Somehow I ended up trying out the new Nancy Drew series on book 4 rather than book 1. But that's okay. The beauty of Nancy Drew is that there are not super linear and can be read out of order. As for this new series, eh, it's okay. I still prefer my classic Nancy and the girl on the cover looks 12, not 18 as it's implied this Nancy is. She can drive and has credit cards but no discernible income. I honestly thought this was closer to middle grade based on the cover.
The mystery itself is classic Nancy though. She goes on a weekend vacation with Bess and George and falls straight into a mystery based out of a book. When a bookstore in the town catches on fire, arson is suspected. Was it the reclusive author who was due to give a signing? Or the book store owner herself? Or the inn keeper who didn't get along with either? And why is there a sudden rash of crimes related to the author's books? It's up to Nancy to solve the case.
Showing posts with label Nancy Drew. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nancy Drew. Show all posts
Friday, July 11, 2014
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Sleuthing Sundays - Nancy Drew 52, 53, 54, 55, 56
And with this Sleuthing Sunday, I am officially done with the Nancy Drew Challenge. I didn't finished exactly by the end of the year, just missing it by one day but I am done! Whoo who! I consider this quite an accomplishment.
The Secret of the Forgotten City (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #52)
The Sky Phantom (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #53)
The Strange Message in the Parchment (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #54)
Mystery of Crocodile Island (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #55)
The Thirteenth Pearl (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #56)
Well, it was an exciting case for Nancy's last one and she got to travel to Japan which was cool. I wish there would have been more George and Bess and especially more Ned. I like the mysteries that he is in more. But he shows up in the end and they pretty much drive off into the proverbial sunset.
The Secret of the Forgotten City (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #52)
Bess sighed. "Do you think we can ever find that city and the sheets of gold?"Nancy and her gang go on an archeological dig in Nevada hoping to undercover the mystery of a hidden treasure. Along the way she gets involved with a dangerous criminal who is also after the treasure. The race is on in this thrilling and dangerous mystery. But don't worry, Nancy Drew can always solve the case and save the day.
"I'll wager," said Burt, "that if anybody can find them Nancy Drew can." p.62
The Sky Phantom (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #53)
Bess was alarmed. "Oh, Nancy, why can't you ever solve a mystery without all sorts of threats and harrowing dangers to you, George, and me?" p.32Nancy, Bess and George are staying at a ranch while Nancy takes flying lessons and Bess and George work on their horse back riding. Nancy stumbles upon a mystery involving a mysterious hovering cloud with magnetic properties. Along the way comes the thief of a prized pony and a love triangle involving Bess, Dave and a ranch hand.
The Strange Message in the Parchment (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #54)
"Junie, you've never seen Nancy when she's trying to solve a mystery. She's like a hound on a scent and never gives up until she has caught the villain!" p.3Nancy is invited by an old school friend we have never heard of to solve the mystery in a parchment bought by her father. In a series of painting lies a mystery that will right an old wrong and it's up to the girl detective to solve the case. Along the way also comes the mystery some thugs that are roughing up some of the farm workers and local merchants.
Mystery of Crocodile Island (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #55)
"We're getting to be notorious." [Nancy] chuckled.Nancy and her friends go to Florida to investigate the mysterious goings-on at a crocodile farm located around some keys. While there, there is danger afoot involving a submarine, mosquitoes and, of course, crocodiles though not as many as I thought there would be. Luckily, Ned shows up at the end just in time to be kidnapped with Nancy.
The Thirteenth Pearl (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #56)
"My, my," said Hannah. "You certainly do get around solving mysteries." p.36Nancy and her friends investigate a missing necklace. After a pearl necklace is stolen from a local merchant, the case takes her to Japan as Nancy investigates the missing necklace.
Well, it was an exciting case for Nancy's last one and she got to travel to Japan which was cool. I wish there would have been more George and Bess and especially more Ned. I like the mysteries that he is in more. But he shows up in the end and they pretty much drive off into the proverbial sunset.
She paused a moment, then said, "Do you think we'll ever get another mystery to solve?"
