My last entry kind of got serious, so I wanted to lighten things up a bit. A few nights ago when I couldn't sleep, I pulled out BSC Mystery #18: Stacey and the Mystery at the Empty House. I chose this book because I've only read it a couple of times because I didn't like it, but I couldn't remember all of the details. In re-reading it, I've discovered that this book is made of suck. The "mystery" isn't so much a mystery as it is a ludicrous plot device.
Stacey is house-sitting and taking care of the dog of the Johanssen family while they're gone to France. Yes, the doctor and her husband can pack up their eight year old daughter for two weeks in France. Whatever. Anyway, the book consists of Stacey going to the house twice a day and talking to the dog, Carrot. For half of the damn book Stacey doesn't talk to anyone but Carrot (even though there are baby-sitting chapter interspersed). Finally, Stacey begins noticing strange things; a glass left in the sink that she didn't use, papers in the trashcans, etc., and so she goes to the BSC for help. On the day the Johanssen family returns, the BSC find a pad of paper in the house with the number for the train station on it. They go to the train station and find a strange man talking to the Johanssen family. He's their old friend who was in town for business and was staying in their house. And yes, he didn't tell Stacey or try to get in touch with the Johanssen's. WTF? He knew that Stacey was coming to the house, and he didn't talk to her and tell her the situation? Jesus Christ, this book is horseshit.
Also, the baby-sitting subplot is about Kristy promising all of their charges a sleigh ride for Christmas, and then freaking out about not getting any snow. But of course it snows, because Kristy always gets her way. The end.
One continuity issue: this book is set at Christmas, yet BSC Mystery #22 is a Stacey book set at Halloween. God love that BSC time warp these characters can't escape.
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