Book Plots Described Badly

Book Plots Described Badly

For this game, you will need to do some creative thinking. Each of the books in the Trixie Belden series has been described below. They are not in order. And the people who described them were… let us say, less than helpful in their descriptions. Some might focus on a minor detail, or just one scene. Some might contain a double meaning or play on words. A few contain a creative misrepresentation of book events. And others might combine these things.

How to Play

Read through the badly-described book plots and see how many you can identify. When you’re satisfied with your answers, check out how you did on the answer page.

This game was originally run as a competition, as part of Jixemitri’s twentieth anniversary celebrations. Participants could have up to three attempts and were given the number they had correct at the end of each try. The winners were as follows:

First place: Deanna/cestmoi1, with an astounding 39 correct.
Second place: Vivian, 32 correct.
Third place: Jenny, 27 correct.
Fourth place: Jenn, 23 correct (in one attempt).
Fifth place: Julia, 23 correct (in two attempts).
Sixth place: Fannie/jedi1ant, 22 correct.
Seventh place: Annette/tbjffan, 10 correct (but who only attempted some plots).

Congratulations winners, and thanks for playing!

So, let’s start with some examples. Hover over the space under the plot to see the answer.

Example 1: Heiress narrowly escapes serious injury when horse bolts on riding trail.

Red Trailer Mystery

In this book, Honey nearly got hurt when her horse bolted while the girls were looking for Jim. (This badly-described plot focusses on just one scene or detail from the book.)

Example 2: Jim drops a bombshell.

Mystery of the Missing Millionaire

In this book, Jim seems to show a keen interest in Laura Ramsay (an attractive blonde) but after she turns out to be the villain he reveals that he doesn’t even like her. (This badly-described plot has a double meaning or play on words.)

Example 3: A respectable retired businessman narrowly avoids being hit by a teenaged girl, who demands he give her and her friend chocolate cake while she makes fun of his most prized possessions.

Mystery of the Midnight Marauder

Grandpa Crimper nearly hits Trixie on her bike (but blames her). She tells him the least he can do is offer her and Honey chocolate cake. They go back to his house, where she gets him to show Honey his collection of old, broken music boxes. (This badly-described plot has a creative misrepresentation of events. It also focusses on just one scene.)

Ready to start? Let’s go!

The Plots

  1. Writer’s assistant is a real dummy.
  2. Traditional Thanksgiving side dish suspect in murder case.
  3. Bob-Whites impersonate Harlem Globetrotters, to the delight of local teens.
  4. A hunter offers a specimen of a previously undiscovered creature in exchange for a personal item.
  5. Trixie is afraid of ghosts and Jim isn't around to protect her. #honeymoonsover?
  6. After making rash promise, woman forces others to share in the consequences.
  7. Fun in the snow, a mysterious hermit, and twins!
  8. Teens litter highway with metal objects, putting other motorists at risk.
  9. Investigation thwarted by absence of its principal object.
  10. One hundred and seventeenth event fails to finish.
  11. Teens establish gang and proceed to get family employee fired in order to make room for a friend.
  12. Despite complete lack of relevant knowledge, skills and experience, teenagers assist lazy researchers and promote the benefits of swimming lessons.
  13. Bob-Whites buy out patisserie in search of information.
  14. Synonyms are not always your friend.
  15. Family disappears under mysterious circumstances no clues left to whereabouts #alienabduction?
  16. Misidentification leads to family conflict.
  17. Teen mysteriously takes up despised pastime and enjoys it.
  18. Potential sports champion inexplicably competes in the minors and is accused of cheating.
  19. The big reveal: costume jewellery turns out to be (wait for it) costume jewellery.
  20. Teen makes improper suggestion to police officer and gets away with it.
  21. Teens ignore safe work practices for heights in order to invade a man's privacy.
  22. Teen demands payment for services rendered in carbonated beverages.
  23. Man delegates responsibility for children to minors in order to attend business meetings.
  24. Chocolate or vanilla debate taken too far.
  25. Animals coerced into working for the betterment of the bird kingdom.
  26. Trixie is jealous of an annoying visitor.
  27. A series of trivial errors leads to embarrassing punishments conducted in front of other people.
  28. Boy steals food in order to save dog.
  29. The cutest boy you've ever seen? That's debatable.
  30. A much-anticipated date is interrupted by seven gate-crashers.
  31. Minor experiments with gender identification and familial connections prior to being reunited with blood relatives.
  32. Man accepts monetary bribe to risk health in inclement weather.
  33. Former circus performer prepares for local horse show.
  34. Misinterpretation of nickname leads to mistaken familial relationship.
  35. Respectable professional man's relative overlooked in favour of person with no relevant experience.
  36. Dual fundraisers create "foreign intrigue" for Trixie and boatloads of fun for all her friends.
  37. Perfectly reasonable observation ridiculed by teens, before one falls victim to a highly unlikely ailment.
  38. Sugar addict resorts to animal abuse to maintain possession of confections.
  39. Take my advice: never trust a woman who smells of raw hamburger.

The Books

  1. Secret of the Mansion
  2. Red Trailer Mystery
  3. Gatehouse Mystery
  4. Mysterious Visitor
  5. Mystery Off Glen Road
  6. Mystery in Arizona
  7. Mysterious Code
  8. Black Jacket Mystery
  9. Happy Valley Mystery
  10. Marshland Mystery
  11. Mystery of Bob-White Cave
  12. Mystery of the Blinking Eye
  13. Mystery on Cobbett’s Island
  14. Mystery of the Emeralds
  15. Mystery on the Mississippi
  16. Mystery of the Missing Heiress
  17. Mystery of the Uninvited Guest
  18. Mystery of the Phantom Grasshopper
  19. Mystery of the Unseen Treasure
  20. Mystery Off Old Telegraph Road
  21. Mystery of the Castaway Children
  22. Mystery on Mead’s Mountain
  23. Mystery of the Queen’s Necklace
  24. Mystery at Saratoga
  25. Sasquatch Mystery
  26. Mystery of the Headless Horseman
  27. Mystery of the Ghostly Galleon
  28. Hudson River Mystery
  29. Mystery of the Velvet Gown
  30. Mystery of the Midnight Marauder
  31. Mystery at Maypenny’s
  32. Mystery of the Whispering Witch
  33. Mystery of the Vanishing Victim
  34. Mystery of the Missing Millionaire
  35. Mystery of the Memorial Day Fire
  36. Mystery of the Antique Doll
  37. Pet Show Mystery
  38. Indian Burial Ground Mystery
  39. Mystery of the Galloping Ghost

Want to know the answers? Go to the answer page.

Have a question? Send me email. - Return to the Jix Main page. - Return to Janice’s Odds and Ends Page.

The material on this page is © Jixemitri, unless otherwise noted.
The Trixie Belden Series © Random House, used respectfully, albeit without permission.
Title image taken from The Mystery on the Mississippi, illustrated by Paul Frame.