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Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #20
The Clue in the Jewel Box
An antique dealer's revelation about a former queen's priceless heirloom starts Nancy on a trail of exciting adventures.
Madame Alexandra, now living incognito in River Heights, asks Nancy to find her missing grandson. With only one clue to go on -- a faded photograph of the prince at the age of four -- the young detective begins her search, which rapidly involves her in a series of dangerous and harrowing adventures. When Nancy needs help, she calls on Bess, George, Burt, Dave, and her special friend, Ned. How Nancy's discovery of the heirloom's secret unmasks a slick imposter and reunites the long-separated family climaxes this suspense-filled mystery story.
Madame Alexandra, now living incognito in River Heights, asks Nancy to find her missing grandson. With only one clue to go on -- a faded photograph of the prince at the age of four -- the young detective begins her search, which rapidly involves her in a series of dangerous and harrowing adventures. When Nancy needs help, she calls on Bess, George, Burt, Dave, and her special friend, Ned. How Nancy's discovery of the heirloom's secret unmasks a slick imposter and reunites the long-separated family climaxes this suspense-filled mystery story.
216 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1943
128 people are currently reading
2711 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn Keene
948 books3,854 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 242 reviews
May 26, 2010
Before we get to the review portion, I would like to take a moment to gripe about the Goodreads-provided cover image for this book: stop making Nancy a blonde. She is described in every single damn book as being "titian haired." (the original series, anyway; I don't even know what they've done with the modern revamps - probably made Nancy an official blonde and turned Ned into a sensitive indie-rocker type) "Titian" means red hair, people. RED.
Ahem. Alright, so in this installment of the plucky teen sleuth's adventures, Nancy finds out that her elderly neighbor is actually a deposed queen from an tactfully-unnamed country, and not two seconds after Nancy meets her the old lady is inviting her over to tea and letting her mess with all the priceless antiques. Turns out the queen had a grandson who was smuggled out of the country to live in hiding in...wait for it...America! The only thing the queen has to remember her grandson is an old picture of him at age four, and she wants Nancy to track the guy down. Because this is a Nancy Drew novel, this takes about ten pages, but luckily further drama ensues to stretch out the story a bit more.
This one wasn't my favorite. For starters, it was blatantly obvious who the bad guy was from like, page thirty. And Carolyn Keene works really hard to keep the Very Important Clues from being revealed to the reader so the ending doesn't get spoiled, so she has Nancy discover said clues and then never mention them to anyone until the appropriate time, forty pages later. Also, there's something that I noticed when I read these books as a 7th grader but wasn't as bothered by then: do we really need to be constantly reminded how fucking perfect Nancy is? When she's not being lovingly described as "slim and attractive", we get even more random compliments thrown in that have nothing to do with anything. Example: there's a subplot involving Nancy modeling a friend's dress at a fashion show, and we get told over and over how Nancy is "keeping perfect time to the music" and has "perfect composure and the grace of a professional model." WE GET IT. NO REALLY, WE DO.
Nancy is pretty insufferable in this one, to be honest. Usually her moments of "look at me with my spiffy little roadster and perfect figure and perfect hair being perfect" are overshadowed by her moments of "look at me being awesome and escaping from an abandoned cabin where I've been tied up and left for dead in the middle of the winter." But there aren't any in this book. Nancy gets trapped in a phone booth once, and doesn't even have to escape - a policeman comes along and helps her. COME ON.
Speaking of insufferable, can we talk about Ned, Nancy's "special friend"? Good lord, what a schmuck. There's a scene where they're on a Ferris wheel (enjoying some forbidden hand-holding, I'm sure) and it breaks down, causing them to be trapped at the top. Nancy, being perfect, stays positive and says, "They'll fix it soon. In the meantime, let's enjoy the view." Ned responds, "The sun's hot and I'm thirsty."
Hey Ned, what's it like dating a girl who's got bigger balls than you? Bet that's awkward.
