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The Nancys

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( 1,828 ratings, 305 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Nancys by R.W.R. McDonald is a crime thriller that follows the story of an unlikely trioβ€”a young girl, her uncle, and his boyfriendβ€”who come together to solve a murder in a small New Zealand town. As they dig deeper, secrets come to light, challenging the bonds of family and friendship while unravelling a gripping mystery. This heartwarming yet suspenseful tale combines elements of humour and tension, making it an engaging read.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you love a mix of humour and suspense, appreciate heartwarming family dynamics, and are intrigued by an amateur detective team solving a mystery in a small town. Set against a backdrop of dark secrets and close-knit community vibes, it offers a refreshing take on the crime and thriller genre.

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A schoolgirl and her uncle and his boyfriend have two weeks to solve a murder in a small town style forgot...

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

WINNER of the Ngaio Marsh Award for Best First Novel

'Funny, dark and above all, heart-warming, The Nancys is a celebration of what's important in life - which is family, friendship and also: makeovers. R.W.R. McDonald's novel is face-paced, clever and full of wit and repartee. McDonald pays homage to the novel's namesake Nancy Drew, but adds elements of RuPaul and Shirley Barrett's The Bus on Thursday. The result is a work of fiction that is smart, darkly comic and, in the very best of ways, completely bizarre.' - Katherine Collette, author of The Helpline

'A delight - moving and hilarious. I loved every minute I spent with these characters.' - Paddy O'Reilly

'How does The Nancys manage to be both sharp and blackly funny, but also uplifting and sweet?' - Toni Jordan

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 Devon 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.

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.

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

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781760879624

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 30 March 2021

Country: Australia

Imprint: Allen & Unwin

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 366g

Pages: 416

About the Author

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.

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