What do you think?
Rate this book
Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #4
The Mystery at Lilac Inn
Nancy finds herself in danger when she tries to solve the mystery of an old inn, believed to be jinxed. Read by Academy Award(-nominee Laura Linney (You Can Count on Me). Unabridged.
Audio CD
First published October 1, 1930
605 people are currently reading
6462 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn Keene
1,129 books3,909 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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,291 reviews
July 11, 2023
Thanks to my friend Darla for drawing my attention to the Nancy Drew Audiobooks narrated by Laura Linney. She is point-on with her narration and it brought back a lot of childhood memories as I listened.
I own the hardcopy of this one and I remember enjoying it as a child. Back then I think this was the second Nancy Drew book that I bought due to the title and that eerie cover! Loved all the "lilac" talk!
There's a lot of action and it's a typical Nancy Drew sleuthing mystery but boy that Carson Drew really allows Nancy a lot of liberties 😉 She really needs to be more careful! 😀
I own the hardcopy of this one and I remember enjoying it as a child. Back then I think this was the second Nancy Drew book that I bought due to the title and that eerie cover! Loved all the "lilac" talk!
There's a lot of action and it's a typical Nancy Drew sleuthing mystery but boy that Carson Drew really allows Nancy a lot of liberties 😉 She really needs to be more careful! 😀
June 12, 2019
There was certainly a lot of action and danger for Nancy in The Mystery at Lilac Inn. As usual, multi-talented Nancy has no problem solving the case all while conveniently and artfully dodging danger. It certainly helps that luck and fate sure seem to be on her side. She always seems to have the right tools, props, money, fatherly advice, and police assistance at her disposal. A more complex mystery than the others in the series so far, and more challenging for young readers, but an exciting and unique mystery for young fans of the genre.
December 15, 2008
i don't know what it is, but these are like candy. they crack me up (so quaint and implausible!), but i keep on reading and as soon as one is over, i pick up the next!
April 18, 2024
A Quickie Review
You know what to expect from an installment of an established franchise, and that's just what you get here. Not much to say other than that.
Score: 4/5
You know what to expect from an installment of an established franchise, and that's just what you get here. Not much to say other than that.
Score: 4/5
July 15, 2019
I cannot possibly review every Nancy Drew book I ever read but just have to comment on this one because it's one of my all time favorite Nancy Drew books. So much fun!
August 12, 2019
The Mystery at Lilac Inn is the fourth Nancy Drew Mystery. Originally published in 1930, the book was revised and updated in 1961. The story is a little bit dated, (example - a department store credit card is called a "charge plate'' and snorkeling/free diving is called "skin diving.'') but not enough to hamper my enjoyment of this action-packed story! Although this story follows the usual Nancy Drew suspenseful formula, there is more danger and action in this story than the previous three mysteries. The bad guys really mean business this time!
The Basics: Nancy and her friend Helen travel to the Lilac Inn to visit with their friend Emily, who is soon to be married. Immediately strange things start to happen....their canoe capsizes, thefts occur at the inn, and someone is pretending to be Nancy! Of course, Nancy jumps right into the mystery to help her friend. The case is filled with danger this time and Nancy finds herself in multiple scrapes while sleuthing out the truth.
Great story! I'm enjoying reading my way through this series as an adult. I was about 10 years old or so when I read these books the first time. I'm enjoying them as much at 50 as I did at 10! I do have to smile a bit when Nancy miraculously has exactly what she needs to investigate, or when help shows up just in time to save her from a grisly demise.
I listened to the audio book version of this story. I'm really enjoying the audio books from Books on Tape via my local library. There are sound effects and music added at appropriate spots in the story to build suspense. Makes it fun! And I can listen to the story while working outside in my yard and garden. At just over 3 hours long, this audio book was a perfect easy listening length. I easily finished it in a day. Laura Linney narrates. Linney has a pleasant voice and reads at a nice pace. All in all, an enjoyable listening experience.
On to the next book in this series -- The Secret of Shadow Ranch!
The Basics: Nancy and her friend Helen travel to the Lilac Inn to visit with their friend Emily, who is soon to be married. Immediately strange things start to happen....their canoe capsizes, thefts occur at the inn, and someone is pretending to be Nancy! Of course, Nancy jumps right into the mystery to help her friend. The case is filled with danger this time and Nancy finds herself in multiple scrapes while sleuthing out the truth.
Great story! I'm enjoying reading my way through this series as an adult. I was about 10 years old or so when I read these books the first time. I'm enjoying them as much at 50 as I did at 10! I do have to smile a bit when Nancy miraculously has exactly what she needs to investigate, or when help shows up just in time to save her from a grisly demise.
I listened to the audio book version of this story. I'm really enjoying the audio books from Books on Tape via my local library. There are sound effects and music added at appropriate spots in the story to build suspense. Makes it fun! And I can listen to the story while working outside in my yard and garden. At just over 3 hours long, this audio book was a perfect easy listening length. I easily finished it in a day. Laura Linney narrates. Linney has a pleasant voice and reads at a nice pace. All in all, an enjoyable listening experience.
