Review Detail

Our intrepid investigator Myrtle Hardcastle is back, as her governess, Ada Judson gets a letter that she has inherited a Scottish estate from an Uncle, Angus McJudd. Her English father and mother, who is from New Guinea where the parents both live, want her to go to Scotland to investigate. Since Mytle's lawyer father is very close to proposing to Ada, he sends Myrtle with her to keep an eye on things under the guise of learning in a new environment. Because of her past investigations (Premeditated Myrtle, How to Get Away with Myrtle, Cold-Blooded Myrtle, and In Myrtle Peril), Mytle suspects foul play, especially when the advent of Miss Judson, Cook, and Myrtle causes some consternation among the staff at the estate. Jessie Craig, the Mistress of the Hounds, resents their presence, her grandmother, Mrs. Craig isn't wild about having to feed them, and the lawyer, Mr. Macewan, is surprised that they came. He thought they would sell Rockfford to Fyne Fisheries and be done with the place. The only ally they seem to have is Lt. Smoot, a policeman who personally helps them get to the island. The house is run down, there's no money for upkeep, and there's a lot of mystery surrounding the fishery, as well as a historic broach, the finding of which is supposed to help the McJudd estate. When Mr. Macewan is found murdered in a pond, Myrtle is not surprised. A neighbor, Kirkpatrick, is also trying to buy the estate, and when a pin with his clan symbol is found on Macewan's body, it doesn't look good, especially when it turns out that he's also been trying to pressure Jessie to marry him. The run down house has a lot of rooms in which to hide, and there are also rumors of ghosts. One of these "ghosts" turns out to be Gus, Jessie's brother, who is not supposed to be on the island. Will Myrtle be able to use all of her skills to unravel the mysteries and find a solution so that Miss Judson can come back to be in England with her and her father?