The Judy Bolton books, written by Margaret Sutton (1903-2001), were a popular girls mystery series. The first 4 volumes were published in 1932 by Grosset and Dunlap. The series continued until 1967 and consisted of 38 volumes. Each book was "based on something that actually happened" and many were also based on real life sites. More than 4 million copies were sold, and the books are still popular among collectors such as the Phantom Friends. Fortunately, the entire Judy Bolton mystery series has been republished by Applewood Books. The 39th book in the series, "The Strange Likeness," which Margaret Sutton started but never finished, was written by Kate Duvall and Beverly Hatfield and published in 2012. It brings the series to a happy ending. In 2018 a wonderful new Judy Bolton set mid-series, The Mystery on Judy Lane written by Beverly Hatfield was published with the permission of Margaret Sutton's family!

NEWS

Judy Bolton Weekend Oct 9-12, 2025

Please register in advance by returning the attached form by October 5, 2025.

Please make your reservations for lodging in advance and tell them you are with the Judy Bolton fans.
Mill Street Mansion: www.millstmansion.com; 814-558-9262, see the attached form for the password for private booking, or The Westgate Inn, www.westgateinn.co; 814-274-0400

Thursday, October 9

6:00 PM — Dinner and conversation with Judy Bolton fans and friends, A&W West End Grill, 431 US Route 6, Coudersport, PA

Friday, October 10

9:00 AM — Breakfast at your hotel or potluck breakfast for those staying in the Mill Street Mansion. Explore Potter County on your own.

12:00 PM — Lunch with fans and friends at Cream ‘n Sugar, 111 N. Main Street, Coudersport.

1:00–3:00 PM — Potter County Historical Society, 308 N. Main Street, Coudersport. Enjoy a display of items related to Judy Bolton author Margaret Sutton and her family. Learn about Ole Bull and the true story that inspired The Clue of the Ruined Castle. Lots to see in this interesting museum!

3:00–5:30 PM — Judy Bolton Days Welcome Reception and Book Signing at the Mill Street Mansion, 202 Mill Street, Coudersport. Featuring a newly published children’s book by Margaret Sutton, The Little Girl Who Bounced on her Bed, signed by the real-life inspiration. Lindsay Stroh, Sutton’s daughter, will also sign her books Books BORING! Everyone the Same and The Tiny Door. The public is invited.

5:30 PM — Carpool to Mina, PA.

6:00 PM — Farmer’s Delight Dinner at a 19th-century farmhouse built by Margaret Sutton's grandfather. RSVP by October 5 and pay $15 at the door.

Saturday, October 11

7:30–9:00 AM — Breakfast at your hotel or potluck breakfast at the Mill Street Mansion.

9:30 AM — Tour of Mill Street Mansion, 202 Mill Street, Coudersport. Presentation by Judge Lewis’s granddaughter on the mansion’s history, which inspired the Farringdon-Pett Mansion in the Judy Bolton Mysteries. Followed by a carpool tour of local sites from the series.

10:15 AM — Depart for Dry Brook Hollow, Margaret Sutton’s birthplace in Odin. Carpool due to limited parking.

11:00 AM — Visit Odin Cemetery and Margaret Sutton’s memorial bench at the Beebe family graves.

11:30 AM — Austin Dam Memorial Park. Learn about the 1911 Austin Dam disaster that inspired The Vanishing Shadow. Road access to the dam base available.

12:30 PM — Lunch in Austin at Big Mike’s Dairy & Dine, 8 Main Street, Austin. Order from the menu.

1:30 PM — Tour the E.O. Austin Museum, One Town Square, Austin. Features items donated by Margaret Sutton’s family, including her childhood drawings.

3:00 PM — Choose between visiting the Judy Bolton Exhibit at the Eliot Ness Museum, 201 N. Main Street, Coudersport (RSVP required, $15 admission), or a carpool to Parker Tomb (Trail of the Green Doll). Directions provided.

5:00 PM — Judy Bolton Weekend Dinner at Kaytee’s Family Restaurant, 251 U.S. Route 6, Coudersport. RSVP with entrée choice. Contest winners and families will attend.

6:15 PM — Margaret Sutton Creative Writing Contest Awards. Finalists will read their stories and receive awards. 2024 winners are also invited. Join in person or on Zoom: Zoom Link

View the contest rules (PDF)

7:00 PM — Social time and book sales at the Mill Street Mansion.

7:30 PM — Judy Bolton Trivia Contests at the Mill Street Mansion. Featured book: The Clue in the Ruined Castle. Prizes awarded!

Sunday, October 8

Morning — Enjoy breakfast at your hotel and a last chance to visit with Judy Bolton fans.

Letters To Live By Now Available

LETTERS TO LIVE BY, a children's book by Margaret Sutton and her daughters Marjorie Eckstein and Lindsay Stroh, has just been published! Visit www.MargaretSuttonBooks.com for information on how to order this delightful book. A link to a free Discussion and Activity Guide is included.

