Feature: SHE MOVES IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS...

SHE MOVES IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS...

Nancy Drew is the most skilled teenage detective ever. I don't think she's ever left a case unfinished in any of her 350 plus adventures. That's why girls everywhere love her so much. In addition, she hasn't aged a day since her first book --- and that was in 1930!

It's no mystery (ha!) that Nancy is a phenomenon, a million seller and, frankly, just a good, fun read. If you have never read a Nancy Drew mystery before, its not too late.

Here's what you need to know Before picking up one of these addictive novels, here are the few characters (present in every book) you'll need to know: (1) Nancy, of course, (2) her father, Carson Drew, (3) their longtime housekeeper Hannah Gruen and (4) her friends Bess Marvin and George Fayne. Bess is the typical "girly" girl (I hate stereotypes, but once you know Bess, you'll know that I'm right) while George is a tomboy.

Alrighty then, here are some of the latest in the Nancy Drew saga to get you started...

NANCY DREW: 79 The Double Horror of Fenley Place
by Carolyn Keene
Minstrel Books
ISBN: 0743423437

A horror movie is being filmed in Nancy's hometown of Riverhead. Of course, odd things are bound to happen. Scenes from the movie are mysteriously imitated on a neighboring house: red smoke rises from the chimney, blood seeps through the walls, and a ghost is seen in the attic. Find out what happens when Nancy decides it's time to take action.

NANCY DREW: 83 The Case of the Vanishing Veil
by Carolyn Keene
Minstrel Books
ISBN: 0743423445

Nancy Drew + missing veil = Instant Mystery!! While attending a wedding, Nancy finds that the bride has lost her precious veil. Of course, Nancy embarks on the dangerous mission of recovering the veil. On the way, she travels around New England...and learns more about the bride's connection to a $60 million inheritance. That's some serious cash, and it's a serious mystery as well.

NANCY DREW: 85 The Secret of Shady Glen
by Carolyn Keene
Minstrel Books
ISBN: 0743419367

A cemetery, a map, and a series of robberies in Shady Glen. Hmm, what's next? Read as Nancy, George, and Bess travel though a series of underground passageways to try and crack the case. Cemeteries and robberies don't often mix, so beware of dangerous occurrences in the dead of the night.

NANCY DREW: 105 The Clue in the Antique Trunk
by Carolyn Keene
Minstrel Books
ISBN: 0743423453

The Caulder Cutlery building, a landmark in the town of White Falls is historic. In trying to raise money to keep it afloat, Vera, Nancy's friend, is planning an antique auction. But what happens when a trunk with precious goods inside is stolen? Nancy, George, and Bess travel to Massachusetts to find the bad guys. Read on...

NANCY DREW: 122 The Message in the Haunted Mansion
by Carolyn Keene
Minstrel Books
ISBN: 0743419375

A visit to San Francisco ends up in... guess what? Mystery. Nancy, Bess, and George travel to San Fran to renovate Rose Green's Victorian mansion. The mansion is supposed to function as a quaint bed and breakfast. Suddenly, renovation is halted. But why? As the three discover secret passageways in the house, they also discover the secret behind the "haunted mansion." This tale is particularly interesting and suspenseful.

NANCY DREW: 160 The Clue on the Crystal Dove
by Carolyn Keene
Minstrel Books
ISBN: 0743406869

Another mansion, another mystery. How convenient! When Dell Van Hoogstraten decides to change her mansion in Gramercy Park, NYC into a museum, she encounters a bit of trouble. The glass birds crafted by her relative are gorgeous, but the masterpiece in the collection, a crystal dove, disappears right before the opening. Embark on a journey with Nancy, George, and Bess to try and find the culprit.

NANCY DREW: 161 Lost in the Everglades
by Carolyn Keene
Minstrel Books
ISBN: 0743406877

The three girls journey to The Everglades for a week of fun in the sun. But when they arrive, there's a mystery waiting for them. What happened to Jade Romero, volunteer and roommate of Nancy's friend Susan? One clue leads to another as Nancy tries to uncover the real secret behind Jade and keep herself safe as well.

--- Reviewed by Lisa Marx