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Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #31
The Ringmaster's Secret
Librarian's note: This is an earlier edition/alternative cover for ISBN 0448095319 (9780448095318) found here.
Nancy is given a beautiful gold bracelet with a missing charm. When she learns the unusual story behind the jewelry, she sets out to solve the fascinating mystery. The bracelet had been presented to a former circus performer by a queen who loved horses. For some reason the performer had to sell the bracelet, but would not reveal her identity. Clues lead Nancy to Sims’ Circus, where she meets Lolita, an unhappy young aerialist who has a horse charm wrought exactly like those on Nancy’s bracelet. The young detective searches for the original owner of the bracelet, bringing much joy to the pretty circus performer. This book is the original text. The plot of the revised story (©1974) is similar with minor revisions.
Nancy is given a beautiful gold bracelet with a missing charm. When she learns the unusual story behind the jewelry, she sets out to solve the fascinating mystery. The bracelet had been presented to a former circus performer by a queen who loved horses. For some reason the performer had to sell the bracelet, but would not reveal her identity. Clues lead Nancy to Sims’ Circus, where she meets Lolita, an unhappy young aerialist who has a horse charm wrought exactly like those on Nancy’s bracelet. The young detective searches for the original owner of the bracelet, bringing much joy to the pretty circus performer. This book is the original text. The plot of the revised story (©1974) is similar with minor revisions.
214 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1953
About the author
Carolyn Keene
1,226 books3,628 followersCarolyn Keene is a writer pen name that was used by many different people- both men and women- over the years. The company that was the creator of the Nancy Drew series, the Stratemeyer Syndicate, hired a variety of writers. For Nancy Drew, the writers used the pseudonym Carolyn Keene to assure anonymity of the creator.
Edna and Harriet Stratemeyer inherited the company from their father Edward Stratemeyer. Edna contributed 10 plot outlines before passing the reins to her sister Harriet. It was Mildred Benson (aka: Mildred A. Wirt), who breathed such a feisty spirit into Nancy's character. Mildred wrote 23 of the original 30 Nancy Drew Mystery Stories®, including the first three. It was her characterization that helped make Nancy an instant hit. The Stratemeyer Syndicate's devotion to the series over the years under the reins of Harriet Stratemeyer Adams helped to keep the series alive and on store shelves for each succeeding generation of girls and boys. In 1959, Harriet, along with several writers, began a 25-year project to revise the earlier Carolyn Keene novels. The Nancy Drew books were condensed, racial stereotypes were removed, and the language was updated. In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.
Other writers of Nancy Drew volumes include Harriet herself, she wrote most of the series after Mildred quit writing for the Syndicate and in 1959 began a revision of the first 34 texts. The role of the writer of "Carolyn Keene" passed temporarily to Walter Karig who wrote three novels during the Great Depression. Also contributing to Nancy Drew's prolific existence were Leslie McFarlane, James Duncan Lawrence, Nancy Axelrod, Priscilla Doll, Charles Strong, Alma Sasse, Wilhelmina Rankin, George Waller Jr., and Margaret Scherf.
Edna and Harriet Stratemeyer inherited the company from their father Edward Stratemeyer. Edna contributed 10 plot outlines before passing the reins to her sister Harriet. It was Mildred Benson (aka: Mildred A. Wirt), who breathed such a feisty spirit into Nancy's character. Mildred wrote 23 of the original 30 Nancy Drew Mystery Stories®, including the first three. It was her characterization that helped make Nancy an instant hit. The Stratemeyer Syndicate's devotion to the series over the years under the reins of Harriet Stratemeyer Adams helped to keep the series alive and on store shelves for each succeeding generation of girls and boys. In 1959, Harriet, along with several writers, began a 25-year project to revise the earlier Carolyn Keene novels. The Nancy Drew books were condensed, racial stereotypes were removed, and the language was updated. In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.
Other writers of Nancy Drew volumes include Harriet herself, she wrote most of the series after Mildred quit writing for the Syndicate and in 1959 began a revision of the first 34 texts. The role of the writer of "Carolyn Keene" passed temporarily to Walter Karig who wrote three novels during the Great Depression. Also contributing to Nancy Drew's prolific existence were Leslie McFarlane, James Duncan Lawrence, Nancy Axelrod, Priscilla Doll, Charles Strong, Alma Sasse, Wilhelmina Rankin, George Waller Jr., and Margaret Scherf.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews
February 14, 2017
This was my first time reading Nancy Drew and I thought it was pretty good! I know, I know--I probably should've started from the beginning, but I found a couple of books from this series for really cheap recently, so I thought that I would give them a try :)) I don't typically read this genre, but I like to try new things sometimes and get out of my 'reading comfort zone' I guess is what you would call it lol :P I do think I would have enjoyed this a little more if I read it when I was younger, but I'm still glad I got a chance to read it now!
April 17, 2015
Yesterday I finished a walk down memory lane. I had recently picked up a copy of the Nancy Drew The Ringmaster's Secret by Carolyn Keene at a local flea market. Not that I didn't already have a copy--I do. But this was the tweed-style hardcover book that matches the original set of six books that my mom handed down to me when I was seven. I'd like, at some point, to have all 38 of the titles which were published in tweed to match Mom's set. Since I bought it, I decided I ought read it for old time's sake. This edition of the book has the original 25 chapters (instead of the truncated, yellow-spine version I already had from 1974). If my other Drew books weren't buried in storage, I'd dig out the 1974 edition just to see what changes had been wrought (beyond transforming Nancy from a blonde to a titian-haired beauty).
