AustLit

'Tippy, Uncle Pike and Devon are back for another camp cozy crime mystery from the award-winning author of The Nancys.

Somebody out there knew the truth.
'The Nancys have a new client,' I announced. 'And they need us to start ASAP.'
'Wow,' Devon said. 'Word of mouth really does work.'
Uncle Pike frowned and leaned forward. 'Who?'
I glanced behind him at the straggle of guests in the kitchen. I lowered my voice, 'Nancy business. Mum can't know.'

'It's been four months since Tippy, Uncle Pike and Devon were together for Christmas. Now back for the first anniversary of Tippy's father's death, the Nancys are reformed when Riverstone is rocked by an early morning explosion that kills three people and destroys the town hall.

'A new case is born and the Nancys re-form. Is the accused bomber really guilty? Is there a second bomber? And if so, does that mean a threat to destroy Riverstone Bridge is real? And is asparagus a colour? Once again, it is up to the Nancys to go against the flow and ignore police advice to get to the truth.

'It's great to be back in Nancy business again, but this time it's all different. Uncle Pike and Devon can't agree on anything and Tippy is learning hard truths about the world and the people she loves the most. Can the Nancys stay together to do their best work and save the town? Or will the killer strike again? When everyone is right, does that make you wrong? And can Tippy ever trust anyone again?

'The gripping, heartwarming and hilarious sequel to R.W.R. McDonald's smash hit The Nancys, winner of the 2020 Ngaio Marsh Award for Best First Novel.'

Source : publisher's blurb

'Tippy Chan is eleven and lives in a small town in a very quiet part of the world—the place her Uncle Pike escaped from the first chance he got as a teenager. Now Pike is back with his new boyfriend to look after Tippy while her mum's on a cruise. Tippy is in love with her uncle's old Nancy Drew books, especially the early ones where Nancy was sixteen and did whatever she wanted. She wants to be Nancy and is desperate to solve a real mystery. When her teacher's body is found beside Riverstone's only traffic light, Tippy's moment has arrived. She and her minders form The Nancys, a secret amateur detective club.

'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. A gripping and glorious, heart-warming novel for anyone who's ever felt they were on the outside looking in. At its heart, The Nancys is about the family we make and how we must summon the courage to face the truth, no matter what the cost may be.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.