The Phantom of Nantucket Carolyn Keene, narrator: Jorjeana Marie

Nancy, Bess, and George are off on another adventure. Bess has a friend, Jenna, on Nantucket who is about to unveil a new museum exhibit that is going to solve the mystery of a ship that sank over a hundred years ago. But someone seems determined to sink the exhibit before it is opened. First, a banner for the exhibit is painted with the word "Liar" in red. Then, a key piece of the exhibit disappears from the museum. The curator is reluctant to call the police but, upon hearing that Nancy is an amateur detective, agrees to let her work on the case. 

This is somewhat interesting that, in the original series, Nancy had quite a few head injuries. This time it's George who gets bonked. 

Three
stars

Nancy Drew Diaries #7

Follows Secret at Mystic Lake

Followed by The Magician's Secret

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

She Has Her Mother's Laugh by Carl Zimmer, Joe Ochman

Starting off with the author wanting to know what heredity might mean for his unborn daughter. This kicks off a history of how the science of heredity came about and the goods and bads of all of the studies, where people went wrong, or, in the case of Watson and Crick, stole research and presented it as their own. 

He weaves in people like Pearl S. Buck who had a daughter with PKU and how genetic factors proved how the disease is inherited. Or Frederick Douglass who railed against the social mores placed on people based on the color of their skin. 

The narrators voice was very nice and lent itself well to the subject. 

Four stars

This book came out May 29, 2018

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Eavesdropping on Animals by George Bumann, narrator: Eric Michael Summerer, foreword: Jon Young

Disclaimer: I know the author. The biggest disappointment of the audiobook is that he was not the narrator. We could have heard the actual turkey gobbles that won him a trophy, we could have experienced the raven's call, we could have heard his last name pronounced correctly (from his website: rhymes with human.)

The review of this book could be flattened to say, "Bumann tells you to go outside and use your senses." However it's so much more than that. He wants you to go outside and listen and watch and sync about what you're hearing and seeing not just observing but becoming a reader of the landscape.

Four stars

This book came out April 15, 2025

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Password to Larkspur Lane by Carolyn Keene, narrator: Danica Reese

An injured carrier pigeon lands in Nancy's yard. Inside the capsule is a mysterious message. She is determined to figure out what the message means. It will lead her to a mysterious manor where a doctor seems to be taking advantage of elderly women, including one who risks quite a bit to get a bracelet smuggled out with Nancy's family doctor.

A lot of coincidences and a fairly improbable escape when Nancy is thrown in a pit at the end of the book but worth re-reading when I'm doing the whole series. 

Three stars

Nancy Drew #10

Follows The Sign of the Twisted Candles

Followed by The Clue of the Broken Locket

This book came out in 1933

Curse of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz

Izzy and her wacky family are back. She’s been arrested 4 times in the last three months because of her next-door neighbor, a man she refers to as, “The Subject”. He is suspicious because of his name, the locked door in his house, and, of course, his interest in her. Izzy is also busy because her whole family is acting suspiciously. Her mother keeps sneaking out, her dad is coming home having been to yoga, her brother isn’t going into work and instead staying at home all day, and her sister Rae, well, she’s always suspicious. 

Most of the characters from the first book make a reappearance, including two of Izzy’s ex-boyfriends. It is a zany book and very much of its time which may make it seem dated to some readers. I did have to plow through some of the zaniness at points but it was overall a good read and is not discouraging me from completing the series. 

Three and a half stars

Spellman Series #2

Follows The Spellman Files

Followed by Revenge of the Spellmans

This book came out March 11, 2008

Hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

Hickory Dickory Dock by Agatha Christie, narrator: Hugh Fraser

Hercule Poirot has never considered that Miss Lemon might have a life outside of his office. As far as he knew, she was more or less an automaton. But, it turns out that she has a sister. And that sister needs help. She runs a boarding house for students and a number of items have gone missing. The only thing of any worth, a diamond ring, showed up days later in someone's soup but the overall atmosphere is chilling and she would like some help. 

Before the mystery is over, there is death. More than one. Will Hercule be able to solve the mystery? Of course, he is the great detective.

This is definitely a book of its time with some broad stereotypes and sweeping proclamations being tied to psychiatry, but the mystery is interesting and the end has a nice twist (even if it comes out of nowhere.)

Four stars

Hercule Poirot #30

Follows After the Funeral

Followed by Dead Man's Folly

This book came out in 1955

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

The Sign of The Twisted Candles by Carolyn Keene, narrator: Danica Reese

What a strange story. Bess and George have an extended family member who owns an inn. None of the family have seen him in awhile so they, along with Nancy, stop in to see how he is doing. Ages ago, he invented a twisted candle that, as it burns, the wax melts toward the bottom so it wastes less wax.

