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Nancy Drew 20: The Clue in the Jewel Box
Nancy Drew 20: The Clue in the Jewel Box | Carolyn Keene
28 posts | 31 read | 1 reading | 3 to read
An antique dealers revelation about a former queens priceless heirloom starts Nancy on a trail of exciting adventures. Madame Alexandra, now living incognito in River Heights, asks Nancy to find her missing grandson. With only one clue to go on a faded photograph of the prince at the age of four the young detective begins her search. Nancys investigation unmasks a slick imposter and reunites the long-separated family in this suspense-filled story.
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dabbe
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#nancydrewbr @Librarybelle
A solid middle-tier Nancy Drew entry. Nancy assists Madame Alexandra, a former queen living incognito in River Heights, in locating her long-lost grandson—the sole surviving heir to her royal lineage. Along the way, Nancy encounters pickpockets, a suspicious imposter, and a jeweled Easter egg that holds a cryptic message. Ideal for nostalgic ND readers or those seeking a light, classic whodunit.

Librarybelle Nice photo concept! 2d
dabbe @Librarybelle I tried! 2d
56 likes2 comments
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DGRachel
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Pickpick

A fun mystery for Nancy and crew. So much happens in this one! Kidnappings. Pickpockets. Ferry crashes. You name it, Nancy survives it and solves it! I actually found this one delightful despite the non-stop chaos. #nancydrewbr

Librarybelle It was delightful! 3d
43 likes1 comment
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Librarybelle
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I was able to post the #NancyDrewBR discussion points earlier than I anticipated! You can find them on my feed, the book‘s feed, or by searching the group‘s hashtag.

Next month, we find out The Secret in the Old Attic, which has slightly different story lines depending upon the version you read, but nothing drastic. Official post tomorrow!

Bookwormjillk I just finished! Off to discuss ❤️ 3d
DGRachel Oh no! I got my days mixed up and thought I had a couple of days left to get started! 😭😭 I know what I am doing this afternoon! 3d
Librarybelle No worries, @DGRachel ! I also did not remind everyone in a timely fashion. Jump in whenever! 3d
Ruthiella Just finished this morning! 👍 3d
DebinHawaii Finshed it last weekend & just tried to remember it! 😉 3d
41 likes5 comments
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Librarybelle
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5. I have to bring up Ned for his own discussion point; Ned seemed to me to be a little tired of Nancy always having a mystery. He seems game to help, but I kinda feel like he would also just like to have a regular date without Nancy sleuthing... 😂

Thinking of our other regulars, it did not seem like we saw a lot of George and Bess this time, and Hannah and Carson did not appear as much, or at least in the 1972 edition. #NancyDrewBR

BarkingMadRead Poor Ned will never come first 🤣 Hannah was a lovely background character bringing things together, but still very much in the background! 3d
Bookwormjillk Ned is getting on my nerves. Mr Drew was around a bit more, but I agree the background characters were very much in the background this time. 3d
Sace George and Bess were practically invisible in this one. I assume more room was needed for Katherine and the queen. 3d
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bookandbedandtea @BarkingMadRead Poor Ned, indeed! He's always game to help but I think he realizes Nancy will always prioritize mysteries. I liked having Helen pop up again, even though we got less of our other usual characters. 3d
MariaW At some point it was mentioned Nancy had admitted herself Ned was her favourite admirer. That does sound like jovial feeling towards him, but not like love. He and the the other two boys are the muscle/extra number of people she sometimes needs for her sleuthing. 3d
MariaW I liked Katharine as a warm background character, but then again what is the chance of three expatriates/refugees of the same country ending up inRiver Heights through three different circumstances? 🤦‍♀️ (edited) 3d
Ruthiella I feel that Ned‘s comments are said with a wink. Sure, he might like an uninterrupted date now and again, but he likes Nancy as she is and supports her. 3d
CogsOfEncouragement I didn‘t appreciate Ned in the last book or this one. They should have kept him an ever supportive - do whatever Nancy needs no matter what or when Nancy needs it. Little girls shouldn‘t be told that a boyfriend acts this way with no apologies. 3d
DGRachel I should have read all the questions first! As I mentioned in my answer for the last question, I don‘t like Jealous Ned. I get that we‘re not going to have modern YA romance with these, but like @CogsOfEncouragement noted, his behavior is not something girls should be taught is okay. 🚩🚩🚩 3d
DebinHawaii I could do with less Ned.🙄 And it does seem like when new friends or a returning one like Helen come in, George & Bess get pretty sidelined. 3d
kwmg40 I don't have strong feelings about Ned either way, but I liked that there wasn't any fat-shaming of Bess in this book (unless I recall incorrectly). In fact, there is one point where George, and not Bess, declares that she is really hungry! 3d
12 likes11 comments
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Librarybelle
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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 3d
Bookwormjillk The Ferris wheel part had me a bit freaked out. 🎡☠️ 3d
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. 3d
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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. 3d
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. ⛴️⛴️⛴️ 3d
Ruthiella I enjoyed how Nancy herself committed two felonies: breaking into Mrs. Alexandra‘s house and kidnapping “Michael”. 😅 3d
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 3d
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. 3d
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. 😂 3d
12 likes9 comments
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Librarybelle
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3. The other piece to this story line involved finding a missing prince...who happened to be in River Heights! This leads me to think of the secondary characters in this one. Any standouts, for good or bad? Personally, I'm glad the gang left Francis/Michael/fake prince to find his own way off the island. What a horrible person! #NancyDrewBR

BarkingMadRead That was a fun trick 🤣 he was wretched, and so stupid to act that way right off. He could have been stealthier and stretched it out more! 3d
Bookwormjillk Loved that part. He deserved it. 3d
Sace I disliked him and I hated that the dog didn‘t get a redemption arc!! 3d
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bookandbedandtea That imposter was pretty dumb. Instead of being a jerk and robbing the old lady for temporary gain, he could have been nice and settled down to live a pampered life without anyone knowing. 3d
MariaW @bookandbedandtea & @BarkingMadRead This is how most imposters are put to justice, they want to much too fast. 🤦‍♀️ He could‘ve tried to disguise himself at least instead of being his natural self. 3d
Ruthiella I definitely copped on to the pick pocket double long before Nancy did. It was nice to see Helen and Jim again and Katherine and Mr. Ellison‘s rapid romance was fun. 3d
DGRachel I liked Mrs Alexandra and I loved Anna. I figured out the ruse with the pickpockets early on and was a bit disappointed with how obvious it was that Stanley or whatever is real name was, was an imposter. @Sace I‘m just glad they didn‘t kill the dog. I liked seeing Helen again. 3d
DebinHawaii I commented in my review that I love how everyone shows up in River Heights, which apparently is “The Riviera” of the Midwest. 😳🙄The deposed Queen, her subjects including an antiques dealer & a fashion designer & finally the lost prince— not to mention all the criminal gangs. It does make it easier for Nancy to solve the local mysteries. 3d
kwmg40 The fake prince was definitely detestable. I cheered when he was exposed! 3d
bookandbedandtea @DebinHawaii I love that aspect of these stories- that it's treated as completely normal that important personages (and people connected with them) just randomly turn up in River Heights 😄 1d
13 likes10 comments
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Librarybelle
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2. Did you have a jewel box with a secret compartment? What would you hide in it?

