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Ginger Rogers And The Riddle Of The Scarlet Cloak
""Ginger Rogers and the Riddle of the Scarlet Cloak"" is a mystery novel written by Lela E. Rogers. The book follows the adventures of Ginger Rogers, a young girl who loves solving puzzles and mysteries. When her friend's father is accused of stealing a valuable painting, Ginger sets out to clear his name and find the real culprit. Along the way, she must use her wits and cunning to solve a series of clues and puzzles, leading her to the mysterious Scarlet Cloak. With the help of her friends and family, Ginger navigates the dangerous world of art theft and deception, ultimately uncovering the truth behind the theft and saving the day. This book is a fun and engaging read for young readers who love mystery and adventure.An Original Story Featuring Ginger Rogers Famous Motion-Picture Star As The Heroine.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
252 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1942
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 1, 2015
Really, I should have given this book 3 or 3 1/2 stars, not 4, but I just enjoyed it too much!
I would give it 3 stars for the writing itself - it's not bad, just very dull and flat, and a bit melodramatic at times. It's filled with modern no-no's, like abundant telling instead of showing, "head-hopping" with the point of view within a scene or even a paragraph, and very little character development.
All of this needs to be taken in stride, though, considering the sort of book this is. It's a pulp-ish adventure detective tale, probably aimed at a YA or even MG audience (before YA actually was a thing). It was written in 1942, so storytelling styles and expectations have changed a lot since then. Also, this book was written by Ginger Rogers' mother, who was skilled at managing her daughter's Hollywood success, but was not a writer at all.
It was a fun, light read, though - hence the 4 star rating. Flat characters and predictable plot, but just the right amount of tension, mystery, and subplots that all tied up together nicely at the end.
Also, the book is an interesting insight into the mindset of the people of Hollywood at the beginning of WWII. It's also an interesting glimpse into the mind of Mrs. Rogers. The story stars a fictionalized version of movie star Ginger Rogers, as if she were a working-class girl in Hollywood rather than a movie star; her mother is also fictionalized in this story, but their relationship in the book mirrors their relationship in real life. It's an interesting (albeit fictionalized) glimpse into Mrs. Rogers' almost possessive love for Ginger, and a possible sort of therapy for herself regarding Ginger's father (who abandoned the family when Ginger was a baby).
But whether you're looking for insight into Hollywood in the early 40s, a unique perspective on Ginger Rogers' life, or just a fun campy detective story, this odd little gem will shine.
I would give it 3 stars for the writing itself - it's not bad, just very dull and flat, and a bit melodramatic at times. It's filled with modern no-no's, like abundant telling instead of showing, "head-hopping" with the point of view within a scene or even a paragraph, and very little character development.
All of this needs to be taken in stride, though, considering the sort of book this is. It's a pulp-ish adventure detective tale, probably aimed at a YA or even MG audience (before YA actually was a thing). It was written in 1942, so storytelling styles and expectations have changed a lot since then. Also, this book was written by Ginger Rogers' mother, who was skilled at managing her daughter's Hollywood success, but was not a writer at all.
It was a fun, light read, though - hence the 4 star rating. Flat characters and predictable plot, but just the right amount of tension, mystery, and subplots that all tied up together nicely at the end.
Also, the book is an interesting insight into the mindset of the people of Hollywood at the beginning of WWII. It's also an interesting glimpse into the mind of Mrs. Rogers. The story stars a fictionalized version of movie star Ginger Rogers, as if she were a working-class girl in Hollywood rather than a movie star; her mother is also fictionalized in this story, but their relationship in the book mirrors their relationship in real life. It's an interesting (albeit fictionalized) glimpse into Mrs. Rogers' almost possessive love for Ginger, and a possible sort of therapy for herself regarding Ginger's father (who abandoned the family when Ginger was a baby).
But whether you're looking for insight into Hollywood in the early 40s, a unique perspective on Ginger Rogers' life, or just a fun campy detective story, this odd little gem will shine.
August 5, 2023
It's not bad however it's kind of strange because this is written by Ginger Rogers real mother however her fictitious mother in the book is a mess having hysterical bouts of crying when she doesn't get her way and then it's pages of Ginger telling her mother how amazing and perfect she is. Calling her the 'belle of the ball' and comparing her to a princess. Was the real Mrs. Rogers looking for an ego boost or something?
September 26, 2020
Ginger Rogers enjoys her work as a night shift switchboard operator at the Seaview Arms, a fancy hotel on the West Coast. She’s good at customer service, and the constant variety of guest requests keeps her on her toes. Some of the male guests try to flirt with Ginger, but there are rules, and she cleverly avoids breaking them. But it is December 6, 1941, and her world is about to change.
This 1942 book was a Whitman Authorized Edition, books written for young people about celebrities and beloved characters but in entirely new adventures. The title character may share her name and appearance (in multiple illustrations) with the famous dancer and actress, but the details of her life are completely different. Think of it like one of those Jackie Chan movies where the main character is named “Jackie.”
