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thenovelbook's review against another edition
It's sometimes difficult to rate Nancy Drew books as an adult
aj98's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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
3.0
bargainsleuth's review against another edition
3.0
It’s been a few weeks since I read The Clue of the Whistling Bagpipes, and already my memory is failing me, so I’ll just go off my notes. This story takes place in the middle of May, and Ned hopes Nancy will be home for some event at Emerson in early June. For once, there isn’t some convoluted reason the boys would fly to Scotland at the exact same time as Nancy and the girls, but that’s because it turns out Nancy needs Ned to do some sleuthing while she’s abroad.
Bess entered Nancy into a photo contest and won and apparently everyone around the world reads or sees the cover of Photographie Internationale and repeatedly recognize Nancy on her travels. She doesn’t say it, but she’s a little miffed that Bess entered her photo in a contest because sleuthing means staying incognito.
Before Nancy leaves River Heights, a package is delivered to the house and it’s ticking. “In a split second the box was in her hands. She flung it far out onto the lawn. Nancy and Hannah waited breathlessly. So far there had been only five ticks. Six—seven—eight—nine— BOOM!” Okay, these bad guys mean business!
In typical Nancy Drew mystery fashion, even the plane ride doesn’t go well. “…the plane began to toss violently.” Somehow the pilot manages to land safely. And as well-traveled as Nancy is, she’s prepared. ““Do you have an international driver’s license?” the porter asked. “Yes.” Of course, she does, doesn’t everyone? I didn’t even know there was such a thing. There probably isn’t anymore, I don’t know. I don’t travel much, but I may have to look into it because I may be headed to London for a work trip next fall.
This book seems to be brief lulls before there’s some sort of peril, more so than some Nancy Drew Mysteries. While checking out a water wheel that was turned on for the first time in years, “Nancy and George were horrified to see the force of the wind pushing Bess rapidly toward the angry water! Unable to keep her balance, she fell in headlong, the churning water crashing over her!”
At one point, the gang is exploring an old castle and head down to the dungeon, which is dark. Nancy disappears. A person on site says, “Another sightseer went into the dungeon right after you did. He was mumbling something that sounded like ‘I’ll get her!’ Maybe—maybe he meant Miss Drew, and has put her in the suffocation chamber!” The group finds Nancy and find her a little woozy but on the whole, okay.
I haven’t even gotten into the fact that Nancy is run off the road TWICE, once on a road and once while driving off a ferry and lands into shallow water. So much for that international driver’s license, Nancy! The bad guys want you off the roads.
While hiking through the highlands, “A short distance away on the mountainside George was just being given a hard push by the stranger who had forced their car into the water. “The red-bearded man again!” Bess cried out. His shove knocked George to the ground. The next moment she started rolling down the steep slope head over heels! Her assailant fled toward a shoulder of the mountaintop!”
Somehow, even though it takes everyone else ages to master it, Nancy is able to learn to play the bagpipes. See, there’s nothing our favorite teen sleuth can’t do!
The missing heirloom turns out to be a brooch that turns out to be at the bottom of a pond, accidentally dropped there by the bad guys, who also happen to be in charge of the sheep stealing ring.
All in all, this was a good, but not great mystery. However, this cover art debuts the Nancy Drew hairdo I was most familiar with growing up: the flip. I always loved this cover with Nancy in her tartan, playing the bagpipes. The internal illustrations were great, too.
Bess entered Nancy into a photo contest and won and apparently everyone around the world reads or sees the cover of Photographie Internationale and repeatedly recognize Nancy on her travels. She doesn’t say it, but she’s a little miffed that Bess entered her photo in a contest because sleuthing means staying incognito.
Before Nancy leaves River Heights, a package is delivered to the house and it’s ticking. “In a split second the box was in her hands. She flung it far out onto the lawn. Nancy and Hannah waited breathlessly. So far there had been only five ticks. Six—seven—eight—nine— BOOM!” Okay, these bad guys mean business!
