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Trixie Belden #3
The Gatehouse Mystery
When Trixie and Honey explore an abandoned gatehouse, they discover more than dust and spiderwebs. Stuck in the dirt floor is a huge diamond! Could a ring of jewel thieves be hiding out in Sleepyside?
269 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1951
79 people are currently reading
917 people want to read
About the author
Julie Campbell
56 books178 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Julie Campbell Tatham
aka
Julie Campbell, Julie Tatham and Julie C. Tatham
Julie Campbell was born on the 1st of June 1908 in Flushing, New York and shares the same birthday as her character, Mart Belden. As the daughter of an Army Officer, she travelled widely during her childhood and, at the age of eight, won her first short story contest while living in Hawaii.
Campbell married Charles Tatham Jr. on the 30th March 1933 and they worked together on many magazine stories and articles. Campbell lived in a remodelled farmhouse in the Hudson River Valley with her husband and two sons when she began writing the Trixie Belden series.
She had her own literary agency in the 1940s when Western Publishing invited literary agents to find authors who could produce mystery and adventure books that would be marketed to children at an affordable price. Campbell proposed four series, two that would be written by herself and the others by two of her authors Hal Burton and John Henry Cutler.
Both series were published under her maiden name, Julie Campbell. The Ginny Gordon series consisted of five books published between 1948 and 1956, while her contribution to the Trixie Belden series consisted of six books between 1948 and 1958. At the same time, Campbell stepped in to take over the Cherry Ames and Vicki Barr series and wrote twelve books in total for these series over the same time period. It is believed that Campbell wrote Cherry Ames, Cruise Nurse in three weeks during the same period she was also writing the first Trixie Belden and Ginny Gordon books.
Campbell wrote the series under her married name of Julie Tatham. There are several similarities to the Trixie Belden series. Cherry Ames: Dude Ranch Nurse is set in Tucson, Arizona which is the setting of Campbell's last Trixie Belden Mystery. The last Cherry Ames book Campbell wrote in 1955, Cherry Ames: Country Doctor's Nurse, is set in Sleepyside-on-the-Hudson, the setting of the Trixie Belden mysteries. So is a wonderful book called To Nick from Jan, which has many similarities to Trixie Belden except the main character is almost 17 years old.
She is also credited for writing "Rin Tin Tin's Rinty" for Whitman in 1954, but in an article Campbell denied having written that book and wonders why Whitman credited her with the title.
The Trixie Belden series was set in "Sleepyside" but was based on the town Campbell was living in at the time in the Hudson River Valley near Ossining. Her home, "Wolf Hollow", was the model for Crabapple Farm and Campbell actually lived on Glendale Road.
After completing Trixie Belden and the Mystery in Arizona, Campbell decided to stop. Her experience as a literary agent assisted her in negotiating a royalty on the next six books of the series as she owned the characters, but it meant her giving up the originator rights to this series. Western Publishing decided to continue the books under the pseudonym Kathryn Kenny.
Campbell also relinquished the Cherry Ames and Vicki Barr series when Helen Wells decided to return to writing them. The Ginny Gordon series was not continued.
There is evidence that Campbell sought a writing position with the Stratemeyer Syndicate in 1957. Timothy P. O'Herin spent an afternoon going through the Stratemeyer archives and found correspondence between Campbell and Harriet Adams, the daughter of Edward Stratemeyer.
"The letters occurred around 1957 and they consisted of Ms. Tatham seeking a writing position with the syndicate. Mrs. Adams responded with glowing praise for her work, but questioning whether Julie would want to relocate for the job. Julie indicated she would be willing to commute. There were only a few letters in this brief correspondence..."
Julie Campbell Tatham
aka
Julie Campbell, Julie Tatham and Julie C. Tatham
Julie Campbell was born on the 1st of June 1908 in Flushing, New York and shares the same birthday as her character, Mart Belden. As the daughter of an Army Officer, she travelled widely during her childhood and, at the age of eight, won her first short story contest while living in Hawaii.
Campbell married Charles Tatham Jr. on the 30th March 1933 and they worked together on many magazine stories and articles. Campbell lived in a remodelled farmhouse in the Hudson River Valley with her husband and two sons when she began writing the Trixie Belden series.
She had her own literary agency in the 1940s when Western Publishing invited literary agents to find authors who could produce mystery and adventure books that would be marketed to children at an affordable price. Campbell proposed four series, two that would be written by herself and the others by two of her authors Hal Burton and John Henry Cutler.
Both series were published under her maiden name, Julie Campbell. The Ginny Gordon series consisted of five books published between 1948 and 1956, while her contribution to the Trixie Belden series consisted of six books between 1948 and 1958. At the same time, Campbell stepped in to take over the Cherry Ames and Vicki Barr series and wrote twelve books in total for these series over the same time period. It is believed that Campbell wrote Cherry Ames, Cruise Nurse in three weeks during the same period she was also writing the first Trixie Belden and Ginny Gordon books.
Campbell wrote the series under her married name of Julie Tatham. There are several similarities to the Trixie Belden series. Cherry Ames: Dude Ranch Nurse is set in Tucson, Arizona which is the setting of Campbell's last Trixie Belden Mystery. The last Cherry Ames book Campbell wrote in 1955, Cherry Ames: Country Doctor's Nurse, is set in Sleepyside-on-the-Hudson, the setting of the Trixie Belden mysteries. So is a wonderful book called To Nick from Jan, which has many similarities to Trixie Belden except the main character is almost 17 years old.
She is also credited for writing "Rin Tin Tin's Rinty" for Whitman in 1954, but in an article Campbell denied having written that book and wonders why Whitman credited her with the title.
The Trixie Belden series was set in "Sleepyside" but was based on the town Campbell was living in at the time in the Hudson River Valley near Ossining. Her home, "Wolf Hollow", was the model for Crabapple Farm and Campbell actually lived on Glendale Road.