Ahem. Alright, so in this installment of the plucky teen sleuth's adventures, Nancy finds out that her elderly neighbor is actually a deposed queen from an tactfully-unnamed country, and not two seconds after Nancy meets her the old lady is inviting her over to tea and letting her mess with all the priceless antiques. Turns out the queen had a grandson who was smuggled out of the country to live in hiding in...wait for it...America! The only thing the queen has to remember her grandson is an old picture of him at age four, and she wants Nancy to track the guy down. Because this is a Nancy Drew novel, this takes about ten pages, but luckily further drama ensues to stretch out the story a bit more.
This one wasn't my favorite. For starters, it was blatantly obvious who the bad guy was from like, page thirty. And Carolyn Keene works really hard to keep the Very Important Clues from being revealed to the reader so the ending doesn't get spoiled, so she has Nancy discover said clues and then never mention them to anyone until the appropriate time, forty pages later. Also, there's something that I noticed when I read these books as a 7th grader but wasn't as bothered by then: do we really need to be constantly reminded how fucking perfect Nancy is? When she's not being lovingly described as "slim and attractive", we get even more random compliments thrown in that have nothing to do with anything. Example: there's a subplot involving Nancy modeling a friend's dress at a fashion show, and we get told over and over how Nancy is "keeping perfect time to the music" and has "perfect composure and the grace of a professional model." WE GET IT. NO REALLY, WE DO.
Nancy is pretty insufferable in this one, to be honest. Usually her moments of "look at me with my spiffy little roadster and perfect figure and perfect hair being perfect" are overshadowed by her moments of "look at me being awesome and escaping from an abandoned cabin where I've been tied up and left for dead in the middle of the winter." But there aren't any in this book. Nancy gets trapped in a phone booth once, and doesn't even have to escape - a policeman comes along and helps her. COME ON.
Speaking of insufferable, can we talk about Ned, Nancy's "special friend"? Good lord, what a schmuck. There's a scene where they're on a Ferris wheel (enjoying some forbidden hand-holding, I'm sure) and it breaks down, causing them to be trapped at the top. Nancy, being perfect, stays positive and says, "They'll fix it soon. In the meantime, let's enjoy the view." Ned responds, "The sun's hot and I'm thirsty."
Hey Ned, what's it like dating a girl who's got bigger balls than you? Bet that's awkward.
Currently reading
April 17, 2020In stressful times like this-sometimes one needs a bit of Nancy Drew.
January 13, 2024
5 stars. Ooo yes. Long-lost family? Genteel poor? Royalty in distress? Jewellery mystery? Check, check, check, check. Some of my favourite tropes and they're all here! Madame Marie was so sweet, and I loved Anna! Michael was horrid, but Richard was awesome. So were Katharine and Mr. F. The storyline/plot was really cool and I enjoyed the mystery a lot, as well as the show (cool addition)! It was twisty and adventure-y but I didn't find it scary. ;P Also Ned and Jim were pretty awesome, just saying.... XD
July 28, 2021
Look, I don't read these for believable plots, I read them as comforts from my childhood that are now hilarious with all their contrivances. This one was published in 1943 and the contrivances are truly mind-boggling.
Nancy meets an "aristocratic" (because you can totally tell bloodlines by looking) elderly woman having a fainting spell at a department store and she and her chums help the woman get home. Turns out she's thedowager empress "queen mother" of Russia an unnamed country that had a bloody revolution a few decades ago but is currently an ally of the U.S. in a war that is never mentioned so it would be awkward to bring up that tawdry past by naming the country even though all the details are super obvious. Soon (by which I mean, the next day), of course, Nancy is a trusted friend of the former royal and becomes involved in the search for her missing grandson who was smuggled to the U.S. as a small child. (So Anastasia but for some reason with the boy child instead of one of the girls.) River Heights is apparently a popular place for royalist Russians émigrés from the unnamed country, which you would think might make it easier to find the longlost grandson, but of course that wouldn't make for a twisty enough plot.
Also Nancy has ditched her roadster with no explanation and is walking and biking everywhere (with the occasional taxi ride) because it would have offended her readers who were on gas rations (because war, but shh!) to have her driving everywhere. The best part, though, was when her old friend and occasional series guest, Helen Corning, pops in and explains that she's been in Paris with her dad(!), having a grand old time(?!), and they had an "exciting trip" coming back from Europe(!!!). Personally I would think someone having a grand old time in Paris in 1943 during a war that is never mentioned but is influential enough to get Nancy to ditch her iconic roadster would be more offensive than said roadster, but I guess that's just me.
