Lots of great elements but doesn't really reach its potential. Still fun to revisit a childhood favourite. ( )

Cracked spine

Trixie sets out to prove that she doesn't have to leave home to cause problems in "The Mystery of the Missing Heiress". Jim has a cousin! His Aunt Betje left behind a daughter, Juliana, who is heir to a parcel of land near Manor House that's worth a lot of money. Juliana shows up in town and Trixie doesn't much care for her, even if she is Jim's cousin.
At the hospital, Trixie and Honey visit with a young woman called "Janie". Janie is suffering from amnesia after being struck by a car. Mrs. Belden arranges for her to come stay and recuperate at Crabapple Farm, while Trixie tries to hunt for any clues to her identity. She's sure she's figured it out when she reads a plea in a newspaper from a woman who's sister went missing a few weeks earlier, but after Mr. Wheeler flies them all out to meet the sister, it turns out Janie isn't her. Meanwhile, Juliana is acting more and more suspicious and nasty. Of course once Juliana's fiance from Holland, Hans, comes to town and as soon as Janie sees him, she remembers that SHE is Juliana. Hooray! The impostor was Jim's evil stepfather's niece. ( )

The Beldens are very nice. They take in a girl who has lost her memory. Trixie of course solves the mystery in the end. ( )

A childhood favorite re-visited.

Is the story as good as I remember? – Yes

What ages would I recommend it too? – Twelve and up.

Length? – Most of a day’s read.

Characters? – Memorable, several characters.

Setting? – Real world, pre - computer, pre - cell phone. (Interesting note - the manor house is now air conditioned).

Written approximately? – 1964?

Does the story leave questions in the readers mind? – Ready to read more.

Any issues the author (or a more recent publisher) should cover? Yes. A slight mention of the time frame of the story - as the teens are given far more freedom to come and go as they please than would be safe today. Also, the absence of computers, cell phones.

Short storyline: Trixie Belden, Honey, Jim, and her brothers work to determine who "Janie" is, while Jim's new found cousin "Juliana" behaves strangely and totally inconsistent with her reported behavior by her neighbors. Agree with other reviewers in that Trixie would have questioned this far more, and figured out Jonesy far sooner than this plot says she did. Not quite believable for the character. Though I do like the final wrap up.


Notes for the reader: An okay mystery. An double attempt at murder of one of the new characters. ( )