The Sign of the Twisted Candles

Whew! Lots of action in this one. Nancy wasn't conked on the head, but there was a startling incident with a hairbrush. 😳 And George and Bess were at their ugliest; I still haven't forgiven them--even though Nancy has. A classic kind-of-Hatfields-vs-McCoys mystery involving the inheritance of Asa Sidney, the man who created those twisted candles. I quite enjoyed this detective story and look forward to #10!

Yet another of my mother's Nancy Drew books, this one I had read when we first found them, but it's been a while so I decided to give this one another go with my current nostalgia trip.

This one starts on a dark and stormy night, which causes Nancy and her friends Bess and George to stop at an isolated place none of them had ever heard of called the Sign of the Twisted Candles. While waiting out the storm, Nancy stumbles onto her next mystery, involving the proprietor of the inn, a young orphan girl, and the hundred-year old property owner. Things get even more complicated when the old man reveals he is involved in an old family feud which just might include Nancy's friends Bess and George.

I really enjoy this particular mystery. It show more doesn't rely as much on happenstance quite as much as some other detective tales of the time, instead relying on the reasoning skills of all involved. The Sign of the Twisted Candles becomes a thrilling tale of family estrangement and reunion, but not before a series of potential lawsuits are threatened. show less

A satisfying mystery about an old inn, a family feud, and a forlorn orphan. Nancy gets into and out of all kinds of thrilling scrapes. Just the kind of fun, escapist reading I need right now.

Another classic Nancy Drew episode.  Nancy helps her friends George and Bess check on a long-lost relative.  I found it very ironic that the mystery they ask Nancy to help with, almost ruins their friendship.  That just added a little bonus to the overall mystery.  I really liked that Nancy interacted more with her father in this episode.  I loved seeing their relationship up-close.

Delightful, and rather astonishingly feminist for its era. I need to read more of the original Nancy Drew books. As with the Hardy Boys and other series, go for the originals, NOT the rewrites.

Nancy is at it again - solving crimes, making friends and saving the day - or in this case another orphan. Orphans play a big role in the series. But this time, Nancy has to solve the mystery without the help of her trusty side-kicks - Bess and George. They're mad at her for interferring. The case revolves around an old man and his will - of which Bess and George are named. In the end - the orphan finds family members, the will is no longer contested and the bad guys and girls are in jail.
Ned Nickerson makes a brief appearance - but does little to help Nancy in this case. It's a fun trip back in time before cell phones and computers - because there is no way Ned would leave Nancy alone at a creepy old inn with bad people stalking her show more to go get the cops nor would cut phone wires be a problem- they'd just whip out the cell phone. Also Nancy wouldn't have to make so many trips to check on clues - she could just google everything she needed to know these days. But the fact that she doesn't have these modern day convienences makes it a bit more creepy. show less

#9 Another exciting mystery begins for the young detective when her friends Bess and George ask her to investigate a rumor that their wealthy great-granduncle, Asa Sidney, is virtually a prisoner in his own mansion. But solving the mystery and befriending Carol Wipple, the sixteen-year-old foster daughter of the caretakers of the old mansion, nearly costs Nancy the friendship of Bess and George. It takes all of Nancy's sleuthing ability as well as diplomacy to save it.Nancy braves one danger after another to bring to justice the swindlers who are stealing Asa Sidney’s fortune. With only the sign of the twisted candles to guide her, Nancy uncovers hidden treasure and an amazing letter that ends a family feud and brings unexpected show more happiness to Carol. show less