On to the next book in this series -- The Secret of Shadow Ranch!
January 18, 2019
I like Nancy Drew but there are better volumes than "The Mystery At Lilac Inn". I admire a mystery that weaves back stories together but this isn't one of them. This time, the 'Carolyn Keene' publishing committee was obvious. A hodgepodge of culprits were added, in an attempt to pack the book with excitement. The result is that Nancy, Helen, and Emily spent 180 pages on disjointed errands. We’re weighed down with a shady waitress and gardener, a rude coordinator, Dick's military buddy... Out of nowhere, there are scuba-diving sessions. Additionally, Nancy has an identity thief at home. There's an actress and ex-waitress to interview out-of-town, a truck makes minor cameos, and diamonds are stolen.
The wonderful old inn and legend of lilac trees could weave a dazzling tale. Instead, keeping Mr. Daly on staff, who sold the establishment to Emily & Dick, was superfluous. Thieves discovered hidden doors from the 1700s that he never ran into? I readily admit I always hope for a genuine ghost story and the cover suggests one. As usual, the shimmering lady scarcely appears and no part of the book is sinister. A bomb destroys Nancy & Helen's cabin in a clear murder attempt but Carson Drew merely cautions his daughter!? Violence is out of synch with the hodgepodge that comprises this novel.
Nancy's impersonator sought to punish someone the reader received no clues about. It was out of left field. Coincidentally, culprits also had time to mastermind scaring Emily, even though there was never an alternate resort-buyer. The excuse for wanting the property is as lame as stolen goods and a handy shed for hiding them. If the owners sold Lilac Inn, the goods would go with them, or run out. Obtaining a brochure-advertised resort to accommodate smuggling, is a poorly-contrived story.
The wonderful old inn and legend of lilac trees could weave a dazzling tale. Instead, keeping Mr. Daly on staff, who sold the establishment to Emily & Dick, was superfluous. Thieves discovered hidden doors from the 1700s that he never ran into? I readily admit I always hope for a genuine ghost story and the cover suggests one. As usual, the shimmering lady scarcely appears and no part of the book is sinister. A bomb destroys Nancy & Helen's cabin in a clear murder attempt but Carson Drew merely cautions his daughter!? Violence is out of synch with the hodgepodge that comprises this novel.
Nancy's impersonator sought to punish someone the reader received no clues about. It was out of left field. Coincidentally, culprits also had time to mastermind scaring Emily, even though there was never an alternate resort-buyer. The excuse for wanting the property is as lame as stolen goods and a handy shed for hiding them. If the owners sold Lilac Inn, the goods would go with them, or run out. Obtaining a brochure-advertised resort to accommodate smuggling, is a poorly-contrived story.
June 1, 2025
4 stars ⭐️ Children’s Classic [Yellow Flashlight revised 1961 edition - Listened to Penelope Heaven’s audiobook of this on YouTube]
This was one of my favorites as a young girl, so I was excited to reread (well, listen to) this book. For some reason, the missing diamonds and the impersonator intrigued me so much as a young girl and I still was intrigued by this mystery!
Main Content notes for parents-
Nancy and Helen go to a church service on a Sunday morning.
When a “ghostly figure” is seen at night, a side character says she doesn’t believe in ghosts, but perhaps thats why another believes the inn is haunted; *Spoilers* .
Mentions of some people believe the inn is haunted due to footsteps at night and seeing a “ghostly face” peer into windows (someone else calls it a jinx) & a “ghost”; A few mentions of some people in the West Indies believing that lilac perfume keeps away ghosts and evil spirits and planting a lilac tree near a front door acts as a protection against evil spirits entering the house (someone else says it’s for good luck); A few mentions of luck.
Dangerous Situation Counter: Being ran-off the road and into a ditch; A spear is thrown at Nancy underwater to harm her; Another character is hit on the head and knocked unconscious; An explosion & fire; Someone throws a rock at Nancy’s car window; An earthquake-like experience; A thunderstorm where lightning strikes a tree; Being grabbed, tied-up, & captured; Being trapped in a sinking ship that’s also on fire (& being left to drown).
Nancy has an impersonator that is ruining her reputation and steals some of her stuff; Nancy trips someone on purpose to stop the person from running away; Nancy deals with a rude and sarcastic woman with antagonistic comments towards Nancy (others treat the woman cooly, but Nancy mostly refrains from replying to the woman’s remarks).
All about & many mentions of break-ins/robberies, burglars/thieves, & stolen items; Mentions of a bomb, explosion & fire; Mentions of injuries, pain, & screams; Mentions of blackmail & threats; Mentions of arrests & a prison sentence for forgery; Mentions of someone wanting revenge on another; Mentions of eavesdropping; Mentions of a tobacco pipe; A couple mentions of a young woman’s parents dying in a plane crash; A couple mentions of hatred; A mention of smugglers; A mention of jealousy.