But enough about that. How did the book stand up after more than thirty years?
The story is an interesting one. It begins with Nancy taking trick riding lessons from a former circus performer and a mysterious package arriving in the mail from Nancy's Aunt Eloise. Aunt Eloise is aware of her niece's horseback riding lessons and sends her a golden bracelet with five horse charms--with a place for a sixth charm. Aunt Eloise also presents Nancy with a bit of a mystery, telling her in an accompanying letter that the shopkeeper told her that the bracelet had originally been given to a circus performer by a queen. The performer was forced to sell the bracelet and would not reveal her true identity. Nancy is immediately intrigued and wonders what secrets the woman was keeping.
Then the Sims circus comes to town and Nancy discovers that the young circus star, Lolita, is very unhappy--practically a prisoner of her foster parents, Ringmaster Kroon and his wife. The Kroons took custody of Lolita when her parents were in an accident and reportedly killed. But Lolita wears a charm that looks remarkably like those on Nancy's bracelet and Nancy goes undercover (as a bareback rider) in the circus to look for clues connecting Lolita and her charm to the woman who sold the bracelet. Her investigations will take her to England, see her and George Fayne kidnapped and left aboard a speeding freight train, and finally straight into the lion's den (well, cage) before the mystery is finally solved.
I had a good time with this. How likely is it that Nancy, after a few lessons, would be expert enough at trick bareback riding to sub for a regular performer? Not very. But it also isn't very likely that one young woman would be an expert horsewoman, airplane pilot, dancer, code-breaker, speedboat driver, sailboat sailor, tennis and golf player, seamstress, gourmet cook, etc. and etc. Nancy is a super-girl--just the way we like her. She doesn't represent reality. She represents possibility. The possibility that any young woman who is determined and confident enough can do anything she wants to do. That's what Nancy meant to me when I read her stories originally and I see that meaning for girls now.
A thoroughly enjoyable trip to the past.
First posted on my blog . Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
But enough about that. How did the book stand up after more than thirty years?
The story is an interesting one. It begins with Nancy taking trick riding lessons from a former circus performer and a mysterious package arriving in the mail from Nancy's Aunt Eloise. Aunt Eloise is aware of her niece's horseback riding lessons and sends her a golden bracelet with five horse charms--with a place for a sixth charm. Aunt Eloise also presents Nancy with a bit of a mystery, telling her in an accompanying letter that the shopkeeper told her that the bracelet had originally been given to a circus performer by a queen. The performer was forced to sell the bracelet and would not reveal her true identity. Nancy is immediately intrigued and wonders what secrets the woman was keeping.
Then the Sims circus comes to town and Nancy discovers that the young circus star, Lolita, is very unhappy--practically a prisoner of her foster parents, Ringmaster Kroon and his wife. The Kroons took custody of Lolita when her parents were in an accident and reportedly killed. But Lolita wears a charm that looks remarkably like those on Nancy's bracelet and Nancy goes undercover (as a bareback rider) in the circus to look for clues connecting Lolita and her charm to the woman who sold the bracelet. Her investigations will take her to England, see her and George Fayne kidnapped and left aboard a speeding freight train, and finally straight into the lion's den (well, cage) before the mystery is finally solved.
I had a good time with this. How likely is it that Nancy, after a few lessons, would be expert enough at trick bareback riding to sub for a regular performer? Not very. But it also isn't very likely that one young woman would be an expert horsewoman, airplane pilot, dancer, code-breaker, speedboat driver, sailboat sailor, tennis and golf player, seamstress, gourmet cook, etc. and etc. Nancy is a super-girl--just the way we like her. She doesn't represent reality. She represents possibility. The possibility that any young woman who is determined and confident enough can do anything she wants to do. That's what Nancy meant to me when I read her stories originally and I see that meaning for girls now.
A thoroughly enjoyable trip to the past.
First posted on my blog . Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
September 23, 2011
Arguably the most non-Nancy Drew book of the series. She actually joins a circus! Very weird and un-Nancy Drew, but a must read for fans of the series.
September 22, 2020
Back to circuses, Nancy's #31 adventure features a cranky ringmaster, a lovely couple who want to be together, a kidnapped / baby swap, and Nancy does trick riding, while solving the mysteries brought up by her father, and a bracelet she receives from Aunt Eloise. Mr. Drew mostly phones it in on this one. Hannah cooks, George encourages with a number of "cools" and Bess salivates.
A good one, fast, and impressive with the trick riding Nancy does on the fly, with little training.
3 stars (if you are a middle-grade reader).
A good one, fast, and impressive with the trick riding Nancy does on the fly, with little training.
3 stars (if you are a middle-grade reader).
September 4, 2014
Sarah Gruen probably definitely read this book before she wrote Water For Elephants. It practically has a cooch tent.
Nancy is a skilled equestrienne, and recently took up stunt riding. Thus, she was a natural replacement for an injured circus stunt rider, and could hide out while trying to solve a mystery.
Nancy loses consciousness when she falls off a horse. She also faints when an unknown assailant strangles her from behind with a cord. She loses consciousness a *third* time when someone throws a blanket over her head, then binds and gags her and George and throws them on a train headed out of town. Later, someone puts deadly acid in Nancy's carry-on bag and the fumes temporarily blind her.
