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
Online Judy Bolton Weekend Oct 5, 2024
In 2024, our activities were held remotely on ZOOM.
Judy Bolton Trivia Contest
For a copy of the trivia contest questions about THE HAUNTED ROAD, which is the 25th book in the Judy Bolton series, contact Lindsay at MargaretSuttonBooks@gmail.com.
Margaret Sutton Creative Writing Contest
The contest is held each year during the annual Judy Bolton Weekend to honor the memory of author Margaret Sutton and to encourage young creative writers from Potter County. A total of 63 students in grades 7-9 residing in Potter County, Pennsylvania entered a short story in this year’s Margaret Sutton Writing Contest. The challenge for 2024 was to write a story with the theme “Superstitions cause problems.” Each year, the theme is inspired by one of the Judy Bolton mysteries written by Margaret Sutton, who was born and raised in Potter County.
First place was awarded to Chase Hamilton, an 8th grader from North Bingham, Pennsylvania, for his story, “The Petrified Wood of Yellowstone National Park.” To read the winning story go to MargaretSuttonBooks.com
Save These Dates for 2025!
The Judy Bolton Weekend in 2025 will be held on October 9-12 in Potter County. The trivia contest will cover the next TWO Judy Bolton Mysteries, THE CLUE IN THE RUINED CASTLE and THE TRAIL OF THE GREEN DOLL. By having two books in the trivia contest every year, we should finish the Judy Bolton books that Margaret Sutton wrote by 2034. For the 100th Anniversary in 2032, we will plan lots of special events!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: In addition to the Judy Bolton Mysteries, Margaret Sutton wrote many books for children and young adults. See the complete list and her biography at MargaretSuttonBooks.com.
VISITING JUDY BOLTON COUNTRY: We will return to Coudersport in Potter County, Pennsylvania in 2025. If you want to visit the area at another time, be sure to visit The Potter County Historical Society and the Eliot Ness Museum in Coudersport and the E.O. Austin Museum in Austin and ask to see their Judy Bolton/Margaret Sutton collections. You can also stay at the Mill Street Mansion which is the Farringdon-Pett mansion in the Judy Bolton series.
Letters To Live By Now Available
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
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
Debut 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!
The 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.
All 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.