After completing Trixie Belden and the Mystery in Arizona, Campbell decided to stop. Her experience as a literary agent assisted her in negotiating a royalty on the next six books of the series as she owned the characters, but it meant her giving up the originator rights to this series. Western Publishing decided to continue the books under the pseudonym Kathryn Kenny.
Campbell also relinquished the Cherry Ames and Vicki Barr series when Helen Wells decided to return to writing them. The Ginny Gordon series was not continued.
There is evidence that Campbell sought a writing position with the Stratemeyer Syndicate in 1957. Timothy P. O'Herin spent an afternoon going through the Stratemeyer archives and found correspondence between Campbell and Harriet Adams, the daughter of Edward Stratemeyer.
"The letters occurred around 1957 and they consisted of Ms. Tatham seeking a writing position with the syndicate. Mrs. Adams responded with glowing praise for her work, but questioning whether Julie would want to relocate for the job. Julie indicated she would be willing to commute. There were only a few letters in this brief correspondence..."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 190 reviews
June 14, 2025
When Trixie and Honey find a diamond in the gatehouse on the Wheeler property, Trixie is certain that there is a thief around. Could it be one of the new Wheeler servants? We also get to meet Trixie's two older brothers and the five new friends form the Bob-Whites of the Glen. While the mystery isn't strong, the characters are great and this remains one of my favorites in the series.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
September 15, 2019
A few weeks ago I went on a girl’s weekend to Savannah with my sister, niece and a friend of hers. We ate, walked, ate, took a ghost tour, ate, shopped and ate some more. It was a fabulous weekend.
One of my favorite stores to visit in Savannah is Books on Bay - a vintage book store on the River. I can usually find something to pique my interest in almost any book store. While I saw several books that I liked that day, nothing screamed ‘you must buy me’. I was standing at the register with my sister (who did find some gems!) and saw a book on the counter. “Trixie Belden - what’s this?”
Let me explain: I’m a reader. It’s a big part of who I am. And one of my favorite things in life is bonding with someone over a book. Seeing a stranger in public reading a book that I loved can turn my day around. Someone will ask me what I’m reading and I’ll spend ten minutes describing the book before I realize that their glazed eyes indicate that they were just being polite and don’t really care about the mental health storylines in the Stormlight Archive. But sometimes you do meet someone who loves reading as much as you. That happened between me and Betsy, the owner of Books on Bay.
“You haven’t read Trixie Belden?” Betsy was surprised and then she set out on a mission - not to sell me a book but to educate me on Trixie and her fandom. She showed me the different editions (Deluxe, Cellophane, Cameo, Paperback, and quite possibly the best name for any editions ever - the UGLIES.) Collectors may choose to purchase one specific edition, a mix or all editions of available books. I was able to look through all the options and learn which books were printed in each edition. “Will your friends kill you if you stay in here just a minute more?” With a laugh, I told her that they may do just that. She wanted to take my picture in front of her Trixie collection so that she could share it with the TB Facebook group. Of course, I let her. After all, I was beaming. Not because I had found a book but because I was able to spend time with a fellow book lover. Someone who shares my passion for reading.
Ultimately I did choose to purchase a Deluxe hardback of book three - The Gatehouse Mystery by Julie Campbell. If, like me, you’ve never read a Trixie Belden, here are the details. Trixie is a 13-year-old girl living in the 1950s in New York state. She has three brothers and has become fast friends with her new neighbor, Honey Wheeler and Honey’s adopted brother, Jim. They form a club, Bob-Whites of the Glen, to solve mysteries. In this story Trixie and Honey find a diamond in an abandoned shed. The Bob-Whites are on the case to find the truth about the diamond…and the Wheeler’s new chauffeur.
My strongest feeling while reading this book was nostalgia. I was reminded of the simplicity of youth. Doing chores, going to the movies with friends, arguing with your siblings and, in my case, reading a fun book. This series is older but not old-fashioned. Trixie is a relatable character who gets frustrated with her brothers and doesn’t always want to do her chores. Some people will say ‘it’s different now, kids aren’t interested in the same things’. And in a way they are right - most children don’t spend their day cleaning out a chicken coop or picking vegetables in the family garden like Trixie. But, what hasn’t changed? That’s what interests me. The value of hard work and pride in earning your own money. And, at it’s heart this story is about friendship - especially the joy of having a best friend in your teenage years.
While I regret not reading this series when I was younger (and more in the target audience), I’m happy to have found it now. So much of our media today is based on being newer, bigger, better. I think we’ve lost something special along the way. We can find some magic in the books of the past. I encourage you to go back in time. Trixie Belden, an Agatha Christie mystery, Charles Dickens. A blast from the past may be just what you need in your life.
One of my favorite stores to visit in Savannah is Books on Bay - a vintage book store on the River. I can usually find something to pique my interest in almost any book store. While I saw several books that I liked that day, nothing screamed ‘you must buy me’. I was standing at the register with my sister (who did find some gems!) and saw a book on the counter. “Trixie Belden - what’s this?”
Let me explain: I’m a reader. It’s a big part of who I am. And one of my favorite things in life is bonding with someone over a book. Seeing a stranger in public reading a book that I loved can turn my day around. Someone will ask me what I’m reading and I’ll spend ten minutes describing the book before I realize that their glazed eyes indicate that they were just being polite and don’t really care about the mental health storylines in the Stormlight Archive. But sometimes you do meet someone who loves reading as much as you. That happened between me and Betsy, the owner of Books on Bay.
