Joe, Bill, and Pete are fixing up their boat, the Death and Glory, with bunks, cupboards, and a little stove, so that they can camp out on the river all winter long. When someone starts casting off boats in the middle of the night, it gets blamed on the boys, and they have to prove their innocence. With the help of Coot Club members, Tom, Dick, and Dorothea, they start their own detective agency to track down the real culprits.

As always, I adore this interesting story, full of nautical knowledge and adorable characters. The plot really keeps the mystery moving as each clue comes to light, and the desperation and anxiety of the characters keeps the tension high, even if some of the plot points are a little predictable. The story is not so much about the mystery, as it is about how the characters follow the mystery.

Each character is so REAL, with their own little quirks and funny ideas different from the others. Young Pete is one of the most hilarious characters, because he is SUCH a child. Just like a real child with silliness and seriousness and his own mistaken ideas about the little world he lives in. The things he says are just so boyish and REAL. A little boy actually says just those sorts of things. I love how all these characters come to life on every page!

Reading this for the 3rd time, I love it just as much as the first time! Coots Forever!