Review: Clue Mysteries

I grew up playing the board game Clue, so when offered the chance to read a series of stories based on the game, I jumped at the opportunity. Clue Mysteries by Vicki Cameron contains 15 short mysteries that the jacket blurb promises to ³take the Clue board game to a whole new level".

All of the familiar characters are there. Mrs. Peacock, Colonel Mustard, Professor Plum, Miss Scarlet, and Mr. Green, along with the housekeeper Mrs. White and of course Mr. Boddy.

The stories take place in 1926 at the home of John Boddy, nephew of the late Hugh Boddy. John Boddy has been living on an allowance for the twelve years since Hugh died. And each of the Clue characters is getting a monthly allowance from Hugh¹s will. Now that John is about to turn 30 he will gain control of the estate and the allowances and some surprises are in order. He has invited them all to stay at his house and help him celebrate his birthday. As Mrs. White put it "Shysters and bounder, gold-diggers and con artists. Tudor Hall would soon be full of them."

Each story after the introduction is independent. However, in each Mr. Boddy is killed and its up to the reader to discover Œwho done it¹. As in the game, the murder weapon varies from a wrench to a candlestick, a rope to a knife. At the end of each story one of the guests announce ³I accuse you of killing Mr. Boddy in the (insert room) with the (insert murder weapon)² just as happens in the game. Following each story is an explanation of who killed Mr. Boddy, and why.

The mysteries are extremely simple to figure out. The fun of this book is in the characters, not in the puzzle. The characters are all comic caricatures. Professor Plum is a bumbling archaeologist who has just been let go by the British Museum. Mr. Green is a reverend of dubious background and credentials. Col. Mustard served in the army in Africa. Mrs. Peacock is a socialite who seems to run through husbands and money with equal speed. Miss Scarlet is her daughter, an actress with expensive taste. Mrs. White is a long-suffering housekeeper whose culinary skills (or lack thereof) could be responsible for a murder or two on their own.

The stories are fun and very easy and quick to read. I¹m not sure that they would appeal to someone who hadn¹t played the game though. They aren¹t really strong enough to stand on their own as mysteries. But for those of us who grew up with the game, they are like a visit from a slightly eccentric old friend.

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Mary R - RAM

Book Review: Clue Mysteries