Nancy Drew 24: The Clue in the Old Album

Nancy Drew 24: The Clue in the Old Album | Carolyn Keene

pick

I‘m late finishing this one for #nancydrewbr and I think I have another potentially #unpopularopinion. 😂 I was surprised to see this with a 33% rating and I enjoyed it for exactly the reasons many hated it. While I have major objections to the Romany stereotypes and the pejorative used to name them, I liked that the mystery didn‘t involve a lot of secret rooms and exploding oranges. The side characters were awful, but that was part of the charm.

Librarybelle

Ruthiella Nice to read a positive review of this one! 😃 (edited) 2w

Librarybelle It was nice to have a different type of mystery—agree on that! 2w

39 likes2 comments

kwmg40

Nancy Drew 24: The Clue in the Old Album | Carolyn Keene

pan

Not a particularly good installment in this series. There were unappealing side characters, problematic stereotypes and a mess of a plot.

#NancyDrewBR @Librarybelle
#HauntedShelf #ScreamTeam
#OneSnacktoRuleThemAll #AllThingsApple
#BookSpinBingo
#AfterDarkBingo (Let's Split Up, Gang!)
#ISpyBingo (red hair)
#PumpkabooHunt (small)
#GottaCatchEmAllSpooky (Sinistea: Antique)

@ImperfectCJ @Bookwormjillk @TheAromaofBooks @PuddleJumper

Bookwormjillk 🍎🍎🍎 2w

Librarybelle Completely agree! 2w

PuddleJumper 🧡🖤🧡 2w

See All 7 Comments

TheAromaofBooks I'm gathering from various reviews that this wasn't the strongest entry in the series 😂 2w

Seabreeze_Reader Which Nancy Drew book has been your favorite so far? 2w

kwmg40 @Librarybelle @TheAromaofBooks Glad I'm not alone in disliking this one! 2w

kwmg40 @Seabreeze_Reader Hard to say, as there have been several I've liked very much, but The Clue of the Broken Locket and The Secret in the Old Attic come to mind. 2w

37 likes7 comments

Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 24: The Clue in the Old Album | Carolyn Keene

Alright #LittenDetectives ! It‘s time for our #NancyDrewBR discussion! This one was a hot mess, and I think most of us feel that this is not a strong entry in the series. But, it was fun to go back to River Heights and visit with Nancy and the gang.

I have 5 questions posted. They can be found on my feed, the book‘s feed, or by searching the group‘s hashtag.

Next month we encounter The Ghost of Blackwood Hall!?! 👻 Official post tomorrow!

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

35 likes

Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 24: The Clue in the Old Album | Carolyn Keene

This post contains spoilers

show me

5. There are not many adventures for Nancy in this one...though the ending with her abducted by the bad guys and thrust into a car was a little spooky. Thankfully, Carson Drew could get a helicopter on standby to rescue her! 🙄

But, overall, it just seemed like a letdown, Nancy being one step behind the bad guys in this one and driving all over to hunt down the violinist that may or may not be Rose's father. Thoughts? #NancyDrewBR

Ruthiella Overall I just found this one WIERD. 😅 The mysterious substance in the doll that gives energy is never explained. The television studios and radio stations that are easily accessible. The message in the blanket. The doll with the poison sword… 2w

Bookwormjillk I agree. It was just really weird. How many antique shops and radio/TV stations do they have in River Heights? 2w

CogsOfEncouragement Hiring a detective but not telling Mrs. Struthers was whack.

The helicopter got an eye roll from me too. 2w

See All 6 Comments

DebinHawaii Dull & it was just chock full of random odd bits that never came together in a way that benefited the story. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 2w

kwmg40 I agree with the other comments. The plot in this book was a weird mess. 2w

DGRachel It‘s funny to be on the other side of one of these. I can totally see everyone‘s arguments, and maybe it‘s just my current mood, but I appreciated the quieter absurdity. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 2w

9 likes6 comments

Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 24: The Clue in the Old Album | Carolyn Keene

This post contains spoilers

show me

4. Let's move into the characters. I had a hard time feeling any sympathy for Rose--she's a child, but also not a well-behaved one!

I also found it funny that Ned was telling Nancy his lifelong dreams and was about to say that she was included in them, only for Nancy to interrupt him and talk about the mystery. 😂

Any thoughts on secondary characters? #NancyDrewBR

Ruthiella Totally! In the last book he starts going on about their future together and she ignores him /cuts him off. Clearly she‘s not interested in marriage! Rose was I guess just misdirected, but her behavior was frustrating. (edited) 2w

Bookwormjillk Rose seemed drunk a lot of the time. Calm down Rose.