A young man seems to be interested in Nancy and calls their planned meeting a date (Nancy’s father also teases her that the young man seems to be taken with her; Late Nancy blushes over a compliment from the young man); Nancy says at the end that her “steady partner is going to be mystery!”.
A few mentions of dates.
Some things that worked for the time period this book was written/revised in, but might raise eyebrows now: A female side character is called “Gay” (most likely short for her actual name and a nickname but never said); The word “midget” is used to describe a small vehicle; “gaily” (happily) and “queer” (odd) are both used twice and once respectively.
This was one of my favorites as a young girl, so I was excited to reread (well, listen to) this book. For some reason, the missing diamonds and the impersonator intrigued me so much as a young girl and I still was intrigued by this mystery!
Main Content notes for parents-
Nancy and Helen go to a church service on a Sunday morning.
When a “ghostly figure” is seen at night, a side character says she doesn’t believe in ghosts, but perhaps thats why another believes the inn is haunted; *Spoilers* .
Mentions of some people believe the inn is haunted due to footsteps at night and seeing a “ghostly face” peer into windows (someone else calls it a jinx) & a “ghost”; A few mentions of some people in the West Indies believing that lilac perfume keeps away ghosts and evil spirits and planting a lilac tree near a front door acts as a protection against evil spirits entering the house (someone else says it’s for good luck); A few mentions of luck.
Dangerous Situation Counter: Being ran-off the road and into a ditch; A spear is thrown at Nancy underwater to harm her; Another character is hit on the head and knocked unconscious; An explosion & fire; Someone throws a rock at Nancy’s car window; An earthquake-like experience; A thunderstorm where lightning strikes a tree; Being grabbed, tied-up, & captured; Being trapped in a sinking ship that’s also on fire (& being left to drown).
Nancy has an impersonator that is ruining her reputation and steals some of her stuff; Nancy trips someone on purpose to stop the person from running away; Nancy deals with a rude and sarcastic woman with antagonistic comments towards Nancy (others treat the woman cooly, but Nancy mostly refrains from replying to the woman’s remarks).
All about & many mentions of break-ins/robberies, burglars/thieves, & stolen items; Mentions of a bomb, explosion & fire; Mentions of injuries, pain, & screams; Mentions of blackmail & threats; Mentions of arrests & a prison sentence for forgery; Mentions of someone wanting revenge on another; Mentions of eavesdropping; Mentions of a tobacco pipe; A couple mentions of a young woman’s parents dying in a plane crash; A couple mentions of hatred; A mention of smugglers; A mention of jealousy.
A young man seems to be interested in Nancy and calls their planned meeting a date (Nancy’s father also teases her that the young man seems to be taken with her; Late Nancy blushes over a compliment from the young man); Nancy says at the end that her “steady partner is going to be mystery!”.
A few mentions of dates.
Some things that worked for the time period this book was written/revised in, but might raise eyebrows now: A female side character is called “Gay” (most likely short for her actual name and a nickname but never said); The word “midget” is used to describe a small vehicle; “gaily” (happily) and “queer” (odd) are both used twice and once respectively.
July 6, 2019
IIt was stated by other reviewers that the original version of this book was boring, and that the remake of it was much more exciting. Well, I don’t recall the original story, but I just finished its do over. It, too, was boring.
Nancy Drew has a double, a woman who is impersonating her. This woman stole her credit card and made some expensive purchases at a store, and since the people in the store knew Nancy Drew, they believed her to be the thief. She got out of that one pretty easily.
At the Inn Nancy learns that some garden tools have been stolen, as well as 20 diamonds. Like I care for by now. This story just didn’t get written well enough for me. It felt like five people were busy editing this book without the other members knowing what each of them were doing. Well, not really, but
It felt that way to me, and maybe it was due to my boredom.
Nancy Drew has a double, a woman who is impersonating her. This woman stole her credit card and made some expensive purchases at a store, and since the people in the store knew Nancy Drew, they believed her to be the thief. She got out of that one pretty easily.
At the Inn Nancy learns that some garden tools have been stolen, as well as 20 diamonds. Like I care for by now. This story just didn’t get written well enough for me. It felt like five people were busy editing this book without the other members knowing what each of them were doing. Well, not really, but
It felt that way to me, and maybe it was due to my boredom.
August 12, 2019
Fun to read the reviews of others. . . Juli in particular hit it SPOT ON, so find her review. As for me it will be "What she said. . . .!" on this one. #4 is done, and on to the Shadow Ranch. . . .and are we ever going to find Ned? And Bess and George???? Trying to do one a week til it gets done, and is a trip down childhood lane, for sure!
November 14, 2015
Another so-so in a series I loved as a girl ...
