The Mystery of Lilac Inn

As Nancy's friend Emily prepares for her wedding, Nancy and Helen visit her at Lilac Inn. Before long, a weekend of scuba diving and wedding planning turns into disaster as Emily's heirloom diamonds are stolen, as is Nancy's identity, by a larcenous doppelgŠnger. Laura Linney does an admirable job reading this 1930 mystery, although she's not completely believable as a young woman of 1930--even one with the tenacity and spunk of Nancy Drew. Further, her pace seems rushed. Nevertheless, the story is a good one, filled with surprising lore about lilacs, and the action is punctuated by mood music and sound effects. S.E.S. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine

February 15, 2004
Gr 3-6-When Nancy Drew and her friend visit Lilac Inn, mysterious events occur that seem to indicate that Nancy's presence is unwanted there and the Inn may be haunted. After her friend's diamond jewelry is stolen, Nancy must try to solve the mysteries and recover the jewels. Actress Laura Linney briskly narrates this original Nancy Drew mystery by Carolyn Keene. Her expressive and crisp rendering of the tale is occasionally too fast, requiring that listeners pay close attention, especially during descriptive passages. Although the material is dated, such as when a telephone switchboard is mentioned and a character wears an "aqua organdy dress," listeners will still have fun trying to solve the mystery on their own from the clues provided before the conclusion of the book. Orchestral music in the background, lush with string instruments, adds to the moments of peril within the narrative.-B. Allison Gray, John Jermain Memorial Library, Sag Harbor, NY

Copyright 2004 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2004
Gr 3-6-When Nancy Drew and her friend visit Lilac Inn, mysterious events occur that seem to indicate that Nancy's presence is unwanted there and the Inn may be haunted. After her friend's diamond jewelry is stolen, Nancy must try to solve the mysteries and recover the jewels. Actress Laura Linney briskly narrates this original Nancy Drew mystery by Carolyn Keene. Her expressive and crisp rendering of the tale is occasionally too fast, requiring that listeners pay close attention, especially during descriptive passages. Although the material is dated, such as when a telephone switchboard is mentioned and a character wears an "aqua organdy dress," listeners will still have fun trying to solve the mystery on their own from the clues provided before the conclusion of the book. Orchestral music in the background, lush with string instruments, adds to the moments of peril within the narrative.-B. Allison Gray, John Jermain Memorial Library, Sag Harbor, NY

Copyright 2004 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.