The Sign Of The Twisted Candles (1959) - Plot & Excerpts
I decided recently to read (and re-read) the Nancy Drew series. These books are a lot of fun, as well as being historically and culturally interesting. This one was written by Walter Karig, a military captain, which adds to its interest. His other (non-Nancy Drew) books are very rare now and it makes #8-10 of the series, written by him, mor interesting.Nancy's independence, her confidence, and assertiveness are very interesting to me - and I wonder how related they are to social/cultural changes in the 1930's. When she and her father Carson Drew go anywhere, she is the driver. This shows her importance in the family and also gave girls of the time a role-model for independent thinking and living.Some of these mysteries, I've read, were re-written in sections to make them more updated. I noticed, in particuarly, the references to "a man on the man," likely written for the 1968 republication of the novel. Now, of course, this seems very outdated also, but this section wasn't re-worked for the 1996 republication.The set is clasic mystery/gothic with an old house, a dying man, twisted candles, many, many secret hiding places, and a variety of creepy characters hanging about the old mansion. Also interesting to this novel is the "feud" that causes Nancy to become estranged from George and Bess. I can't recall this kind of division occurring in other mysteries.Hopefully, I can get hold of #8 and #10, written by Walter Karig.
Nancy, Bess, and George don't think they're driving into another mystery when they go to the rural inn, the Twisted Candle, to check on an elderly relative of Bess and George. But it's Nancy Drew, so of course they find that the wealthy old man is a near prisoner in his own house, and not only are the people he hired to run the inn and the restaurant robbing him blind, his feuding relatives are frothing at the mouth for him to die so they can get their hands on his money. Nancy's father steps in to write a new will for Asa Sydney, but he knows it will cause endless problems--which it does.I have read almost no Nancy Drews (I grew up with Enid Blyton's Famous Five mystery series), so I was interested to see what it would be like. It was certainly action-packed and quite well-written, though of course a bit dated in dialogue and situations. I did find it rather unbelievable that Nancy and her father did not take immediate, strong precautions against the evident thievery going on (such as telling the police, perhaps?), because literally as soon as anyone's back was turned, the thieves were sneaking back in any way they could and stealing whatever they could; it was almost a bit Laurel and Hardy. Still, it was entertaining, though the audiobook reader read it the way a 7th grader would (trust me, I know), so it came off a bit breathy and emphatic.
What do You think about The Sign Of The Twisted Candles (1959)?
This book was good, I enjoyed reading about the mystery that Nancy has to solve. Even though this is a realistic fiction book about a mystery it still has a theme. Carolyn Keene throughout the book still teaches you an important life lesson. A lesson that many people in the world still need to learn, money isn't everything. Many peope throughout the book focus their life on money. So many characters in the book just want Asa Sidney's fortune. They would do anything to get some of his money. When Asa Sidney died they were at the door of his home waiting to hear the will. Money isn't everything, there are a lot more important things in life than money. Your life shouldn't be wrapped around fame and fortune. Be grateful for what you already have don't wish and wish for more and more. Family and love is way more important than how rich you are or how much money you have. At the end of the book the charcters realize this, that family in this case Carol is more important than Mr. Sidney's fortune.
—Caitlin710
I always liked the Nancy Drew books, so I have decided to read them in order. Some are better than others, But I enjoyed the stories and the personalities. I also get a kick out of the old-fashioned manners. But it is a fond nostalgic amusement -not that I would go back. But it's fun to read. In this book, Nancy has been asked by her friends Bess and George to check out a great-uncle who is perhaps being held prisoner in his inn by the caretakers. Nancy gets into see him by a ruse and tells him her father is a lawyer in case he needs some help. She also discovers a young girl being used harshly by the caretakers and suspects the caretakers are stealing from the old man.
—Susan Ferguson
I don't know if it is because it is a later edition than the copy of The Hidden Staircase that I recently read, but now that I know there were more than one author writing Nancy Drew books, I can believe that this one was written by a differet author than the other. Both are good. Both are true to the character. This one had Nancy in more danger and had a little more complicated plot. Nancy was less cautious overall (i.e. her driving) and her friends and she had a spat which is so typical of teenagers but I didn't remember in these books.As usual, I still love the Nancy Drew books and consider them timeless!
—Sandy Neal