There is just too much going on here. I needed a stack of cue cards with character names, what they did, how old they are, what color hair they have, all the important stuff.
Here's the problem. TOO MUCH is happening ALL AT ONCE! (I hate using caps, btw.) This is a breathless read for sure. Nancy has to deal with - almost being run off the road, having a bomb go off in a cabin she's staying in, being shot at by a spear-gun while skin-diving, having a rock thrown at her, being witness to a power failure which results in a pile of valuable diamonds being stolen (at least that one wasn't life-threatening!), being kidnapped, grabbed, and to top it all off, someone is impersonating her and using her credit card all over town! Gosh and gee willikers! And her Dad, prominent lawyer Carson Drew, what's he got to say about all this? That he's 'concerned for her.'
Well if this were my Dad, I'd have been locked in the house with a 24-hour guard around me. No kidding!
Well, realism isn't the Nancy Drew series' strong suit, and we do have Hannah, the warm and caring housekeeper to say things like, 'Oh, Nancy, should you really be doing that?' So we've got that covered, young readers. We know Nancy's in danger, but she's Nancy and she's an amateur detective, so like, you gotta accept some uber-unrealism.
Nancy is trying to help a friend, Emily, newly engaged, who's purchased a rambling old inn, the Lilac Inn, which she hopes to 'make a go' of. We meet Emily's lovely, elderly aunt; an arrogant activities director who sneers a lot and makes unkind comments about our Nancy; some inn employees who are grumpy and overall nasty; and assorted 'others' who I had a hard time keeping track of. The main idea here is that someone is trying to prevent Emily from opening the inn. So Nancy moves into a cabin on the inn's property to figure out 'what's going on,' along with her trusty sidekick, Helen. (Helen gets clobbered on the head, btw, and no one checks her for a concussion. What is WRONG with these people?)
Of course Nancy discovers a hidden room, lots of clues in the form of lilac blossoms, an underwater 'shark' that scares her to bejesus, and finds herself attracted to some guy named John who goes around acting all mysterious. Suffice to say there are about eighty threads to untangle, which the author(s) do in the final pages.
If I were ten or twelve, this would be a great read and I'd be thinking OMGoodness, but Nancy is an intrepid, daring, and sometimes sort-of-stupid girl! She just goes running into one dangerous situation after another while the adults (dad, housekeeper, police and other adults) say, there she goes! Our Nancy! Girl detective to the rescue, isn't she great!
:D
There is just too much going on here. I needed a stack of cue cards with character names, what they did, how old they are, what color hair they have, all the important stuff.
Here's the problem. TOO MUCH is happening ALL AT ONCE! (I hate using caps, btw.) This is a breathless read for sure. Nancy has to deal with - almost being run off the road, having a bomb go off in a cabin she's staying in, being shot at by a spear-gun while skin-diving, having a rock thrown at her, being witness to a power failure which results in a pile of valuable diamonds being stolen (at least that one wasn't life-threatening!), being kidnapped, grabbed, and to top it all off, someone is impersonating her and using her credit card all over town! Gosh and gee willikers! And her Dad, prominent lawyer Carson Drew, what's he got to say about all this? That he's 'concerned for her.'
Well if this were my Dad, I'd have been locked in the house with a 24-hour guard around me. No kidding!
Well, realism isn't the Nancy Drew series' strong suit, and we do have Hannah, the warm and caring housekeeper to say things like, 'Oh, Nancy, should you really be doing that?' So we've got that covered, young readers. We know Nancy's in danger, but she's Nancy and she's an amateur detective, so like, you gotta accept some uber-unrealism.
Nancy is trying to help a friend, Emily, newly engaged, who's purchased a rambling old inn, the Lilac Inn, which she hopes to 'make a go' of. We meet Emily's lovely, elderly aunt; an arrogant activities director who sneers a lot and makes unkind comments about our Nancy; some inn employees who are grumpy and overall nasty; and assorted 'others' who I had a hard time keeping track of. The main idea here is that someone is trying to prevent Emily from opening the inn. So Nancy moves into a cabin on the inn's property to figure out 'what's going on,' along with her trusty sidekick, Helen. (Helen gets clobbered on the head, btw, and no one checks her for a concussion. What is WRONG with these people?)
Of course Nancy discovers a hidden room, lots of clues in the form of lilac blossoms, an underwater 'shark' that scares her to bejesus, and finds herself attracted to some guy named John who goes around acting all mysterious. Suffice to say there are about eighty threads to untangle, which the author(s) do in the final pages.
If I were ten or twelve, this would be a great read and I'd be thinking OMGoodness, but Nancy is an intrepid, daring, and sometimes sort-of-stupid girl! She just goes running into one dangerous situation after another while the adults (dad, housekeeper, police and other adults) say, there she goes! Our Nancy! Girl detective to the rescue, isn't she great!
:D
October 25, 2017
I am captivated by the descriptions of food in these Nancy Drew books. There seems to be at least one major meal per book, meticulously described.
