Retro Reading: The Brady Bunch in The Treasure of Mystery Island by Jack Matcha

I can't remember when I fell in love with reading but I do remember when I first read The Brady Bunch in The Treasure of Mystery Island by Jack Matcha.Of course back then, it was required reading for any Brady Bunch fan.

As a TV tie-in, the book follows the bunch to an island off the coast of Maine for what's to be a fun filled family vacation. Things don't turn out that way.

One of Mike's clients has added an extra bonus: the use of his summer house, and Mike takes him up on the offer. Unfortunately, they don't know that the last family who vacationed there left in a hurry after being spooked by the unknown.

The kids are excited about finding possible pirate treasure (except for Bobby and Cindy) and on their first night, they're awoken by strange noises. Of course there's a valid explanation. Right? Really, who would want to hurt the Bradys?

Someone wants to see them leave and the following day the kids start to look for clues as to who or what wants them gone. It all comes to a head when Bobby and Cindy turn up missing. Didn't these two learn anything when they went to the Grand Canyon?

Of course for a kid this is a fun mystery but as an adult, the book is just as hokey as an episode. Even though it's been over 40 years since I read this it's still fun to spend some time reliving the past.

This was the first installment of what probably was going to be a whole series of books. We couldn't get enough of the bunch and for a kid we looked forward to stopping by their house every Friday night at 8:00 p.m.

Going back and reading this book sure brought back memories and with the Brady Bunch films, I found myself wondering what it would be like if they turned this and the other two crime solving Brady books into movies.

I guess we'll never know.