C&L Mystery Stories for Girls #7, The Dormitory Mystery

Cupples and Leon published 10 mystery stories for girls in the 1930s and 40s, as a companion series to their mystery and adventure series for boys. They're probably best known for the titles by Mildred Wirt, The Twin Ring Mystery and Mystery of the Laughing Mask. While those titles are rather expensive, the rest of the series can usually be had for less than $20 apiece, even in dj. The order of the books isn't entirely clear--they're unrelated, so it doesn't really matter, but The Dormitory Mystery is seventh in order of publication dates, although my copy lists itself as the third of six titles on the front dj flap.

Honestly, I sought this particular title out because I liked the cover art, and the blurb made it sound like it was going to be a "college girl" type book, which I love. I was kind of wrong on both counts in the end. First off, the main characters are juniors in high school. They're all interested in drama and theater, and the dorm aspect comes in when the main character, Martha, is selected to participate in a summer drama program at Central University. She beats out her classmate, Angela Lee, who is a total Madonna-faux-British-accent pill. Somehow or another, Angela manages to get a special appointment to the program, and off they both go.

Once there, Martha meets the crazy "Dean" Jones (as far as I can tell, she's just the dorm mom). It's obvious that she's looking for something valuable on the property. Martha loves her roommate, Chubs, who collects pitchers. The mystery really gets underway when Martha buys Chubs a pitcher at a pawn shop, that exactly matches the design on their fireplace. They find clues through it, it gets stolen, they find a matching one, etc. By talking to the original owner, they find out that jewels have been hidden in the dorm, which used to be a fancy mansion.

The entire time, Angela and Dean Jones have been battling them to get all the clues and find the jewels--and not very subtly either. At one point, Dean Jones seriously locks Martha and Chubs up in their room, for not loaning the pitcher to Angela, supposedly as a prop for a play. I mean, really, that's kidnapping, no? In the end, the jewels are found underneath a stone frog in the garden, and Dean Jones is revealed as Angela's aunt. I have no clue how either knew about the jewels.

• At first, it reminded me of the Girls of Central High series, with Angela Lee being very similar to the Hessie Grimes character.
• This book has lots of light-hearted, funny moments. I'd read another Alice Anson book for this feature alone.
• Chubs' real name is Roberta. Safe to say, "Chubs" wouldn't cut it in a modern book. That said, Chubs is probably the most likable character in the book, is still considered to be pretty, and is admired by both boys and girls. She's very funny, loves to eat, and has a temperamental little roadster. Besides, she's a collector--what's not to love?
• Pen(elope) Price is another fun character. She's a good comic actress who has a lab set up in her room. They use her Bunsen burner and microscope to read the clues in the pitchers.
  
• Martha's "boy-friend" is named Jock. *snicker*
• Dean Jones is a BITCH. Like I said, she locks them in their room, confiscates the pitcher at one point, and randomly enforces strict rules.
• At one point, Angela trips Martha going down the stairs, and Martha sprains her ankle. They're in competition over a part, and Angela is trying to take her out. I mean, for real, that's totally the inspiration for Showgirls right there.
  
• There's a MUCH too long section in the beginning about the events leading up to Martha's summer program, involving different characters and a different setting (her high school). It barely relates to the rest of the book, and I was getting very impatient to get to the "real" part.
• The book takes part somewhere in the Midwest, within about 50 miles of Chicago.
• At one point, Martha's friend Lucia's sister invites them to the May Festival at Mount VERNON college. This book was published after the first Beverly Gray books--possible reference or coincidence?
  
• The cover art ticks me off, because it shows the final hiding place for the jewels, which isn't discovered until the almost the very end of the book. I spent most of the book thinking wtf, frog? I'd have rather seen the silver pitcher on the cover.
• There are several references to the Depression in the first chapters. Supposedly Angela's father has lost most of his money due to it. There's also references to then-contemporary actresses and some other pop culture items.
  

In case you couldn't tell, I quite enjoyed this book. The good guys were likable, even if Martha was sort of boring, and I seriously hated the bad guys (Angela and the Dean). Next up? The Mary Louise Gay series.