Nancy Drew Files #101 The Picture of Guilt
So I really wanted to recap this book because it's set in Paris and I just spent four and a half months in Paris as an exchange student. Before I went, I was so nervous to go that I got this book out from the library just to see how Nancy did Paris so I could model my trip off of hers! I played the computer game again, too--Danger by Design? This isn't embarrassing, right, because you guys identify with the Nancy love? Tell me it's not embarrassing. Anyway, I think Nancy's time was more exciting than mine, but I looked for a mystery real hard, and couldn't find much at all!
Nancy looks really pretty on the cover, but different. And who is that dude hanging onto her? It's not Ned. I think for the Nancy Drew Files books sometimes they just show guys macking on Nancy so people'll think there will be fun sexxay times in the book. But there is for sure not. (Well, George has some late night trysts with some guy named James, actually. But none for Nan!) That's Sacre Coeur in the background, a cafe scene at the bottom, and Nancy chasing some skulking bad guy down a narrow street. Looks like fun Parisian adventures!
So Nancy always seems to match something. Usually it's her eyes, they usually match whatever body of water she's near or her windbreaker or whatever. She's very good at color coordinating. Just one more thing Nan excels at! Like skydiving and kung fu and being a pilot! The book starts out with George trying to take a picture of Nancy in a Parisian street market because Nancy's coat matches the plums there. Silly dialogue about crazy French shellfish ensues. Oh, George, you're so silly with your shellfish phobias!
The two are staying in Paris, with Nancy's dad, C-Money as I like to call him. C-Money's lawyering takes him to the best places! They're all staying east of the Place de la Bastille which is a real hoppin' area if Nancy ever wants to go clubbin'. I'm sorry I keep on dropping my 'g's. On the way to their pad, they meet a stereotypical French woman (she has a beret, asymmetrical hair, and a scarf! that's at least what I imagine. But at least she's not carrying a baguette.) But turns out she's actually an American college professor, Professor Mathieson, with a group of exchange students. She invites N and G to chill that night at a party. At said party, Nancy and George meet some twins (creepy. I'm sorry, I don't know why I'm creeped out by twins, but I DON'T TRUST THEM,) Pamela and David, and then some dark brooding fellow named Keith. He's wearing black jeans, a black button down shirt, and a black leather vest, as well as an intense gaze, so you know he's sexxay and hot for Nan. I mean, black leather vest. He also has a "powerful chest." Some of the kids are studying art history, so they get to talking about the late Josephine Solo, famous American painter. Keith talks about her kind of pretentiously. He's kind of a tool.
After the party, Nancy and George grab some coffee with Pamela only to see Professor Mathieson's assistant Jules get run over by a truck! WHAT
Nancy's real excited and goes to see what happened. TURNS OUT Jules' briefcase is missing! FUNNY BUSINESS Perhaps the man was pushed, I dare say! Nancy speaks fluent French in this book. I believe in other books I have read about Nancy in France, this was not the case. Oh Nancy and your changin' skills. Nancy questions the witnesses with her French skills and gets varied responses, like "But of course monsieur ran right into traffic, sacre bleu!" and "Ooh la la that is not the case, someone knocked him into traffic, oui oui! Gerard Depardieu! Baguette!" They do kind of talk like that, too.
Nan and George have to break the news to Professor Mathieson. Turns out she was waiting for Jules because he had made an "amazing discovery" that he had to talk to her about in person right away. OF COURSE. The plot thickens! Jules and Prof. Mathieson were working on a book about that eccentric painter, Josephine Solo, so perhaps she has something to do with this whole mystery? Nancy postulates that the evidence for this amazing discovery was in Jules' briefcase, and that's why someone pushed him into traffic and stole it.
Mathieson goes Alanis Morrisette and is all "isn't it ironic, don't ya think, that Jules was researching Solo and then gets hit by a truck? BECAUSE SOLO WAS HIT BY A TRUCK TOO!' that's kind of more ironic than rain on your wedding day I guess.
Mathieson also reveals that David was hella jel that Jules got the research position with her over him. Jealous enough to kill, maybe? I THINK....probably not.
