Penny Allen & the Mystery of the Hidden Treasure: Review

The Allen family (Penny, Phil, Jimmy, and Marjorie) have recently inherited a big ol' house in Michigan from their Uncle John Allen (see the first book Penny Allen and the Mystery of the Haunted House). Orphaned at a young age, Phil, now twenty, leads his brother and sisters in an effort to turn the house into a summer vacation lodge in order to earn money to support the family. There are also rumors surrounding the house that there is treasure buried somewhere on the property. In the midst of their preparations, they make time to search off and on. But other people also have the same idea. There are prowlers at night and someone even sends them anonymous threatening notes to scare them away. Then they start finding clues planted in various places--but are they real or is someone trying to lead them astray? The story ends with a masquerade party, a real-live desperado disguised as a one of the guests, and a thrilling capture in a secret room. They find the treasure and everything ends happily with a romance or two for the Allens thrown in for good measure.

Penny receives top billing in this young adult mystery, but the story is more in line with the Trixie Belden mystery series than Nancy Drew. Solving the mystery and the adventure is more of a group effort among all the Allens than the brain work of Penny alone. But then it also reminds me of Judy Bolton who is every bit as interested in matrimony as she is in the mystery. Good clean fun. Not too mysterious for those who are regular detective fiction fans (I spotted the culprit straight off), but I'm sure kids would enjoy the gentle adventure. ★★★