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Wishbone Mysteries #1
The Treasure of Skeleton Reef
When they help restore the Skeleton Reef Lighthouse for the Oakland Historical Society, Joe and Wishbone discover that the lighthouse holds the key to incredible treasure and to some dark and dangerous secrets.
141 pages, Library Binding
First published January 1, 1997
5 people are currently reading
248 people want to read
About the author
Brad Strickland
135 books107 followersWilliam Bradley Strickland (b. 1947) is the author (or co-author) of over 60 novels and over 60 pieces of short fiction and poetry.
Born in New Hollard, Strickland earned his Ph.D. in American literature from the University of Georgia. He has taught English courses at the University of Georgia, Oglethorpe University, Truett-McConnell College, and, since 1987, at Gainesville State College.
His first novel was 1986's To Stand Beneath the Sun, followed quickly by the books in the Jeremy Moon trilogy.
Strickland has shared co-author credit on many of his books: with his wife, Barbara, on stories in the Star Trek and Are You Afraid of the Dark? properties; and with the late author Thomas Fuller, books in the Wishbone series, involving the popular Jack Russell Terrier from the Public Television series of the same name. Strickland and Fuller also collaborated on numerous original works, including the Pirate Hunter series, the Mars: Year One series, and the comedic mystery for adults, The Ghost Finds a Body.
After the death of John Bellairs, Strickland was approached by John’s son, Frank, to complete the two books his father had already started; these unfinished manuscripts became The Ghost in the Mirror and The Vengeance of the Witch-Finder. Strickland also wrote two books based on brief plot outlines left by Bellairs: The Drum, the Doll and the Zombie and The Doom of the Haunted Opera. Beginning in 1996, Strickland has kept Bellairs' legacy alive by writing the further adventures of Johnny Dixon and Lewis Barnavelt. Books in the corpus include The Hand of the Necromancer (1996); The Tower at the End of the World (2001); The House Where Nobody Lived (2006); and his most recent title, The Sign of the Sinister Sorcerer (2008).
In 2001, Strickland won received the Georgia Author of the Year Award, Children's/Young Adult Division, for When Mack Came Back, set in WWII-era Georgia. Strickland says the story "is based on the farm owned by [his] grandfather, where [I] often visited when [I] was a child." Kong: King of Skull Island was released in 2005, an illustrated tale by Strickland, author John Michlig, and fantasy artist Joe DeVito that serves as both a prequel and sequel to the epic story of the legendary ape.
Strickland is an active member of the Atlanta Radio Theatre Company, where he writes and performs in numerous audio drama projects. He was awarded the ARTC Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006. He is married to the former Barabara Justus and has two grown children.
Born in New Hollard, Strickland earned his Ph.D. in American literature from the University of Georgia. He has taught English courses at the University of Georgia, Oglethorpe University, Truett-McConnell College, and, since 1987, at Gainesville State College.
His first novel was 1986's To Stand Beneath the Sun, followed quickly by the books in the Jeremy Moon trilogy.
Strickland has shared co-author credit on many of his books: with his wife, Barbara, on stories in the Star Trek and Are You Afraid of the Dark? properties; and with the late author Thomas Fuller, books in the Wishbone series, involving the popular Jack Russell Terrier from the Public Television series of the same name. Strickland and Fuller also collaborated on numerous original works, including the Pirate Hunter series, the Mars: Year One series, and the comedic mystery for adults, The Ghost Finds a Body.
After the death of John Bellairs, Strickland was approached by John’s son, Frank, to complete the two books his father had already started; these unfinished manuscripts became The Ghost in the Mirror and The Vengeance of the Witch-Finder. Strickland also wrote two books based on brief plot outlines left by Bellairs: The Drum, the Doll and the Zombie and The Doom of the Haunted Opera. Beginning in 1996, Strickland has kept Bellairs' legacy alive by writing the further adventures of Johnny Dixon and Lewis Barnavelt. Books in the corpus include The Hand of the Necromancer (1996); The Tower at the End of the World (2001); The House Where Nobody Lived (2006); and his most recent title, The Sign of the Sinister Sorcerer (2008).
In 2001, Strickland won received the Georgia Author of the Year Award, Children's/Young Adult Division, for When Mack Came Back, set in WWII-era Georgia. Strickland says the story "is based on the farm owned by [his] grandfather, where [I] often visited when [I] was a child." Kong: King of Skull Island was released in 2005, an illustrated tale by Strickland, author John Michlig, and fantasy artist Joe DeVito that serves as both a prequel and sequel to the epic story of the legendary ape.
Strickland is an active member of the Atlanta Radio Theatre Company, where he writes and performs in numerous audio drama projects. He was awarded the ARTC Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006. He is married to the former Barabara Justus and has two grown children.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 12, 2025
The first mystery featuring the infamous literature-loving Jack Russell terrier...and it's a great one!
November 13, 2025
I always loved watching Wishbone in the series. Reading the books give you a longer version of what is going on, where the TV makes things go by in a flash, so in that regard, I guess I would favor the book, but you just can't beat seeing a cute puppy in action.
July 20, 2017
I have read one or two other Wishbone mysteries while they hadn't truly interested me and seemed more like a sluggish addition to a series. Fortunately this book was the start of the series and it was a wonderful yet quick read for me that truly did keep my interest as well as helping out in the telling of the Sherlock Holmes short "The Adventure of the Musgrave Ritual" without giving away much else of the plot.
For those who are a bit more of a mystery reader the discussion of the implied short story will most definitely give you an idea as to how this particular mystery will be solved. Fortunately for many young readers who are ready to take on chapter books for a first this will be a book with maybe a bit of a surprise or two while discussing how one can learn to deduce things that may have been, how to be willing to research and to help them understand just how much land can truly change in the real world due to some type of natural event..
