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Trixie Belden #29
The Mystery of the Velvet Gown
"Shhh. We'll sneak up on him instead," she whispered to Brian and Honey. Stealthily, they crept forward in the quiet night. The silence was suddenly, sickeningly broken by the screech of tires and the thud of an impact--followed by a child's high, piercing scream. "That's Bobby!" Trixie cried...
213 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1980
8 people are currently reading
404 people want to read
About the author
Kathryn Kenny
50 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 40 reviews
April 12, 2017
What a delightful visit with my favorite sleuth from my childhood/teen years. I will forever love Trixie Belden and all her impetuous ways and her extraordinary sleuthing challenges.
When I was a teen and really into these books, there was only one bookstore where we went shopping. And they only carried a few of these books at a time and there came a point where they never had the newer books and then I moved into adulthood and left the idea of reading them behind. So there are about 10 in this series that I never did read and this was one of them. When my dear friend started looking for them for me and gifting them to me, it was such a joy to revisit with Trixie and her cohorts. It was even MORE fun to read one that I had no idea what was going on or what was going to happen. And as simple and easy-to-read as these are, I still was very caught up in the story and who was the "bad" guy. There was also an introduction to bullying in this one and a tone that had not been in the previous ones. It was interesting to see how Trixie handled that situation and reminded me that bullying is not a new thing.
I was so happy to revisit my old "friends" once again and look forward to being able to read the rest of the books I missed out on all those years ago.
April 5, 2018
The Mystery of the Velvet Gown by Kathryn Kenny is the twenty-ninth book in the Trixie Belden series.
I didn't enjoy this one. The mystery was weak and very, very predictable. I had figured it out probably halfway through the book. The interactions between the Bob-Whites were lacking; the only person Trixie ever seemed to talk to was Honey! Dan was lazily written out again.
Not a great one. 2.5 stars out of 5.
I didn't enjoy this one. The mystery was weak and very, very predictable. I had figured it out probably halfway through the book. The interactions between the Bob-Whites were lacking; the only person Trixie ever seemed to talk to was Honey! Dan was lazily written out again.
Not a great one. 2.5 stars out of 5.
November 17, 2025
Growing up, my parents couldn't afford Nancy Drew books so I got the more affordable Trixie Belden. To this day, I have never read a Nancy Drew book but I've never forgotten the shenanigans of Trixie and her pals. I have not seen one of these books in years so when I saw this book in the discard pile at my monthly book sort project, I squealed with delight. Yes, an actual squeal, followed by indignation this book was being discarded. (To be fair, the cover is not in the best shape and the pages are yellowed. But still.)
Since we are allowed to take the books that are being discarded, I quickly snatched it up. Luckily, I had the afternoon free because I couldn't wait to get home and take a stroll down memory lane! Given how long it's been since I last read one of these books (not going to do that math!), I was surprised how much I remembered of this series and this book in particular.
Trixie, Honey and Di are all getting ready for the annual freshman play, "Romeo and Juliet," when they learn their drama teacher's father has been kidnapped in Scotland. Naturally, aspiring detective Trixie wishes she could go to Scotland to solve the case for her teacher, but as luck would have it, once again the case ends up coming to her in the form of the costumes for the play and Honey knowing she's seen Miss Darcy's fiance somewhere before - other than the school.
For a young adult book, I found this to be better written than some of the age appropriate books I've read as of late. I remembered most of the main players and it became obvious partway through how it was going to end but I don't know if I picked up on that when I was a teenager. (Still not doing the math on that). I had forgotten about one of Trixie's brother's penchant for eloquence and I wonder if that annoyed me as much as a kid as it did at the beginning of the book?
The mystery itself seemed to be manufactured more by Trixie at first than actually existing - a fact pointed out several times by the rest of the Bob-White gang. But in the end, Trixie's hunches proved to be correct and there truly was a mystery connected to the velvet gown Di was to wear as Juliet in the play and it was connected to the kidnapping of Miss Darcy's father.
This was quite the satisfying trip down memory lane. Three stars for the book, with an extra star for the nostalgia. It kind of made me want to start from the beginning and read all the books again!
Since we are allowed to take the books that are being discarded, I quickly snatched it up. Luckily, I had the afternoon free because I couldn't wait to get home and take a stroll down memory lane! Given how long it's been since I last read one of these books (not going to do that math!), I was surprised how much I remembered of this series and this book in particular.