“You haven’t read Trixie Belden?” Betsy was surprised and then she set out on a mission - not to sell me a book but to educate me on Trixie and her fandom. She showed me the different editions (Deluxe, Cellophane, Cameo, Paperback, and quite possibly the best name for any editions ever - the UGLIES.) Collectors may choose to purchase one specific edition, a mix or all editions of available books. I was able to look through all the options and learn which books were printed in each edition. “Will your friends kill you if you stay in here just a minute more?” With a laugh, I told her that they may do just that. She wanted to take my picture in front of her Trixie collection so that she could share it with the TB Facebook group. Of course, I let her. After all, I was beaming. Not because I had found a book but because I was able to spend time with a fellow book lover. Someone who shares my passion for reading.
Ultimately I did choose to purchase a Deluxe hardback of book three - The Gatehouse Mystery by Julie Campbell. If, like me, you’ve never read a Trixie Belden, here are the details. Trixie is a 13-year-old girl living in the 1950s in New York state. She has three brothers and has become fast friends with her new neighbor, Honey Wheeler and Honey’s adopted brother, Jim. They form a club, Bob-Whites of the Glen, to solve mysteries. In this story Trixie and Honey find a diamond in an abandoned shed. The Bob-Whites are on the case to find the truth about the diamond…and the Wheeler’s new chauffeur.
My strongest feeling while reading this book was nostalgia. I was reminded of the simplicity of youth. Doing chores, going to the movies with friends, arguing with your siblings and, in my case, reading a fun book. This series is older but not old-fashioned. Trixie is a relatable character who gets frustrated with her brothers and doesn’t always want to do her chores. Some people will say ‘it’s different now, kids aren’t interested in the same things’. And in a way they are right - most children don’t spend their day cleaning out a chicken coop or picking vegetables in the family garden like Trixie. But, what hasn’t changed? That’s what interests me. The value of hard work and pride in earning your own money. And, at it’s heart this story is about friendship - especially the joy of having a best friend in your teenage years.
While I regret not reading this series when I was younger (and more in the target audience), I’m happy to have found it now. So much of our media today is based on being newer, bigger, better. I think we’ve lost something special along the way. We can find some magic in the books of the past. I encourage you to go back in time. Trixie Belden, an Agatha Christie mystery, Charles Dickens. A blast from the past may be just what you need in your life.
October 6, 2018
I can understand why young adults would like this series, as it is sweet and there is a lot of interaction between brothers and sisters, and even friends. It didn't do much for me for this reason, and by this I mean that I would have preferred more action and mystery. Plus the interactions between the young adults weren’t that interesting to me. Maybe it was just the mood I was in at the time, but I am not sure that I would try to read another of this series.
In this book, Trixie and her new friend Honey find a diamond in a old abandoned gatehouse. They spend a lot of time trying to find a hiding place for it and then moving it again and again. Then they spend much of their time speculating as to who lost it.
In this book, Trixie and her new friend Honey find a diamond in a old abandoned gatehouse. They spend a lot of time trying to find a hiding place for it and then moving it again and again. Then they spend much of their time speculating as to who lost it.
September 25, 2017
Trixie Belden is a teen amateur sleuth. She lives in Sleepyside, NY with her family. Her best friend, Honey Wheeler, and Honey's adopted brother, Jim Frayne, live at the large estate next door. Mysteries always seem to come their way. The series is similar to Nancy Drew or the Hardy Boys. There are 39 books in the series, written between 1948 and 1986. The original six books were written by Julie Campbell. The rest of the series was written by various authors, using the pen name Kathryn Kenny.
This was my absolute favorite book series when I was a kid. I had the entire series. Every holiday, birthday, or special event usually brought me new books and I remember being incredibly happy when several new books came out in the 80s. Before leaving for college, I sold the entire series to a mom who had two middle school age
girls at home. I hope they loved the books as much as I did! The first four books were re-released a few years ago, but the rest are OOP. Luckily, I found scans of many of the books on OpenLibrary, so I'm going to re-read as much of the old series as I can find! Revisiting my old Sleepyside buddies as an adult has given me some mixed emotions, but all things considered I'm enjoying it.
The Gatehouse Mystery is the third book in the series. Honey and Trixie are out walking and stop by the old Gatehouse on the Wheeler estate. The old building is overgrown with vines and neglected. They are shocked when they find a diamond in the old gatehouse wedged between two floorboards. Then they hear someone lurking in the bushes listening to their conversation. Who hid the diamond on the Wheeler estate? And are they in danger after finding it? Honey and Trixie know they need to discover the truth before the criminals attempt to recover the valuable stone.
As a young girl, I loved reading about Trixie and her friends' adventuring. I spent many an afternoon laying across my bed reading about their exploits. I sympathized with Trixie's occasional annoyance at her little 6-year old brother. My young nephew was a pain in the butt sometimes too when I was 11 or so -- he's 38 years old now -- and I often had to babysit him much to my chagrin. I also remember laughing at the constant teasing between the siblings and friends in the books. :) I ran around with the neighbor kids back in the day myself and I think every one of us had a creative nickname, mostly insulting stuff. I fell in the creek once and got called wethead for a few weeks. So I liked reading about the teasing among the characters. It made the group seem a lot like my own gang of friends. At the time, I did notice that the wording and situations were a bit dated, but I didn't care. As an adult, I had a few problems re-reading this book. For example, the use of the word "squaw' as an insult. One of Trixie's brothers uses that name to tease the girls. It might have been acceptable back when the original six books were written, but it's pretty much seen as racist and derogatory now. I cringed a bit each time Mart teased his sister about being a " lazy squaw'' who should bring him food, and do her chores faster. It was meant as good natured teasing between siblings in the story, but it did bother the adult me. I have seen a few negative comments in reviews of the Trixie Belden series because the dad goes off to work and the mom takes care of the house, home chores, canning food, gardening, etc. I didn't see it as a negative when I originally read the books, or now. It's not sexist. For many families, that's how life was during that time period. I don't see it as belittling of the mom in the stories. The kids and the dad constantly talk about how awesome she is for being such a good cook, mom, gardener, and home maker. What's wrong with that? She gets way more praise and attention than the dad, who gets mentioned only rarely. A reader has to remember that these books are set in the 1950s. It was a much different world back then. I like the fact that the kids all have chores to do each day to help out, and for the most part they obey and respect their parents. The mysteries are a lot like those from Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys....unusual events, mysterious strangers, hidden treasures, etc instead of murders or anything too gruesome.
