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The Hayloft

by Alan Cook

I'm not sure why The Hayloft is especially touted as a '1950's Mystery' since it's so already obvious from the content, and murder-mystery books set in time far earlier (ex: Jacqueline Winspear's novels) plunge into the period without such fanfare. Another objection I have is the fact that Mr. Cook places a hyphen between his numerous 'Thank you's – totally unnecessary and rather distracting; something I feel any decent proof-reader should have caught. But The Hayloft is a fine, very readable mystery, well written from the standpoint of a 17-year-old boy. And although I personally remember being violently in love at that time, Mr. Cook's protégé evidently subsists on lust… also normal for a 17-year-old! The Hayloft represents Alan Cook's diversity in writing, where his skills extend from poetry and non-fiction books on walking to something like this. The Hayloft could well be the start of another series, and Mr. Cook's readers would certainly increase if that were so.

Gary Blanchard is 17, expelled from his Atherton High School after only two weeks. His father enrolls him at Carter High School, where his cousin Ralph apparently fell from the balcony in the school auditorium and broke his neck. Except that Gary has serious doubts that it was an accident – or that Ralph was alone when it happened. Sylvia Doran, daughter of a respected editorialist for a local paper (and president of the student council) is conscripted by the principal of Carter to show Gary around and get him acquainted.

Gary no longer lives at home, but closer to Carter High and on a small farm owned by his father's sister, Aunt Dorothy., and Gary's father back in Atherton. His Aunt Dorothy lives there with her husband, Uncle Jeff, and formerly Gary's cousin Ralph. Gary now lives in Ralph's bedroom.

Throw in that this is also the period of the infamous anti-American hearings by Senator McCarthy, where even former communists are ostracized without mercy. Doctor Graves, the principal of Carter High School, wants Gary to spy on both teachers and students to weed out anyone tending toward communism as a prerequisite to his acceptance as a transfer from Atherton. Plus Gary's Aunt Dorothy and his own father happen to be among those who believe that even former communists are totally anti-American.

Then Sylvia's father loses his job and is branded by everyone as a commie because he openly sympathized with those defamed by the McCarthy hearings. His daughter also finds herself no longer popular, but Gary and a small number of other students gather around her. Meanwhile Gary's English relatives appear on the scene, the Druquers, dirt poor. Both their kids also attend Carter High – Kate as a freshman and Ed as a junior. Ed is also editor of the school newspaper, and not too happy about Gary's interest in just how Ralph died.

The Hayloft has its own startling finish, of course, and everything turns out well for everyone except the murderer, who attempts to finish off more than just Ralph. Alan Cook has authored an appealing volume full of manipulation, maneuvers, and the struggles of a typical teenager against authority. We'd like to read more about this engaging young protagonist.

Alan Paul Curtis

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