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Trixie Belden #13
Trixie Belden and the Mystery on Cobbett's Island
The 13th book in a series of 39. Trixie Belden is the main character in a series of 'girl detective' mysteries. The series starts with 'Trixie Belden and the Secret of the Mansion' where Honey, a rich and sickly girl moves in next door to Crabapple Farm, the home of Trixie and her brothers. Throughout the series, Trixie, Honey and all their friends solve heaps of mysteries that baffle authorities and have cops scratching their heads in confusement.
234 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1964
46 people are currently reading
474 people want to read
About the author
Kathryn Kenny
53 books98 followersThe Kathryn Kenny pseudonym was created by Western Publishing House in 1961, three years after Julie Campbell wrote her last book (#6) of the Trixie Belden series. There were several ghost writers who wrote Trixie Belden stories under this pseudonym. Some have been identified and later credited but some are still unknown.
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http://www.trixie-belden.com/books/Ka...
The Kathryn Kenny pseudonym was born in 1961, three years after Campbell wrote her last book of the Trixie Belden series. Did it take Western Publishing several years to find a suitable author? The answer is unknown and the identity of the authors of the 33 Kathryn Kenny books are not known for sure but there is some information about the ghost writers.
Nicolete Meredith Stack
Nicolete Meredith StackStack is thought to be the first author to tackle the Trixie Belden series, although there is much debate about which books were actually written by her. She was born in Des Moines, Iowa in 1896 but lived in Webster Groves in St. Louis, Missouri for most of her adult life. Stack wrote other children's books under her own name and various pen names, including the Robin Kane series by Eileen Hill for Whitman between 1966 and 1971.
Stack is said to have written five books in the Trixie Belden series between 1961 and 1971, but Who's Who in the Midwest claims that she wrote eight titles between 1961 and 1966. There were eight Trixie Belden titles published between 1961 and 1966, but it is doubtful that she wrote them all.
James Keeline in his article, Trixie Belden "Schoolgirl Shamus", believes that books 7, 9 and 16 can be attributed to Stack but there are others that may have been written by her.
Virginia McDonnell
Virginia Bleecher McDonnell was born in 1917 and was a registered nurse who trained at Russell Sage College in Troy, New York. McDonnell wrote the Nurses Three series from 1963 to 1965 using the pen name Jean Kirby, and the Kim Aldrich series as Jinny McDonnell, both for Whitman. She is also wrote volume six of The Waltons.
McDonnell and her husband were avid skiiers and many of her books featured details of nursing or skiing. It seems likely that she wrote three Trixie Belden books, The Mystery of Cobbett's Island (1964), The Mystery of the Emeralds (1965) and The Mystery of Mead's Mountain (1978). Skiing is mentioned early in The Mystery of Cobbett's Island, although this is not the theme of the book.
McDonnell also wrote another book called Country Agent that has a number of similarities with The Mystery at Happy Valley, although her book was published in 1968. Read a review of this book, and see what you think.
There is little biographical information available on McDonnell, but the three books attributed to her are three of the most widely loved books in the Trixie Belden series.
Gladys Baker Bond
Gladys Baker BondGladys Baker Bond was born in Berryville, Arkansas on the 7th of May, 1912. On September 2, 1934, she married Floyd James Bond and had one son, Nicholas Peter. Bond's childhood years were spent in the Ozarks of Arkansas. She lived in Idaho and Washington all her adult life and was an officer of the Idaho Writers League between 1952-54.
Bond's books for children cover a wide range of subjects and are often autobiographical. Mrs. Bond wrote under the pseudonymns, Jo Mendel (The Tucker series) and Holly Beth Walker (the Meg series), as well as her own name. She also wrote volume five of The Waltons.
She is credited with writing The Mystery of the Uninvited Guest (1977), The Mystery of the Castaway Children (1978), and The Sasquatch Mystery (1979). However, with her childhood spent in the Ozarks, she could be the author of The Mystery at Bob-White Cave (1963).
Carl Henry Rathjen
Carl Henry RathjenRathjen was born on the 28th of August 1909 in Jersey City, New Jersey and died in 1984. His ambition was to become a mechanical engineer, but when things didn't go
***
http://www.trixie-belden.com/books/Ka...
The Kathryn Kenny pseudonym was born in 1961, three years after Campbell wrote her last book of the Trixie Belden series. Did it take Western Publishing several years to find a suitable author? The answer is unknown and the identity of the authors of the 33 Kathryn Kenny books are not known for sure but there is some information about the ghost writers.
Nicolete Meredith Stack
Nicolete Meredith StackStack is thought to be the first author to tackle the Trixie Belden series, although there is much debate about which books were actually written by her. She was born in Des Moines, Iowa in 1896 but lived in Webster Groves in St. Louis, Missouri for most of her adult life. Stack wrote other children's books under her own name and various pen names, including the Robin Kane series by Eileen Hill for Whitman between 1966 and 1971.
Stack is said to have written five books in the Trixie Belden series between 1961 and 1971, but Who's Who in the Midwest claims that she wrote eight titles between 1961 and 1966. There were eight Trixie Belden titles published between 1961 and 1966, but it is doubtful that she wrote them all.