So, despite the fact that I read the stories with a much older outlook than when I was a teenager, I'm still enjoying reading my way through this series again. I enjoy the dated language for the most part. When there is a word or phrase I find a bit offensive, I have to remind myself that the series is 60+ years old, and take things in the spirit in which it was originally meant.
The Gatehouse Mystery is one of the Trixie Belden books that was re-released. I read an ebook copy using OverDrive through my local public library. I'm finding most of the OOP books in this series on OpenLibrary. They have many scans of OOP books available through Internet Archive. Register for an account here: https://openlibrary.org/ They provide links to books from Project Gutenberg, OpenLibrary scans, and publication information when print books are available. Everything is done with respect to copyright laws. All scanned materials and downloadable ebooks are in the public domain, or available to borrow and read online for a set time, just like a lending library. It's a great resource!
This was my absolute favorite book series when I was a kid. I had the entire series. Every holiday, birthday, or special event usually brought me new books and I remember being incredibly happy when several new books came out in the 80s. Before leaving for college, I sold the entire series to a mom who had two middle school age
girls at home. I hope they loved the books as much as I did! The first four books were re-released a few years ago, but the rest are OOP. Luckily, I found scans of many of the books on OpenLibrary, so I'm going to re-read as much of the old series as I can find! Revisiting my old Sleepyside buddies as an adult has given me some mixed emotions, but all things considered I'm enjoying it.
The Gatehouse Mystery is the third book in the series. Honey and Trixie are out walking and stop by the old Gatehouse on the Wheeler estate. The old building is overgrown with vines and neglected. They are shocked when they find a diamond in the old gatehouse wedged between two floorboards. Then they hear someone lurking in the bushes listening to their conversation. Who hid the diamond on the Wheeler estate? And are they in danger after finding it? Honey and Trixie know they need to discover the truth before the criminals attempt to recover the valuable stone.
As a young girl, I loved reading about Trixie and her friends' adventuring. I spent many an afternoon laying across my bed reading about their exploits. I sympathized with Trixie's occasional annoyance at her little 6-year old brother. My young nephew was a pain in the butt sometimes too when I was 11 or so -- he's 38 years old now -- and I often had to babysit him much to my chagrin. I also remember laughing at the constant teasing between the siblings and friends in the books. :) I ran around with the neighbor kids back in the day myself and I think every one of us had a creative nickname, mostly insulting stuff. I fell in the creek once and got called wethead for a few weeks. So I liked reading about the teasing among the characters. It made the group seem a lot like my own gang of friends. At the time, I did notice that the wording and situations were a bit dated, but I didn't care. As an adult, I had a few problems re-reading this book. For example, the use of the word "squaw' as an insult. One of Trixie's brothers uses that name to tease the girls. It might have been acceptable back when the original six books were written, but it's pretty much seen as racist and derogatory now. I cringed a bit each time Mart teased his sister about being a " lazy squaw'' who should bring him food, and do her chores faster. It was meant as good natured teasing between siblings in the story, but it did bother the adult me. I have seen a few negative comments in reviews of the Trixie Belden series because the dad goes off to work and the mom takes care of the house, home chores, canning food, gardening, etc. I didn't see it as a negative when I originally read the books, or now. It's not sexist. For many families, that's how life was during that time period. I don't see it as belittling of the mom in the stories. The kids and the dad constantly talk about how awesome she is for being such a good cook, mom, gardener, and home maker. What's wrong with that? She gets way more praise and attention than the dad, who gets mentioned only rarely. A reader has to remember that these books are set in the 1950s. It was a much different world back then. I like the fact that the kids all have chores to do each day to help out, and for the most part they obey and respect their parents. The mysteries are a lot like those from Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys....unusual events, mysterious strangers, hidden treasures, etc instead of murders or anything too gruesome.
So, despite the fact that I read the stories with a much older outlook than when I was a teenager, I'm still enjoying reading my way through this series again. I enjoy the dated language for the most part. When there is a word or phrase I find a bit offensive, I have to remind myself that the series is 60+ years old, and take things in the spirit in which it was originally meant.
The Gatehouse Mystery is one of the Trixie Belden books that was re-released. I read an ebook copy using OverDrive through my local public library. I'm finding most of the OOP books in this series on OpenLibrary. They have many scans of OOP books available through Internet Archive. Register for an account here: https://openlibrary.org/ They provide links to books from Project Gutenberg, OpenLibrary scans, and publication information when print books are available. Everything is done with respect to copyright laws. All scanned materials and downloadable ebooks are in the public domain, or available to borrow and read online for a set time, just like a lending library. It's a great resource!
May 17, 2018
This third book in the Trixie Belden series has never been a favorite. I could make a case for it being the true beginning of the series, because it sets the tone for future books, all of which are more like this one than either of the first two. Though I remembered very well the plots of book one and book two, this one had me drawing a blank. It's also less compelling a mystery, mainly because Trixie pegs to the villain right up front and is, despite some unconvincing red herrings, never shown to be wrong.
I also don't care much for Trixie's brothers Brian and Mart, who are dismissive of her in a way that I think is meant to be brotherly chaffing, but comes across as misogyny. I'm pretty sure they get better later on, and they do admit she was clever at the end, but it bugs me that a series that up until now has been good about not either harping on women being superior or girls being stupid took this turn.
