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bargainsleuth's review against another edition
4.0
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This was my first time reading the Original Text (OT) and was surprised there’s a little violence in Mystery at the Moss-Covered Mansion. Nancy beats an attacking dog with a big stick. That’s certainly not something the modern Nancy would do, even if being attacked.
The inn that the young ladies stay at has a bunch of colored servants, who speak in stereotypical fashion. Luckily, this only happens at the beginning of the book or I would have been continually cringing.
Nancy has an oil painting done to give to her father as a birthday gift but it gets damaged en route to the inn in Ashley. Nancy takes some paints and repairs it the best she can, and everyone admires her skills. It’s also revealed that Nancy no longer drives a roadster but has moved up to a sedan.
On page 109, Carson Drew, the guy who is always written about as having a brilliant legal mind, hands over a $52,000 inheritance to a woman named June Campbell even though two people who knew June when she was younger say she has much-changed over the years and aren’t really convinced it’s her.
I’m always happy when Bess and George do some sleuthing of their own instead of just being along for the ride, and do just that in one part of the book.
In what can only be seen as crazy, Nancy and her father need to get to the western part of the state so they book a flight on a commercial liner. The pilot won’t take off because of weather conditions, but that doesn’t stop the Drews! They find a private pilot willing to take off despite the fog, and then he gets hopelessly lost. Flying low to try and see the ground and find a landing place, the plane clips the top of some pine trees and the landing gear is ripped off. The plane makes a crash landing, and despite being separated for a while, Nancy, Carson and the pilot don’t have serious injuries.
It wouldn’t be a Nancy Drew book without her being kidnapped. Despite this, Nancy is soon freed and solves the Mystery at the Moss-Covered Mansion, which has to do with a wild animal artist who just wants to be left alone.
In the revised Mystery of the Moss-Covered Mansion, which as I mentioned was published in 1971, the focus is NASA and a trip to a Florida island to solve a case.
From the publisher: “A friend of Carson Drew’s has been arrested and charged with sending a truck loaded with explosive oranges into the Space Center complex at Cape Kennedy. Knowing that Mr. Billington could not possibly be guilty of sabotage, Nancy and her father rush to the defense of the accused man.
During the Drew’s investigation, Nancy becomes suspicious of an old, spooky mansion. Behind a high, steel-mesh enclosure fierce African wild animals roam over the extensive grounds. Through a ruse the clever teenage detective discovers that something besides the training of wild animals is going on at the mysterious moss-covered mansion estate.”
Finally, there’s a book where Carson Drew admits that he can’t practice law in every state and needs the help of a lawyer in Florida. Even as a kid, I knew that many states make you take the bar exam in order to practice law in their state.
Of course, Ned Nickerson’s parents just happen to have another home on Merritt Island, where the Drews and her chums will be staying. For once, Hannah gets to come along for the trip.
As often happens in the Revised Texts (RT), twice in the early pages of the book, praying or going to church is mentioned. I admit I never thought much about it one way or another as a kid, but I definitely noticed this as an adult.
There’s a vacant house for sale on the island that the Nickersons hope Nancy’s dad will buy (because we all have enough disposable income for two homes and endless trips). The Webster home has many unusual plants and trees, including a “sausage tree” which is a real thing: I had to look it up. And of course, Ned will be visiting soon with Burt and Dave in tow.
Since this book was probably planned right after the moon landing, there’s a great info dump of a lesson on NASA of the day when Nancy and the gang take a tour of the Kennedy Space Center. And wouldn’t you know, they’ll be in town for the next moon shot the next week and Carson Drew snags six press passes for the kids.
There’s a jet airliner crash in the RT which is just as unbelievable as the one in the OT. The landing gear won’t deploy, so the plane has to make a belly landing. The landing strip is prepared with foam, and the pilot lands with no problems. Everyone debarks like it’s no big deal, including Carson Drew and the pilot.
In a rare display, Ned actually kisses Nancy! I do believe this is the first time I’ve read it in the first 18 volumes, either OT or RT, because I know I would have made note of it before. Public affection for the teen sleuth is not something we normally see.
The fat-shaming of Bess doesn’t happen until page 141. I was reading the book and wondering when it would come, and was surprised it came so late in the book because there was much talk of eating throughout. George can be such a jerk with her attitude, but she’s still my favorite character in the series.
On page 159, it takes the combined strength of the animal trainer, Burt and Dave to get the wild cat into the van. Yet when the man gets back to the mansion, he has no problems putting the sedated animal back in it’s cage.
The fact that the bad guys in the moss-covered mansion have a “beamer” aimed at the rocket on the launch pad is just ridiculous. And more ridiculous that Ned can just look at the contraption and know what it is and what it does. It’s called a laser, but apparently in 1971, it’s called a “beamer”. I had to laugh at that.
The main bad guy, Fortin, was a “clever and well-known scientist who had once been connected with NASA. He had become imbued with the ideology of a foreign power and was now using an assumed name.” Crazy. But he is no match for our favorite teen detective and her gang.
This was my first time reading the Original Text (OT) and was surprised there’s a little violence in Mystery at the Moss-Covered Mansion. Nancy beats an attacking dog with a big stick. That’s certainly not something the modern Nancy would do, even if being attacked.
The inn that the young ladies stay at has a bunch of colored servants, who speak in stereotypical fashion. Luckily, this only happens at the beginning of the book or I would have been continually cringing.
Nancy has an oil painting done to give to her father as a birthday gift but it gets damaged en route to the inn in Ashley. Nancy takes some paints and repairs it the best she can, and everyone admires her skills. It’s also revealed that Nancy no longer drives a roadster but has moved up to a sedan.
On page 109, Carson Drew, the guy who is always written about as having a brilliant legal mind, hands over a $52,000 inheritance to a woman named June Campbell even though two people who knew June when she was younger say she has much-changed over the years and aren’t really convinced it’s her.
I’m always happy when Bess and George do some sleuthing of their own instead of just being along for the ride, and do just that in one part of the book.
In what can only be seen as crazy, Nancy and her father need to get to the western part of the state so they book a flight on a commercial liner. The pilot won’t take off because of weather conditions, but that doesn’t stop the Drews! They find a private pilot willing to take off despite the fog, and then he gets hopelessly lost. Flying low to try and see the ground and find a landing place, the plane clips the top of some pine trees and the landing gear is ripped off. The plane makes a crash landing, and despite being separated for a while, Nancy, Carson and the pilot don’t have serious injuries.
It wouldn’t be a Nancy Drew book without her being kidnapped. Despite this, Nancy is soon freed and solves the Mystery at the Moss-Covered Mansion, which has to do with a wild animal artist who just wants to be left alone.
In the revised Mystery of the Moss-Covered Mansion, which as I mentioned was published in 1971, the focus is NASA and a trip to a Florida island to solve a case.
From the publisher: “A friend of Carson Drew’s has been arrested and charged with sending a truck loaded with explosive oranges into the Space Center complex at Cape Kennedy. Knowing that Mr. Billington could not possibly be guilty of sabotage, Nancy and her father rush to the defense of the accused man.
During the Drew’s investigation, Nancy becomes suspicious of an old, spooky mansion. Behind a high, steel-mesh enclosure fierce African wild animals roam over the extensive grounds. Through a ruse the clever teenage detective discovers that something besides the training of wild animals is going on at the mysterious moss-covered mansion estate.”
Finally, there’s a book where Carson Drew admits that he can’t practice law in every state and needs the help of a lawyer in Florida. Even as a kid, I knew that many states make you take the bar exam in order to practice law in their state.
Of course, Ned Nickerson’s parents just happen to have another home on Merritt Island, where the Drews and her chums will be staying. For once, Hannah gets to come along for the trip.
As often happens in the Revised Texts (RT), twice in the early pages of the book, praying or going to church is mentioned. I admit I never thought much about it one way or another as a kid, but I definitely noticed this as an adult.
There’s a vacant house for sale on the island that the Nickersons hope Nancy’s dad will buy (because we all have enough disposable income for two homes and endless trips). The Webster home has many unusual plants and trees, including a “sausage tree” which is a real thing: I had to look it up. And of course, Ned will be visiting soon with Burt and Dave in tow.
Since this book was probably planned right after the moon landing, there’s a great info dump of a lesson on NASA of the day when Nancy and the gang take a tour of the Kennedy Space Center. And wouldn’t you know, they’ll be in town for the next moon shot the next week and Carson Drew snags six press passes for the kids.
There’s a jet airliner crash in the RT which is just as unbelievable as the one in the OT. The landing gear won’t deploy, so the plane has to make a belly landing. The landing strip is prepared with foam, and the pilot lands with no problems. Everyone debarks like it’s no big deal, including Carson Drew and the pilot.
In a rare display, Ned actually kisses Nancy! I do believe this is the first time I’ve read it in the first 18 volumes, either OT or RT, because I know I would have made note of it before. Public affection for the teen sleuth is not something we normally see.
The fat-shaming of Bess doesn’t happen until page 141. I was reading the book and wondering when it would come, and was surprised it came so late in the book because there was much talk of eating throughout. George can be such a jerk with her attitude, but she’s still my favorite character in the series.
On page 159, it takes the combined strength of the animal trainer, Burt and Dave to get the wild cat into the van. Yet when the man gets back to the mansion, he has no problems putting the sedated animal back in it’s cage.
The fact that the bad guys in the moss-covered mansion have a “beamer” aimed at the rocket on the launch pad is just ridiculous. And more ridiculous that Ned can just look at the contraption and know what it is and what it does. It’s called a laser, but apparently in 1971, it’s called a “beamer”. I had to laugh at that.
