Because the "hanging" imagery on Book Eight's cover was a disturbing turn-off for me, I skipped ahead to this ninth Nancy Drew Files book.

Hence, I missed Nancy and her boyfriend Ned's famous breakup, though I'd already seen it coming. She's admitted to habitually taking him for granted, she's kissed or made out with other guys in previous books while telling herself she loves Ned, and she's also got another boyfriend now. So I didn't drum up much sympathy for Nancy being in her feelings here over Ned's new relationship. At the same time, he's kind of a jerk for having the nerve to show up and ask Nancy to do detective work on behalf of his new girlfriend after he often complained about Nancy's detective work while he was with her.

Dude. At least have the courtesy to find a different investigator for this case.

Yeah, yeah. I know there's little point in arguing with characters in a YA mystery novel from an '80s series that's sure to have some contrived situations and angsty romance in it. I still had to get that out, though.

Anyhow! As it's also happened in earlier books, Nancy makes some silly mistakes in this case that an experienced and renowned detective wouldn't make, like the way she keeps leaving her purse sitting around the investigation site, even forgetting where she put it. And this book has some repetitive details and dialogue.

Nevertheless, I enjoyed "watching" all of the ballet dancing in this novel, seeing the characters use stuff like cassette tapes and VCRs satisfied my nostalgic side, and the fight scene at the climax is great. Plus, it's refreshing when, every once in a while, Nancy has a case that isn't a murder mystery. Heists like this make interesting cases too.

I'll be continuing this series soon. ( )