Sisterhood of Sleuths - an Homage to the Classic Nancy Drew Mystery Stories

This book was a spur-of-the moment purchase that turned out to be a truly unexpected joy to read.  I saw this book on "new releases" shelf at my local Barnes & Noble and nearly passed it up.  But the title snagged my attention, so I looked inside to see what it was about.  While the tagline did not really do it for me, the first line of the description sold me right away:  "So when a box full of vintage Nancy Drew books gets left at her mom's thrift store, Maizy is surprised to find an old photo of her grandmother and two other women tucked beneath the collection."  I didn't have to read any further to know I was buying the book.  Any mystery that deals with Nancy Drew books as a part of the mystery is sure to be a fun read!  And author Jennifer Chambliss Bertman did not disappoint in the least.

Sisterhood of Sleuths is not just a mystery - it is also a coming-of-age story about a young girl who hasn't yet let go of the loves of her childhood, while her best friend seems to be growing up.  Maisy and her best friend Izzy are supposed to be filming a genre movie for their sixth grade class; but Maisy is quickly discovering that Izzy - or "Isabelle" as she now wants to be called - no longer has an interest in the film Maisy has written.  Isabelle has developed a sudden interest in boys, and make-up, and other things that still seem foreign to Maisy.  But that box of Nancy Drew books dropped off at her mom's thrift store proves to be a catalyst that changes Maisy's life in so many ways.

First, and foremost, is that old photograph of Maisy's grandmother with two other women.  Why does Maisy's grandmother claim that it is not her, when Maisy can clearly see that it is?  And why does her grandmother remain adamant that she did not donate the books, when Maisy's mother is certain it was her? And if she did not leave them, then who did?  Maisy wants to investigate, but Isabelle has other things in mind - like Link and Ben, two boys from their class.  And when Isabelle brings the boys, along with Link's twin sister, Cam, into the fold for their school project, Maisy finds the movie she had written is no longer hers at all!  By happenstance (and how often does that happen in a Nancy Drew book!), their teacher is not overly thrilled with Maisy's former friend, Nell, working alone on a project, so Maisy finds herself moved into a new team with Nell and Cam - and their project evolves from a fashion show featuring designs by Nell to a documentary about Nancy Drew - starting with who left those books at the thrift store!

Bertman crafts a wonderfully fun mystery that thoroughly integrates the love of Nancy Drew, the mystery of Nancy Drew, and the mysteries behind the writers of Nancy Drew.  She perfectly captures the feeling a young person of today might have when first introduced to Nancy Drew books - somewhat uncertain, but curious enough to give them a try.  And when Maisy, Cam, and Nell (a la Nancy [the sleuth], George [the tomboy], Bess [the fashion-conscious one]) learn that Carolyn Keene never really existed, but was just a pseudonym, it opens up a whole new mystery for them to solve, and further expands the perimeters of their documentary.  It is fun to follow their growing excitement as they not only read the books but research the truth behind the Stratemeyer Syndicate and the various writers who wrote Nancy Drew over the years - in particular, Mildred Wirt Benson, the very first author.  And Bertman manages to insert some great surprises into the story that will make any Nancy Drew fan giggle with excitement when they read it!  And in the tradition of those original Nancy Drew books, this book even offers the reader some great illustrations to compliment the story, drawn by Vesper Stamper.

 

The book offers up plenty of historical information about Nancy Drew, including her creation, her authors, her publishers, her scandals, and so much more.  It is easy to see that Bertman did her research for this, and I love how she manages to seamlessly slide all of that information into the story so naturally, where it does not feel like just textbook information, but rather, like clues that the girls are finding as they look for the solution to the bigger mystery.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, so much, in fact, that I finished it in less than a day - I just couldn't put it down!  The whole generational love of Nancy Drew, and the shared experiences of finding the books and unlocking the mysteries behind the series is such a great reflection on the number of real-life fans who found their love of Nancy Drew from their mothers, sisters, aunts, grandmothers, and other relatives, and have gone on to share it with their children.  By the time I finished the book, I realized just how appropriate the title to the book is - because whether it is within the story or in the real world, there truly is a Sisterhood of Sleuths out there who have a shared love of Nancy Drew, a fictional character that has endured nearly 100 years, and has inspired more people than we could possibly count.  Fleur Bradley says it write in her quote on the back of the book - "The perfect book for mystery fans of all ages - a classic that explores the Nancy Drew icon in a contemporary light."   I don't think there is any other perfect way to describe this book than that.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!

RATING: 10 blue cloches out of 10 for an absolutely wonderful homage to Nancy Drew and her plethora of fans, with a door that hopefully opens to countless new fans to seek out the timeless teenage detective!