The Lilac Inn dining room provides an excellent luncheon. First course is beef broth. Following that is "creamed chicken on toast, peas, salad, and iced tea."
Oh, and for dinner is a real treat! Emily had arranged a steak cook-out on the patio, and the social director joined in the lively banter. When they finished eating, she brought out a guitar. 'How about some Western tunes?' she suggested gaily. 'Fine. Let's all sing,' Helen answered.
Honestly, this little time capsule of a book makes me want to gnaw on my shirt collar, I'm so charmed.
Finally, here is a non-sequitur that needs no comment:
"My disguise certainly boomeranged," Nancy thought in disgust as she snapped off the flashlights in her sleeves.
The Lilac Inn dining room provides an excellent luncheon. First course is beef broth. Following that is "creamed chicken on toast, peas, salad, and iced tea."
Oh, and for dinner is a real treat! Emily had arranged a steak cook-out on the patio, and the social director joined in the lively banter. When they finished eating, she brought out a guitar. 'How about some Western tunes?' she suggested gaily. 'Fine. Let's all sing,' Helen answered.
Honestly, this little time capsule of a book makes me want to gnaw on my shirt collar, I'm so charmed.
Finally, here is a non-sequitur that needs no comment:
"My disguise certainly boomeranged," Nancy thought in disgust as she snapped off the flashlights in her sleeves.
July 27, 2016
Good old fashioned fun and mystery. Love Nancy Drew!
June 4, 2025
INTERESTING NOTE: This is officially the 2000th book I have recorded on Goodreads. Whoohoo!
Rating: 3.9 / 5
Truthfully, while the setup of this book is as mysterious and perfect as one could desire, the fact of the matter is that somewhere along the way...I felt as though the mystery was lost a bit, as just too many things were going on. By the end, even though this technically isn't a long book, it did feel as though it sort of lagged for me, and therefore the conclusion was not as satisfying as I would've hoped.
_________
This time around, the mystery comes to Nancy in the form of Nancy--or, more specifically, in the form of someone imitating her so perfectly, that she's easily able to besmirch Nancy's good name and get her into trouble.
But...why?
The book takes another turn by focusing on Nancy's helping her friend, Emily, with a mysterious "ghost" and strange happenings at Lilac Inn, which Emily and her fiance, Dick, are barely keeping afloat. Nancy of course is engaged to help...
... except that as things keep happening, both with Nancy's double, the inn's ghost, and just general threats to Nancy's life a-la-cliffhangers at the end of every chapter, it feels like poor Nancy doesn't have room to breathe, let alone the readers!
Altogether, I just felt that this was a bit all over the place, and not really something that I could follow along with Nancy on in terms of "sleuthing" as there's...really not that many clues to work with until the end, as there are several components of the mystery that the reader isn't privy to and that Nancy herself couldn't have just found out on her own.
So...definitely not the strongest mystery here. And even though I'm rating it technically higher than The Hidden Staircase at 4 stars compared to 3, ultimately it ranks lower on my list since while THS was a bit boring in terms of pacing, at least I could follow along with what happened enough to be interested. Here though...I just got sort of lost, and therefore disinterested by the time I got to the end. Will definitely try reading again though, because the mysterious elements, again, ARE quite enjoyable and worth the chapter-by-chapter cliffhangers!
My Nancy Drew Rankings List:
1. The Bungalow Mystery (Book 3)
2. The Secret of the Old Clock (Book 1)
3. The Hidden Staircase (Book 2)
4. The Mystery at Lilac Inn (Book 4)
(More upcoming as I read more, of course!)
Rating: 3.9 / 5
Truthfully, while the setup of this book is as mysterious and perfect as one could desire, the fact of the matter is that somewhere along the way...I felt as though the mystery was lost a bit, as just too many things were going on. By the end, even though this technically isn't a long book, it did feel as though it sort of lagged for me, and therefore the conclusion was not as satisfying as I would've hoped.
_________
This time around, the mystery comes to Nancy in the form of Nancy--or, more specifically, in the form of someone imitating her so perfectly, that she's easily able to besmirch Nancy's good name and get her into trouble.
But...why?
The book takes another turn by focusing on Nancy's helping her friend, Emily, with a mysterious "ghost" and strange happenings at Lilac Inn, which Emily and her fiance, Dick, are barely keeping afloat. Nancy of course is engaged to help...
... except that as things keep happening, both with Nancy's double, the inn's ghost, and just general threats to Nancy's life a-la-cliffhangers at the end of every chapter, it feels like poor Nancy doesn't have room to breathe, let alone the readers!
Altogether, I just felt that this was a bit all over the place, and not really something that I could follow along with Nancy on in terms of "sleuthing" as there's...really not that many clues to work with until the end, as there are several components of the mystery that the reader isn't privy to and that Nancy herself couldn't have just found out on her own.
