Nancy Drew: The Curse (Based on the Hit CW TV Show)

What better way to celebrate Nancy Drew's 90th anniversary than with a new Nancy Drew book? Yes, today marks 90 years since the first three Nancy Drew books were published way back on April 28, 1930.  Hard to believe she's been around that long - even moreso when you consider that very few series have continued publishing new stories on a regular basis for such a great length of time (Hardy Boys and Boxcar Children being the only two that come to mind).  And there is so much to celebrate this year - new comic book series that have been published in recent years from Dynamite Entertainment; new books published in the Nancy Drew Diaries and Nancy Drew Clue Book series; a new coloring book last year from artist extraordinaire Ruth Sanderson; the release of the new HER Interactive video game last Fall; and more recently, the new CW television series that brings Nancy, Bess and George to the small screen each and every week.  It is this new TV show that this book is based upon.

Nancy Drew: The Curse is a prequel of sorts to the CW hit television show.  Thus, fans of Nancy Drew who have never watched the new show may find some very jarring changes about Nancy and her world when reading this book. First, in this series, Nancy lives in Horseshoe Bay, not River Heights. Second, her mother did not die until Nancy was much older (meaning she is still alive in this story, set prior to the first episode of the television show). Third, Nancy's friends at this time are not Bess and George. However, in spite of these changes, some things remain the same.  Carson Drew is still a lawyer who dotes on his daughter. Chief McGinnis is still the local law in town. And Nancy Drew is still the determined sleuth who will set out to right any wrong and help anyone in need.  So, despite any changes, the true essence of Nancy Drew is still there!

That being said - the mystery in this book centers around the Horseshoe Bay Naming Day Curse. A curse that no one seems to know anything about. A curse that has no visible footprint online, nor any mention in the local town newspapers. A curse that - in a town filled with legends and ghost stories - seems to be hidden deeper than any other secret in Horseshoe Bay (which is really saying something). But when one of Nancy's friends, Daisy Dewitt, is selected to play a lead role in the upcoming Naming Day Reinactment  play, strange things start to happen. A raven carrying a warning note crashes against the window of the school newspaper. A threat is spray painted inside Daisy's locker. The word "Beware" is written on Nancy's windshield. Then one of the students disappears, and suddenly what started out looking like pranks turns into something much more serious.

While the book gives hints at supernatural elements (the television show, for those who don't watch, is filled with the supernatural), the author, Micol Ostow, keeps Nancy Drew grounded in reality. She questions things she sees, dreams she has, and things that occur, but ultimately, she is able to find logical, real explanations for everything.  A second disappearance, along with a warning to shut down the Naming Day Celebration or else puts Nancy on edge, knowing she has to solve the mystery before her best friend winds up dead.  Doing things the old-fashioned way, like going to the library, looking through public records, driving out and interviewing witnesses - it was great to see Nancy Drew in her real element again.  Fans who dislike the television show should really give this book a chance, as it definitely hearkens back to the Nancy Drew of days gone by!  And although there are no Bess and George, there are Daisy and Lena, who definitely channel elements of Bess and George (Daisy is the Bess archetype, while Lena tends to be more like George).

Fair warning: there are several profanities thrown out by the characters, so the book is not exactly squeaky clean. However, the words are mild (no f-bombs) and do not appear frequently.

Hope Simon & Schuster puts out some more novels like this one, based on the television show - it's a great way to expand on the characters and storylines from the TV show, plus provide fans with even more Nancy Drew!

RATING:  9 fat striped tabby cats named Sprinkles out of 10 for feeding the fans' need for more of the CW Nancy Drew!