Ned chuckled. "It's just like you to say that, Nancy. It seems to me that you have had quite a few mysteries to solve since The Secret of the Old Clock." p.178
Labels:
mystery,
Nancy Drew,
reviews,
Sleuthing Sundays,
young adult
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Nancy Drew 51
"Nancy's hunches usually turn out to be right, but at times" -he paused- "she has some harrowing experiences before drawing her mystery to a conclusion!" p.137Ned is kidnapped! And Nancy kind of freaks for a minute, then gathers her wits together along with her friends and sets out to find me. No crazy nut-job is going to steal her "special friend" and get away with it! That's for darn sure. Along the way there is this weird glowing eye at a museum that factors in as well as Nancy dragging her friends into swamps and making friends with a helicopter pilot who flies her around. Nancy is determined to find Ned. It's nice to see that Nancy cares very much for him because half the time he seems to be only good for sleuthing but she really freaks out a couple of times while he is kidnapped.
Labels:
mystery,
Nancy Drew,
reviews,
young adult
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Nancy Drew 48, 49, 50
The Crooked Banister (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #48)
The Secret of Mirror Bay (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #49)
The Double Jinx Mystery (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #50)
"You always start out solving mysteries with the idea you'll be perfectly safe and you always end up getting into hot water." p.3Nancy gets involved in a mystery involving a crazy house with a robot. Investigating a swindler (of course) she, Bess, and George travel to a town where the swindler lived. There they deal with the crazily built house with a fire moat and a robot set to stun. It is a pretty interesting mystery and involves something a bit different than her usual stuff.
The Secret of Mirror Bay (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #49)
"...but sometimes Nancy becomes too enthusiastic and runs into danger." p.91Nancy goes to a camp at Mirror Bay with her friends and her Aunt Eloise. There they solve the mystery of the gliding woman who seemingly walks on water and the mystery of a missing antique child's carriage. She also becomes involved with a haunted forest and a mysterious sorcerer.
The Double Jinx Mystery (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #50)
The woman looked a bit startled that such a lovely and wholesome girl would be trying to track down a criminal, but she made no comment and said good-bye. p.93Nancy and her father are jinxed with an underhanded construction company tries to condemn a man's property including his aviary and zoo. Nancy will not let it stand however and tries to prove that the mysterious going-ons are the result of the company. Along the way she and Ned contract bird flu and have other unfortunate things happen to them.
Labels:
mystery,
Nancy Drew,
young adult
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Sleuthing Sundays - Nancy Drew 45, 46, 47
The Spider Sapphire Mystery (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #45)
Before Nancy and her gang set off on their safari, she becomes intrigued by a synthetic sapphire made in River Heights. When she learns that the real spider sapphire located in Africa, consequently in a town she is going to go to, has been stolen, the young detective decides to solve the mystery. She is also asked to solve the mystery of the missing brother of a famous singer from Africa.
The Invisible Intruder (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #46)
The Mysterious Mannequin (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #47)
The two police officers looked at her admiringly. "You know, Miss Drew," said Riggi, "you ought to be a secret agent."Nancy goes on safari in Africa and finds herself immersed in several mysteries. Yes, even in Africa the girl detective can make plenty of friends and even more enemies!
"I'd love that," Nancy said quickly.
"But we wouldn't," Bess spoke up. "You get into enough trouble just being a girl detective." p.38
Before Nancy and her gang set off on their safari, she becomes intrigued by a synthetic sapphire made in River Heights. When she learns that the real spider sapphire located in Africa, consequently in a town she is going to go to, has been stolen, the young detective decides to solve the mystery. She is also asked to solve the mystery of the missing brother of a famous singer from Africa.
The Invisible Intruder (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #46)
Bab sighed. "As long as we debunk the ghost business, do we have to capture the villains?"This was an unusual mystery in that it deviated from the standard Nancy solves a mystery that leads to the solution of her dad's case. In this book Nancy goes with a group of ghost-hunters to solve some mysteries. The group includes the missing Helen Corning Archer who we haven't seen in a long time! It was nice to see her around, helping a bit with Nancy's case. There were 5 mysteries with one solution, of course and Nancy plows right along solving them.
George answered. "We usually do. Nancy never leaves a case unfinished." p.50
The Mysterious Mannequin (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #47)
George looked at Bess and said, "You know perfectly well Nancy wouldn't give up the case. She's not a scaredy-cat." p.69After Caron Drew is sent a mysterious Turkish rug with a hidden message inside, Nancy takes up the case. It leads to a dangerous case and a trip to Turkey as she tries to find a missing shop owner and the mannequin he left behind which may contain a treasure!
