Book #88: Clue #18: Footprints In The Fog by A.E. Parker

 

Clue #18: Footprints In The Fog

A.E. Parker

 Released: October 1st, 1997

My 31st book for 2025 was A.E. Parker's “Clue #18: Footprints In The Fog”.  

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 #18 in the final book in the Clue series.  That's a lot of reading, despite the short length of each book.

This book wasn't too bad, but follows in the footsteps of its predecessor, The Clue in the Crystal Ball.  The stories are entertaining, but nothing too memorable stands out here.  The most significant part is that it serves as the ending to the Clue series.

I found this one on eBay around the time that I found The Clue in the Crystal Ball.  I was thrilled to get it, but while it's nice having more Clue stories, it never truly lives up to classics like Booby-Trapped! or Midnight Phone Calls.  It's also interesting to see Mr. Boddy get angry at his guests, and even goes off on them, or walks away to cool down.  Turns out even fictional characters have breaking points.

In this one, we see a variety of things including: a plot to kill Mr. Green, a story involving ventriloquism and farm animals, a story about a valuable alarm clock, a magic mirror that shows desired reflections, a tale about stolen flutes, a donut store heist, a race between the guests to exit a party to steal a classic music box, a legend come alive of a lighthouse on the mansion grounds, prank phone calls, and a tale about perfume that caps off the Clue saga.

My favorite stories are Donut Madness, Footprints in the Fog, and Making Scents.

In Donut Madness, Mr. Boddy has purchased a local donut shop, and takes his guests of a tour of his new business venture.  He leave them with strict instructions not to eat the donuts as they are for his customers.  The guests evade this rule, and grab a good bit of sweets before returning to the mansion.  I love donut shops.  I used to frequent Voodoo Doughnut all the time in the Portland/Vancouver areas.  This was an epic tale to envision as I read.

In Footprint in the Fog, Mr. Boddy tells the tale of a lighthouse that once stood on the grounds of the Boddy Mansion.  The keeper kept a hidden treasure in the lighthouse, that the guests scheme to steal.

In Making Scents, Mr. Boddy shares a new line of perfumes that help the guests to smell like beloved foods.  We then follow the murder mystery to truly determine who killed Mr. Boddy.  While this tale isn't the best Clue story ever told, it does serve as a mile-marker for the series by bringing it to a conclusion.

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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 - 1 (119 Overall):

1. (Miss Scarlet) For a threat if she does not leave 5 minutes after him.

Plum's Forgetfulness - 6 (156 Overall):

1. Forgot he cannot make duck noises.

2. Forgot why he looks handsome.

3. Forgot to move.

4. Forgot to look out for other guests.

5. Forgot his own name.

6. Forgot the last time they ate.

Peacock's Manners - 4 (167 Overall):

1. Considers Mr. Green's groaning to be rude.

2. Wonders if she was rude to leave a party so soon, or impolite to overstay her welcome.

3. Believes it is rude to make a prank phone call.

4. Believes mints and gum are rude.

Unique features on the grounds of the Boddy Mansion - 10 (108 Overall):

1. Personal farm with barn and animals.

2. Mini farm animal collection.

3. A valuable new alarm clock.

4. A magic self-repairing mirror that improves your appearance the longer you look.

5. An Olympic-sized, heated, glass-enclosed pool.

6. Ancient Egyptian flutes dating back to the time of Tutankhamen.

7. (Not on site) the Heavyweight Donuts shop he bought from his cousin E. Clair Boddy.

8. A antique silent music box used in classic silent movies.

9. A legendary lighthouse.

10. A perfume that is odorless to the wearer but aromatic to others, so you never tire smelling your own scent.

Cover Counter:

Mr. Green: 8

Colonel Mustard: 10

Miss Scarlet: 9

Mrs. Peacock: 9

Professor Plum: 9

Mrs. White: 9

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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. I'm So Lone-ly

2. Animal Crack-ups

3. Breakfast Blunders

4. The Magic Mirror

5. Say What?

6. Donut Madness

7. Party Poopers

8. Footprints in the Fog

9. Prank Phone Calls

10. Making Scents

Here is what I learned:
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• Mrs. White heavily starches Mr. Boddy’s collars.

