Litsy

Nancy Drew 23: Mystery of the Tolling Bell | Carolyn Keene

pick

#Read2025 #SeriesLove2025

Finished earlier in the week for #NancyDrewBR
This one did not seem familiar to me, so is it a reread or not? Hmmm… 🤔 Anyway, not my favorite book, but still a pick for nostalgia. This one (I read the 1973 version) is set in a little seaside town, drivable from River Heights. Again, where is River Heights because I keep reading Midwest? Maybe it‘s a lake beach town?🤷🏻‍♀️ Anyway Nanners & her girls are there to ⬇️

DieAReader, Librarybelle

DebinHawaii … meet/help Mr. Drew‘s client & they stumble into a couple of mysteries, one involving a ghost & the other perfume/cosmetics/investment fraud. I like a good small sea town setting, but there was too much Ned in this one for me. If the drive for Nancy & friends was a long one, how is Ned in the neighborhood as a insurance salesman none the less? It sends a stalkerish vibe & Nancy “needs” or gets a lot of rescuing from him in this one. 🙄 ⬇️ (edited) 1w

DebinHawaii … ***Small noggin spoiler*** There are no blows to the head in this one, so no #NNK count & we are still 10/23 however there is “drugging” with mysterious fumes which can‘t be good for her head either ( it hopefully explains her disheveled look on the cover).🤕 There‘s also little people bad guys (called “dwarves & elves”)😳that are an interesting but needless addition. 🤷🏻‍♀️

… All in all it will make for interesting #NancyDrewBR discussion. (edited) 1w

DieAReader 🎉🎉🎉 1w

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Ruthiella River Heights is like Dr. Who‘s TARDIS. It magically has everything you might need- a ferry, a castle, TWO synthetic fiber factories…😂 1w

Bookwormjillk @Ruthiella and a major airport 1w

dabbe I love that line “pick for nostalgia“. That's how I mostly feel rereading these books. 1w

Librarybelle It should be a fun discussion! (edited) 1w

bookandbedandtea @Ruthiella @Bookwormjillk I always loved that about River Heights! It's close to mountains, seaside, farm country, and lake resorts and contains every type of business and dwelling imaginable. Growing up, I loved Narnia but I didn't want to live there. I wanted to live in River Heights! 😂 1w

DebinHawaii @Ruthiella @Bookwormjillk @bookandbedandtea Hah! So true. It truly is a magical place full of arts, culture, commerce & history with no shortage of missing nobles & heiresses! 🤣 1w

51 likes9 comments

DebinHawaii

Nancy Drew 23: Mystery of the Tolling Bell | Carolyn Keene

#Naturalitsy #HyggeHourReadathon

Tonight‘s #HyggeHour is being spent with Nancy Drew for #NancyDrewBR I feel like Nancy looks pretty disheveled on this cover, so here‘s hoping her head is okay!😉#NNK

I‘m drinking blueberry lemonade because it‘s been overly muggy this weekend & I‘m trying Dubai chocolate for the first time because I finally saw it in small bars that don‘t cost $15.

Mood is sad the weekend is over & it‘s a full workweek. 😵‍💫

TheBookHippie, Librarybelle, Chrissyreadit, AllDebooks

AnnCrystal
😋👍🏼🫐🥤🍋💝. 2w

AllDebooks I hope you manage to snatch some time for some mini-hygge moments during the week. X 2w

Librarybelle Ha! I suppose it could also be the tolling bells making her head feel achy 😂 2w

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Chrissyreadit 💛🧡🤎🧡💛 2w

Chrissyreadit I wish i could figure out why mondays are always so jarring 💛 and i love my job. 2w

TheBookHippie Oh I love that lemonade!!! How was the chocolate? 2w

peaKnit I have tried the chocolate, would love to hear what you think! 2w

Bookperson96 Makes me want to try Dubai chocolate again. Only tried it once (a couple months ago) in form of a Cronut (fyi: a cronut is a crossing between a donut and croissant) from Dunkin Donuts. 2w

DebinHawaii @Librarybelle Right?! 🤕🤣🤣🤣 2w

DebinHawaii @AllDebooks @Chrissyreadit Thanks! Some days I love mine too! 😉🤣 2w

DebinHawaii @TheBookHippie @peaKnit @Bookperson96 I‘d tried the flavor/style in other things but kept seeing the actual chocolate bars for $13-15 which is pretty steep, especially if I wasn‘t sure I‘d like it. This little bar was very sweet but enjoyable—the pistachio was very creamy & I liked the crispness of the kadayif (shredded filo strands). I‘d buy another little bar sometime or try another brand (I hear Lindt has one) just not at those prices. 😉 2w

46 likes11 comments

Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 22: The Clue in the Crumbling Wall | Carolyn Keene

This post contains spoilers

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4. Think about the adventures in this one. It almost seemed like a comedic adventure when Bess was trapped because of the dogs, George was without clothes in the outbuilding, and Nancy, who decided sleuthing was better than helping George, gets locked in the tower. But, there were some creepy adventures too--bet me I'd lay on the ground of an abandoned garden!

