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bargainsleuth's review against another edition
4.0
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This review is for both editions, which are completely different stories. The ORiginal Text and the Revised Text.
I found it interesting that at the beginning of the Original Text, it is mentioned that Nancy solved her mystery "some years before" so I think this marks the point when she's 18; in previous editions, her age isn't mentioned, but I believe in The Secret of the Old Clock she is mentioned as being 16.
Nancy, Bess and George are supposed to take a trip to Buenos Aires with a girls' school, but one of the mothers raises a snit fit. The girls don't get on the boat until about half-way through the book, and plenty happens before that.
Nancy is close enough to a lightning strike that she's knocked out. It wouldn't be a Nancy Drew book unless she lost consciousness! She also gets in a fender bender (not her fault, of course) and it only costs $50 to fix. Wouldn't that be nice!
Nancy's gifted a white long-haired cat and decides to travel to South America with it. I should also point out there's no mention of her dog, Togo, in the book. So now she has a cat instead of a dog.
On page 135, George gives a recap of the mysteries thus far: "The trunk episode; Doris Trenton's love affairs; the red-haired stranger; and the unhappy Mrs. Joslin and her daughter; all keep Nancy up and doing."
Bess isn't fat-shamed by anyone but herself in this book. She's the only one who comments on how much food she's consuming.
When the girls get to Buenos Aires, it seems like no one from the ship has anyone else's addresses while they are spending time in the city; there's a lot of chasing down addresses in this book.
Nancy is investigating a luggage shop where she believes her missing trunk is, and a pile of luggage falls on her and knocks her out. When she comes to and makes her way to the front door, she faints. Another knockout!
The mystery was good, although I wished there would have been some sort of travelogue or history of Buenos Aires as you might find in the Revised Texts of Nancy Drew novels.
In the Revised Text, Nancy, Bess and George are returning on a ship from Holland. They must have had a European tour, because it's mentioned later in the book that Nancy bought a swimsuit in Switzerland. Their cabinmate happens to be Nelda Detweiler from Johannesburg, South Africa. She's going to school in America, but she's also running away from scandal: she's been accused of stealing a diamond bracelet from a jeweler. Of course, she's innocent, and Nancy will do everything in her power to prove her innocence.
In an unbelievable, even for a Nancy Drew story, event happens. As the ship is sailing across the Atlantic Ocean, a meteor heads straight for them. Yes, a bloody METEOR! It strikes the water and creates a tidal wave that rocks the large ship.
In another one of the quirks of the Revised Texts, the girls say prayers of thanks that they weren't hurt during a time of catastrophe. Harriet Adams, the ghostwriter of the later Nancy Drew mysteries, liked to casually include Nancy going to church in almost every book.
In the concussion department, George gets knocked out and Nancy faints. Just another typical Nancy Drew adventure. I swear, these girls get knocked on their heads more than NFL players.
It's revealed in the book that no matter where Nancy goes, she's always packing a flashlight. I always wonder about the size of her purse, and the size of her flashlight and magnifying glass, which also makes an appearance.
In another unbelievable event, Nancy and Nelda are picked up by two men dressed as fisherman with stocking masks on and thrown overboard. Luckily, George suspects something and gets the ship stopped. A rescue boat is launched and the girls are found. This I found hard to believe. A big cruise ship can't just stop on a dime (as we all learned with the Titanic), and it's dark out. Even with the use of huge spotlights, I found the girls' rescue too easy.
This review is for both editions, which are completely different stories. The ORiginal Text and the Revised Text.
I found it interesting that at the beginning of the Original Text, it is mentioned that Nancy solved her mystery "some years before" so I think this marks the point when she's 18; in previous editions, her age isn't mentioned, but I believe in The Secret of the Old Clock she is mentioned as being 16.
Nancy, Bess and George are supposed to take a trip to Buenos Aires with a girls' school, but one of the mothers raises a snit fit. The girls don't get on the boat until about half-way through the book, and plenty happens before that.
Nancy is close enough to a lightning strike that she's knocked out. It wouldn't be a Nancy Drew book unless she lost consciousness! She also gets in a fender bender (not her fault, of course) and it only costs $50 to fix. Wouldn't that be nice!
Nancy's gifted a white long-haired cat and decides to travel to South America with it. I should also point out there's no mention of her dog, Togo, in the book. So now she has a cat instead of a dog.
On page 135, George gives a recap of the mysteries thus far: "The trunk episode; Doris Trenton's love affairs; the red-haired stranger; and the unhappy Mrs. Joslin and her daughter; all keep Nancy up and doing."
Bess isn't fat-shamed by anyone but herself in this book. She's the only one who comments on how much food she's consuming.
When the girls get to Buenos Aires, it seems like no one from the ship has anyone else's addresses while they are spending time in the city; there's a lot of chasing down addresses in this book.
Nancy is investigating a luggage shop where she believes her missing trunk is, and a pile of luggage falls on her and knocks her out. When she comes to and makes her way to the front door, she faints. Another knockout!
The mystery was good, although I wished there would have been some sort of travelogue or history of Buenos Aires as you might find in the Revised Texts of Nancy Drew novels.
In the Revised Text, Nancy, Bess and George are returning on a ship from Holland. They must have had a European tour, because it's mentioned later in the book that Nancy bought a swimsuit in Switzerland. Their cabinmate happens to be Nelda Detweiler from Johannesburg, South Africa. She's going to school in America, but she's also running away from scandal: she's been accused of stealing a diamond bracelet from a jeweler. Of course, she's innocent, and Nancy will do everything in her power to prove her innocence.