James Keeline in his article, Trixie Belden "Schoolgirl Shamus", believes that books 7, 9 and 16 can be attributed to Stack but there are others that may have been written by her.
Virginia McDonnell
Virginia Bleecher McDonnell was born in 1917 and was a registered nurse who trained at Russell Sage College in Troy, New York. McDonnell wrote the Nurses Three series from 1963 to 1965 using the pen name Jean Kirby, and the Kim Aldrich series as Jinny McDonnell, both for Whitman. She is also wrote volume six of The Waltons.
McDonnell and her husband were avid skiiers and many of her books featured details of nursing or skiing. It seems likely that she wrote three Trixie Belden books, The Mystery of Cobbett's Island (1964), The Mystery of the Emeralds (1965) and The Mystery of Mead's Mountain (1978). Skiing is mentioned early in The Mystery of Cobbett's Island, although this is not the theme of the book.
McDonnell also wrote another book called Country Agent that has a number of similarities with The Mystery at Happy Valley, although her book was published in 1968. Read a review of this book, and see what you think.
There is little biographical information available on McDonnell, but the three books attributed to her are three of the most widely loved books in the Trixie Belden series.
Gladys Baker Bond
Gladys Baker BondGladys Baker Bond was born in Berryville, Arkansas on the 7th of May, 1912. On September 2, 1934, she married Floyd James Bond and had one son, Nicholas Peter. Bond's childhood years were spent in the Ozarks of Arkansas. She lived in Idaho and Washington all her adult life and was an officer of the Idaho Writers League between 1952-54.
Bond's books for children cover a wide range of subjects and are often autobiographical. Mrs. Bond wrote under the pseudonymns, Jo Mendel (The Tucker series) and Holly Beth Walker (the Meg series), as well as her own name. She also wrote volume five of The Waltons.
She is credited with writing The Mystery of the Uninvited Guest (1977), The Mystery of the Castaway Children (1978), and The Sasquatch Mystery (1979). However, with her childhood spent in the Ozarks, she could be the author of The Mystery at Bob-White Cave (1963).
Carl Henry Rathjen
Carl Henry RathjenRathjen was born on the 28th of August 1909 in Jersey City, New Jersey and died in 1984. His ambition was to become a mechanical engineer, but when things didn't go
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
August 16, 2018
I loved the Trixie Belden series as a young teenager. The tales of her sleuthing with help from her brothers and friends were my favorites for years. The final books in the series published in the early 1980s were the first books I ever pre-ordered. I babysat my spoiled nephew to earn the cash to buy those books. At one time I had the entire set. All matching. Before I went to college, I sold the whole set to a 12-year old. I hope she loved them as much as I did! This year I decided to revisit the Bob-Whites of the Glen and Sleepyside, NY out of nostalgia. I have been working my way through this series a little bit at a time and enjoying every minute! Some of the books were re-released in new editions, but most are long out of print. Luckily, it is easy to find used copies cheaply.
The Mystery on Cobbett's Island is the 13th book in the series. There are 39 books in total. I enjoyed this sailing and treasure hunt themed story. The kids go on vacation to Cobbett's Island. Trixie finds an old letter hidden in a book, sending the kids on a treasure hunt for hidden money. The story is entertaining and the mystery is light, but interesting. Totally age appropriate for middle grade kids. The series is definitely dated, but still fun to read.
I love the book lists in the back of these old paperbacks...in the back of the old copy of Mystery at Cobbett's Island that I have it lists "The Meg Mysteries'' as a recommended series. I did a little bit of research....the Meg Mysteries is a series with a middle grade age amateur sleuth written in the late 60s. Sounds like a good series to try when I'm done re-visiting Trixie!
The first six books of the Trixie Belden series were written by Julie Campbell. The rest of the series was published under the pen-name Kathryn Kenny. The books were written by various authors all using this same pseudonym. It's very similar to how the Nancy Drew books were published. I wish I knew the names of the actual writers who penned the various books..... I never knew that Kathryn Kenny wasn't a real person until I was an adult. I hope all the writers who anonymously penned these great books for kids realized how much enjoyment they brought to all of us who read their work!
The Mystery on Cobbett's Island is the 13th book in the series. There are 39 books in total. I enjoyed this sailing and treasure hunt themed story. The kids go on vacation to Cobbett's Island. Trixie finds an old letter hidden in a book, sending the kids on a treasure hunt for hidden money. The story is entertaining and the mystery is light, but interesting. Totally age appropriate for middle grade kids. The series is definitely dated, but still fun to read.
I love the book lists in the back of these old paperbacks...in the back of the old copy of Mystery at Cobbett's Island that I have it lists "The Meg Mysteries'' as a recommended series. I did a little bit of research....the Meg Mysteries is a series with a middle grade age amateur sleuth written in the late 60s. Sounds like a good series to try when I'm done re-visiting Trixie!