In typical Nancy Drew mystery fashion, even the plane ride doesn’t go well. “…the plane began to toss violently.” Somehow the pilot manages to land safely. And as well-traveled as Nancy is, she’s prepared. ““Do you have an international driver’s license?” the porter asked. “Yes.” Of course, she does, doesn’t everyone? I didn’t even know there was such a thing. There probably isn’t anymore, I don’t know. I don’t travel much, but I may have to look into it because I may be headed to London for a work trip next fall.
This book seems to be brief lulls before there’s some sort of peril, more so than some Nancy Drew Mysteries. While checking out a water wheel that was turned on for the first time in years, “Nancy and George were horrified to see the force of the wind pushing Bess rapidly toward the angry water! Unable to keep her balance, she fell in headlong, the churning water crashing over her!”
At one point, the gang is exploring an old castle and head down to the dungeon, which is dark. Nancy disappears. A person on site says, “Another sightseer went into the dungeon right after you did. He was mumbling something that sounded like ‘I’ll get her!’ Maybe—maybe he meant Miss Drew, and has put her in the suffocation chamber!” The group finds Nancy and find her a little woozy but on the whole, okay.
I haven’t even gotten into the fact that Nancy is run off the road TWICE, once on a road and once while driving off a ferry and lands into shallow water. So much for that international driver’s license, Nancy! The bad guys want you off the roads.
While hiking through the highlands, “A short distance away on the mountainside George was just being given a hard push by the stranger who had forced their car into the water. “The red-bearded man again!” Bess cried out. His shove knocked George to the ground. The next moment she started rolling down the steep slope head over heels! Her assailant fled toward a shoulder of the mountaintop!”
Somehow, even though it takes everyone else ages to master it, Nancy is able to learn to play the bagpipes. See, there’s nothing our favorite teen sleuth can’t do!
The missing heirloom turns out to be a brooch that turns out to be at the bottom of a pond, accidentally dropped there by the bad guys, who also happen to be in charge of the sheep stealing ring.
All in all, this was a good, but not great mystery. However, this cover art debuts the Nancy Drew hairdo I was most familiar with growing up: the flip. I always loved this cover with Nancy in her tartan, playing the bagpipes. The internal illustrations were great, too.
pauline_b's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars.
Less good than I remembered it as a kid, but still fairly enjoyable due to the Scottish setting alone :)
Less good than I remembered it as a kid, but still fairly enjoyable due to the Scottish setting alone :)
laura_cs's review against another edition
4.0
Disappearing sheep, a missing heirloom, and international stardom come together in this mystery that sends Nancy to Scotland to visit her great-grandmother!
A good mystery with a lot of focus on Scottish culture and history. Particularly loved their new friend, Fiona, describing the Scots as being "lusty" for battle...
Also loved that there was a police officer named MacNab. Nab those criminals, MacNab... Bet he heard that a lot.
A good mystery with a lot of focus on Scottish culture and history. Particularly loved their new friend, Fiona, describing the Scots as being "lusty" for battle...
Also loved that there was a police officer named MacNab. Nab those criminals, MacNab... Bet he heard that a lot.
ashliha's review against another edition
2.0
Very cute, but I think I liked the previous couple Nancy Drew books best.
paperbacks_and_ponytails's review against another edition
5.0
I had so much fun reliving old childhood memories. Nancy Drew was and is still one of my all time favorote characters. The mysteries...the friendships...the adventure. I love it all.
hstapp's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-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
3.5
A fun Scotland adventure to track down sheep rustlers!
zenithharpink's review against another edition
4.0
Another solid mystery for Miss Drew! The villains really mean business! I loved the setting, and the mystery overall, though the connection that got Nancy involved was tenuous at best.
I recommend this book to fans of the series, or any looking for a junior-grade mystery!
I recommend this book to fans of the series, or any looking for a junior-grade mystery!