Nancy Drew Challenge: #8, Nancy’s Mysterious Letter

Nancy, wearing a fur coat and smart shoes and a hat, in the stadium of Ned’s college, reaching out to two men she has been following; 1930 Russell H. Tandy cover art

Covers sourced from this website.

#8, Nancy’s Mysterious Letter

This book was originally written by Walter Karig instead of Mildred Benson. There were not a lot of mentions of the outfits characters were wearing, and the action was a little more fast-paced. Nancy even gets drugged with some kind of chemical on a handkerchief!

Ned also bravely tackles a dude who goes after Nancy.

I enjoyed this book because it was interesting to see Nancy searching for the other Nancy Drew, but I got very annoyed with her telling people the other Nancy’s business.

“I’m so thrilled to have located someone at last who knows Miss Drew. I must tell you what was in her letter. She has a large inheritance waiting for her in England.”

Nancy! You have no right telling people the other Nancy’s business, let alone the fact that she’s come into a lot of money! That’s dangerous! Goodness, Nancy.

“Of course Nancy would have snow tires and good ones at that.”

Yes, of course she would. Nancy is always prepared for any event!

“I’d hate to meet Dave with my mind full of clues and crooks.”

If you’ve read even one Nancy Drew book with Bess and George, you know which one of them said this.

One of the characters is a sailor so there’s a lot of nautical expressions used in the book. Personally, I think it was a little overkill and it made the character seem very one-dimensional.

Phrase of the Book

“Oh phooey!”

Foods Mentioned

“hot cocoa”
“homemade cookies”
“My secretary had to bring smelling salts and a cup of black coffee.”
“Mrs. Gruen’s homemade stew”
“brisket corned beef”
“two small jars of hard candy”
“a salad of tomatoes and cottage cheese… broil the steak”
“a jar of the fresh vegetable soup”
“vigorously whipping potatoes in a pot”
“delicious roast beef dinner”
“tasty chicken and lettuce sandwiches, a large bowl of fresh cut-up fruit, and a chocolate cake”

Outfits

“pale-blue evening dress… lovely pearl necklace”
“a camel’s-hair coat and hat”
“reversible coat… tie a [paisley pattern] scarf over your hair and wear sunglasses”