It turns out that it is his one hundredth birthday, but he has been relegated to the inn's tower by the people running his inn. Their foster daughter is the only person to visit him. Except that today, Nancy brazens her way in along with some food. Later, the foster daughter is able to call and ask Nancy to return with her father the next day. The old man makes his will, then dies the next day.
While Nancy is trying to solve the mystery of his hidden treasures, she is also trying to understand the fact that, because one of Bess and George's relative's said she was working against them, her best friends are no longer speaking to her.

Three stars
Nancy Drew #9

Follows Nancy's Mysterious Letter

Followed by Pasword to Larkspur Lane

This book came out in 1933

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Nancy's Mysterious Letter by Carolyn Keene, narrator: Jessie Birschbach

Ira Dixon, Nancy's mail carrier, is about to retire. It's his age that has her offering him a ride during a violent storm and then setting him up with a hot beverage. It is her kindness that kicks off the mystery when the last of his mail is stolen from their front porch, including a note for Nancy and a package for her father. This puts his job, and his retirement, at risk.

Ira remembers just enough about the letter that Nancy can back track and find out that it came from a law firm in England. It wasn't actually meant for her. Nancy Drew has inherited a large sum of money and, so far, our Nancy is the only one they've found. But, coincidentally, Nancy Smith Drew is helping with a play at Ned's university. Do the two mysteries link up? Yes, but it's a very thin thread. 

Three stars

Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #8

Follows The Clue in the Diary

Followed by The Sign of the Twisted Candles

This book came out in 1933

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Adversary to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer,narrator: Em Eldridge

I’m not sure why I keep reading this series (actually, in this case, I borrowed the book from a friend about three years ago and felt obligated to read it at this point). At this point it is mostly about Hannah’s love life rather than the mysteries. In this one, she starts by telling her church’s congregaton that she’s not married and the reason why. Everyone rallies behind her, one man threatening to kill her erstwhile husband. But then her husband starts pressing her for the money he gave her as a wedding gift and Hannah is trying to give it back but the bank’s red tape is working against her. Then Nolan turns up dead and the reason for his killing is not really fairly clued.

Four stars

Assistant to the Villain #4

Follows Apprentice to the Villain

Followed by ?????

This book came out August 4, 2026

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Kids, Wait Till You Hear This! Liza Minnelli

I didn't know much about Liza Minelli before this book but found her stories fascinating. Did she talk about many, many, many times about how her family had an illness and it was substance abuse? Yes. But she is raw and honest and reads the book herself which is a delight. I hadn't realized she was a part of the fashion show at Versailles and that moves a book about that evening up on my TBR list. 

Four stars

This book came March 10, 2026

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Secret at Mystic Lake by Carolyn Keene

George got a birthday gift of a bicycle trip. Nancy and (a reluctant) Bess are joining her. As an adult, I had trouble figuring out why someone would take a trip run by teenagers, but as a kid I totally would have bought into this story. While previous stories in this series have made some sense, this one really didn't. There were characters that felt like they were pulled out of a jar (Blade) and dropped into the story.

Two stars

Nancy Drew Diaries #6

Follows Sabotage at Willow Woods

Followed by the Phantom of Nantucket

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

The Clue in the Diary by Carolyn Keene

The book opens with Nancy, Bess, and George leaving a carnival where they met a young child, Honey, and her mother. The are on their way home when they witness a house bursting into flames. While making sure everyone is out of the house, Nancy meets a young man who is at first suspicious looking, but then she realizes is helping people. He introduced himself as Ned Nickerson. 

But that is all within the first part of the book. There is a missing father (Honey's), a man who has been duping inventors (and the owner of the house that burned), and a number of instances where Nancy is near death. 

I vaguely remember reading this as a child and enjoying it, but it is harder to suspend belief as an adult. 

Three stars

Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #7

Follows The Secret of Red Gate Farm

Followed by Nancy's Mysterious Letter

This book came out in 1932

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Sabotage at Willow Woods by Carolyn Keene, narrator: Jorjeana Marie

George's cousin is running for city council based on her promise to build a new sports stadium. As with most towns, Bayview is very proud of its football team. Not just football though because George's cousin was a tennis champion and she is also beloved. But not everyone wants the stadium built since it would take out a wood which has been around for hundreds of years. That is playing out with someone sabotaging the campaign.

This is a fast read with a fun story and a little bit of a moral story. 

