The Judy Bolton books, written by Margaret Sutton (1903-2001), were a popular girls mystery series. The first 4 volumes were published in 1932 by Grosset and Dunlap. The series continued until 1967 and consisted of 38 volumes. Each book was "based on something that actually happened" and many were also based on real life sites. More than 4 million copies were sold, and the books are still popular among collectors such as the Phantom Friends. Fortunately, the entire Judy Bolton mystery series has been republished by Applewood Books. The 39th book in the series, "The Strange Likeness," which Margaret Sutton started but never finished, was written by Kate Duvall and Beverly Hatfield and published in 2012. It brings the series to a happy ending. In 2018 a wonderful new Judy Bolton set mid-series, The Mystery on Judy Lane written by Beverly Hatfield was published with the permission of Margaret Sutton's family!

NEWS

Judy Bolton fans gather in Potter County

Judy Bolton fans from all over the United States come to Coudersport every October for a weekend of book-related activities and to honor the memory of local author Margaret Sutton (1903-2001.)  The original mystery series sold over 5 million copies between 1932 and 1968, including foreign language editions.  It is still sold in paperback today.

This year’s weekend held from October 5-8, 2023, started with a lecture about the Underground Railroad at the Potter County Historical Society. Next came a reception at the Public Library, hosted by the Coudersport Area Chamber of Commerce. Margaret Sutton’s daughter, Lindsay Stroh, donated copies of “Letters to Live By,” a children’s picture book she co-wrote with her mother and her sister, Marjorie Eckstein, who was also the illustrator.

On Friday evening, fans enjoyed dinner at the Klein Family Century Farm in Mina in a house built by Sutton’s great-grandfather, Henry Harold Beebe.  The next morning, the group took a tour of the newly opened Mill Street Inn. The historic home was built in 1900 by Judge Robert Lewis and was the inspiration for the Farringdon-Pett mansion featured in several of the Judy Bolton Mysteries.  The tour, including many historical photos, was conducted by Wrean Lewis Fiebig, the judge’s granddaughter. Fans also visited the Austin Dam Memorial Park, the E.O. Austin Museum and Margaret Sutton’s birthplace in Odin.   The highlight of the weekend was the Margaret Sutton Writing Contest Awards Dinner held at Kaytee’s Family Restaurant and Marketplace in Coudersport. The winner was Leah Seeley, age 13, of Genesee. The festivities concluded with a very competitive Judy Bolton trivia contest, won by Rachelle Lerner of Mansfield. 

The Judy Bolton Weekend is held every year in Coudersport in October.

Letters To Live By Now Available

Letters To Live By Book Cover
LETTERS TO LIVE BY, a children's book by Margaret Sutton and her daughters Marjorie Eckstein and Lindsay Stroh, has just been published! Visit www.MargaretSuttonBooks.com for information on how to order this delightful book. A link to a free Discussion and Activity Guide is included.

The Talking Snowman, Second Edition Available Now

Cover of the Strange Likeness Prolific author Linda Joy Singleton is the author of over 50 middle-grade, YA and picture books! A lifelong lover of children's series books, a fan letter she wrote at age 14 led to a life-long friendship with author, Margaret Sutton. This friendship eventually resulted in The Talking Snowman which was co-written by Margaret Sutton and Linda Joy Singleton. The book fits between books #3 and #4 in the Judy Bolton series and is numbered #3 1/2. The first print run sold out and had a solid blue cover with outline of a snowman. This second edition has cover art by Judy Bolton fan Lisa Kucharski. It’s a paperback and includes a map drawn by Margaret Sutton, a foreword by Linda Joy Singleton, and a bonus short story. 

To order The Talking Snowman, send a check or US cash for $15 (includes US postage only) to:
Linda Singleton 
P.O. Box 155
Burson, CA 95225

If you want it autographed by LJS include a note with details. 

If you have any questions email: ljscheer@yahoo.com. You can read more about Linda Joy Singleton on her website.