Nancy's pretty intrigued about the Solo connection. She talks to Daddy C-Money about it and he's all, 'yeah okay this all is probably a coincidence but if it's not don't die!' Nancy meets with the Professor the next morning to look through all her research about Solo. That does not sound like a fun trip to Paris. I bet if Bess were there they'd be having more fun, eating pastries. Have you guys heard that Bess likes eating? Solo's notes in her datebook are super cryptic, like 'bw 4 dm,' but I bet Nan will crack it. Turns out they're abbreviations for famous Parisian places--Deux Magots is "DM," the famous cafe where Sartre chilled! But Nan doesn't know who "BW" is.
THEN the girls find a THREATENING NOTE to Solo from some dude named Jean-Paul Censier! They go to talk to Jean-Paul, a director of a gallery, but he's not there. HOWEVER, they bump into broody leather vest guy Keith! He says 'this is my turf' while staring intensely at Nancy again. Nancy thinks he's flirting with her. He asks the girls to lunch. There, Nancy tries to press him about the mystery but he acts all evasive and talks about Parisian museums instead. Some fellow comes by and invites the three to a party. Nancy gets invited to so many parties! Keith acts shifty and leaves and then Nancy sees Pamela, staring at Keith like she's smitten.
They return to Jean-Paul's gallery, and he's back! Jean-Paul's super snooty to them, and he 'sniffs' a lot and has 'well manicured hands.' Jean-Paul was Solo's exclusive dealer. He mentions Solo was kind of a crazy perfectionist that destroyed paintings she didn't think were perfect. When Nancy gets all busybody up in his face about his relationship with Solo (alluding to the threatening note) Jean-Paul's all 'you're with Prof. Mathieson, aren't you?' He says she sent Jules before and if Nancy doesn't back off he will "see that you receive the same treatment as he did!" Nancy's all oh no you did not, man just got hit by a truck, is that really what you meant to say? He backtracks, and says his relationship with Solo was complicated and she was super paranoid and suspicious of him for no reason so he had to end their business relationship. Then he sniffs and sashays out. He's described as having cheeks that are "freshly shaved and powdered." Jean-Paul powders his cheeks? Is that a thing?
Nancy and George muse over the encounter over croissants, and decide to interview Solo's friends from her datebook.
They meet Roger Henderson, bookdealer, who tells them that there was a rumor that Jean-Paul was using Solo's work in some sort of poppycock scheme of which she did not approve. She confronted him and he denied it so she cut relations off. This does not jibe with what Jean-Paul said!
Then they meet with a Countess! She has a very nice place, and turns out to be pretty cool, young and with a perfect American accent. She's a big collector of Solo's but didn't know her too well. Dead end!
Gail Fountain is the last one on the list, and she says that Solo seemed very happy in the months before she died, and then perhaps she had fallen in love!
THEN on their way to eat a raspberry tart at a bakery (why is George here instead of Bess?) a motorbike tries to run them down! Do you guys think they'll be okay???
Turns out everything comes out all right because Nancy has lightning quick reflexes...but there is one casualty--the raspberry tart! NOO we hardly knew you raspberry tart! Nancy notes that the motorbike says "Pizza Pow!" on the back. That sounds scary. I'd be afraid I'd get the pizza and then get punched in the face. They go investigate at a Pizza Pow nearby and find out that it couldn't have been a delivery boy from there because he wasn't dressed properly. So someone must have stolen a bike from them! Nancy makes some phone calls and finds out a bike was stolen from a Pizza Pow! near the Canal St-Martin.
They run into David on the way home, who is thrilled about his new job as Professor Mathieson's research assistant. He mentions he lives by the Canal St. Martin, so Nancy casually questions him about Pizza Pow! No luck. They run into Pamela and Keith. Paris must be a small place. David acts all shifty like he doesn't like Keith, and he doesn't like Pamela and Keith dating (apparently they are dating!) Pam talks to Nancy and says she wants to help with the case. Nancy's all hesitant about it but then agrees (I guess she's possessive over her caseload) The next thing to do is interview another man from Solo's datebook, Philippe Leduc, who lives in Montmartre (my hood!) so Pam Nan and George head over there. They go up to Sacre Coeur, a church on the top of Montmartre, by taking a cable car because George doesn't want to take the many many steps. I thought George was supposed to be all athletic? Why is Bess not here, I ask again? But then when they get to the top, someone tries to push Nancy down said steps! NOooo
...But she's okay again. David appears out of nowhere and saves her and is all "you should be more careful." Creepy, David! Why are you there anyway, you out stalkin'? He says he's going to interview Leduc, too, just like them, which I guess makes sense because he's Mathieson's research assistant, but it's still a touch fishy. They all go together.
