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A review by nina_reads_books
The Nancys by R.W.R. McDonald
4.0
Wow, what a delightful, unexpectedly excellent read! The Nancys by @rwrmcdonald is a mystery novel but unlike any other I’ve read before.
Tippy Chan is eleven years old and living in a quiet town called Riverstone in New Zealand. Tippy and her mum are still grieving the death of Tippy’s dad a year earlier. Her Uncle Pike and his boyfriend Devon arrive from Sydney to look after Tippy when her mum goes on a cruise. When Tippy’s teacher is found murdered soon after, Tippy, Pike and Devon form the Nancys. Based on Tippy and Pike’s love of Nancy Drew they are determined to be detectives and find the murderer.
Bonding as the Nancys with her uncle gives Tippy something to hang onto instead of the grief she still feels but soon the poking around turns risky. Wrongful arrests and close calls soon put Tippy in danger. But despite all the hurdles Tippy is convinced she must do everything she can to find the murderer.
This is a very unconventional book. A lot of pretty adult things are done and said in front of Tippy, who despite everything is still an eleven year old girl. Which incidentally is the age of my daughter and I couldn’t help but compare them. This element of the book was probably the only thing with which I was not 100% on board. The crude remarks, while often very funny, made me cringe a little as I imagined them being said in front of my daughter.
However the gorgeous quirky relationship and love between Pike and Devon was incredibly heart-warming and their love and care of Tippy was uplifting. What Tippy needs is love and people to believe in her and these characters deliver that in spades.
The Nancys is a murder mystery while also a story of grief and coming to terms with loss. It is also about being different but being OK with that. I really enjoyed this and would recommend it.
Tippy Chan is eleven years old and living in a quiet town called Riverstone in New Zealand. Tippy and her mum are still grieving the death of Tippy’s dad a year earlier. Her Uncle Pike and his boyfriend Devon arrive from Sydney to look after Tippy when her mum goes on a cruise. When Tippy’s teacher is found murdered soon after, Tippy, Pike and Devon form the Nancys. Based on Tippy and Pike’s love of Nancy Drew they are determined to be detectives and find the murderer.
Bonding as the Nancys with her uncle gives Tippy something to hang onto instead of the grief she still feels but soon the poking around turns risky. Wrongful arrests and close calls soon put Tippy in danger. But despite all the hurdles Tippy is convinced she must do everything she can to find the murderer.
This is a very unconventional book. A lot of pretty adult things are done and said in front of Tippy, who despite everything is still an eleven year old girl. Which incidentally is the age of my daughter and I couldn’t help but compare them. This element of the book was probably the only thing with which I was not 100% on board. The crude remarks, while often very funny, made me cringe a little as I imagined them being said in front of my daughter.
However the gorgeous quirky relationship and love between Pike and Devon was incredibly heart-warming and their love and care of Tippy was uplifting. What Tippy needs is love and people to believe in her and these characters deliver that in spades.
The Nancys is a murder mystery while also a story of grief and coming to terms with loss. It is also about being different but being OK with that. I really enjoyed this and would recommend it.