In an unbelievable, even for a Nancy Drew story, event happens. As the ship is sailing across the Atlantic Ocean, a meteor heads straight for them. Yes, a bloody METEOR! It strikes the water and creates a tidal wave that rocks the large ship.
In another one of the quirks of the Revised Texts, the girls say prayers of thanks that they weren't hurt during a time of catastrophe. Harriet Adams, the ghostwriter of the later Nancy Drew mysteries, liked to casually include Nancy going to church in almost every book.
In the concussion department, George gets knocked out and Nancy faints. Just another typical Nancy Drew adventure. I swear, these girls get knocked on their heads more than NFL players.
It's revealed in the book that no matter where Nancy goes, she's always packing a flashlight. I always wonder about the size of her purse, and the size of her flashlight and magnifying glass, which also makes an appearance.
In another unbelievable event, Nancy and Nelda are picked up by two men dressed as fisherman with stocking masks on and thrown overboard. Luckily, George suspects something and gets the ship stopped. A rescue boat is launched and the girls are found. This I found hard to believe. A big cruise ship can't just stop on a dime (as we all learned with the Titanic), and it's dark out. Even with the use of huge spotlights, I found the girls' rescue too easy.
blondierocket's review against another edition
Book seventeen is about Nancy and her friends on a trip across the world when they meet a new friend and find a mysterious trunk has been delivered to their cabin that doesn’t belong to any of them. More than that, there appears to be more than just the mystery surrounding the trunk, but their new friend who is accused of committing a crime she didn’t commit.
This was definitely an adventure and probably the closest Nancy has come so far to death in the series. When they come across the truth about the stolen jewelry, they all become targets of this mysterious man and his cohorts.
This was definitely an adventure and probably the closest Nancy has come so far to death in the series. When they come across the truth about the stolen jewelry, they all become targets of this mysterious man and his cohorts.
laura_cs's review against another edition
5.0
Mystery on the high seas! A mysterious brass bound trunk with the initials ND arrive in Nancy's room on board a ship bound for New York City, but it doesn't belong to Nancy or her roommate, who has the same initials. Furthermore, there isn't anyone else on board with those initials. What secrets lie within the trunk? And what does sign language and a missing diamond bracelet have to do with it? Dun dun DUH!
Also, the Nancy Drew game player in me loves that Nancy's luggage was missing for a good first part of the book. Typical Nancy luck: go on vacation, suitcase is lost.
Also, the Nancy Drew game player in me loves that Nancy's luggage was missing for a good first part of the book. Typical Nancy luck: go on vacation, suitcase is lost.
meganreads5's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
ayeesha97's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
postitsandpens's review against another edition
3.0
I was able to find the original version of this story on Internet Archive, so fyi to anyone else who'd like to read them.
I actually quite liked this story, although it's still far from the best writing. Nancy embarks on a trip to South America (specifically, Buenos Aires) with friends Bess and George, wherein they run into trouble revolving around Nancy's travel trunk. Throw in some suss business practices, a lady hiding from her fiancé, jewelry smuggling, and more, and you have this book. I enjoyed myself quite a bit.
And in keeping track of Nancy's talents, you can add tennis to the list!
I actually quite liked this story, although it's still far from the best writing. Nancy embarks on a trip to South America (specifically, Buenos Aires) with friends Bess and George, wherein they run into trouble revolving around Nancy's travel trunk. Throw in some suss business practices, a lady hiding from her fiancé, jewelry smuggling, and more, and you have this book. I enjoyed myself quite a bit.
And in keeping track of Nancy's talents, you can add tennis to the list!
nlwisz's review against another edition
5.0
Nancy is off to a great start, as she is mysteriously gifted a valuable kitten (but wait, have you forgotten about Togo, your mysterious dog in the basement?!) and an expensive monogrammed suitcase (the latter from her charmer of a dad). Unfortunately, her luck quickly turns and she is involved in a fender bender by the end of Chapter 1. (Although usually not at fault, Nancy must have a hard time getting car insurance at this point...). She and the girls are thrown not one... or even two... but three going-away parties prior to their cruise departure. The gang gets caught in two vicious storms, but that’s par for the course in ND mysteries. Maids and service people are berated throughout for making “stupid” mistakes. Bess makes a couple of fat jokes about herself. Ned is a bit of a grouch in this one, but in all fairness, Nancy is kind of friend-zoning him, so I get it. Carson flies to Salt Lake City but returns to River Heights in order to help Nancy solve the latest mystery via a few very expensive long-distance calls. People wear disguises, arrests are made, and an innocent girl is pretty much exiled to South America to spare her the embarrassment of facing her parents’ shameful behavior. Phew.
franklyfrank's review against another edition
3.0
Misplaced love, stolen jewelry and a mystery involving a trunk that is…..brass bound.
My alternate title: The mystery of the two ND’s
My alternate title: The mystery of the two ND’s
erinmp's review against another edition
3.0
Nancy, Bess and George are sailing to New York and run into a mystery even at sea. Nancy's trunk is confused with another, that isn't quite right. Cant they trust their South african roommate? Are there international jewel thieves on board? Can Nancy solve the mystery before they arrive in New York? "Finger talking," a suspicious steward and a mischevious little boy all add to the confusion.
Like all the others, this Nancy Drew is exciting. Not the best out there, but definitely a good and easy read.
Like all the others, this Nancy Drew is exciting. Not the best out there, but definitely a good and easy read.