Nancy Drew fans will enjoy meeting old chums: tomboy Georgeand timid Bess; Nancy's supportive dad, Carson Drew; and of course, the clever sleuth, Nancy, herself. Added to the mix this time are anew friend whose grandmother is about to lose her farm, money-laundering thugs, and a mysterious cult. For those who canoverlook corny clichš, annoying adverbs, and stereotypicalcharacters, this book has a well-structured, suspenseful plot withlots of twists and turns and enough danger to keep young readersshivering. Background music, done to good effect, adds the feeling ofan old-fashioned radio drama. Reader Laura Linney seems made toorder. With an expressive, well-modulated voice, she keeps the pacelively and maintains just the right balance between narration anddramatization.
A young detective's attempts to uncover a group of poachers on Crocodile Island in Florida involve her with kidnapping, reptiles, enemy boats, and a sinister racket.