Some other guy gets beaten almost to death. Ned gets severely lacerated by a lion. They all live happily (and wealthily) ever after.
Nancy is a skilled equestrienne, and recently took up stunt riding. Thus, she was a natural replacement for an injured circus stunt rider, and could hide out while trying to solve a mystery.
Nancy loses consciousness when she falls off a horse. She also faints when an unknown assailant strangles her from behind with a cord. She loses consciousness a *third* time when someone throws a blanket over her head, then binds and gags her and George and throws them on a train headed out of town. Later, someone puts deadly acid in Nancy's carry-on bag and the fumes temporarily blind her.
Some other guy gets beaten almost to death. Ned gets severely lacerated by a lion. They all live happily (and wealthily) ever after.
March 18, 2016
My mom introduced me to the Nancy Drew Mysteries. You know, those yellow hardcover books? They were first released in the 1930s and to date, there are about 175 volumes. My collection spanned only the first 56 volumes. Certainly, I haven’t read all of them but I’ve read a whole lot. In fact, collecting this 56 volumes is part of my bucket list. My first Nancy Drew book is The Sign of the Twisted Candles and it remains as my absolute favorite from the bunch. Then the book that I dreamt about, The Secret of Mirror Bay. During a bookstore stop, my mom said that The Ringmaster’s Secret was one of her favorites. She bought it for me and I was not disappointed.
Nancy Drew Mysteries are… not complicated. But a surprising number of them are not predictable either. I bet today’s readers will be somewhat amused with the language used in these books. “Good-by, Nancy. Talk to Father about it. It should be swell, without mumbo-jumbo, for you.” Can you imagine talking like that today? The first 56 were published between 1930 and 1980. And with that, I’m sure some people will raise an eyebrow at the ideas that are in these books. Their views towards gender roles are way different than today so keep in mind the time period these were written before making judgments.
The blurb for The Ringmaster’s Secret, as with a lot of Nancy Drew books, is pretty straightforward. It doesn’t really give away anything:
And what does Nancy do to solve this fascinating mystery? She joins the circus. Yes. Just nod and move on, okay? The story starts out with Nancy getting horse-riding lessons. And not just your simple gallops, mind you. Actual show riding. Yep. And she becomes good enough to substitute for an injured circus performer… up to the point of touring with the company. That right there is Mary Sue even before the term was coined in pop culture.
(By the end of the series, Nancy has accumulated quite a skill set that is totally irrelevant to sleuthing. But that’s what makes her the best, right? LOL.)
She enlists the help of her best friends Bess and George, her boyfriend Ned, and her Father, even taking her outside of the US. Aside from sleuthing, she manages to reunite a mother and daughter as well as two lovebirds. The vibe of the story reminds me of Water for Elephants. There’s a tyrannical ringleader and the star of the show is kept under very strict rules. The mystery here is not a death or espionage as with Agatha Christie works or what we know now as mystery/thrillers. Nancy Drew is a amateur teen sleuth and these books are geared towards a younger audience.
What I love about this and other Nancy Drew books is just when you thought it’s over, a last-minute twist will blindside you. In the last two chapters of the book, the author – whoever it might be writing under the pseudonym Carolyn Keene – throws in a little curveball. A complication will arise that will make you think that they’re a new threat but when you look at how many pages are left, there’s no way. But there’s always a happy ending with these books. Not to mention a bit of shameless plug for the next installment.
It doesn’t matter how absurd these Nancy Drew stories sound like sometimes. I love them and will always love them.
Rating: 5/5. Always.
Nancy Drew Mysteries are… not complicated. But a surprising number of them are not predictable either. I bet today’s readers will be somewhat amused with the language used in these books. “Good-by, Nancy. Talk to Father about it. It should be swell, without mumbo-jumbo, for you.” Can you imagine talking like that today? The first 56 were published between 1930 and 1980. And with that, I’m sure some people will raise an eyebrow at the ideas that are in these books. Their views towards gender roles are way different than today so keep in mind the time period these were written before making judgments.
The blurb for The Ringmaster’s Secret, as with a lot of Nancy Drew books, is pretty straightforward. It doesn’t really give away anything:
Nancy Drew is given a beautiful gold bracelet and finds that one of the horse charms is missing. When she learns the unusual story behind the jewelry, she sets out to solve the fascinating mystery.
And what does Nancy do to solve this fascinating mystery? She joins the circus. Yes. Just nod and move on, okay? The story starts out with Nancy getting horse-riding lessons. And not just your simple gallops, mind you. Actual show riding. Yep. And she becomes good enough to substitute for an injured circus performer… up to the point of touring with the company. That right there is Mary Sue even before the term was coined in pop culture.
(By the end of the series, Nancy has accumulated quite a skill set that is totally irrelevant to sleuthing. But that’s what makes her the best, right? LOL.)
She enlists the help of her best friends Bess and George, her boyfriend Ned, and her Father, even taking her outside of the US. Aside from sleuthing, she manages to reunite a mother and daughter as well as two lovebirds. The vibe of the story reminds me of Water for Elephants. There’s a tyrannical ringleader and the star of the show is kept under very strict rules. The mystery here is not a death or espionage as with Agatha Christie works or what we know now as mystery/thrillers. Nancy Drew is a amateur teen sleuth and these books are geared towards a younger audience.
What I love about this and other Nancy Drew books is just when you thought it’s over, a last-minute twist will blindside you. In the last two chapters of the book, the author – whoever it might be writing under the pseudonym Carolyn Keene – throws in a little curveball. A complication will arise that will make you think that they’re a new threat but when you look at how many pages are left, there’s no way. But there’s always a happy ending with these books. Not to mention a bit of shameless plug for the next installment.
It doesn’t matter how absurd these Nancy Drew stories sound like sometimes. I love them and will always love them.
Rating: 5/5. Always.
April 10, 2024
What a fun book! Nancy is now taking lessons on bareback riding in an equestrian school and has already mastered trick riding. When she receives a bracelet with horse charms from her Aunt Eloise with a mystery behind it, Nancy is thrilled to find another problem to solve. Meanwhile, the circus is coming to town and Nancy befriends a sad aerialist, who offers her another problem to solve.
The book is a bit of a rollercoaster and we get to see the entire cast of characters including Bess, George, Hannah, as well as Carson and Eloise Drew in prominent roles. It has Nancy substituting for a stunt rider in the circus when the latter sprains her ankle. Like everything else, this is another thing at which Nancy seems to excel. But a kidnapping, jumping from a running train, thrown acid at, and being almost strangled does not deter our detective. A trip to London adds some further excitement.
The story is kind of predictable, as usual, but hangs together really well. I enjoyed the circus scenes. I always do! It's one of my favourite settings. The villain is obviously Kroon, but as the story progresses, he degenerates into near insanity, which was kind of fun, since most of the ND villains are kind of bland.
Overall, had a nice relaxing afternoon today!
The book is a bit of a rollercoaster and we get to see the entire cast of characters including Bess, George, Hannah, as well as Carson and Eloise Drew in prominent roles. It has Nancy substituting for a stunt rider in the circus when the latter sprains her ankle. Like everything else, this is another thing at which Nancy seems to excel. But a kidnapping, jumping from a running train, thrown acid at, and being almost strangled does not deter our detective. A trip to London adds some further excitement.
The story is kind of predictable, as usual, but hangs together really well. I enjoyed the circus scenes. I always do! It's one of my favourite settings. The villain is obviously Kroon, but as the story progresses, he degenerates into near insanity, which was kind of fun, since most of the ND villains are kind of bland.
Overall, had a nice relaxing afternoon today!
October 29, 2016
What can I say about this series that I haven't already said?
June 19, 2024
Something about circuses just makes me uncomfortable! I enjoyed Nancy’s Barbie-ness of being automatically amazing at trick-horse-riding, and the villain and backstory were actually very dark!
Overall too busy, and lots of circumstantial progress as things just happened to perfectly fall into place. The deus were ex-machina-ing in this mystery, which really cut out the enjoyment.
Nancy also was Mr. Worldwide here, too many locations!
The pacing is a complaint I often have in these first 34 “revised” versions, and ever since I read The Leaning Chimney’s original version which allowed for slower pacing, I’ve been wondering if I should go back to read the OG-OG 34 😬😬😬 That’s a project for 2025 maybe lol.
Overall too busy, and lots of circumstantial progress as things just happened to perfectly fall into place. The deus were ex-machina-ing in this mystery, which really cut out the enjoyment.
Nancy also was Mr. Worldwide here, too many locations!
The pacing is a complaint I often have in these first 34 “revised” versions, and ever since I read The Leaning Chimney’s original version which allowed for slower pacing, I’ve been wondering if I should go back to read the OG-OG 34 😬😬😬 That’s a project for 2025 maybe lol.
October 28, 2021
“The celebrated Mr. K,
Performs his feat on Saturday at Bishops Gate.
The Hendersons will dance and sing,
As Mr. Kite fly’s through the ring don’t be late.
Messrs. K and H assure the public
Their production will be second to none,
And of course, Henry the Horse dances the waltz!”
-John Lennon/Paul McCartney
The story opens with Nancy, just about to step out the front door of her home, bound for riding lessons, dressed in jodhpurs and a riding jacket.
But suddenly she pauses, noticing the pile of mail sitting on the front hall table.
As she’s sifting through the letters, Mrs. Hannah Gruen, passes by and sees Nancy. Gruen is the Drew’s housekeeper, and even more importantly, the only real mother figure Nancy has had since her own mother passed away many years before.
Mrs. Gruen takes a good look at Nancy’s riding outfit, and as she does, a look of worry overcomes her facial expression,
“Oh, Nancy, I worry about your doing that trick riding…”
The eighteen-year-old looks up from the mail, a smile forming on her lips,
“Who knows Hannah, the trick riding may come in handy some day when I have a mystery to solve.”
She was about to resume with the mail when through the corner of her eye she noticed Hannah still standing there, and then she saw the look of concern only deepening on the older woman’s face. She walks over and puts an arm around the housekeeper,
“If you’re worrying about my safety, I haven’t had a spill in months. Senor Roberto is too good a teacher…”
“Why look!” Nancy interrupted herself, “Here’s a letter and the mystery package from New York.”
“What do you mean, Nancy?”
“Didn’t I tell you, Hannah? Aunt Eloise sent a card saying she was mailing me a gift that has an unusual story.”
Nancy opened the letter and read aloud what her aunt had written about an item that had been purchased by the shopkeeper she’d recently bought from herself. She said that while she was paying for it, the shopkeeper told her that he himself acquired it while on a buying trip in Europe. The item, the shopkeeper told her, had once been presented to a woman circus performer by a certain queen who loved horses, or at least that was what he was told.