Labels:
mystery,
Nancy Drew,
reviews,
Sleuthing Sundays,
young adult
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Sleuthing Sundays - Nancy Drew 44
The Clue in the Crossword Cipher (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories 44)
This was a fairly interesting mystery. There was a lot of history and it was something different from the standard European country mystery. I still want to know why George and Bess' parents let them wander around the world so much. Though I guess I would want those opportunities for my child too. There were several harrowing close calls but, of course, Nancy Drew comes through them just fine.
"I knew it wouldn't be long before Nancy would become involved with some enigma. This one sounds like a real challenge." p.8Nancy travels to Peru to solve a 300 year old mystery. Invited a new friends, Nancy, Bess and George set out to solve a dangerous mystery which leads them through parts of South America where they also learn about the ancient cultures of South America.
This was a fairly interesting mystery. There was a lot of history and it was something different from the standard European country mystery. I still want to know why George and Bess' parents let them wander around the world so much. Though I guess I would want those opportunities for my child too. There were several harrowing close calls but, of course, Nancy Drew comes through them just fine.
Labels:
mystery,
Nancy Drew,
reviews,
Sleuthing Sundays,
young adult
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Nancy Drew 43
The Mystery of the 99 Steps (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories 43)
This was a standard Nancy in a European coutry mystery. Too bad she can't just go to Europe in one trip and solve all the mysteries at once. It would save flight time. Though how lucky are Bess and George to have befriended Nancy Drew. They get to go on all these trips and adventures and rarely have to pay for anything. Where is my Nancy Drew!?
The two officers stared at the girls unbelieving. Finally both grinned at Nancy and one said, "I must admit you do have a good detective instinct, Mademoiselle Drew, and your friend here too. Perhaps you three girls can give us some more help." p.129/130Nancy is off to France to help to solve a mystery revolving around a neighbor's dream and the 99 Steps. Also involved are a forger who seems to be everywhere and a frightened financier who Mr. Drew is investigating. Will Nancy solve this mystery while traveling around France speaking fluent French, meeting handsome French men, and eating delicious French food and giving informative French lessons? Oui.
This was a standard Nancy in a European coutry mystery. Too bad she can't just go to Europe in one trip and solve all the mysteries at once. It would save flight time. Though how lucky are Bess and George to have befriended Nancy Drew. They get to go on all these trips and adventures and rarely have to pay for anything. Where is my Nancy Drew!?
Labels:
mystery,
Nancy Drew,
young adult
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Teaser Tuesdays - The Clue in the Crossword Cipher
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along!
Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
She fairly leaped across the room and yanked the drawer open. Nancy gasped in dismay!
p.46 The Clue in the Crossword Cipher by Carolyn Keene
Labels:
Nancy Drew,
teaser tuesdays
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Sleuthing Sundays - Nancy Drew 40, 42
The Moonstone Castle Mystery (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #40)
The Phantom of Pine Hill (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #42)
Bess and George were always interested in observing Nancy's sleuthing procedures. They often wondered whether it was her charm, her straight-forwarded manner, or her businesslike approach that unfailingly gained her entrance to offices of officials. p.43This time Nancy is asked by her father to investigate an adoption and/or kidnapping case that happened many years before as related to a new case of his. This leads Nancy to a quaint town with a castle (for whatever reason) and another case about moonstones which, of course, leads back to the first case all wrapped up in one neat package.
The Phantom of Pine Hill (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #42)
For several seconds Nancy did not move. There had been a few times in her life when she had been utterly confounded by some event which seemed to hold no explanation except a supernatural one. This was one of those times. p.34When a mix up at the hotel results in Nancy, George, and Bess staying with an elderly gentlemen for their visit to Emersen University June Week, it also leads to a mystery for Nancy and her crew. The mystery involved a phantom who breaks into Uncle John's, the elderly man, library without any means of entering or exiting. It's up to Nancy to solve that and another mystery that comes along involving sunken treasure.
Labels:
mystery,
Nancy Drew,
reviews,
Sleuthing Sundays,
young adult
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Sleuthing Sundays - Nancy Drew 39,
The Clue of the Dancing Puppet (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #39)
"Nancy's not only an ace detective, but a money-maker and a top actress!" p.176Nancy is asked to investigate the mysterious appearance of a dancing puppet who has no strings! The owners of an amateur theater group ask the girl detective to investigate the spooky happenings. Nancy, along with Bess and George, moved into their home and start their search. After a confluence of events, Nancy finally solves the mystery and even earns accolades as an actress in the course of her sleuthing.