What did you think of the adventures in this one? #NancyDrewBR

Bookwormjillk There were some good ones. The part where Bess got knocked out and flung into the water was scary! 1mo

CogsOfEncouragement @Bookwormjillk I forgot about that one. Which then reminded me of the explosion which threw Nancy into a closet and shut her in behind rubble! The whole George undressed in the tool shed was crazy to me. I‘ll stay in my wet clothes, thankyouverymuch. When Nancy finally gets out of the parapet after being stuck for hours (chap IX, pg 82) she says, “What an adventure!” I thought that was such a Nancy thing to say - in a good way. Always positive. 1mo

BarkingMadRead So many funny ones for comic relief over the distressing ones! Nancy has horrible luck 🤣 1mo

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dabbe I thought the revised 1973 version added quite a threat to Hannah Gruen, raising the personal stakes. I don't like when ANYONE messes with Hannah! 😂 1mo

DGRachel @dabbe Right?!? Leave Hannah alone! This one seemed to have a lot of high stakes danger, and Bess got more than her fair share! I‘m pretty protective of Bess, too. I‘m with @CogsOfEncouragement re: wet clothes. I thought that was a little nuts. Also, I know I‘m obsessed with this, but so many unconscious people: Bess, Nancy, and Salty! My head was starting to hurt! 🤣🤣 1mo

dabbe @DGRachel You had your own #NNK! 💛🤎🧡 1mo

DebinHawaii Way too many head blows for my liking! 🤕 Will my greatest concern remains with Nancy‘s noggin & the #NNK no one‘s head is safe. The George‘s clothes thing made me both laugh & shake my head. “Sure you go investigate while I stay naked in a tool shed at a creepy old place that might have bad guys running amok…” 😳🙄 (edited) 1mo

kwmg40 This story was definitely full of action, and though some of the dangers were comedic, they were at least not eye-rolling like the random meteorite from an earlier book. 1mo

Librarybelle I forgot about Hannah‘s ordeal, @dabbe ! You know things are really bad when Hannah is also in peril. This certainly had a ton of entertaining and not-so-good-for-the-head moments! @Bookwormjillk @CogsOfEncouragement @BarkingMadRead @DGRachel @DebinHawaii @kwmg40 1mo

MariaW As mentioned in the early posts, although there might have been a lot incidents, they haven‘t been over the top like in some other books of the series. The story acutally made sense and is conceivable. I prefer it this way. 🫶 3w

12 likes10 comments

DebinHawaii

Nancy Drew 22: The Clue in the Crumbling Wall | Carolyn Keene

pick

#Read2025 #SeriesLove2025

Finished last week for #NancyDrewBR I kinda, sorta remember this one from my childhood. This one involves a missing dancer & just a few weeks to go to find her & get the “castle” & money left to her by the business tycoon who loved her (which will help her sister & niece as well.) Without saying too much, this one has a little Cinderella vibe to it & some serious dangers for Nancy. Slight spoiler for the Nancy Noggin ⬇️

DieAReader, Librarybelle

DebinHawaii …Knockout counter or the #NNK as it increases to 10/22. (Bess gets knocked out too.) Also a health issue in my book is the neighborhood singing door-to-door clam seller “Salty” who helps Nancy with the mystery.😳🤢 It just seems like food poisoning waiting to happen. I read the 70s version & it was fine. ⬇️ 1mo

DebinHawaii …There was a female police lieutenant who lended support which is positive & some interesting choices made by Nancy & friends (George‘s outfit drying situation …) that will be fun for this week‘s discussion. (edited) 1mo

Librarybelle I had to laugh about the door-to-door clam salesman. His tune was quite catchy, though! 😂 (edited) 1mo

DieAReader 🤕#NNK is climbing for sure😬 1mo

50 likes4 comments

DebinHawaii

The Secret in the Old Attic | Carolyn Keene

pick

#Read2025 #SeriesLove2025

Finished this one last Sunday for #BobWhiteBuddies. I‘m so behind on all my review but wanted to get this one up before the discussion. I do remember this one from childhood, mainly due to the black widow🕷️angle. When I was growing up, my older sister was in the bathroom in the dark & felt something tickling her leg & when she turned on the light, it was a big black widow!😱 Trust me when I say that I was terrified & ⬇️

