Litsy

Nancy Drew 18: Mystery of the Moss-Covered Mansion | Carolyn Keene

This post contains spoilers

6. Circling back to the adventures in the books...adult critics for the 1971 edition indicate Nancy's near-death experience in the pool as atypical of the stories. Some of you have also commented on the James Bond-esque escapades of Nancy. I did not read this one as a kid, so I'm not sure if I would have been awed or petrified (like Bess) at what Nancy experiences. Any thoughts? A favorite adventure in the book to share? #NancyDrewBR

DebinHawaii I‘m pretty sure I didn‘t read this in my youth as I remembered nothing about it. I pulled out a lot of favorites in my review especially the Austin Powers vibe, but still go back to the “spa” pool of boiling water (just why?) 🤨 & Ned disarming the “beamer” but saying NASA had better check it—it just made me laugh & roll my eyes! 👀 But I guess Nancy needs a man who has random talents for disarming things like her Dad & his bombs! 😂 (edited) 1w

DebinHawaii I remain disappointed there were no sharks with laser beams attached to their heads. A miss by the author in my mind! 😂 1w

DGRachel @DebinHawaii Sharks! 🤣🤣🤣 The boiling water thing - I finished the book and turned to my mom to demand those two hours of my life back, giving her a list of the weirdest things, including Nancy and Ned nearly being boiled like lobsters, and she just stared at me like I‘d lost my mind. Even she couldn‘t believe everything that was shoved into 177 pages. 1w

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CogsOfEncouragement My favorite line from this mystery is after Nancy's friends get the leopard into the garage, and Bess runs off. She comes back with a tranquilizer pill in a piece of meat which they throw into the garage and the big cat happily eats.

George says: Bess, you're the heroine of the occasion!

I will certainly be working this into my everyday lingo (and no one will get the reference). 1w

MariaW How can the pool and the near death experience be atypical for a ND story? I remember coming across at least one in each novel… 🤔🤔🤔 I cannot say I have a favourite adventure, but the a list if weird ones: the car accident, the near plane crash and the stolen / rental car. 🤦‍♀️ (edited) 1w

Ruthiella I loved how Ned and Nancy stealthily hide on the top of the van to sneak in to the mansion compound. 👍 1w

dabbe Observations and Suspension of Disbelief:
1. Dad, will you buy me a house on Merritt Island next to dangerous animals?
2. Almost a #NNK when Clumsy fingers throws oranges at her.
3. Best Hannah line: “I suppose [The Resardos] won't show up until dinner is ready.“
4. The first time I recall someone NOT giving Nancy someone's address, phone #, hotel # ... (the postman won't give Nancy the Webster's address).
5. The maritime history lesson ⬇️
1w

dabbe we get from Nancy and her dad. They must have taken a course at some point. 🙄
6. Bud the pilot with his 70s lingo, fearing his girlfriend would think he “fazed her out.“
7. And of course the I-expect-you-to-die-Mr.-Bond aspect of the boiling water so that Fortin could “dispose of intruders in case his animals didn't get them.“

Nice. 1w

DGRachel @dabbe I was shocked when that guy wouldn‘t given Nancy the name and address! What? Privacy policies? In a Nancy Drew book? But she‘s so clearly trustworthy! 🤣🤣🤣 1w

dabbe @DGRachel IKR? 🤣🤩😍 1w

Roary47 @DGRachel @dabbe At least there was a girl near her that happened to know the owners. 🤣🤣 4d

dabbe @Roary47 Convenience is important in any ND mystery, right? 🤣😍🤣 4d

kwmg40 Like @CogsOfEncouragement, I loved it when Bess showed up with the spiked piece of meat! 4d

Librarybelle I loved that line, @CogsOfEncouragement ! Thanks for taking the wild ride this time! Let‘s hope the story line for next month is a bit more less “out there!” @DebinHawaii @DGRachel @MariaW @Ruthiella @dabbe @Roary47 @kwmg40 18h

Ruthiella @Librarybelle If there‘s anything less than a meteor in subsequent books, I‘m going to be disappointed! 😂 (edited) 18h

Librarybelle @Ruthiella 😂 So true! 17h

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Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 18: Mystery of the Moss-Covered Mansion | Carolyn Keene

