The Nancys and the Case of the Missing Necklace

Overview

Eleven-year-old Tippy’s uncle and his boyfriend turn up in her small New Zealand town to look after her when his mother is away over Christmas, but when her schoolteacher is found dead and her best friend has a near-fatal accident, the trio turns detective, dubbing themselves The Nancys, and launching a chaotic, hilarious investigation.

`Heartfelt and hilarious, this mystery is packed with vivid, beautifully written characters … highly recommended´ A.J. West

`The characters are charming, the narrative romps along and the sense of place is evocative´ Daily Mail

`As well as a compelling mystery, this is a funny and touching account of family, friendship and loss, with a trio of appealing characters at its heart´ Guardian

`Wonderful … A book of great heart, humour and originality. I loved it´ Chris Hammer

`A wonderfully smart, funny, intriguing and joyously camp mystery. I loved it! ´ William Hussey

*** WINNER of the Ngaio Marsh Award for Best First Novel***

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Meet the Nancys…

Tippy Chan is eleven years old, and she lives in a small town in a very quiet part of New Zealand – the town her Uncle Pike escaped as a teenager, the moment he got a chance. Now Pike is back with his new boyfriend Devon to look after Tippy while her mum is on a Christmas cruise.

Tippy can’t get enough of her uncle's old Nancy Drew books. She wants to be Nancy and is desperate to solve a real mystery. So, when her teacher's body is found beside Riverstone's only traffic light, it looks like Tippy's moment has arrived. She and her minders form The Nancys, a secret detective club.

But what starts as a bonding and sightseeing adventure quickly morphs into something far more dangerous. A wrongful arrest, a close call with the murderer, and an intervention from Tippy's mum all conspire against The Nancys. But regardless of their own safety, and despite the constant distraction of questionable fashion choices in the town that style forgot, The Nancys know only they can stop the killer from striking again. Whatever the cost…

Gripping, glorious and glittering with suspense, The Nancy’s is also a heartwarming, hilarious novel for anyone who’s ever felt like they were on the outside, looking in, with a simmering mystery at its heart and characters you will never forget.

A hilarious, and heartfelt twist on Nancy Drew – with murder, mayhem and makeovers in small-town New Zealand.

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`Deftly sidesteps many of the well-worn clichés associated with the sub-genre and instead treats the reader to a Technicolor tale that both entertains and intrigues … a book that will stay with me for a long while´ Crime Fiction Lover

`Entertaining and satisfying, with a cast of characters I loved and genuinely cared about … unsettling, captivating and uplifting´ Vanda Symon

`A heartfelt, wryly funny mystery packed with memorable characters and deft dialogue. An utter delight from start to finish … hugely recommended! ´ D.V. Bishop

`Charming and very funny … filled with love and humour, even in the face of danger´ Sydney Morning Herald

`A celebration of what's important in life – family, friendship, and also: makeovers´ Katherine Collette

`Funny and flamboyant, but with real weight (and a dead body) at its centre. Fun, refreshing and surprisingly poignant´ Anna Downes

`Delightful and exuberant … an enthralling mystery via bewitchingly chaotic events and characters who are a riot´ New Zealand Listener

`A giddy, entertaining romp´ New Zealand Herald

What readers are saying…

`Reminded me of Jennie Godfrey’s The List of Suspicious Things … with glitter!´

`Heart-wrenching but also laugh-out-loud funny – a triumph!´

`Please tell me there’s a sequel!´

`Alternately wiping away tears, laughing hysterically and holding my breath´

`I loved these characters – so real and believable´

`The best mystery I’ve read this year´

Reviews

“Tippy's obsession with her uncle Pike's old Nancy Drew books leads to the formation of a secret detective club, the Nancys. Little does she realise that she, Pike and his partner Devon will be in danger as they investigate a real murder. Head to New Zealand's Aotearoa with this fun, humorous and nostalgic crime caper that shows that there's a place in the world for everyone” —The People's Friend

“Eleven-year-old Tippy lives in Riverstone, a small town in New Zealand that her beloved Uncle Pike abandoned as soon as he could. When Tippy's mother goes on holiday, Pike comes back to look after his niece, bringing his boyfriend, Devon—the first man he has ever brought home. Tippy starts obsessively reading Pike's old Nacy Drew books and wishes she could solve a mystery herself. When Tippy's teacher dies and her best friend has an awful accident, she, Pike and Devon start sleuthing, calling themselves ”The Nancys". An investigation ensues but it soon becomes dangerous. The characters are charming, the narrative romps along and the sense of place is evocative. Enjoyable." —Daily Mail

“It takes a mighty fine novel to knock King Herron off the top spot, so congratulations to Kiwi author RWR McDonald for managing the feat. It’s a whodunnit what will have you crying tears of joy and sadness as young Tippy and her team slowly realise that they’ve bitten off more than they can chew. A tale populated with wondrous three-dimensional characters – some dippy and delightful, some downright dangerous – set in a world that you won’t want to leave. It’ll make you smile while taking up residence in your heart and head. A worthy winner, in my book!” —Crime Fiction Lover

Author Biography

R.W.R. McDonald (Rob) is an award-winning author, a Kiwi and Queer dad living in Melbourne with his two daughters and one HarryCat. His debut novel, The Nancys, won Best First Novel in the 2020 Ngaio Marsh Awards, as well as being a finalist in the Best Novel category. It was shortlisted for Best First Novel in the 2020 Ned Kelly Awards, and Highly Commended for an Unpublished Manuscript in the 2017 Victorian Premier's Literary Awards. His second novel, Nancy Business, was a finalist for Best Novel in 2022 Ngaio Marsh Awards.