Customer Reviews

A Ghost in the Closet: A Nancy Clue and Hardly Boys Mystery (Maney, Mabel)

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This hoot of a book works wonders--it's been known to cure migraines, lift depressions, and spur readers on to culinary triumphs like Salisbury Steak. The formula: 1 part Nancy Drew, 1 part Women's Barracks, and a sly dash of ever-so-gay humor. Maney's spot-on recreation of the original series' diction is half the fun. In-jokes abound: butch-femme couple Midge and Velma are my favorites, although Uncle Nelly Hardly is a close second. Maney is a genius, and these books are destined to hold pride of place in every gay and lesbian book collection.

Having just finished reading this I can honestly say I don't know if I've ever laughed this much reading a book. When Nancy and Frank are in the cave with her belted pads on their heads, I roared with laughter, and this was moments after I'd gotten in a conflict with someone at my job and I had a migraine at the time. Just the image of Cherry about to get electroshock treatment while still wearing her nursing cap- I'm chuckling just thinking of the image! And what must've happened to the party after they had the "vitamins" in the punch!! Take it from another Friend of the Insane, this book is a classic! Golly, I couldn't put it down and was wont to display ungentlemanly fits of unrestrained laughter!

Handsome, young detectives Frank and Joe Hardly travel home to Lake Merrimen, Illinois to find that their parents, world-reknowned detective Fennel Hardly and his loving wife, Mrs. Hardly, have been kidnapped and rumors are spreading about Mr. Hardly's being a Russian spy.

Meanwhile, Nancy Clue, girl detective and snappy dresser, ventures with her friends to the Lake Merrimen Auditorium to view the annual dog show. But something's amiss as she and her friends follow a scream only to discover that all the toy poodles have been dognapped!

Could the two incidents have anything in common? What is the terrible secret that Fennel Hardly keeps locked in his closet? Will Nancy ever win back her true love -- Cherry Aimless, Registered Nurse -- from the handsome, streetwise San Francisco girl detective Jackie Johnson?

Join Nancy and her friends as they dive into this hilarious, gay/lesbian spoof of the Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew mysteries. Mabel Maney has constructed a fabulous world full of sharp characters -- each with a very keen fashion sense -- and thrown in many a surprising twist that kept me enthralled with the events of the mystery. Her style is very descriptive and conjures up the 1950s mindset. I could not help but smile as I was reading. A great read for everyone!

Even though you have to endure Bret Easton Ellis reminiscent descriptions of clothing and scenery, this book is a pure delight for anyone who has ever read Nancy Drew mysteries or just loves a great parody with charming lesbian references. Mabel Maney gives us something we can laugh our heads off about and you'll find it relaxing to see that almost every woman in this world is a lesbian. Lots of fun, definitely check into it!