The main bad guy, Fortin, was a “clever and well-known scientist who had once been connected with NASA. He had become imbued with the ideology of a foreign power and was now using an assumed name.” Crazy. But he is no match for our favorite teen detective and her gang.
blondierocket's review against another edition
3.0
When a friend of Nancy’s father is arrested for sending a truck of oranges rigged to explode, and Nancy offers to help out in any way possible. During her investigation, Nancy becomes suspicious of a mansion that has strange noises coming from the yard, and tries to add that to her list of mysteries to solve.
This was an interesting one and I felt like it had some foreshadowing of what the books could hold in the future as Nancy finds a house she feels her father should buy for them.
Another situation arises in which Nancy finds herself facing death, with company this time as Ned is locked up with her in a secret room full of boiling water.
This was a good thriller and very enjoyable read.
This was an interesting one and I felt like it had some foreshadowing of what the books could hold in the future as Nancy finds a house she feels her father should buy for them.
Another situation arises in which Nancy finds herself facing death, with company this time as Ned is locked up with her in a secret room full of boiling water.
This was a good thriller and very enjoyable read.
laura_cs's review against another edition
5.0
Well this is probably the most bizarre start of a mystery. Can't get much weirder than exploding oranges.
Highlights included Ned breaking a window (on purpose) with his foot by basically just... taking a run at it and sticking his foot out, karate style. Like, dude.
+1 points for old-timey recognition that colonization was messed up. Still not quite sure why this museum in Florida had so much focus on the Aztecs.
But also, I really hate the parts that are drama for the sake of drama? Like, Bess and George are in a car crash by a guy driving under the influence and that doesn't get brought up and really didn't need to happen. And Nancy goes to get a rental car and gets immediately pulled over because it's stolen. Also doesn't play a role in the plot.
Other than that, cool secret codes, space shuttle stuff, and information about oranges.
Highlights included Ned breaking a window (on purpose) with his foot by basically just... taking a run at it and sticking his foot out, karate style. Like, dude.
+1 points for old-timey recognition that colonization was messed up. Still not quite sure why this museum in Florida had so much focus on the Aztecs.
But also, I really hate the parts that are drama for the sake of drama? Like, Bess and George are in a car crash by a guy driving under the influence and that doesn't get brought up and really didn't need to happen. And Nancy goes to get a rental car and gets immediately pulled over because it's stolen. Also doesn't play a role in the plot.
Other than that, cool secret codes, space shuttle stuff, and information about oranges.
meganreads5's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
ayeesha97's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
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
1.0
cinephilegirl_'s review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
postitsandpens's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars.
Well, this was quite the adventure! In keeping track of Nancy's many talents, I want to quickly start by adding painting to this list, in case you were curious. This story had a lot going on: a missing heiress, a mysterious house in the middle of the woods, a runaway circus monkey, a plane crash, and more. As I did read the original story, I want to note that there are some rather racist stereotypes in its pages as well, with the so-called speech of the POC help (mainly maids and cooks) and the throwing around of the word "gypsy", both of which made me cringe. Leaving those issues aside, the story itself was actually really well-crafted - one of the tighter Nancy Drew books that I've read - and I enjoyed seeing what all Nancy and company got up to. As with all of these books, you'll need to suspend your sense of disbelief, as Nancy survives one too many life-threatening dangers, but all in all I found this extremely enjoyable overall.
Well, this was quite the adventure! In keeping track of Nancy's many talents, I want to quickly start by adding painting to this list, in case you were curious. This story had a lot going on: a missing heiress, a mysterious house in the middle of the woods, a runaway circus monkey, a plane crash, and more. As I did read the original story, I want to note that there are some rather racist stereotypes in its pages as well, with the so-called speech of the POC help (mainly maids and cooks) and the throwing around of the word "gypsy", both of which made me cringe. Leaving those issues aside, the story itself was actually really well-crafted - one of the tighter Nancy Drew books that I've read - and I enjoyed seeing what all Nancy and company got up to. As with all of these books, you'll need to suspend your sense of disbelief, as Nancy survives one too many life-threatening dangers, but all in all I found this extremely enjoyable overall.
kallania's review against another edition
3.5
For those of you not in the know the original stories were edited and revised before being republished (to better fit with the times)... a few of these stories were almost entirely rewritten with stories that barely resemble the originals. These are books 2, 4, 5, 11, 12, 14, 17, and 18. The version can be determined by how many chapters the book has; the original has 25 chapters while the revised only have 20.
Revised: Solvable. Nancy takes over an investigation to help her father out with a case. Unusual for a Nancy Drew story this one involves international espionage. There is a consistently higher level of danger and threat of death than normal. 72/100
Revised: Solvable. Nancy takes over an investigation to help her father out with a case. Unusual for a Nancy Drew story this one involves international espionage. There is a consistently higher level of danger and threat of death than normal. 72/100
bplayfuli's review against another edition
1.0
I loved the Nancy Drew series as a child and am reading them again for the nostalgia. I must have read the original version of this one because none of the events in this are familiar. This version has a pretty ridiculous plot but as always highly enjoyable. I definitely liked the original plot better and have ordered it so I can read the one I loved as a kid.