Labels:
mystery,
Nancy Drew,
reviews,
Sleuthing Sundays,
young adult
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Sleuthing Sundays - Nancy Drew 41
The Clue of the Whistling Bagpipes (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #41)

Nancy and her friends smiled, and Bess said with a sigh, "I wish we would meet charming characters like that nowadays instead of sheep and jewel thieves!" p.140Nancy travels to Scotland to visit her maternal great grandmother who is apparently Scottish. The things we learn about Nancy! Well, it's nice to see something of her mother's family even if we never hear anything about her actual mother. There are several cases, of course, and one involves smuggling, this time sheep. Why is it always smuggling? It's like there are no other crimes to commit besides smuggling and theft and they are close to the same anyway.
Anyway, mysteries to solve and bagpipes to learn. It is seriously lucky that Nancy is capable of learning any instrument in a few hours and even luckier for her that it happens to be the exact tune her aunt taught her. Otherwise it might have a taken a bit long to catch the thieves. Such a multi-talented girl!
Labels:
mystery,
Nancy Drew,
reviews,
Sleuthing Sundays,
young adult
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Teaser Tuesdays - The Clue of the Whistling Bagpipes
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along!
Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
Nancy ran forward and strained her eyes to catch the license number and make of the mysterious truck. But just then two swiftly running figures dashed up, obscuring her view.
p.102 The Clue of the Whistling Bagpipes by Carolyn Keene
Labels:
Nancy Drew,
teaser tuesdays
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Sleuthing Sundays - Nancy Drew 36, 37, 38
The Secret of the Golden Pavilion (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #36)
The Clue in the Old Stagecoach (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #37)
I've read 36 Nancy Drews so far this year and this one was my least favorite so far. I'm not sure if it is the whole stagecoach thing that frankly didn't make much sense to me or the fact that Nancy and her friends are going on dates with boys other than Ned, Burt, and Dave. They are at some sort of resort/camp thing and they're just hanging out with these guys. Poor Ned! You know he isn't going around dating or hanging out with any other girls. Anyway, like I said I wasn't fond of the mystery that much. It was a little blah although the resolution was not what I expected so there's that.
The Mystery of the Fire Dragon (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #38)
Nancy is speculator at solving cases even in foreign cities where she doesn't speak the language. Thank God for her that the villains are really dumb and end up being people that have involved themselves with Nancy and her friends enough for her to remember them. Though the gang in this mystery is really big which is unusual. And international as well! This case is a real notch under Nancy's belt!
She hurried upstairs and from one of her suitcases took the magnifying glass which her father had given her for Christmas. I twas a very fine one and Nancy called it her "Pride and Joy." p.86Nancy goes to Hawaiian! Given another intriguing mystery by a client of her father's, Nancy and her friends are on their way to Hawaii to solve a mystery of some mysterious Polynesian symbols as well as prove that people posing as grandchild of Mr. Drew's client's grandfather are fake. (Yes, I know.) Thankfully, the Emerson boys just happen to have travel plans to Hawaii so Ned is around to "help" Nancy out. It's up to the girl detective to make everything right as well as uncover the plans of a notorious gang called the Double Scorps, (Yes, I know.) Can she do it? Yes. Because she is Nancy Drew.
The Clue in the Old Stagecoach (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #37)
"The only real detective among us is Nancy Drew, but we all go to her training school," Burt Eddleton spoke up with a grin. p.154/155Summary: Nancy is asked by an elderly woman to find her great-uncle's lost stagecoach to help out her failing town.
I've read 36 Nancy Drews so far this year and this one was my least favorite so far. I'm not sure if it is the whole stagecoach thing that frankly didn't make much sense to me or the fact that Nancy and her friends are going on dates with boys other than Ned, Burt, and Dave. They are at some sort of resort/camp thing and they're just hanging out with these guys. Poor Ned! You know he isn't going around dating or hanging out with any other girls. Anyway, like I said I wasn't fond of the mystery that much. It was a little blah although the resolution was not what I expected so there's that.
The Mystery of the Fire Dragon (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #38)
"A firecracker!" Bess repeated, thinking that mysteries for Nancy Drew had started in many unusual ways but never before with a giant firecracker. p.9Nancy ends up in Hong Kong after a case takes first to New York and then leads to Hong Kong. She is looking for her aunt's missing neighbor who is Chinese. Chi Che is missing with a suspcious note left behind and it is up to the girl detective to find her.