ONE LAST STEP (A Tara Mills Mystery—Book One) is the debut novel in a new FBI mystery series by debut author Sarah Sutton the great-granddaughter of Margaret Sutton

Cover of the Strange LikenessDebut author Sarah Sutton is the great granddaughter of Margaret Sutton and has followed in that tradition with her release of the TARA MILLS mystery series, which includes ONE LAST STEP (Book #1) and ONE LAST BREATH (Book #2). Sarah has always been fascinated by the mystery genre and loves to write suspenseful books with complex characters.

The book is available on all major outlets including Amazon

For more information on the series, go to the author's website at www.sarahsutton.com


Literary Legends of the PA Wilds: Margaret Sutton and Judy Bolton

A great article on Potter County author Margaret Sutton was published January 28, 2019 on the Pennsylvania Wilds website!

The Mystery on Judy Lane by Beverly Hatfield — available this fall on Amazon.

UPDATED: Now Available on Amazon

Judy Bolton loves solving mysteries, and this Christmas brings her a new puzzle to solve. She is newly engaged to lawyer Peter Dobbs and wants the perfect present for him. But a mysterious eavesdropper, threatening phone calls and broken windows on Judy Lane convince Judy, Peter, and their families that the danger is real. Judy will need bravery and ingenuity to solve the mystery in time for everyone to have a Merry Christmas. Margaret Sutton was the creator and author of The Judy Bolton Mystery series from 1932 to 1967. With the permission of Margaret Sutton's family, Beverly Hatfield brings us this new Christmas story. Foreword by Margaret Sutton’s daughter, Lindsay Sutton Stroh.

Author Bio Beverly Hatfield is the co-author of the 2012 Judy Bolton Mystery, The Strange Likeness. As a child, she devoured Judy Bolton mysteries and wished Margaret Sutton had written more books set during the time period when Judy was engaged. Ms. Hatfield decided to fill that gap by setting this book between Margaret Sutton's The Name on the Bracelet and The Clue in the Patchwork Quilt. As an adult, Ms. Hatfield visited the towns and homes in Potter County, Pennsylvania where Margaret Sutton lived and used as her inspiration. Ms. Hatfield enjoys the friendship she has with other Judy Bolton fans and is grateful to share Judy’s newest adventure with them. Meet Beverly and get her autograph at Judy Bolton Days 2018 in Pennsylvania!

New: 3 Watercolor Illustrated Cards
By Margaret Sutton
5 X 7 each, suitable for framing

These three color illustrations (1930-31) were done to illustrate the proposed Melissa series, which eventually became the Judy Bolton Mysteries.  Rachel Beebe Sutton, the author, who was raised in Potter County, Pennsylvania, was given a pen name, Margaret Sutton, by the publishers.  The author also changed blonde Melissa into auburn-haired Judy Bolton, and the rest is history!

$3 per set of 3 (5 X 7) cards. Available at Judy Bolton weekend events or contact Lindsay at strohlin19@gmail.com to order by mail.

Please note that the picture of Peter with the trunk is brighter than shown.

THE STRANGE LIKENESS, #39 in the Judy Bolton series is available!

Cover of the Strange LikenessThe title and some of the plot elements were created by Margaret Sutton before the series was canceled. Based on conversations with Margaret Sutton and her family plus extensive research, coauthors Kate Duvall and Beverly Hatfield were able to create a new mystery for Judy to solve as she pursues a criminal who resembles her husband.

The book is illustrated by Margaret Sutton's daughter, Marjorie Sutton Eckstein, and edited by another daughter, Lindsay Sutton Stroh.  The release of the book was celebrated in Margaret Sutton’s hometown, Coudersport, Pennsylvania, during the annual Judy Bolton Days, October 5-6, 2012. 

The book has been published in paperback ($14.95) by Applewood Books.  A limited number of hardbacks (250 copies) were also available ($24.95).  To order your copies, call Applewood Books at 1-800-277-5312 or visit www.applewoodbooks.com

Applewood Book SelectionAll 38 Judy Bolton Titles Available from Applewood books!

All 38 of the Judy Bolton Mysteries by Margaret Sutton are now available in paperback from Applewood books. They were laser copied from the first editions of each book, courtesy of the author's family.

Look for them at your favorite bookstore! You can also purchase them on Amazon.com.