Leduc is the most stereotypical French character yet! Thin moustache, beret, and smock! But it turns out he is just dressing that way for the tourists. I didn't give the ghostie enough credit! Leduc gets upset when David insinuates he was making copies of Solo's work, and says he was just inspired by her. Nancy asks if Solo was really planning on suing him and he gets huffy and tells them to go.
David leaves for the Musee d'Orsay and Pam's all 'yeah, this is boring, i'm outie.' Nancy says that Leduc was a "genuine tin-plated phony." NANCY! ziiing! Then an artist gives Nancy a pastel sketch of herself for free because she is soo beautiful. Nancy, Paris loves you!
They get back and Professor Mathieson informs them she has made an odd discovery. Solo died with very little money in her account, because whenever she had money, she made large checks out to someone named G.A. Mathieson doesn't recognize these initials. Why would Solo give practically every cent she had to this person? BLACKMAIL! Nancy suggests.
"BLACKMAIL?" George exclaims. Really, George? You're that surprised? Haven't you seen these tawdry shenanigans before by traveling with Nancy?
With this sordid theory to chew on, the girls go to the site where Solo was hit by a truck. They interview the business-owners there to find witnesses--after some dead ends, they find a 'sidewalk-sprayer guy' who saw the whole thing! He says that Solo was distracted by something behind her and then absent-mindedly walked into the path of the truck. WHAT. An accident?? This destroys Nancy's theories! Also, apparently George speaks fluent French too. The River Heights school system does marvels!
Nancy's not too broken up to find out Solo's death was an accident, even if they had been investigating her death on the theory her death and Jules' death were connected. It's cool because there is still funny business surrounding Jules' death. Even if Solo's death is an accident, Nancy still believes that he died because of some discovery about Solo. They've just gotta get on that.
SO they go to Jules' apartment (why didn't they do this before?) and don't find much, but they find a paper with numbers matching the checks sent to G.A. Hmm.
Nancy then casually asks David about his alibi for Jules' death. Turns out David left the party early to meet Jules, and was stood up because Jules was getting hit by a truck at the time. Hmm! Apparently there was a message by the telephone at the party that Jules wanted to meet with David. David's all sassy about this. Like, when George asks if anyone on the street can verify that he was waiting for Jules instead of killing him, David says "That is such a dumb question, George." ziiing. Nancy believes David because, really, if he were going to invent an alibi it would be less lame. She thinks that perhaps the culprit is setting David up.
Nancy and George head to a studio party! But not before Nancy changes her outfit because she's afraid her orange top clashes with her hair. Nancy, nothing clashes with you--you are a color-coordinating fiend! At the party, they see Keith, who is wearing the same leather-vested outfit but he added leather wristbands as well. I believe Keith might shop at Hot Topic. He says, "Tonight you'll get an inside look at the real Bohemian life--la vie de Boheme." Keith is a tool. If you're bohemian, you're not supposed to talk about it all pompously, right? George dances with her love interest, James. If it were Bess' love interest he would probably be the culprit. Nancy dances with like 7 boys. Nancy, what would Ned say? George wants to dance all night with James but Nancy's over the party so she heads home alone...only to be attacked in the darkened courtyard of her building! NOOO
I bet you guys can guess what Nancy does. Yes, she uses her KUNG FU on him! Totally kicks his derriere and he runs away like a little girl.
The next day, at brunch (of course Nancy has brunch. It's cool, I love brunch too) Nan tells George and her dad what happened, and they suspect they are closing in on the culprit! Nancy goes to a picnic with the exchange students afterward to interview the suspects. There she gets a THREATENING NOTE! I love threatening notes in Nancy Drew books. They are the best. I've always wanted to get one. It says:
"WATCH OUT, SNOOPER. THERE ARE LOTS MORE TRUCKS IN PARIS. " OHHHHHH. god i love that.