The first six books of the Trixie Belden series were written by Julie Campbell. The rest of the series was published under the pen-name Kathryn Kenny. The books were written by various authors all using this same pseudonym. It's very similar to how the Nancy Drew books were published. I wish I knew the names of the actual writers who penned the various books..... I never knew that Kathryn Kenny wasn't a real person until I was an adult. I hope all the writers who anonymously penned these great books for kids realized how much enjoyment they brought to all of us who read their work!
November 9, 2025
I enjoyed going back to my youth & reading a story from the Trixie Belden series! It was loads of fun hanging out out with Trixie, Honey, Brian, Mart, Jim, etc. At age 65, I realize how smart these teenagers were, at that time, and how polite and well-raised. I appreciated them more now for those reasons, and more, than I probably did when I was 12, or whatever. I would highly recommend for tween ages on up in reading!
April 11, 2023
5+ stars (7/10 hearts). Aw, I love this book! It’s so delightfully fresh and seabreezy! The island was lovely, and of course all the ships and sailing was right up my alley. I loved how natural it was for the kids to get there (’cause you gotta admit some of their “we just HAPPENED to go here” are a biiiiit far fetched) and how they spent so much of their time helping out everyone around them. It really showcased their true characters really well.
Peter and Cap and Al, and Ethel and the two Eds and Peter’s mother, were all just such nice people and of course the Bob-Whites were amazing. ;) I will never get tired of their banter and fun! The mystery was really awesome and well done, and I was such a fan of the redemption arc at the very end. ;) All in all, definitely the perfect beach/summer read!
A Favourite Quote: “‘No matter where you are, don’t forget to look up.’”
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “‘I read somewhere that when the wind shifts around like that, it means it may bring better weather,’ said Jim[.]
“‘You’re undoubtedly right, professor,’ said Mart[.] ‘It certainly couldn’t produce more inclement atmospheric conditions than have prevailed today.’
“‘For [pity’s] sake, Mart, do you always have to talk like a walking encyclopedia?’ Brian asked half seriously[.]”
Peter and Cap and Al, and Ethel and the two Eds and Peter’s mother, were all just such nice people and of course the Bob-Whites were amazing. ;) I will never get tired of their banter and fun! The mystery was really awesome and well done, and I was such a fan of the redemption arc at the very end. ;) All in all, definitely the perfect beach/summer read!
A Favourite Quote: “‘No matter where you are, don’t forget to look up.’”
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “‘I read somewhere that when the wind shifts around like that, it means it may bring better weather,’ said Jim[.]
“‘You’re undoubtedly right, professor,’ said Mart[.] ‘It certainly couldn’t produce more inclement atmospheric conditions than have prevailed today.’
“‘For [pity’s] sake, Mart, do you always have to talk like a walking encyclopedia?’ Brian asked half seriously[.]”
December 3, 2023
Re-read 2023
I wasn't sure if I had ever read this installment in the series until the Bob-whites meet Peter. I really enjoyed the treasure aspect of the mystery and the sugar sweet revelations that followed. I know that books 7-39 were written by ghostwriters and I wonder if Julie Campbell really meant for a blossoming relationship between Trixie and Jim.
Really enjoying a revisit of one of my childhood series.
Goodreads review published 01/12/23
I wasn't sure if I had ever read this installment in the series until the Bob-whites meet Peter. I really enjoyed the treasure aspect of the mystery and the sugar sweet revelations that followed. I know that books 7-39 were written by ghostwriters and I wonder if Julie Campbell really meant for a blossoming relationship between Trixie and Jim.
Really enjoying a revisit of one of my childhood series.
Goodreads review published 01/12/23
June 25, 2018
Again, I have no memory of reading this one. The mystery is light, but interesting, and Jim gets to punch someone out. He does this with surprising frequency for such a low-conflict series. I especially liked the description of the regatta, and the clambake made me extremely hungry.
On the other hand, there's a part of me that wishes the Bob-Whites weren't quite so altruistic. There's always a good cause that needs helping, but it would be nice if they ever demonstrated any difficulty in giving up the reward/treasure/pile of money they find.
On the other hand, there's a part of me that wishes the Bob-Whites weren't quite so altruistic. There's always a good cause that needs helping, but it would be nice if they ever demonstrated any difficulty in giving up the reward/treasure/pile of money they find.
June 11, 2022
Vejam a minha opinião em vídeo, AQUI.
May 4, 2019
Usually vies with "Gatehouse" for that #1 spot in the series. Love, love, love the island setting, the sailing, the clam bake, and the treasure hunt type mystery. And the moment near the beginning that always makes me laugh with Mart "rolling up his pants so he doesn't get wet" when going out into the storm. It reminds me of my Gramps. :)
2012 Review: This one only could've been better if Dan had gotten to go along. I loved the camaraderie of the Bob-Whites, even Mart's constant teasing wasn't overly obnoxious or annoying. I love "treasure hunt" type mysteries, I loved the sailing, exploring the island, the gazebo, and of course, the little hint of a Brian/Honey romance. What I didn't like? The fact that every time there's something critical that needs to be done, it's Trixie and Jim who get to do it. Sheesh, give the others a chance, why don't ya? Jim was kind of over-the-top in his constant praise of Trixie. Whether that's the period the books were written or my general ambivalence toward Jim, I don't know, but good grief, man, get a room! I would've liked to have seen Peter Kimball show up at Mead's Mountain or seen Ed Hall show up as Brian continued on his own quest to become a doctor. Hmm ... seeds of future fanfiction stories?