Anyway, (spoilers, lol) our girl sleuth finds the missing prince, catches all the bad guys, models a winning design in a fashion show, and manages to get her dad the perfect birthday present, of course.
Nancy meets an "aristocratic" (because you can totally tell bloodlines by looking) elderly woman having a fainting spell at a department store and she and her chums help the woman get home. Turns out she's the
Also Nancy has ditched her roadster with no explanation and is walking and biking everywhere (with the occasional taxi ride) because it would have offended her readers who were on gas rations (because war, but shh!) to have her driving everywhere. The best part, though, was when her old friend and occasional series guest, Helen Corning, pops in and explains that she's been in Paris with her dad(!), having a grand old time(?!), and they had an "exciting trip" coming back from Europe(!!!). Personally I would think someone having a grand old time in Paris in 1943 during a war that is never mentioned but is influential enough to get Nancy to ditch her iconic roadster would be more offensive than said roadster, but I guess that's just me.
Anyway, (spoilers, lol) our girl sleuth finds the missing prince, catches all the bad guys, models a winning design in a fashion show, and manages to get her dad the perfect birthday present, of course.
March 26, 2017
My mom saved all her Nancy Drew books for a future daughter, but I was never interested in reading them. I just found them in the attic. Perfect escapism!
May 3, 2023
One of the strangest plots! 😂 Ned also comes across as an insecure bully in this one.
May 10, 2023
2.5 ⭐️
This one was okay! Apparently Nancy has a photographic memory now 😂
Though the mystery itself was far-fetched, I also felt like it was rather scattered and all over the place. There seemed to be a lot to keep track of at once, but that wasn’t the worst part.
What I really didn’t like was Ned lol. He said and did some things that felt pretty uncharacteristic. Thankfully, he kinda made up for it at the end, but meh, I wasn’t a fan.
Overall, not a terrible read, just a little disappointing. I still love these books so much though :)
This one was okay! Apparently Nancy has a photographic memory now 😂
Though the mystery itself was far-fetched, I also felt like it was rather scattered and all over the place. There seemed to be a lot to keep track of at once, but that wasn’t the worst part.
What I really didn’t like was Ned lol. He said and did some things that felt pretty uncharacteristic. Thankfully, he kinda made up for it at the end, but meh, I wasn’t a fan.
Overall, not a terrible read, just a little disappointing. I still love these books so much though :)
May 6, 2020
Nancy's 20th adventure never comes out and says, but seriously hints at the first victim in the tale being a lost Russian princess, complete with many, many jewels. That includes jeweled eggs and music boxes. There is a lost prince, who has landed in America somewhere and has adopted an American ID and all is lost unless Nancy and gang can unravel. There is a ballerina involved (with an accent, of course, although it doesn't say what kind. . . my mind provided a Russian/Slavic one).
And, by end of tale, there has been a number of happily ended pairings and all comes to positive outcomes. Dad showed up a few times, only to dash off during key moments on unexplained business. He did pay all the bills and provided legal help when needed, or at least a promise to look into all issues.
3 stars. I'm putting them in Ned's pocket for now. Onto #21. . . .
And, by end of tale, there has been a number of happily ended pairings and all comes to positive outcomes. Dad showed up a few times, only to dash off during key moments on unexplained business. He did pay all the bills and provided legal help when needed, or at least a promise to look into all issues.
3 stars. I'm putting them in Ned's pocket for now. Onto #21. . . .
January 18, 2012
What can I say? People just don't write books quite like this anymore. This series is unique!
November 13, 2021
3.5
This is such a dated style of writing! Truly a vintage read. I can't think of any modern book that's written so formally or with such meta self-references (ex: "Nancy was tired from just having solved another case, in Nancy Drew and The Missing Clock"). Speaking of which, I have to admit the underdeveloped characterization is what I felt was maybe the biggest "downside" of this writing style. They are robots leading robot lives. (Sometimes Nancy would have a badass moment out of nowhere, those were fun.) This is also probably because it is a kid's book though, which I just remembered lol.
