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Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #11
The Clue of the Broken Locket
Another vacation turns into a riddle for Nancy to solve while she visits a lakeside holiday area. Cecily Curtis seeks the girl sleuth’s help in solving two mysteries. One concerns her fiancé, a popular singer who believes his record company is cheating him. The other involves a hidden family treasure; the only clue is half of a gold locket. Strange circumstances provide Nancy with many opportunities to test her sleuthing skills and discover the astounding secrets of Pudding Stone Lodge. This book is the revised text. The plot of the original story (©1934) is different.
219 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1934
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About the author
Carolyn Keene
1,094 books3,899 followersCarolyn Keene is a writer pen name that was used by many different people- both men and women- over the years. The company that was the creator of the Nancy Drew series, the Stratemeyer Syndicate, hired a variety of writers. For Nancy Drew, the writers used the pseudonym Carolyn Keene to assure anonymity of the creator.
Edna and Harriet Stratemeyer inherited the company from their father Edward Stratemeyer. Edna contributed 10 plot outlines before passing the reins to her sister Harriet. It was Mildred Benson (aka: Mildred A. Wirt), who breathed such a feisty spirit into Nancy's character. Mildred wrote 23 of the original 30 Nancy Drew Mystery Stories®, including the first three. It was her characterization that helped make Nancy an instant hit. The Stratemeyer Syndicate's devotion to the series over the years under the reins of Harriet Stratemeyer Adams helped to keep the series alive and on store shelves for each succeeding generation of girls and boys. In 1959, Harriet, along with several writers, began a 25-year project to revise the earlier Carolyn Keene novels. The Nancy Drew books were condensed, racial stereotypes were removed, and the language was updated. In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.
Other writers of Nancy Drew volumes include Harriet herself, she wrote most of the series after Mildred quit writing for the Syndicate and in 1959 began a revision of the first 34 texts. The role of the writer of "Carolyn Keene" passed temporarily to Walter Karig who wrote three novels during the Great Depression. Also contributing to Nancy Drew's prolific existence were Leslie McFarlane, James Duncan Lawrence, Nancy Axelrod, Priscilla Doll, Charles Strong, Alma Sasse, Wilhelmina Rankin, George Waller Jr., and Margaret Scherf.
Edna and Harriet Stratemeyer inherited the company from their father Edward Stratemeyer. Edna contributed 10 plot outlines before passing the reins to her sister Harriet. It was Mildred Benson (aka: Mildred A. Wirt), who breathed such a feisty spirit into Nancy's character. Mildred wrote 23 of the original 30 Nancy Drew Mystery Stories®, including the first three. It was her characterization that helped make Nancy an instant hit. The Stratemeyer Syndicate's devotion to the series over the years under the reins of Harriet Stratemeyer Adams helped to keep the series alive and on store shelves for each succeeding generation of girls and boys. In 1959, Harriet, along with several writers, began a 25-year project to revise the earlier Carolyn Keene novels. The Nancy Drew books were condensed, racial stereotypes were removed, and the language was updated. In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.
Other writers of Nancy Drew volumes include Harriet herself, she wrote most of the series after Mildred quit writing for the Syndicate and in 1959 began a revision of the first 34 texts. The role of the writer of "Carolyn Keene" passed temporarily to Walter Karig who wrote three novels during the Great Depression. Also contributing to Nancy Drew's prolific existence were Leslie McFarlane, James Duncan Lawrence, Nancy Axelrod, Priscilla Doll, Charles Strong, Alma Sasse, Wilhelmina Rankin, George Waller Jr., and Margaret Scherf.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 510 reviews
February 20, 2023
I always enjoy Nancy Drew mysteries; the old-fashioned setting and characters as well as the varied crimes offer an appealing charm that just isn't found in contemporary children's mysteries. But I have to say that this volume does not have the same allure that it likely did when I was just a girl.
I found the mystery to be dull without enough compelling action, and there were too many components that only came cohesively together at the very end. I waited and waited for Nancy to solve the case and tie together the various parts only to be let down by a conclusion that hinges on unlikely happenings and unbelievable reactions. While this story has all the standard Nancy Drew elements, it fails to concentrate efforts on the key plot point and flip-flops between elements that readers don't see a connection between or are dropped for another detail of uncertain importance, thus leaving the reader confused as to which storyline to invest in.
While the out-of-the-blue and far-fetched explanation wrapping up the mystery did spice up the story, I found it to be a stale read that does not stand the test of time.
I found the mystery to be dull without enough compelling action, and there were too many components that only came cohesively together at the very end. I waited and waited for Nancy to solve the case and tie together the various parts only to be let down by a conclusion that hinges on unlikely happenings and unbelievable reactions. While this story has all the standard Nancy Drew elements, it fails to concentrate efforts on the key plot point and flip-flops between elements that readers don't see a connection between or are dropped for another detail of uncertain importance, thus leaving the reader confused as to which storyline to invest in.
While the out-of-the-blue and far-fetched explanation wrapping up the mystery did spice up the story, I found it to be a stale read that does not stand the test of time.
March 30, 2011
My first childhood Nancy Drew....loved it and I was hooked!
August 12, 2023
I enjoyed this one.
February 2, 2026
3 stars ⭐️ Children’s Classic [Yellow Flashlight revised 1965 edition - Listened to Penelope Heaven’s audiobook of this on YouTube]
Trigger warning: Child abuse & mistreatment
Bess and George were actually helpful in this book (which is a first for the series so far 😅), but I especially liked how their dates helped with the mystery in the last few chapters. The ending with Susan’s story seemed completely unrealistic/far-fetched, though.
Also, I noticed more out of date words and phrases used in this book, which lead to some quick Google searches!
Main Content notes for parents-
Nancy, the cousins, and their dates go to church one Sunday morning together.
Some believe that they have seen the “lost launch” (a boat that went down quickly with it’s passengers drowning) and the people on it (implying ghosts/phantoms); A couple characters call this “spooky” and the girls see it (described as “Up at the misty end of the lake, the girls were startled to see an old-time excursion launch, brightly lighted. It moved slowly, as if against a buffeting wind. Passengers, dressed in clothes of the early 1900’s, walked about freely. They were talking and laughing. … Suddenly from the phantom craft came a scream of terror. The launch began to list. The next second all the lights went out and the boat vanished!”); After seeing it, Bess says that while she’s never believed in ghosts, she’s afraid she does now, but George says there has to be a logical explanation; *Spoilers* It turns out to be *End of Spoilers*.
Mentions of “ghosts”; Mentions of luck & being lucky; A mention of an item possibly being a talisman.
Dangerous Situation Counter: Finding someone unconscious; Almost being crushed by a falling log; Being trapped on a roof; Being grabbed roughly by a man; Seeing someone hit her head & roll down a hill; Being chased in the woods and hanging off the underneath of a dock; Being a victim of vandalism; Seeing others knocked unconscious after a rock is thrown at them & hitting their heads on a piece of furniture; A kidnapping attempt; Trespassing; A car being forced off the road and pushed into a ditch by another car; Being grabbed and tied-up.