The Talking Snowman, Second Edition Available Now

Cover of the Strange Likeness Prolific author Linda Joy Singleton is the author of over 50 middle-grade, YA and picture books! A lifelong lover of children's series books, a fan letter she wrote at age 14 led to a life-long friendship with author, Margaret Sutton. This friendship eventually resulted in The Talking Snowman which was co-written by Margaret Sutton and Linda Joy Singleton. The book fits between books #3 and #4 in the Judy Bolton series and is numbered #3 1/2. The first print run sold out and had a solid blue cover with outline of a snowman. This second edition has cover art by Judy Bolton fan Lisa Kucharski. It’s a paperback and includes a map drawn by Margaret Sutton, a foreword by Linda Joy Singleton, and a bonus short story.

To order The Talking Snowman, send a check or US cash for $15 (includes US postage only) to:
Linda Singleton
P.O. Box 155
Burson, CA 95225

If you want it autographed by LJS include a note with details.

If you have any questions email: ljscheer@yahoo.com. You can read more about Linda Joy Singleton on her website.

ONE LAST STEP (A Tara Mills Mystery—Book One) is the debut novel in a new FBI mystery series by debut author Sarah Sutton the great-granddaughter of Margaret Sutton

Debut author Sarah Sutton is the great granddaughter of Margaret Sutton and has followed in that tradition with her release of the TARA MILLS mystery series, which includes ONE LAST STEP (Book #1) and ONE LAST BREATH (Book #2). Sarah has always been fascinated by the mystery genre and loves to write suspenseful books with complex characters.

The book is available on all major outlets including Amazon

For more information on the series, go to the author's website at www.sarahsutton.com

Literary Legends of the PA Wilds: Margaret Sutton and Judy Bolton

A great article on Potter County author Margaret Sutton was published January 28, 2019 on the Pennsylvania Wilds website!

The Mystery on Judy Lane by Beverly Hatfield — available this fall on Amazon.

UPDATED: Now Available on Amazon

Judy Bolton loves solving mysteries, and this Christmas brings her a new puzzle to solve. She is newly engaged to lawyer Peter Dobbs and wants the perfect present for him. But a mysterious eavesdropper, threatening phone calls and broken windows on Judy Lane convince Judy, Peter, and their families that the danger is real. Judy will need bravery and ingenuity to solve the mystery in time for everyone to have a Merry Christmas. Margaret Sutton was the creator and author of The Judy Bolton Mystery series from 1932 to 1967. With the permission of Margaret Sutton's family, Beverly Hatfield brings us this new Christmas story. Foreword by Margaret Sutton’s daughter, Lindsay Sutton Stroh.

Author Bio Beverly Hatfield is the co-author of the 2012 Judy Bolton Mystery, The Strange Likeness. As a child, she devoured Judy Bolton mysteries and wished Margaret Sutton had written more books set during the time period when Judy was engaged. Ms. Hatfield decided to fill that gap by setting this book between Margaret Sutton's The Name on the Bracelet and The Clue in the Patchwork Quilt. As an adult, Ms. Hatfield visited the towns and homes in Potter County, Pennsylvania where Margaret Sutton lived and used as her inspiration. Ms. Hatfield enjoys the friendship she has with other Judy Bolton fans and is grateful to share Judy’s newest adventure with them. Meet Beverly and get her autograph at Judy Bolton Days 2018 in Pennsylvania!

New: 3 Watercolor Illustrated Cards
By Margaret Sutton
5 X 7 each, suitable for framing

These three color illustrations (1930-31) were done to illustrate the proposed Melissa series, which eventually became the Judy Bolton Mysteries. Rachel Beebe Sutton, the author, who was raised in Potter County, Pennsylvania, was given a pen name, Margaret Sutton, by the publishers. The author also changed blonde Melissa into auburn-haired Judy Bolton, and the rest is history!

$3 per set of 3 (5 X 7) cards. Available at Judy Bolton weekend events or contact Lindsay at strohlin19@gmail.com to order by mail.

Please note that the picture of Peter with the trunk is brighter than shown.

THE STRANGE LIKENESS, #39 in the Judy Bolton series is available!

Cover of the Strange Likeness The title and some of the plot elements were created by Margaret Sutton before the series was canceled. Based on conversations with Margaret Sutton and her family plus extensive research, coauthors Kate Duvall and Beverly Hatfield were able to create a new mystery for Judy to solve as she pursues a criminal who resembles her husband.

The book is illustrated by Margaret Sutton's daughter, Marjorie Sutton Eckstein, and edited by another daughter, Lindsay Sutton Stroh. The release of the book was celebrated in Margaret Sutton’s hometown, Coudersport, Pennsylvania, during the annual Judy Bolton Days, October 5-6, 2012.

The book has been published in paperback ($14.95) by Applewood Books. A limited number of hardbacks (250 copies) were also available ($24.95). To order your copies, call Applewood Books at 1-800-277-5312 or visit www.applewoodbooks.com.

All 38 Judy Bolton Titles Available from Applewood books!

All 38 of the Judy Bolton Mysteries by Margaret Sutton are now available in paperback from Applewood books. They were laser copied from the first editions of each book, courtesy of the author's family.

Look for them at your favorite bookstore! You can also purchase them on Amazon.com.