Nancy continued reading her aunt’s words which went on to reveal that the shop keeper also told her that the item she bought was sold to the open market by the woman circus performer herself, and why she would sell such a prized possession was a mystery, except perhaps because he was told she’d been in some kind of trouble. The shopkeeper said he’d bought the item with a vague sense that it had been released by the performer very reluctantly and that selling it was a possible way of escaping the bad situation she was in.
But what exactly was this trouble, or how selling the item would help her was unknown to the shop keeper, but the story stayed with him, and when Eliose purchased it, he passed on the story to the new owner, who was now passing it on again, but this time to the one person who might be the most intrigued with the tale of the woman circus performer.
Nancy set the letter on the table, deep in thought, and it was Hannah’s words that snapped her out of her reverie,
“And I suppose that you’re going to try to find this circus performer and help her out with her troubles…well, it’s what you always do.”
Nancy considered her words, and was quiet a moment, again it was the housekeeper who was impatient to move things along,
“Well, open the box, and let’s see what the mystery gift is.”
Nancy then carefully unwrapped what turned out to be an exquisite gold bracelet,
“Look at those darling little horse charms on it! One, two, three, four, five of them! Oh, the sixth one is missing!”
“It doesn’t matter,” said Hannah, “The bracelet is beautiful enough without the other horse.”
“Yes, it’s perfectly lovely,” Nancy agreed as she slipped the dainty bracelet over her wrist and held up her arm to look at the effect. The tiny horses gleamed in the light and seemed almost alive; they were so perfectly wrought. Each displayed a different gait, and all were gracefully poised.
“I wonder which gait the sixth horse has,” Nancy mused.
“There are only five, aren’t there?” Mrs. Gruen asked.
“Yes, and it’s possible the missing figure wasn’t a horse at all,” Nancy said.
As Nancy spoke, she turned the bracelet around and around, admiring it while scrutinizing it for any sign of an original owner,
“Do you suppose the circus performer was a European?” She asked, “Or an American who was acting over there?”
Hannah shook her head, “Now, Nancy, you know I wouldn’t have the least idea.”
Then, the young detective’s blue eyes sparkled as she snapped her fingers,
“I can start sleuthing right away by asking Senor Roberto some questions. You know, he used to be with the Sim’s Circus.”
Hannah shook her head, “Yes, and I wish he’d never left it and opened that riding academy here in River Heights.”
Nancy was about to speak up when the housekeeper went on,
“Then you wouldn’t have learned how to ride without a saddle and jump onto a moving horse and…”
Nancy laughed, “It’s fun and by the way, did you know that the Sim’s Circus is coming to town tomorrow?”
The housekeeper didn’t reply, her protest at Nancy’s dangerous new hobby had already been registered and she wasn’t going to be conversationally diverted from the point she hoped to impress upon young Miss Drew.
Suddenly Nancy remembered her riding lesson, “Please put this away for me, I shan’t be gone long.”
“And promise me you’ll be careful,” the housekeeper pleaded, “I wouldn’t want your father to come home from his trip and find that you…”
“Don’t say it, Hannah!” Nancy said, then kissed the older woman on the cheek, turned and dashed out the front door.
A moment later, she slid behind the wheel of her blue convertible. She started up the engine and began driving, her hair blowing in the breeze as she drove along.
Her thoughts were about the circus performer, wondering what kind of misfortune she’d met. Maybe some of the clues to this mystery might be closer to home than she first thought. After all, the Sim’s Circus was coming to town and Senior Roberto was a veteran performer from that company.
Her mind was running over all the possibilities, as was my own as I read these early pages.
And by the end, I realized that this story had held my interest, page after page, chapter after chapter, and the reason for this is no mystery after all, how could one lose interest in a story that had a character named Hitch, the harassing stableman, a forlorn Cinderella, an ominous note tucked into Nancy’s dress, a riding trick gone wrong, Nancy disguising herself as her friend, critical clues tucked away in a scrapbook, John and Lola Flanders aerialists to the European aristocracy, a ventriloquistic scream that helps avert disaster, an old jewel their trick that almost works, a counterfeit telegram and the hiring of a helicopter to shake pesky pursuers.
“The Ringmaster’s Secret” a circus mystery that definitely topped the bill!
Performs his feat on Saturday at Bishops Gate.
The Hendersons will dance and sing,
As Mr. Kite fly’s through the ring don’t be late.
Messrs. K and H assure the public
Their production will be second to none,
And of course, Henry the Horse dances the waltz!”
-John Lennon/Paul McCartney
The story opens with Nancy, just about to step out the front door of her home, bound for riding lessons, dressed in jodhpurs and a riding jacket.
But suddenly she pauses, noticing the pile of mail sitting on the front hall table.
As she’s sifting through the letters, Mrs. Hannah Gruen, passes by and sees Nancy. Gruen is the Drew’s housekeeper, and even more importantly, the only real mother figure Nancy has had since her own mother passed away many years before.
Mrs. Gruen takes a good look at Nancy’s riding outfit, and as she does, a look of worry overcomes her facial expression,
“Oh, Nancy, I worry about your doing that trick riding…”
The eighteen-year-old looks up from the mail, a smile forming on her lips,
“Who knows Hannah, the trick riding may come in handy some day when I have a mystery to solve.”