So...definitely not the strongest mystery here. And even though I'm rating it technically higher than The Hidden Staircase at 4 stars compared to 3, ultimately it ranks lower on my list since while THS was a bit boring in terms of pacing, at least I could follow along with what happened enough to be interested. Here though...I just got sort of lost, and therefore disinterested by the time I got to the end. Will definitely try reading again though, because the mysterious elements, again, ARE quite enjoyable and worth the chapter-by-chapter cliffhangers!
My Nancy Drew Rankings List:
1. The Bungalow Mystery (Book 3)
2. The Secret of the Old Clock (Book 1)
3. The Hidden Staircase (Book 2)
4. The Mystery at Lilac Inn (Book 4)
(More upcoming as I read more, of course!)
April 25, 2024
Nice to get back to my old favorite series 🩷
September 8, 2020
This is a series I would have loved to read when I was 10 or 12 years old. Too bad that I found it 30 years too late...
March 14, 2009
This was the Nancy Drew book that got me hooked on the series when I was 10. I remember being sick with the flu and home from school. My mom brought home several of the Nancy Drew books that a friend had given her for me that her daughter had outgrown. This was the first one I read. I so LOVED Nancy that it inspired me to write my first real story - a mystery modeled on the Nancy Drew concept. My mom and I added to my collection over the years, and I still have them all - about 25 of them - I'm hoping to collect them all at some point. They are my special treasures. I've leant them to the daughters of friends and my mom's friends, but I've never given them away - because, unlike the daughter of that initial friend of my mom's, I've NEVER outgrown them, and I don't think I ever will.
I'm hoping to get time in this next year to begin re-reading them all again. I've started to collect all the original 1930s editions when I can find them (the Applewood editions). I've got this one and the first one (The Secret in the Old Clock) in the original editions.
I'm hoping to get time in this next year to begin re-reading them all again. I've started to collect all the original 1930s editions when I can find them (the Applewood editions). I've got this one and the first one (The Secret in the Old Clock) in the original editions.
June 3, 2018
Nancy Drew and her friend Helen are traveling to Lilac Inn, which their friend Emily just bought. Before they can even arrive, the canoe they were traveling in capsized. Things get even more mysterious at the inn, where unexplained things have started happening. And back in River Heights, someone is impersonating Nancy. What is going on?
The mystery only gets more complex from there, and that’s my biggest complaint with the book. So many different elements are introduced that it becomes overly convoluted and takes the villain explaining everything for the better part of a chapter in the end. Still, all the action does keep the reader glued to the page. The characters are sympathetic enough to make us care about the outcome but are their usual thin selves. Most of the dated elements will be okay, although kids might be thrown by Nancy’s charge plate. I know I was.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
The mystery only gets more complex from there, and that’s my biggest complaint with the book. So many different elements are introduced that it becomes overly convoluted and takes the villain explaining everything for the better part of a chapter in the end. Still, all the action does keep the reader glued to the page. The characters are sympathetic enough to make us care about the outcome but are their usual thin selves. Most of the dated elements will be okay, although kids might be thrown by Nancy’s charge plate. I know I was.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
Read
October 20, 2024I don't think I can properly give this book a rating. My friends and I used it to give Fable's bookclub system a try so we picked something short and easy.
This story was written so long ago that I feel like I would be doing it dirty to give it a star rating because it would be low. But only because its dated material but had I read it when published and was in the targeted age group, I may have enjoyed it.
This story was written so long ago that I feel like I would be doing it dirty to give it a star rating because it would be low. But only because its dated material but had I read it when published and was in the targeted age group, I may have enjoyed it.
May 9, 2021
The Mystery at Lilac Inn by Carolyn Keene. Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #4. ©1961. Published by Grosset & Dunlap, Inc. 180 pages. 5 Stars.
This was one of the most dangerous and calamitous Nancy Drew mysteries I’ve read thus far. Some of the elements were a bit fantastical (a submarine in a 20-foot river), as well as the ending where Nancy finds the missing diamonds and opens the tube where they are hidden… Carson Drew sure is confident that his daughter can handle herself around dangerous criminals. All in all, a fun read.
This was one of the most dangerous and calamitous Nancy Drew mysteries I’ve read thus far. Some of the elements were a bit fantastical (a submarine in a 20-foot river), as well as the ending where Nancy finds the missing diamonds and opens the tube where they are hidden… Carson Drew sure is confident that his daughter can handle herself around dangerous criminals. All in all, a fun read.
January 24, 2026
4 Stars. I am always comparing Nancy Drew with the Hardy Boys. This one is still reaching for the action level of the boys, but it is more complex and surely has more characters. Closer to a thinking person's mystery. Fun too. More than earlier volumes, it often left me puzzled as I closed a chapter. Asking, "What's happening here?" But I like both series. The young detective faces numerous challenges, from deliberate canoe tipping to kidnapping. Her credit card is stolen; she is being criminally impersonated, and a bomb blast destroys Helen's and her cabin. Let's see, is that the list? Far from it. Family friends have bought an old inn, Lilac Inn, and are reopening it with significant improvements for the summer season. And Emily Willoughby and Dick Farnum plan to marry shortly with Nancy and Helen Corning serving as bridesmaids. But the happy occasion starts poorly. Even before arriving the two young women are deliberately upset while canoeing down the Muskoka River - no, not the one in Canada's cottage country in central Ontario but in Illinois. With so many incidents, everyone is soon claiming the old place is haunted. At least the lilacs are lovely. (Ja2026)
August 11, 2017
So far, this is my favorite Nancy Drew case. It really had me wondering what was going to happen. Even though it's a juvenile book, it still had me fooled!
May 9, 2021
Goodness Nancy, you must be tired of us talking about steady partners when-
Nancy interrupted. Laughing gaily, she said, Not at all. For the present, my steady partner is going to be a mystery!
The fourth installment in the Nancy Drew Mystery Stories takes place less than ONE week after the events of book three and Nancy faces many dangers. Nancy and Helen have been invited to the newly purchased Lilac Inn to help their friend Emily prepare for her upcoming wedding. But a series of events appear to plague the beautiful location and only Nancy Drew can solve the mystery. Add to the already busy plot, a mysterious woman masquerading as Nancy seems to be making lots of trouble for the young detective. Who is it? What do they want?
The stakes are high and the author certainly puts Nancy and her friends in several thrilling situations. Being run off the road, rocks being thrown, attacked by a spear, almost dying in a fire caused by a bomb and identity theft? Can you believe my mother let me read these books? Ha! Ha! Thank goodness, Nancy is a quick-thinking young woman with a great support system. I did love the scenes where a secondary character kept flirting with Carson Drew and Nancy (internally) was all fiercely protective. You protect your Dad, Nancy!
Oh, and what is something my adult eyes have caught onto that I guess I forgot? At the end of each mystery, Nancy is given something to always remember the case. Just like a serial killer….🤣🤣
Note: This is my first read of this particular installment in the series.
Goodreads review published 09/05/21
Nancy interrupted. Laughing gaily, she said, Not at all. For the present, my steady partner is going to be a mystery!
The fourth installment in the Nancy Drew Mystery Stories takes place less than ONE week after the events of book three and Nancy faces many dangers. Nancy and Helen have been invited to the newly purchased Lilac Inn to help their friend Emily prepare for her upcoming wedding. But a series of events appear to plague the beautiful location and only Nancy Drew can solve the mystery. Add to the already busy plot, a mysterious woman masquerading as Nancy seems to be making lots of trouble for the young detective. Who is it? What do they want?
The stakes are high and the author certainly puts Nancy and her friends in several thrilling situations. Being run off the road, rocks being thrown, attacked by a spear, almost dying in a fire caused by a bomb and identity theft? Can you believe my mother let me read these books? Ha! Ha! Thank goodness, Nancy is a quick-thinking young woman with a great support system. I did love the scenes where a secondary character kept flirting with Carson Drew and Nancy (internally) was all fiercely protective. You protect your Dad, Nancy!
Oh, and what is something my adult eyes have caught onto that I guess I forgot? At the end of each mystery, Nancy is given something to always remember the case. Just like a serial killer….🤣🤣
Note: This is my first read of this particular installment in the series.
Goodreads review published 09/05/21
December 17, 2009
This is the fourth in the series of original (1930) Nancy Drew books. This book includes four nicely-scanned full-page grayscale images and "The Nancy I Knew", an introduction by Mildred Wirt Benson, who wrote this book (to an outline provided by the publisher) under the Carolyn Keene pseudonym.
The introduction is in some ways the best part of this book; Benson notes that the first three books sold well, but when original publisher Edward Stratemeyer died, his inexperienced daughters took over: "Overnight, Nancy become more of a home-type person, in early chapters focusing on household responsibilities." Also, "The syndicate's new owner asked that I make the sleuth less bold and that abrupt sentence endings be avoided. In editing, a simple 'Nancy said' became 'Nancy said sweetly,' 'she said kindly,' and the like, all designed to produce a less abrasive, more caring type of character."
I didn't like this as much as the earlier books, partly because I'm less interested in household management, partly because there's some transitional clumsiness. Benson notes a problem with the narration of Chapters Five and Six, but it didn't bother me, and I suspect I wouldn't have noticed it ;-). My biggest problem, though, is that there doesn't seem to be much of figuring out clues in this one; the solution is visible from a mile away, apart from small bits withheld from the reader.
(Finished 2009-12-16 23:45 EST.)
The introduction is in some ways the best part of this book; Benson notes that the first three books sold well, but when original publisher Edward Stratemeyer died, his inexperienced daughters took over: "Overnight, Nancy become more of a home-type person, in early chapters focusing on household responsibilities." Also, "The syndicate's new owner asked that I make the sleuth less bold and that abrupt sentence endings be avoided. In editing, a simple 'Nancy said' became 'Nancy said sweetly,' 'she said kindly,' and the like, all designed to produce a less abrasive, more caring type of character."