The Seaview Arms is pretty obviously in Los Angeles, but the city is never named. It’s owned by Madame DuLhut, a French émigré wiz zee outRAGEous French accent, but true dedication to running the best hotel on the coast. Ginger is one of her top employees. When the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor, Madame DuLhut decides to convert her fine establishment into housing for war workers, meaning all the non-essential worker guests will have to depart.
A Mr. Dunlop is especially hard hit by this decision. Although he has houses in New York and Florida which he often calls with bizarre orders (“lay in four hundred pounds of sugar”), he prefers hotel living, and wangles permission to stay on the grounds for another week.
Although America is at war now, life goes on, and Ginger accepts a date from Miles Harrington, an office worker at the plant where bombsights are being manufactured. Madame DuLhut presents Ginger with a scarlet opera cloak sent by a secret admirer, and when Miles finds out, he insists she wear it on the date.
Miles is not good dating material. He’s the sort of fellow who orders dinner for his date without consulting her, insists on taking a central table because “I want to show you off” and gets upset when she notices that the stranger who picked up his cigarette package returned the wrong one. When he goes to take a phone call and never returns, Ginger feels humiliated.
Ginger is rescued by Gregg Phillips, a handsome fellow who comes from money and works at the same plant as Miles, and Gregg’s boss Mr. Bagnall, who agree to take her home. Ginger and Gregg really hit it off, but then they spot Miles’ car just sort of abandoned, and Miles himself badly injured. Gregg and Mr. Bagnall pick up Miles and bring him to a place he can be looked after, but swear Ginger to secrecy before dropping her off at home.
One of the odd things about this book is that the author, Lela E. Rogers, was Ginger Rogers’ real life mother! Her counterpart in the novel is Mary Rogers, a single mom. She’s been waiting up for Ginger (who’s in her early twenties) to come home from her date. She’s horrified that Ginger came home with Gregg, and forbids her daughter from ever seeing that man again!
Her objection is that Gregg is rich. And this does not come from a healthy resentment of capitalist exploiters, but from her belief that all rich young men are spoiled and feel entitled to the affections of women–as many women as they want. (How much of this was inspired by Lela’s acrimonious divorce from Ginger’s father is a matter for debate.)
But this parental disapproval doesn’t stop Ginger from realizing that she is in love with Gregg, and the feeling is mutual.
Madame DuLhut seems unduly interested in the details of Ginger’s date with Miles, and more suspiciously so is Mr. Dunlop. Ginger becomes more convinced than ever that something strange is going on. She is, of course, correct.
Also, it turns out that Ginger’s father Josh Rogers is still alive and in town. After Mary left him, Josh lost all his money in the 1929 stock market crash, the other woman deserted him, and Mr. Rogers became an FBI agent, now on the track of Fifth Columnists.
Can Ginger reunite her parents, woo Gregg, and solve the riddle of the scarlet cloak?
Good: The first chapter sets the scene well with a detailed description of Ginger’s hotel switchboard job, an occupation that has vanished into the mists of time. There’s special mention made of the “customer service voice” that rings true even today. The illustrations by Henry E. Vallely are quite nice. Sexism, while not specifically called out, is clearly shown to make the mystery harder to solve as Ginger is kept out of the loop. There’s a happy ending.
Less good: Madame DuLhut’s accent is written in a manner that makes it difficult to decipher, evidently for comedic effect. There’s some insta-love, both in the Ginger/Gregg relationship and between two minor characters, the latter seeming very forced. There’s a bit of particularly contrived coincidence near the end, when Ginger just so happens to run across an ex-co-worker at a remote location when she needs one.
Back in the day, this would have been a “juvenile.” The heavy romance element and struggle with independence from a parent makes it closer to “young adult” in modern terms. I’d recommend this book primarily to people with a nostalgic interest in the Golden Age of Hollywood, as I fear many younger readers will not understand why Ginger Rogers was enough of a draw to put in the title.
This 1942 book was a Whitman Authorized Edition, books written for young people about celebrities and beloved characters but in entirely new adventures. The title character may share her name and appearance (in multiple illustrations) with the famous dancer and actress, but the details of her life are completely different. Think of it like one of those Jackie Chan movies where the main character is named “Jackie.”
The Seaview Arms is pretty obviously in Los Angeles, but the city is never named. It’s owned by Madame DuLhut, a French émigré wiz zee outRAGEous French accent, but true dedication to running the best hotel on the coast. Ginger is one of her top employees. When the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor, Madame DuLhut decides to convert her fine establishment into housing for war workers, meaning all the non-essential worker guests will have to depart.
A Mr. Dunlop is especially hard hit by this decision. Although he has houses in New York and Florida which he often calls with bizarre orders (“lay in four hundred pounds of sugar”), he prefers hotel living, and wangles permission to stay on the grounds for another week.
Although America is at war now, life goes on, and Ginger accepts a date from Miles Harrington, an office worker at the plant where bombsights are being manufactured. Madame DuLhut presents Ginger with a scarlet opera cloak sent by a secret admirer, and when Miles finds out, he insists she wear it on the date.
Miles is not good dating material. He’s the sort of fellow who orders dinner for his date without consulting her, insists on taking a central table because “I want to show you off” and gets upset when she notices that the stranger who picked up his cigarette package returned the wrong one. When he goes to take a phone call and never returns, Ginger feels humiliated.
