The Case of the Gone Goose

The Case of the Gone Goose by Scott Corbett (1966). This is the first book of the “Inspector Tearle” series, about a twelve-year-old detective, his sister, and their friend, who are trying to solve the mystery of three geese, at a local farm, who are being beheaded one by one. The story is mostly tedious and the mystery not very satisfying, and the protagonist, Roger Tearle, is so full of anxiety—you see a lot of antacid in his future. The appeal to me, the star of this series, is the treehouse that the kids use as their headquarters. It's nothing special (though it is equipped with a phone and a filing cabinet)—just a treehouse—built in a tree right next to the Tearle residence. Though, you know, everything is special about a treehouse—that's the point. When I was that age, we didn't have any mysteries, at least that we were able to solve, but we did have a lot of forts, hideouts, and clubhouses. A secret cave in a woodpile covered by building materials, guarded by snakes. An old pigeon coop (shared with pigeons). A room in a detached garage attic. A shack in the woods in which we dug a basement and 20 foot tunnel. A treehouse in the woods, high up, with a floor, ceiling, walls, and windows—a treehouse! Were there any adults involved in building any of this stuff? No adults!