She was about to resume with the mail when through the corner of her eye she noticed Hannah still standing there, and then she saw the look of concern only deepening on the older woman’s face. She walks over and puts an arm around the housekeeper,
“If you’re worrying about my safety, I haven’t had a spill in months. Senor Roberto is too good a teacher…”
“Why look!” Nancy interrupted herself, “Here’s a letter and the mystery package from New York.”
“What do you mean, Nancy?”
“Didn’t I tell you, Hannah? Aunt Eloise sent a card saying she was mailing me a gift that has an unusual story.”
Nancy opened the letter and read aloud what her aunt had written about an item that had been purchased by the shopkeeper she’d recently bought from herself. She said that while she was paying for it, the shopkeeper told her that he himself acquired it while on a buying trip in Europe. The item, the shopkeeper told her, had once been presented to a woman circus performer by a certain queen who loved horses, or at least that was what he was told.
Nancy continued reading her aunt’s words which went on to reveal that the shop keeper also told her that the item she bought was sold to the open market by the woman circus performer herself, and why she would sell such a prized possession was a mystery, except perhaps because he was told she’d been in some kind of trouble. The shopkeeper said he’d bought the item with a vague sense that it had been released by the performer very reluctantly and that selling it was a possible way of escaping the bad situation she was in.
But what exactly was this trouble, or how selling the item would help her was unknown to the shop keeper, but the story stayed with him, and when Eliose purchased it, he passed on the story to the new owner, who was now passing it on again, but this time to the one person who might be the most intrigued with the tale of the woman circus performer.
Nancy set the letter on the table, deep in thought, and it was Hannah’s words that snapped her out of her reverie,
“And I suppose that you’re going to try to find this circus performer and help her out with her troubles…well, it’s what you always do.”
Nancy considered her words, and was quiet a moment, again it was the housekeeper who was impatient to move things along,
“Well, open the box, and let’s see what the mystery gift is.”
Nancy then carefully unwrapped what turned out to be an exquisite gold bracelet,
“Look at those darling little horse charms on it! One, two, three, four, five of them! Oh, the sixth one is missing!”
“It doesn’t matter,” said Hannah, “The bracelet is beautiful enough without the other horse.”
“Yes, it’s perfectly lovely,” Nancy agreed as she slipped the dainty bracelet over her wrist and held up her arm to look at the effect. The tiny horses gleamed in the light and seemed almost alive; they were so perfectly wrought. Each displayed a different gait, and all were gracefully poised.
“I wonder which gait the sixth horse has,” Nancy mused.
“There are only five, aren’t there?” Mrs. Gruen asked.
“Yes, and it’s possible the missing figure wasn’t a horse at all,” Nancy said.
As Nancy spoke, she turned the bracelet around and around, admiring it while scrutinizing it for any sign of an original owner,
“Do you suppose the circus performer was a European?” She asked, “Or an American who was acting over there?”
Hannah shook her head, “Now, Nancy, you know I wouldn’t have the least idea.”
Then, the young detective’s blue eyes sparkled as she snapped her fingers,
“I can start sleuthing right away by asking Senor Roberto some questions. You know, he used to be with the Sim’s Circus.”
Hannah shook her head, “Yes, and I wish he’d never left it and opened that riding academy here in River Heights.”
Nancy was about to speak up when the housekeeper went on,
“Then you wouldn’t have learned how to ride without a saddle and jump onto a moving horse and…”
Nancy laughed, “It’s fun and by the way, did you know that the Sim’s Circus is coming to town tomorrow?”
The housekeeper didn’t reply, her protest at Nancy’s dangerous new hobby had already been registered and she wasn’t going to be conversationally diverted from the point she hoped to impress upon young Miss Drew.
Suddenly Nancy remembered her riding lesson, “Please put this away for me, I shan’t be gone long.”
“And promise me you’ll be careful,” the housekeeper pleaded, “I wouldn’t want your father to come home from his trip and find that you…”
“Don’t say it, Hannah!” Nancy said, then kissed the older woman on the cheek, turned and dashed out the front door.
A moment later, she slid behind the wheel of her blue convertible. She started up the engine and began driving, her hair blowing in the breeze as she drove along.
Her thoughts were about the circus performer, wondering what kind of misfortune she’d met. Maybe some of the clues to this mystery might be closer to home than she first thought. After all, the Sim’s Circus was coming to town and Senior Roberto was a veteran performer from that company.
Her mind was running over all the possibilities, as was my own as I read these early pages.
And by the end, I realized that this story had held my interest, page after page, chapter after chapter, and the reason for this is no mystery after all, how could one lose interest in a story that had a character named Hitch, the harassing stableman, a forlorn Cinderella, an ominous note tucked into Nancy’s dress, a riding trick gone wrong, Nancy disguising herself as her friend, critical clues tucked away in a scrapbook, John and Lola Flanders aerialists to the European aristocracy, a ventriloquistic scream that helps avert disaster, an old jewel their trick that almost works, a counterfeit telegram and the hiring of a helicopter to shake pesky pursuers.
“The Ringmaster’s Secret” a circus mystery that definitely topped the bill!
June 3, 2012
Nancy's aunt sends her a bracelet and tells her there is a mystery surrounding it. When the circus comes to town and Nancy meets an amazing aerialist who was brought up by cruel adoptive parents, the owners of the circus, Nancy discovers that the aerialist and the bracelet are connected. She proceeds to investigate.
The Nancy Drew Mysteries are such great books. My 8 year old recently discovered them and she loves them. The language is not dumbed down and my daughter loves trying to solve the mysteries. She gets so excited with every passing chapter and loves to tell me her new theories on who did it.