A scene where a woman gets annoyed at crying children, tells them not to come out of their room, & locks them in there (which makes the children cry and scream louder and kick the door; Nancy is appalled by seeing this; Later Nancy sees the woman yanking the children around and a man slaps the boy hard); Another scene where an adult seems to be terrifying the children by throwing them in the air and pretending to not catch them (which Bess calls cruelty and wants to stop it from continuing.
George is impatient with her cousin Bess at times.
Mentions of deaths (including of parents and a husband); Mentions of a car hitting two people, one dying and another in a coma, & children being taken by others after being thought to be abandoned; Mention of the Civil War & deaths (including drownings); Mentions of a launch/ship that went down after springing a leak and everyone on board being trapped and drowned; Mentions of hostages/kidnappings, kidnappers, & being gagged and tied-up; Mentions of attacks, people being knocked unconscious, & injuries; Mentions of break-ins, intruders/burglars/prowlers, & vandalism; Mentions of thieves; Mentions of counterfeits & a counterfeit ring; Mention of a missing cat (which causes the owner to say she’ll “just die” if he is gone, but the cat is found safe); A few mentions of a possible drowning; A mention of a man who escaped from a mental institution and could be causing problems for others.
Bess is described as a “very pretty blonde, inclined to be overweight”.
Mentions of dates & dating.
Trigger warning: Child abuse & mistreatment
Bess and George were actually helpful in this book (which is a first for the series so far 😅), but I especially liked how their dates helped with the mystery in the last few chapters. The ending with Susan’s story seemed completely unrealistic/far-fetched, though.
Also, I noticed more out of date words and phrases used in this book, which lead to some quick Google searches!
Main Content notes for parents-
Nancy, the cousins, and their dates go to church one Sunday morning together.
Some believe that they have seen the “lost launch” (a boat that went down quickly with it’s passengers drowning) and the people on it (implying ghosts/phantoms); A couple characters call this “spooky” and the girls see it (described as “Up at the misty end of the lake, the girls were startled to see an old-time excursion launch, brightly lighted. It moved slowly, as if against a buffeting wind. Passengers, dressed in clothes of the early 1900’s, walked about freely. They were talking and laughing. … Suddenly from the phantom craft came a scream of terror. The launch began to list. The next second all the lights went out and the boat vanished!”); After seeing it, Bess says that while she’s never believed in ghosts, she’s afraid she does now, but George says there has to be a logical explanation; *Spoilers* It turns out to be *End of Spoilers*.
Mentions of “ghosts”; Mentions of luck & being lucky; A mention of an item possibly being a talisman.
Dangerous Situation Counter: Finding someone unconscious; Almost being crushed by a falling log; Being trapped on a roof; Being grabbed roughly by a man; Seeing someone hit her head & roll down a hill; Being chased in the woods and hanging off the underneath of a dock; Being a victim of vandalism; Seeing others knocked unconscious after a rock is thrown at them & hitting their heads on a piece of furniture; A kidnapping attempt; Trespassing; A car being forced off the road and pushed into a ditch by another car; Being grabbed and tied-up.
A scene where a woman gets annoyed at crying children, tells them not to come out of their room, & locks them in there (which makes the children cry and scream louder and kick the door; Nancy is appalled by seeing this; Later Nancy sees the woman yanking the children around and a man slaps the boy hard); Another scene where an adult seems to be terrifying the children by throwing them in the air and pretending to not catch them (which Bess calls cruelty and wants to stop it from continuing.
George is impatient with her cousin Bess at times.
Mentions of deaths (including of parents and a husband); Mentions of a car hitting two people, one dying and another in a coma, & children being taken by others after being thought to be abandoned; Mention of the Civil War & deaths (including drownings); Mentions of a launch/ship that went down after springing a leak and everyone on board being trapped and drowned; Mentions of hostages/kidnappings, kidnappers, & being gagged and tied-up; Mentions of attacks, people being knocked unconscious, & injuries; Mentions of break-ins, intruders/burglars/prowlers, & vandalism; Mentions of thieves; Mentions of counterfeits & a counterfeit ring; Mention of a missing cat (which causes the owner to say she’ll “just die” if he is gone, but the cat is found safe); A few mentions of a possible drowning; A mention of a man who escaped from a mental institution and could be causing problems for others.
Bess is described as a “very pretty blonde, inclined to be overweight”.
Mentions of dates & dating.
June 27, 2021
Although my highest excitement derives from Robert A. Arthur’s out-of-print series: “The Three Investigators” that is taking decades to find; I enjoy and collect “The Hardy Boys” and Nancy Drew. I have to say, her 11h volume is very good. I read that my 1965 revision differs from the 1934 mystery and this newer, modernized one sounds kinder, if only a bit less farfetched. It seems like the Stratemeyer Syndicate put titles in a hat and got Mildred A. Wirt and other ghostwriters to fabricate stories around specific objects comprising those titles. I like the adventurousness and complexity Mildred made of this tale.
“The Clue Of The Broken Locket” sends Nancy, Bess, and George but unfortunately not Helen, to cottage country; a favourite place of my own. Carson Drew asked them to call on a client looking-up family roots, while the area caretaker has made a ruckus about ghosts. That would have rippled my interest in a flash, if I did not know spirits have not panned out to be real in Stratemeyer stories thus far. I disregarded that most exciting side attraction.
Reunited and unknown family members: now, that is another way to reach people’s hearts. Readers of all ages will want to know all about Cecily Curtis, whose locket is the titular clue. Certainly, the troupe need to investigate a good deal more and flit in and out of danger from thugs in the way, like flicking off peons in a board game. The family histories and outcomes were lovely, even if the reason for a separation was a stretch that would not work in any era.
A fun aside is illegal bootlegging of a musical sort and the romantic partner of one lady, being a pop singer. I loved a glimpse of the record business in 1965.
“The Clue Of The Broken Locket” sends Nancy, Bess, and George but unfortunately not Helen, to cottage country; a favourite place of my own. Carson Drew asked them to call on a client looking-up family roots, while the area caretaker has made a ruckus about ghosts. That would have rippled my interest in a flash, if I did not know spirits have not panned out to be real in Stratemeyer stories thus far. I disregarded that most exciting side attraction.
Reunited and unknown family members: now, that is another way to reach people’s hearts. Readers of all ages will want to know all about Cecily Curtis, whose locket is the titular clue. Certainly, the troupe need to investigate a good deal more and flit in and out of danger from thugs in the way, like flicking off peons in a board game. The family histories and outcomes were lovely, even if the reason for a separation was a stretch that would not work in any era.
A fun aside is illegal bootlegging of a musical sort and the romantic partner of one lady, being a pop singer. I loved a glimpse of the record business in 1965.
February 1, 2023
4.75/5 stars!
This was another fun Nancy Drew mystery. The suspense was there. The intrigue was there. I just really love sleuth stories, and whenever I find myself heading into a reading slump, these quick mysteries are the best pick-me-ups.
CW: kidnapping & a little boy gets slapped (which is mostly why I deducted .25 stars. I really struggle with children being hurt in any way) Otherwise, all clean!
This was another fun Nancy Drew mystery. The suspense was there. The intrigue was there. I just really love sleuth stories, and whenever I find myself heading into a reading slump, these quick mysteries are the best pick-me-ups.
