The Mystery of the Missing Heiress

## Plot

When the owner of the Blue Heron Marsh land is sought, Jim finds that the land is owned by his mother's sister.  An investigation by the Bob-Whites reveals that his aunt is dead and Jim has a cousin, Juliana who is still alive.  The Bob-Whites go to find her, but there car is vandalised and they return home to find she is already in Sleepyside and staying with Mrs Vanderpoel.  Her arrival is over-shadowed by a woman (nicknamed Janie) hurt in an accident and suffering from amnesia and captures the hearts of all around her.  Trixie tries to help her find her family and discover who she is, but her attempts are thwarted by Juliana who tries to stop her from remembering.  When another attempt is made on Janie's life and Juliana begins acting mysteriously, it is up to Trixie and the Bob-Whites to find out the truth and uncover the true identity of Janie and Juliana.

## Characters

* Trixie Belden
* Jim Frayne
* Honey Wheeler
* Brian Belden
* Mart Belden
* Diana Lynch
* Dan Mangan
* Helen and Peter Belden
* Bobby Belden
* Miss Trask
* Celia Delanoy
* Regan
* Tom Delanoy
* Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler
* Bob
* Spider Webster
* Sergeant Molinson
* Mrs. Vanderpoel
* Mrs. Hendricks
* Dr. Gregory
* Beth Meredith
* Hans Vorwald
* Juliana Maasden
* Jonesy
* Jonesy's Niece
* Bull Thompson

## Chapter Titles

1. Discovery at the Marsh
2. A Mysterious Phone Call
3. The Faded Snapshot
4. Practice for the Turf Show
5. Juliana Is Alive!
6. A Surprise for the Bob-Whites
7. A Victim of Amnesia
8. Janie Might Be Dangerous!
9. What Happens to Missing People?
10. Flight to Disappointment
11. Mystery Car at the Treasure Hunt
12. The Warning Signs Are Gone!
13. Trixie's Courage
14. Report to Sergeant Molinson
15. Spider Kicks Up a Clue
16. A Shadow at the Window
17. Something Curious About the Dog
18. Janie Remembers!

## Trivia

* Brian says that he thought Jim and Honey would be looking out the window, "rackets in hand, waiting for us" (p. 13).  Were they intending on playing tennis?  All thoughts of this disappeared as they found out about the car Mr Wheeler had given the Bob-Whites, and then Regan told them to take the horses out for a ride.
* The Bob-Whites were happy to accept the gift of a car, which goes against a main rule of their club.  However, no one brought this up.  In *The Mysterious Code*, Trixie made a big deal about accepting a lamp from Di's father.
* Mart tells Dan: "Jim and Brian will give you a driving lesson right away" (p. 24).  Therefore, Dan must be older than Mart.
* Jim's mother's maiden name was Katje Vanderhaiden and his aunt's maiden name was Betje Vanderhaiden.  It is never explained how Betje came to own that land and how Mrs Vanderpoel knew of Jim's mother and had a picture of his aunt and her family.
* Jim knew he had an aunt Betje Vanderheiden, but did not know she had married.  If his married aunt had died fifteen years ago, Jim would have been one or two and his mother would surely have known if Mrs Vanderpoel did.  This doesn't quite make sense.
* Trixie worked at the hospital as part of the Volunteen program with Honey.
* Dan's horse Spartan can dance and the previous owner had told Mr Wheeler that Spartan used to be a circus horse (p. 54).  Spartan is 25 years old and "Mr Wheeler bought (Spartan) for Dan to use for light work in helping Mr Maypenny" (p. 61).  However, in *The Black Jacket Mystery,* Regan says that "maybe we can spare old Spartan for Dan to use".
* Spider and Tad had moved to White Plains, where Spider had taken a better job.
* Mart has been to the Poconos once before (p. 92.)
* Janie's accident occurred outside Ten Acres on Glen Road.  The Bob-Whites were in the Bronx trying to find Juliana, but surely the Belden's would have heard the accident and the emergency vehicles?  It is not mentioned who found Janie.
* An extra room and bathroom had been built  downstairs at Crabapple Farm for Trixie's father and mother  just after they married.  A few years later, both grandparents died (p. 104).
* Mart can play the guitar and pick out a tune on the melodian, while Trixie is grateful for "Brian's scout training" (p. 171).
* Trixie tells Hans that Jonesy "hadn't been seen around here for two years" (p. 230).  Had two years passed since Trixie and Honey had found Jim?
* The fake Juliana was Jonesy's niece.  Did Jim not know that his step-father had a niece or any siblings?

## References

1. ↑ "The Mystery of the Missing Heiress." Trixie-belden.com. N.d. Retrieved September 5, 2021 from http://www.trixie-belden.com/books/series/book16.htm