Ginger is rescued by Gregg Phillips, a handsome fellow who comes from money and works at the same plant as Miles, and Gregg’s boss Mr. Bagnall, who agree to take her home. Ginger and Gregg really hit it off, but then they spot Miles’ car just sort of abandoned, and Miles himself badly injured. Gregg and Mr. Bagnall pick up Miles and bring him to a place he can be looked after, but swear Ginger to secrecy before dropping her off at home.
One of the odd things about this book is that the author, Lela E. Rogers, was Ginger Rogers’ real life mother! Her counterpart in the novel is Mary Rogers, a single mom. She’s been waiting up for Ginger (who’s in her early twenties) to come home from her date. She’s horrified that Ginger came home with Gregg, and forbids her daughter from ever seeing that man again!
Her objection is that Gregg is rich. And this does not come from a healthy resentment of capitalist exploiters, but from her belief that all rich young men are spoiled and feel entitled to the affections of women–as many women as they want. (How much of this was inspired by Lela’s acrimonious divorce from Ginger’s father is a matter for debate.)
But this parental disapproval doesn’t stop Ginger from realizing that she is in love with Gregg, and the feeling is mutual.
Madame DuLhut seems unduly interested in the details of Ginger’s date with Miles, and more suspiciously so is Mr. Dunlop. Ginger becomes more convinced than ever that something strange is going on. She is, of course, correct.
Also, it turns out that Ginger’s father Josh Rogers is still alive and in town. After Mary left him, Josh lost all his money in the 1929 stock market crash, the other woman deserted him, and Mr. Rogers became an FBI agent, now on the track of Fifth Columnists.
Can Ginger reunite her parents, woo Gregg, and solve the riddle of the scarlet cloak?
Good: The first chapter sets the scene well with a detailed description of Ginger’s hotel switchboard job, an occupation that has vanished into the mists of time. There’s special mention made of the “customer service voice” that rings true even today. The illustrations by Henry E. Vallely are quite nice. Sexism, while not specifically called out, is clearly shown to make the mystery harder to solve as Ginger is kept out of the loop. There’s a happy ending.
Less good: Madame DuLhut’s accent is written in a manner that makes it difficult to decipher, evidently for comedic effect. There’s some insta-love, both in the Ginger/Gregg relationship and between two minor characters, the latter seeming very forced. There’s a bit of particularly contrived coincidence near the end, when Ginger just so happens to run across an ex-co-worker at a remote location when she needs one.
Back in the day, this would have been a “juvenile.” The heavy romance element and struggle with independence from a parent makes it closer to “young adult” in modern terms. I’d recommend this book primarily to people with a nostalgic interest in the Golden Age of Hollywood, as I fear many younger readers will not understand why Ginger Rogers was enough of a draw to put in the title.
April 19, 2020
Whitman Book for Girls. I own several of the series and wish I had them all. They are formulaic but fun enough. Wartime bad guys and the girl who outsmarts them. Yeah, I’m a sucker for this stuff. Gave it a “3” because it isn’t great writing, but the story was above average for these types of books.
November 7, 2014
This book caught my eye because the heroine was none other than the classic film star Ginger Rogers. Who wouldn't want to read a book like that? The plot is a mystery of complex characters and events that's supposed to leave you guessing as to the outcome of the intrigue, but it's so straightforward and uninspired that there really is no nail biting tension anywhere in the book.
The book reads like you're watching a 1940s film noir. The scenes change from light and happy to seedy and dangerous almost in a flash. You imagine the danger going down in those beautiful black and white camera shades. The characters are all caricatures from old mob movies and rom coms and it is fun at times, but again, just too blah to be of real interest. Do I regret reading this book? Never. No way. Would I recommend it to a wide range of readers? Probably not. Rogers as the unwitting detective didn't come across too well. She was too sweet and almost naive to actually be Ginger Rogers. (I know, I know, she's just a character in the book, not actually Ginger Rogers. But still...)
Ginger Rogers and the Riddle of the Scarlet Cloak gets 2.3/5 stars. And my advice to Ginger would be to stick to her strengths-- Stay in film.
The book reads like you're watching a 1940s film noir. The scenes change from light and happy to seedy and dangerous almost in a flash. You imagine the danger going down in those beautiful black and white camera shades. The characters are all caricatures from old mob movies and rom coms and it is fun at times, but again, just too blah to be of real interest. Do I regret reading this book? Never. No way. Would I recommend it to a wide range of readers? Probably not. Rogers as the unwitting detective didn't come across too well. She was too sweet and almost naive to actually be Ginger Rogers. (I know, I know, she's just a character in the book, not actually Ginger Rogers. But still...)
Ginger Rogers and the Riddle of the Scarlet Cloak gets 2.3/5 stars. And my advice to Ginger would be to stick to her strengths-- Stay in film.
November 15, 2015
I was curious as to the type of writer Lela Rogers was. This book is interesting but I think it is window to its time do I don't know if contemporary readers will like it but I would let a young reader enjoy this book.
January 31, 2016
Wish this were a movie starring Ginger Rogers instead...
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews