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laura_cs's review against another edition
5.0
Sometimes, I play the Nancy Drew games and think, wow, that's very intense. This is a very intense mystery, with all of these very dangerous things happening. Things that could (and do) get Nancy killed (and then revived via the Second Chance function, no matter how many times it takes, long after it stops being a 'second' chance). Even some of the more modern Nancy Drew books have some intense action and stakes and close calls. But all of that pales in comparison to "The Mystery At Lilac Inn". It set the precedent. There's bombs. Like, an actual bomb. And not set with the intent to scare, but to kill. The first three books all have minor inconveniences compared to the 'accidents' at Lilac Inn.
alesehunter's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.25
planet_taffy's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
I found this one to be quite rep titive compared to other entiries in the series: the opening is very similar to the Bungalow Mystery, the new companion Emily Willougby is a rehashing of companion Helen Corning (three years older, & soon to be married), several events in the false haunting narrative bring me right back to The Hidden Staircase etc. Interesting events happen almost randomly, and the motives & goals of the villains seem to shift for the sake of adding more excitement. Though the Nancy Drew books can sometimes be rather dramatic, Lilac Inn features one wildly impossible development after another; the bar is really low for suspension of disbelief in a middle grade novel but I found it difficult not to roll my eyes. The use of a miniature river submarine, a "vibration machine" to shake a building, and a time bomb in the same book was a little much.
Nancy has a lot of charming quips in this one and it's interesting to watch Maud pull different emotions out of her than the usually good-girl persona, but the other half of the cast (the villains) were just names on a page. This is my current least favorite book, and I predict it will remain at the bottom in my final ranking.
Nancy has a lot of charming quips in this one and it's interesting to watch Maud pull different emotions out of her than the usually good-girl persona, but the other half of the cast (the villains) were just names on a page. This is my current least favorite book, and I predict it will remain at the bottom in my final ranking.
dgrachel's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
This was dreadful. The prose was choppy and the mystery was tedious. If it wasn’t for a buddy read of all the original Nancy Drew mysteries in order, I would have bailed. As it is, I’d like those two hours of my life back. This is the worst of the first four books.
yates9's review against another edition
3.0
Not quite as good as previous - in this story the author mixes two plots - a simple and a larger one from the start. A confusing identity theft is connected to a bigger conspiracy.
The problem is that the plot is confusing, and it is hard to believe until you reach the end. The characters don’t seem so surprised about outlandish things, and many of the devices are borrowed from previous episodes.
Interesting progression though upping the stakes for Nancy.
The problem is that the plot is confusing, and it is hard to believe until you reach the end. The characters don’t seem so surprised about outlandish things, and many of the devices are borrowed from previous episodes.
Interesting progression though upping the stakes for Nancy.
sglance9's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
kayteeem's review against another edition
Read this (1961 revised edition) for the kids' book club at the library -- this month was "read a Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys book".
There is a LOT going on in this book. We've got car crashes, underwater near-death experiences, theft (credit cards AND diamonds), revenge, time bombs, mistaken identity, unexpected power outages, a secret passage, a lightning strike, and industrial espionage. Also wedding plans, a lovely garden, many changes of clothes, and wood carving.
(And I'm not really the audience for this one, but I felt that characterization and a clear through-line to the plot kind of got missed out here.)
There is a LOT going on in this book. We've got car crashes, underwater near-death experiences, theft (credit cards AND diamonds), revenge, time bombs, mistaken identity, unexpected power outages, a secret passage, a lightning strike, and industrial espionage. Also wedding plans, a lovely garden, many changes of clothes, and wood carving.
(And I'm not really the audience for this one, but I felt that characterization and a clear through-line to the plot kind of got missed out here.)