• If Mr. Boddy had a nickel for every time Colonel Mustard challenged someone to a duel, he would be twice as rich.

• Professor Plum has forgotten more than most people can remember.

• ——-

• Mrs. Peacock considers Mr. Green’s groaning to be rude.

• Little Falls has an “Office of the Loan Arranger” with an assistant named Pronto.

• Colonel Mustard doesn’t like to hang out with people who are not rich.

• Mr. Green enjoys both but prefers bam to Peanut Butter & Jelly, when it comes to sandwiches.

• ——-

• Boddy Mansion: Personal Farm with Barnes and animals.

• The barn is 7 ft high.

• Boddy Mansion: Mini farm animal collection.

• Mr. Boddy finds the guests rude for not closing the barn door.

• All the guests save for Mrs. White are ventriloquists.

• Professor Plum forgot he can’t make duck noises.

• ——-

• Boddy Mansion: a valuable new clock.

• Colonel Mustard enjoys Mrs. White’s Oatmeal Cheese Chunks.

• Hearing people argue puts Colonel Mustard in a cheery mood.

• Mr. Boddy gave Mr. Green a lump on the head for stealing his clock.

• ——-

• Boddy Mansion: a magic self-repairing mirror that improves your appearance the longer you look.

• Colonel Mustard has been participating in a duel and exercise program.

• Professor Plum forgot why he looks handsome.

• Professor Plum forgot to move.

• Professor Plum forgot to look out for other guests.

• Professor Plum forgot his own name.

• ——-

• Boddy Mansion: An Olympic-sized, heated, glass-enclosed pool.

• Miss Scarlet has a gold plated hair dryer.

• Boddy Mansion: Ancient Egyptian flutes dating back to the time of Tutankhamen.

• Mr. Boddy has decoy flutes that are “Made in Miami”.

• ——-

• Boddy Mansion: (not on site) the Heavyweight Donuts shop he bought from his cousin E. Clair Boddy.

• Miss Scarlet’s favorite donut is jelly.

• Professor Plum’s favorite donut is raisin.

• Colonel Mustard’s favorite donutis custard.

• Mrs. White’s favorite donut is chocolate.

• Mrs. Peacock’s favorite donut is chocolate.

• Mr. Green’s favorite donut is pineapple.

• ——-

• Beau Legg is Mr. Boddy’s neighbor in the mansion next door.

• Boddy Mansion: an antique silent music box used in classic silent movies.

• Mrs. Peacock wonders if she was rude to leave so soon, or impolite to overstay her welcome.

• Colonel Mustard challenged Miss Scarlet to a duel unless she left 5 minutes after him.

• ——-

• Boddy Mansion: A lighthouse in legend.

• The Boddy lighthouse is rumored to be filled with gold coins.

• ——-

• Noah Boddy is Mr. Boddy’s uncle.  He is a big shot film producer.

• He is premiering “The Longest Story Ever Told” featuring Dianne Tooleave and Kenny Gonow.

• Mrs. Peacock believes it is rude to make a prank phone call.

• Professor Plum is bad at guessing prank callers.

• ——-

• Mrs. Peacock believes mints and gum are rude.

• Professor Plum cannot remember the last time they ate.

• Boddy Mansion: A perfume that is odorless to the wearer but aromatic to others so you never tire smelling your own scent.

• Mr. Boddy is officially killed by a starving guest.

• ***SPOILERS*** Definitely speaking, we can say that the ultimate whodunnit in terms of who killed Mr. Boddy was Mrs. Peacock, in the Kitchen, with the Lead Pipe.

Recommended.
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[Blogger's Note: I will continuously update this as I find more hidden facts and figures about the Clue series, so feel free to reread at some point with new stats]

Final Stats:

- Most cover appearances: Colonel Mustard (10)

- Total Stories: 183

- Duel Challenges: 119

- Forgetful Moments: 156

- Mannerisms: 167

- Features of the Boddy Mansion: 108

- Boddy Family Members: TBD

- New Characters: TBD

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On to Book #89: "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" by B.B. Hiller.
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Overall, I know I keep repeating it, but this book serves as the ending to the Clue series.  For that alone, I recommend it.  For completion.