MY READER'S BLOCK: The Secret in the Old Attic

SCAM artist alert

Apparently there is someone calling themself "Luigi Calloway" out there who is claiming to be associated with the Mount TBR Reading Challenge. He is contacting authors and telling them if they pay him, then their books will be used for the challenge. It's possible he's also telling people they must pay to participate in any way. Please know that there is absolutely no charge associated in any way with this reading challenge and that this person does NOT represent me or anything associated with my blog. I DO NOT endorse anything that he claims.There will NEVER be a reason for anyone to have to pay for participation in any way for any of my challenges. If only people who exert this much time and effort on scamming people would put it into something worthwhile....like reading their own books! A message to Luigi: Please cease and desist contacting authors (or anyone) in my name or claiming to represent this reading challenge. You absolutely DO NOT.

Sunday, December 31, 2023

The Secret in the Old Attic

The Secret in the Old Attic (1944) by Carolyn Keene

Once again Nancy and her father Carson Drew are pursuing two cases that dovetail into one. Carson Drew has been asked Mr. Booker to help him prove that Horace Dight has stolen his top-secret silk formula. He suspects a supposed "top" scientist named Bushy Trott (I ask you--who on earth is going to believe that a "top" scientist goes by the name Bushy) of having worked for him temporarily with the sole purpose of discovering his secrets--but he has no proof. Carson has had Trott followed for quite some time with no result.

Since he is busy with the Booker case, he asks Nancy to help him with another client Philip March. Mr. March is trying to find music that his son left behind when he was killed in World War II. He's sure the music is hidden somewhere in their family mansion, but has been unable to find it. He's also sure that if found, the music will bring in a good income that will help him raise his orphaned granddaughter Susan. Clues to the hidden music are supposed to be found in his son's love letters to his wife (now also deceased). Nancy's treasure hunt soon turns into an effort to prove theft when Mr. March begins hearing some of his son's songs on the radio--under someone else's name! As she investigates, she begins to suspect that Trott has something to do with the stolen music as well. But how to prove it? Nancy, Bess, and George wind up staying at the March estate in order to hunt for clues.

This was one of my favorites when I was young--easily making the top ten. I loved the spooky mansion setting and the treasure hunt aspect and the hidden room. And I didn't mind the coincidences that allowed Nancy's mystery to tie in with her father's. I thought Effie (the maid that Nancy brings in to help Mr. March in the house when Susan gets the measles) was hilarious...seeing ghosts and bad guys everywhere. It was a lot of fun to revisit this one and while I recognize the odd coincidences that happen they didn't detract from fun one bit. ★★★★

First line: "It seems strange to hunt for a clue among these, Nancy, but that's exactly what I've been
asked to do."

Last lines: "Nevertheless it took courage," her father replied. "If you hadn't had it, you never would have discovered the attic's secret."

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Deaths = 2 (one in war; one natural)