That was funny about Ned though. 2w

bookandbedandtea Rose was annoying but I definitely felt it was the gramma's fault...kids need to be taught proper behavior. As for Ned's future plans, I like that this series shows Nancy with priorities other than marriage, especially considering how long ago these were originally written. 2w

See All 8 Comments

CogsOfEncouragement Ned had some good boyfriend moments in this one, and then I too was amused by Nancy cutting him off.

The side character I most want to know more about is Nanny Dew. lol 2w

DebinHawaii Rose was really annoying! 2w

BarkingMadRead Poor Ned 🤣 Rose was a nightmare! 2w

kwmg40 I thought it was amazing that Rose learned to play the violin so quickly. It must be multi-talented Nancy's influence. 😄 2w

DGRachel I may be misremembering, but I feel like a lot of the children written as side characters in these are horrid little monsters until Nancy steps in to gently correct their behavior. I like that Ned wasn‘t as obnoxious in this one, and Nancy‘s abrupt change of subject cracked me up. 2w

10 likes8 comments

Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 24: The Clue in the Old Album | Carolyn Keene

This post contains spoilers

show me

3. The dolls deserve their own talking point! Not really a question regarding them, unless you also got a little tired about hearing about dolls like I did.

And yes...some of the earlier designs of dolls are super creepy (and kind of appropriate for this time of year).

Link in comments to a brief history of rag dolls in American history. #NancyDrewBR

Librarybelle https://oldetymeartsandcrafts.com/rag-doll 2w

Ruthiella I did want to look up that particular rag doll! Thanks for the link! 👍 2w

Bookwormjillk I kind of skimmed over all the doll business but hearing about them always reminds me of when my brother rented an Air BnB that was actually a room in someone's house that was filled with dolls. 2w

See All 10 Comments

CogsOfEncouragement I was unable to picture any of the dolls in any way but creepy LOL I tried. Something about a doll being on display in a collection instead of loved by a little kid turns it into something else. I definitely watched too many Twilight Zones. 2w

Ruthiella @CogsOfEncouragement Oh yeah. Talking Tina! 😱😱😱 2w

DebinHawaii Yep, just something creepy about dolls on display! 😱 2w

BarkingMadRead Dolls have never really creeped me out, but I also never really understood people who collect them 🤣 of course, my gnome collection is totally normal 🤷🏻‍♀️ 2w

kwmg40 I actually found the doll theme rather interesting and made me think of the Raggedy Ann doll I had as a child. 2w

DGRachel @BarkingMadRead Gnome collections are absolutely normal and not anything at all like creepy doll collections. 2w

BarkingMadRead @DGRachel whew!!😰 2w

10 likes10 comments

Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 24: The Clue in the Old Album | Carolyn Keene

This post contains spoilers

show me

2. Now that we're in a more lighthearted mood from Cher, let's explore the plotline for this Nancy Drew escapade, which I thought was kind of boring. I didn't read this one as a child, but I think younger me would be disappointed in it too. It's also a bit dated with thoughts on gypsies, in my opinion.

What are your thoughts on the plot?

Link in the comments is to the Hungarian Rhapsody, as played by violin and piano. #NancyDrewBR

Librarybelle https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBOivZLs7Mc 2w

Ruthiella The plot and characters were weak.The writing tries in a 1970s way to underscore “not all Gypsies” but does not succeed. I thought the doctor knowing what poison was in the sword was ridiculous and the message in the blanket…just how long was that lady working on it? 😂 (edited) 2w

Bookwormjillk Yup, boring. I missed the usual Nancy high adventure. The only interesting part was the poison and that happened early on. 2w

See All 8 Comments

bookandbedandtea @Ruthiella @Bookwormjillk I was FLOORED that the doctor could identify the poison by smell and then whipped up an antidote on the spot! 😆 2w

CogsOfEncouragement Yes, I agree @Ruthiella they did not succeed. It needed much more of a rework to erase the feeling that gypsies are no good. And yes, so glad the doctor had a good sense of smell! lol

I was also confused by the whole child bride situation being included. 2w

DebinHawaii Yes to all this! The whole child bride thing was odd & yay for the doctor with the amazing nose! Hah! 😳😵‍💫🙄🤣 2w

kwmg40 I too found the stereotypes disturbing, and the whole child bride thing a bit icky. 2w

DGRachel I very much hated the stereotypes of the Romany and the child bride thing is wrapped up in that. I liked the poison dolls, though. I thought they were clever, even if the doctor recognizing it was ridiculous. 2w

10 likes8 comments

Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 24: The Clue in the Old Album | Carolyn Keene

This post contains spoilers

show me

1. To set the mood, I've placed in the comments an audio recording of Cher's “Gypsys, Tramps, and Thieves.“ I don't know about you, but it definitely played rent-free in my head while I was reading this one!

