The Nancys and the Case of the Missing Necklace by R.W.R McDonald

The Nancys and the Case of the Missing Necklace

The Heartwarming, Gripping DEBUT Mystery That EVERYONE Is Talking About…

R.W.R McDonald

Orenda Books · Print & ebook · February 6, 2026

Eleven-year-old Tippy’s uncle and his boyfriend turn up in her small New Zealand town to look after her when his mother is away over Christmas, but when her schoolteacher is found dead and her best friend has a near-fatal accident, the trio turns detective, dubbing themselves The Nancys, and launching a chaotic, hilarious investigation.

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Who it’s for
A warm, funny amateur-sleuth story lets family bonding collide with a genuinely dangerous mystery.
Themes
Amateur investigation, Feeling like an outsider, Family bonds
Pacing
Fast

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About this book

Eleven-year-old Tippy’s uncle and his boyfriend turn up in her small New Zealand town to look after her when his mother is away over Christmas, but when her schoolteacher is found dead and her best friend has a near-fatal accident, the trio turns detective, dubbing themselves The Nancys, and launching a chaotic, hilarious investigation.

Continue reading

Tippy Chan is 11 years old, and she lives in a small town in a very quiet part of New Zealand – the town her Uncle Pike escaped as a teenager, the moment he got a chance. Now Pike is back with his new boyfriend Devon to look after Tippy while her mom is on a Christmas cruise. Tippy can’t get enough of her uncle's old Nancy Drew books. She wants to be Nancy and is desperate to solve a real mystery. So, when her teacher's body is found beside Riverstone's only traffic light, it looks like Tippy's moment has arrived. She and her minders form The Nancys, a secret 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. Whatever the cost… Gripping, glorious and glittering with suspense, The Nancy’s is also a heartwarming, hilarious novel for anyone who’s ever felt like they were on the outside, looking in, with a simmering mystery at its heart and characters you will never forget. ***WINNER of the Ngaio Marsh Award for Best First Novel***

Sleuthing, With Family

A warm, funny amateur-sleuth story lets family bonding collide with a genuinely dangerous mystery.

Come here for

  • Nancy Drew fandom and an unlikely detective team
  • Small-town humor alongside real suspense

Expect

  • A chaotic investigation that grows more dangerous
  • Warmth and questionable fashion choices amid murder-mystery tension

Where it sits

Amateur Sleuths55%
Mystery37%
Small-Town Fiction35%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • Cozy Mysteries
  • Amateur Sleuths
Authors
R.W.R McDonald
Publisher
Orenda Books
Published
February 6, 2026
Format
Print & ebook
Theme
Amateur investigation · Feeling like an outsider · Family bonds
Reading lane
Cozy Mysteries