Nancy is speculator at solving cases even in foreign cities where she doesn't speak the language. Thank God for her that the villains are really dumb and end up being people that have involved themselves with Nancy and her friends enough for her to remember them. Though the gang in this mystery is really big which is unusual. And international as well! This case is a real notch under Nancy's belt!
Labels:
mystery,
Nancy Drew,
reviews,
Sleuthing Sundays,
young adult
Thursday, November 4, 2010
A Nancy Drew Drinking Game
As you may or may not know, I'm attempting to read the original 56 Nancy Drew Mystery Stories for the Nancy Drew Reading Challenge. Because of this I've been inspired to invented a drinking game based on the girl detective's many adventures.
Drink:
- when one of Nancy's old or new cases is mentioned by title
- Nancy is mentioned as any one of these adjectives: young, slender, attractive, titian haired
- "girl detective" or "sleuth" is used
- it is an orphan, old person, a pair of siblings or poor person in trouble, two if they are any combination
- Nancy uses cunning to escape a bad situation
- Nancy gets a misdirecting note, telegraph, or phone call
- Nancy figures out that the note, telegraph, or phone call is misdirecting
- a phone call is cut off abruptly
- Nancy's car is mentioned
- Something happens to Nancy's car
- Nancy is law abiding despite the circumstances
- there is a car chase
- George punches someone
- Dave and Burt make an appearance
- Togo appears
- Nancy goes on a date during a mystery
- Nancy uses that date to do some further sleuthing
- police rely on Nancy to solve their case
- police complement Nancy's detective skills
- Mr. Drew allows Nancy to go on a trip provided she has a companion (Bess, George or Helen)
- George says "Hypers!"
- Nancy has a friend/relative that has never been mentioned and will never be mentioned again
Do a shot:
- someone is kidnapped, twice if it is someone other than Nancy
- someone is knocked unconscious, twice if it someone other than Nancy
- Ned is jealous
- Ned has a reason to be jealous, i.e. Nancy goes on a date with someone else
- Bess' weight is mentioned
- it is mentioned that George has a boy's name or haircut
- Dave and Burt have dialogue
- Nancy finds something of value hidden in a book/painting/or other object
- Nancy refused to tell the police about her case
- Ned makes some allusion to marrying Nancy
- Ned is romantic toward Nancy
- Nancy ignores romantic intentions
Chug:
- Bess or George or Ned get to make a valuable contribution to the case by figuring out a clue or providing some information that Nancy somehow missed
- Mr. Drew's legal case and Nancy's case have the same solution, even though they started off unrelated
- Nancy receives a prize for solving a case
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
**Disclaimer: I'm not responsible for anything that happens if you play this game even if it throws off your sleuthing abilities.
Also if someone else has invented this already, let me know.**
**Also, also, if you have suggestions let me know those too.**
Drink:
- when one of Nancy's old or new cases is mentioned by title
- Nancy is mentioned as any one of these adjectives: young, slender, attractive, titian haired
- "girl detective" or "sleuth" is used
- it is an orphan, old person, a pair of siblings or poor person in trouble, two if they are any combination
- Nancy uses cunning to escape a bad situation
- Nancy gets a misdirecting note, telegraph, or phone call
- Nancy figures out that the note, telegraph, or phone call is misdirecting
- a phone call is cut off abruptly
- Nancy's car is mentioned
- Something happens to Nancy's car
- Nancy is law abiding despite the circumstances
- there is a car chase
- George punches someone
- Dave and Burt make an appearance
- Togo appears
- Nancy goes on a date during a mystery
- Nancy uses that date to do some further sleuthing
- police rely on Nancy to solve their case
- police complement Nancy's detective skills
- Mr. Drew allows Nancy to go on a trip provided she has a companion (Bess, George or Helen)
- George says "Hypers!"
- Nancy has a friend/relative that has never been mentioned and will never be mentioned again
Do a shot:
- someone is kidnapped, twice if it is someone other than Nancy
- someone is knocked unconscious, twice if it someone other than Nancy
- Ned is jealous
- Ned has a reason to be jealous, i.e. Nancy goes on a date with someone else
- Bess' weight is mentioned
- it is mentioned that George has a boy's name or haircut
- Dave and Burt have dialogue
- Nancy finds something of value hidden in a book/painting/or other object
- Nancy refused to tell the police about her case
- Ned makes some allusion to marrying Nancy
- Ned is romantic toward Nancy
- Nancy ignores romantic intentions
Chug:
- Bess or George or Ned get to make a valuable contribution to the case by figuring out a clue or providing some information that Nancy somehow missed
- Mr. Drew's legal case and Nancy's case have the same solution, even though they started off unrelated
- Nancy receives a prize for solving a case
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
**Disclaimer: I'm not responsible for anything that happens if you play this game even if it throws off your sleuthing abilities.
