Tag Archives: scheming relatives

The Prisoner of Craven Castle [1977]

Debbie,

Plot

Evelynne Creely lies very ill at Craven Castle, and she is mistress to Clara Munnings. Evelynne’s evil uncle is trying to force Clara to impersonate Evelynne. Clara is very determined to save her mistress, but eventually the uncle succeeds in forcing Clara to sign the document that will hand the Greely estate over to him.

Notes

  • Reprinted and translated to Dutch as“Gevangene van Rotsburg” – Debbie Groot Mysterieboek #7 (1978)

Appeared

  • The Prisoner of Craven Castle – Debbie: #232 (23 July 1977) –  #241 (17 September 1977)

 

 

The Circus Slave

Debbie, , ,

Plot

Lucy Lester had agreed to do a ballerina on horseback act in her uncle’s circus. She had been led to believe, by her uncle, that her act would help pay her mother’s medical bills abroad. Her Uncle wanted her to do more daring stunts. Lucy’s trainer was Madame Cocola who used to be a dog trainer, she believed she could get Lucy to be as obedient as her dogs.

circus slave

Notes

Appeared

  • The Circus Slave – Debbie: #57 (16 March 1974) – #73 (6 July 1974)

Lords of the Manor

Bunty, ,

Plot

The Lord family move to a large country estate that Dad has inherited from his late cousin Violet. But when they arrive, they are in for a shock – a new will has been found that leaves the manor to Olive, the other cousin who has always been snobby to the Lords. The only thing the Lords can inherit under the new will is the old railway carriage; it hardly looks fit for human habitation, but the Lords soon make it home, much to Olive’s chagrin. The Lords don’t believe the will is genuine and begin to fight it. But they also have to fight Olive’s designs to turn the manor into a hotel and her mean tricks to get them out.

Notes

  • Artist: John Armstrong

Appeared

  • Lords of the Manor –  Bunty: #2127 (17 October 1998) – (?)

Caesar and Cleo

Mandy, , ,

Plot:

Before Mrs Amelia Weston dies, she asks her maid Cleo Payne to look after her dog Caesar. Mr Crumleigh the solicitor thinks there is another will, but the only one available divides everything among Mrs Weston’s greedy nieces, Beryl and Dora Weston and Lydia Crool. But to get the money they must live together in Mrs Weston’s house for six months and give Cleo and Caesar a home. If Cleo leaves before that time they inherit immediately, so they are trying to drive her out by making her life miserable.

Caesar 1

Notes:

Appeared:

  • Caesar and Cleo – Mandy: #231 (19 June 1971) –  #242 (4 September 1971)
  • Reprinted – Mandy – #546 (02 July 1977) – #555 (03 September 1977)
  • Reprinted – Mandy:  #945 (23 February 1985) – #954?

 

Bess’s Secret Brother / Her Brother’s Keeper

Judy, , ,

Plot

In the 1880’s, Bess Langley became nursemaid with the wealthy Selby  family, who were unaware that their adopted son, Richard, was actually Bess’s own baby brother. Then Bess discovered that Neville Selby, a nephew who had expected to inherit the family fortune, was out to kill the baby. Bess fled with the baby to another town and took lodgings with Mrs Doakes and her daughter, Rosie, but soon discovered that Rosie was ill-treating him in her absence. Leaving the baby at the inn where she worked, Bess returned to collect her things and settle up with Mrs Doakes.

her-brothers-keeper

Notes

  • Writer: Marion Turner (under pen-name: Fiona Turner)
  • Art; “B. Jackson”
  • Reprinted in Dutch as “Ik blijf bij je!’ (I’ll stay with you!) – Tina 1991

Appeared

  • Bess’s Secret Brother – Judy: #1256 (4 February 1984) – #1267 (21 April 1984)
  • Reprinted as Her Brother’s Keeper–  Judy: #1578 (07 April 1990) – #1589 (23 June 1990)

Sweet Melody

Judy, , ,

Plot

Debbie Johnson and her  seemingly sweet cousin, Melody, were staying with wealthy Great-Aunt Jane. By cunning tricks, Melody had succeeded in turning their aunt against Debbie, so that Great-Aunt Jane’s fortune would come to their side of the family. Then Debbie discovered what “sweet” Melody was really like — but none would take her word against Melody’s.

sweet-melody

Notes

  • Art: Oliver Passingham

Appeared

  • Sweet Melody –  Judy and Tracy:  #1326 (8 June 1985) – #1337 (24 August 1985)

 

Debbie Must Dance Again!

Judy, , , ,

Plot:

Orphan Debbie Tate and  her young brother, Peter, were being looked after by their greedy Aunt Betty and Uncle Joe. Hoping to claim compensation money for Debbie’s car accident injuries, they forced her to pretend she was a helpless cripple. However, Debbie had once taken ballet lessons and was able to resume her dancing in secret. After a Ballet Festival, in which Debbie had danced using the name Karen Foster, a ballet teacher called Felicity Dale showed an interest in her. Debbie was going to meet Felicity when she discovered that Peter had run away. During her anxious search for him, she realised that Felicity’s train had left.

debbie must dance

Notes:

  • Writer: Maureen Hartley
  • Art: Ana Rodriguez

Appeared:

  • Debbie Must Dance Again! –  Judy:  #1178 (07 Aug. 1982) – #1193 (20 Nov. 1982)

Malicious Molly

Judy, ,

Plot:

Molly Woodstock, heiress to  Woodstock Hall, apparently did strange, malicious things which she never remembered afterwards. Then she discovered that her relatives, the Deans, had used a double to discredit her and get the Woodstock estate signed over to them. She switched places with the double, Annie—but the Deans, thinking she was Annie, told her they were going to kill her and use the real Molly in their plans from now on.

malicious molly

Notes:

  • Art: Carlos Laffond

Appeared:

  • Malicious Molly – Judy:   #920 (27 August 1977) – #929 (29 October 1977)

Sisters of Deceit

Judy, , ,

Plot:

When orphan Helen Mostyn reached Victorian England from America, she was horrified to hear her half-sister, Jade, plotting against her life. Grandmother Mostyn planned to leave her fortune to the two girls but would not sign her will until she had seen Helen. Pretending that the real Helen Mostyn was lost overboard on the homeward voyage, Helen agreed to impersonate herself! It was her only chance of remaining safe while preventing Jade from harming their grandmother. Jade’s cousin, Gaston Garvel, was an accomplice in the evil plan.

sisters of deceit

Notes:

  • Art: Oliver Passingham
  • Reprinted and translated into Dutch as “Helen’s bedrog” (Helen’s Deceit) – Debbie # 21 (1980).

Appeared:

  • Sisters of Deceit  – Judy: #1014 (16 June 1979) – #1025 (1 September 1979)