2019: Re-read for Children's Book Week. Still love it though I must admit to be annoyed a little by Pete's constant "By jove!" Ha-ha! Also, since when did Jim take up boxing?
2012 Review: This one only could've been better if Dan had gotten to go along. I loved the camaraderie of the Bob-Whites, even Mart's constant teasing wasn't overly obnoxious or annoying. I love "treasure hunt" type mysteries, I loved the sailing, exploring the island, the gazebo, and of course, the little hint of a Brian/Honey romance. What I didn't like? The fact that every time there's something critical that needs to be done, it's Trixie and Jim who get to do it. Sheesh, give the others a chance, why don't ya? Jim was kind of over-the-top in his constant praise of Trixie. Whether that's the period the books were written or my general ambivalence toward Jim, I don't know, but good grief, man, get a room! I would've liked to have seen Peter Kimball show up at Mead's Mountain or seen Ed Hall show up as Brian continued on his own quest to become a doctor. Hmm ... seeds of future fanfiction stories?
2019: Re-read for Children's Book Week. Still love it though I must admit to be annoyed a little by Pete's constant "By jove!" Ha-ha! Also, since when did Jim take up boxing?
July 8, 2017
The BWotG (minus Dan. AGAIN *angry face*) are vacationing at the beach when Trixie finds a letter. This isn't one of the best/strongest stories, but it does have an actual mystery, Trixie and Jim going undercover for an hour, and lots of sailing.
Recommended 10/11+ for scary situations.
Recommended 10/11+ for scary situations.
January 29, 2022
Trixie is a favorite no matter which of the many books about her adventures I chance to pick up. This was always a favorite of mine though, because I loved how Trixie met so many interesting people as she unraveled the puzzle. From the boy next door, to the grizzled sailor, and the woman in the bakery, there is such a wide range of characters we're allowed to enjoy as the puzzle is figured out, as always, in the nick of time.
I always love too, how thrilling the danger is. The story starts with a wild storm and the tension and pacing keeps up the rest of the way through the book. Is it any wonder I would stay up all night reading this books as a child, unable to ever put down the story no matter how many times I told myself I was only going to read, "one chapter more"?
If you haven't discovered Trixie yet, I invite you to grab the nearest book from the series you can find and dive right in.
I always love too, how thrilling the danger is. The story starts with a wild storm and the tension and pacing keeps up the rest of the way through the book. Is it any wonder I would stay up all night reading this books as a child, unable to ever put down the story no matter how many times I told myself I was only going to read, "one chapter more"?
If you haven't discovered Trixie yet, I invite you to grab the nearest book from the series you can find and dive right in.
May 2, 2022
Time to belt out any old sea shanties we know. The Bob Whites get an opportunity to stay at The Moorings; a quaint beach retreat on Cobbett's Island, four hours from home. Trixie discovers a forgotten letter written by a guy who signs himself simply as 'Ed' with directions to a homemade treasure map. If Ed is for real and a buried fortune exits somewhere in their vicinity, they'll have to crack all the obscure clues on both the letter and map to find it. Meanwhile, a vandal is smashing lifebuoys along the coast. Can Trixie and the others unmask the crook, learn who Ed was, and discover the treasure all within their ten day visit?
* Oh dear, the time compression has started! The dudes are complaining that summer is stretching before them with not much to do, while we readers know they've just returned from back-to-back holidays to the Ozarks and New York. Granted they only spent a short time at each destination, but surely it's enough excitement to satisfy even restless Trixie. At least each incident is short enough to make the compression somewhat feasible. This getaway at Cobbett's Island itself will be only ten days.
* Wealthy chaps like Matthew Wheeler must make frequent sacrifices to maintain their high-flying, globe-trotting lifestyles. He'd planned for a bit of decompression himself at Cobbett's Island with his wife and kids, but it ain't happening. Work demands trump quality family moments, even though he probably hasn't had a fraction the time he'd like to get to know his adopted teenage son better. The quote, 'You can have anything but you can't have everything,' springs to mind. For the first time, I feel a bit sorry for him. Even though he's prosperous enough to book holiday venues at the drop of a hat, his downtime is too scarce to take advantage of them.
* His wife Madeleine, who does have the option to keep the family commitment on Cobbett's Island with Honey and Jim, decides to opt out because she's never been where her husband is off to before. Curiosity wins out.
* Brian's medical skills are put to the test the very day of their arrival, when he sets the broken leg of Elmer the caretaker. I'd intended to mention every incident in the series where Brian is on the spot to offer first aid, but soon saw it would get repetitive, for it happens such a lot. It's more remarkable to come across a book in the series where Brian doesn't offer any first aid. This time is worth mentioning however, because he's so chuffed about the praise he receives from the local island doctor. Good ole Brian.
