The Clue Of The Black Keys (1951) - Plot & Excerpts
Only recently--i.e. August/September 2013--I discovered Connie Blair and her series of mysteries. After reading her first three mysteries, I grew curious as to how she might compare to my childhood fave, Nancy Drew.Poor Nancy, perhaps it is adult hood jadedness but she seems shallow and unrealistic to me now. For example, while we frequently know Connie Blair's thoughts, including conflicting emotions such as when she longs to do one thing while another part of her feels she must do something else; rarely are we allowed inside Nancy's head. Nancy also lives in "River Heights" one of those unreal places you can't help but try and guess where it is given the places she must use a plane to get to in a reasonable time. Connie, in contrast, spends much time in--very real--Philadelphia, complete with walking named streets and passing known landmarks. Like one-dimensional Nancy, the people in her life are one-dimensional. While Connie has a twin sister, a little brother and a dad with a heart condition revolving around the family hardware store. And then of course there is mom, Mom's sister the aunt with the fashionable job, advertising employers and a new love interest with quirks and personality, in each story. Further, with Nancy, there is the whole unrealistic element. For example: (Be aware--possible spoilers!)1. Nancy and a passenger are speeding along in her convertible when the car plunges into a ditch, throws Nancy from the car which lands on its side. Well, both Nancy and the passenger walk away completely uninjured, with her clothes barely mused, and the car has but a few dents and is perfectly drivable. 2. A man is kept in an attic space with no food or water or access to a bathroom for three days. All he needs is some of Hannah's soup and an afternoon of rest and he is fine. 3. Nancy has aroused the anger of some dangerous people and there is a real threat to her safety even when she is at home--and Dad takes off while she is away without telling her and without telling anyone where he is going, why or for how long. 4. Nancy visits Ned and Emerson College for a weekend and while we know Ned lives in his fraternity house and Nancy's passenger is staying with the college president--we have no idea where Nancy is staying (perhaps with Ned!?)5. A professor disappears in Mexico and there is no man hunt for him. A colleague is approached with a ransom demand and kicks the guy out of his office and does not report the demand to the police. 6. Seeing a suspect get away in a car, the policeman Nancy is chatting with tells her to drive him in a high speed chase after the fleeing car. 7. Nancy stumbles upon a burglar in her house and rather than kill her or even knock her out, they wrestle and he is able to wrap her in a blanket and put her under the bed (while she is--one would imagine--kicking and screaming.)8. A bad guy--on TWO occasions--leaves behind the thing he is hounding Nancy for. The first time on purpose--by sticking it between the wood of an airline bench! (why?) and the second time by accident by whipping out a handkerchief from his breast pocket (a pocket that also contains the object) so he can gag Nancy.9. It is 1952 yet Nancy and Dad are jet setters. Nancy begins the story flying home from NYC, trips to Baltimore and then to Florida and Mexico follow. 10. Nancy is a teen and smart and it is fall, football season, sometime before Thanksgiving. Ned is in college--but Nancy and her friends certainly don't appear to be in high school or college. Nancy, pretty clearly, has no job or classes to deal with as she is is able to fly off to Baltimore and Florida on short notice. 11. Nancy is able, pretty much on her own, to find a missing person. Then rather than get him to the police and safety as soon as possible, she hangs around allowing the bad guys to come back and capture her as well. 12. Need to go to Mexico--sure let's just charter a plane. 13. Need to save someone from dangerous criminals, the police allow Nancy to lead the effort. 14. Football quarter back and fraternity member Ned lives in celibate longing for Nancy (who rarely calls or visits.)15. That Nancy should really have Ned as a boyfriend given he is rarely on her mind. 16. That Nancy will go back to Ned after having an enriching friendship with the cute archeology professor. 17. Of course Nancy will dangerously run into a deadly smoking house and of course she will rescue a little boy and save the day for her neighbor before going home to singlehandedly handle a burglar in her own house (even if he leaves her tied up under the bed.) It guess it was "just one of those days."18. Finally a victim is free from his weeks of isolation, poor food and torture--rather than get him to a hospital he's first off to find a treasure in a jungle. So sorry Nancy! But why is it we could stand for so much unbelievability?
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.
What do You think about The Clue Of The Black Keys (1951)?
Calling this book a " good book " doesn't do it justice . The author , Carolyn Keene , keeps you in suspense throughout the WHOLE book . Nancy Drew , an amateur detective , is a mystery-solving , butt-kicking , 18 year old daughter of a criminal lawyer . These books are going to change the outlook of everything you take upon in the future . " The Clue of the Black Keys" is an original literature piece that keeps you on the edge of your seat . " Oh my gosh , they capture her " and " Plot twist " are two of thoughts that will cross your mind over and over in this book . Even after you have finished this amazing novel , you can't help but wonder what happens even after the story ends . All 174 pages of the 28th book in the Nancy Drew series , which contains 56 novels , are going to blow your mind with the exquisite detail put in every sentence . I recommend that you should read this book , and every other Nancy Drew titled book !
—Madalyn Walker
Oh boy. These guys have these keys in order to unlock a treasure chest. When they find it it's full of little silver frogs, one of which contains a powder that is either a deadly herb or a restorative herb. (What with the sculptures full of magic potions that never expire?) Nancy goes to the Florida Keys and Mexico, neither of which are close to one another and the whole Florida Key thing is a strange diversion.Nancy loses consciousness when one of the bad guys takes down a road construction sign and she crashes into a ditch.
—Melanie
