Mystery of the 99 steps Book

I had "Mystery Of The Stone Tiger", 1963, on hand. I was thrilled to learn Mildred A. Wirt started her employment authoring a long span of The Dana Girls. I don't believe she composed this novel #25 but I was eager to sample it. I like these sleuths: mannerly, educated, intelligent, and loyal like all Stratemeyer characters but more daring than Nancy. These ladies are bolder too, seen in their rejection of one rude jerk.

A stone tiger from India attracts criminals. We acquire some great folklore and cultural material. The family's museum brings the fun of discovering a few secret panels. However the behaviour of criminals as well as police, flounders in believability. Protecting a friend is reason enough to lend their detective skill. This author presumed to enlist their involvement through farfetched threats and fabrication of a phantom that all readers know is a crook in a cape. If I were a crook, I would inspect the stone tiger thoroughly and search the museum with equal purpose, when I could do so at length. I would not draw attention to my thievery by accosting the public with erratic gestures, nor dump clues at the home of Oak Falls' sleuths.

The Danas too should have investigated in one good session, instead of waiting until there were thieves to chase. They had the cooperation of their Oak Falls police service. The police stump me. They had identified one region of the forest where the thieves headquartered. Would they not tramp through there and search those grounds? Why wait on the Danas for leads, when their paid manpower could professionally, safely conduct a widespread search that would bear immediate fruit? The novel was a blur of useless incidents and chasing but I am keen to spend more time with this family.