* How the Bob Whites would have appreciated having Google at their fingertips! They have to search the room of their guest house for a physical dictionary to look up 'bunker boats.' If they hadn't found one, they would have been stumped that night.
* The potential treasure is buried in some obscure spot partly because Ed's father lost his savings when a bank crashed in 1929 and now Ed doesn't trust banks. This hearkens back to an apparently casual conversation Trixie has with her dad, who tells her why banks are far more stable in modern times. It also dates the story. For if Ed had lived, he would have been young enough to have a son in his early twenties. He met his demise only eighteen years earlier. So for Ed's own father to have been around as long ago as the Depression Era, the current time for the Bob Whites might fall around the sixties (which matches the sixties publication date.)
* I really like their new friend, Peter Kimball. That's one of the great things about this series. I'd be happy to see more of every single person the Bob Whites have befriended so far. It's sad that Peter isn't a recurring character, although I believe his Dad later invests in a ski resort with Matthew Wheeler.
* Oh gosh, we get a taste of Diana Lynch at her most irritating. Why she feels the need to ramble on about Peter Kimball's gorgeous eyes in front of Mart is beyond me. Seriously, what's the good of either a) making yourself appear shallow and superficial, or b) making the guy you've had a long term crush on feel miserable and diminished for no reason at all? Come on Di, you're better than this. Even if Peter's eyes are earth-shattering, keep a lid on it!
* Holidays consistently turn out to mean loads of hard work for the poor boys. In the Ozarks, Brian, Mart and Jim were required to help raise new chicken sheds and outhouses for Mrs Moore in one day flat. Here on Cobbett's Island they have storm damage to clear up and a dilapidated gazebo to restore. It gets under Brian's skin to the extent that he actually snaps at his best mate Jim, something almost unheard of.
* We learn a lot about the sport of sailing and the joy of those who make it their passion. Peter remarks that a hundred years wouldn't be enough to learn all the nuances there are about sailing, and it's obvious he's completely sincere about what he's saying.
* Unbelievably, Mart doesn't know what monogamous means! Di is stumped when Peter Kimball uses the word (as we'd expect from her), and appeals to Dictionary Boy to enlighten her. But Mart, whose bottomless vocabulary extends to obscure foreign words, phrases and concepts, meets his Achilles Heel with this unassuming English word. Ah well, it may be good for the pair of them to learn it together sooner rather than later, especially if Diana feels the need to go around batting her famous eyelashes at guys like Peter.
* There's another entry idea for a Bob White cook book. Trixie declares Mrs Kimball's coffee cake to be 'even better than Moms' and pleads for the recipe. But Mrs K. declares that black walnuts from her own tree is the secret, in which case the rest of us have no hope to replicate it.
* There's another guy named Slim. As recently as two books ago in The Mystery at Bob White Cave, we had Slim Sanderson the hillbilly cave guide, and now there's Slim Novarski, the homeless drifter. To add potential confusion, they're both young and uncouth with huge chips on their shoulders. Since it's surely not a common nickname, it may have been more convenient if one of them was called something different.
* Trixie's way of tracking down Ed's family was such a long shot. It proves to be correct, but pure luck on her part.
* Honey is woken from a beautiful dream in which she's dancing with a tall, handsome man who looks a lot like Brian. Ooh la la.
* I swear Jim's infatuation for Trixie has almost reached cold shower stage!
* My quote of the book is from gallant Jim, who quotes Shakespeare. 'He is well paid who is well satisfied.' That sums up the hours I'm devoting to this re-read and recap of the Trixie Belden books. Bring on more.
* Oh dear, the time compression has started! The dudes are complaining that summer is stretching before them with not much to do, while we readers know they've just returned from back-to-back holidays to the Ozarks and New York. Granted they only spent a short time at each destination, but surely it's enough excitement to satisfy even restless Trixie. At least each incident is short enough to make the compression somewhat feasible. This getaway at Cobbett's Island itself will be only ten days.
* Wealthy chaps like Matthew Wheeler must make frequent sacrifices to maintain their high-flying, globe-trotting lifestyles. He'd planned for a bit of decompression himself at Cobbett's Island with his wife and kids, but it ain't happening. Work demands trump quality family moments, even though he probably hasn't had a fraction the time he'd like to get to know his adopted teenage son better. The quote, 'You can have anything but you can't have everything,' springs to mind. For the first time, I feel a bit sorry for him. Even though he's prosperous enough to book holiday venues at the drop of a hat, his downtime is too scarce to take advantage of them.
* His wife Madeleine, who does have the option to keep the family commitment on Cobbett's Island with Honey and Jim, decides to opt out because she's never been where her husband is off to before. Curiosity wins out.
* Brian's medical skills are put to the test the very day of their arrival, when he sets the broken leg of Elmer the caretaker. I'd intended to mention every incident in the series where Brian is on the spot to offer first aid, but soon saw it would get repetitive, for it happens such a lot. It's more remarkable to come across a book in the series where Brian doesn't offer any first aid. This time is worth mentioning however, because he's so chuffed about the praise he receives from the local island doctor. Good ole Brian.
