Oval paperback 1978

 

 

 

 

Dan grinned and jumped to herd Trixie in the right direction.  As he touched her arm, his grin vanished, and Trixie felt his grip tighten on her arm.

"What's the matter, Dan?" Trixie asked.

Glowering at her, Dan yanked her toward Honey and seized her arm, too.  He raised it toward his face.

"Dan?" Honey asked in an alarmed tone.

"You crazy kids!" Dan snapped.  "You've been smoking marijuana!"

"No!" they protested.

"Don't lie to me.  I know the smell of it.  I can smell it on you!"

Regan's face quickly flushed with anger, matching Dan's.  The yard filled with the sound of accusations and protests.

The clamor brought Miss Trask hurrying from the house.  The boys were shouting.  Honey was crying.  Trixie was on the verge of tears herself.

Miss Trask put her arm about Honey.  "That's enough!  All of you.  What's this all about?"

"Can't you smell it?" Dan demanded.  "They've been smoking marijuana!"

The Mystery of the Unseen Treasure (p. 173-174).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Title :
Trixie Belden and the Mystery of the Unseen Treasure

Author :
Kathryn Kenny
The ghost writer of this book is believed to be Carl Henry Rathjen.

First Published :
1978

Chapter Titles :
1.  Strangers in the Garden
2.  Clues - and More Mystery
3.  "Something Squishy"
4.  Mr Hartman's Secret
5.  Dan's Discovery 
6.  A Series of "Accidents"
7.  Trixie Finds a Link
8.  Night Watch
9. A Strange Plant
10. A Confession
12. The Unseen Treasure

Setting :
Sleepyside, New York

Synopsis :
A ride at the start of the summer holidays leads to mystery when the Bob-Whites see a man pouring gasoline on the shed of a kind neighbour.  Trixie is determined to find the culprit who is trying to destroy the small business of Mrs Elliot and they stumble across a marijuana plantation and find themselves having to prove their own innocence.  Trixie manages to uncover the truth with the help of a retired policemen and a good idea reveals a hidden treasure. 

Characters : 
Trixie Belden
Jim Frayne - 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 Bob-White and neighbour
Dan Mangan - a Bob-White and Regan's nephew
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
Regan - the Wheeler's Groom
Tom Delanoy - the Wheeler's chauffeur
Sergeant Molinson - head of the Sleepyside Police Force
Ethel Elliot - neighbour who has a small flower business
Max Elliot - step-son of Mrs Elliot
Charles Hartman - Mrs Elliot's neighbour and a retired policeman
Mrs Hartman - his wife
Al Finlay - "Mr Manton" owner of the Manton's Flower shop and a criminal from New York
Ann Rinehart - used to live in Sleepyside and works as an assistant in the flower shop

Villains :
Al Finlay - Dan knew of his from his New York days and he had some dealings with Mrs Elliot's dead husband, Sam.  He tries to ruin Mrs Elliot's business and force her to sell her property to him.

Points of Interest:
This is a well written and researched book with no obvious inconsistencies.

It is summer time again and the Bob-Whites have just finished school.  The book commences in June.

Brian is seventeen years old.  Mrs Belden reveals that Ethel Elliot nee Rogers used to be her baby sitter when she was younger.

Trixie is mad when Brian offers to drive her around the lake, instead of going with Sergeant Molinson.  Brian tells her that because she is no longer a girl, but a young woman, Molinson must be accompanied by a female policewoman to ride with Trixie (p. 71-72).

Charles Hartman is a lively old man who had retired from the Albany police force and is still very much in love with his wife, who he refers to as his bride.

June turns into July and Brian and Jim leave to work as counselors at a boys camp.  Strangely enough, Mart doesn't go but Dan now has his driver's license and drives the Bob-White station wagon (p. 87).

Dan accuses the Bob-Whites of smoking marijuana in an emotional scene that has Honey in tears and everyone else angry and upset (p. 174).

Trixie has a useful ally in Charles Hartman and they work well as a team.  It would have been nice to see him appear in later books.  I think he would have enjoyed the challenge.