I found this interesting talk about the history of jewelry boxes. Link in the comments! #NancyDrewBR

BarkingMadRead I don‘t and now I‘m sad 🤣 I do have a Gone With the Wind ceramic music box that we keep random old keys in though 3d
Bookwormjillk I wish. Not sure what I‘d hide. Some fabulous secret. 3d
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Sace I had a metal jewelry box with cheap red velvet lining and a broken hinge. I also had a beat up ballerina jewel/music box. I‘m sure I just kept junk in it. 😂 3d
bookandbedandtea Like many little girls of my generation I had a twirling ballerina jewelry box. 🩰 I have a wooden jewelry case now but no hidden compartment, sadly. 3d
MariaW Like @Sace and @bookandbedandtea I used to have a twirking ballerina jewelry box for the cheap sparkling jewelry I owned as kid - without any hidden compartment either. I am not sure if I ever owned something that precious to make me hide it somewhere hidden. But I am assuming in my wild teenage years I would have used it to store away cigarettes or 🌿. 😂 (edited) 3d
Ruthiella Like everybody else, I had the ballerina jewelry box with no secret compartment! If I had, I‘d have probably stashed money in it! 😅 3d
DGRachel I never had a jewelry box with a ballerina or a secret compartment, but I do have one that is a music box. I can‘t imagine what I would have secreted away, but I am a little sad that I don‘t have one with secret compartments. 3d
DebinHawaii I always wanted a box or jewelry box with secret compartments -not that I had anything good to keep there! Alas, I had the ballerina musical jewelry box too.🩰 3d
kwmg40 No hidden compartment, but I had a jewelry box that mimicked a stereo cabinet containing a turntable with a tiny record. It played “The Blue Danube“ when I moved the turntable arm. 3d
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Librarybelle
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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 3d
Bookwormjillk This was a good light read for a summer weekend, but not super memorable. 3d
Sace I enjoyed this one. There was just enough going on and it felt a little more straightforward. 3d
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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. 3d
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 etes anymore, I am just enjoying the read. 🤣 3d
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. 3d
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. 3d
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) 3d
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. 3d
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. 😄 3d
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. 3d
kwmg40 I enjoyed this one a lot. I thought it was well paced and had good side characters. 3d
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MariaW
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Of course there is a huge boat accident in the second chapter. 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

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Sace
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Pickpick

A pick. Pretty straightforward and not too complicated. There was the mystery of the pickpockets and the lost prince, but they overlapped so I didn‘t mind. I‘d like to know the point of the car crashing into Mr Faber‘s shop though. Ned seemed cranky and pouty early in the book. He seemed petulant and selfish which isn‘t his usual demeanor. I wasn‘t crazy about it.

Ruthiella Fun fact: the truck that crashed into Mr. Faber‘s shop is the same guy who crashed into Bess and George in the first chapter of The Moss Covered Mansion. The guy‘s a menace! Chief McGinnis should take away his license! 😜 3d
Sace @Ruthiella Oh wow! Yeah, Nancy needs to solve the mystery of the reckless driver! 3d
45 likes2 comments
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DebinHawaii
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Pickpick

#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 ⬇️

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. 4d
TheSpineView Well done! 4d
Librarybelle Yes! Nancy got to save her head in this one! 4d
DieAReader 💖💖💖 4d
40 likes4 comments
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Bookwormjillk
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There‘s a lot going on here. Let‘s see what happens….
#NancyDrewBR

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Sace
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I‘m spending the day with Nancy and Salem. I couldn‘t decide which picture to use so I just used both 😂.

@Librarybelle #NancyDrewBR

Ruthiella 😻😻😻 4d
Librarybelle Both are great pictures! 4d
AnnCrystal 😍💕🐈‍⬛💝🤩. 3d
47 likes3 comments
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Librarybelle
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Pickpick

Not as many nail biting moments in this one, and thankfully no really odd episodes that make no sense. Nancy is charged with identifying the clue in the jewel box (hello title) and finding a lost prince. I really disliked the character Francis, and Ned continues to show a tad impatience with Nancy‘s sleuthing…

#NancyDrewBR

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Librarybelle
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I‘m starting my library copy tonight, so here‘s a quick reminder that our next #NancyDrewBR discussion will be Sunday! Questions will be posted by lunchtime US East Coast time.

Looking forward to the discussion, #LittenDetectives !