* How the Bob Whites would have appreciated having Google at their fingertips! They have to search the room of their guest house for a physical dictionary to look up 'bunker boats.' If they hadn't found one, they would have been stumped that night.
* The potential treasure is buried in some obscure spot partly because Ed's father lost his savings when a bank crashed in 1929 and now Ed doesn't trust banks. This hearkens back to an apparently casual conversation Trixie has with her dad, who tells her why banks are far more stable in modern times. It also dates the story. For if Ed had lived, he would have been young enough to have a son in his early twenties. He met his demise only eighteen years earlier. So for Ed's own father to have been around as long ago as the Depression Era, the current time for the Bob Whites might fall around the sixties (which matches the sixties publication date.)
* I really like their new friend, Peter Kimball. That's one of the great things about this series. I'd be happy to see more of every single person the Bob Whites have befriended so far. It's sad that Peter isn't a recurring character, although I believe his Dad later invests in a ski resort with Matthew Wheeler.
* Oh gosh, we get a taste of Diana Lynch at her most irritating. Why she feels the need to ramble on about Peter Kimball's gorgeous eyes in front of Mart is beyond me. Seriously, what's the good of either a) making yourself appear shallow and superficial, or b) making the guy you've had a long term crush on feel miserable and diminished for no reason at all? Come on Di, you're better than this. Even if Peter's eyes are earth-shattering, keep a lid on it!
* Holidays consistently turn out to mean loads of hard work for the poor boys. In the Ozarks, Brian, Mart and Jim were required to help raise new chicken sheds and outhouses for Mrs Moore in one day flat. Here on Cobbett's Island they have storm damage to clear up and a dilapidated gazebo to restore. It gets under Brian's skin to the extent that he actually snaps at his best mate Jim, something almost unheard of.
* We learn a lot about the sport of sailing and the joy of those who make it their passion. Peter remarks that a hundred years wouldn't be enough to learn all the nuances there are about sailing, and it's obvious he's completely sincere about what he's saying.
* Unbelievably, Mart doesn't know what monogamous means! Di is stumped when Peter Kimball uses the word (as we'd expect from her), and appeals to Dictionary Boy to enlighten her. But Mart, whose bottomless vocabulary extends to obscure foreign words, phrases and concepts, meets his Achilles Heel with this unassuming English word. Ah well, it may be good for the pair of them to learn it together sooner rather than later, especially if Diana feels the need to go around batting her famous eyelashes at guys like Peter.
* There's another entry idea for a Bob White cook book. Trixie declares Mrs Kimball's coffee cake to be 'even better than Moms' and pleads for the recipe. But Mrs K. declares that black walnuts from her own tree is the secret, in which case the rest of us have no hope to replicate it.
* There's another guy named Slim. As recently as two books ago in The Mystery at Bob White Cave, we had Slim Sanderson the hillbilly cave guide, and now there's Slim Novarski, the homeless drifter. To add potential confusion, they're both young and uncouth with huge chips on their shoulders. Since it's surely not a common nickname, it may have been more convenient if one of them was called something different.
* Trixie's way of tracking down Ed's family was such a long shot. It proves to be correct, but pure luck on her part.
* Honey is woken from a beautiful dream in which she's dancing with a tall, handsome man who looks a lot like Brian. Ooh la la.
* I swear Jim's infatuation for Trixie has almost reached cold shower stage!
* My quote of the book is from gallant Jim, who quotes Shakespeare. 'He is well paid who is well satisfied.' That sums up the hours I'm devoting to this re-read and recap of the Trixie Belden books. Bring on more.
March 24, 2018
I loved the Trixie Belden books as a kid (nice to see they got republished). I'm still unsure how they ended up in my corner of the world. I slowly amassed the whole series as first editions (it seemed so glamourous as a kid owning precious books that were older than me!) by saving all my pocket money to buy them from the local secondhand store. I can only guess that some adult (probably having moved to our sleepy town from overseas) had sold them off in bulk. They sat in a back corner of the store, thankfully ignored by everyone else, as I slowly acquired them through pocket money and then in a mass swoop for Christmas. It helped that back then secondhand books sold for anywhere from 10 cents to 50 cents rather than $7-10 as they do these days!
They were wonderful mystery books for children of a similar ilk to Famous Five, Secret Seven, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, The Three Investigators etc.; set in a time long before cellphones when sleuthing into mysterious mansions, smugglers, and strange sounds in the night wouldn't cause any real harm to befall our child investigators.
They were wonderful mystery books for children of a similar ilk to Famous Five, Secret Seven, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, The Three Investigators etc.; set in a time long before cellphones when sleuthing into mysterious mansions, smugglers, and strange sounds in the night wouldn't cause any real harm to befall our child investigators.
March 18, 2016
Okay. So I didn't really like this book.
First of all, the mystery. I've never been a fan of treasure-hunt type mysteries. Like, ever. I just think they're boring and cliche. Come up with something different, please. The part about Slim was good, though. It was funny imagining Jim swaggering up and going "Yeah, Trixie's the boss of this gang." Haha!