I thought this was the weakest of the books we've read so far. We'll break down plot, characters, etc. in the next questions, but what was your overall impression of the book? How does it compare to our prior reads? #NancyDrewBR

Librarybelle https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuA_gCMiw0E 2w

Ruthiella I agree this was a bit of a stinker overall. I don‘t think I would have noticed as a kid, however. (edited) 2w

bookandbedandtea @Ruthiella ditto! I'm sure child-me enjoyed this as much as any of the others but adult-me wasn't impressed by the mystery or the attitudes about the gypsies. I love that song, though @Librarybelle ! 2w

See All 9 Comments

Bookwormjillk I wasn't impressed either. It was dated, but also kind of a little boring. 2w

CogsOfEncouragement I agree, a little boring. Thanks for the link to the song, I am not familiar with it. 2w

DebinHawaii Perfect song! I barely remember this one from childhood except the poison in the sword 🗡️ of the one doll. I remember that freaking me out. This definitely was not a good one! 2w

BarkingMadRead It was fine. That‘s it. 🤣 2w

kwmg40 I agree. This wasn't a particularly memorable installment in the series. 2w

DGRachel I‘m completely opposite the group on this one. I enjoyed it more than most simply because it was quieter. 🤣🤣 2w

10 likes9 comments

Bookwormjillk

Nancy Drew 24: The Clue in the Old Album | Carolyn Keene

pan

Very dated, and an improbable number of antique stores for one area. Not even a secret passage or a submarine, but still looking forward to the discussion tomorrow.

RaeLovesToRead I think "an improbably number of antique stores" is now my new favourite piece of literary criticism ? 3w

RaeLovesToRead *improbable 3w

Ruthiella Remember, River Heights is magical. It has beaches, an airport, two synthetic fabric factories, a castle, at least two retired sea dogs, a variety of colonial era inns…and a multitude of antique shops. 3w

See All 10 Comments

Librarybelle This one is definitely not one of the better ones 3w

Bookwormjillk @Ruthiella 😂 2w

DebinHawaii @Ruthiella You forgot the singing shellfish seller! 🤣🤣🤣 2w

Bookwormjillk @DebinHawaii is your town even on the map if you don't have a singing shellfish singer? 2w

Bookwormjillk Finally coming back with my #HauntedShelf tags #GrimReaders @puddlejumper @CSeydel #BookSpinBINGO #JustOneMoreChapter @TheAromaOfBooks #OneSnackToRuleThemAll #AllThingsApple #SPNBookBINGO2025 Hunters @outsmartyourshelf #ErasGhostBINGO Red @CharityAnn 2w

OutsmartYourShelf 🔍🔍🕵🏻‍♀️ 2w

TheAromaofBooks Fabulous review 😂 2w

70 likes10 comments

CogsOfEncouragement

Nancy Drew 24: The Clue in the Old Album | Carolyn Keene

Finished # 24! Ready for #NancyDrewBR tomorrow.

Librarybelle Yay!! 3w

26 likes1 comment

Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 24: The Clue in the Old Album | Carolyn Keene

This is a rather late reminder that our next #NancyDrewBR discussion is on Wednesday!

I started this one over the weekend, and I‘m kind of creeped out over the dolls! 😂

Questions will be posted by 12pm US East Coast time.

