The series has definitely taken a turn for the more sinister. Nancy and her friends are on their way to New Orleans for Mardi Gras and a mystery. But first Nancy's car is stolen and then they find a bomb and finally, they find a part has been tampered with and the rear axle is about to fall off. Once again, Nancy and her BFF go after a bad guy who is engaged to Bess and George's cousin. This is the girl's second fiance. She broke her first engagement to hook up with this guy. Fickle girl. The sleuths don't like what she did nor her new attitude and the definitely don't like the new fiance. There are various twists and turns. This one is more realistic with injuries and hurt feelings. Ned and his buds make an appearance - just in the nick of time. Nancy and the girls have been out with some local boys - all in the name of solving the mystery - but they do stay out all night. Nancy and her friends are apparently anti-marriage because when marriage comes up - they change the subject and laugh it off that they are far too young to think about marriage. Of course, this is the 35th book in the series and none of them have aged at all. ahhh...to live in the world of fiction.
Nancy takes another trip to New Orleans (like in Blackwood Hall, maybe?) to stay with another cousin of Bess n George. They are a retired colonel and his wife and 20-year-old daughter, and they have house slaves named Mammy and Pappy. The daughter's fiance is besotted by Nancy and he's totally a dubious character from the outset.Nancy's car is stolen in the first chapter, and her father immediately buys a replacement which is sabotaged before she even leaves town. Then she nearly drives the second replacement over a cliff. So three cars before we even hear about the mystery. Then they have a Negro river guide named Uncle Remus Rufus (he sounds more Georgian than Cajun Creole) whose "ka-noo" is destroyed by an underwater barricade.Anyway, there's apparently gold on this abandoned showboat and the fiance and his friend are looking for it. Nancy and Ned lose consciousness when they're both cracked over the head at the same time by these two assailants.The girls have a great time at the Mardi Gras parades, and the beads are flying freely. Of course. Book reads like a travelogue of New Orleans.
I remember the first time I read Nancy Drew. It blew my mind that there were girls presented with a brain. Most of the stuff I'd read up to that time, was that girls were sugar and spice - fluffy. No brains. To also learn about George who is a tomboy was a nice validation. Carolyn Keene wrote just for me! That is how I felt. When I did more research, I was shocked to find out, Ms. Keene was actually a man ... writing under Franklin Dixon. I also loved the Hardy Boys. No wonder I loved these series.Great for girls aged 8 and up.
—♆ BookAddict ✒ La Crimson Femme
I really liked this book. It was kind of creepy. Nancy and her friends were being stalked in a way. I liked the suspense. It was still not my favorite out of the Nancy Drew series but it is up there. It is a good book for long car rides.
—Marahs
Nancy, George and Bess are headed to New Orleans for Mardi Gras! But it won't be all fun and games, because of course there is a mystery involved. It starts before the girls even leave River Heights: Nancy's car is stolen and then someone continues to attempt to delay their journey. Once in New Orleans, the girls learn about the mysterious river showboat that appears to be hauntes. It's up to Nancy and her chums to figure it all out before Mardi Gras!Another good Nancy Drew mystery. Not the best I've read, but very inventive like the others!
—george