Anyway, the friendships are still central, though I wish there'd been more to Brian and Mart getting to know Jim that wasn't "Ho there, you look trustworthy, let us have adventures together." And as twee as the Bob-Whites club is, it's also got some appeal, particularly in how they all agree to bring to the club what they personally can do to support it and not Honey and Jim throwing Daddy's money into fixing the clubhouse. This is necessary because there's an awful lot of taking advantage of wealth going on--servants bringing them picnics, the big house and all its bedrooms that the Wheelers set up specifically to give the Beldens a home away from home, and .
Still, unnecessary wish-fulfillment aside, the story was fun enough to keep me going. Though I've checked my shelves and one of the set of the first 16 is missing. No idea when that happened, or if I ever had it.
I also don't care much for Trixie's brothers Brian and Mart, who are dismissive of her in a way that I think is meant to be brotherly chaffing, but comes across as misogyny. I'm pretty sure they get better later on, and they do admit she was clever at the end, but it bugs me that a series that up until now has been good about not either harping on women being superior or girls being stupid took this turn.
Anyway, the friendships are still central, though I wish there'd been more to Brian and Mart getting to know Jim that wasn't "Ho there, you look trustworthy, let us have adventures together." And as twee as the Bob-Whites club is, it's also got some appeal, particularly in how they all agree to bring to the club what they personally can do to support it and not Honey and Jim throwing Daddy's money into fixing the clubhouse. This is necessary because there's an awful lot of taking advantage of wealth going on--servants bringing them picnics, the big house and all its bedrooms that the Wheelers set up specifically to give the Beldens a home away from home, and .
Still, unnecessary wish-fulfillment aside, the story was fun enough to keep me going. Though I've checked my shelves and one of the set of the first 16 is missing. No idea when that happened, or if I ever had it.
October 14, 2025
5+ stars (6/10 hearts). I am *officially* hooked to the Trixie Belden series. Man, this story was good. I was convinced of who was the bad guy pretty early on but then Jim threw in a loop and I was puzzled all over again.
Jim was simply awesome, okay? And I really like Brian and Mart!! And Honey is awesome. Trixie is still both irritating and amazing, haha! It bugs me that she keeps running herself into bad situations but at the same time I must admit it's realistic. (Also, can we just say that Regan is amazing and Dick is emphatically not?)
I really love the humour of this book, and I really like how it takes everyone to solve the mystery. Also, despite my suspicions, the mystery remained confusing and intense right to the end. AND KUDOS TO THE AUTHOR FOR GETTING THE VILLAIN TO ADMIT TO STUFF WITHOUT USING THE VILLAIN MONOLOGUE CARD!! Trixie took a leaf out of Sherlock Holmes' book. ;)
Finally… this is really epically hilarious and I can’t stop laughing aloud at the young people’s conversations, especially those that tend Bobby-ward…
And that’s my very fangirly review for one of my favourite mysteries. ;)
Content: euphemisms
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “‘I hope it is lost,' said Honey suddenly. 'I never want to see the horrid thing again. It's practically ruined my whole summer.'
"Jim hooted. 'This is Friday afternoon, and you found it Wednesday morning. What brief summers you have, Miss Wheeler!'"
Jim was simply awesome, okay? And I really like Brian and Mart!! And Honey is awesome. Trixie is still both irritating and amazing, haha! It bugs me that she keeps running herself into bad situations but at the same time I must admit it's realistic. (Also, can we just say that Regan is amazing and Dick is emphatically not?)
I really love the humour of this book, and I really like how it takes everyone to solve the mystery. Also, despite my suspicions, the mystery remained confusing and intense right to the end. AND KUDOS TO THE AUTHOR FOR GETTING THE VILLAIN TO ADMIT TO STUFF WITHOUT USING THE VILLAIN MONOLOGUE CARD!! Trixie took a leaf out of Sherlock Holmes' book. ;)
Finally… this is really epically hilarious and I can’t stop laughing aloud at the young people’s conversations, especially those that tend Bobby-ward…
And that’s my very fangirly review for one of my favourite mysteries. ;)
Content: euphemisms
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “‘I hope it is lost,' said Honey suddenly. 'I never want to see the horrid thing again. It's practically ruined my whole summer.'
"Jim hooted. 'This is Friday afternoon, and you found it Wednesday morning. What brief summers you have, Miss Wheeler!'"
November 26, 2023
Re-Read
Trixie, Honey, and Jim have another mystery to solve and luckily Brian and Mart are there to help. Diamond thieves and teenage sleuths make for a captivating mystery. There's no one like Trixie Belden!
Goodreads review published 21/11/17
Trixie, Honey, and Jim have another mystery to solve and luckily Brian and Mart are there to help. Diamond thieves and teenage sleuths make for a captivating mystery. There's no one like Trixie Belden!
Goodreads review published 21/11/17
February 3, 2021
My daughter and I are really enjoying the Trixie Belden mystery series as read-alouds. This one was a good story, and it was important because it marked the formation of the Bobwhites club that Trixie and her brothers and friends start. I love how everyone is supposed to contribute money for the club needs, and it must be money that the member actually earns. I also love how even though the kids may tease each other a little, they are very good-natured and supportive. When I was young, my favorite character was always Honey, because my hair and eyes were the same color as hers. But reading it as an adult to my daughter, I find that I like all the characters equally well. And the last few chapters were quite exciting! A good read...now on to book 4!
December 31, 2019
The Gatehouse Mystery is the third in the Trixie Belden series. She has made friends with Honey Wheeler and she and her new friend have helped Jim Frayne solve a few mysteries regarding his heritage and inheritance and Honey acquired a new brother when her parents adopt Jim. It is now the end of summer vacation and while waiting for Trixie's brothers, Brian and Mart, to come home from their summer of serving as counselors at camp she and Honey decide to investigate the run-down gatehouse hidden on a corner of the Wheelers' property. They've barely entered the building before Trixie's six-year-old brother Bobby trips and skins his knee on something in the hard dirt floor. Upon closer inspection, what she thinks is just a pebble turns out to be a diamond. How did a shiny diamond wind up in the cobwebby abandoned building?
