The Case of the Disappearing Diamonds is the 80th book in the Nancy Drew Mystery Stories series. It was first published November 1987. The cover tagline says “Nancy discovers that there’s nothing hotter than stolen ice.” It is available for Kindle eBook on Amazon here. (Affiliate link.)
Book Summary:
Mystery writer Monica Crown hires Nancy to prove her jailed daughter is innocent of a diamond heist. Can Nancy find the real culprit before it’s too late?
Review:
Carson Drew asks Nancy for his help with his new client, a mystery writer named Monica Crown. Nancy takes the case and meets Monica, learning from her that she believes her daughter is innocent for a crime involving a family jewelry store. Uncut precious stones and jewels were stolen from a high-security jewelry store. The guard was found unconscious and the security alarms never went off. The last person to leave the building was daughter Katherine.
Nancy questions all persons but Monica suddenly goes missing, and authorities find her car at the bottom of a ravine. Nancy, Bess, and George are regularly followed in a white sedan whenever they travel, and Nancy receives threats, a fake bomb explodes in her mailbox, and an airplane ride is sabotaged. Someone desperately wants Nancy off the case.
Ned is in a few scenes with Nancy, taking her on a date, or accompanying her for lunch or on a mission to meet some suspects. Ned keeps his cool, and but gets upset over reckless boaters and rude students.
Even with the elements of danger, a nice balance of time with each friend, and some good leads, the mystery itself felt lacking in actual, tangible clues. A majority of this case involved questioning suspects and gaining more suspicion whenever the culprit acted out on her. It was not a bad mystery, but I didn’t feel like it was memorable enough for me to consider re-reading in the future.
There is a great quote from Bess that says “Anyone can tell you that a book is always better than a movie. Right, Nancy?”
It is mentioned that Ned went to River Heights High school – which feels like a continuity error since Ned and his family lived in Mapleton in other books.
There is another cute quote from Ned Nickerson to Nancy after dinner when he says “There’s never a dull moment when you’re around.”
Nancy Drew Canon Observations:
Nancy is described as having long, reddish blonde hair. In one scene she wears a camel-colored pleated wool skirt and a white sweater.
Nancy drives a blue sports car.
In River Heights, there is a jewelry store on Main street called Roget’s. It has a red-striped awning hung high above the storefront, and it has a red-carpeted walk leading to the door. Barred steel gates and a security guard protect the entrance. Also in River Heights is an Italian restaurant called Pasta Pizzazz
There is a hall closet in the Drew house near the front door. Down the hall is the den, where Carson’s favorite leather easy chair, a leather sofa, and Carson’s mahogany desk is located.
Nancy’s mom died when Nancy was 3 years old, and Nancy has been raised by the Drew’s housekeeper, Hannah Gruen. In this story, Hannah makes turkey with trimmings and peach cobbler. In another meal, it’s salmon and dinner rolls. Another day is a double-chocolate cake.
Bess Marvin and George Fayne are first cousins. They are described as “Blond, blue-eyed Bess was slightly plump and very pretty. Her main interests in life were boys, clothes, and food. Brown-haired, brown-eyed George was tall, attractive, and athletic.” Later George’s height is mentioned – she is 5’8″. Bess has a job in this story, which is why George accompanies Nancy in a few investigations. The family friends of the Marvins own a photography studio, which Bess is working at temporarily while an employee is out of town.
Nancy and George play tennis at the River Heights Country Club. George also works part-time at the country club giving tennis lessons.
Carson Drew is described as having dark hair with traces of gray.
Ned accepts a lunch date with Nancy when she meets a student at Emerson College. The Nickerson family has a cabin in the mountain by Cedar Lake and Ned, Mr. and Mrs. Nickerson invite Nancy to join them on Saturday.
Nancy has a favorite rock song, which is played on the radio station WRVH.
Just north of River Heights is an area called Stone Canyon.
The River Heights airport is a ten minute drive from the Drew house.
Chief McGinnis is in this story. He is an old friend of both Nancy and her father. They like and respect him. McGinnis admires Nancy’s enormous talent for criminal investigation.
Extra Notes:
An Aladdin Book published by Simon & Schuster. The eBook was produced by Mega-Books of New York, Inc.
Length: 147 pages