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2. Let's talk about the 1941 edition first! I did not read it, though given the very detailed synopsis on Wikipedia (link in comments), it sounds more enjoyable to me than the 1971 edition! This is the last book to be outlined by Edna Squier, and it was written by our friend Marion Benson. I'd love to hear what those who read this version thought of the murder, gypsies, plane crash, and forest fire! #NancyDrewBR

Librarybelle Wikipedia link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mystery_at_the_Moss-Covered_Mansion 1w

bookandbedandtea I can't comment on it as I didn't read it but the description has me thinking of getting ahold of a copy. 1w

DebinHawaii Wow! After reading the detailed description of the original it seems pretty crazy too. And it looks like there is a knockout for the #NNK 🤕 1w

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DGRachel Looking at the synopsis, I am jealous of anyone who read that one instead of the hot mess express of 1971. It looks like a lot more fun! 1w

Sace Now I want to track down the earlier edition. 1w

MariaW I agree with @Sace and @DGRachel. This version sounds definitely more likely than the exploding oranges. 🤦‍♀️ 1w

DGRachel Did I just order a used copy from a rare book dealer online? Yes. Yes, I did. 🤦🏻‍♀️ 1w

Ruthiella Whew! 😅 Just reading the Wikipedia synopsis was a lot! Would the climate of River Heights support moss growth? Ivy seems more likely. 😂 1w

Ruthiella @DGRachel It‘s an investment! 👍 1w

dabbe @DGRachel 🤣🤩🤣 1w

Librarybelle I was amazed by the detailed synopsis on Wikipedia, but it helped to show that maybe the original was a bit better than the revised. At least, there were no explosive oranges! 😂 @bookandbedandtea @DebinHawaii @DGRachel @Sace @MariaW @Ruthiella @dabbe 18h

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DebinHawaii

Nancy Drew 18: Mystery of the Moss-Covered Mansion | Carolyn Keene

so-so

#Read2025 #SeriesLove2025

Finished last Sunday for #NancyDrewBR but still digesting those exploding oranges! 🍊💥🙄 This one was just a bit over the top in the villains & their evil plans (soft spoilers): we had exploding oranges, a mansion with a secret laser “beamer” in a lab to shoot down a NASA rocket, wild animals to keep people away & a steaming swimming pool full of boiling water because you should always have “a special (spa?) treatment⬇️

DieAReader, Librarybelle, Andrew65, TheSpineView

DebinHawaii … for snoopers!” (Opening up the pores is important…) I was assuming there would be sharks with laser beams on their heads in there too but I guess that was in Austin Powers. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Best line, Ned: “I think I‘ve deactivated the machine in the laboratory, but a NASA expert had better check.” 🤓😂There were no knockouts so the #NNK is at 7/18 🤕but there was a group tear gas to the face at a photo op, so that‘s fun & different. 😉⬇️ (edited) 1w

DebinHawaii So, yes this one was a little 🍌👖at least the 1971 version & I remember none of it so I think maybe I didn‘t read this one growing up. Not a favorite but I can‘t wait for the discussion this week! (edited) 1w

dabbe Fab review! I'm almost finished. 🤩 1w

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DieAReader 🎉🎉🎉 1w

TheSpineView Fantastic! 1w

Ruthiella This is as close to James Bond as we‘ve gotten so far, with the exception of that mini-sub in

The Mystery at Lilac Inn

Librarybelle I did not realize the variety of oranges, which was a fun fact. Though, it makes sense—I live near a huge apple-producing part of PA, and am very aware of the multitude of apple varieties. 1w

ravenlee When kiddo and I reread the Nancy books there were just a couple we skipped. This was the main one. I couldn‘t face the exploding oranges again. 😆 1w

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DGRachel

The Mystery at the Moss-covered Mansion | Carolyn Keene

so-so

That was…a lot. Not the worst of the series, IMO, but definitely jam-packed with not-goodness. 😂 I really wish I could have read the original 1940s plot, because the whole exploding oranges at Kennedy Space Center was just unbearable to this former Central Floridian . We get all of the Drew friends and family for this one, plus the Nickersons have a vacation home near the Cape with a neighboring one for sale for Nancy! Neat! 🙄

DGRachel #nancydrewbr @Librarybelle Also, I think with all of the excitement, we should have gotten at least one #NNK! I feel robbed. 🤣🤣 1w

Librarybelle I know! Totally robbed! 😂 1w

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Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 17: Mystery of the Brass-Bound Trunk | Carolyn Keene

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4. Nancy faints in this one (I think in both 1940 and 1976)! We also find George in the infirmary (at least in 1976) and a meteor (also 1976) rocks the ship. I read the 1976, and it just seemed more convoluted than other story lines (but I am still secretly miffed we don't know why Nancy visited the Netherlands).