CW: kidnapping & a little boy gets slapped (which is mostly why I deducted .25 stars. I really struggle with children being hurt in any way) Otherwise, all clean!
March 16, 2020
Probably read in 1964 or 1965.
April 4, 2021
Rather convoluted mystery with a treasure hunt, strange twins, kidnapped women, and pirated records. It all sounds rather exciting but is rather boring.
When Nancy is charged with handing over the key of a holiday home to Cecily Curtis, she stumbles on several mysteries. Cecily is searching for a lost family treasure so that she can marry Niko, her musician boyfriend. Meanwhile, Niko is himself being short-changed on his record royalties due to piracy.
And then there are the mysterious neighbours next door at Pudding Stone Lodge, whose name I love! Twins who don't seem to belong to the family, strange noises, Cecily's lookalike wandering around the place, and a phantom ship all add to the allure of Pudding Stone Lodge.
I thought too much was crammed into too few pages and the story went all over the place. Ned, Burt, and Dave are rather redundant in this book. The title is also rather misleading as the broken locket has only a very minimal role in the book. The title may have made more sense for the 1930s version, which overall appears more coherent and interesting.
When Nancy is charged with handing over the key of a holiday home to Cecily Curtis, she stumbles on several mysteries. Cecily is searching for a lost family treasure so that she can marry Niko, her musician boyfriend. Meanwhile, Niko is himself being short-changed on his record royalties due to piracy.
And then there are the mysterious neighbours next door at Pudding Stone Lodge, whose name I love! Twins who don't seem to belong to the family, strange noises, Cecily's lookalike wandering around the place, and a phantom ship all add to the allure of Pudding Stone Lodge.
I thought too much was crammed into too few pages and the story went all over the place. Ned, Burt, and Dave are rather redundant in this book. The title is also rather misleading as the broken locket has only a very minimal role in the book. The title may have made more sense for the 1930s version, which overall appears more coherent and interesting.
June 6, 2019
"When two adopted parents are unsuitable for caring of baby twins, Nancy sets out to search for the rightful birth mother with the help of a broken locket."
- Upon meeting the Blair's Nancy mentions that its a shame the adopted twins biological mother never claimed them. Kitty Blair responds by saying "when a mother abandons her children, she should lose all right to them!". Nancy immediately starts coming up with excuses for how the mother could have been tricked into being separated from her children. Just cause Nancy doesn't like the Blair's she's willing to defend some unknown woman. You don't have to like the Blair's to agree that abandoning children is wrong.
- This is one of the Nancy Drew books that contains racism. As much as I love Mildred Wirt's writing she seems to have been extremely racist. Any money hungry villain's in the original books were Jewish. In this its mentioned that the Blair's real surname is Sellenstein, which in itself would not raise any red flags. It was a normal practice for performers to change a long last name to a short, easy to remember one that would fit better on a theater marquee. However couple it with the fact that the Blair's have a get-rich-quick scheme to adopt children and pimp them out to the public mixed with Wirt's history of "hooked nose" characters scheming for money and yep, all signs point to antisemitism.
- Strangely enough an effort is made multiple times to let the reader know not all theater people are like the Blair's. Its almost as if someone associated with the book was terribly worried about offending theater people. #notalltheaterpeople
You can read the rest of this review at VintageGirlsBooks.blogspot.com
"Nancy Drew and her friends are plunged into a network of strange events when they visit Misty Lake. The very night they arrive they meet pretty, red-haired Cecily Curtis, who seeks Nancy's help in solving two mysteries: one concerning Cecily's fiance, Niko Van Dyke, a popular singer who believes that his record company is cheating him out of royalty payments; the other, involving a family treasure hidden before the start of the Civil War- Cecily's only clue being half of a gold locket.
Nancy's investigations lead her to Pudding Stone Lodge, where the sinister Driscoll family lives. Elusive humming noises, a flashing light in the attic of the lodge, the periodic apparition of an excursion launch which had sunk in Misty Lake years ago, and the fleeting appearance of a frightened girl who strongly resembles Cecily give Nancy plenty of opportunity to test her sleuthing skills.
Braving a series of dangerous situations and discouraging developments, the alert young detective perseveres in her attempts to solve both mysteries and reveal the astounding secrets of Pudding Stone Lodge."
I was excited to re-read this book because I recalled it being one of my favorites however seeing as how my recent re-readings of my favorite Nancy Drew books have turned out I was quite eager to see if this one would still remain a favorite.
Like a good amount of the other books I couldn't remember hardly anything from this story. All I remembered was the cottage on the lake, the large stone house, Cecily, Satin, the children, and counterfeit records. I didn't even remember Susan or the ghost ship!
- I think the setting for this book is PERFECT. A cozy little cabin on the edge of haunted, foggy lake with a dark past; it was the perfect setting for a mystery. I also loved the retro touches, which were of course modern at the time, that include the soda fountain, counterfeit vinyl records, and Niko's bands name; The Flying Dutchmen. Its so kitsch, I love it!
- Like most readers I'm pretty disgusted that the girls don't mind Satin catching and eating a mouse inside the little cabin. I mean Nancy changes her clothes anytime she steps foot outside so you'd think she'd be more sanitary cautious.
- The rock throwing incident is ridiculous to me. The villain's throw a heavy rock at the back of the couch which causes Cecily and Niko to fly off it and hit their heads on the fireplace hearth...you know, totally plausible.
You can read the rest of this review at VintageGirlsBooks.blogspot.com
My Original Review:
I've read both versions and they are both pretty good. The original is interesting because Nancy pisses off a maid and she tries to get revenge by planting stolen jewelry on Nancy. This woman wasn't even the villain of the story or anything so that was interesting. The revised is a little strange because Nancy, Bess, and George meet a girl and she immediately invites them to stay with her which does not seem wise. Also her cat's name is Satin which I kept reading as Satan. Lol
January 11, 2018
I try to read (re-read) the Nancy Drew books as the ten-to-twelve year old girl I was when I first discovered them. (Imagine my horror when a town librarian told me the 'library didn't carry those' as they weren't 'good literature?' Well, anything which keeps a child reading is good enough in my book. Well, almost anything.)
Anyhow, here I am over fifty years later thinking, what was I thinking? Because this particular book has to be one of the worst in the series. Forget the plot, (Nancy and friends help out yet another girl who's seeking a long-lost family fortune), the characters are so wooden I ended up laughing at the end of each cliff-hanger-type chapter. That was my initial reaction, but...
Then I went back and reconsidered; read it as that ten-year old girl. Had I been excited or concerned when a log rolled down a hill and almost killed Nancy and her new friend? Probably. How about when she gets kidnapped? Maybe. What about when she takes a rowboat out to the middle of a swampy lake to figure out why people keep seeing a large boat sink with people on board - something which happened decades ago? A ghost ship! And then there's a hole in Nancy's boat and she has to swim in the dark in a swamp to safety? I must have been thrilled!