I also didn't like how there were so many parts just about sailing. Okay, yeah, I like sailboats, but I'm reading this book for enjoyment, not to learn everything there is to know about sailboats. I also skimmed over the Captain's stories, they were boring and took up like five pages.
I liked the descriptions of the sea! Cobbett's Island sounds absolutely beautiful! I liked that Jim picked Trixie up and spun her around, it satisfied the Jixie shipper in me. B)
Three stars out of five. Not the best book ever.
First of all, the mystery. I've never been a fan of treasure-hunt type mysteries. Like, ever. I just think they're boring and cliche. Come up with something different, please. The part about Slim was good, though. It was funny imagining Jim swaggering up and going "Yeah, Trixie's the boss of this gang." Haha!
I also didn't like how there were so many parts just about sailing. Okay, yeah, I like sailboats, but I'm reading this book for enjoyment, not to learn everything there is to know about sailboats. I also skimmed over the Captain's stories, they were boring and took up like five pages.
I liked the descriptions of the sea! Cobbett's Island sounds absolutely beautiful! I liked that Jim picked Trixie up and spun her around, it satisfied the Jixie shipper in me. B)
Three stars out of five. Not the best book ever.
March 27, 2017
I do not remember the first time I read this book. I had to do extra chores and such around the house to be able to "earn" these books, or the money to BUY them. I was always sad when I could only afford one because I DEVOURED these!! Looking forward to re-reading this now!
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RE-READ~ December 14, 2013
FUN re-read. I enjoyed this one a lot. Lots of neat stuff about sailing and a grand adventure for the Bob-Whites!!!
March 9, 2008
Book 13. Another book minus Dan but Trixie seems so much older in this one. At the time I thought it was just maturity after a trip to NY haha. She and Jim start to "notice" each other in this book and I remember my loyalties swaying a bit from Dan to Jim at the book's end *gasp*.
August 3, 2013
My annual summer re-read...I sit on the beach and still get lost in the world of the Bob Whites!
September 11, 2022
“Trixie Belden: The Mystery on Cobbett’s Island” was first published in 1964 and reissued numerous times. The Western Publishing edition I read was released in 1971 under author pseudonym “Kathryn Kenny.” The book is about a vacation Trixie and her Bob-Whites Club took to Cobbitt Island. The trip was arranged by Trixie’s close friend Honey Wheeler’s family. Cobbitt Island is only a four hour drive and short boat ride from where the Bob-Whites live. On their way to the island a large storm with monster winds devastated the Island homes and many commercial-civic buildings were destroyed.. Trixie and her friends arrived at their destination the “Moorings” late in the evening. While eating dinner the electrical power at the Moorings failed. When this happened the Bob-Whites built a fire in the fireplace and used the firelight to pass time by reading aloud from a book they found on a shelf adjacent to the fireplace. While reading the the book aloud, an envelope fell out of the book. In the envelop was a very old hand written letter from Ed to Mr C about a treasure of $1,000 cash, a map showing where the treasure is buried, and instructions for Mr. C to give the money to Ed Junior should he “Ed Senior” die. The Bob-Whites under Trixie’s leadership spent their vacation time searching for the map and the treasure during a vicious storm. The storylines are about the Bob-Whites amazing detective skills, their ability to overcome dangers, and their success in finding the treasure. The book also chronicles how Trixie and her Bob White team learn about Ed Senior’s death; how they find Ed Junior and his mother; and how they overcome thieves who tried to steal the money. The mystery novel is engaging and fun to read. (P)
May 8, 2018
I decided to revisit this children's "chapter book" to relive my youth. There was an interesting note to this book originally published in 1964. They had left the book as written, without correction for "current attitudes and beliefs." It was interesting to read that because it heightened my awareness. To me, changing a book is like rewriting history. Let it stand, with the notation given which serves as a polite reminder toward being more politically correct and kind. Meanwhile, it was a good story. I saw myself over 50 years ago. I saw how the intrigue of the book captured me. I found out how I built my vocabulary and won spelling contests (thanks, Mart Belden!) And my love of drinking makes milk like water (thanks, Trixie?). I may not read another any time soon but this was a pleasant trip down memory lane.
June 28, 2022
I enjoyed reading this book during a summer get-away last year. It was fun to go back to a good old fashioned innocent time where apparently everyone had servants, lived in large houses with porches, had little sail boats and where the parents allowed their teenage children to spread their wings and have their own (harmless) adventures.
My favourite part of the book is the description of the clam bake on the beach. The mystery itself was well fleshed out and, considering the age demographic it was aimed for, it satisfies in a harmless way. The other aspect of this book is the camaraderie of the Bob Whites detectives as they call themselves, and how they're so willing to help each other and those in their community.
Overall, a positive experience with some very good role models.
My favourite part of the book is the description of the clam bake on the beach. The mystery itself was well fleshed out and, considering the age demographic it was aimed for, it satisfies in a harmless way. The other aspect of this book is the camaraderie of the Bob Whites detectives as they call themselves, and how they're so willing to help each other and those in their community.
