The Phantom Friend: A Judy Bolton Mystery

"The Phantom Friend" by Margaret Sutton is a mystery novel written in the mid-20th century. The story revolves around Judy Bolton and her friends as they navigate their day in New York City, where they encounter Clarissa Valentine, a girl who mysteriously appears to be in trouble. The narrative combines elements of friendship, the search for identity, and the intrigue of hidden dangers as Judy gets drawn into Clarissa's predicament. At the start of the book, Judy and her friends are enjoying a skating outing at Radio City when they notice a girl named Clarissa arguing at a cashier's desk over a missing twenty-dollar bill. After offering her help, the group invites Clarissa to join them for lunch, leading to conversations about dreams, ambitions, and the pressures of appearing on television. As the day unfolds, strange occurrences surround Clarissa, including her claims of being invisible in mirrors, prompting Judy to become increasingly curious and concerned for her. The opening sets the stage for a mix of charm and mystery, as Judy's intuition tells her that there is more to Clarissa's story than meets the eye.