Trixie, Honey and Di are all getting ready for the annual freshman play, "Romeo and Juliet," when they learn their drama teacher's father has been kidnapped in Scotland. Naturally, aspiring detective Trixie wishes she could go to Scotland to solve the case for her teacher, but as luck would have it, once again the case ends up coming to her in the form of the costumes for the play and Honey knowing she's seen Miss Darcy's fiance somewhere before - other than the school.
For a young adult book, I found this to be better written than some of the age appropriate books I've read as of late. I remembered most of the main players and it became obvious partway through how it was going to end but I don't know if I picked up on that when I was a teenager. (Still not doing the math on that). I had forgotten about one of Trixie's brother's penchant for eloquence and I wonder if that annoyed me as much as a kid as it did at the beginning of the book?
The mystery itself seemed to be manufactured more by Trixie at first than actually existing - a fact pointed out several times by the rest of the Bob-White gang. But in the end, Trixie's hunches proved to be correct and there truly was a mystery connected to the velvet gown Di was to wear as Juliet in the play and it was connected to the kidnapping of Miss Darcy's father.
This was quite the satisfying trip down memory lane. Three stars for the book, with an extra star for the nostalgia. It kind of made me want to start from the beginning and read all the books again!
May 3, 2015
a HUGE and most dedicated fan of Trixie and her crew. This is odd, of course, because they were MEANT for teen and pre-teen girls, but I was a young boy that read everything he could get his hands on and when I first stumbled on my first TRIXIE BELDON book I was instantly hooked!
I immediately sat about reading them all, as quickly as I could get my greedy little paws on them. Trixie is the star, or "lead" character, followed by Jim and Honey (who quickly became the love of my young life, I had a total crush on a fictional character that only existed in ink) and this brave trio was constantly getting into trouble, solving mysteries and murders; that sort of thing.
It falls along the line of the Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew and other similar series, but the Trixie series carries more of the teenage angst and a subtle love triangle of conflicted who likes whom mystery that battles back and forth throughout the series. All of the while though, the same cheerful, effervescent and energetic positive attitude and domineering never quit/never let them see you down philosophy is the major subtext all through the books.
It is simply impossible to read these and NOT feel good about yourself and about LIFE, to have a sense of "all is well" in the world and a cheerful demeanor just naturally permeate your soul. I know, it SOUNDS crazy, but it is true.
I lost all of my Trixie books years ago, lending them to friends and that sort of thing. Since then, I have been on a quest to rebuild my collection of hardbacks. I find most of them at "Friends of the Library Sales" and things like that, but I am ever watchful at garage sales and places, for I do not have even a third of them built back
I immediately sat about reading them all, as quickly as I could get my greedy little paws on them. Trixie is the star, or "lead" character, followed by Jim and Honey (who quickly became the love of my young life, I had a total crush on a fictional character that only existed in ink) and this brave trio was constantly getting into trouble, solving mysteries and murders; that sort of thing.
It falls along the line of the Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew and other similar series, but the Trixie series carries more of the teenage angst and a subtle love triangle of conflicted who likes whom mystery that battles back and forth throughout the series. All of the while though, the same cheerful, effervescent and energetic positive attitude and domineering never quit/never let them see you down philosophy is the major subtext all through the books.
It is simply impossible to read these and NOT feel good about yourself and about LIFE, to have a sense of "all is well" in the world and a cheerful demeanor just naturally permeate your soul. I know, it SOUNDS crazy, but it is true.
I lost all of my Trixie books years ago, lending them to friends and that sort of thing. Since then, I have been on a quest to rebuild my collection of hardbacks. I find most of them at "Friends of the Library Sales" and things like that, but I am ever watchful at garage sales and places, for I do not have even a third of them built back
February 10, 2013
A childhood favorite re-visited.
Is the story as good as I remember? – Yes
What ages would I recommend it too? – Ten and up.
Length? – Most of a day’s read.
Characters? – Memorable, several characters.
Setting? – Real world, pre - computer, pre - air conditioning, pre - cell phone.
Written approximately? – 1980.
Does the story leave questions in the readers mind? – Ready to read more.
