Phyllis A. Whitney: The Mystery of the Gulls

May 1974 is the Signet publication of Phyllis A. Whitney's young adult mystery entitled The Mystery of the Gulls. Taffy Saunders was new to Mackinac Island where her mother has inherited a hotel! Sunset House is scaring guests and her mother has to manage it for the summer in order to claim ownership! Can Taffy figure out what's happening?

Allan Kass illustrates our young couple near the lake where the hero is protective of the heroine as they search for clues on a stormy day. I like their large collars and sweaters which seem very 1970's. Otherwise, both are just too cute for words. It's neat, too, seeing Allan's illustrations of teenagers. Enjoy!

Phyllis A. Whitney: Mystery of the Golden Horn

July 1974 is the publication date for Mystery of the Golden Horn by Phyllis A. Whitney. Vicki Stewart was spending the summer in Istanbul and was told by a gypsy that a golden horn was the key to her fortune! She and her friend Adria end up searching all over the city for clues to the mystery!

Allan Kass illustrates the two teenage girls with the shadows of Istanbul behind them as they climb onto a roof of a castle. He shows them being physically active and imaginative. I like their colorful shirts and jeans which is perfect sleuthing clothing!

Phyllis A. Whitney: Mystery of the Black Diamonds

Mystery of the Black Diamonds by Phyllis A. Whitney was published in May 1974 by Signet. Angie and Mark were given a map to buried treasure. Now they needed to figure out the symbols to figure out where it was!

Allan Kass shows our young couple in a ghost town. I like the creepy feeling we get along with the tinge of romance as we see our pair holding hands as they walk down the deserted street. It's neat to see Allan Kass illustrate modern dress. I hope you enjoy!

Phyllis A. Whitney: Mystery of the Angry Idol

August 1974 is Signet's publication date for Whitney's Mystery of the Angry Idol! Jan Pendleton was visiting her grandmother for the summer and was prepared for a long dull vacation until she met Neil, Patrick, and saw a stranger lurking nearby! It all had to do with a strange Chinese idol in the house and Jan was determined to solve this mystery!

Allan Kass gives us a picture of a stormy day with our young sleuths as they walk along a dock and look for clues. I like that the boy carries a flashlight and we see an indistinct man on the boat that looks very mysterious!

Phyllis A. Whitney: Linda's Homecoming

Phyllis A. Whitney was a famous author of young adult books and gothic mysteries. Linda's Homecoming was published by Signet in October 1971 and is the story of Linda who has moved with her newlywed mother from Manhattan to a small town called Cedarhill.

Allan Kass told me in a letter that this series of young adult books were some of his favorite to read and illustrate! I hope you enjoy all of the covers. This one shows our young hero and heroine sitting in a lush green glade. I like the purple of her skirt and am always amazed at how this cover would fit a book published now in 2014!

Margaret Westhaven: Yuletide Match

Yuletide Match was published by Signet in December 1993 for author Margaret Westhaven, who wrote other regencies under this line. Signet was one of the first to market Christmas stories and had a successful short story series for many years.

This book is about Caroline Percival who is governess in the Brangley household and is dreading the Christmas season because of the unwanted attentions of Lord Marchton and her desire for his half brother, Guy.

Allan Kass gives us a ballroom setting for this cover which shows our heroine getting some attention from a handsome hero! I like the sage color of her gown and the wreath of flowers in her hair.

Margaret Westhaven: Four in Hand

Four in Hand by Margaret Westhaven was published by Signet in January 1993 and is the story of Jane Averham, a widow who was happy never to be wed again but her lover was ever hopeful. Can a widow reveling in her freedom trade it for love?

Allan Kass gives us a more mature couple for this cover and one who cares for each other. I like the formal dress and especially the jewelry of the heroine. The hero is enthralled and dashing in his almost purple coat. Click on the photo to enlarge.