I wish I knew more about mysteries to know if this mystery formula is dated or if it was a "good" mystery. So as a noob mystery reader I can only really be entirely subjective. I think the mystery was nice, but just a tad convoluted and dragged out for me to really be that invested. I wasn't even really sure what the mystery was setting up to be for a while or where it was going to go. It wasn't like I couldn't see or guess what the "answer" was going to be, but more like I was confused about what the "question" even is.
This is such a dated style of writing! Truly a vintage read. I can't think of any modern book that's written so formally or with such meta self-references (ex: "Nancy was tired from just having solved another case, in Nancy Drew and The Missing Clock"). Speaking of which, I have to admit the underdeveloped characterization is what I felt was maybe the biggest "downside" of this writing style. They are robots leading robot lives. (Sometimes Nancy would have a badass moment out of nowhere, those were fun.) This is also probably because it is a kid's book though, which I just remembered lol.
I wish I knew more about mysteries to know if this mystery formula is dated or if it was a "good" mystery. So as a noob mystery reader I can only really be entirely subjective. I think the mystery was nice, but just a tad convoluted and dragged out for me to really be that invested. I wasn't even really sure what the mystery was setting up to be for a while or where it was going to go. It wasn't like I couldn't see or guess what the "answer" was going to be, but more like I was confused about what the "question" even is.
November 21, 2021
Even though I know who Nancy Drew is, I never really read her books as a kid. I was much more into Scooby Doo. And honestly, I kind of think young Daphne was correct in not reading many Nancy Drew novels. This book was seriously bad.
The writing style wasn't my favorite, but since this book is old I can forgive that. What I can't forgive is how god-awful the mystery was. This mystery was SO OBVIOUS! I am not a good detective, but I guessed who the 'bad guy' was from page 1. Also, for a mystery book there were so few clues! I feel like clues just fell onto Nancy's lap and she never had to do any real sleuthing.
Honestly, the only reason I'm giving this book 2 stars instead of 5 stars is because my friend annotated this for me and I loved the annotations. I'm not sure if all Nancy Drew books are like this but since I'm probably too old for them anyway I don't think I'll bother finding out.
The writing style wasn't my favorite, but since this book is old I can forgive that. What I can't forgive is how god-awful the mystery was. This mystery was SO OBVIOUS! I am not a good detective, but I guessed who the 'bad guy' was from page 1. Also, for a mystery book there were so few clues! I feel like clues just fell onto Nancy's lap and she never had to do any real sleuthing.
Honestly, the only reason I'm giving this book 2 stars instead of 5 stars is because my friend annotated this for me and I loved the annotations. I'm not sure if all Nancy Drew books are like this but since I'm probably too old for them anyway I don't think I'll bother finding out.
April 5, 2022
In this one, Nancy meets a Russian aristocrat from the royal family who had to run away after the revolution. It's not explicitly mentioned which country, but come on! She is seeking her grandson and Nancy tries to help her. When a man identifying as the missing prince turns to Nancy, she introduces him to the old woman. But is he really the prince?
Parallel to this is the puzzling mystery of two very similar-looking men. Whenever they appear, a theft takes place. This parts gets a bit convoluted, and I really got a bit confused and moved on. Of course, Nancy solves all the mysteries, even winning a fashion show in the midst of it all.
Madame Marie was a little pathetic and apparently people who aren't princes have disgusting eating habits. And don't wear a jacket - oh, my, that would warrant an assassination in itself! This part was rather hilarious even though Nancy's deference to the old woman was annoying.
Not one of my favourites, definitely. But I enjoyed it.
Parallel to this is the puzzling mystery of two very similar-looking men. Whenever they appear, a theft takes place. This parts gets a bit convoluted, and I really got a bit confused and moved on. Of course, Nancy solves all the mysteries, even winning a fashion show in the midst of it all.
Madame Marie was a little pathetic and apparently people who aren't princes have disgusting eating habits. And don't wear a jacket - oh, my, that would warrant an assassination in itself! This part was rather hilarious even though Nancy's deference to the old woman was annoying.
Not one of my favourites, definitely. But I enjoyed it.
