Author: William Arden

Translator: Catharina Löwenhielm

Swedish cover: Robert Adragna

First Swedish edition: 1985 (1984 in the USA)

Editions: 4

Spine-number: 2392

Original title: The mystery of the smashing glass

Review:

Who is smashing glass in Rocky Beach and why? The Three Investigators try to solve the mystery.

The theme of this book is not typical of a 3I-book and I don´t find the title interesting. Smashing glass instead of coloured ghosts, scarecrows, mystical gardens, treasures and odd figures in castles.

Nevertheless the first part of the story is rather thrilling, but as a whole it is not one of the best of William Arden. The story is clever but I miss a real mystical atmosphere. I miss that "something extra", for example a riddle and some odd figures. The main villain is one of the most boring in the whole series.

The benefit of this story is the Rocky Beach feeling, Mr Worthington and a thrilling/funny scene when Jupe is captured in a freezer.

The moral of the book is that there is no short cut to success. You have to work hard and be honest. It is not important to be famous, but to do important things.

Perhaps this is one of the least discussed and one of the most forgotten books in the whole series. And there are many good reasons to forget this book. But in a strange way it is rather interesting. It is not one of my favourites, it is not a smash, but it is definitely worth reading.

So why am I worried? Why do I get that nervous feeling when I say that I am not pleased with everything in this book? Somewhere in my subconscious mind I have a feeling that this is a neglected masterpiece, but I don´t have the masterbrain to understand why.

Summarize:

The Story: 6 (of 10)

Characterization 6 (10)

Atmosphere 7 (10)

Thrilling factor 6 (10)

Environment 7 (10)

Original cover 3 (10)

Cult status 4 (10)

Nostalgia 4 (10)