Trixie begins to imagine jewel thieves fighting over their loot--with a diamond being lost in the shuffle. Is it possible that jewel thieves have chosen the small New York town as the perfect hiding place from authorities? There are clues to be found in the gatehouse including two sets of footprints--rubber soles and leather toes--as well as the question of a certain man's letter of recommendation. When a prowler sneaks into Honey's bedroom while she and Trixie are having a sleepover, Trixie is sure it's the jewel thief looking for the diamond which is now hidden a secret compartment of Honey's jewel box. When the boys come home from camp, they, along with Jim, help Trixie and Honey solve the mystery of the diamond in the gatehouse.
This was just as much fun to read as when I was young. It's really a pretty sophisticated mystery for young people--there's real danger for both Trixie and Jim and, although Trixie does jump to a few conclusions here and there, on the whole she makes deductions based on her observations and the clues at hand. A quite enjoyable walk down memory lane.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
Trixie begins to imagine jewel thieves fighting over their loot--with a diamond being lost in the shuffle. Is it possible that jewel thieves have chosen the small New York town as the perfect hiding place from authorities? There are clues to be found in the gatehouse including two sets of footprints--rubber soles and leather toes--as well as the question of a certain man's letter of recommendation. When a prowler sneaks into Honey's bedroom while she and Trixie are having a sleepover, Trixie is sure it's the jewel thief looking for the diamond which is now hidden a secret compartment of Honey's jewel box. When the boys come home from camp, they, along with Jim, help Trixie and Honey solve the mystery of the diamond in the gatehouse.
This was just as much fun to read as when I was young. It's really a pretty sophisticated mystery for young people--there's real danger for both Trixie and Jim and, although Trixie does jump to a few conclusions here and there, on the whole she makes deductions based on her observations and the clues at hand. A quite enjoyable walk down memory lane.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
May 3, 2019
Always makes my short list of favorites, usually the top 3, very often #1. For this is the book where the Bob-Whites of the Glen are formed and Trixie's older brothers are introduced. I always wanted to belong to a club and as I got older, I got a serious crush on dark, handsome, doctor-to-be Brian Belden.
8-17-12: The perfect summer book and still one of my favorites in the series. I did actually find myself annoyed this read-through by Jim and Honey constantly saying things that made it seem as though they had been living in Sleepyside for eons when it couldn't have been more than a month or a month and a half since they'd laid eyes on the town. It didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book, but maybe it put it down in "the top three" instead of squarely at #1. :)
6-23-13: See, this time those above things didn't bug me. :) Regan bugged me a little this time though. He's 22 and talks like an old man or like the Bob-Whites are little kids. Ah, well, "Reach for the ceiling, Laughing Boy!" still makes me smile. This is still one of my favorites in the whole series and a perfect summer read!
8-17-12: The perfect summer book and still one of my favorites in the series. I did actually find myself annoyed this read-through by Jim and Honey constantly saying things that made it seem as though they had been living in Sleepyside for eons when it couldn't have been more than a month or a month and a half since they'd laid eyes on the town. It didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book, but maybe it put it down in "the top three" instead of squarely at #1. :)
6-23-13: See, this time those above things didn't bug me. :) Regan bugged me a little this time though. He's 22 and talks like an old man or like the Bob-Whites are little kids. Ah, well, "Reach for the ceiling, Laughing Boy!" still makes me smile. This is still one of my favorites in the whole series and a perfect summer read!
October 25, 2019
This book was amazing !!!!!!!👍🏻😊 - my 10 year old’s review and rating. But yeah, I pretty much agree with him. The Bob-Whites if the Glen have come together and they had an honest to God mystery to solve and dangerous situations to navigate. Not to mention losing the “Object” in question for a while. Naturally, Trixie figured everything out and had to convince the others. The boys’ constant robbing of Trixie and Honey and “girl stuff” gets a little old, but this book IS from the early 50’s and thankfully hasn’t been updated like Nancy Drew. It’s Dulin to explain to my son how things worked back then. He didn’t know what carbon paper is or tracing paper. And I now remember how I learned to forge signatures! Haha!
June 6, 2015
This is THE Trixie Belden book, the one that establishes the formula for almost every Trixie Belden book to follow. It is the first in which Trixie and Honey declare their intent to be private investigators, and, while previously they kept secrets to protect others, this is the first in which they withhold information for no reason other than because "they want to solve the crime before the police."
Sadly, in this one, the Red Trailer Mystery idyll of girl power and independence is over, Trixie's brothers return from camp, and rich girl Honey who had never done a lick of house work in her life suddenly makes the "best waffles," knows how to darn socks, and loves to - really loves - to sew. "Darning is my favorite," she rhasodizes. W.T.F.? How did this happen? Two books ago, Honey didn't even know socks *could* be darned; her governess just bought her new ones when the old ones wore out. And our girls cared more about horses than making curtains. Suddenly, gender roles are front and center.
Don't get me wrong, I actually like Trixie's brothers. I think her arch-nemisis and strongest defender Mart is one of Campbell's best characters, but with the boys' return comes constant teasing about Trixie's lack of domestic skills and tomboy nature. I know. It's the 1950s, and this is the best we're going to get. Still, I kind of miss the Red Trailer days when the world was just Honey, Trixie, and Miss Trask, swimming, driving huge motor homes, and saving the world. In this one, we get some nice reminders that Miss Trask can drive a car better than most of the men around, and Mrs. Belden is nobody's fool and can do pretty much anything with one hand tied behind her back. But mending is now Honey's favorite leisure activity? Give me a break.
