Mark Twain

This less-well-known tale of Tom's exploits is narrated by Huck Finn, who recounts their trip by river steamer to visit Aunt Sally in "Arkansaw." When the boys encounter an acquaintance who's being pursued by a dangerous pair of thugs, Tom breaks out the mail-order detective kit he's been itching to put to use.

Tom Sawyer, Detective

Sarah Sammis

Tom Sawyer, Detective is the fourth and final book in a series by Mark Twain. The first two books are more well known than books three and four. In order of publication they are:

 * The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876)
 * The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884)
 * Tom Sawyer Abroad (1884)
 * Tom Sawyer, Detective (1896)

I haven't read Tom Sawyer Abroad but of the three I have read, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is my favorite. Frankly, though, this entire series is among my least favorite books by Twain. I much prefer his nonfiction work.

By this final book, Tom and Huck are seventeen. They are old enough to travel on their own on a steamboat. It is as they are returning home that they stumble upon a mystery involving stolen diamonds that later results in a murder.

The edition I read, A 2-in-1 (bound with Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson) volume by Companion Library has illustrations that mistakenly draw Tom and Huck as the would have appeared in the earlier novels. Seeing them illustrated as children makes no sense for the sorts of things Twain has them doing or the way they interact with their elders.

The novel is pretty entertaining until the last (and longest) chapter: "Tom Discovers the Murderers." Then the story drags to its final conclusion. Mark Twain never could figure out how to end his novels and Tom Sawyer, Detective is a prime example of this weakness.

Barbara Williford

What a fun little short story! Tom and Huck go to Arkansas to visit an aunt. On the way they meet all kinds of characters and when they arrive they are faced with the mystery of a local death and trying to free Tom’s uncle of murder charges. Filled with typical Tom and Huck adventure and humor.

Tom Sawyer, Detective

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