December 8, 2023
A mystery which begins with Nancy looking for the pickpocket who has relieved several of the citizens of River Heights of their wallets--including her own father, Carson Drew soon expands to include a search for the missing grandson of a European queen living incognito in the States. Nancy, Bess, and George assist Madame Alexandra when the frail older woman requests their help in seeing her home--she has suddenly felt ill while out shopping. When the girls are invited to her house for tea, they learn of her aristocratic heritage and while showing them some of the treasures she brought from her home country, they see a picture of a little boy in a sailor suit. Madame Alexandra tells them that he is her grandson Michael who has been missing since he escaped the country with his nurse. She'd given anything to find him. And Nancy promises to do everything she can. Her investigations turn up a man who seems to have the proper credentials--but is he really the long-lost prince? His manners certainly don't seem to be very princely. A clue left by Michael's nurse in Madame Alexandra's jewel box will help Nancy determine who the real Prince Michael Alexandra is. Along the way, she and her friends will also catch a sneak thief or two.
It's a good thing I don't go back and read Nancy for the believability of the plots. Me--I'm just in it for a nice stroll down memory lane and, when I've found the original text version, to see if I spot any differences from the versions I read as a child or spot things that I never even thought about as a child. So--the first thing that stood out to me this time? Where is Nancy's roadster? The girl is biking, walking, or taking a taxi everywhere--no roadster in sight. When I look at the publication date, I realize that because of WWII, it probably wasn't a good idea to have Nancy bopping all over the place and wasting all that gas during wartime. And yet...her old school friend Helen Corning shows up in this one and announces that she and her dad had just returned from a glorious trip to Paris. Say what? Paris? In the middle of WWII? Maybe Nancy could have kept her roadster.
The other thing is more intangible. Something about this one just doesn't feel right overall. All of the characters seem a bit off to me. And I'm not quite sure what it is--except in the case of Ned and Nancy's other friends. When the man originally identified as Prince Michael gate-crashes their boating trip/picnic, Ned and company decide it would be great fun to strand the guy on the other shore. Nancy protests a bit that it wouldn't be nice--but she's actually more worried about Madame Alexandra's disappointment in her than abandoning the guy. Sure, he's been a rude boor, but I don't remember Ned and the others being so mean-spirited--willing to capture proven bad guys? Certainly. But playing dirty tricks on those who are rude? Not so much.
I enjoyed the mystery and watching Nancy solve it. I just wish the characters had behaved more as I expected them to.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
It's a good thing I don't go back and read Nancy for the believability of the plots. Me--I'm just in it for a nice stroll down memory lane and, when I've found the original text version, to see if I spot any differences from the versions I read as a child or spot things that I never even thought about as a child. So--the first thing that stood out to me this time? Where is Nancy's roadster? The girl is biking, walking, or taking a taxi everywhere--no roadster in sight. When I look at the publication date, I realize that because of WWII, it probably wasn't a good idea to have Nancy bopping all over the place and wasting all that gas during wartime. And yet...her old school friend Helen Corning shows up in this one and announces that she and her dad had just returned from a glorious trip to Paris. Say what? Paris? In the middle of WWII? Maybe Nancy could have kept her roadster.
The other thing is more intangible. Something about this one just doesn't feel right overall. All of the characters seem a bit off to me. And I'm not quite sure what it is--except in the case of Ned and Nancy's other friends. When the man originally identified as Prince Michael gate-crashes their boating trip/picnic, Ned and company decide it would be great fun to strand the guy on the other shore. Nancy protests a bit that it wouldn't be nice--but she's actually more worried about Madame Alexandra's disappointment in her than abandoning the guy. Sure, he's been a rude boor, but I don't remember Ned and the others being so mean-spirited--willing to capture proven bad guys? Certainly. But playing dirty tricks on those who are rude? Not so much.
I enjoyed the mystery and watching Nancy solve it. I just wish the characters had behaved more as I expected them to.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
September 12, 2017
The Good: Like the other books in this series, this is a thrilling mystery with a convoluted plot. Nancy and her friends end up in one predicament after another, but, thanks to her smarts and skills, they escape and she ends up saving the day. Everything I like about this series was present in this volume.
