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Title :
Trixie Belden and the Marshland Mystery
Author :
Kathryn Kenny
The ghost writer of this book is unknown
First Published :
1962
Chapter Titles :
1. Trixie Makes Plans
2. Strange Visitors
3. Small Genius
4. The Expedition
5. A Face at the Window
6. Martin's Marsh
7. Missing
8. A Piece of Glass
9. "Bob-Whites to the Rescue"
10. Miss Rachel
11. Someone Named Emily
12. Out of the Past
13. Good Intentions
14. Trouble Brewing
15. The Twisted Story
16. Aftereffects
17. More Trouble
18. Time Limit
19. The Best-Laid Plans
20. Complications
21. Trixie's Treasure
Setting :
Sleepyside, New York
Synopsis :
When Trixie and Honey decide to collect
herbs to replace their teacher's damaged collection, they discover Martin's
marsh and the strange old woman who lives there. The mystery develops when
a blonde child prodigy, staying with the Wheeler's, mysteriously
disappears. A nuisance reporter suggests a kidnapping and the hunt turns
to Martin's Marsh where Trixie meets Miss Rachel Martin and learns the mystery
of Martin's marsh. Gaye is found but questions remain unanswered as Trixie
and Honey try to help an unhappy child and stop Miss Martin from being evicted
from her home.
Characters :
Trixie Belden
Jim Frayne - newly adopted son of the Wheeler's
Honey Wheeler - Trixie's best friend
Brian Belden - Trixie's eldest brother
Mart Belden - Trixie's "almost twin" brother
Diana Lynch - a classmate and neighbour
Helen Belden - Trixie's mother
Peter Belden - Trixie's father
Bobby Belden - Trixie's six year old brother
Miss Trask - Honey's governess
Celia Delanoy - the Wheeler's Maid
Bill Regan - the Wheeler's Groom
Tom Delanoy - the Wheeler's chauffeur
Gaye Hunya - violin playing child prodigy with golden curls
Della Crandall - Gaye's guardian and aunt
Mitzi - Gaye's maid
Mr Poo - Gaye's tiny white poodle
Paul Trent - reporter for the Sleepyside Sun
Miss Rachel Martin - old woman who lives out at Martin's Marsh
Sergeant Rooney - police officer
Villains :
No real villains in this story, but Paul Trent, the reporter, becomes an
enemy of the Bob-Whites, and Miss Della Crandall, Gaye's aunt, is despised for
most of the story.
Points of Interest:
Events begin in April. Trixie is only a few weeks away from her fourteenth
birthday. Honey is said to be thirteen too, but a few weeks younger than
Trixie and Di (p. 16).
Trixie's birthday is on May 1, which is when the
book concludes.
Dan does not appear in this book, despite it being
set in Sleepyside. He is mentioned a few times. He was said to 'have
come from the city under a cloud of suspicion but, due to Trixie's detective
work, he was cleared' (p. 18) which is ironic seeing Trixie was the one who
suspected him all along.
Trixie seems to be jealous of any other blonde around
and is quite disturbed by Bobby's crush on Gaye.
Paul Trent apparently went to Central High
School. Could this have been in White Plains?
Jim is said to be catching 'up on some of his load
of senior homework. He was taking two extra subjects, preparing for his
entrance to college in the fall' (p.76).
Brian refers to Trixie and Honey as kids several
times throughout the book.
The Wheelers are said to have assistant grooms and
the gardener's name is Mike. Is this Nailor's (#3 Gatehouse Mystery) first
name, or do the Wheeler's have a new gardener?
Mrs Belden is finally named in this book, although
her name, Helen, is only mentioned once by Peter Belden (p. 168). Up until
now, she had always been just Moms or Mrs Belden.
However, her name is only included in a later oval
paperback version of this book. Helen originally wasn't named until #20
The Mystery Off Telegraph Road.
Trixie implies that Brian is interested in Honey
(p. 200)
 
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