Nancy Drew #4: The Mystery at Lilac Inn

Here is the review for Nancy Drew mystery #4, Mystery at Lilac Inn.

  I really like they mystery, but sadly, this is one of the last times Helen Corning is mentioned. She is mentioned only once more the entire series I believe, in The Invisible Intruder.
 In the beginning, Nancy and Helen are canoeing up river to Lilac Inn, where they will meet their friend Emily Willoughby, to discuss wedding plans for her; as they are to be part of the wedding. They don't make it there unscathed tough, because they hit a mysterious object and capsize.

  Throughout the book, Nancy, Helen, Emily and her aunt, Hazel Willoughby, are the targets for almost everything, from  flying spears , bombs, getting forced in to ditches, blackmailing, impersonating/forgery, and thievery, the culprit leaves no plot untouched. You can't really guess who the culprit is, because she/he doesn't show up basically until the very end. I liked the plot, and I think it's sad that Helen will be almost completely forgotten, but overall I would give this book a 9/10. It has a consistent plot line, plenty of danger and fun, but some parts just don't make sense and you never would have been able to guess the culprit. The "ghost impersonation" was useless to the plot, and so was the blackmailing. The blackmailing and the character who did it could have just been left out of the book. Besides all of that, like I said, I give The Mystery at Lilac Inn a 9/10.

-Samantha Quick