Any issues the author (or a more recent publisher) should cover? Yes. A slight mention of the time frame of the story - as the teens are given far more freedom to come and go as they please than would be safe today. Also, the absence of computers and cell phones.
Short storyline: Trixie Belden, Honey, and Jim work on a school play in which Diana has the leading role. Reddy is hit by a car by the distracted drama teacher as she hurries to Mrs. Trask for help.
Notes for the reader: A great mystery! No violence and no murder.
Is the story as good as I remember? – Yes
What ages would I recommend it too? – Ten and up.
Length? – Most of a day’s read.
Characters? – Memorable, several characters.
Setting? – Real world, pre - computer, pre - air conditioning, pre - cell phone.
Written approximately? – 1980.
Does the story leave questions in the readers mind? – Ready to read more.
Any issues the author (or a more recent publisher) should cover? Yes. A slight mention of the time frame of the story - as the teens are given far more freedom to come and go as they please than would be safe today. Also, the absence of computers and cell phones.
Short storyline: Trixie Belden, Honey, and Jim work on a school play in which Diana has the leading role. Reddy is hit by a car by the distracted drama teacher as she hurries to Mrs. Trask for help.
Notes for the reader: A great mystery! No violence and no murder.
April 15, 2015
Everyone is buzzing about the freshman production of Romeo and Juliette, especially since Trixie’s friend Diana has landed the part of Juliette. However, Trixie’s attention is focused on the new drama teacher, Miss Darcy, who is acting oddly. What is causing her to be so distracted?
This book is a classic example of a plot that seems logical until you set the book down and really think through it. The characters are mostly good, although a couple of the cast are sidelined, which I never like. This isn’t one of the worst in the series, but it’s not especially memorable either.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
This book is a classic example of a plot that seems logical until you set the book down and really think through it. The characters are mostly good, although a couple of the cast are sidelined, which I never like. This isn’t one of the worst in the series, but it’s not especially memorable either.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
March 7, 2017
Good simple fun book to read. Made me feel like a teenager again.
August 12, 2022
Diana gets to play the role of Juliet in the school Shakespeare play, which is a thrill for the Bob Whites, but there is some turmoil going on behind the scenes. Fellow student Jane Morgan, who badly wanted to play Juliet, resolves to make Di sorry for auditioning. Miss Darcy the drama teacher receives word that her father has been kidnapped, and she's also behaving strangely paranoid about some costumes she's borrowed for the production. Meanwhile her handsome fiance, Peter Ashbury, seems to be throwing his weight around. Can Trixie and the others get to the bottom of it all?
* One thing is clear. After weeks of working on her speaking voice, projection and poise, Di clearly did a good enough job to have earned the part of Juliet. Miss Darcy was obviously impressed enough by her audition to have given it to her. The implicit question is whether or not her physical beauty gave her an edge if it came down to a decision between her and Jane Morgan. If they were equally competent but Diana's beauty was the deciding factor, then I guess Jane has a fair case for being disgruntled. But if Diana's gorgeous appearance wasn't taken into account at all, then poor Di suffers the fate of many pretty girls throughout history. Some people are wrongfully resentful and suspicious of the victories they so rightly earn. Oh dear, they tell me it ain't easy being beautiful.
* Only Miss Darcy knows the answer to that one for sure, and of course she isn't saying. But Trixie reflects, 'Di is so pretty with her shiny black hair and violet coloured eyes, she'd make a perfect Juliet. She's just got to get the part!' Hey Trixie, surely you know all that has no bearing on whether or not Di can actually play the role.
* Diana's nerves and low confidence set in instantly, which gives Jane more ammunition. Oh, how easy for anybody to gripe, 'She only got the part because of her looks,' whether it's true or not.
* As always, the Trixie Belden novels provide some interesting background detail. We learn all about stage directions and stagecraft.
* There is a school newspaper called The Campus Clarion. Submissions aren't open to Freshman students like Trixie, Honey and Di. Jane Morgan's brother Bill is a photographer for the paper. We've never heard that Brian, Jim or Dan ever submitted anything to the paper, so presumably they didn't.
* Trixie compares Peter Ashbury to Robert Redford and Paul Newman; two very old heartthrobs who most readers probably wouldn't remember now. Either young Trixie has been roped into watching very ancient movies or she is indeed a product of a former era.
