The Secret of Skeleton Island

The Secret of Skeleton Island by Bruce Campbell (1949) Not to be confused with the Three Investigators mystery by the same name (also very good) but rather the first in the series of Ken Holt mysteries, and the first one I’ve read—as it’s the first I’ve found in a bookstore. They’re not rare, but a lot harder to find than Nancy Drew. I only recently read that the author (not to be confused with the “Evil Dead” actor) was actually Sam Epstein and Beryl Williams Epstein, a husband-and-wife children’s book writing team—which is interesting in itself. These stories are of the more highly regarded series books of the time, for their realism, I guess, and I found this one to be well-written, though oddly slow moving in places. The entire story takes place in a 48-hour period in which Ken has scant shuteye, and is kidnapped multiple times—all as we’re introduced to his background (journalist father, dead mother—another dead mother!). Then meets, by chance, future allies, a best friend (Sandy Allen) and a surrogate family—all while upending a particularly cutthroat crime ring. Unlike the Hardy Boys, who get knocked unconscious about once an episode, Ken and Sandy viciously coldcock several of their nemeses in this volume. I’m curious to see how quickly their knuckles heal and what adventure is next, and also, will the two friends ever have a falling out, say, over a girl? But my future reading will likely be determined by which books I find, out there—I do have another, I believe the fourth in the series—I don’t think I’ll worry about the order.

1.4.26