Three and a half stars

Nancy Drew Diaries #5

This book came out September 22, 2015

Follows Once Upon a Thriller

Followed by Secret at Mystic Lake

Audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

168 Hours by Laura Vanderkam, narrator: Elizabeth London

As with many of the nonfiction books I read, this doesn't have any especially groundbreaking material. But the hook is interesting, even a decade and a half after the book was written.  One of the things that happens in our lives is that we fritter away time. But if we track our time, pay attention to what we do, we might actually get more done. This is always a good reminder, especially when we have more things than ever to distract us.

There are a surprising number of references to Bel Canto, though it was a hit at the time this book was written.

Four stars

This book came out May 26, 2010

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Mind Magic Audiobook by James R. Doty

I normally love reading books about scientific discoveries, even if I can't always understand all of it. This book, however, reminded me of some of the healing frauds that were so prevalent in the late 80s/early 90s. I also have to say that the "Manifesting" language also reminded me of some really bad churches. So, most of this book I listened to with great skepticism, even knowing that it came from the mind of a neurosurgeon. I did like how he mentioned that it could be the fact that you are concentrating on a goal that leads to to achieving it - not just manifesting it

Three stars

This book came out May 7 2024

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Strangers on a Train by Carolyn Keene, narrator: Jorjeana Marie

This book picks up right after the last one. Nancy found the jewel thieves who were menacing the Arctic Star cruise ship. But there are still a number of unanswered questions and mysteries on the boat. I know that there have been a LOT of Nancy Drew stories at this point but this one felt like one of the more disjointed stories for some reason. There was just so much going on from employees being set up to be fired to Alan learning who Nancy is to Wendy the blogger to an Alaskan smuggling ring.

Two and a half stars

Nancy Drew Diaries #2

Follows Curse of the Arctic Star

Followed by Mystery of a Midnight Rider

This book came out February 5, 2013

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Once Upon a Thriller by Carolyn Keene, narrator: Jorjeana Marie

Nancy, Bess, and George are on a "camping" trip, staying in a cabin. They get to the location, take a quicky hike around the lake, then decide to visit the nearby town. Once there, they discover that the local bookstore, Paige's Pages has burned down. Outside are a number of fans who had been getting ready for a book signing by a reclusive author who only ever signs books at that particular store. 

That's not the only odd thing to happen in town and many of the strange happenings seem to mirror the plot of the author's first book.

An interesting story that is fluffier than the others so far in this series but it is aimed at the middle grade so that is something to consider.   

Four stars

Nancy Drew Diaries #4

Follows Mystery of the Midnight Rider

Followed by Sabotage at Willow Woods

This book came out May 7, 2013

Opinions are my own

The Mystery at Lilac Inn by Carolyn Keene, narrator: Laura Linney

I didn't remember this book from reading it before. It's nice to find new titles even in a series I thought I had completed. Granted, this is a children's series, but there was a lot of coincidence and some fairly unbelievable aspects to this story. It was certainly interesting to think of Nancy in scuba gear. 

She's helping her friend Emily who is having some problems while converting a family house to an inn. She is also engaged to be married. There are any number of things going wrong including her jewelry inheritance being stolen from a room that a whole group is in.

There is also a sub-but-related-plot of someone impersonating Nancy.  

Three and a half stars

Nancy Drew #4

Follows The Bungalow Mystery

Followed by The Secret of Shadow Ranch

This book came out in 1930

Mystery of the Midnight Rider by Carolyn Keene, narrator: Jorjeana Marie

Nancy and Ned are at the horse show. Nancy never misses it and Ned has a family friend, Payton Evans, who is competing. Rumors are that Payton is being considered for the Olympic team. That would definitely cause a lot of jealousy and may be part of the reason that someone seems to be trying to sabotage her efforts. 

A really fast read but, like chips, still enjoyable. And the ending made sense which was nice. 

Four stars

Nancy Drew Diaries #3

Follows Strangers on a Train

Followed by Once Upon a Thriller

This book came out May 7, 2013

Opinions are my own

How to Menopause by Tamsen Fadal

I really enjoyed this book. It's so informative and the author often encourages you to work with your doctor and to find what works for you. I really dislike books that are all or nothing. However, there is a certain assumption of access to care that may not apply to every reader. 

Even though I am in the group for peri-menopause, I didn't think I was having any symptoms. But, there are 34. 34 symptoms of menopause. And a whole bunch of things I thought were related to another health issue made more sense as being related to my age. 

Fadal covers any number of topics including sleep, brainfog, yoga, sex, eating, clothes, community, . For each of these, she goes through potential solutions both medical and not. I was happy to learn that the diet (close to the Mediteranean) that I am on for my high cholesterol is also recommended for menopause. 

Four and a half stars

This book came out 

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own