Danger at the Drawbridge

Penny Parker is a quick‑witted teenager who lives in a breezy riverside house with her father, the editor of the local Riverview Star, and their ever‑watchful housekeeper, Mrs. Weems. She flits between the kitchen table and the bedroom, offering sardonic remarks and stealing the biggest strawberries for herself. Her father, a bedridden yet sharp‑tongued man, relies on her for coffee, breakfast trays, and a dash of lively conversation. Their close, teasing rapport hints at deeper family ties, especially the memory of Penny’s mother.

One bright morning a sleek automobile roars past the family’s drawbridge, its driver barely missing disaster as the bridge begins to lift. The near‑miss sparks Penny’s curiosity, and she soon finds herself drawn into a puzzling series of clues that swirl around the bridge, the river, and a mysterious assignment from her father’s newspaper. With her sharp observations and fearless spirit, she begins to piece together a hidden threat that could endanger more than just the town’s traffic. The stage is set for a lively adventure where teenage ingenuity meets a classic whodunit.