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The Case of the Purloined Mushrooms  by Inkling 7 Review(s)
cookiefleckReviewed Chapter: 4 on 5/3/2007
Lovely story/chapter. I particularly liked when the Gaffer doubled up and only Sam knew he was laughing. Great fun!

Author Reply: Thanks cookiefleck! The Gaffer became something of a scene-stealer in this chapter…he and Dora were both a lot of fun to write. I’m glad you had fun too!

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 4 on 4/30/2007
The sad thing is that Merry's thinking is totally logical - and, at his age, perfectly acceptable. And getting Frodo back is worth it, whatever the price!

While the Sackville-Bagginses behaviour is totally predictable! And (apart from Sam's watch) ruined by their own stupidity.

The dog in the night takes on a whole new meaning. The saying about gift horses should, perhaps, apply to mushroom-hounds. Farmer Broadfoot has been had for a mug!

Author Reply: Yes, ironic how Merry and the S-Bs had the same goal for such different reasons. But you’re right, it is sad for Merry…I certified this fic 99% angst-free, but Merry is that other 1%. At least he got to eat the mushrooms!

And you’re right about the farmer…what irks him even more than the loss of the mushrooms is being had by his competitor in the Marish…and by his own watchdog as well!

Thanks for reviewing, Bodkin!

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 4 on 4/30/2007
Hilarious, and I think Sir Arthur would have giggled a time or two. Trust the S-Bs to measure their furniture before the room's theirs. Heh!

And Abelard is such a wonderful detective. As for Farmer Maggot and Bane--that has me totally enchanted. I WANT Bane, I do! The thieving watchdog!

Excellently well done! Heh!

Author Reply: I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Larner, and I certainly hope Sir Arthur would have too…or at least taken it in stride! (I wonder if anyone was writing Holmes fan fiction in his lifetime and if so, what he thought about it…)

Without a doubt, Bane was an excellent watchdog…so he could have the mushrooms for himself! You’ll learn his fate in the final installment.

Thanks for your kind words!

AndreaReviewed Chapter: 4 on 4/29/2007
Well, what shall I say after all these lovely reviews?

First of all, I enjoyed the confrontation of Dora and Lobelia a great deal! Your Dora is wonderful! And her pointed look at Frodo when the Gaffer recited the Baggins family tree was great!

I had expected that Frodo was covering up for Merry. But as Merry did only steal some mushrooms from the cellar, he was not the *real* mushroom thief!

And when Sam reported that Lotho buried the mushrooms in Bag End's garden, I thought everything was clear!

But then came Abie...

A dog that loves mushrooms! I would never have thought of that! And I think that Abie is a fine detective, nearly as good as Sherlock Holmes!

Last but not least, I loved it that even Frodo overcame his fear of dogs and tried to protect Bane from the farmer's wrath. "Bane" is an appropriate name! He was meant to be the bane of the thieves, but turned out to be his master's bane ;-)

Now, I'm looking forward to see more mysteries solved!

Author Reply: Hi Andrea! Credit for Dora’s pointed look goes to Permilea, my wonderful beta on this story, who contributed many other great ideas as well.

I’m glad the story kept you guessing, as any proper mystery should. Yes, Bane lived up to his name—as the bane of mushrooms!

More mysteries? Well, there is one more to be solved in this story, and after that, we’ll see…Abelard may make another appearance someday. Thanks so much for your reviews, Andrea, they’re always a delight to receive! :)

lovethosehobbitsReviewed Chapter: 4 on 4/29/2007
Loved it! Thanks so much for giving us a little 'mystery' to challenge our hobbits and us as well.

Author Reply: And thank you, tree, for letting me know you enjoyed it! It was fun to give mystery writing a try…it challenged me, too! :) There is one more little chapter to come, hopefully in the next few days…

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 4 on 4/29/2007
Oh--and by the way, I *do* hope we haven't seen the last of Archer! I'd love to see more little mysteries with him in them.

Author Reply: Well, I do have a couple more Abelard Archer mystery plot bunnies residing on my hard drive…so you never know! But given my glacial pace of writing, it may be a while before they see the light of day. Thanks for asking!

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 4 on 4/29/2007
Ah! My dear, a very clever and beautifully rendered mystery. Posthobbit Archer should take a bow, and then take his place among such brilliant detectives as Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, Lord Peter Wimsey, and Nero Wolfe!

I have to admit, I myself had come to the conclusion that the Shirriff had--that the farmer was doing it himself. (Though I thouht he was in cahoots with the S.-B.s.)

This was such a lovely chapter--with Frodo and Merry so in character in their devotion to one another. Poor little Merry, scheming to get his cousin back. But at least he got to scarf down the mushrooms. And Sam and the Gaffer were beautifully done as well.

But I have to say my favorite part was Aunt Dora toe to toe with Lobelia. *YES!* Now that was an encounter I'd have *paid* to see!

Now--where's the recipe you promised? *grin*

Author Reply: Wow! High praise indeed for a little Posthobbit! Abelard would be honored to find himself in such renowned company…and am sure would enjoy discussing the pleasures of the table with Poirot! ;)

The showdown between Dora and Lobelia is one of my own fave scenes, too…I loved writing it!

Thanks so much for reviewing and have no fear, the recipe is yet to come! I know it’s a bit anticlimactic, but there is one more chapter. I still have to finish editing, and test the recipe…it’s a long time since I’ve made it. So stay tuned!

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