Alfred Hitchcock & The Three Investigators in The Mystery of the Coughing Dragon (1970) is the 20th installment in the classic Three Investigators mystery series, created by Robert Arthur Jr. and later written by other authors under the pseudonym “M.V. Carey.” This thrilling adventure follows the trio of young detectives—Jupiter Jones, Pete Crenshaw, and Bob Andrews—as they tackle a bizarre case involving a mysterious dragon-shaped cloud of smoke, a missing scientist, and reports of an actual fire-breathing dragon terrorizing a California canyon.
With their trademark ingenuity and teamwork, the boys investigate a possible connection to a high-tech weather experiment gone wrong—or something far more sinister. The case takes them through secret tunnels, abandoned estates, and encounters with suspicious characters, all while relying on their headquarters hidden in Jupiter’s salvage yard. True to the series’ style, the story blends scientific curiosity with old-fashioned sleuthing, culminating in a clever, logical solution.
Though Alfred Hitchcock’s association with the series (as the Investigators’ celebrity patron) was phased out in later editions due to rights issues, his name remains iconic in early printings. The Coughing Dragon stands out for its inventive premise and atmospheric suspense, embodying the series’ appeal as a more science-minded alternative to Nancy Drew or The Hardy Boys.