So, when Nancy and friends decide to help a girl who has half a locket, and a family secret to untangle, and a wedding to plan (he's an up and coming rock star!) and who rents a cabin on a lake in the middle of nowhere to do all this - I must have loved it. Because for atmospherics, the story has it all. Creepy cabin. Prowlers all about. Screaming loons at night. A nearby estate constructed of 'pudding-stone' or local fieldstone in which creepy people live who mistreat a pair of three-year old twins. Wow. Add in the boyfriends arriving late in the story to add a tiny bit of sexual tension. (TINY BIT.) I must have eaten this up with a spoon.
A few more comments: Nancy is the tidiest girl on the planet. Even in the midst of chaos and crisis - someone throws a rock through the cabin window and hits two people, knocking them out - Nancy and her friends always 'tidy up' the house or kitchen before trekking off to do some 'sleuthing.' They're admirable, perfect girls, who sent their 'dates' home at night and always make sure someone's had their breakfast.
However, though the ten-year old me would prob. have gladly given this five wonderful stars, the old me can only give it two. Too much happens, too many characters, not enough reaction to anything at all. One perilous, dangerous event happens on top of another and the response is: let's get lunch, tidy up, and do some more sleuthing. How practical of them, but also, how stupid.
Sorry, ten-year old me.
Anyhow, here I am over fifty years later thinking, what was I thinking? Because this particular book has to be one of the worst in the series. Forget the plot, (Nancy and friends help out yet another girl who's seeking a long-lost family fortune), the characters are so wooden I ended up laughing at the end of each cliff-hanger-type chapter. That was my initial reaction, but...
Then I went back and reconsidered; read it as that ten-year old girl. Had I been excited or concerned when a log rolled down a hill and almost killed Nancy and her new friend? Probably. How about when she gets kidnapped? Maybe. What about when she takes a rowboat out to the middle of a swampy lake to figure out why people keep seeing a large boat sink with people on board - something which happened decades ago? A ghost ship! And then there's a hole in Nancy's boat and she has to swim in the dark in a swamp to safety? I must have been thrilled!
So, when Nancy and friends decide to help a girl who has half a locket, and a family secret to untangle, and a wedding to plan (he's an up and coming rock star!) and who rents a cabin on a lake in the middle of nowhere to do all this - I must have loved it. Because for atmospherics, the story has it all. Creepy cabin. Prowlers all about. Screaming loons at night. A nearby estate constructed of 'pudding-stone' or local fieldstone in which creepy people live who mistreat a pair of three-year old twins. Wow. Add in the boyfriends arriving late in the story to add a tiny bit of sexual tension. (TINY BIT.) I must have eaten this up with a spoon.
A few more comments: Nancy is the tidiest girl on the planet. Even in the midst of chaos and crisis - someone throws a rock through the cabin window and hits two people, knocking them out - Nancy and her friends always 'tidy up' the house or kitchen before trekking off to do some 'sleuthing.' They're admirable, perfect girls, who sent their 'dates' home at night and always make sure someone's had their breakfast.
However, though the ten-year old me would prob. have gladly given this five wonderful stars, the old me can only give it two. Too much happens, too many characters, not enough reaction to anything at all. One perilous, dangerous event happens on top of another and the response is: let's get lunch, tidy up, and do some more sleuthing. How practical of them, but also, how stupid.
Sorry, ten-year old me.
February 11, 2017
Okay, seriously, Nancy Drew might really want to consider finding a new area of the country to live in. I cannot believe how many people get kidnapped, held hostage, tied up, etc. all within a very short convertible drive from the lovely home she shares with her father and their housekeeper. I mean, really, people are getting kidnapped left and right! This book has two children kidnapped, then their mother held hostage and tied up and gagged and kept in an attic when she tries to rescue them, and even Nancy and a friend are the victims of an attempted kidnapping. Thankfully they had their whits about them and realized what was happening so they could jump out of the kidnappers car when it came to a stoplight!
But honestly, these books can be so silly sometimes in their plots. My daughter loves them though, and since they are clean reads with no deaths or sex (the boys always politely go home or to a rented room when it gets late) they are fine to read to her. I do wish the boys would start doing the cooking once in a while though. They always show back up in the morning and expect the girls (Nancy, and the cousins Bess and George) to cook them breakfast! Get with the program men!
But honestly, these books can be so silly sometimes in their plots. My daughter loves them though, and since they are clean reads with no deaths or sex (the boys always politely go home or to a rented room when it gets late) they are fine to read to her. I do wish the boys would start doing the cooking once in a while though. They always show back up in the morning and expect the girls (Nancy, and the cousins Bess and George) to cook them breakfast! Get with the program men!
April 2, 2017
Another day, another mystery. Nancy's father doesn't have time to deal with another of his client's issues, so of course he sends his teen-age daughter out in the woods to take care of things.
"It's super dangerous, so take a couple of your friends with you -- you know to increase the carnage if things go bad," he says between the lines. "And also feel free to invite the boyfriends along later. They are sexless cardboard cutouts, so you'll be fine."
Maybe it was in a bad mood when I read this, but this particular tome seems a tad out of date -- perhaps even for the times in which it was written.
Although it follows the basic Nancy Drew formula: Do something dangerous because your father has too many cases (it's awesome that he trusts her, don't get me wrong -- but he already had a wife die and every book he just shoves a pipe in my mouth and sends his daughter off to war any chance he gets); Nancy invites her friends "The bold one" and the "chubby one" (yes, even in progressive female-led books we're making fun of the overweight character); Nancy bites off more than she can chew (or rather there's NEVER just one mystery, there's usually 3 or 4 ALL RELATED TO THE SAME ANTAGONISTS!); as an aside -- but not usually to help to any great degree (which is usually my favorite part of the book), the boyfriends are called (usually for some kind of sock hop), and not one of them tries to make a move on the girls (?)..."Well get our own cabin, and see you in the morning!" --apparently sex wasn't invented until the 70's; the cops of course don't believe her at first, so Nancy and her friends get in trouble; Nancy finds a hidden alcove so that she can overhear the bad guys [probably due to time constraints -- because the plot ran long] talking about how and why they did the bad thing they did; and then the mystery is solved and Nancy's already musing about her next adventure (usually along with a little advertisement for the next book.)
Neat. Tidy. Telling instead of showing. Unrealistic communication. Although charming, and I'll still read the next one of these because I love them.
BMB
"It's super dangerous, so take a couple of your friends with you -- you know to increase the carnage if things go bad," he says between the lines. "And also feel free to invite the boyfriends along later. They are sexless cardboard cutouts, so you'll be fine."
Maybe it was in a bad mood when I read this, but this particular tome seems a tad out of date -- perhaps even for the times in which it was written.
Although it follows the basic Nancy Drew formula: Do something dangerous because your father has too many cases (it's awesome that he trusts her, don't get me wrong -- but he already had a wife die and every book he just shoves a pipe in my mouth and sends his daughter off to war any chance he gets); Nancy invites her friends "The bold one" and the "chubby one" (yes, even in progressive female-led books we're making fun of the overweight character); Nancy bites off more than she can chew (or rather there's NEVER just one mystery, there's usually 3 or 4 ALL RELATED TO THE SAME ANTAGONISTS!); as an aside -- but not usually to help to any great degree (which is usually my favorite part of the book), the boyfriends are called (usually for some kind of sock hop), and not one of them tries to make a move on the girls (?)..."Well get our own cabin, and see you in the morning!" --apparently sex wasn't invented until the 70's; the cops of course don't believe her at first, so Nancy and her friends get in trouble; Nancy finds a hidden alcove so that she can overhear the bad guys [probably due to time constraints -- because the plot ran long] talking about how and why they did the bad thing they did; and then the mystery is solved and Nancy's already musing about her next adventure (usually along with a little advertisement for the next book.)