Also if someone else has invented this already, let me know.**
**Also, also, if you have suggestions let me know those too.**
Labels:
drinking game,
Nancy Drew
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Sleuthing Sundays - Nancy Drews 35
The Haunted Showboat (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #35) (e-book)
I was excited that Nancy was headed down to New Orleans. After a very rough trip down where her car was stolen and then someone tries to kill them a couple of times, Nancy and her friends finally make it down to the Crescent City in time for Mardi Gras. Nancy sets about her task of solving this mystery fairly quickly but is stymied by Bess and George's cousin's fiancé. Nancy doesn't let that get her in way though! Of course, not.
I was a bit stunned, I must admit, by the servants of the Havers (the relatives) and Uncle Rufus, the voodoo preacher. They are such stereotypical "Negro" characters that I was embarrassed by their appearance. It was written in 1957 when I guess such things weren't so off-limits but I wish it was different. Other than that, it was an okay book. I like how Mardi Gras is described. It was so different back then and I like all the information about New Orleans that is included though the part about the levees made me laugh.
"Hypers!" cried George, using her favorite expletive. "It worked. Nancy, you're a brain child." p.26 (e-book)Nancy, Bess and George head to New Orleans to solve a mystery for Bess and George's uncle. He wants to move and restore an old showboat but mysterious things happen to it every time it is fixed. It's up to the girl detective to figure out what is going on.
I was excited that Nancy was headed down to New Orleans. After a very rough trip down where her car was stolen and then someone tries to kill them a couple of times, Nancy and her friends finally make it down to the Crescent City in time for Mardi Gras. Nancy sets about her task of solving this mystery fairly quickly but is stymied by Bess and George's cousin's fiancé. Nancy doesn't let that get her in way though! Of course, not.
I was a bit stunned, I must admit, by the servants of the Havers (the relatives) and Uncle Rufus, the voodoo preacher. They are such stereotypical "Negro" characters that I was embarrassed by their appearance. It was written in 1957 when I guess such things weren't so off-limits but I wish it was different. Other than that, it was an okay book. I like how Mardi Gras is described. It was so different back then and I like all the information about New Orleans that is included though the part about the levees made me laugh.
Labels:
ebooks,
mystery,
Nancy Drew,
reviews,
Sleuthing Sundays,
young adult
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Sleuthing Sundays - Nancy Drew 33, 34
The Witch Tree Symbol (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #33)
As Nancy Drew mysteries go, this one was fairly generic. The ending felt very rushed and a little unresolved even for a Nancy Drew and that was odd. I can't attest to the accuracy of the Amish portrayal but if it's anything like the Native American, or Indian portrayal than it is probably extremely stereotypical.
The Hidden Window Mystery (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #34)
Another generic mystery. Though we get to meet Nancy's married cousin and that is almost interesting. And a brief visit from Ned after which Nancy is flirted with by a handsome stranger at a party. She is shameless. I feel so bad for Ned. Never really going to get that girl, is he?
Her eyes were glowing. She was never happier than when working on a mystery. p.12Nancy has another culture to trivialize! This time it's the Amish. Nancy and her friends travel to Amish country to solve a mystery involving some stolen furniture and a mysterious hex symbol that follows the girl detective around. In the meantime, they get involved in a family affair involving a runaway girl whose parents want her back. If you think the two mysteries don't intersect than you've obviously never read a Nancy Drew before.
As Nancy Drew mysteries go, this one was fairly generic. The ending felt very rushed and a little unresolved even for a Nancy Drew and that was odd. I can't attest to the accuracy of the Amish portrayal but if it's anything like the Native American, or Indian portrayal than it is probably extremely stereotypical.
The Hidden Window Mystery (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #34)
"Well, George, we'll have to rescue ourselves. Let's start." p.105Nancy's postman is accused of stealing money and that somehow leads into the main mystery of this book in which Nancy decides to find an old stain-glass window in Charolettesville, Virginia. So off Bess, George and Nancy go to the South. There they encounter a few more mysteries for Nancy to solve. Never fear though as the girl detective is more than up to the task!
Another generic mystery. Though we get to meet Nancy's married cousin and that is almost interesting. And a brief visit from Ned after which Nancy is flirted with by a handsome stranger at a party. She is shameless. I feel so bad for Ned. Never really going to get that girl, is he?
Labels:
mystery,
Nancy Drew,
reviews,
Sleuthing Sundays,
young adult
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Nancy Drew Recap - July, August & September
I started off the year doing really well and I'm fizzling out a bit. Not out of lack of interest, but mostly because I have a whole lot to read and I haven't fit any Nancy Drew in. One week I'll have to concentrate on reading just Nancy. But I'm past the half way mark at least.
July
August
September
None
Labels:
monthly wrap-up,
Nancy Drew
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Sleuthing Sundays - Nancy Drew 31, 32
The Ringmaster's Secret (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #31)
Side note: I find it funny that Carson Drew is always in and out of town for various cases and is so super busy that he sends work the way of his teenage daughter, but the minute she calls him up and asks him to go somewhere he drops what he is doing and runs to her aid. Wow.
The Scarlet Slippers Mystery (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #32)
This was one of the more convoluted and coincidental mysteries that Nancy has solved yet. So much depends on a huge cast of characters and there are a lot of twists and turns. And poor Ned wants to marry Nancy so much and so won't even acknowledge it when he tells her. Aw.
It was typical of Nancy not to think of herself. She had been in many tight spots while solving the various mysteries that had come her way, but the safety of innocent persons involved had always been her chief concern. p.9-10Nancy Drew joins the circus. Because, of course, Nancy has taken up "trick riding" and is so super good at it that the circus is practically begging her to fill in when one of the horse riders is injured. And, of course, our girl detective just has to do it because it will get her one step closer to solving the mystery of the missing charm. See Nancy's aunt bought her a charm bracelet with five horse charms on it. But it's suppose to have six so Nancy must figure out what is behind the missing charm. And, of course, the circus is in town with the exact people involved in this mystery. It is all very very convenient.
Side note: I find it funny that Carson Drew is always in and out of town for various cases and is so super busy that he sends work the way of his teenage daughter, but the minute she calls him up and asks him to go somewhere he drops what he is doing and runs to her aid. Wow.
The Scarlet Slippers Mystery (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #32)
Nancy was greatly admired in River Heights because of her unusual ability to track down elusive clues, as well as her courage and quick-wittedness. p. 12Bess joins a new dance school and when Nancy goes to meet the new owners she finds out that the brother and sister are in trouble! They have been receiving threatening notes and have had to leave both their home country of Centrovian and France because of political reasons. Nancy offers to help. Somehow connected are painting that the brother, Henri, painted and a mysterious man that Nancy meet on a plane.
This was one of the more convoluted and coincidental mysteries that Nancy has solved yet. So much depends on a huge cast of characters and there are a lot of twists and turns. And poor Ned wants to marry Nancy so much and so won't even acknowledge it when he tells her. Aw.
Labels:
mystery,
Nancy Drew,
reviews,
Sleuthing Sundays,
young adult
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Teaser Tuesdays - The Ringmaster's Secret
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along!
Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

Nevertheless, Nancy concluded that circus life was strenuous. As she was wearily removing her costume before going to bed, Erika dashed in, her eyes aglow.
p.94 The Ringmaster's Secret Carolyn Keene
Labels:
Nancy Drew,
teaser tuesdays
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Sleuthing Sundays - Nancy Drew 30
"Nancy ought to go as the Queen of Mystery," Bess remarked. "I'll bet it won't be long before she's in the midst of another case." p.177Nancy gets involved in a mystery surrounding some party thieves. A gang is going around posing as guests and stealing the valuables from the hosts. The owner of the party planner business is about to get sued and it's up to Nancy to clear his name and catch the bad guys.
Honestly, this one was a little too easy. It was immediately obvious, more so than her other mysteries, who was going to end up being the thief and I was surprised. Nancy took forever, it seemed, to figure it out and get cracking on it.
And George was kidnapped and threatened and she completely freaks out, which is a very normal reaction, and everyone is worried and Nancy still won't give up the case because she just has this compulsion to find out. But since Nancy is never phased by being knocked out or kidnapped or threatened, she thinks no one else should be. But the weird thing was that the threats made weren't that bad and I was surprised by George's reaction.
Labels:
mystery,
Nancy Drew,
reviews,
Sleuthing Sundays,
young adult
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