Overall, a positive experience with some very good role models.
April 17, 2024
Maybe it was just my mood when reading "The Mystery on Cobbett's Island", but this was not the most exciting of Trixie's adventures.
I did, however, appreciate the fact that the boys seemed less vigorous in their teasing of Trixie and the diminishing of her abilities. They finally seemed to respect her detecting instincts to a degree. I also thought the budding teenage romances (Trixie and Jim, Honey and Brian, Diana and Mart) were cute. It was amusing when Mart acted a little jealous of Peter when first meeting as Diana flirted a little. I do think the gang is a little judgmental on appearances, however, just as they have been in previous books. And I miss Trixie's waning tomboyishness.
I did, however, appreciate the fact that the boys seemed less vigorous in their teasing of Trixie and the diminishing of her abilities. They finally seemed to respect her detecting instincts to a degree. I also thought the budding teenage romances (Trixie and Jim, Honey and Brian, Diana and Mart) were cute. It was amusing when Mart acted a little jealous of Peter when first meeting as Diana flirted a little. I do think the gang is a little judgmental on appearances, however, just as they have been in previous books. And I miss Trixie's waning tomboyishness.
May 3, 2019
I have long enjoyed reading and rereading the first 12 Trixie Belden books since I was about 9, as the first 12 happened to be the only ones my mother owned. I chose to borrow and read the Mystery on Cobbett's Island as a continuation of that long-lost love. I would recommend this for children 11 and older.
I would keep this book and this series in reserve for any child I encounter in a middle/high school classroom who enjoys mysteries and wholesome fun.
Warnings scale 1-10
Drugs: 0
Sex: 0
Rock and Roll: 1
Language: 0
Violence: 2
I would keep this book and this series in reserve for any child I encounter in a middle/high school classroom who enjoys mysteries and wholesome fun.
Warnings scale 1-10
Drugs: 0
Sex: 0
Rock and Roll: 1
Language: 0
Violence: 2
April 21, 2023
I loved Trixie Belden as a young teen and this one is just as good as the others I remember from long ago. My youngest daughter is letting me read aloud some of the Trixie Belden series to her, and I'm so thankful since she's getting older and may outgrow read aloud time soon - sob! We enjoyed this read aloud and it was fun getting to the resolution of the mystery, but I think the most fun was just reading about all the fun times the Bob-Whites had on the island during a wonderful summer. A comfort read for sure!
August 31, 2025
This was such a fun mystery! There was no real danger, no grown adults acting like children, and just happy, fun, summery vibes! The BWGs set out for a vacation on Long Island only to find themselves with a new friend and a treasure map! Trixie and the gang take part in many quintessential summer activities all the while helping the people they meet and hunting for treasure. Trixie never acted like a spoiled brat and the Jim+Trixie plot was played up quite a bit. All in all, I think this might be one of my favorites!
February 20, 2024
I’m rereading the Trixie Belden series to see if it holds up for my daughter, and I can’t remember reading this one. The mystery isn’t much, and I don’t love the way Peter tells Trixie to “calm down” all the time or Matt calling the girls “squaws” (which I think he does in other books as well). I realize the book is over 60 years old, but sometimes the charm is still there. It wasn’t for me, at least with this one.
May 21, 2025
The Great Trixie Belden Re-Read of 2025: #13
A very fun jaunt with a properly good mystery. I love it when there's real clues to follow. Brian and Honey age gap ship is weird and I don't like it at all, feels extremely forced. Mart and Peter were gay lovers in this book. I like Di using her feminine charms to make boys do things for her. Trixie and Jim elite as always, and I like that they took down (literally!) the bad guy together. Not enough Dan content.
A very fun jaunt with a properly good mystery. I love it when there's real clues to follow. Brian and Honey age gap ship is weird and I don't like it at all, feels extremely forced. Mart and Peter were gay lovers in this book. I like Di using her feminine charms to make boys do things for her. Trixie and Jim elite as always, and I like that they took down (literally!) the bad guy together. Not enough Dan content.
March 8, 2020
It feels like it's been a while since my last Trixie book, but this was the most perfect way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon (even better knowing Monday is a public holiday). I still see some inconsistencies in character that have shown up since the ghostwriters took over, but overall this was a pretty solid offering.
April 6, 2024
Love reading books such as the Tricia Belden series, Donna Parker series. As I am now in my early 60’s and have been exploring antique stores I am slowly rebuilding my library to reread these wonderful books I used to read in my younger days. Young sleuths hard at work solving mysteries!
June 16, 2025
There was so much fun banter in this one. I also liked how we saw the gang readjust their preconceptions about various people throughout the story, and got a bit of a (hopefully) redemptive arc for a "bad guy" at the end. This one wasn't long on practicality, but it was good fun.
September 4, 2017
An excellent Trixie Belden mystery.
December 29, 2018
Just as great as I remember.
August 19, 2019
I'd forgotten how much I love Trixie Belden's mysteries.
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