* Aww, the Bobby and Reddy moments are enough to melt soft-hearted readers like myself. Real life intrudes once again, when Reddy gets knocked over by a car and breaks his leg. But after a few days with the vet, Dr David Samet, he's allowed home, and the reunion scene is a highlight of the book.
* Brian and Mart go up to their rooms to finish their homework. Not a singular room. Just sayin'.
* Ooh, shame! The narrator refers to Miss Trask as 'the governess.' But we all know very well that Honey hasn't needed a governess for years. Miss Trask's actual current role is estate manager of the Manor House.
* Here's an interesting bit of trivia. Nowhere throughout the story was the velvet gown described as red. But those of us with the oval design cover probably assume that it is because of the picture.
* Okay, so the baddie is caught and Trixie gets most of the credit, but how does Di fare in the play? It's a fair question but we never find out. After all her stress and mental angst, the story ends weeks short of the big night. I think sometimes Kathryn Kenny forgets that Trixie isn't the only Bob White whose threads we readers are following.
* My quote of the book is from Trixie, while the girls are tossing around possible theories and Honey expresses her disbelief that anyone as handsome as Peter Ashbury could possibly be a criminal. Trixie shouts, 'What's in a name? Well, what's in a face, Honey? Good looking people can be involved in crime just as easily as anyone else.' Bravo, Trix!
* One thing is clear. After weeks of working on her speaking voice, projection and poise, Di clearly did a good enough job to have earned the part of Juliet. Miss Darcy was obviously impressed enough by her audition to have given it to her. The implicit question is whether or not her physical beauty gave her an edge if it came down to a decision between her and Jane Morgan. If they were equally competent but Diana's beauty was the deciding factor, then I guess Jane has a fair case for being disgruntled. But if Diana's gorgeous appearance wasn't taken into account at all, then poor Di suffers the fate of many pretty girls throughout history. Some people are wrongfully resentful and suspicious of the victories they so rightly earn. Oh dear, they tell me it ain't easy being beautiful.
* Only Miss Darcy knows the answer to that one for sure, and of course she isn't saying. But Trixie reflects, 'Di is so pretty with her shiny black hair and violet coloured eyes, she'd make a perfect Juliet. She's just got to get the part!' Hey Trixie, surely you know all that has no bearing on whether or not Di can actually play the role.
* Diana's nerves and low confidence set in instantly, which gives Jane more ammunition. Oh, how easy for anybody to gripe, 'She only got the part because of her looks,' whether it's true or not.
* As always, the Trixie Belden novels provide some interesting background detail. We learn all about stage directions and stagecraft.
* There is a school newspaper called The Campus Clarion. Submissions aren't open to Freshman students like Trixie, Honey and Di. Jane Morgan's brother Bill is a photographer for the paper. We've never heard that Brian, Jim or Dan ever submitted anything to the paper, so presumably they didn't.
* Trixie compares Peter Ashbury to Robert Redford and Paul Newman; two very old heartthrobs who most readers probably wouldn't remember now. Either young Trixie has been roped into watching very ancient movies or she is indeed a product of a former era.
* Aww, the Bobby and Reddy moments are enough to melt soft-hearted readers like myself. Real life intrudes once again, when Reddy gets knocked over by a car and breaks his leg. But after a few days with the vet, Dr David Samet, he's allowed home, and the reunion scene is a highlight of the book.
* Brian and Mart go up to their rooms to finish their homework. Not a singular room. Just sayin'.
* Ooh, shame! The narrator refers to Miss Trask as 'the governess.' But we all know very well that Honey hasn't needed a governess for years. Miss Trask's actual current role is estate manager of the Manor House.
* Here's an interesting bit of trivia. Nowhere throughout the story was the velvet gown described as red. But those of us with the oval design cover probably assume that it is because of the picture.
* Okay, so the baddie is caught and Trixie gets most of the credit, but how does Di fare in the play? It's a fair question but we never find out. After all her stress and mental angst, the story ends weeks short of the big night. I think sometimes Kathryn Kenny forgets that Trixie isn't the only Bob White whose threads we readers are following.
* My quote of the book is from Trixie, while the girls are tossing around possible theories and Honey expresses her disbelief that anyone as handsome as Peter Ashbury could possibly be a criminal. Trixie shouts, 'What's in a name? Well, what's in a face, Honey? Good looking people can be involved in crime just as easily as anyone else.' Bravo, Trix!
