Once Upon a Thriller [Paperback]

Nancy and her friends need more than book smarts to get to the bottom of a literary mystery in this fourth book of the Nancy Drew Diaries, a new take on the classic series.

A rash of crimes in a neighboring town—a blazing fire at a bookstore, a boat that sinks in the harbor, and a valuable dog’s dognapping—are eerily similar to the plots from famous mystery writer Lacey O’Brien’s popular books. So who’s behind the crimes? Could it be Lacey looking for publicity? One of Lacey’s superfans? Or maybe it’s Paige Samuels, owner of the bookstore that burned. Nancy, Bess, and George will have to read between the lines as they dig deep into a dangerous mystery.Once Upon a Thriller

CHAPTER ONE

Burned

“COME ON. HURRY UP AND let’s go!” I called to Bess and George as I popped open the trunk of my car. I had parked in front of George’s house and was in a rush to get going.

“Leave it to you to be right on time, Nancy,” Bess teased as she and George walked down the front steps of the porch and headed toward me, overnight bags in hand. George glanced at her watch.

“Whoa, Bess is right!” George said. “It’s nine a.m. on the dot.” She grabbed Bess’s bag and tossed it and her own into the trunk before slamming it shut.

“Well, that’s when I told you I’d be here,” I answered. “And I’m really looking forward to getting to the lake early so we can settle into our cabin and go for a hike before it gets too hot.”

“Ugh,” Bess groaned. “Not a hike! You and George promised me this would be a relaxing weekend.”

“And it will be,” I said. “A short hike this morning, followed by a clãd