- Title: The Mystery of the Dead Man’s Riddle
- wiki: link
Throwback Tuesday takes us back to a mystery involving the Three Investigators whose mantra of “We Investigate Everything” leads Jupiter Jones, Pete Crenshaw, and Bob Andrews to search for a dead man’s missing fortune. Hired by the legal heirs of the town eccentric who changed his will shortly before his death leaving his hidden treasure for whoever could find it, the boys start with the clues left by the dead man on a race against other treasure hunters, Skinny Norris, and other members of the man’s family all willing to take drastic action to beat the Three Investigators to the prize.
A few staples of the series are to be found her including a young boy tagging on with the Investigators, insinuating himself in the case. At first Billy‘s actions only hurt the boys’ chances, however later his quick thinking gets them out of a jam. We also see the trio get put in a number of dangerous situations including being kidnapped and, in the image shown on the cover of the novel, being set adrift on an old boat nearly meeting a watery grave.
The clues, and solving each one in turn, provide several separate mini-mysteries for the Three Investigators to solve before finally arriving at where the fortune has been hidden with Jupiter not only able to solve the final extra clue but also deduce the identity of their primary opposition who was responsible for their kidnapping. In doing so, the First Investigator not only saves the fortune for the family but saves Billy’s mother from an unscrupulous scoundrel as well.
The riddles are:
- Where the wild dog lives, the bottle and the stopper show the way to the billabong.
- Above the apples and pears all alone the Lady from Bristol rides from a friend.
- At the tenth ball of twine, you and me see our handsome mug ahead.
- One man’s victim is another’s darlin’, follow the nose to the place.
- Where men buy their trouble and strife, get out if you can.
- In the posh Queen’s old Ned, be bright and natural and the prize is yours.
- Who’d have thought the old man has so much money in him? Roll the dice and the swag is yours.