DGRachel Oh dear. I think I‘m going to be a smidge late on this one. Life is being extra lifey but I‘ll try to remember to crack it open tomorrow and at least get started. Where has October gone already?? 3w

Librarybelle @DGRachel I know what you mean! Life is extra complicated of late. 3w

Ruthiella Thanks for the heads up! 👍 3w

PurpleyPumpkin So appreciate this reminder! I‘ll start this one today. 😉 3w

42 likes4 comments

Bookwormjillk

Nancy Drew 24: The Clue in the Old Album | Carolyn Keene

Okay, here we go. #NancyHasBeenPoisoned

Librarybelle I started this afternoon, and I think I‘m going to be creeped out by the dolls! 😂 3w

AnnCrystal 🤩💝. 3w

Bookwormjillk @Librarybelle me too!!! 3w

47 likes3 comments

DebinHawaii

Nancy Drew 24: The Clue in the Old Album | Carolyn Keene

pick

#Read2025 #SeriesLove2025

Finished this one last weekend for #NancyDrewBR & it was for lack of a better word, fine. I vaguely remember some of it from childhood but not a lot of the details. We had purse snatching, old dolls & a search for the missing father of a young girl who is a talented musician & a good “gypsy” unlike most of the others in the book who are busy stealing & marrying off child brides—yep, it‘s pretty racist. ***#NNK counter⬇️

DieAReader, Librarybelle

DebinHawaii …spoiler*** there is no noggin knocking for Nancy & our count remains at 10/24. She does however get poisoned from an old doll but the doctor called is able to quickly identify it by smell & come up with the antidote & after it & a night of sleep Nanners is right as rain & ready for a carnival date with Ned the next night. Anyways, not my favorite again & because I rounded the last one up to pick for nostalgia, I‘ll round this one down to so-so ⬇️ 3w

DebinHawaii …for all the discrimination.🤷🏻‍♀️ Should be a good discussion with the group on 10/15 though & it‘s book #24! 2 years of #NancyDrewBR !!! 🎉 3w

DieAReader @DebinHawaii ♥️♥️Dedication! 3w

Librarybelle Hard to believe two years! 3w

45 likes4 comments

bookandbedandtea

Nancy Drew 24: The Clue in the Old Album | Carolyn Keene

so-so

Nostalgia means I always enjoy reading Nancy Drew but this is not one of my favorites. It felt like Nancy just did a lot of driving around (and flying- I did enjoy her visit with Aunt Eloise) and stumbling on dolls for sale in multiple shops. Carson, Hannah, Bess, George, and Ned were all included and I liked seeing everyone. The gypsies and their "cause" as well as the "energy giving substance" made this one a bit weird.

Librarybelle Oh boy! 3w

29 likes1 comment

CogsOfEncouragement

Nancy Drew 24: The Clue in the Old Album | Carolyn Keene

#weekendreads
#NancyDrewBR
#WithTheBanned

26 likes

AnneCecilie

Nancy Drew 24: The Clue in the Old Album | Carolyn Keene

#BookReport

I‘ve read Audre & Dash Are Just Friends, The Lighthouse at the World‘s End and The Clue in the Old Album

I continued my yearlong long and my reading of A Thousand Feasts

I continued All the Sinners Bleed on audio

52 likes

bookandbedandtea

Nancy Drew 24: The Clue in the Old Album | Carolyn Keene

Nancy Drew looking 35 years old 😆

TheBookgeekFrau 😂😂 3w

Ruthiella 🤣🤣🤣 3w

KT1432 Omg 😆😆😆 3w

See All 6 Comments

Bookwormjillk 😂😂😂 3w

Librarybelle Ha! 3w

dabbe 😂😂😂 3w

33 likes6 comments

DebinHawaii

Nancy Drew 24: The Clue in the Old Album | Carolyn Keene

#Naturalitsy #HyggeHourReadathon

Spending my #HyggeHour with Nancy & her entourage for #NancyDrewBR This is book number 24 & I can‘t believe we have been reading a Nancy Drew book a month for 2 years now! 🤯

Drinking a cold mango drink because it‘s still humid & munching on these Peelerz in zombie & brain shapes.

Mood is as usual, sorry that the weekend is over but I am taking Thursday & Friday off this week so I have that to look forward to.

TheBookHippie, Chrissyreadit, AllDebooks

Librarybelle I know! So hard to believe! 4w

TheBookHippie Oh nice! Three day week! 4w

41 likes2 comments

LitsyEvents

Nancy Drew 24: The Clue in the Old Album | Carolyn Keene

Next up with @librarybelle #nancydrewbuddyread
https://www.litsy.com/web/post/2902272

Librarybelle Thanks for reposting! 1mo

28 likes1 comment

Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 24: The Clue in the Old Album | Carolyn Keene

What could the clue in the old album mean?!?

October‘s #NancyDrewBR title is the 24th in the series…hard to believe we are up to 24! Discussion on October 15th.

All are welcome to join. Please let me know if you wish to be added/removed from the tag list.

