Reviews

The Nancys by R.W.R. McDonald

sumofsum's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny lighthearted mysterious sad 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

5.0

giliad's review against another edition

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adventurous funny mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

gemzies_library's review against another edition

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5.0

An absolutely amazing piece of writing with some spectacular character development that you don’t see much of unless it’s a series. One of the best murder mysteries I’ve read that also combines comedy.

It’s an awesome adult mystery/comedy fictional book and I feel that it relates very well to its targeted audience of adults, especially those who grew up in New Zealand (where it is set) in the same setting and attitudes that are portrayed in this book.

rookjupiter's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

thelifeoflaura's review against another edition

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3.0

A Nancy Drew lover? Wanting a Nancy Drew style book to read as an adult? Then this is the one for you.

Tippy Chan is eleven and lives in a small town in a very quiet part of the world - the place her Uncle Pike escaped from the first chance he got as a teenager. Now Pike is back with his new boyfriend Devon to look after Tippy while her mum's on a cruise.

Tippy is in love with her uncle's old Nancy Drew books, especially the early ones where Nancy was sixteen and did whatever she wanted. She wants to be Nancy and is desperate to solve a real mystery. When her teacher's body is found beside Riverstone's only traffic light, Tippy's moment has arrived. She and her minders form The Nancys, a secret amateur detective club.

What starts as a bit of fun and a bonding experience turns into Tippy and her uncle finding out more than they every expected. Can they find all the clues and crack this mystery?

An interesting read! I found it weird reading an adult book through the voice of an 11-year-old. There was something just young and innocent about the book (through all the sexual innuendo and adult jokes scattered in like a Disney movie trying to appeal to the adults forced to watch with their children). It was interesting and I was intrigued to discover what Tippy and her uncle could find out, but I just felt that I was confused between the voicing and adult aim of this book. It’s a 3 and a half stars for me - good, but I’m not blown away. Though, if you grew up on Nancy Drew, this might really appeal to you.

jojoinabox's review against another edition

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adventurous funny mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

carhog's review against another edition

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I loved it. The constant sexual innuendo keep me laughing out loud. It was clever and engaging and emotional.

rachf_77's review against another edition

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3.0

I liked Nancy Drew as a kid so this was a good story with a great murder mystery. Too much bad language for my liking though.

theveryhungrythesaurus's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional funny mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

sharnibee's review against another edition

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4.0

I’ve never read a Nancy Drew Mystery and this book makes me think I’ve missed out. Tippy (11 years old and grieving the recent death of her father) adores Nancy Drew - she admires Nancy’s fearlessness... her eccentric Uncle (also a big Nancy Drew fan) arrives, with his boyfriend to look after her for 2 weeks while Mum goes on a cruise - and well, murder mystery things start to happen, family secrets unravel and well, I teared up on the last page. Ahh. What a fantastic story.