Neat. Tidy. Telling instead of showing. Unrealistic communication. Although charming, and I'll still read the next one of these because I love them.
BMB
August 7, 2024
Really cool cover and intriguing mystery (actually mysteries), with Nancy, Ned, George, Bess, Dave, and Burt. Several mysteries for them to solve in this one - including from a long time ago! Plenty of bravery and persistence for good in the book with them not letting bad people, as well as danger, stop them from doing the right things. I read the book with friends and that always adds to the fun. I mentioned on my blog what book I was currently reading and that got another friend's post about reading it, also. :) You can read my entire review at my Hardy and Drew Mysteries blog and you can also read more Nancy Drew book reviews, Nancy Drew fanfiction, free Hardy Boys books (special edition public domain), Hardy Boys fanfiction, newest details, and check out cover art, etc.!
October 4, 2023
I liked this story in the beginning, but then it became too complicated with too many things happening. 1st there were only 2 mysteries, but in time I counted 4 or more. Next, I forgot what the other mysteries were. The last thing I remember is that the woman who brought her cat To the cabin had lost it. She found the cat but later on the cabin was robbed and then someone threw a rock through the door hitting the woman and her boyfriend. I kept thinking that she was going to lose her cat, but then I didn't hang around to find out. I should have grab the cat and ran with it. Saving it.
December 12, 2024
Such a good mystery.
May 26, 2022
Nancy Drew has to solve two mysteries--How the record company is ripping off a singer, and where is the fabled family treasure of a friend.
Juvenile, but not bad.
Juvenile, but not bad.
October 22, 2023
A goal of mine has been to pick up old middle grade and young adult books that floated around when I was a kid. Nancy Drew was big, but my school never carried a single copy of her books. So, as an adult, I figured why not pick them up at local used book stores and see if I enjoy them? Shocker, I did!
The writing style makes these books seem old from the choice of writing but really could occur at any time. Technology isn't heavily used as an influence in this book so I could see middle graders these days picking up these books and having a go at a mystery with Nancy.
Nancy takes a vacation and ends up needing to solve a mystery at a lakeside holiday hot spot. A popular singer believes his record company is cheating him and at the same time a hidden family treasure may be hanging around the vacation spot... With spooky situations and a handful of good friends, you know Nancy will save the day.
I liked this book but it wasn't as hard hitting as some of the others in the series. Still a good middle grade read or a nostalgic trip for adults.
Two out of five stars.
The writing style makes these books seem old from the choice of writing but really could occur at any time. Technology isn't heavily used as an influence in this book so I could see middle graders these days picking up these books and having a go at a mystery with Nancy.
Nancy takes a vacation and ends up needing to solve a mystery at a lakeside holiday hot spot. A popular singer believes his record company is cheating him and at the same time a hidden family treasure may be hanging around the vacation spot... With spooky situations and a handful of good friends, you know Nancy will save the day.
I liked this book but it wasn't as hard hitting as some of the others in the series. Still a good middle grade read or a nostalgic trip for adults.
Two out of five stars.
June 27, 2020
“Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life.” – Rachel Carson
“The Clue of the Broken Locket” begins in one of my favorites of the Nancy Drew traditions, the “over the dining room table” father and daughter discussions about promising, exciting new mysteries.
In this case, it’s over breakfast that Carson Drew, a River Heights attorney tells his daughter, super-sleuth Nancy about an intriguing set of circumstances involving a cabin on Misty lake in Maryland.
The cabin is owned by a man named Lawrence Baker, a longtime client of Mr. Drew. Mr. Baker had arranged to rent his summer cottage to a young woman he and his family know who named Cecily Curtis.
This young lady has quite an interesting life story, Carson says, but apparently that is all Mr. Baker had the time to say about her as he was dashing off to a trip to Europe. It was during that last hasty phone conversation that Mr. Baker asked Mr. Drew to draw up a rental agreement for Cecily Curtis to sign.
Mr. Baker, Carson explained, had also hired a local man named Henry Winch to keep an eye on the cottage, and he was also to be present at the cabin to open it for Miss Curtis when she arrived.
Mr. Drew told Nancy that he thought it was a rather unusual time of year for Miss Curtis to plan a stay at the lake, considering it was the off season and there would be very little for her to do while she was there.
It just seemed strange for a single young woman to be taking a vacation at that time, especially considering she would be on her own.
And then he turned to his daughter,
“And there’s another mystery at the cabin as well…” he said as he smiled, his eyes twinkling.
Nancy laughed, “Please don’t keep me in suspense!”
The attorney then reached into his pocket and brought out the key to the cabin and a plain piece of paper, which he handed to Nancy.
She unfolded the paper, reading the note:
“Hire somebody else. I’m scared.” H. Winch
“This is all he wrote?” Nancy asked.
“Yes, and here’s the problem. Cecily Curtis is to arrive at Misty Lake tomorrow evening, but Mr. Winch apparently wants nothing to do with the cottage. I can’t leave at the moment, so I thought you could drive down there with the key and open the cabin for Miss Curtis. I don’t want you to go alone though.”
“Maybe Bess and George can join me?” Nancy enthused as she thought of Bess Marvin and George Fayne, two friends she’d shared many exciting adventures with before.
Her father agrees with the suggestion and Nancy calls both Bess and George, pleased that both are available to take the trip to Misty Lake with her. She tells her father the good news,
“There’s a nice guest house in the Village of Misty Lake, about a mile from the water,” he informs her.
Nancy contacts the guest house, and since it’s the slow season, she’s able to secure a reservation for the three for the next day. Nancy packs her bags and drives to pick up Bess, then George. Soon, they are one their way to Misty Lake.
They’d only covered a short distance when George says, “Now Nancy, give us the details on the case we’re going to solve.”
“First of all, there’s a frightened caretaker,” she began, then told them the little she knew about Cecily Curtis. As they continued down the highway the three began to do a lot of guessing about Mr. Winch and Miss Curtis. They arrive in the village, soon finding the guest house, a wonderful white framed home with a large front room on the second floor with three beds. The owner was Mrs. Hosking.
“Tell me, are you girls on a trip?” She asks.
“Well, sort of,” Nancy replied. “We have the key for the person who rented the Baker cottage. Then we’d like to find Mr. Winch.”
Mrs. Hosking shuddered, “Girls, don’t go down to that cottage-especially at night. Why, just two days ago Henry came dashing in here white as a ghost. Now, he’s not a man who scares easily!”
The three girls looked to one another…all keenly aware that there was definitely a mystery to be solved here. What followed was a amazing parade of story gems including: A mysterious disappearing girl, a family heirloom containing clues to a lost treasure, a treacherous canoe sinking, an attempted kidnapping, a ruthless band of LP record pirates, and best of all an ending so heart warming I found myself wiping away a tear.
