Note: Kristin reads and reviews both Christian and secular fiction on A Simply Enchanted Life. Out of respect for my readers, I am including a content review. This content review will help you decide whether this book is suitable for you.
Christian or Secular: Secular
ASEL Rating: no profanity, violence, bedroom scenes, or other content that could otherwise be considered disturbing.
Suggested Age: 8+
The Mystery at Lilac Inn by Carolyn Keene
Series: Nancy Drew #4
Published by Penguin on October 1, 1930
Genres: Girls & Women, Mysteries & Detective Stories, Thrillers & Suspense, Young Adult
Pages: 192
Nancy and her friend Helen visit their friend Emily Willouby at the Lilac Inn, which Emily now owns, to help her plan her wedding. Emily plans on selling inherited diamonds in order to help fix up the Lilac Inn. However, Nancy soon learns that someone has been impersonating her and making expensive purchases under her name. Soon after, Emily’s diamonds are stolen! Can Nancy find the thieves and recover the missing diamonds?
I don’t know why I had trouble accepting the realism in this book, more than the others. Yes, these books are written for younger kids but even my eight-year-old found situations in this book difficult to accept.
For example, a woman using makeup to completely transform into other people. She was impersonating their look, voice, mannerisms and all. That seems farfetched.
I also tire of possible love interests every single book for Nancy. Ned needs to hurry up and make his appearance because nearly every book includes a handsome young man for Nancy to consider dinner dates with. I mean, there’s nothing wrong with that. But, why is it necessary for Nancy to be arm candy each book? And I mean…hello! She’s cheating on Ned!
Anyway, the mystery in this book was more complex, which I appreciated. Though, I was still irked that unrelated events were forced into relevance.
Overall, it was still a quick and enjoyable book. I wouldn’t consider this a mind numbing loss like most of the Sweet Valley reads are. But, it was just so farfetched that I had trouble accepting things.
About Carolyn Keene
Carolyn Keene and Franklin W. Dixon are the pseudonyms under which many ghostwriters penned the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys series, respectively. Both series were created by Edward Stratemeyer, founder of the Stratemeyer Syndicate book packaging firm, in the late 1920s and early 1930s.
Stratemeyer’s daughter, Harriet, and syndicate writer Mildred Wirt Benson were the two people primarily responsible for bringing the iconic character of Nancy Drew to life in the minds and hearts of millions of readers around the world.
I haven’t read a Nancy Drew in forever! I should pick up a few the next time I’m at a book sale. Nice review! :)
I love the way you breakdown your reviews. I’m pretty sure this is the only Nancy Drew book I read growing up.
Thank you so much, Jenn! ☺️