This is a tremendously well-written and enjoyable mystery book for young adults. There is warmth, humor, and a fairly good mystery. The overall tone is closer to the sometimes serious Ken Holt mysteries than the juvenile but fun Hardy Boys. Holding does an excellent job of straddling the line between both, having just the right amount of each ingredient.

Both Dutch and his pal Cam have girlfriends — Kathy and Janet — and while there is hardly anything beyond what you’d normally find in a book for young adults from this era — the 1960s — it has a more authentic feel than just throwaway characters. While Cam has a hot rod of sorts and is the school jock, Dutch has a job at Fulmer Memorial Museum in Riverlawn so that he can help support his mom and sister, Hilda. She is only a freshman but has a huge crush on upperclassmen Cam. Holding, used to writing adult stories, manages to inject youthful zest into the narrative while also giving it some more adult danger and excitement. He also imparts just enough information about Egyptology to be informative without boring his audience.

The mystery begins nicely when Dutch’s job at the museum brings him into harm’s way during a daring late-night robbery. But only the gilded fingertips of a Tut exhibit are stolen, and they were only replicas, not real gold. Nothing makes sense, especially that fake TV repairman attempting to gain access to Dutch’s house the next day. Eager to investigate, Dutch and Cam discover it has something to do with Arabs, and a trip Dutch’s dad once took. While picnicking with Kathy and Janet, they are run off the road. Later, when Dutch and Cam are briefly captured, they discover to their horror that Kathy and Janet are in danger because of a suitcase. The inferred intentions of those seeking it to have some adult “fun” with the two pretty high school girls, is one of the things which make this a tad more realistic than some books for young adults. It doesn’t end up happening, of course, as this is perfectly suitable for teenagers, but the prospect that it might adds a dash of realism. In this way it is similar to the Ken Holt series, though the gritty tone is absent here.

Before it’s all over, Sgt Barry and an FBI man will become involved, and there is more than one exciting rescue involving the boys. There is also a surprising wrap-up concerning Cam and Hilda, Dutch’s sister, which is another nice touch by Holding. A very good and enjoyable read in the young adult genre. ( )