What did you think of the adventures in this book? Any standouts? #NancyDrewBR

bookandbedandtea The 1976 version has the meteor (🤣), the attempted mugging of the ship's captain, a young boy in desperate need of supervision, the girl's stateroom being searched, and Nancy and Nelda being thrown overboard. It was wildly action packed! 1mo

DGRachel I think we all know how I feel about the meteor. 🤣🤣 I did rather enjoy the girls getting locked in the hold. Nancy and Nelda getting thrown overboard was wild. A lot happened and I think maybe too much. 1mo

DGRachel Also, I remember thinking “Nancy Drew doesn‘t faint!” Little me was offended. 🤣🤣 1mo

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Ruthiella @DGRachel I loved the meteor if only because it still LITERALLY makes me laugh until my eyes water. 😂 It was so bizarre! I feel like, so far this is the title most likely to have been written by an actual 10 year old. 😆 1mo

DebinHawaii As crazy as the meteor was in 76 & how convoluted the plot was, I found 40 even more so (which could be because I read it last) but there was no meteor at least. @DGRachel in 1940 Nancy got a serious knock on the head #NNK while locked in a store then while trying to escape after, passed out for several hours until 3AM, before she makes her way back to where she is staying & then pretty much just gets on with her day. The noggin is tough! 😂🤕😂 1mo

CogsOfEncouragement This is another one that felt convoluted to me. Bits of peril sprinkled haphazardly through the story like in a couple other mysteries we've already read. When Chapter One had Nancy almost fall in the ocean for no good reason before the ship set sail I was afraid that was going to be the case.

The meteor? What? Just...what?

Being thrown overboard? Swimming in freezing open water, but then not needing much rest? Huh? 1mo

dabbe @Ruthiella Maybe it was Bobby. 🤔🤣🤩 1mo

dabbe WTH was the meteor even there for? Just to shake things up? And afterwards they pretty much dust themselves off and go about their business.

And, you can't even tell us why they're on this cruise but you devote time to a meteor? 😳 1mo

bookandbedandtea @dabbe Right!? A couple lines about what they were doing in Europe (we know they had been in Switzerland where Nancy did some swimsuit shopping but I don't think anything else was mentioned) would have been appreciated! 1mo

Bookwormjillk In the 1940 version Nancy got struck by lightning pretty early on too. Or maybe a tree branch hit her when it got struck by lightning? I wasn‘t really sure. 1mo

Sace @Ruthiella ME TOO! It‘s probably the number one reason that this was a pick for me. 🤣 1mo

Sace Have we all forgotten the dead rat between the trunks (1976)?What was that all about? There‘s was definitely a lot of random “peril”, but it made me laugh. 1mo

MariaW I wanted to check the unlikely event of meteor hitting a ship and it actually happened, once in 1648 and another time in 1908. 🙈 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MEX19080429.2.37 What are the odds? A likely event to happen to Nancy Drew! 🤦‍♀️ (edited) 1mo

kwmg40 The meteor was definitely bewildering. What really made me laugh were the cartoonish illustrations of the girls in peril in my 1976 edition. 1mo

Librarybelle OMG the dead rat, @Sace ! I think I said “eww” out loud. The meteor is the most bizarre episode I think we saw, though it‘s odd that Nancy is struck by lightning or a tree branch struck by lightning in the 1940 edition, @Bookwormjillk ! @bookandbedandtea @DGRachel @Ruthiella @DebinHawaii @CogsOfEncouragement @dabbe @MariaW @kwmg40 1mo

Ruthiella @MariaW Thanks for doing the research. 😃 1mo

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DebinHawaii

Nancy Drew 17: Mystery of the Brass-Bound Trunk (Revised) | Carolyn Keene

pick

#Read2025 #SeriesLove2025

So I‘m not sure why I felt I needed to read both the 1940 & the 1976 versions for #NancyDrewBR but I did. My library only has the latter version but I found the 1940 versions online, free to download & read it the other night. Although they both feature brass-bound trunks, ocean liners & stolen jewelry, they are pretty different. I liked 1976 slightly better (Nancy George & Bess cruise from Holland to New York & end up⬇️

