The Mystery of Jockey Hollow

 The Mystery of Jockey Hollow (1934) by Cleo F. Garis

A young adult mystery featuring three friends from college, Arden Blake, Terry Landry, and Sim Westover. The three young women are joined mid-way by their newest friend, Dot Keene for Christmas vacation at Sim's house. They are on their own--essentially house-sitting while Sim's parents have to to be away over the holidays. A holiday full of horseback riding and exploring the neighboring woods is interrupted by mysterious events at the nearby Sycamore Hall.

Arden got a taste for mystery solving in their first adventure, The Orchard Secret, set at Cedar Ridge College. So, when she hears stories about workmen encountering ghosts at Sycamore Hall as well as a legend about missing deeds, she all set to investigate. She and her friends are especially interested in helping Granny Howe find the missing papers that will help establish her families right to the property. Is someone playing ghost to keep Granny's family from searching for the deeds? Or is someone just intent on keeping the workmen from tearing down the old house to make way for state park? Arden and her friends will have to find out if the ghost is friend or foe before they can even begin to help Granny Howe. And will they be in time to make this the happiest Christmas Granny has seen in a very long time?

So...as a mystery, this leaves a bit to be desired. It's a bit like Scooby Doo-lite (when it comes to the solution about the ghosts) and there is very (and I do mean VERY) little deducting going on. Most of what Arden & company "discover" falls right into their laps. Arden doesn't figure out where Granny's ancestor hid the deeds--a bit of (something--can't say what, it would spoil what little mystery there is) falls apart and, by golly, if there isn't a hollow spot where a box with the deed was hid.

This is a very interesting study of the early 1930s and the characters involved in the story. If this had been pure fiction and not billed as an entry in the "Arden Blake Mystery Series," I would be handing out a higher rating. But even for a young adult/juvenile mystery, this is pretty sparse in the investigation department. ★★ and 1/4

First line: The proud old house rang with excitement.

Last line: "But think of all that did happen!" laughed Arden.
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Deaths = 3 natural 

(Finished 10/27/26)