Bookwormjillk Oh man that‘s 5 days away! 1w
Librarybelle It completely snuck up on me, @Bookwormjillk ! 1w
Ruthiella I started yesterday! So far, no #NNK but a ferry (RIVER HEIGHTS HAS A RIVER?!😂) collided with another vessel and our sleuth was a bit knocked about. At least it wasn‘t a meteor ☄️ this time. 😜 1w
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Librarybelle Or explosive oranges, @Ruthiella ! 😂 1w
Bookwormjillk @Ruthiella it has an airport I guess it can have a river too 😂 1w
bookandbedandtea I'll be reading this in a day or two! 1w
julieclair I think I need to be removed from the tag list… I never seem to get around to reading these anymore. 😕 I‘m a Nancy Drew Dropout. 😔 7d
Librarybelle No worries, @julieclair ! Thanks for joining us! 6d
42 likes9 comments
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DebinHawaii
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#Naturalitsy #HyggeHourReadathon

Spending my #HyggeHour with Nanners & her posse for Book #20 of #NancyDrewBR Here‘s hoping her noggin remains unknocked because we added 2 to the #NNK counter in May. 🤕

Chocolate for a snack & just water to drink because I had a lot of different beverages today & don‘t really feel like tea. Mood is tired—it was a good weekend, but busy & I‘m mentally not ready for Monday & next week. 🤷🏻‍♀️🙅🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

AllDebooks Lovely choices fir a reset. X 1w
Librarybelle Let‘s hope Nancy is okay in this one! 1w
Chrissyreadit 💛💛💛💛 2d
47 likes3 comments
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BarkingMadRead
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Starting our #nancydrewbr book for June, let‘s see if Nancy can stay conscious 🤣

Librarybelle 😁 2w
Ruthiella I‘m hoping for at least one kidnapping attempt! 2w
BarkingMadRead @Ruthiella there has to be one of those! 2w
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Bookwormjillk Hidden rooms are staircases are my favorites 2w
dabbe 🤣🤣🤣 2w
dabbe What number are we on with our #nnk? 2w
38 likes2 stack adds6 comments
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LitsyEvents
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repost for @Librarybelle:

We‘re up to number 20, #LittenDetectives ! Our next #NancyDrewBR features jewels and a lost prince. Will Nancy be able to decipher the clue in the jewel box? And, more importantly, will Nancy suffer more head knocks? Let‘s just hope there are no exploding oranges! 😂

Discussion on June 15th! All are welcome to join. Please let me know if you wish to be added to or removed from the tag list.

#BuddyRead

Librarybelle Thanks for reposting! 1mo
kspenmoll I did not get to this! Hope to be back in June! 1mo
28 likes2 comments
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Librarybelle
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We‘re up to number 20, #LittenDetectives ! Our next #NancyDrewBR features jewels and a lost prince. Will Nancy be able to decipher the clue in the jewel box? And, more importantly, will Nancy suffer more head knocks? Let‘s just hope there are no exploding oranges! 😂

Discussion on June 15th! All are welcome to join. Please let me know if you wish to be added to or removed from the tag list.

BarkingMadRead 🤣🤣🤣 so many head knocks! 1mo
Ruthiella A lost prince! Sounds like a good one! 1mo
31 likes3 comments
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wordslinger42
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Pickpick

Another Nancy Drew book complete! This one definitely kept me guessing!

23 books for #SeriesRead2022 @TheSpineView
19/25 #bookspinbingo
Hoggy Warty Hogwarts prompt for #OWLsReadingChallenge

TheSpineView Awesome! 3y
Nutmegnc I used to LOVE this series!!! 3y
wordslinger42 @Nutmegnc My mom's original Nancy Drew set was stolen years ago, so we've been slowly getting the whole series again and reading it together! It's been fun 😊 3y
31 likes3 comments
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SilverShanica
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Pickpick

A missing prince and pickpockets have Nancy working double time in this mystery.