The Bad: I have no complaints; it just wasn't spectacular.
Conclusion: Unless you're completely unfamiliar with this series, you probably know what to expect: sleuthing, peril, action, etc. This book delivers on those fronts and then some. If you're not a fan of the famed teenage detective, though, nothing in this will change your mind.
The Bad: I have no complaints; it just wasn't spectacular.
Conclusion: Unless you're completely unfamiliar with this series, you probably know what to expect: sleuthing, peril, action, etc. This book delivers on those fronts and then some. If you're not a fan of the famed teenage detective, though, nothing in this will change your mind.
June 11, 2025
This one was intriguing and had fun characters
Tragically the last in my box set, should I get more?
Tragically the last in my box set, should I get more?
March 19, 2019
The Clue in the Jewel Box is about eighteen-year-old Nancy Drew. This book takes place in Nancy's home town of River Heights. In this book there are two mysteries. The first mystery is about a pickpocket who is going around and pickpocketing everyone, including her own father, Carson Drew.
Not only is this pickpocket very trained but, there is someone who looks exactly like him.
It turns out in the end these two people are working together. They also are working with someone posing as an old woman's long lost grandson.
That is the other mystery. There is an old woman who used to be a queen in Europe.
She came to America during the war. She only had a few of her most valuable things. All of her relatives were dead except her grandson. She didn't know where he was. All she knew is that he came to America. During the course of all of this one of Nancy's greatest friends comes back to America from Paris. Her friends name is Helen. Helen brought a friend she had meet in Paris. Helen's friend was a little older than Nancy. Her name was Katherine. She was fashion designer. Katherine and Nancy decided to enter the fashion show. Katherine made the dresses and Nancy modeled them. They won the contest.
At the end of this book they celebrate Carson Drew's birthday. They figure who the real grandson
of the old lady is. During this time the three men who worked together are in jail.
I like this book because was wrote very well. I loved trying to figure out two mysteries at once.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes a good mystery.
Not only is this pickpocket very trained but, there is someone who looks exactly like him.
It turns out in the end these two people are working together. They also are working with someone posing as an old woman's long lost grandson.
That is the other mystery. There is an old woman who used to be a queen in Europe.
She came to America during the war. She only had a few of her most valuable things. All of her relatives were dead except her grandson. She didn't know where he was. All she knew is that he came to America. During the course of all of this one of Nancy's greatest friends comes back to America from Paris. Her friends name is Helen. Helen brought a friend she had meet in Paris. Helen's friend was a little older than Nancy. Her name was Katherine. She was fashion designer. Katherine and Nancy decided to enter the fashion show. Katherine made the dresses and Nancy modeled them. They won the contest.
At the end of this book they celebrate Carson Drew's birthday. They figure who the real grandson
of the old lady is. During this time the three men who worked together are in jail.
I like this book because was wrote very well. I loved trying to figure out two mysteries at once.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes a good mystery.
November 7, 2023
This was the original 1943 edition, and it was written by Mildred WIRT.
While this was not 1 of Nancy drew's best stories, it was rather interesting. Somewhat entertaining. But I solved the mystery halfway through the story. Instead of being a romp in the woods, it was a romp with high society. I much prefer a romp in The woods.
Nancy meets a queen that lives in river heights, The queen is actually there incognito as she had fled a country that was in a revolution. And she is looking for her grandson who had also fled that country. Nancy finds him early in the story, but it is obvious that this young man is not her grandson but an impostor.
While this was not 1 of Nancy drew's best stories, it was rather interesting. Somewhat entertaining. But I solved the mystery halfway through the story. Instead of being a romp in the woods, it was a romp with high society. I much prefer a romp in The woods.
Nancy meets a queen that lives in river heights, The queen is actually there incognito as she had fled a country that was in a revolution. And she is looking for her grandson who had also fled that country. Nancy finds him early in the story, but it is obvious that this young man is not her grandson but an impostor.
December 1, 2018
3.5 star rating in my opinion. I really loved some aspects of this book and didn’t like others. What I loved: this is one of the only Nancy Drew’s that is actually hard to solve yourself. I didn’t know who to suspect. What I didn’t like: Although I like how a long lost grandson is looking for his grandma, it got too complex some times and didn’t add on to the story in a good way. Other than that, everything else worked perfectly and I recommend this book to any mystery-lovers!