There is a reason these books are classic. They will improve your child's vocabulary and comprehension skills and they are wonderful books to read together.
The Nancy Drew Mysteries are such great books. My 8 year old recently discovered them and she loves them. The language is not dumbed down and my daughter loves trying to solve the mysteries. She gets so excited with every passing chapter and loves to tell me her new theories on who did it.
There is a reason these books are classic. They will improve your child's vocabulary and comprehension skills and they are wonderful books to read together.
May 23, 2018
A circus comes to town, and Nancy is faced with a mystery to solve. A good mystery for kids.
December 31, 2017
One of my all time favorites, although I haven't read it since I was probably about 12. Chalk it up to childish fancy, but I've always loved a good circus story. It was also always one of my favorite games of pretend to play with my siblings when we were kids (My favorite circus name was Tonya, and I walked the tightrope and was an aerialist... Ahh make believe!)
Anyway, back to The Ringmaster's Secret. Nancy becomes an expert trick rider in this one (because of course she does) and finds herself embroiled in a mystery with the Sims Circus that has come to River Heights. This was a particularly violent one with near strangulations, kidnapping, rocks being thrown at horses in order to throw their riders, and a seriously twisted wife and husband duo who steal an 8 year old girl, Lolita, after her father is killed in an aerialist accident, and her mother seriously injured with amnesia (presumed dead by all). Aside form kidnapping Lolita, they somehow keep her mother "imprisoned" by giving her powders that keep her memories away, and steal money from her bond account for 10 years. Yeah. That's some dark shit. But of course, Nancy saves the day, and all ends well. Phew!
I'm so glad I decided to read through all these old books of mine. What's the point in having a library if you only ever read what you have once? No point in keeping them if that's the case.
Anyway, back to The Ringmaster's Secret. Nancy becomes an expert trick rider in this one (because of course she does) and finds herself embroiled in a mystery with the Sims Circus that has come to River Heights. This was a particularly violent one with near strangulations, kidnapping, rocks being thrown at horses in order to throw their riders, and a seriously twisted wife and husband duo who steal an 8 year old girl, Lolita, after her father is killed in an aerialist accident, and her mother seriously injured with amnesia (presumed dead by all). Aside form kidnapping Lolita, they somehow keep her mother "imprisoned" by giving her powders that keep her memories away, and steal money from her bond account for 10 years. Yeah. That's some dark shit. But of course, Nancy saves the day, and all ends well. Phew!
I'm so glad I decided to read through all these old books of mine. What's the point in having a library if you only ever read what you have once? No point in keeping them if that's the case.
August 10, 2022
While for most of my 50 years I have been a fan of the Hardy Boys I decided in recent years to also collect Nancy Drew tales and read the ones I have never read and I am glad I did because they are great! The Ringmasters Secret is one of those conundrums though. It is a great plot and great story that is plausible even today but is mired by not aging well. The basic idea of the plot is Nancy come across a circus trapeze artist who is foster child of a harsh ringmaster. Turns out her parents are said to have been killed in an accident and it may well be the harsh foster parents are using her inheirited funds to support their own struggling circus. A believable plot, even today. But the aging of the book becomes clear when Nancy struggles to research the death of her parents. In the internet age we and certainly no young readers today could comprehend not being able to do a simple internet search. The constant references to sending telegrams too are something no modern reader could relate to I am 50 and never in my life encountered a telegram. A great story with excellent cover art but clearly a bit dated!
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June 1, 2024Tässä teoksessa ylitsevuotavan upea etsivätsirbulamme harrastaa taitoratsastusta ja saa tädiltään lahjaksi hevosaiheisen rannekorun, josta puuttuu yksi sen amuleteista. Koru on kertomuksen mukaan kuulunut aiemmin sirkustaiteilijalle, ja sattumoisin kaupungissa onkin juuri käymässä sirkus, jonka jäsenillä saattaisi hyvinkin olla tietoa korusta.
Erinäisten käänteiden myötä Paula otetaan osaksi sirkuksen taitoratsastusesitystä (koska _tietenkin_ hän on siinä niin hyvä) ja samalla hän voi selvittää ranneketjun arvoitusta ja setviä muitakin epäilyttäviä asioita sirkuksessa.
Oli kyllä eräänlainen vuoristorata tämäkin. Paula yritetään kuristaa, hänet kidnapataan, hänen hevostaan heitetään kivellä ja lentolaukkuun jemmataan sokeuttavaa happoa. Lisäksi esiinnytään sirkuksessa, lennellään Englantiin ja takaisin, avustetaan poliisia ja ratkaistaan tietysti kaikki.
Samaan aikaan tämä oli aika tylsä, sillä meininki oli enimmäkseen sekavaa ja hupsuudet olivat ohimeneviä. Käännös oli varsin kehno, mutta sekin oli enimmäkseen kökkö eikä riemukas.
Erinäisten käänteiden myötä Paula otetaan osaksi sirkuksen taitoratsastusesitystä (koska _tietenkin_ hän on siinä niin hyvä) ja samalla hän voi selvittää ranneketjun arvoitusta ja setviä muitakin epäilyttäviä asioita sirkuksessa.