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

Librarybelle @LitsyEvents 1mo

BarkingMadRead Can‘t wait!! 1mo

Ruthiella I‘m still reading this month‘s book! 😂 I need to get my holds in earlier. Looking forward to what Nancy and crew get up to next. 1mo

See All 9 Comments

Bookwormjillk I missed the last one but am recommitting for this one. 1mo

Librarybelle Yay, @BarkingMadRead ! 1mo

Librarybelle @Ruthiella 😂 1mo

Librarybelle @Bookwormjillk Hooray! 1mo

MuddyPuddle I'm going to jump in if it's okay. I have a copy of #24 and will start it today. Please add me to the tag list....THANKS! (Haven't ready Nancy Drew in a million years, but she got me started reading and loving mysteries. I bet I'm going to have my eyes opened after all that time.) 3w

Librarybelle Glad you can join us, @MuddyPuddle ! Welcome! 3w

41 likes9 comments

IndoorDame

Nancy Drew 24: The Clue in the Old Album | Carolyn Keene

My love for mysteries started with Nancy! #mystery #clue

#Scarathlon2022 #ScarathlonDailyPrompt #TeamMonsterMash @StayCurious @Clwojick #OminousOctober @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

annahenke Mine too ❤️ 3y

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 🧡🧡🧡 3y

Chrissyreadit I love these covers. 3y

See All 6 Comments

Eggs Great covers❤️❤️ 3y

Aimeesue Those are gorgeous covers! I now covet the covers. 3y

quietjenn Yes, same! And these editions are so good. 3y

48 likes6 comments

AshRaye

Nancy Drew 24: The Clue in the Old Album | Carolyn Keene

pan

I just didn't care for this one. I wasn't interested in the mystery or the characters involved. There wasn't anything to really figure out, the "mystery" was mostly just finding things.

ravenlee

Nancy Drew 24: The Clue in the Old Album | Carolyn Keene

pick

24 done for #nancydrewchallenge has us still in George Fayne territory but we‘re pressing steadily onward. A good mystery with solid sleuthing, but some racist attitudes toward gypsies and a mysterious “energy-giving substance” knock it down a little. 3.5/5 ⭐️

Number eight for #14books14weeks

StayCurious I‘ve always liked the covers of those vintage copies 6y

31 likes1 comment

Bibliogeekery

Nancy Drew 24: The Clue in the Old Album | Carolyn Keene

Love these old classic copies of Nancy Drew. I'm going to try reading this to my nieces on a long drive today.

68 likes2 stack adds

CarolynOliver

Nancy Drew 24: The Clue in the Old Album | Carolyn Keene

Volunteering at my son's elementary school library today--always fun to see what the kids are into.

42 likes1 stack add

Ncostell

Nancy Drew 24: The Clue in the Old Album | Carolyn Keene

These are some of my #lovedatage10 (give or take a year or two). I saved most of these books from my childhood and now my children are reading them. Some of the Nancy Drews were picked up at the Book Barn in Niantic, CT. I love sharing my childhood favorites with my kids. #17booklove

howjessicareads

Born.A.Reader I loved Nancy Drew as well -still have all my pretty yellow hardcovers, too. I just didn't have a picture of them handy! 😊😊 9y

Lmstraubie The Book Barn is on my list of places to visit. It looks AMAZING!!! (Also A Wrinkle in Time is one of my all-time favorites!!!) 9y

Ncostell @Lmstraubie The Book Barn is definitely worth a visit! 9y

See All 8 Comments

mcipher I went to the Book Barn today! And only got two books because I was feeling guilty about spending money when I can get them at the library... @Lmstraubie It is totally amazing!!! They have 5 locations now I think. 9y

Lmstraubie @mcipher I know what you mean. I usually borrow fiction & buy nonfiction for the same reason. But I just weakened & bought 3 more Book Riot deal of the days. Ugh! But the price was so hard to pass up. Must. Have. Self. Control!!! 9y

Lmstraubie @Ncostell @mcipher You both have me wanting to go even more now!!! 9y

kspenmoll Nostalgic for my families Nancy Drews...all gone 😟 Have to check out Book Barn. About an hour or so away from Niantic. 9y

Ncostell @kspenmoll It's worth the ride, especially when the weather gets nicer as it's a neat little place to walk around. I've only been to the main Book Barn but I want to check out some of the other locations in downtown Niantic as well. 9y

35 likes8 comments

Welcome to Litsy!

Trending Hashtags

Trending Books