The Secret Pact
Mildred A. Wirt Benson
Read by Cheryl Adam
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PENNY PARKER is a teen-aged sleuth and amateur reporter with an uncanny knack for uncovering and solving unusual, sometimes bizarre mysteries. The only daughter of widower Anthony Parker, publisher of the "Riverview Star," Penny has been raised to be self-sufficient, outspoken, innovative, and extraordinarily tenacious. Her cheerful, chatty manner belies a shrewd and keenly observant mind. Penny was the creation of Mildred A. Wirt, who was also the author of the original Nancy Drew series (under the pseudonym Carolyn Keene). Wirt became frustrated when she was pushed to "tone down" Nancy Drew and make her less independent and daring. With Penny Parker, Wirt had a freer hand and received full credit. Wirt once said, " 'I always thought Penny Parker was a better Nancy Drew than Nancy is." In THE SECRET PACT, Penny sees a man savagely pushed off a bridge into the river one foggy night. The man is rescued, but his stubborn denial of the attack, combined with the grotesque octopus tattoo he bears on his back, alerts Penny to the possibility of a deeper mystery. When her editor father, reporter friends, and even the highschool newspaper all reject her story about the incident, she takes matters into her own hands. With her friend Louise's help, Penny starts her own local paper, operating out of a formerly abandoned newspaper plant. As new clues emerge to the "Octopus tattoo" mystery, she enlists the help of anyone willing, even persuading Mrs. Weems to go "under cover." Nothing, not even threats and an unexpected tornado, can deter the determined Miss. Parker. - Summary by Cheryl Adam (4 hr 27 min)
Chapters
Aboard the Goodtime | 12:37 | Read by Cheryl Adam |
The River's Victim | 10:24 | Read by Cheryl Adam |
The Octopus Tattoo | 10:37 | Read by Cheryl Adam |
A Prospective Tenant | 12:16 | Read by Cheryl Adam |
Cobwebs and Rust | 11:51 | Read by Cheryl Adam |
Headlines and Headaches | 11:43 | Read by Cheryl Adam |
Peter Fenestra | 10:40 | Read by Cheryl Adam |
The Storm Cave | 9:40 | Read by Cheryl Adam |
A Fallen Tree | 9:54 | Read by Cheryl Adam |
A Word to the Wise | 9:55 | Read by Cheryl Adam |
Mr. Judson's Daughter | 8:16 | Read by Cheryl Adam |
Old Horney | 12:17 | Read by Cheryl Adam |
Paper Problems | 9:35 | Read by Cheryl Adam |
An Empty Bedroom | 7:35 | Read by Cheryl Adam |
Information from Tillie | 8:51 | Read by Cheryl Adam |
Behind the Lilacs | 10:52 | Read by Cheryl Adam |
The Art of Tattoo | 9:27 | Read by Cheryl Adam |
Pauletta's Explanation | 15:39 | Read by Cheryl Adam |
Mrs. Weems' Report | 11:00 | Read by Cheryl Adam |
Picnic by Moonlight | 10:00 | Read by Cheryl Adam |
Ellis Saal's Customer | 12:06 | Read by Cheryl Adam |
Ghosts of the Past | 11:32 | Read by Cheryl Adam |
Penny's Plight | 9:15 | Read by Cheryl Adam |
A Barrier of Flames | 10:32 | Read by Cheryl Adam |
Sailor's Revenge | 10:31 | Read by Cheryl Adam |
Reviews
Five stars
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Bee
Excellent, enjoyable reading with consistent, expressive voices for different characters makes time fly.
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Ms SV
This is a fun mystery. The reader was enjoyable to listen to. Thanks Librivox!
I love this story
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A LibriVox Listener
Sooooo Fun
Fairly good book
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Ancient Aunt
While this wasn't, in my opinion, quite up to the quality of the previous Penny Parker stories available on Librivox, it was still nice to find myself once again in Penny's world. And this Librivox volunteer reader, Cheryl Adams, is outstanding; I hope she continues reading all of the Penny Parker tales. In fact I like Miss Parker and Ms Adams so much, I check frequently to see if a new recording has been released!
Fun story, suitable for young and old readers
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msdragon
I like these stories because they aren't as saccharine sweet as Nancy Drew but are still safe enough to listen to with my kids. I appreciate the honesty and curiosity of the characters. Good story, if predictable.
Silent Kitty ππ ππ΅οΈβοΈ
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Ally Sch
5 star book!! As all of the books are!! Thanks!!! Give Cheryl Adams more wonderful Penny Parker books for her to record and enjoy please. wonderful book....πππ
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Brett Miller
Getting better. Reader is excellent. And for a change, not every bad thing is one guy.
Great book ever !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!ππππππππ
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A LibriVox Listener
Love Love Love it so much ππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππ»π»π»π»π»π»π»π»π»π»π»π»π»ππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππβ€β€β€β€β€β€β€β€β€β€β€β€β€β€β€β€