the secret in the old attic

"Nancy had expected a hand to be clapped over her mouth, but nothing happened."
Keene, C. (1970). The secret in the old attic. New York: Grosset & Dunlap. p. 70

The mere fact Nancy EXPECTS to be captured is ridiculous! Can you imagine? Living your life, where being captured, gagged, and bound by ropes left to "starve to death" is a normal occurrence? And the only reaction from the parental units is, "Take extra caution." Hello?!

Something I've been thinking about lately: Which ever mystery Nancy is involved with, usually involves some sort of old home or artifact that has a false bottom or a secret door or sealed off room that was once used as servants quarters, and I just think, we don't really have stuff like that. Like, there is no way, I could get wrapped up in a situation like Nancy.

This story (#21) made me like Ned Nickerson A LOT more. Let's just say he came to the rescue. Here is how Mr. Drew describes Ned, "A man...with good strong muscles!" (p. 169)

I felt this mystery cleverly linked 2 VERY unrelated stories by the use of black widow spiders. I thought the ending tied together well. Nancy was asked to help a man find the unpublished composed sheet music of his deceased son and Mr. Drew also asked Nancy to help him solve a mystery of a special chemical combination to make ultra-silk. Effie (a maid), "kind-hearted and loyal to the Drew family" (p.24) is introduced.