Case of the Fugitive Firebug

Case of the Fugitive Firebug by Scott Corbett (1969). I've read a lot of kids' books by Scott Corbett—I believe he published in the vicinity of 100 books—and this was probably the first one I read. I got it through Scholastic Book Services at school. We would periodically get a catalog, then you'd check off the books you wanted to order, and then ask your parents for the money. A few dollars. The price printed on this edition is 60 cents. When the books eventually arrived it was like Christmas. Better than Christmas! Maybe it was the first taste I had of shopping addiction, which continues to this day. Not the worst addiction out there—especially when it pertains to books. This book is the second of the five-book “Inspector Tearle” series—about Roger Tearle, a precocious, twelve-year-old sleuth who solves local, small-town mysteries with his twin sister and best friend. This one involves arson on a neighbor's estate—and it is a pretty good mystery. The best thing about the book, though, is that Roger's office is a treehouse in his backyard. As someone who had a treehouse myself (with friends), I can say building a treehouse was one of the highlights of my childhood. The treehouse is well-imagined here, and is kind of—along with Roger's overly anxious inner monologue—the center of the story. The fine illustrations by Paul Frame add quite a bit to it, as well—it's hard to say just how much—but they work together with the story of make it come alive. I really feel like I've spent as much time in that treehouse as I have in Roger's head.