March 14, 2018
Fun mystery from my childhood. This one must have really made an impression because all the way through I knew what was happening before the author revealed it.
Read
May 25, 2011This book is part of the Trixie Beldon series I read when I was younger. Trixie Beldon brings back memories of when I was in school. The characters tease and taunt eachother like most adolescents. There was an added bonus for me in the play of William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, was being done by Trixie's high school class. This series is one of my all time favorites! Shelly (Fall 2009)
March 30, 2013
This is one Trixie book that I had only read once, missing it when I was a young reader. But honestly, I didn't miss much back then. The mystery seems really lame in this one and quite frankly Miss Trask should've solved it! :)
Still it's a Trixie and all the Bob-Whites are present and accounted for.
Still it's a Trixie and all the Bob-Whites are present and accounted for.
July 30, 2016
I found this in a free library book stand. It is the 29th in the series. When I was growing up, there were only Books 1 to 15. It is a very quick read, and I did enjoy it, but not one of my favorites. Trixie is now 14 in this 29th book and a freshman at her high school, when she gets involved with this mystery.
March 13, 2014
While I know I have previously read the entire series, this is one that I absolutely did not remember AT ALL. It was another good and quick read about the friends I've come to love; it is not a well-written classic by any means, but good fun all the same.
November 27, 2013
Generally I'm a fan of the Trixie Belden books, but it dithered a bit too much in the beginning. The mystery was also played out more in exposition than in clues, which (for me) is a big no-no. Two and a half stars.
April 11, 2016
Not as dramatic as some of the others. Is that good or bad? Not sure. There didn't seem to be as much interaction with Jim, Brian and Mart as some of the other books have, but I still enjoyed it. Perfect read for a day when I was really tired.
January 8, 2018
Fun after Christmas holidays read.
It gets a little tense when and we never do find out about :/
It gets a little tense when and we never do find out about :/
Read
March 9, 200829
June 15, 2008
Re-read June 2008
Re-read November 2009
Re-read November 2009
June 19, 2010
Great children's mystery series, read most of these books in school and thoroughly enjoyed them!......
January 1, 2014
This one is fun, Trixie senses a mystery, finds many pieces to a strange puzzle and is investigating LONG before she really knows what it is she is investigating!
July 27, 2011
Diana's chance to shine...sort of, though we don't get a lot of her adventure into theatre. Being in high school drama myself, I really liked that aspect of the story.
July 28, 2011
much better than nancy drew
May 6, 2012
I slightly remember this book, thus a three star rating instead of four. I have read this book several times since I was a girl and always enjoyed it!!
December 26, 2012
book 29
January 19, 2013
I enjoyed this one- it's been in a while since one of these was actually good. I'm glad for at least one decent one.
December 22, 2013
Was obsessed with this series, and this was one if my favorites. The idea of Romeo and Juliet as the school play seemed so dreamy. Wore the cover off of this one.
February 19, 2014
LOVE IT JUST LIKE ALL THE TRIXIE BELDEN BOOKS which should I read next???!!!???!!!???!!!???!!!
August 3, 2017
(4.4)
This has an actual mystery with some mild consequenses and it's one of the better stories.
Recommended 10+ for scary situations and kidnapping
This has an actual mystery with some mild consequenses and it's one of the better stories.
Recommended 10+ for scary situations and kidnapping
March 26, 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.
July 11, 2020
3.5 stars.
Poor Dan gets written out and Di shunted to the side and forgotten about in this Bob-White mystery - makes you wonder why they even introduced these extra characters in the first place since the Wheelers and the Beldens can generally carry the stories by themselves.
Inconsistencies in time and pace and character aside (as this is almost standard now), this wasn't a bad jaunt in which Trixie senses a mystery...but can't quite put it altogether until towards the end. If you chase the idea long enough, you'll eventually find something!
Poor Dan gets written out and Di shunted to the side and forgotten about in this Bob-White mystery - makes you wonder why they even introduced these extra characters in the first place since the Wheelers and the Beldens can generally carry the stories by themselves.
Inconsistencies in time and pace and character aside (as this is almost standard now), this wasn't a bad jaunt in which Trixie senses a mystery...but can't quite put it altogether until towards the end. If you chase the idea long enough, you'll eventually find something!
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