DieAReader, Librarybelle

DebinHawaii …needed all the lights to be on for quite some time. But I digress. This was an okay book in the series—not that much non-spider action & Nancy‘s noggin was not knocked so the #NNK counter is 9/21. Also “Bushy Trott” is quite a name & really, what good is Effie, ever? Looking forward to the discussion on the 15th. 2mo

Ruthiella Bushy Trott still makes me giggle! 🙊 2mo

Librarybelle I could have done without the black widows in this one. 2mo

DieAReader 🎉 I always look forward to your #NNK counter🤣💖 2mo

48 likes4 comments

Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 21: The Secret in the Old Attic | Carolyn Keene

#LittenDetectives : We‘re two weeks away from our next #NancyDrewBR discussion!

What could be the secret in the old attic? How will Nancy discover the secret? Will she have a head injury this time? Will Ned continue to sulk that he is second to a good mystery in Nancy‘s eyes?!? Let‘s find out!

Discussion July 15th!

rubyslippersreads, DebinHawaii, DGRachel, BarkingMadRead, Jennifer3, kspenmoll, PurpleyPumpkin, JenlovesJT47, MariaW, CogsOfEncouragement, AnneCecilie, Born.A.Reader, Bookwormjillk, Read4life, StayCurious, bookandbedandtea, Laughterhp, Sace, Bren912, kwmg40, CSeydel, Ruthiella, dabbe, Julies_Bookshelf_Adventures, Enchanted_Bibliophile, Allylu, TheAromaofBooks, Charityann, Roary47, KristiAhlers, peanutnine, PageShifter, AmandaBlaze

BarkingMadRead I can‘t wait! 3mo

Ruthiella What secret talent will Nancy display this time? 😂 3mo

Librarybelle Yay, @BarkingMadRead ! 3mo

See All 10 Comments

Librarybelle @Ruthiella It‘ll be something that seems so random yet very helpful for the situation! 😂 3mo

dabbe Thanks for posting this! 🤩 We should take a bet on #NNK's! 😂 3mo

Librarybelle @dabbe 😂 3mo

TheAromaofBooks This one was sooooo scary to me growing up!!! 3mo

Librarybelle @TheAromaofBooks I don‘t remember this one! Maybe I didn‘t read it. Now I‘m really intrigued! 3mo

TheAromaofBooks All I remember are the spiders 😂 3mo

Librarybelle @TheAromaofBooks OMG! 😱 3mo

34 likes10 comments

Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 20: The Clue in the Jewel Box | Carolyn Keene

This post contains spoilers

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4. Nancy's adventurous episodes are not as dramatic as in prior stories, but she still has troubles! I would have been so upset over the stealing of the hair piece, even if it was fake! Any thoughts on the “dangers“ this time around? #NancyDrewBR

BarkingMadRead I always think about modern times when these things happen to her. She would have been dead like 10 books ago! People have definitely killed for less! So many scary incidents 3mo

Bookwormjillk The Ferris wheel part had me a bit freaked out. 🎡☠️ 3mo

Sace As we read through this series I feel like there‘s pressure in the author to up the danger ante. It‘s why the books start to feel more like disconnected episodes of “The Perils of Pauline”. Like the reckless driver…no real connection to the mystery, just random danger/excitement. 3mo

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Sace @Bookwormjillk another bit of danger completely unconnected to the plot…unless it was imperative to the plot to have yet another sighting of the pickpocket and for Nancy to be late. 3mo

MariaW The boat accident in the second chapter seemed very far-fetched as well. There seems to be a lot of traffic on the waters surrounding River Heights. ⛴️⛴️⛴️ 3mo

Ruthiella I enjoyed how Nancy herself committed two felonies: breaking into Mrs. Alexandra‘s house and kidnapping “Michael”. 😅 3mo

DGRachel @Ruthiella Nancy‘s own misdeeds and everyone‘s rush to be helpful and tell her private information on her cases never ceases to amaze me. I knew we were in for another action packed story when the storm came up out of nowhere and the ferries crashed. The Ferris Wheel thing seemed more like a “we need more pages, people. What can we throw into the story” It made Ned seem like a jealous jerk, though, forcing Nancy to the fair, and I didn‘t like that 3mo

