Friends to lovers romance set in SYDNEY
Crime mystery set in SOUTH OTAGO
10th November 2026
The Nancys and the Secret of Tulip Farm by R W R McDonald, crime mystery set in South Otago (Aotearoa).
This is the second outing for 12 year old Tippy and her Uncle Pike and his partner, Devon. The novel opens as Tippy and her family are marking the first anniversary of her father’s death. The couple has once again arrived from Australia to help in her care and this time she is going to work over the holidays as their “PA”, a grand adult job for which she will earn good money.
In their last outing – described in The Nancys and the Case of the Missing Necklace – the trio started their sleuthing adventures, inspired by the Nancy Drew novels, and hence the term “The Nancys”. Tippy is regretful that Riverstone, where she lives, is nothing like Nancy Drew’s River Heights, and it’s unlikely another interesting case for them to investigate will occur but sometimes fate has other ideas…. The doldrums set in but Tippy is a wonderfully resourceful young lady.
Her patience is rewarded when the local sirens sound out, and it transpires there has been an explosion. A few tense hours, when her mother, who was at work not far from the site of the devastations, seemed to be missing. But once she is found safe and sound, the focus turns to the perpetrator, a well-know farmer, who is known in the community to be a good person. Clearly something is amiss here and it proves to be the perfect project for the Nancys. Once they delve into the available evidence, they begin to find all kinds of holes in the so-called facts, together with many a manipulative deed.
These novels are sweet, heart-warming and entertaining, with a camp element that will make you smile. Tippy is also witness to adult shenanigans, which at times leave her rather non-plussed, interpreting what she experiences through the eyes of a twelve year old.
This series is a lot of fun but the novels do not shy away from life events. Highly recommended.
Tina for the TripFiction Team
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