August 24, 2019
Another mystery solved by Miss Goodie Two Shoes - er, Nancy Drew. Honestly I know these books are geared toward a juvenile audience but they still come across as heavy handed in the 'do good' department.
Anyway, this mystery was pretty good and I enjoyed reading it. Nothing too outrageous happened and the cast of characters were interesting.
Although I enjoyed this I'm not sure my much younger self would have, though.
Anyway, this mystery was pretty good and I enjoyed reading it. Nothing too outrageous happened and the cast of characters were interesting.
Although I enjoyed this I'm not sure my much younger self would have, though.
September 28, 2024
Nancy didn't have any particularly grand talents in this one, as I remember. I did finish it 2 weeks ago.
She was her usual helpful self, caring for an elderly woman who was feeling faint, which is, of course, how she got into the mystery of the jewel box.
I enjoyed it more than the last couple of books, for whatever reason.
She was her usual helpful self, caring for an elderly woman who was feeling faint, which is, of course, how she got into the mystery of the jewel box.
I enjoyed it more than the last couple of books, for whatever reason.
July 26, 2023
Hyttelitteratur
September 23, 2011
Another wonderful addition to the Nancy Drew mystery book series.
January 1, 2023
The last few Nancy's I've read have been pretty crappy in comparison with the first few entries, so I hope they get better soon.
This one was fine, but a lot of stuff just didn't make sense (not that this series is realistic, but it's usually better than this). Also, everyone was being kind of a dick, Ned in particular. I know the ghost writers changed frequently, so maybe that explains the shifting quality in the writing.
Also, the thinly veiled allusions to the Romanov's were a bit odd, and the Mrs Alexandra plot resembled Fox's Anastasia storyline almost to a tee, which is curious as to my knowledge, all re-writes happened in the 50's/60's.
This one was fine, but a lot of stuff just didn't make sense (not that this series is realistic, but it's usually better than this). Also, everyone was being kind of a dick, Ned in particular. I know the ghost writers changed frequently, so maybe that explains the shifting quality in the writing.
Also, the thinly veiled allusions to the Romanov's were a bit odd, and the Mrs Alexandra plot resembled Fox's Anastasia storyline almost to a tee, which is curious as to my knowledge, all re-writes happened in the 50's/60's.
September 3, 2023
This installment is perhaps the most nonsensical that I've read yet. Nancy has yet another talent - modeling - and also finds herself caught up in the search for a missing prince from an overthrown royal family of an unnamed (but obvious) country. Combine this with pickpockets, a fashion show, and Ned acting like a total ass, and you have a rather disjointed story. Helen Corning randomly shows back up as well (with a dressmaker from that same unnamed country, of all things), causing Bess and George to take a backseat. It was still enjoyable, but not as much as the ones that came before.
January 24, 2021
A former European queen living incognito in River Heights enlists Nancy's help you find her long lost grandson. Nancy is also involved in investigating a pickpocket scam. There is a singing Easter egg and a secret compartment in a jewel box. Among all the clues Nancy uncovers an imposter, gets the pickpockets and reunites Queen Alexandra and her grandson.
While the imposter was obvious I quite enjoyed the mystery of opening the jewel box and tracking the pickpockets.
While the imposter was obvious I quite enjoyed the mystery of opening the jewel box and tracking the pickpockets.
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May 2, 2021Oh, the nostalgia
February 7, 2022
Wonderful Book with several twist and turns it has spectacular words that hit you in expression like you think WOW! I want to read more. You get addicted to the book and want to read more
April 13, 2024
Ok, I loved this one 😭. Anastasia vibes!
Always nice when Helen Corning Archer makes an appearance too.
This one and the previous knocked it out of the park!
Always nice when Helen Corning Archer makes an appearance too.
This one and the previous knocked it out of the park!
May 21, 2024
Just as predictable as most of the formula Nancy Drews, but this one had a really nice storyline and some interesting side plots.
October 6, 2024
Neiti Etsivien tasolla parhaimmistoa!
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