[Gutenberg 40666] • Missing at Marshlands / Arden Blake Mystery Series #3

Classes have ended for the summer, and Arden, Terry, and Sim drive down to Oceanedge, known as Marshlands, on the coast, where they are to spend the summer with Terry's mother. During the drive, the girls meet a handsome Russian stranger and his dog. Dimitri Uzlov has rented a houseboat so that he can paint in seclusion.

The girls are quite taken with Dimitri and have tea with him one afternoon. While Uzlov refuses to show the girls a certain covered painting, he does let the girls see a priceless Russian snuffbox that he keeps with him in the houseboat. Why does Dimitri keep such a valuable treasure with him?

The girls soon notice that Dimitri has strange visitors such as the unpleasant Olga and a mysterious man. The girls are frightened one night by simple-minded Melissa Clayton, who is caught peering in the girls' window during a storm.

In the midst of these seemingly unrelated events, Uzlov disappears! While investigating Uzlov's deserted houseboat, the girls learn that the snuffbox has been stolen and gaze upon the formerly covered painting—upon which is portrayed the most astonishing subject! The surprises are far from over, and the girls must use all of their wits to locate Uzlov before it is too late.