The Mystery of the Stuttering Parrot

The Mystery of the Stuttering Parrot by Robert Arthur (1964) This is the second book in the series, Alfred Hitchcock and The Three Investigators, of which Hitchcock, of course, is involved in name only; he “introduces” each mystery, as if The Three Investigators are real people. It's a pretty good strategy, I suppose. I read a lot of this series as a kid, and I recall this one being among my favorites. It's a good mystery—heavy on the mystery, rather than the adventure—which I like. I mean, there is some danger and intrigue, but mostly you're trying to figure it out, along with the kids. My favorite parts of these books were the descriptions of the junkyard where the Investigators have their office and headquarters, with lots of secret entrances. It reminds me of the forts and hideouts we had as kids. I still get excited thinking about that stuff. Even as a mature adult, I still want a secret hideout. If I ever own my own house, you had better believe I will have a secret room—if not several secret rooms. I'd like to think that Robert Arthur, author of the earliest and best Three Investigators books, also wanted a secret hideout, but was satisfied by making an excellent one in his fiction.