THE HOUSE BY THE RIVER, August Derleth, 1965, First Edition

Hardcover book with no DJ. Acceptable condition. Binding tight. Worn and very faded  around the corners, edges and spine. Corners, spine bumped. A small black scrape mark on front cover. Spine faded. Black imprinting on spine still in good condition. Inside, pencil writing on the inside front end page. No other inside markings. Pages clean and crisp.

5." x 8.25". 151 pages.

This simple mystery features regular small-town boys seeking a little summer fun and adventure who happen to stumble into potential criminal activity.

The year is 1925 and Steve and Sim set out on a camping and canoe trip paddling their way down the Wisconsin River from Sac Prairie to the Mississippi River. Along the way they come upon a house by the river, a bit shabby although still imposing and well-appointed, yet seemingly unlived in. Desiring to see the inside of such a fine and historic house, the boys do a bit of exploring. They come across some out of place goods, witness suspicious nocturnal activity, and soon find themselves drawn into a mystery. Since The Mill Creek Irregulars (Steve and Sim) are dedicated to sleuthing this really is not much of an adversity for them, and thus an adventure mystery ensues.

This fictional tale with a house by a river is set at a real place, Villa Louis in Prairie du Chien, WI. The well-defined setting lends credibility to the adventure side of the story while the strong characterization offers strength to the mystery portion. It’s an enjoyable reminder not only of the carefree days of youth, but also of a time gone by.