Oli kyllä eräänlainen vuoristorata tämäkin. Paula yritetään kuristaa, hänet kidnapataan, hänen hevostaan heitetään kivellä ja lentolaukkuun jemmataan sokeuttavaa happoa. Lisäksi esiinnytään sirkuksessa, lennellään Englantiin ja takaisin, avustetaan poliisia ja ratkaistaan tietysti kaikki.
Samaan aikaan tämä oli aika tylsä, sillä meininki oli enimmäkseen sekavaa ja hupsuudet olivat ohimeneviä. Käännös oli varsin kehno, mutta sekin oli enimmäkseen kökkö eikä riemukas.
September 23, 2024
Of all the weird talents Nancy has accrued during this series, the one featured in this book takes the cake. Wouldn't you know it, just as a circus comes to town, Nancy has somehow taken up stunt riding, which certainly comes in handy when she has to take the place of one of the circus performers after an injury! Oh, and she's also taken some classes on ventriloquism as well, because why not. You can't make this stuff up.
Aside from this, the book is perfectly readable, leaving out the terminology used for some of the circus performers (and the inherently cruel practices towards circus animals, but I digress). I personally like the books that include more of Bess and George, but this one was fine. A decent way to spend a few hours, but nothing special.
Aside from this, the book is perfectly readable, leaving out the terminology used for some of the circus performers (and the inherently cruel practices towards circus animals, but I digress). I personally like the books that include more of Bess and George, but this one was fine. A decent way to spend a few hours, but nothing special.
July 20, 2023
Always fun to revisit Nancy Drew and see what new skills she's picked up!
Here she's a skilled equestrian, a skill that helps when she has to look into the goings on in a circus!
I always remember how much I enjoyed these books when I first read them and they are representative of a much more innocent time of life!
Here she's a skilled equestrian, a skill that helps when she has to look into the goings on in a circus!
I always remember how much I enjoyed these books when I first read them and they are representative of a much more innocent time of life!
February 6, 2021
5 stars & 5/10 hearts. So, besides the awful cover, I REALLY enjoyed this story. It started off with a bang, but also a little more unusually than Nancy's stories generally begin. I loved that I was able to have a theory/suspicion and follow it out instead of blindly discovering it when Nancy disclosed it. Lolita was so sweet, and I really liked Pietro. And R. was simply a horrid (perfect) villain! I also enjoyed seeing Nancy in the circus.
December 10, 2021
This is one of the best Nancy Drew novels I have read. I wish they hadn't chopped off 30 pages from the original. I could tell in the summary of what the villains were up to at the end that it was severely condensed. I probably should have read the original paper version instead, but it's still a great story. If you like circuses this is the Drew for you
February 9, 2024
I don’t read Nancy Drew because they’re wonderfully written, they’re not 😂 I read them for the nostalgia and because they’re easy to read! I’ll always enjoy a Nancy Drew Mystery, even if she is a Mary Sue 😉
May 3, 2024
This was a walk down my childhood reading. I used to love the Nancy Drew books. I don't recall ever reading this book. I enjoyed it, as I had all of the other ones that I have read.
December 18, 2020
This book holds up fairly well in the revised text. There's all kinds of coincidences concerning the charm bracelet, but the mystery surrounding Lolita and her mom is pretty solid. It's nice to read about a circus considering the big circuses, at least in the United States have ceased operations.
June 7, 2023
I always have been and always will be a Nancy drew girl
December 14, 2019
3,5 stars- i've read the version that has 25 chapters. It was wild for Nancy as always : she became stunt horse rider in a circus, she gets acid on her bag, gets blind and is thrown to a lion in a cage... yeah that kind of Nancy that i like
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 4, 2015
This book is about another mystery including Nancy Drew . One day one of Nancy's aunts bought Nancy a bracelet with 5 horses on it but it was missing one horse . Nancy's aunt has heard about the bracelet's past . The story is that a famous circus performer has owned that bracelet for a long time , she soon died so she gave it to her daughter . The lady's daughter ¨lost¨ her bracelet, but the thrift shop owner got it as a gift but wanted to sell it.
In Nancy's hometown every year they have a circus come perform for a week . The ringmaster's daughter is the famous performer who ¨died¨. The ringmaster took the bracelet to sell it , because he wants more money . He also kidnapped the little girl when she was a baby . Nancy figured all this out then the ringmaster and his wife went to jail .
In Nancy's hometown every year they have a circus come perform for a week . The ringmaster's daughter is the famous performer who ¨died¨. The ringmaster took the bracelet to sell it , because he wants more money . He also kidnapped the little girl when she was a baby . Nancy figured all this out then the ringmaster and his wife went to jail .
May 19, 2015
Out of all the Nancy Drew books I have read, this is one of the best. The descriptive words the ghost writer uses are so well chosen, it takes the book to a whole 'nother level. The characters are so relatable and realistic, it's like you almost feel like you know them. All 178 pages of this novel reveal details and clues like never before. If you are into mysteries, then this book was written for you. The main thing that I enjoy about these novels are the suspense and the cliff hangers that make you want to keep reading and reading. It feels like you can't put down the book without feeling guilty. Because I really enjoy these novels, I will continue to read them until I finish the series.
November 30, 2019
The reread continues! I actually really liked this one. The mystery was interesting, the writing was good, and the only -ism problems were the use of the word "midget" and possibly a bit of George mocking Bess for her eating habits.
September 26, 2012
i loved this Nancy Drew Mystery as a pre-teen!
March 24, 2008
This was a good book, it didn't take me to long to read and it was sometimes hard to put down.
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