I didn't like this as much as the earlier books, partly because I'm less interested in household management, partly because there's some transitional clumsiness. Benson notes a problem with the narration of Chapters Five and Six, but it didn't bother me, and I suspect I wouldn't have noticed it ;-). My biggest problem, though, is that there doesn't seem to be much of figuring out clues in this one; the solution is visible from a mile away, apart from small bits withheld from the reader.
(Finished 2009-12-16 23:45 EST.)
June 26, 2018
I've read both versions of this and the revised is my all time favorite Nancy Drew book. It has so many exciting this happen. Lilac Inn is a wonderful setting. It has always made me think of my grandparents place which also had a river behind it and orchards and other things at Lilac Inn. Maybe that's why I like it so much. The original text is rather boring. I've read it once and started to reread it but couldn't get very far before I lost interest.
_________________________________________
Second reading:
I finally got myself to reread the original version and this time I enjoyed it more than the first time I read it. It does feel a bit slow and not much happens through out, mainly Nancy just frets about the mystery through the whole book while making no progress.
I do wish more had taken place at Lilac Inn or Emilys summer cottage. A lot of scenes are set at the Drew residence but nothing eventful happens in them.
I also enjoyed the way parts of previous cases were casually mentioned.
Overall I'd give it a 4 star rating (my 5 star rating is for the revised text edition).
_________________________________________
Second reading:
I finally got myself to reread the original version and this time I enjoyed it more than the first time I read it. It does feel a bit slow and not much happens through out, mainly Nancy just frets about the mystery through the whole book while making no progress.
I do wish more had taken place at Lilac Inn or Emilys summer cottage. A lot of scenes are set at the Drew residence but nothing eventful happens in them.
I also enjoyed the way parts of previous cases were casually mentioned.
Overall I'd give it a 4 star rating (my 5 star rating is for the revised text edition).
August 10, 2022
We’re staying at an inn with a nice selection of old books for guests, including about 10 Nancy Drew mysteries. I hadn’t read any of these since I was a child, so seeing them on the shelf was a happy nostalgia moment. The Mystery at Lilac Inn seemed a good choice for a rainy day at an actual inn—what fun! The book is early in the series, so no Bess or George. But we still have Helen as a sidekick; and of course “titian haired” Nancy, the “girl detective.” Also lots of descriptions of clothes (which I love), not to mention plenty of action and Nancy-in-danger moments.
The book kept me guessing, and I was pleased that I didn’t immediately solve the mystery—with the caveat that I rarely read mysteries. The villain’s identity might be more obvious to mystery aficionados.
A fine way to spend a rainy day at an inn on the lake!
The book kept me guessing, and I was pleased that I didn’t immediately solve the mystery—with the caveat that I rarely read mysteries. The villain’s identity might be more obvious to mystery aficionados.
A fine way to spend a rainy day at an inn on the lake!
April 14, 2015
As a child I read tons of Nancy Drew, recently I found out that in the 1950's and 60's the earlier books had all been rewritten. This book is the actual 1930 edition. I must say I didn't like this Nancy Drew very much, she was spoiled, elitist and racist. If I had read an earlier copy as a child i'm afraid I would have stopped at that one. The Mystery of Lilac Inn 1961 edition. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ this is the Nancy Drew that I know and love. It's the same characters but an entirely different storyline. This is the book I read as a child and still enjoyed reading again. It was fun reading both books and realizing the differences in the eras.
September 8, 2015
When I was in 4th grade, the table I sat at in the school library was adjacent to the shelf where I could eye those inviting spines labeled: Carolyn Keene. I read at least one a month that year.
Returning to her as an adult, I'm delighted to find Nancy Drew as awesome as I remember her. The writing is quaint, but strong enough to stand the test of time. This particular volume was chock-full of Nancy-in-peril scenes, but also pretty convoluted in the plot department and some bits of the conclusion seemed to come out of left field.
Returning to her as an adult, I'm delighted to find Nancy Drew as awesome as I remember her. The writing is quaint, but strong enough to stand the test of time. This particular volume was chock-full of Nancy-in-peril scenes, but also pretty convoluted in the plot department and some bits of the conclusion seemed to come out of left field.
June 12, 2016
A small trip to the past! This book originally published in 1930. Terms like blue pipes, skin diving and charge plates in leather cases are charming. Yet, the Nancy Drew Series as well as the Hardy Boys has always been a fun place to start with mysteries! Young kids may like the current series better!
February 4, 2016
I love the Nancy Drew mysteries, the style and time they were written in intrigues me. The mysteries are quite good too, meaning I wasn't able to solve this one. I was fooled by a red herring. The food descriptions are especially mouthwatering. A nice afternoon read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,291 reviews