That said, it's a decent mystery, with the usual stock bad guys that populate the series, and the "Bob-Whites of the Glen" - our 50s-era Scooby Gang is formed, with Brian the serious one, Jim the all-around great guy, Honey the diplomatic one, Mart the smart-aleck, and Trixie the mad-cap girl detective always putting her foot in her mouth or rushing off into danger without thinking it through. Well-paced, with an exciting denouement even if we are pretty sure of the bad guy early on.
Sadly, in this one, the Red Trailer Mystery idyll of girl power and independence is over, Trixie's brothers return from camp, and rich girl Honey who had never done a lick of house work in her life suddenly makes the "best waffles," knows how to darn socks, and loves to - really loves - to sew. "Darning is my favorite," she rhasodizes. W.T.F.? How did this happen? Two books ago, Honey didn't even know socks *could* be darned; her governess just bought her new ones when the old ones wore out. And our girls cared more about horses than making curtains. Suddenly, gender roles are front and center.
Don't get me wrong, I actually like Trixie's brothers. I think her arch-nemisis and strongest defender Mart is one of Campbell's best characters, but with the boys' return comes constant teasing about Trixie's lack of domestic skills and tomboy nature. I know. It's the 1950s, and this is the best we're going to get. Still, I kind of miss the Red Trailer days when the world was just Honey, Trixie, and Miss Trask, swimming, driving huge motor homes, and saving the world. In this one, we get some nice reminders that Miss Trask can drive a car better than most of the men around, and Mrs. Belden is nobody's fool and can do pretty much anything with one hand tied behind her back. But mending is now Honey's favorite leisure activity? Give me a break.
That said, it's a decent mystery, with the usual stock bad guys that populate the series, and the "Bob-Whites of the Glen" - our 50s-era Scooby Gang is formed, with Brian the serious one, Jim the all-around great guy, Honey the diplomatic one, Mart the smart-aleck, and Trixie the mad-cap girl detective always putting her foot in her mouth or rushing off into danger without thinking it through. Well-paced, with an exciting denouement even if we are pretty sure of the bad guy early on.
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
May 11, 2014
For Christmas, my parents grabbed me the entire Trixie Belden set and I couldn't put them down. Even with a learning disability, I devoured the books. I look back now and I find that Trixie Belden was much more age related to young girls, particularly to me, reading the books than Nancy Drew. I found that they weren't so "over the top" either. I will be doing the same thing with my granddaughters if and when I have them, even if I have to stalk every used bookstore.
September 29, 2015
Listening to the audio book for my summer re-read.
Re-reading via audio book/overdrive 8/18/14-8/19/14
I love this book so much! Brian and Mart are home from camp, and the BWG's are formed.
2015 audio reread in September
Re-reading via audio book/overdrive 8/18/14-8/19/14
I love this book so much! Brian and Mart are home from camp, and the BWG's are formed.
2015 audio reread in September
January 12, 2024
5 cents for a phone call?? These books ARE old! :)
August 16, 2022
This was a fun little romp down memory lane with 13-year-old Trixie Belden and her best friend, Honey Wheeler, along with their siblings, as they solve the mystery of the diamond found in the Wheeler's abandoned gatehouse and try to hide the diamond while they figure out who the thieves are. Trixie is spunky and imaginative while Honey is kind and practical, and I love their sweet friendship. And I really enjoy hanging out with them while they're constantly riding horses, swimming in the lake, and eating ice cream. The old-fashioned expressions in this 1951 novel made me chuckle, too.
Trixie said nothing. She knew that Honey was right, but the idea of digging for buried treasure appealed to her imagination so strongly that she refused to admit that her own explanation of how the diamond got into the cottage was silly. After a minute she said, “The reason why the crooks didn’t come back for it when they found it wasn’t with the rest of the loot is that they got killed off in a gang war or something.”
The Trixie Belden children's mystery series was already out of print when I was a kid, but my Mom found the used hardbacks at yard sales and bought them for me. I read and loved all the Nancy Drew books, but I loved the Trixie Belden books even more!
The girls hurried down the driveway to the mailbox at the foot of the hill. Honey yanked it open. “My stars,” she said. “It’s full of mail. Miss Trask was too busy, for once. And I guess this is the book Jim was waiting for.”
Recommended for: Fans of Nancy Drew mysteries.
Where I found it: Library ebook.
Content: No objectionable content, but it's worth noting that this 1951 children's mystery contains some phrases that would've been completely innocent back then but could sound inappropriate to a modern reader.
Trixie said nothing. She knew that Honey was right, but the idea of digging for buried treasure appealed to her imagination so strongly that she refused to admit that her own explanation of how the diamond got into the cottage was silly. After a minute she said, “The reason why the crooks didn’t come back for it when they found it wasn’t with the rest of the loot is that they got killed off in a gang war or something.”
The Trixie Belden children's mystery series was already out of print when I was a kid, but my Mom found the used hardbacks at yard sales and bought them for me. I read and loved all the Nancy Drew books, but I loved the Trixie Belden books even more!
The girls hurried down the driveway to the mailbox at the foot of the hill. Honey yanked it open. “My stars,” she said. “It’s full of mail. Miss Trask was too busy, for once. And I guess this is the book Jim was waiting for.”
Recommended for: Fans of Nancy Drew mysteries.
Where I found it: Library ebook.
Content: No objectionable content, but it's worth noting that this 1951 children's mystery contains some phrases that would've been completely innocent back then but could sound inappropriate to a modern reader.
December 27, 2021
Back at home after their road trip, Trixie and Honey literally stumble over a diamond on the dirt floor of the long-abandoned gatehouse at the Wheeler mansion (okay, Trixie's baby brother Bobby is the person who trips over it, but Trixie and Honey are the ones who figure out what it is). Can they figure out who the thieves are before they feel obligated to take the diamond to the police?This book had some plusses. Trixie's older brothers, Brian and Mart, return from summer camp and finally become part of the Bob Whites of the Glen. But it also had a lot of minuses, from the major (that flimsy and not entirely legal plot premise! Sheesh, turn that diamond in to the authorities, kids!) to the minor (wow, this book makes it sound as if Honey and Jim have been living in Sleepyside with regular habits for years, not as if they just moved there and are still figuring things out). I didn't find this plot particularly engaging. I expect Child Eilonwy would have liked it better.
