Skip to main content

SOCIAL MEDIA

Literary Friday: Nancy Drew Mystery Stories: The Sign of the Twisted Candles

Friday, October 6, 2017




Happy Literary Friday, My Lovelies!  Welcome to the first October Literary Friday featuring America's favorite sleuth, Nancy Drew.

Today's favorite Nancy Drew Mystery Story is The Sign of the Twisted Candles.






I love the cover of this book!  Nancy's titian hair looks so shiny and pretty in the light of the candle.  But wait!  Who's that menacing older man with the long beard looking at Nancy? Scary stuff!

In this mystery, Nancy tries to find clues and treasures in a secluded inn called The Sign of the Twisted Candles.  The reclusive, wealthy owned of said inn is Asa Sidney, a centenarian who started out as a chandler in England but found his fortune in America as an inventor and investor.  There are hidden treasures all over the inn marked with "twisted candle" signs that Nancy and her new friend Carol Whipple are tasked to find.  Carol is the foster child of the inn's not very delightful managers, the Jemitts.  This couple has been keeping family members from Mr. Sidney, and Nancy soon suspects that they're stealing from him as well.

Due to his age and the circling vultures of his extended family, Mr. Sidney asks Nancy to contact her father, attorney Carson Drew, because he needs legal services.  In the meantime, Nancy's friends Bess and George are snubbing Nancy over her new friendship with Carol. There's a deep, dark family secret in Bess and George's family, and they're hurt with Nancy over her friendship with the interloper Carol (Both Bess and George are related to Asa Sidney).  So with Nancy's besties temporarily out of the picture, Nancy asks Carol to help her find clues and collect treasures.

Carol is fairly inept because she's scared and allows herself to be kidnapped, so Ned helps Nancy back at the inn in her quest to find more treasure.  Unfortunately, the two guards Carson Drew hires to protect the inn and Mr. Sidney's estate are completely incompetent: both are tricked (more than once) and one is knocked-out and stashed under the porch.  Nancy is put to sleep with a chemical and hidden under a bed!  Oh, the drama of it all!!!

Without giving out any additional spoilers, this story stood out from others when I was young. I'm sure it's because there were so many bad people, a kidnapping, a mysterious Victorian inn with a turret room, clues leading to treasures, and a fight between Nancy and her besties.  



I don't have any twisted candles, but I do have a couple of twisted candlesticks!




I couldn't resist these flowers at the floral market yesterday because they are so bright!  They are neon bright....I wish I knew the name of them, but I forgot to ask.  They're almost as bright as Nancy Drew!  ;P  (I didn't edit this photo at all.)



And in case you missed it, here is a LINK to the Nancy Drew Tea Party post.


What was your favorite series when you were going up....The Hardy Boys, Trixie Belden, Nancy Drew, or did you have another favorite?  



Until next time...

Happy reading!
Ricki Jill







18 comments

  1. I loved Trixie Belden and have, I think, a complete collection. I also read Nancy Drew but have no memory of this book. This book would look great in a Halloweeen vignette.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I read the Bobbsey Twins...and still have a few! Love your twisted candlesticks!

    ReplyDelete
  3. What fun Ricki Jill! I love seeing things through your eyes! Your twisted candlesticks are wonderful and those flowers, wow!
    Jenna

    ReplyDelete
  4. Memories!!!!! I read Nancy Drew and loved everyone! Happy Friday.
    Kris

    ReplyDelete
  5. So much fun RJ! I am excited for this series. I am passing along your post to my sister.
    Carla

    ReplyDelete
  6. A very fun post.
    The candlesticks go very well!
    In school I read all the nancy drew my library had, but really don't remember much now.
    I should get a few for my little girl, I'm sure she'd enjoy.
    Wow, those flowers are gorgeous!!
    have a great day!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I remember this one! I need to see if my sister still has our set of Nancy Drew books. Her name is Nancy, and she was very possessive of the Nancy Drew books. '-) Love the twisted candlesticks!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I loved Nancy Drew, Trixie Beldon and the Bobsy Twins and have many of them on the to shelf od the bookcase. I also read Donna Parker and the Hardy Boys. No wonder mystery stories are my favourite genre today.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Loved this, Ricki! I enjoyed reading Nancy Drew books as a young girl. You have piqued my interest and I will be looking to see if I still have some of her books.
    Great candlesticks and that runner is amazing as well as the beautiful roses.

    ReplyDelete
  10. This is great. I was re-reading some Nancy Drew last year but I don't remember this one. Trixie Belden was my favorite but Nancy Drew was right up there! Mysteries remain my favorite!

    ReplyDelete
  11. "Honey Bunch" Series are my favorite series growing up. I still have my books.
    Marion

    ReplyDelete
  12. My favorite series are a toss up between "The Bobbsey Twins" and the "Honey Bunch" series.
    Marilyn

    ReplyDelete
  13. My favorite series growing up is "Beverly Gray". "Nancy Drew" comes in a close second.
    Joan

    ReplyDelete
  14. Love your post today.. I loved Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys Love the book cover and I am drooling over your twisted candle sticks!
    Hope our weathe isn't severe with yet another hurricane!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Love your twisted candlesticks and those roses are gorgeous....don't even look real! Off to the library this week to check out some Nancy Drew....my first time reading them.....I know, where have I been?

    ReplyDelete
  16. Absolutely Nancy Drew. The Secret of the Old Clock was my favorite.

    A few years ago I bought my sister and new set of six leather bound Nancy Drew books - the perfect gift for someone who literally has everything.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I never read this one, Ricki, but I think I have them all in the basement somewhere. Now you have the wheels turning!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hi RJ, I have to tell you, I went to the library and got this book. There were a few differences in the one I read: it was The Semitts who were foster parents of Sadie Whipple. They lived in Mr. Sidney’s house. I was a Nancy Drew reader and wish I still had my original copies. I see them in antique shops, maybe I’ll look for some. Tonight I’m off to the library for a class and will pick up the mysterious letter, one I had reserved. I was sad to find the there weren’t many Nancy Drew books at our library. I’ve never been much of a reader, but would love to do it more. Thank you for inspiring me to read again. Maybe it will be the start of something big! ❤️ PS it made me laugh when I saw the expression “Oh, pshaw!” My grandmother used to say it!

    ReplyDelete

Comments are friendly!


Hello!

I'm Ricki Jill. Welcome! I'm honored that you're reading my blog. I enjoy sharing my creative lifestyle @ The Bookish Dilettante. For more information about my blog, please read the Start Here page. Thank-you for stopping by, and I hope you'll consider following me via email.

Follow me on Instagram