DieAReader, Librarybelle, Andrew65, TheSpineView

DebinHawaii … caught up in a mystery along with their cabin mate Nelda Detweiler from SouthAfrica. In the 1940 version the 3 are on a ship to Buenos Aries with a cat, no less & a new friend named Nestrelda. I felt like the 1940 version was much more random with too many characters & a very flippant Carson Drew. I didn‘t love either version & only remembered a bit of the 1970s story making me think it wasn‘t a reread favorite of my childhood. Spoiler alert ⬇️ 2mo

DebinHawaii … about concussions in both: In the 1976 version, George gets knocked on head pretty hard & ends up in the infirmary. In the 1940 version Nancy gets knocked on the head even harder & passes out “for a long while” & then faints again later on, saying the blow “must have been worse than she thought!”🤕😱 Yikes! So if we go by the 1940 version it makes 7/17 on the Nancy Noggin Knockout counter or #NNK. 🤷🏻‍♀️ ⬇️ (edited) 2mo

DebinHawaii … Okay, I oversimplified it all butI look forward to the discussion on 3/15 to see what others thought. Here‘s a link to the 1940 version: https://www.fadedpage.com/showbook.php?pid=20210625 (edited) 2mo

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Librarybelle That‘s so awesome you read both! Yay!! 1mo

DieAReader 🎉🎉🎉 1mo

DebinHawaii @Librarybelle I wanted to go to South America! 😉 1mo

TheSpineView Great job! Kudos for reading both versions 👏 1mo

Andrew65 Excellent 🎉🎊🎉 Above and beyond the call of duty to read both versions. 1mo

bookandbedandtea I read the 1976 version but still definitely take advantage of your link to read the other one! 1mo

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DebinHawaii

Nancy Drew 15: The Haunted Bridge | Carolyn Keene

pick

#Read2025 #JumpStart2025 #SeriesLove2025

I finished Book 15 for #NancyDrewBR last night & while this is a milder one in terms of the action, it was not bad. Nancy, her father, Bess & George are at a lodge while Mr. Drew investigates a jewel theft ring with Nancy‘s help—when she isn‘t playing in a semi-pro golf tournament (is there anything Nanners isn‘t a pro at?!?) or investigating a haunted bridge. No head injuries (instead it‘s a hand) & so ⬇️

DieAReader, Lizpixie, Librarybelle, Andrew65, TheSpineView

DebinHawaii … our #NancyNogginKnockout counter (the #NNK )is now 5/15. On the other hand Bess was introduced as blond & pretty without the plump! 🎉 (Although there was a comment that she liked to eat worked in.) ☹️ Also the Bess & George giving Nancy a massage scene was pretty funny. I‘m excited for Book 16 which was a favorite of mine growing up probably because of the slightly creepy cat cover. 😼 (edited) 3mo

Lizpixie Nice job👍 3mo

Sace There was a plump thrown in for one of the characters though…was it one of the golf opponents? 3mo

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kspenmoll Love your review! How about the 3 he-man friends ( with a little jealousy on Ned‘s part) rebuilding a bridge!!!!!! 3mo

Librarybelle Yes, @Sace …I think it related to one of the golf competitors. So glad you liked this one, @DebinHawaii ! 3mo

TheSpineView Well done! 3mo

DebinHawaii @Sace @Librarybelle Good point! I think it was Nancy‘s second opponent described that way but at least not Bess for once! 3mo

DebinHawaii @kspenmoll Yes, Ned & “the boys” have lots of special skills too! 😆 3mo

Sace @DebinHawaii What‘s sad is I didn‘t even notice! She‘s always described that way so I‘m surprised it didn‘t even register! 3mo

DieAReader 🎉🎉🎉 3mo

Andrew65 Excellent 📚👏🥳 3mo

73 likes11 comments

Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 14: The Whispering Statue | Carolyn Keene

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1. This month's book has two different versions again:

The original 1937 edition features a whispering statue that resembles Nancy and Nancy's investigation in locating a client's estranged husband.

The 1970 edition also has a whispering statue that looks like Nancy, but Nancy investigates a swindle taking place involving her client and rare books.

Which edition did you read? Overall thoughts on the book? #NancyDrewBR

kwmg40 I finished the 1937 edition, which I liked overall, even though I found the secondary characters rather exaggerated.. There were aspects that made it feel quite dated, especially the part where it cost Nancy $5 to have the bumper on her car repaired. 4mo

CogsOfEncouragement I thought the 1970 edition was a fun ND caper with her friends there to help, including a devoted Ned. A huge falling book NOT hitting her in the head was a nice touch for those of us keeping track of such things. 4mo

BarkingMadRead I have the 1937 version, which was pretty decent overall. 4mo

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Ruthiella I read the 1970 version as evidenced by the use of the word “groovy” twice! 😂 This was quite action packed and as usual, the two mysteries turn out to be related. 4mo

Ruthiella @kwmg40 In the 1970 version, Ned notes that the price tag of $28 for a rare first edition is quite high! I googled it and that would be around $250 in today‘s US dollar value. 4mo

Bookwormjillk @Ruthiella I also read the groovy 1970 edition 4mo

MariaW My ebook was the 1970 version as well. 4mo

DebinHawaii Yep, 1970s for me too. @CogsOfEncouragement I really thought it would be one for the #NNK counter! 😉 4mo

dabbe 1970s version, too, which I enjoyed a lot more than the previous IVORY CHARM book. #oy! 4mo

TheAromaofBooks I read the 1970 edition - it felt like the statue and the books plotlines tied together pretty well!! 4mo

Sace I read the 70s version. I felt like the two mysteries worked better than some of the other books with two mysteries. 4mo

Bren912 I read the 1970‘s version but now want to read about finding the estranged husband! 4mo

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DebinHawaii

Nancy Drew 14: The Whispering Statue | Carolyn Keene

pick

#ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024

I finished book 14 for NancyDrewBR last week Sunday but didn‘t get a chance to post. In this one, Nancy & her posse of Bess & George are solving 2 mysteries, one where a client of Mr. Drew is concerned she is being swindled on the the books she is selling through a dealer & another mystery of a statue (it whispers & looks like Nancy!) stolen years before from a yacht club. So off to Waterford on the coast they go! ⬇️

DieAReader, Librarybelle, Andrew65, TheSpineView, GHABI4ROSES

DebinHawaii … The most interesting things here are that Nancy goes undercover with a wig & glasses as “Debbie Lynbrook” since even before they get to Waterford they are threatened on the phone & by 2 burly masked men who come to the Drew‘s house. I like that George tosses one in a judo hold. Go George! 💪🏼🎉 There‘s a good amount of action in this one & the usual implausibilities of crime-solving with Nancy/Debbie, but no concussions for Nancy or anyone ⬇️ (edited) 4mo

DebinHawaii … else either. (Bess gets knocked off a sailboat by a boom & into the water but isn‘t knocked out) so our #NancyNogginKnockout counter, the #NNK is at 5/14. Maybe not my favorite overall, but I liked this one better than the last 2. (edited) 4mo

Ruthiella I liked that one of her possible pseudonym‘s was Carrie Fisher! 😂 4mo

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DebinHawaii @Ruthiella Me too! 😂 4mo

TheSpineView Awesome! 4mo

Librarybelle I‘ve not started yet, but this sounds much better than our last one! 4mo

Andrew65 Brilliant 👏👏👏 4mo

DieAReader 🎉🎉🎉 4mo

41 likes8 comments

DebinHawaii

Nancy Drew 13: The Mystery of the Ivory Charm | Carolyn Keene

so-so

#ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024

Finished earlier in the week for #NancyDrewBR & I will echo what seems to be most of the group & say this was my least favorite so far of the books. Very disjointed plot & downright weird in spots, I don‘t remember reading this one as a child (I think there are some gaps in my Nancy Drew reading). There were no noggin knockouts for Nancy & the #NNK counter but a side character got smacked over the head really hard ⬇️

DieAReader, Librarybelle, Andrew65, TheSpineView, GHABI4ROSES

DebinHawaii … & once they got him awake with “stimulants” & decided he was “OK” they left him in care of a young boy & he went to go sleep it off upstairs. Yikes! 🤕😳 #ConcussionCareNancyDrewStyle (edited) 5mo

Librarybelle Love the hashtag! 5mo

DieAReader 🥳🥳🥳 5mo

Sace @DebinHawaii 😂 5mo

TheSpineView Awesome! 5mo

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