DebinHawaii I would not have liked to be trapped in the Ferris Wheel at all! 🎡🫣 And I kind of forgot about the ferries—I think unless it is exploding oranges 💥🍊 or a #NNK the side dangers in the books run together a bit. 3mo

kwmg40 The episode that disturbed me the most was Nancy's dress for the show being damaged by the barb wire. It was great that our heroines all repaired the dress sewing late into the night, though I found that bit very implausible. 😂 3mo

Roary47 I agree with @Bookwormjillk and @DebinHawaii the Ferris wheel scene was pretty scary! 3mo

13 likes10 comments

Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 20: The Clue in the Jewel Box | Carolyn Keene

This post contains spoilers

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1. Here we go! Once again, the 1943 and the 1972 editions are fairly similar, so everyone read the same story line. Yay!

Mildred Benson wrote the original 1943 story, and Priscilla Baker-Carr wrote the 1972 revision.

Overall, what did you think of the story? Thinking of a few of our more recent adventures with Nancy, how did this compare? #NancyDrewBR

BarkingMadRead The one was fun, an almost kidnapping, but I read it a couple weeks ago, and now I can‘t remember if there was a Nancy knockout 🤣 the two guys were a fun twist that I suspected early, but it was a fun mystery 3mo

Bookwormjillk This was a good light read for a summer weekend, but not super memorable. 3mo

Sace I enjoyed this one. There was just enough going on and it felt a little more straightforward. 3mo

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bookandbedandtea I thought this was fun. It was nice that the whole thing was set in River Heights this time and I liked the various mysteries. 3mo

MariaW After reading 20 ND novels now, I certainly have to put myself up with the fact that there are always two mysteries that are inexplicably connected to each other and a lot of weird accidents/incidents. Now I am not shaking my head and rolling my eyes anymore, I am just enjoying the read. 🤣 (edited) 3mo

Ruthiella This was fun, though I wondered why Nancy never seemed to have her car and the river and ferry kept coming up. It‘s like each book has some tidbit not really connected to the larger story (like golf or sailing) that they shoehorn in. 3mo

CogsOfEncouragement It was a nice change up that others were kidnapped and/or tied up rather than Nancy. I‘m old, so I caught on the look-alikes were working together early in. But I thought that was a fun twist for a chapter book. 3mo

DGRachel @MariaW Yes! I have found these much more enjoyable when I am able to let go of any expectations of reality! 😂 (except for the exploding oranges one. That was deplorable) 3mo

DGRachel I really liked this one even though it felt like something was constantly happening and I‘m always a little disappointed when we don‘t get a #NNK. I‘m with @CogsOfEncouragement - it was nice that Nancy wasn‘t (usually) the one in mortal peril. 3mo

bookandbedandtea @MariaW I have my childhood love of these books to get me through them now and I'm sure it helps that I remember them so fondly! When they are (often) over the top I just remind myself that they are children's books and carry on. 😄 3mo

DebinHawaii Nancy‘s noggin needed a break after two knockouts the last book, so I‘m glad there was a little less action & danger for her in this book. While not the most exciting, it was a good entry & I remembered the pickpocket twist & the foot mark from childhood. 3mo

kwmg40 I enjoyed this one a lot. I thought it was well paced and had good side characters. 3mo

Roary47 I thought it was interesting that Nancy messed up this time. She didn‘t have a good feeling about the grandson and she didn‘t trust her gut. It caused the person she was helping some grief. 3mo

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DebinHawaii

Nancy Drew 20: The Clue in the Jewel Box | Carolyn Keene

pick

#Read2025 #SeriesLove2025

Finished last weekend for #NancyDrewBR I can only restate that I really need to review these right after I‘ve finished them as it all kind of blends together after a crazy workweek.🤷🏻‍♀️What I do remember for sure is *small spoiler alert* there were no knockouts for Nancy‘s noggin so the #NNK remains at 9/20.🤕This is good for Nanner‘s poor head since she was knocked out twice in the last book & her noggin needed ⬇️

DieAReader, Librarybelle, Andrew65, TheSpineView

DebinHawaii …a break. There was not quite as much danger/action in this one. It does make me laugh that River Heights is always where all the people end up in a nice coincidence so Nancy can solve her mysteries. Here it‘s a disposed Queen & then we end up with multiple of her citizens as well so Nancy can conveniently find a missing Prince. 👑 Anyway, I do remember some of this one from childhood & it gets a pick. Discussion is tomorrow. 3mo

TheSpineView Well done! 3mo

Librarybelle Yes! Nancy got to save her head in this one! 3mo

DieAReader 💖💖💖 3mo

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