The characters weren't truly built up that were from the series but then again most likely the writers probably thought only show fans may want to read this book and already knew them. Otherwise the secondary characters more or less had more to offer the reader as well as Wishbone in some cases than the rest of the primary players. And interestingly enough they just chose that Joe couldn't do it on his own thus bringing in a girl who mimics Sam from Oakdale while separating Joe Talbot from Nancy Drew.
Again a really good start to the series and a truly enjoyable read when compared to some other books from Wishbone.
For those who are a bit more of a mystery reader the discussion of the implied short story will most definitely give you an idea as to how this particular mystery will be solved. Fortunately for many young readers who are ready to take on chapter books for a first this will be a book with maybe a bit of a surprise or two while discussing how one can learn to deduce things that may have been, how to be willing to research and to help them understand just how much land can truly change in the real world due to some type of natural event..
The characters weren't truly built up that were from the series but then again most likely the writers probably thought only show fans may want to read this book and already knew them. Otherwise the secondary characters more or less had more to offer the reader as well as Wishbone in some cases than the rest of the primary players. And interestingly enough they just chose that Joe couldn't do it on his own thus bringing in a girl who mimics Sam from Oakdale while separating Joe Talbot from Nancy Drew.
Again a really good start to the series and a truly enjoyable read when compared to some other books from Wishbone.
July 28, 2017
I gave this a four star because it was slow all the way to the last two or three chapters. I don't like slow books they annoy me. Other wise this was a great book and I enjoyed the mystery and adventure.
Joe Talbot, his mom, neighbor and best friend and dog Wishbone all go to St George Bay to help their neighbor Wanda restore a lighthouse that was given to the historical society of Oakdale where they live. Wanda just didn't know how bad the lighthouse shape was or she had a deadline of September 1st to fix or it has to be torn down.
Wanda is heartbroken by this but Joe is determined to find out if the truth behind a poem he found in the attic area of the house they staying at is true about treasure. With a friend he met named Christy and her cat Cap't Ahab they set out to discover if what everybody thinks is false about the ship that was deserted years ago is true.
I was happy when they found out that it was true. There was just a hurricane that took out an island out and the other one was moved to where it had been. Hope and Charity were switched and they found the ship wreckage. They also found the treasure and saved the lighthouse along with Wanda's reputation for taking it on before seeing it.
I loved Wishbones monologue in the story he is so sweet. I used to watch the show all the time and miss it. Wish they would put all 4 seasons on dvd but they haven't yet. Which really stinks. I'd go to Food Lion grocery store and get them every month.
Joe Talbot, his mom, neighbor and best friend and dog Wishbone all go to St George Bay to help their neighbor Wanda restore a lighthouse that was given to the historical society of Oakdale where they live. Wanda just didn't know how bad the lighthouse shape was or she had a deadline of September 1st to fix or it has to be torn down.
Wanda is heartbroken by this but Joe is determined to find out if the truth behind a poem he found in the attic area of the house they staying at is true about treasure. With a friend he met named Christy and her cat Cap't Ahab they set out to discover if what everybody thinks is false about the ship that was deserted years ago is true.
I was happy when they found out that it was true. There was just a hurricane that took out an island out and the other one was moved to where it had been. Hope and Charity were switched and they found the ship wreckage. They also found the treasure and saved the lighthouse along with Wanda's reputation for taking it on before seeing it.
I loved Wishbones monologue in the story he is so sweet. I used to watch the show all the time and miss it. Wish they would put all 4 seasons on dvd but they haven't yet. Which really stinks. I'd go to Food Lion grocery store and get them every month.
April 25, 2023
Personally, I love Wishbone. They were some of the first books I remember reading when I was young. The kids (ages 7 and 10) picked this as their bedtime book and we’ve been reading it for the last few weeks. They now love both Hank the Cowdog and Wishbone books! They’ve already picked The Super Adventures of Wishbone: Wishbone’s Dog Days of the West as their next bedtime book.
Storyline was good, love that they encourage kids to take interest in history and historic preservation in a fun way, kids loved Wishbone, liked the mystery- I’d recommend this as a quick, fun read.
Storyline was good, love that they encourage kids to take interest in history and historic preservation in a fun way, kids loved Wishbone, liked the mystery- I’d recommend this as a quick, fun read.
December 7, 2018
Another book I missed as a kid, but well worth the read!
Wishbone fans won't be disappointed by this fun read. :)
Definitely interesting- the real life inspirations, and the Sherlock references add nicely to this one.
Wishbone fans won't be disappointed by this fun read. :)
Definitely interesting- the real life inspirations, and the Sherlock references add nicely to this one.
March 4, 2020
I really thought I would enjoy this book, particularly with a jack russel in it. I figured the book would be fast-paced and intriguing as is a Jack Russel’s temperament. Instead it dragged on and was boring majority of the way through.
December 7, 2017
The secret is in the soy.
November 30, 2023
When Joe and Wishbone's neighbor Wanda gets invited to see an old lighthouse that is being given to the Oakdale Historical society, she invites them to come with her. But this lighthouse has a lot more to it than they expected and soon Joe and Wishbone are hot on the trail to find buried pirate treasure. Will they find it or will the lighthouse's history be forgotten?
August 8, 2016
I loved, loved, loved Wishbone as a kid, and the books were really fun too. The books were not only based on classic stories, like the show, but also had unique themes of their own. This one, surrounding a lighthouse, mysteries and treasure was a rollicking, enjoyable read.
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December 11, 2008Cute middle school reading.
July 9, 2014
How do you read the book? I'm new to this app and not sure what to do?
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews