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Nancy Clue & Cherry Aimless #2
The Case of the Good-for-Nothing Girlfriend
If you know the specific gravity of gold, travel with the Nurses’ Guide to Snakes, or can get a raisin pie stain out of a pink poplin frock, you’ll fit right in with Nancy Clue and her gay chums on a road trip from sleepy Pleasantville, Idaho, to sparkling River Depths, Illinois, where Hannah, Nancy’s beloved housekeeper, stands wrongfully accused of murder! Nurse Cherry Aimless, who fell head-over-penny-loafers for the world-famous girl detective in The Case of the Not-So-Nice Nurse, must help her new sweetheart clear Hannah’s name ― and her own ― and restore her sterling reputation. But does Nancy deserve her devotion? Troubling discoveries force Cherry to do some sleuthing of her own to see if Nancy is really the sweet, upstanding girl she seems to be ― or a shameless flirt! Mabel Maney’s playful parody of 1950s girl adventure books continues in The Case of the Good-for-Nothing Girlfriend. This raucous sequel also stands on its own as a swell introduction to Cherry and her pals, and a food and fashion guide to the glamorous Eisenhower years.
308 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1994
1 person is currently reading
467 people want to read
About the author
Mabel Maney
8 books67 followersMabel Maney is an artist and author from San Francisco, California known for her lesbian pulp fiction. She is the author of the Nancy Clue series, a lesbian parody of the Nancy Drew, Cherry Ames, and Hardy Boys series. More recently, she is the author of the "Jane Bond" novels, a series of parodies of James Bond. Mabel's short fiction can also be found the humor anthology "May Contain Nuts".
Maney is famous for the quote "For a long time I thought I wanted to be a nun. Then I realized that what I really wanted to be was a lesbian."
Mabel was born in New Jersey. Her family moved to the midwest where was educated and permanently scarred by dour nuns. She was one of four children in an Irish Catholic family in Appleton, Wisconsin where she worked in her family's paper hat factory. She graduated from Ohio State University with a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and received a Master of Fine Arts degree from San Francisco State University.
Maney is famous for the quote "For a long time I thought I wanted to be a nun. Then I realized that what I really wanted to be was a lesbian."
Mabel was born in New Jersey. Her family moved to the midwest where was educated and permanently scarred by dour nuns. She was one of four children in an Irish Catholic family in Appleton, Wisconsin where she worked in her family's paper hat factory. She graduated from Ohio State University with a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and received a Master of Fine Arts degree from San Francisco State University.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
August 7, 2019
This is the 2nd book in the Nancy Clue and Cherry Aimless series which is a send up of the old-school Nancy Drew and Cherry Ames mysteries with the added bonus of having the two amateur sleuths in a f/f relationship with each other.
This book picks up right after the first in the series, "The Case of the Not-So-Nice-Nurse". Here, Nancy recruits her new chums to join her in a cross country road trip to get to the murder trial of her housekeeper before she's wrongfully convicted!
Even though the book is a parody, there are some weirdly dark elements that threw me for a loop. Fair warning, there is reference to serious incest sexual abuse, an alcoholic (I won't tell you who), not much romance, and then the really fun characters aren't even the leads.
The book gets us into the heads of nearly all of the cast but Cherry Aimless gets the most screen time, and she lives up to her parody name being annoyingly naive. Truthfully, neither Nancy nor Cherry are that appealing as characters which is an odd choice by the author. The saving grace is that they're accompanied by Midge, the dryly sarcastic and witty woman always mistaken for a man, and Velma, her va-va-voom worldly-wise girlfriend that is the alter ego of Cherry.
The humor isn't laugh out loud funny but I chuckled often and was pretty amused for most of the read. The humor style is either super subtle or completely over the top. Basically, think dad jokes or, if you're not in the mood, you may miss the humor completely because it's so dry. Nearly every other line is a wink-wink, nudge-nudge and the tone of a 1950s caper is definitely captured so kudos to the author.
There is a meandering, not so tight storyline in the beginning but I found the last half of the book to really suck me in. I really enjoyed the mystery, the large cast of characters, the resolutions, and how everything ultimately tied together.
The story is completely wrapped up but a question mark is definitely left at the end of the book that has me reaching for the third.
Overall, I was happily entertained and I recommend if you're in the mood for something ridiculous or not too serious.
This book picks up right after the first in the series, "The Case of the Not-So-Nice-Nurse". Here, Nancy recruits her new chums to join her in a cross country road trip to get to the murder trial of her housekeeper before she's wrongfully convicted!
Even though the book is a parody, there are some weirdly dark elements that threw me for a loop. Fair warning, there is reference to serious incest sexual abuse, an alcoholic (I won't tell you who), not much romance, and then the really fun characters aren't even the leads.
The book gets us into the heads of nearly all of the cast but Cherry Aimless gets the most screen time, and she lives up to her parody name being annoyingly naive. Truthfully, neither Nancy nor Cherry are that appealing as characters which is an odd choice by the author. The saving grace is that they're accompanied by Midge, the dryly sarcastic and witty woman always mistaken for a man, and Velma, her va-va-voom worldly-wise girlfriend that is the alter ego of Cherry.
The humor isn't laugh out loud funny but I chuckled often and was pretty amused for most of the read. The humor style is either super subtle or completely over the top. Basically, think dad jokes or, if you're not in the mood, you may miss the humor completely because it's so dry. Nearly every other line is a wink-wink, nudge-nudge and the tone of a 1950s caper is definitely captured so kudos to the author.
There is a meandering, not so tight storyline in the beginning but I found the last half of the book to really suck me in. I really enjoyed the mystery, the large cast of characters, the resolutions, and how everything ultimately tied together.
The story is completely wrapped up but a question mark is definitely left at the end of the book that has me reaching for the third.
Overall, I was happily entertained and I recommend if you're in the mood for something ridiculous or not too serious.
May 8, 2009
adorable. i wish i had read nancy clue as a kid instead of nancy drew. i especially loved nancy's drinking problem and the butches' cute adherence to traditional gender roles, but for midge's crying and cooking. spot on parody, and so fun.
November 10, 2019
These parodies of Nancy Drew and and the Hardy Boys are just spot on.
If you ever read any of the pulps you'll love these books. As I kid I had many books of The Rover Boys, The Bobbsey Twins, and Tom Swift series, never had any ND or HB. But I just love the nostalgia factor along with the wicked twist Maney has for her characters and the laughs her descriptions and the characters inexplicable actions produce.
Pretty, titian-haired detective Nancy Clue, known to all for her
keen sleuthing abilities, up-to-the-minute fashion sense, and
gracious finishing-school manners, kicked the right front tire of
her modern convertible in frustration and burst into tears.
If you ever read any of the pulps you'll love these books. As I kid I had many books of The Rover Boys, The Bobbsey Twins, and Tom Swift series, never had any ND or HB. But I just love the nostalgia factor along with the wicked twist Maney has for her characters and the laughs her descriptions and the characters inexplicable actions produce.
January 27, 2019
This book was so promising-- a lesbian parody of Nancy Drew? Who wouldn't love this? The tone was over the top tongue-in-cheek, with lots of 1950s language and description, and lots of innocent gullibility and MacGuyver-like ingenuity. It could have been edited down a little more, but it still seemed like fun. Then you realize that Nancy's father was killed, her housekeeper is on trial, and Nancy insists that she was the murderer but it was justified homicide. This seems a little dark for a parody, but I kept reading. I figured that maybe something supernatural had happened. Was he possessed by aliens? A werewolf? I would see possibilities there. However, a few hints and implications later, it finally comes out that she killed her father because he sexually abused her. WHAT??? This is not material for a parody. It's not funny. Having a respected citizen of the town secretly abuse his daughter (and possibly others), and having the police chief go to extreme measures to cover it up is NOT FUNNY.
I know this book was published in 1994, but child sexual abuse was not funny then either. I will not pick up anything else written by this author/pseudonym. To say I am disappointed wouldn't begin to cover it.
I know this book was published in 1994, but child sexual abuse was not funny then either. I will not pick up anything else written by this author/pseudonym. To say I am disappointed wouldn't begin to cover it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 26, 2024
2.5 stars!
I was pumped for this book at the start. A lesbian parody of Nancy Drew?! I can really get sucked into a mystery and making something gayer is always great by me! But this book needed to be edited down a lot in the first half. After a few chapters it felt like the same bits were happening over and over again. It also didn’t unravel like a mystery where tension is built and you’re given just enough information to try to work through it yourself, so that aspect wasn’t all that engrossing. It was also hard to reckon with the tone being tongue-in-cheek parody humor through and through but there’s still some child sexual abuse thrown in?! I’m glad I finished it but this will be my first and only Nancy Clue mystery.
Minus the CSA, I think the overall tone and humor of this book could translate well into a silly tight-90 comedy a la Pee-Wee’s Big Holiday (NOT to be confused with the the Tim Burton Pee-Wees). That or let John Waters take a crack at bringing this to film, please!!
I was pumped for this book at the start. A lesbian parody of Nancy Drew?! I can really get sucked into a mystery and making something gayer is always great by me! But this book needed to be edited down a lot in the first half. After a few chapters it felt like the same bits were happening over and over again. It also didn’t unravel like a mystery where tension is built and you’re given just enough information to try to work through it yourself, so that aspect wasn’t all that engrossing. It was also hard to reckon with the tone being tongue-in-cheek parody humor through and through but there’s still some child sexual abuse thrown in?! I’m glad I finished it but this will be my first and only Nancy Clue mystery.
Minus the CSA, I think the overall tone and humor of this book could translate well into a silly tight-90 comedy a la Pee-Wee’s Big Holiday (NOT to be confused with the the Tim Burton Pee-Wees). That or let John Waters take a crack at bringing this to film, please!!
January 8, 2011
i found this at a bookstore and since it was about my lesbian peeps, i decided to pick it up. i didnt have any plans to read it soon, but came a cross it recently and figured id give it a shot.
OMG i LOVED LOVED LOVED it!!! i read all of the nancy drew books when i was younger, and this is such a hilarious take on them. everything is the same, but a little twisted. names of characters are changed but not enough to figure out whos who. i loved how she even kept Hannah, nancy drew's housekeeper.
cherry is the main character, and she recently met nancy clue. (they began dating in the previous book). nancy, cherry and a group of their friends are on a rod trip, racing home to rescue hannah, whos been arrested and is in jail for killing Carson CLue, nancy's dad. the thing is, nancy is the one who killed him though we dont find out why until the end of the story.
i usually pass my books on, but this was so great im keeping it and ive requested the other books in the series!
OMG i LOVED LOVED LOVED it!!! i read all of the nancy drew books when i was younger, and this is such a hilarious take on them. everything is the same, but a little twisted. names of characters are changed but not enough to figure out whos who. i loved how she even kept Hannah, nancy drew's housekeeper.
cherry is the main character, and she recently met nancy clue. (they began dating in the previous book). nancy, cherry and a group of their friends are on a rod trip, racing home to rescue hannah, whos been arrested and is in jail for killing Carson CLue, nancy's dad. the thing is, nancy is the one who killed him though we dont find out why until the end of the story.
i usually pass my books on, but this was so great im keeping it and ive requested the other books in the series!
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August 17, 2025read this over 8.5 years, exclusively while on the train or waiting at the train station to get home, plus maybe 30 pages during power outages. it was easy to pick up every time, made me chuckle and smile every time, and hopefully i'll read installment 3 of the series over just amonth or two like I did the first book.
a delight. silly, gay-normative, tongue-in-cheek. not clever or world-changing, but exactly my type of fluff and silliness. would read again.
a delight. silly, gay-normative, tongue-in-cheek. not clever or world-changing, but exactly my type of fluff and silliness. would read again.
June 14, 2008
"I'm going to assist Nancy whether she wants me to or not," Cherry decided as she took her place in the back seat. She was frankly anxious to get downtown and find her girlfriend. She was terribly worried about the state of her chum's mental health. "And she didn't even have a chance to have her breakfast!" Cherry fretted as they sped downtown.
But Nancy was having her breakfast. Although Cherry wouldn't have agreed that a martini with three olives was a very nutritious way to begin the day, it suited Nancy just fine.
"Hit me again," Nancy said to the attractive, dark-haired, older woman behind the bar.
But Nancy was having her breakfast. Although Cherry wouldn't have agreed that a martini with three olives was a very nutritious way to begin the day, it suited Nancy just fine.
"Hit me again," Nancy said to the attractive, dark-haired, older woman behind the bar.
December 28, 2021
2.5🌟
the first half is the absolute most boring thing i've ever read and midge's whole subplot about being horny adds nothing and grew tiresome. however this book also features some of the most creative body disposal i've ever read about and ends with an incognito gay wedding...so, points for that and for featuring no fewer than 4 butches :)). can't wait for nancy & crew to team up with the hardly boys in the last book in the series
the first half is the absolute most boring thing i've ever read and midge's whole subplot about being horny adds nothing and grew tiresome. however this book also features some of the most creative body disposal i've ever read about and ends with an incognito gay wedding...so, points for that and for featuring no fewer than 4 butches :)). can't wait for nancy & crew to team up with the hardly boys in the last book in the series
October 22, 2007
The phrase "tongue-in-cheek" was never more appropriate! This is a successful gay spoof off the Nancy Drew mysteries in which the main character, "Nancy Clue" is more concerned with the bulging biceps of the butch traffic cop and the starch in her girlfriend Cherry nurse's uniform. A fun, quick read-especially for the wait at Jiffy Lube! Ha!
February 9, 2008
This was my first Nancy Clue mystery. It's a rip-snortin' good time. Cherry Aimless is a wide-eyed suburban girl who goes off to San Fran to rendez-vous with her favorite aunt.
The Nancy Clue mysteries are a devilish blend of girl detective novels and lesbian pulp fiction of the 1950s.
And I dare any femme to resist the charms of Midge!
The Nancy Clue mysteries are a devilish blend of girl detective novels and lesbian pulp fiction of the 1950s.
And I dare any femme to resist the charms of Midge!
September 11, 2008
This is the second of gay/lesbian Cherry Ames & Nancy Drew parodies and they are a lot of fun. I'm currently re-reading them (again). I loved the Cherry Ames books as a kid, which is probably why I much prefer these to Many's Jane Bond books. I think one resaon tese work is because Cherry is still an innocent, of sorts, and the satire is not nasty, just a bit punny at times.
October 27, 2015
I acccidentally started reading this series backwards but who cares, all you need to know about these parodies is that they are PURE GOLD. (Though if you've never read Nancy Drew, your mileage may vary/some restrictions may apply/void where prohibited/etc.)
September 22, 2010
I've read all of the Mabel Maney books and the Nancy clue and Cherry Aimless are the best. Definitely not high literature, but good campy fun and perfect for the subway or beach or as a light read after something heavy.
August 24, 2011
8/23/11: LOVE. THIS. LOVE IT! It was hilarious, and I want MORE, damnit!
8/21/11: I love this so much already! This is exactly the kind of reading I need in my life right now: SIMPLE, but smart and funny and delightfully lesbian.
8/21/11: I love this so much already! This is exactly the kind of reading I need in my life right now: SIMPLE, but smart and funny and delightfully lesbian.
May 9, 2007
In 'The case of the good-for-nothing girlfriend' childish pleasures are subverted for adult innuendo. Snigger.
November 11, 2007
hilarious. lesbian nancy drew romps through a 1950's world chock full of lesbians. with helpful illustrations as well.
November 27, 2007
If you ever read Nancy Drew, Cherry Aimes and the Hardy Boys, Mabel nails the genre in this LGBT themed set of stories. Not to be missed. They're hilarious.
February 22, 2008
Read Mabel Maney! It is so freaking clever it will make your head explode, and good, clean(ish...;) good old fashioned fun.
December 28, 2008
A fantastic spoof of Nancy Drew and lesbian romance novels - although probably not as funny if you didn't grow up reading "Caroline Keene"!
November 14, 2009
Over the top!
December 27, 2011
So far? Extremely campy, but good fun....
July 16, 2010
very fun read! good times...
August 24, 2010
The Case of the Good-for-Nothing Girlfriend: A Nancy Clue and Cherry Aimless Mystery (Maney, Mabel) by Mabel Maney (2005)
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August 10, 2011I'm reading this book again, its so much fun
February 25, 2008
Mabel Maney is a funny writer. I read every single Nancy Drew mystery book. A great spoof.
June 18, 2008
More gay fun from Mabel Maney.
December 28, 2008
Fun fun fun! If you ever read serial fiction as a kid, you'll enjoy the Mabel Maney books.
November 22, 2010
fun, silly, sexy, exciting, and utterly immersible. I love the whole series!
June 24, 2023
It took me for.ev.er to get through this one. I loved the other two by this author much more. The Case of the Good-For-Nothing-Girlfriend seemed lost for a long time- focusing far too much on the roadtrip to Nancy’s hometown and the drama along the way before ever getting to an actual mystery. I giggled here and there, but I feel Nancy’s really just an a**hole and Cherry is unrealistically naive- even for a parody. This one just felt a little long and confused. IMO the Not-So-Nice-Nurse and the Hardley Boys crossover were better.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews