olawnka's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-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
3.25
b00kr3vi3ws's review
3.0
I read Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys throughout my school and college days.
Nancy Drew is an amateur detective who solves crimes with occasional help from her best friends, Bess and George and, her boyfriend Ned. She also has occasional help from her father Carson Drew who runs a private law practice. From finding stolen goods to missing persons and solving mysterious happenings, Nancy is a force of nature.
Until I discovered that Carolyn Keene is a pen name for a whole bunch of ghostwriters, I used to feel confused about the slight differences in each character from books to book over the many series of Nancy Drew mysteries. I like the character of Nancy best in the original books written by Mildred Wirt Benson where Nancy is truly a character to root for – an independent and street smart girl with a penchant for trouble.
Nancy Drew is an amateur detective who solves crimes with occasional help from her best friends, Bess and George and, her boyfriend Ned. She also has occasional help from her father Carson Drew who runs a private law practice. From finding stolen goods to missing persons and solving mysterious happenings, Nancy is a force of nature.
Until I discovered that Carolyn Keene is a pen name for a whole bunch of ghostwriters, I used to feel confused about the slight differences in each character from books to book over the many series of Nancy Drew mysteries. I like the character of Nancy best in the original books written by Mildred Wirt Benson where Nancy is truly a character to root for – an independent and street smart girl with a penchant for trouble.
priyas's review
3.0
nancy drew foot fetish revealed 😵
also nancy is lowkey racist for suspecting ana like that
also nancy is lowkey racist for suspecting ana like that
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
lenni_loves_literature's review
3.0
All I felt during this book was sadness. Really, what fun is a mystery when you've solved it before page 40? Too predictable. I mean, I still enjoyed the action and all that, but I didn't have as much fun when I knew who had done it. At least I had to keep reading to find out the motives.
ooha's review
2.0
I know Carolyn Keene is a collective of authors and I shouldn't be expecting consistency; but, Nancy Drew Files are my least favourite of the various Nancy Drew series.
I guess it stems from the fact that I've been idolising Nancy Drew since I was maybe 9; in fact she's one first heroes and one of the earliest motivators for my later feminist ideologies. Now, when you take such a figure from my life and make her angst over her chocolate-eyed boyfriend, I guess it just rubs me the wrong way.
Apart from that, my qualms with this particular book:
1) It was like a DIY mystery with the solution staring at you in the face even before you reached the halfway mark.
2) The motive didn't live up to the shenanigans pulled.
3) Please point me to that one building where a guy running around in a black face mask wouldn't be noticed! What? So, you got to do the criminal-ing, but first order of business is to go, change into your all-black, look-at-me-up-to-no-good costume complete with a black face mask?! Come on!
4) Girl be too mean to her rebound guy...In fact, its the writer being too mean to both the rebounds. Subtlety was thrown out the window in their haste to convince me that they're just not as perfect as our perfect couple. Humans are flawed, man; that's ok! Is what I wanted to tell them.
5) I don't know...it just didn't tingle me as it used to... I know that's not a good enough reason, but, I'm the reader and it's my review. So there!
BOTTOMLINE: Well, never thought I'd give my childhood hero two stars; but, I guess that's what growing up does to you... And angsty heroines.
I guess it stems from the fact that I've been idolising Nancy Drew since I was maybe 9; in fact she's one first heroes and one of the earliest motivators for my later feminist ideologies. Now, when you take such a figure from my life and make her angst over her chocolate-eyed boyfriend, I guess it just rubs me the wrong way.
Apart from that, my qualms with this particular book:
1) It was like a DIY mystery with the solution staring at you in the face even before you reached the halfway mark.
2) The motive didn't live up to the shenanigans pulled.
3) Please point me to that one building where a guy running around in a black face mask wouldn't be noticed! What? So, you got to do the criminal-ing, but first order of business is to go, change into your all-black, look-at-me-up-to-no-good costume complete with a black face mask?! Come on!
4) Girl be too mean to her rebound guy...In fact, its the writer being too mean to both the rebounds. Subtlety was thrown out the window in their haste to convince me that they're just not as perfect as our perfect couple. Humans are flawed, man; that's ok! Is what I wanted to tell them.
5) I don't know...it just didn't tingle me as it used to... I know that's not a good enough reason, but, I'm the reader and it's my review. So there!
BOTTOMLINE: Well, never thought I'd give my childhood hero two stars; but, I guess that's what growing up does to you... And angsty heroines.
jamietherebelliousreader's review
3.0
3 stars. Ehh, this series honestly isn’t that good and yet I keep reading them. They are far inferior to the original Nancy Drew series. Nancy in this series isn’t that likable and I hate her relationship with Ned because he’s an insufferable asshole. However, the cases themselves are so much fun and what keeps me reading these mediocre books. I liked the case here but everything else was annoying.
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