Nancy Drew 24: the Clue in the Old Album

For some reason "The Clue in the Old Album" is one of my favourite Nancy Drew mysteries - probably because of the gypsy culture and the world of doll-collecting that's infused throughout the story which give it an interesting spin on things. Although the ending is a little anti-climactic (Nancy simply waits for the police to show up), there are plenty of twists and turns along the way to keep it exciting.

Nancy is at a violinist concert when she notices an elderly woman across the aisle get her purse stolen. Nancy is in hot pursuit, but fails to stop the thief from making off with the contents of the bag. On returning, Nancy meets the victim of the crime, Mrs Struthers, and her rather wild grand-daughter Rose. Mrs Struthers begs a further favour from Nancy, and when they meet at her house, Nancy hears the story of Rose's parentage. Her mother Enid ran away with a gypsy man, before being abandoned and returning to her mother's house. Desperately ill, Enid can only manage to mention a doll that is meant for Rose, and that there is a clue in the old family album. Naturally, Mrs Struthers (a doll collector herself) wants Nancy's help in finding this mysterious doll, as well as Rose's father - whose disappearance she believes was quite suspicious.

The case takes Nancy through several carnivals, fortune-teller's tents, doll-collecting exhibits, and even all the way to New York! There is a great twist concerning "the clue in the old album" and the nature of the doll that Nancy has been hired to look for. Though the story does seem to unravel a bit at the end, with several gypsies having a rather ludicrous scheme of world domination, and the doll in question becoming a rather oddly mystical McGuffin, the lead-up to these denouncements is involving while it lasts.

Perhaps not the best Nancy Drew mystery out there, but certainly not the worst either, "The Clue in the Old Album" might be a somewhat forgettable installment in the cannon of Nancy books, but remains one of my personal favourites.

Nancy Drew and The Clue in the Old Album
By: Keene, Carolyn
Reviewed By: R. Gandhi
Period: P.1
Nancy is seated in a theater and witnesses a purse snatching. She runs after the thief and retrieves the purse, however, she isn't able to retrieve the items in the purse. Then the owner of the purse, a doll collector, asks her to do some spying. One of the most important clues is a picture in the old album. There is a doll that looks like an actual person. Later in the book, Nancy touches the actual doll and it is warm. This doll is given to the doll collector. When Nancy finds this doll, she also finds the doll collector's son-in-law. He is a gypsy with a dead wife and young daughter.
I enjoyed reading this book. It was full of mysteries and twists. When it quoted, "The woman carefully placed the dolls on the nearby bed. Then she left the trailer." When this happened I thought it was safe for Nancy to get the doll. However, when Nancy touched the doll, the woman came back in and kidnapped Nancy.
The only part I disliked was when they said, "'We must find the other part of the paper.'" That whole section was so slow. I was getting a little annoyed. There was no mystery and it was becoming boring. However, as soon as the chapter ended it was back to the mystery again.
My favorite part of the book was when Nancy found the doll. It was so intense and it got better after the bad-doer caught her. Nancy was then kidnapped. I couldn't wait until she was found by Mr. Drew, her cousins, and the police. This part was my favorite because it was extremely exciting.

Thank you for making this glimpse into my past childhood possible, these books bring back so many memories, it's like seeing an old friend

The wonderful mysteries of Nancy Drew are still part of our lives today, filling us with suspense and more. Solving any crime, she never gives up in this book. Getting many warnings and being poisoned by a doll, she will not stop. Trying to catch a thief, she will attempt anything. turning pages you will not want to stop. Truly this is one of the best books I have read. It keeps you wondering and trying to figure out the mystery. I recommend this to anyone.

Great book! If you are searching to expand your library this is a good edition! It is well written and has a good ending!

A nice, new and clean hardback

I read them 65 years ago and now my great niece devours them. I am trying to get her all of them for birthdays and Christmas. She loves them too. I needed 24 to fill in 21-25.

My daughter collects them

My granddaughter read this book in one day