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ravenlee
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Pickpick

Number 19 down for #nancydrewchallenge. I lost some steam reading these to the kiddo last month, but I‘m hoping to get back into it more.

This story relies on lots of coincidences, in both storylines. A thinly veiled Romanov plot doesn‘t quite work for me (think Anastasia but she‘s a boy), but I liked the characters. 3.5/5 ⭐️

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Christinak
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“Do not #strike me! I will tell you where my money is hidden!”
“Mrs Alexandra, you‘re safe now.” Nancy said soothingly.
”Don‘t you know me? I am Nancy Drew.”
#QuotsyFeb19
#NancyDrew

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Brinx
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Pickpick

Number 20 is Number 1 for 2019! 32 more books left for my Goodreads 2019 challenge

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bookandbedandtea
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Before joining litsy I had no thoughts of owning multiple copies of books; now I find myself haunting thriftbooks and Ebay. My wallet does not thank me and neither will my husband when he figures it out. 🙃

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Jess_Read_This
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💃🏻📚My vacation #BookHaul! Now things are about to get interesting with my luggage situation.... 🤔

#BuyAllTheBooks #Virago #VMC #NancyDrew #Mystery

Leftcoastzen Yay Virago! 8y
Jess_Read_This @Leftcoastzen Would believe all the Viragos were thrown in a Bargain Bin for $2 a book?! 8y
rabbitprincess Yay! Good luck with the packing. I am having a similar problem with my book haul 😁 8y
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Jess_Read_This @rabbitprincess 📚Wishing you the same good luck in your packing situation!! No book left behind! ❤️❤️ 8y
batsy Amazing haul! Can't imagine the Viragos in a bargain bin... But that worked out for you 😀👍 8y
Jess_Read_This @batsy I couldn't imagine it either til yesterday!! The store clerk explained if a book doesn't fit in their shelf genres they just put it in the bargain bin. 😳 And I guess the sorters didn't know what genre to put them 😂 I also got my first British Library book too! (Bargain Bin too... lol) 8y
Leftcoastzen @Jess_Read_This OMG! Bargain bin!Media mail is pretty cheap if you can find a sturdy box. 8y
batsy @Jess_Read_This Oooh, I see it! It's Mystery in White! That's on the TBR. Great finds 👏 8y
quirkyreader Hurrah for you. Especially with all the #Viragos. 8y
LeahBergen Yay for the bargain bin! 8y
Crystalblu Curious to see what you think about the Widow Clicout (sp) 8y
Izai.Amorim There's always the post office (for the clothes 😂) 8y
Jess_Read_This @quirkyreader @LeahBergen Thank you!! It's probably for the best I live several states away from the bookshop... I'd be broke from the bargain bin alone. Lol! 8y
Jess_Read_This @Crystalblu I will definitely let you know. The synopsis sounded incredibly interesting and a pretty cover helps too. 8y
Jess_Read_This @Izai.Amorim 😂That crossed my mind actually! Except with the hurricane coming, I wasn't super optimistic I'd see any package in a short amount of time. I took my chances and made it home... with a bit of a sore back from the extra bag. 🤣 8y
diovival Woah! Nice haul. 8y
Jess_Read_This @diovival Thank you!! I just barely got it all home... 😂 8y
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TheKidUpstairs
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Umm....I wasn't going to buy any books today. Oops.

Seriously though, a bunch of Nancy Drews from the 40s through the 80s on the library sale table for $0.25 each, who could resist?!

#bookhaul #nowillpower

britt_brooke That cover! 8y
TheKidUpstairs @britt_brooke I KNOW! Isn't it gorgeous?! 8y
TheKidUpstairs @JenlovesJT47 totally inspired by your Sweet Valley series read. I'm going to start reading a Nancy Drew between other books :) 8y
JenlovesJT47 @TheKidUpstairs that's awesome! I'm having a Sweet Valley marathon myself at the moment 😄 8y
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