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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.)
julieclair's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
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
Whew! My head is spinning over all the wild and crazy things that happened to Nancy Drew in this book! Lots of fun!
mkaybaker07's review against another edition
4.0
For the life of me, I can't figure out what I didn't like about Nancy Drew when I was little.
annareadsmysteries's review against another edition
5.0
I must admit - I got hocked on these novellas... Sadly, I only got 5 books out of 100+ stories that are out there.
Some are silly fun, some are outrageously on the nose - but most definitely, all of them are pure entertainment and nostalgia for anyone who grew up loving mysteries.
The story starts off with Nancy and Helen on the go again (not sure who Helen got married to, but she is clearly not missed at home) and this time, they are visiting their friend Emily Willoughby, who is about to get married, purchased an inn and is planning to run it with her future husband. However, of course Lilac Inn is haunter and Emily needs Nancy's help to solve this mystery! (I've read 4 books in this series so far, there is not a single un-hunted inn in the Nancyverse)
And the story just keeps on giving - from shark shaped submarines, ghosts, diamond thefts to earthquakes and bombs. My lord, this was some ridiculous fun :o)
There is one thing that changed is the 'who done it' aspect, which I really appreciated. I've commented on Keene's characters being very black and white - the good people are described as such, while the bad guys stink from miles away. This is the first book where she has changed the format up a bit and the bad-guy was not described as such. While she was still very free-handed when peppering in the clues relating to the culprit's identity, it still felt as a development in the authors writing style.
My girl Helen sadly was not really utilized, which made me sad - but hopefully she will have a more involved role in future entries.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now that I'm reading the actual books, it's fun to see what inspired what in the games.
So for all of you who played or is planning to play some HeR Interactive, here is what I've observed so far - some fun facts, if you wish.
The below will contain spoilers as well, so if you haven't played 'Secret of the Old Clock', stop reading here :)
1. Game 12 released in July 2005 is heavily inspired by the first 4 books in the series AKA the ones I've read so far. (it might have Easter Eggs from other books, if I find any more as I read, I will update this review)
The title of the game is 'Secret of the Old Clock' - which is also the title of Carolyn Keene's first novella.
2. The games plot involves Nancy visiting her friend Emily, who inherited Lilac Inn from her mum. (We meet Nancy's friend Emily in book 4/'The Mystery at Lilac Inn', however, she buys the inn with her fiance)
3. Jane Willoughby moves in with Emily as her new guardian. (In the books Emily's sure name is Willoughby and the guardian story line is taken from book 3/The Bungalow Mystery, where another younger girl under the name of Laura has issues with her guardians, after becoming and orphan. The guardians in the book turn out to be impostors the same way as Jane W. in the game is also an impostor)
4. Emily's neighbor Josiah was a crazy old guy who loved to thinker and invent weird gadgets. He leaves an old watch to Emily, with the promise that he will look after her and leave her money in his will (This is taken from book 1/same title as the game, where Nancy helps multiple people who were promised money in an old mans will, but the will is no where to be found, so all goes to his greedy family)
5. In the game, Emily's jewels disappear, suspected to be stolen (this motive is present in both book 3 and book 4)
6. And last but not least, book 2/The Hidden Staircase is referenced in the game by mentioning 'Twin Elms' that had a tunnel between two neighboring houses.
There are possibly more, but I might need to replay the game to notice them.
Some are silly fun, some are outrageously on the nose - but most definitely, all of them are pure entertainment and nostalgia for anyone who grew up loving mysteries.
The story starts off with Nancy and Helen on the go again (not sure who Helen got married to, but she is clearly not missed at home) and this time, they are visiting their friend Emily Willoughby, who is about to get married, purchased an inn and is planning to run it with her future husband. However, of course Lilac Inn is haunter and Emily needs Nancy's help to solve this mystery! (I've read 4 books in this series so far, there is not a single un-hunted inn in the Nancyverse)
And the story just keeps on giving - from shark shaped submarines, ghosts, diamond thefts to earthquakes and bombs. My lord, this was some ridiculous fun :o)
There is one thing that changed is the 'who done it' aspect, which I really appreciated. I've commented on Keene's characters being very black and white - the good people are described as such, while the bad guys stink from miles away. This is the first book where she has changed the format up a bit and the bad-guy was not described as such. While she was still very free-handed when peppering in the clues relating to the culprit's identity, it still felt as a development in the authors writing style.
My girl Helen sadly was not really utilized, which made me sad - but hopefully she will have a more involved role in future entries.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now that I'm reading the actual books, it's fun to see what inspired what in the games.
So for all of you who played or is planning to play some HeR Interactive, here is what I've observed so far - some fun facts, if you wish.
The below will contain spoilers as well, so if you haven't played 'Secret of the Old Clock', stop reading here :)
1. Game 12 released in July 2005 is heavily inspired by the first 4 books in the series AKA the ones I've read so far. (it might have Easter Eggs from other books, if I find any more as I read, I will update this review)
The title of the game is 'Secret of the Old Clock' - which is also the title of Carolyn Keene's first novella.
2. The games plot involves Nancy visiting her friend Emily, who inherited Lilac Inn from her mum. (We meet Nancy's friend Emily in book 4/'The Mystery at Lilac Inn', however, she buys the inn with her fiance)
3. Jane Willoughby moves in with Emily as her new guardian. (In the books Emily's sure name is Willoughby and the guardian story line is taken from book 3/The Bungalow Mystery, where another younger girl under the name of Laura has issues with her guardians, after becoming and orphan. The guardians in the book turn out to be impostors the same way as Jane W. in the game is also an impostor)
4. Emily's neighbor Josiah was a crazy old guy who loved to thinker and invent weird gadgets. He leaves an old watch to Emily, with the promise that he will look after her and leave her money in his will (This is taken from book 1/same title as the game, where Nancy helps multiple people who were promised money in an old mans will, but the will is no where to be found, so all goes to his greedy family)
5. In the game, Emily's jewels disappear, suspected to be stolen (this motive is present in both book 3 and book 4)
6. And last but not least, book 2/The Hidden Staircase is referenced in the game by mentioning 'Twin Elms' that had a tunnel between two neighboring houses.
There are possibly more, but I might need to replay the game to notice them.
laniesmith's review against another edition
4.0
Nancy really girlbossed her way though this entire story and I love that for her!
jenniferdinsmore's review against another edition
3.0
I always found this one a little confusing, but I'm not sure why. The mystery was so-so.
haileysbookgarden's review against another edition
4.0
These books were my childhood so it was fun to revel in the nostalgia
liketheday's review against another edition
3.0
The melodrama heats up some more in this book and the plotlines start getting recycled — I don't know how that's possible four books into a series, but apparently it is. In one mystery, Nancy's friend Emily is living in a haunted inn (see The Hidden Staircase) which is of course not really haunted but which is having bad things happen to it for not really a very good reason in the end.
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