Holly Beth Walker

The Meg Duncan Mysteries - also occasionally known as The Meg Mysteries Series - is a series of six juvenile mysteries originally published between 1967 and 1972. In each book, Margaret Ashley Duncan - a girl of indeterminate age - solves mysteries with her best friend Kerry Carmody. Four of the books are set in Meg and Kerry's hometown of Hidden Springs, Virginia; while the last two take place when Meg and Kerry travel with Meg's uncle Hal. The authorship of the series is credited to Holly show more Beth Walker - which is actually a pseudonym for multiple authors.

In this last book of the series, Meg and Kerry travel with Hal Ashley to Williamsburg. As soon as the girls arrive, they eagerly sign on to become junior hostesses for a Colonial Era toy exhibition. The curator of the exhibit was actually the childhood best friend of Meg's mother and is absolutely delighted to have both girls involved in her showcase.

In between carrying out their duties for the toy exhibition, Meg and Kerry also stumble upon a mystery that involves the disappearance of two wooden dolls from one of the toy collections being showcased in the exhibit. The collection belongs to the matriarch of the town, and a member of one of the most prominent families in Williamsburg - the Collins family. The elderly Mariah Collins is extremely proud of her collection and is thrilled to donate it to the exhibition.

However, she is also worried that someone is out to steal two of the most precious items in her collection - Charity and Mercy; also known as the 'George Washington Dolls.' Miss Mariah soon enlists Meg and Kerry's help in protecting the rest of her collection. She also wants to know if the amateur detectives can solve the mystery behind why her most favorite doll - an antique French doll named Paris - hasn't been able to talk since Miss Mariah was a child.

I must say that I really enjoyed reading this book. I was slightly surprised at how intricate the mystery actually was given the reading level. In my opinion, while the story was somewhat dated, I would still give it an A! I'm definitely going to be keeping this book on my childhood favorites shelf. show less

One of the old kids' books I re-read in preparation for my first real trip to Colonial Williamsburg since I was reading kids' books about it.

This one actually has very little about Colonial Williamsburg itself - oh, it has the requisite chase through the gardens, scene in the Gaol, and opportunity for Our Heroes to dress in period costume and help out the interpreters - but the main story is about a collection of really neat old toys, and some mysterious dolls, which belonged to a local show more family.

The girls (or rather Meg) solve the mystery of the dolls, of course, with several red herrings and lots of suspense, and the scene where the talking doll Paris talks *still* creeps me out, and I do adore Uncle Hal Ashley, and the way the girls' world interacts with the adults' in general. But overall not my favorite of the Meg books; the mystery plot is just a little bit too contrived, and Williamsburg itself not enough of a player in the story. show less

I loved this book when I was a child. A great mystery for young girls (although I suppose boys might like it, too). Meg goes to visit a relative (aunt?) in Williamsburg, Virginina, and finds herself wrapped up in a mystery involving an old-fashioned clothespin doll.

Ahhh..to be a tween again. Some times you need to just breath and this is a way to step back and be young. I was thrilled to find this original 1967 hardcover and loved that it included the traditional art work that goes with the times. A great little story. 🙂