Alfred Hitchcock & The Three Investigators #28: The Mystery of the Deadly Double (1978) by William Arden (a pen name of Dennis Lynds) is a gripping entry in the classic children’s mystery series. The story follows Jupiter Jones, Pete Crenshaw, and Bob Andrews as they investigate a case of mistaken identity involving a foreign dignitary’s son and a sinister doppelgänger. When a lookalike begins committing crimes to frame the innocent boy, the trio must unravel a web of political intrigue and kidnapping before it’s too late.
Arden’s tight plotting and the series’ trademark blend of suspense and humor shine, with Hitchcock’s cameo adding a dash of wit. Though darker than some earlier books (Deadly Double touches on Cold War-era tensions), it retains the charm of the junkyard HQ and the boys’ clever gadgetry.
A standout for fans of the series’ later, more mature installments.
