The Clue of the Black Keys

An adult male might seem to have little reason to read, much less to review, a novel of the Nancy Drew series. However, as a boy I used to sneak a few of my sister’s to read. I recently wondered how well they’ve held up over the years. In the case of this book (in the 1951 edition), the answer is “not very well”.

Nancy helps a young college professor decipher clues to a treasure said to be hidden in Mexico. Nancy turns out to be smarter at figuring out hieroglyphics and other clues than the four professors involved, as they search for this treasure through the Florida Keys and a Mexican jungle. The action includes burglary, kidnapping, mild “torture” (a word that seems unlikely to have made it into more recent editions), and show more people being tied up and escaping, not to mention academic infighting and jealousy among the professional archeologists.:-)

The story goes far off the rails when it brings in bizarre supernatural elements. They discover a tiny amount of a mysterious green powder that (according to the hieroglyphics) has the potential to "destroy mankind." Fortunately, the young professor deciphers more hieroglyphics and determines that it can also “heal mankind… through the heat and power of the sun itself.” Wow. Ok. Healing mankind sounds like quite a fine idea, and getting 13 year old female readers on board with alternative energy sources sounds pretty good too. Unfortunately, supernatural options show no prospect of solving our situation, and the problems we now face (climate change; nuclear weapons; overpopulation; and mass extinctions) exceed the worst nightmares of 1951 Nancy. Ah, for the days when an intrepid girl detective could save the world… show less

Still in that reliving childhood phase, this time mine and my mother's. This is one of her old Nancy Drew books that we found in one of my dad's storage buildings a while ago. Having grown up with the Hardy Boys, I wanted to also read some of Ms. Drew's adventures. They are just as fun.

This one takes Nancy on a trip to find ancient treasure and dastardly villains while on the search for a missing professor. There is danger at every turn, but our spunky young detective will not be swayed from her goal.

Like I said, this is a fun read. Simple adventure at its best. I need to pick up some of these for my niece. I think she'd enjoy them.

#28 Terry Scott, a young archaeology professor, seeks Nancy’s help in unearthing a secret of antiquity which can only be unlocked by three black keys. While on an archaeological expedition in Mexico, Terry and Dr. Joshua Pitt came across a clue to buried treasure. The clue was a cipher carved on a stone tablet. Before the professor had time to translate the cipher, the tablet disappeared – along with Dr. Pitt! Terry tells Nancy of his suspicions of the Tinos, a Mexican couple posing as scientists who vanished the same night as Dr. Pitt. Nancy and her friends follow a tangled trail of clues that lead to the Florida Keys and finally to Mexico in this suspense-filled story that will thrill readers.

Before I returned the book, I reread sections of it again. Outside of the first Nancy Drew book, I clinged to this book. I did not want to let it go. So good. I may read it again. Page turner.

In un antico cofano sepolto dorme tranquillo un tesoro favoloso nella paziente attesa che dopo tanto tempo qualcuno lo ritrovi. Ma se questo qualcuno è un delinquente che ha rapito un anziano professore, che ha rubato il segreto più importante, che minaccia e tortura i prigionieri e che non ha rispetto per nessuno allora Nancy Drew non si dà pace finché non l'ha scoperto e debellato dopo rincorse in cielo, in mare i ein terra, dopo lotte, pericoli ed agguati che in un crescendo davvero emozionante si concludono alfine all'improvviso ai piedi di un antico monumento secolare guardiano del tesoro.