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amanda_rodrigues's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
jmcneill's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
bev_reads_mysteries's review against another edition
3.0
Nancy, Bess, and George are visiting Nancy's Aunt Eloise in New York City. They are invited to a society function and just happen to meet British rock star Lance Warrick of the super-group Crowned Heads. But it's Nancy who has turned his head. Nancy also meets Olive Harwood, mother of one of Nancy's friends from River Heights. Lisa Harwood had married a British aristocrat in a fairy tale wedding, but from what Mrs. Harwood tells Nancy, it doesn't sound like they are living happily ever after. Lisa looks thin and haunted and Mrs. Harwood wants Nancy to go to England (at her expense) and get to the bottom of whatever is troubling her daughter.
Nancy agrees to go and finds herself in the middle of a mystery involving ancient statues, drugs, witchcraft, hypnosis, and hidden caves. She also finds herself juggling the attentions of Lance Warrick and a handsome young reporter by the name of Alan Trevor. Both men help Nancy unravel the mystery. But Nancy is the one who tracks down all the clues.
The basic mystery is pretty good as Nancy Drew plots go. Nancy makes logical deductions based on what clues she's able to find and takes the lead in investigating the hidden cave. But I do take great exception to the ghost writer having Nancy call Carson Drew "Daddy" (which she never did in the original hardbacks) and having her so very caught up in how she looks. It seemed to me that whoever wrote this under the Keene name had very little real knowledge of the character. And don't get me started on how many times her "heart skipped a beat" or her "pulse quickened" and it wasn't about some mysterious clue she noticed--oh, no. It was all to do with Lance "rock star" Warrick. I've never taken to the idea that her special beau Ned is being quietly shoved aside in these later novels. And I certainly am not a fan of making Nancy behave like the heroine of a romance novel.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
Nancy agrees to go and finds herself in the middle of a mystery involving ancient statues, drugs, witchcraft, hypnosis, and hidden caves. She also finds herself juggling the attentions of Lance Warrick and a handsome young reporter by the name of Alan Trevor. Both men help Nancy unravel the mystery. But Nancy is the one who tracks down all the clues.
The basic mystery is pretty good as Nancy Drew plots go. Nancy makes logical deductions based on what clues she's able to find and takes the lead in investigating the hidden cave. But I do take great exception to the ghost writer having Nancy call Carson Drew "Daddy" (which she never did in the original hardbacks) and having her so very caught up in how she looks. It seemed to me that whoever wrote this under the Keene name had very little real knowledge of the character. And don't get me started on how many times her "heart skipped a beat" or her "pulse quickened" and it wasn't about some mysterious clue she noticed--oh, no. It was all to do with Lance "rock star" Warrick. I've never taken to the idea that her special beau Ned is being quietly shoved aside in these later novels. And I certainly am not a fan of making Nancy behave like the heroine of a romance novel.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
trips's review
adventurous
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
This the worst Nancy Drew novel I've read yet. It feels like the person who pitched this manuscript initially didn't intend for it to be a Nancy Drew book, or they REALLY wanted to push Nancy into having a crappy romance novel feel? (I mean no hate towards romance novels, there are good ones too, believe me, lol)
There isn't really a mystery for most of the book, Nancy is a bit too distracted by her 2 new English love rivals the entire time (and occasionally thinks of Ned). In fact, she doesn't even end up in England till about a 3rd through the book.
In researching it, I realized this author also wrote "The Haunted Carousel" which I have also read, which doesn't have major characterization issues, but in this one, Nancy calls Carson "Daddy"...ew... however, George takes the cake in out of character writing by calling Bess "cuddles" at one point.
There is unfortunately just a lot to dislike in this book, my least favorite line had to be "a Yank female private eye who combines curves with brains" ugh.
There isn't really a mystery for most of the book, Nancy is a bit too distracted by her 2 new English love rivals the entire time (and occasionally thinks of Ned). In fact, she doesn't even end up in England till about a 3rd through the book.
In researching it, I realized this author also wrote "The Haunted Carousel" which I have also read, which doesn't have major characterization issues, but in this one, Nancy calls Carson "Daddy"...ew... however, George takes the cake in out of character writing by calling Bess "cuddles" at one point.
There is unfortunately just a lot to dislike in this book, my least favorite line had to be "a Yank female private eye who combines curves with brains" ugh.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship
horsenerd's review against another edition
2.0
I have to agree with everyone else, this is a pretty bad Nancy Drew. Over half of the book is weird romance with a rockstar Nancy literally just met, and the mystery definitely plays second fiddle to the love triangle which develops. I'm thinking this book was originally a Nancy Drew Files(the series aimed at teens) book that was repurposed for the main series, because there's a reference to "making love", tons of romance and poor Ned being shoved aside, and not to mention, DRUGS. If I had read this book as a kid and not a 22 year old trying to read the entire series, I would have dropped this book like it was corrupting filth. All in all, this is an extremely weird ND. I also came to this playing Curse of Blackmoor Manor, which is supposedly based on this book, but the only thing the same between the two is some of the names, but even half of those are slightly different.
samanthawattam's review
4.0
Nancy is asked by an old friend Mrs Olive Harwood to investigate why her recently married daughter Lisa is so unhappy and looking increasingly haggard - is she being poisoned by her new husband Hugh?
It has been many years since I have read a Nancy Drew story but a recent discovery of old copies in a charity shop reignited my interest. Now I can quite understand why I developed an early love for murder mysteries. Even today I think they stand the test of time, Nancy is an independent spirit who investigates crimes on her own has a reputation for being a sleuth and being dependable, a caring and good friend. The story is not at all predictable it has an interesting and expansive storyline with unexpected twists.
It loses a star for having Nancy being tempted by the oily charms of rock star Lance Warwick, although she does realise the error of her ways.
It has been many years since I have read a Nancy Drew story but a recent discovery of old copies in a charity shop reignited my interest. Now I can quite understand why I developed an early love for murder mysteries. Even today I think they stand the test of time, Nancy is an independent spirit who investigates crimes on her own has a reputation for being a sleuth and being dependable, a caring and good friend. The story is not at all predictable it has an interesting and expansive storyline with unexpected twists.
It loses a star for having Nancy being tempted by the oily charms of rock star Lance Warwick, although she does realise the error of her ways.
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