Book #6: The Secret of Red Gate Farm

...a.k.a. Nancy Drew vs. the KKK.  Alright, not really...but counterfeiters that dress like the KKK.

This was a good one, especially after the disappointing Secret at Shadow Ranch.  It really allowed the three girls to operate as a unit, with Nancy as the leader, George as the sassy daredevil and Bess as the frightened but loyal ice-cream-sundae-lover.  One of the things I love most about them as a trio is the fact that they all give each other shit from time to time but will clearly do ANYTHING for one another.  This book definitely showcases that.

The book starts out with Bess loudly pointing out that an "oriental-looking" salesgirl looks mysterious.  While I cringed a little at the quaint 1960's racism, I would soon be desensitized after the 15th or 16th time that word was used.  The salesgirl sells Bess some pungent perfume, which spills all over Nancy as they are riding the train back to River Heights.  A man grabs her arm and says something to her that sounds like a code.  Clearly, the perfume was supposed to be some racketeer's idea of a single red rose in a thieving meet-cute situation, as the man started muttering about the Blue Jade scent and ran away.  Hmmm...sounds like a mystery is afoot!

The girls soon meet their mystery charity case of the week (Or weeks, or months.  Who knows in this unmoving time bubble that is the life of Nancy Drew?), a girl named Joanne Byrd.  We find out that her aunt is being pressured to sell her beautiful farm just outside of River Heights, half of which is currently being rented out to a nature cult called "The Black Snake Colony."  The presence of the cult has made it difficult for the girl' aunt to attract boarders--probably because they look like the KKK--so Nancy, Bess and George decide to hit the farm for a few weeks.

Staycation, baby!

Meanwhile, a counterfeit scam has been running in River Heights and Riverside Heights (um, whose idea was it to put those towns right next to each other?  It would be like San Francisco being right next to a "Shman Francisco") and Nancy herself is accused of passing counterfeit bills!

Oh, sweet, stupid criminals. Don't  you know that framing Nancy Drew will just make things worse for you?

True to form, Nancy steps up her game, going right to Chief McGinnis and asking about a possible connection between the nature cult and the counterfeiters.  Chief McGinnis says that The Black Snake Colony isn't a registered cult.  Um, wait a minute.  Do you have to register cults?  Was this a thing back in the day?  Because it seems to me that all those cults that had an endgame of drinking Kool-Aid and passing on to the holy land would have had a really awkward registration process.

BEAURAUCRAT (in monotone voice): "Name of cult."
CHARLES MANSON: "Um, the Manson Family."
BEAURAUCRAT: "State your purpose for forming this cult."
CHARLES MANSON (looking shifty): "Helter Skelter."
BEAURAUCRAT: "Please state a purpose that a reasonable person would understand, sir."
CHARLES MANSON: Sigh. "Stabbing people."
BEAURAUCRAT: "Okay, then."

In any event, Nancy uses this new information to link the two mysteries, plotting an elaborate undercover scheme in which Bess, George, Joanne and herself will dress like the KK...counterfeiters and make their way into the mysterious cave that has been guarded by the colony for months.  The girls go along (even Bess, who is frightened by a pin dropping, thus proving she is actually braver than the rest of them) but are abducted by the cult!

Duh DUH DUHHHHH!

I won't even tell you the end because you should read it for yourself.  Let's just say the U.S. Secret Service gets involved...

This is a really fun read, despite being a bit slower and overusing the word "oriental."  I give it a 4/5 mags.


 
Head Injury Count: 0 (3 total)