Mine was the 1965 edition written by Mildred Benson ghostwriting as Carolyn Keen. According to what I’ve researched, Benson was paid $85 to write up this version, that’s about $700 in today’s money.
Writing this story was obviously a labor of love for Mildred Benson.
And a gift to all of us!
“The Clue of the Broken Locket” begins in one of my favorites of the Nancy Drew traditions, the “over the dining room table” father and daughter discussions about promising, exciting new mysteries.
In this case, it’s over breakfast that Carson Drew, a River Heights attorney tells his daughter, super-sleuth Nancy about an intriguing set of circumstances involving a cabin on Misty lake in Maryland.
The cabin is owned by a man named Lawrence Baker, a longtime client of Mr. Drew. Mr. Baker had arranged to rent his summer cottage to a young woman he and his family know who named Cecily Curtis.
This young lady has quite an interesting life story, Carson says, but apparently that is all Mr. Baker had the time to say about her as he was dashing off to a trip to Europe. It was during that last hasty phone conversation that Mr. Baker asked Mr. Drew to draw up a rental agreement for Cecily Curtis to sign.
Mr. Baker, Carson explained, had also hired a local man named Henry Winch to keep an eye on the cottage, and he was also to be present at the cabin to open it for Miss Curtis when she arrived.
Mr. Drew told Nancy that he thought it was a rather unusual time of year for Miss Curtis to plan a stay at the lake, considering it was the off season and there would be very little for her to do while she was there.
It just seemed strange for a single young woman to be taking a vacation at that time, especially considering she would be on her own.
And then he turned to his daughter,
“And there’s another mystery at the cabin as well…” he said as he smiled, his eyes twinkling.
Nancy laughed, “Please don’t keep me in suspense!”
The attorney then reached into his pocket and brought out the key to the cabin and a plain piece of paper, which he handed to Nancy.
She unfolded the paper, reading the note:
“Hire somebody else. I’m scared.” H. Winch
“This is all he wrote?” Nancy asked.
“Yes, and here’s the problem. Cecily Curtis is to arrive at Misty Lake tomorrow evening, but Mr. Winch apparently wants nothing to do with the cottage. I can’t leave at the moment, so I thought you could drive down there with the key and open the cabin for Miss Curtis. I don’t want you to go alone though.”
“Maybe Bess and George can join me?” Nancy enthused as she thought of Bess Marvin and George Fayne, two friends she’d shared many exciting adventures with before.
Her father agrees with the suggestion and Nancy calls both Bess and George, pleased that both are available to take the trip to Misty Lake with her. She tells her father the good news,
“There’s a nice guest house in the Village of Misty Lake, about a mile from the water,” he informs her.
Nancy contacts the guest house, and since it’s the slow season, she’s able to secure a reservation for the three for the next day. Nancy packs her bags and drives to pick up Bess, then George. Soon, they are one their way to Misty Lake.
They’d only covered a short distance when George says, “Now Nancy, give us the details on the case we’re going to solve.”
“First of all, there’s a frightened caretaker,” she began, then told them the little she knew about Cecily Curtis. As they continued down the highway the three began to do a lot of guessing about Mr. Winch and Miss Curtis. They arrive in the village, soon finding the guest house, a wonderful white framed home with a large front room on the second floor with three beds. The owner was Mrs. Hosking.
“Tell me, are you girls on a trip?” She asks.
“Well, sort of,” Nancy replied. “We have the key for the person who rented the Baker cottage. Then we’d like to find Mr. Winch.”
Mrs. Hosking shuddered, “Girls, don’t go down to that cottage-especially at night. Why, just two days ago Henry came dashing in here white as a ghost. Now, he’s not a man who scares easily!”
The three girls looked to one another…all keenly aware that there was definitely a mystery to be solved here. What followed was a amazing parade of story gems including: A mysterious disappearing girl, a family heirloom containing clues to a lost treasure, a treacherous canoe sinking, an attempted kidnapping, a ruthless band of LP record pirates, and best of all an ending so heart warming I found myself wiping away a tear.
Mine was the 1965 edition written by Mildred Benson ghostwriting as Carolyn Keen. According to what I’ve researched, Benson was paid $85 to write up this version, that’s about $700 in today’s money.
Writing this story was obviously a labor of love for Mildred Benson.
And a gift to all of us!
February 2, 2021
#24horas1livro
"-Mas isso também não afugentou a Dona Nancy Drew! - disse Raskin, furioso."
Esta Nancy Drew! Sempre a deitar por terra os planos dos bandidos! :D
Temos aqui mais um excelente mistério que, como sempre, a menina Nacy Drew desvenda. Barcos fantasma, cantores famosos, tesouros de família perdidos, crianças raptadas, discos pirata, passagens secretas, tentativas de homicídio, enfim, coisas que nós, meros mortais, só vivemos nos livros, e ainda bem, que eu cá não quero bandidos atrás de mim! :P.
E os livros da Nancy Drew são, apesar de muitas vezes parecerem pouco verosímeis, mas que diabo, são livros de aventuras para adolescentes, uma torrente contínua de ação em que não há momentos mortos!
Uma excelente leitura para descomprimir e não pensar muito. Deixo essa tarefa para a menina detetive! :)
"-Mas isso também não afugentou a Dona Nancy Drew! - disse Raskin, furioso."
Esta Nancy Drew! Sempre a deitar por terra os planos dos bandidos! :D
Temos aqui mais um excelente mistério que, como sempre, a menina Nacy Drew desvenda. Barcos fantasma, cantores famosos, tesouros de família perdidos, crianças raptadas, discos pirata, passagens secretas, tentativas de homicídio, enfim, coisas que nós, meros mortais, só vivemos nos livros, e ainda bem, que eu cá não quero bandidos atrás de mim! :P.
E os livros da Nancy Drew são, apesar de muitas vezes parecerem pouco verosímeis, mas que diabo, são livros de aventuras para adolescentes, uma torrente contínua de ação em que não há momentos mortos!
Uma excelente leitura para descomprimir e não pensar muito. Deixo essa tarefa para a menina detetive! :)
June 11, 2013
For as many of them as there are and as popular as they purportedly have been over decades of readers, this was a huge disappointment. Nancy Drew is full of bland, shallow characters, predictable and slow-paced action, and boring and unnecessary detail.
First things first -- characters. A good writer can take a character you don't really want to like and make you like them, as with Sherlock Holmes. Yes, he's brilliant, but he's very annoying. However, you can't help but like him, faults and all. With Nancy Drew, the characters are just too cookie-cutter to be likable. They have no realism to them. I kept feeling like I was reading about those chipper, chirpy cartoon housewives you always see in vintage pictures. They cover all three hair colors -- blond, red, and brunette -- and all three girl types -- overly feminine and chubby, athletic and tom-boyish, and middle-of-the-road, girl-next-door. Boring. The conversation is horribly stilted. I've watched commercials with more meaningful dialogue. When the "boys" come along, first of all, they have nothing better to do than drop everything to partake in this mystery? They don't have lives or plans to speak of? Well, of course not, because college hasn't started yet. Until then, they just sit around and stare at each other. After college starts, don't expect them to drop as much as a line. All in all, everything is just so white-washed. It's like watching the Andy Griffith show except without adorable little Opie.
