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. Friday the Thirteenth
2. Say Cheese!
3. A Flying Saucer Story
4. Getting Out of Line
5. Truth Serum
6. Taste Test
7. Alphabet Clues
8. The Secret Stairway
9. A Hairy Adventure
10. The Clue in the Crystal Ball
Here is what I learned:
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- All of the guests develop phobias on Friday the 13th.
- Mr. Green has acrophobia (fear of heights).
- Miss Scarlet has arachnophobia (fear of spiders).
- Professor Plum has nyctophobia (fear of the dark).
- Colonel Mustard has hydrophobic phobia (fear of water).
- Mrs. White has ailurophobia (fear of cats).
- Mrs. Peacock has ophidiodophobia (fear of snakes).
- Mr. Boddy’s 13th birthday was on a Friday the 13th.
- He received a golden medallion from his aunt Annie Boddy.
- Professor Plum is well versed in phobias.
- Professor Plum enjoys chocolate mousse.
- Mr. Boddy’s sister’s name is Minnie.
- Colonel Mustard hates mice.
- Minnie had over 100 mice.
- Professor Plum eats mouse cheese straight from the cage.
- Colonel Mustard finds Mrs. Peacock rude for boasting.
- According to a study, most people cannot tell one soda from another without the label on the bottle or can.
- Mr. Green’s favorite soda is “Dentist’s Dream” and tastes like mouthwash.
- Mrs. White’s favorite soda is “Spring Cleaning” and tastes like flour wax.
- Mrs. Peacock’s favorite soda is “Cluckeroo” and is a green soda that tastes like chicken.
- Professor Plum’s favorite soda is “Squash Surprise” and tastes like squash.
- Miss Scarlet’s favorite soda is “Jammy Jammy” and tastes like grape jam.
- Colonel Mustard’s favorite soda is “Whammy Yammy” and tastes like yams.
- The staircase was built by a Mr. Banister.
- The staircase was built during a very rainy year.
- Colonel Mustard never had a goldfish growing up.
- The genie inside the crystal ball in the Study, doesn’t like the guests, and often tricked them or gave them scrambled answers.
- Professor Plum cannot solve scrambled words.
Overall, it was nice to learn that more adventures exist beyond the Danger After Dark novel, however, this one feels a bit different. It's still enjoyable on a Clue level but doesn't hit the same as the prior novels. Worth a read though.
Recommended.
On to Book #88: Clue #18: "Footprints in the Fog" by A.E. Parker.
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