Review: The Marshland Mystery

The Marshland Mystery by Kathryn Kenny
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Another adventure with Honey & Trixie. I have to say, this marginalization of Miss Trask and Regan is not sitting well with me.

This time we have a child prodigy who is misunderstood, and a little spoiled. Trixie, of course, isn't having it, as you might expect. Come on, Trixie, and grow up a bit, ok? She's a child, and you are a teenager. We also have a mystery involving treasure, some dried plants, and an old woman who lives alone on the edge of the marsh. It barely hangs together, folks. I promise this is one you can skip if you'd like because it kinda stinks and Trixie is a little mean.

I'm still giving it three stars but it is close to being 2.5.

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Review: The Gatehouse Mystery

The Gatehouse Mystery by Julie Campbell
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

More adventures with Trixie and Honey. What a charmed life they lead!

Seriously, though, how large is the Wheeler's estate that they have a deserted Gatehouse on the grounds that people have forgotten about? I'm trying to picture a world where her mother and father didn't immediately tear it down. Deserted, dirty, holes in the roof...definitely a surprise that they let that stand. Anyway, the girls decide it will be their clubhouse, naturally. And then Trixie finds a diamond (Honey immediately can tell it's real, because the girl is overflowing with diamonds, yo). Bad guys are on the prowl, and the mystery is on. Oh, and we get a new chauffeur because my boy Regan hates anything that doesn't run on 4 legs and Miss Trask is busy being a total boss babe.

What will happen with the diamond? Guess you will have to read for yourself. This one is especially stretching the bounds of imagination, but I still gave it 3 stars.

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Review: The Happy Valley Mystery

The Happy Valley Mystery by Kathryn Kenny
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Still adjusting to the change in writing styles. If I remember correctly, it evens out in a bit, or I just get further away from the first six books and forget how they read.

Trixie and the Bob-Whites are headed to the most exotic of locations: Iowa. As a midwestern girl, this one hits home for me. I grew up just across the border, Trix. You're gonna love your sheep farm adventure. Uncle Andrew invites the Bob-Whites to stay at his farm while he is in Scotland. Ok...a little weird on the host's side, and kinda crappy on his farm help team, but whatever. They hop on a plane and boom, Iowa, folks. And there is a mystery, natch, about missing sheep which Trixie is bound and determined to solve. Will she? Let's hope so, or no one will buy book 10.

We get some fun references to life in the midwest - 4-H, school dances in the gym, skating on the pond - and a scary flood, plus a little teen romance at the end. Not gonna lie, I've been waiting for this. Still enjoyable, even with the writing change. 3 stars.

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Review: The Red Trailer Mystery

The Red Trailer Mystery by Julie Campbell
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Since book 1 ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, we roll right into book 2. How annoyed were you all in 1977 when book 2 wasn't published yet? Julie Campbell, well played. Thousands of middle schoolers were anxiously awaiting the adventures of Trixie, Honey, and Jim.

As we return to the implausible life of Trixie Belden, her parents let her take off on a quest to track down the missing Jim Frayne. Now hey, this 13-year-old isn't alone. No, Honey's wonderful governess, Miss Trask, offers to drive the RV around upstate New York to search the boys' camps where they think Jim might be applying for work. Back in the days of no cell phones, no internet, and most modern conveniences, I'm going to go with ok, fine. So off they go and step right into a stolen trailer ring, a mysterious family, and yes, camps. Oh, and horses. Always horses, which is why I loved these books so very much growing up.

Pluses: Jimmy the Crow, the farm couple, and Miss Trask.
Minuses: Honey's decision about her dog, no Reagan, and the ridiculous state trooper. Julie Campbell, have you ever met a cop in your life?

But I still dearly love these books, so 3 stars.

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Review: The Secret of the Mansion

The Secret of the Mansion by Julie Campbell
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Golly, but I loved these books growing up. I wanted to be Trixie. I mean, what's not to love? She has a great family, a great farm, and a great best friend with HORSES. What else could you want out of life?

In the first book, we are introduced to spunky Trixie Belden. She meets her new neighbor, Honey, and they are quickly thick as thieves. Honey is a poor little rich girl who just wants a normal life. Trixie basically wants friends and horses, like most 13 year old girls. Sleepovers and horseback rides abound, and then they stumble onto a mystery (gasp!) with a lonely orphaned boy (double gasp!) and a hidden inheritance (triple gasp!). The book is dated, but I just love these books so I am overlooking all of the flaws I find and reverting to my 10 year old self. This one ends on a bit of a cliff hanger, so be prepared to immediately start book #2. You sucked me in again, Julie Campbell, you crafty minx.

Fun start to the series, and 3 solid stars for the nostalgia.

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