SPOILERS. The biggest thing I don't get is the behavior of the other red-headed woman. She has lost her only children, her husband is dead, and she is so calm. If it were my children, I would have been INSANE. She casually stops in to buy a record from the local soda shop owner because she has time to think that he might need the business. Seriously? I would be fighting tooth and nail to get my children back, and I am willing to bet that most "normal" mothers would be a little more like a tiger whose cubs have been taken than a vaguely robust Stepford Wife. And then when she gets them back, after they've been ABUSED, all she has to say is, "Yes, I'm your mother, let me tell you all about it," and these traumatized children not only just wander peaceably back to the living room with her, but then it's like she missed them about as much as if they'd been in the next room all this time. There are no tears, there are no embraces, there is no movement and vigor. It's all just very calm and precise and proper. It's like she was possessed by Emily Post. And the next morning, she's not feverishly by the side of her children making sure they are okay (which I would be. . .I would be violently overprotective until I died), she's getting all giddy and silly over the prospect of a treasure! Your children are the treasure! I personally wouldn't be surprised to learn she was in on the scheme the whole time and is playing them for fools. What a creep fest.
Secondly -- the action. Predictable. I know it's for children, but it's patronizingly predictable. Oh gee, you think there could be something sinister going on here? Oh no, Nancy, everything in the world is peaches and cream! You would use that metaphor, wouldn't you Bess? (But that's another barrel of fish altogether.) Sure, a young child probably wouldn't have been able to figure it out, but let's pretend for a moment that children excel when given the opportunity to be challenged and that a more complex plot-line still would have been okay. Yes, it picks up after a while, but it's very much a laundry list. They went here and then they went there and next they moved a little bit to the left which might be important but probably isn't.
Which brings us to number three -- the inane amount of useless and mundane detail. I DON'T WANT TO KNOW WHAT THEY ATE FOR EVERY MEAL AND WHO SERVED IT. This may be almost unfathomable, but I DON'T CARE. This whole book is one giant laundry list of details all mushed together to very little effect. It should serve as a primer of what not to do with a novel. There was surprisingly little of actual value in the points that made up the plot. This kind of writing is not only infuriatingly dull but also just plain bad. I cannot count the number of times I rolled my eyes at lines like, "Nancy and Bess, although sympathetic, did not comment. They quickly purchased the items they needed, then said good-by and left" (pg. 45). Oh golly gee, I'm so glad to know that they actually bought the things they needed, rather than just staring at them and then leaving. . .and thank goodness I know they said goodbye! Otherwise, I might think they were rude! And why does every chapter need to end with an exclamation mark?
Lastly -- poor Bess. The whole book, it just felt like the author and the other characters were pointing and chanting "fatty". They pointed out way too often that Bess would have two scoops of ice cream instead of one or that she is the one who insists upon a snack or that she really likes cookies. Good lord. We get it. She's chubby. It makes you feel better to look down on the fat girl. However, it does you no favors in my mind. Mid-life suicide, anyone, when Bess finally has enough and her last fifteen diets have all tanked and she's heavier than ever? Can you solve that one, Nancy?
I know I must seem vitriolic in my review. Honestly, though, this book left a bad taste in my mouth. It's books like this that give older books a bad name. It's a purported "classic," but unlike classics that have actual literary merit, this one probably leaves most of its readers in the cold and with the notion that older books are terrible. Why on Earth there is such a huge number is beyond me. Not only does it highlight some of man's worst features while coating everything with a thick coat of white-wash mixed with a lot of sugar, the effect is singularly sinister because it all seems like a nightmarish situation where no one sees that anything is wrong. No, no, dear, it's definitely alright to make fun of the fat girl because we're all "laughing," for example. Peer pressure gone horribly wrong. I will be staying away from Nancy Drew in the future and will not be making a foray into The Hardy Boys, since they are written by the same type of people, if not the same ones exactly.
P.S. If you want to read about a more realistic and enjoyable "girl detective" (and she's a "young sleuth"!), check out the Herculeah Jones novels by Betsy Byars. I'd choose those over these in a heartbeat.
First things first -- characters. A good writer can take a character you don't really want to like and make you like them, as with Sherlock Holmes. Yes, he's brilliant, but he's very annoying. However, you can't help but like him, faults and all. With Nancy Drew, the characters are just too cookie-cutter to be likable. They have no realism to them. I kept feeling like I was reading about those chipper, chirpy cartoon housewives you always see in vintage pictures. They cover all three hair colors -- blond, red, and brunette -- and all three girl types -- overly feminine and chubby, athletic and tom-boyish, and middle-of-the-road, girl-next-door. Boring. The conversation is horribly stilted. I've watched commercials with more meaningful dialogue. When the "boys" come along, first of all, they have nothing better to do than drop everything to partake in this mystery? They don't have lives or plans to speak of? Well, of course not, because college hasn't started yet. Until then, they just sit around and stare at each other. After college starts, don't expect them to drop as much as a line. All in all, everything is just so white-washed. It's like watching the Andy Griffith show except without adorable little Opie.
SPOILERS. The biggest thing I don't get is the behavior of the other red-headed woman. She has lost her only children, her husband is dead, and she is so calm. If it were my children, I would have been INSANE. She casually stops in to buy a record from the local soda shop owner because she has time to think that he might need the business. Seriously? I would be fighting tooth and nail to get my children back, and I am willing to bet that most "normal" mothers would be a little more like a tiger whose cubs have been taken than a vaguely robust Stepford Wife. And then when she gets them back, after they've been ABUSED, all she has to say is, "Yes, I'm your mother, let me tell you all about it," and these traumatized children not only just wander peaceably back to the living room with her, but then it's like she missed them about as much as if they'd been in the next room all this time. There are no tears, there are no embraces, there is no movement and vigor. It's all just very calm and precise and proper. It's like she was possessed by Emily Post. And the next morning, she's not feverishly by the side of her children making sure they are okay (which I would be. . .I would be violently overprotective until I died), she's getting all giddy and silly over the prospect of a treasure! Your children are the treasure! I personally wouldn't be surprised to learn she was in on the scheme the whole time and is playing them for fools. What a creep fest.
Secondly -- the action. Predictable. I know it's for children, but it's patronizingly predictable. Oh gee, you think there could be something sinister going on here? Oh no, Nancy, everything in the world is peaches and cream! You would use that metaphor, wouldn't you Bess? (But that's another barrel of fish altogether.) Sure, a young child probably wouldn't have been able to figure it out, but let's pretend for a moment that children excel when given the opportunity to be challenged and that a more complex plot-line still would have been okay. Yes, it picks up after a while, but it's very much a laundry list. They went here and then they went there and next they moved a little bit to the left which might be important but probably isn't.
