Author: M. V. Carey

Translator: Lena Fridell

Swedish cover: Anders Ferm

First Swedish edition: 1980 (1979 in the USA)

Editions: 5

Spine-number: 2152-53

Original title: The Mystery of the Sinister scarecrow

Review:

The Three Investigators meet some people on a farm in the mountains of Santa Monica who say that they have seen a real live scarecrow - Miss Letitia Radford who is a young spoilt lady and Dr Charles Woolley who is a scientist studying ants. Miss Radford has been afraid of insects and scarecrows for many years. When somebody put ants in her bed, Mr Wolley asks the Three Investigators to solve the mystery.

Some other people live on the farm and in the neighbourhood. Mrs Chumley is the leader and she is bound to her wheelchair. She has employed Mr and Mrs Burroughs (Mr & Mrs Smith) to run the farm and the household. Gerhart Malz is an artist and a curator of a museum in the neighbourhood.

The boys try to solve the mystery and sometimes they get in dangerous situations. One of the most memorable scenes is when Jupe meets the Scarecrow. The ants are also important for the fateful atmosphere of this book.

The solution of the mystery is a classical showpiece in the bookseries. We meet a real live scarecrow, a woman bound to her wheelchair who is capable to run, an artist who is capable to paint like a master, a fired Swimming pool cleaner and a secret tunnel. MV Carey is perhaps not an innovator, but the ending of this story is brilliant.

The main persons are clear, unique and interesting. But Miss Letitia Radford is far too extreme screaming all the time. There must be another way to describe her horror.

Perhaps I am a nagging person when I say that this book was a favourite when I was a child. I have phobia about ants, so this story is very creepy for me.

Ok, now I have been very kind to Mrs Carey.

Summarize:

The Story: 9 (of 10)

Characterization 8

Atmosphere 9

Thrilling factor 8

Environment 8

Original cover 9

Swedish cover 9

Cult status 9

Nostalgia 9