Sky Castle

Sky Castle by Arthur Northup (1932) I never heard of this author, but this book has an intriguing title and cover—just an illustration of guys spying on a house—but I like the artwork. Also, it says: “A Thrilling Newspaper Mystery.” That got my attention. It’s a relatively short book but it moves right along. Two newspaper reporters, Tad and Bob, get an assignment to canoe down a stretch of the Mississippi River and send back writeups about their adventures and some history of the region. Their ultimate goal is “Sky Castle”—a cursed and haunted and abandoned river outpost where it’s rumored a cache of river pearls are hidden. On the way, they have a lot of adventures (including losing their canoe!) and meet some interesting characters, all of whom warn them away from Sky Castle. Meanwhile, some copycat reporters from a rival newspaper are mirroring Bob and Tad’s trip, trying to scoop them. It’s got a little humor, too, this whole book. One thing I liked about it is that, even though it’s fast paced, it also takes its time and lingers on the characters they meet—with lots of description of the places, food, and weather. Also, it doesn’t labor to stretch out the conclusion—that’s not the entire point of the story. It’s kind of like those old Westerns, it ties up the final action quickly and with ease.

6.13.24