Which brings us to number three -- the inane amount of useless and mundane detail. I DON'T WANT TO KNOW WHAT THEY ATE FOR EVERY MEAL AND WHO SERVED IT. This may be almost unfathomable, but I DON'T CARE. This whole book is one giant laundry list of details all mushed together to very little effect. It should serve as a primer of what not to do with a novel. There was surprisingly little of actual value in the points that made up the plot. This kind of writing is not only infuriatingly dull but also just plain bad. I cannot count the number of times I rolled my eyes at lines like, "Nancy and Bess, although sympathetic, did not comment. They quickly purchased the items they needed, then said good-by and left" (pg. 45). Oh golly gee, I'm so glad to know that they actually bought the things they needed, rather than just staring at them and then leaving. . .and thank goodness I know they said goodbye! Otherwise, I might think they were rude! And why does every chapter need to end with an exclamation mark?
Lastly -- poor Bess. The whole book, it just felt like the author and the other characters were pointing and chanting "fatty". They pointed out way too often that Bess would have two scoops of ice cream instead of one or that she is the one who insists upon a snack or that she really likes cookies. Good lord. We get it. She's chubby. It makes you feel better to look down on the fat girl. However, it does you no favors in my mind. Mid-life suicide, anyone, when Bess finally has enough and her last fifteen diets have all tanked and she's heavier than ever? Can you solve that one, Nancy?
I know I must seem vitriolic in my review. Honestly, though, this book left a bad taste in my mouth. It's books like this that give older books a bad name. It's a purported "classic," but unlike classics that have actual literary merit, this one probably leaves most of its readers in the cold and with the notion that older books are terrible. Why on Earth there is such a huge number is beyond me. Not only does it highlight some of man's worst features while coating everything with a thick coat of white-wash mixed with a lot of sugar, the effect is singularly sinister because it all seems like a nightmarish situation where no one sees that anything is wrong. No, no, dear, it's definitely alright to make fun of the fat girl because we're all "laughing," for example. Peer pressure gone horribly wrong. I will be staying away from Nancy Drew in the future and will not be making a foray into The Hardy Boys, since they are written by the same type of people, if not the same ones exactly.
P.S. If you want to read about a more realistic and enjoyable "girl detective" (and she's a "young sleuth"!), check out the Herculeah Jones novels by Betsy Byars. I'd choose those over these in a heartbeat.
June 26, 2023
Nancy Drew books never fail😁😁plus I didn't realize until more towards the end that I have read this before😂😂so I guess this was a reread
July 18, 2021
Nancy Drew and her friends are traveling to Misty Lake. It’s supposed to be an overnight stay, but they quickly extend it when they hear that an old tour boat that sank is now haunting the lake. Meanwhile, they meet a young woman who is searching for a family inheritance that was lost over 100 years ago. Will they solve these mysteries?
This is one I know I read years ago, and parts of it came back to me as a reread it. I quickly got caught up in the action and danger again. There is a lot going on here, and I knew it would all tie together. The biggest mystery to me was how. I’ll admit, I rolled my eyes a bit at all the coincidences involved, but I was having fun. Nancy and her friends get a bit of time to have some character development early on, but they are still pretty thin characters. Some of the elements in the book are dated since the version I read came out in the 1960’s. Still, I think kids of all ages will enjoy the action and mystery of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
This is one I know I read years ago, and parts of it came back to me as a reread it. I quickly got caught up in the action and danger again. There is a lot going on here, and I knew it would all tie together. The biggest mystery to me was how. I’ll admit, I rolled my eyes a bit at all the coincidences involved, but I was having fun. Nancy and her friends get a bit of time to have some character development early on, but they are still pretty thin characters. Some of the elements in the book are dated since the version I read came out in the 1960’s. Still, I think kids of all ages will enjoy the action and mystery of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
January 16, 2026
I was struck by how easily it must have been to adopt babies in the 1930s. This action packed mystery shone a great light on Nancy's skills. She comes across very capable, highly intelligent and relentless in her pursuit for truth. Missing persons, twin babies, mysterious nurses and the worst hollywood types of personalities make for a nonstop thrilling adventure.
January 2, 2025
Another bracing adventure for Nancy Drew and friends. I love the situations that they get themselves in, it’s fast paced and always has a satisfying conclusion!
Reuniting family and finding treasure.
Special shoutout to my favorite, Ned!
Reuniting family and finding treasure.
Special shoutout to my favorite, Ned!
March 17, 2021
Ok. I’m going to read 1 more then I really have to take a break. I will say these are just as addicting as I remember them being when I was 11. This was a pretty exciting story about recording pirates, kidnapped children, hidden treasure, long lost family, romance, and once again, an elaborate plan to scare people away. I mean, Hanna-Barbara just totally ripped off ND plots for Scooby Doo. 😂
March 10, 2024
Just a fun memory filled book from when I was a 10 year old with scraped knees and mismatched clothes. Nancy never fails to bring the bad guys in!
December 31, 2019
The appeal of Nancy Drew to me is that while some of the mysteries are slightly convoluted, there is no doubting Nancy's honesty and desire to help people. In this particular case, she unintentionally finds the source of her mystery before she even begins to investigate! Nancy, George and Bess are always on the case...especially when Nancy's father greets her with a mystery at breakfast! This is # 11 in the series and one I would recommend. Read Nancy Drew, "The Clue of the Broken Locket" as a break from those 500 page novels that never seem to end!
January 11, 2020
Music piracy, kidnapping, treasure hunting and iron flamingos. All are featured herein.
A fun read between other books. #11 in my series read, but I've misplaced #10. Anyone seen it?
A fun read between other books. #11 in my series read, but I've misplaced #10. Anyone seen it?
December 5, 2025
Not one of my favorites, and actually a very odd story for the original Nancy of the first 10 books. It's almost as if someone held Mildred Wirt Benson hostage and made her write a book where Nancy shows some domestic skills and traditionally "womanly" inclinations. She seems much more like the revised Nancy of the 1950's. She cleans, she sews, she babysits. But to be fair, she also relentlessly grills a variety of people to get at the root of the mystery and eventually solves it. It's a little odd that the entire story revolves around the plot of a career actress who desperately wants to give up the stage and be a SAHM, literally fleeing from her manager-husband in order to do so. Then the story resolution has the husband .
I was intrigued by the dynamic between Nancy and her father in the first chapter, where Nancy reminds her high powered lawyer father that he had told her she could become his partner, but he corrects her that it's in matters of mystery only. The implication is that her father is willing to let his daughter support his legal work with her investigations, but not allow her aspirations of an actual legal career as a fellow lawyer.
Hardcover 1934 edition.
I was intrigued by the dynamic between Nancy and her father in the first chapter, where Nancy reminds her high powered lawyer father that he had told her she could become his partner, but he corrects her that it's in matters of mystery only. The implication is that her father is willing to let his daughter support his legal work with her investigations, but not allow her aspirations of an actual legal career as a fellow lawyer.
Hardcover 1934 edition.
February 18, 2024
Kidnappings, counterfeiters, and ghosts! Oh my! Another heart racing mystery. The too-many-moving-parts problem was back full force here. It’s a hard balance to keep surprises coming while still maintaining all threads of the plot. A bit too haphazard for my taste.
This is the case with all the stories, but it’s just a little too apparent who the good and bad guys are based on appearances. I doubt this will change, but I’d like to see a true surprise of who the bad guys are for once.
This is the case with all the stories, but it’s just a little too apparent who the good and bad guys are based on appearances. I doubt this will change, but I’d like to see a true surprise of who the bad guys are for once.
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