It gets 3 stars for being okay, but this installment fell a bit flat for me.
May 15, 2021
Trixie and Honey decide to explore the abandoned gatehouse on Honey's estate, only to find a mystery diamond ground into the mud. What follows is a lot of wrong guesses, some serious issues with the profiling of people entirely based on looks (Trixie, you disappoint me sometimes in this regard) and of course a fair amount of fun, especially as we finally get to meet Mart and Brian in the flesh.
This is a great story, which is a lot of fun. Lots of twists and turns, and even a few scary moments as the crooks come after the treasure. This never grows old no matter how many times I read it.
This is a great story, which is a lot of fun. Lots of twists and turns, and even a few scary moments as the crooks come after the treasure. This never grows old no matter how many times I read it.
February 12, 2024
A little nostalgia read. I must’ve read the first few Trixie Belden books 100 times as a kid. Definitely my favorite girl detective. It’s aged pretty well content wise, and the language is hilariously dated (“gleeps!”). The plot barely exists, and yet I stayed up late to finish it.
May 18, 2022
Vejam a minha opinião em vídeo, AQUI.
July 6, 2010
Just reread in an old first edition I picked up. This has got to be one of the best, if not THE best. So many series tropes are introduced here--I've thought before that in some ways Mansion and Red Trailer are almost prequels; this is the real introduction to the series proper. We get Brian and Mart, and Trixie and Honey announce they're going to be detectives, and the Bob-Whites are formed, and they find the clubhouse. Am always amused, though, that they make it sound like the Wheelers have been living there for ages--just how many times has Honey been over to Crabapple Farm and eaten leftovers for dinner, really?--and Jim has been with them that long, too, rather than being all "Yeah, I think I've met you maybe twice, but I'm going to call you Mother and Dad anyway; see you next time the helicopter drops you off for an afternoon".
January 18, 2012
This may be the first novel I've ever read that was constructed entirely (and I do mean entirely) out of slang and baby-talk. This is not a see-crud, I guess, to those of you who are fans of this series. I can already hear you saying, "Natch. And isn't it just yummy-yum-yum?"
To a certain degree, I guess it is. There's a secret-club feel to this series, a belonging and an inclusion that I imagine would appeal greatly to odd little kids. The mystery wasn't very mysterious, but it was fun to meet the brothers of Trixie. And I admit to snorting with adolescent-style laughter every time the boys called the girls "Moll Dicks, Inc." because yes, I am twelve years old. The plotting is solid, if transparent. The characters are very likable, though I can't really tell the boys apart yet.
I don't like the illustrations, I think they make Trixie and Honey look eight years old.
To a certain degree, I guess it is. There's a secret-club feel to this series, a belonging and an inclusion that I imagine would appeal greatly to odd little kids. The mystery wasn't very mysterious, but it was fun to meet the brothers of Trixie. And I admit to snorting with adolescent-style laughter every time the boys called the girls "Moll Dicks, Inc." because yes, I am twelve years old. The plotting is solid, if transparent. The characters are very likable, though I can't really tell the boys apart yet.
I don't like the illustrations, I think they make Trixie and Honey look eight years old.
August 4, 2014
I loved these books when I was young. If store carried books for any reason, I'd look for a Trixie Belden book. And re-reading them now I'm only a little surprised by how much of the story, dialogue, and description I remember intact.
One reason why I loved them so much is that Trixie seemed like a real person with good points and flaws. And she seemed ... 13 years old. So often children and teenagers seem more like adults in disguise. ("Beverly Hills, 90210" seemed a lot more like people in their late 20s who were mysteriously forced to drop by a high school every day.)
I *still* want to be a member of the Bob-Whites, even now. :-/
One reason why I loved them so much is that Trixie seemed like a real person with good points and flaws. And she seemed ... 13 years old. So often children and teenagers seem more like adults in disguise. ("Beverly Hills, 90210" seemed a lot more like people in their late 20s who were mysteriously forced to drop by a high school every day.)
I *still* want to be a member of the Bob-Whites, even now. :-/
March 27, 2017
I first read this in the 70's when I was really into this series [my love for them never really died, hence the re-reads]. SO glad I get a chance to re-read them!!!
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Re-read~August 30, 2013
I really enjoyed reading this one again. You get introduced [FINALLY] to Trixie's brother's and to some of the peripheral players that pop up time and again in the books. You also learn about diamonds and forgery and such! :-) Easy read that was a fun reminder of my days devouring these books when I was younger!!!
August 27, 2008
Found this book laying around somewhere during my elementary school years, and it started my Trixie Belden collection. I went on to collect all of them, and they're boxed up in my basement today. Preferred Trixie, who was fiesty and middle class, to Nancy Drew, who I perceived as unbelievable perfect and rich. The books have not all been simultaneously in print for some time, and the last few are hard to find. I'm sure I would find them predictable and trite by my current standards. But I did move on to better reading . . .
January 17, 2015
This is probably the first "big" book I read as a kid. I can say I liked it because my memories of it are good, but I don't remember as much about the story. I do remember thinking Trixie and I were basically the same age and I can't believe what kind of trouble she gets herself into. Anyway, I remember liking it :)
August 3, 2020
When are the boys going to learn to trust Trixie's instincts? The story starts with a found diamond, and while you're positive you know exactly who did it from the start, the difficulty is in the proof. Something that is in short supply!
June 26, 2012
This may very well be the best book in the Trixie Belden children's literature series. A great mystery and fantastic camaraderie among the characters. It was a nice reread for the weekend.
May 14, 2014
Sometimes it's good to return to you roots!
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