After Nancy's brush with the THREATENING NOTE she goes to research Jules' notes more. On the note about the checks sent to G.A. there is a number--Nancy deduces it is a Credit Lyonnais number, and goes to look through Solo's financial records. Eventually she finds a deposit slip that matches the number, and the name on the account is GIUSEPPINA ARIA, G.A.! what a name. Professor Mathieson mentions that Solo had a set of keys marked 'Aria.' Nancy looks up the name in the computer and finds an address (really?) in Montmartre, and then shouts "Hooray!" She really does.
So Pam, George and Nan go to the address, but the door's locked and no one's home. Nancy forgets that she has the set of keys marked 'Aria' in her pocket for like an hour while they're chilling in Montmartre. Really, Nancy? So they get into the apartment, and find a painter's studio! Nancy's like, what! Blackmailers don't paint! And then it clicks. Giuseppina Aria is the Italian version of the name Josephine Solo! The people are one and the same! She was living a double life! Exclamation point! Solo wanted to escape from it all, disappear, Nancy supposes.
They wander into the bedroom and then hear some footsteps outside. Nancy tries to see who it is and runs after the fleeing intruder to see...A LEATHER WRISTBAND before he gets away! We should've known Keith was no good because of his leather vest! Then Nancy's all, 'oh, duh, I should've realized the person that tried to strangle me in the courtyard was wearing a leather wristband, too.' Really, Nancy? You just noticed this? How many people wear leather wristbands, anyway? I respect your detecting skillz but you are off your game right now!
Pam's like 'what my hawt boyfriend tried to kill you?' and Nancy's like 'yeah, it happens to Bess all the time, whateva.' Pam reveals that Keith also has a dark green jumpsuit, the outfit of the man who tried to run them down with the Pizza Pow! bike. KEITH WHYYYY
But our protagonists may not get to find out why! For they have been locked in the bedroom! Keith and somebody else are outside, taking away all the Solo/Aria canvases (they would be worth a lot of money, wouldn't they?) Then Keith and his accomplice start yelling at each other in French. Nancy thinks Keith said "something about a dirty trick and not going along with it." Then, a fight, and a sound of a body hitting the ground! KEITH! Is he okay?
Our protagonists don't know because the apartment has been set on fire and they have bigger worries! George leans out the window and shouts "Au feu! Au feu!" which just seems funny to me even though this is DEADLY SERIOUS. Pam just freaks out. Nancy, always thinking clearly, puts a paper under the door and pushes the key (which was still in the door) out onto the paper and then pulls it under the door. Nancy you saved the day!
When they get out of the bedroom they see Keith, unconscious, so they have to carry him out of the way of the fire so all four will be safe! Keith mutters, "Jean-Luc," and Nancy's all 'of course! Jean-Luc Censier!' At first I was like, what? But then I realized that it's the snooty gallery director, the one I called Jean-Paul for this whole recap! That was stupid. His name is Jean-Luc! But let's just keep with the Jean-Paul, I mean, whatever, right? Jean-Paul/Luc was Solo's dealer so he's the one who wants to sell these paintings and make lots of money! Motive!
Nancy and George leave Pam with Keith to answer questions for the fire department while they chase after Jean-Paul/Luc. Car chase alert! They follow him by taxi to his gallery. They sneak over and look in the back room to see the paintings he stole. THEN he's charging at them with a crow-bar! look out!
Nancy dodges him and then kind of head-butts him and he ends up on the ground, dazed. But THEN Keith appears! He must've overpowered Pam and followed them to claim his share in the canvases!
Or so Nancy thinks. Because Keith warns her before Jean-Paul/Luc tries to crowbar her, and then launches himself at Jean-Paul/Luc to defend her. So Keith's a good guy after all? Anyway, they're taken into custody and all is well.
Denouement: Keith turned out to be Solo's apprentice, who she called Boy Wonder (the mysterious BW in her datebook!) He was sad when she died, and wondered about what she meant when she said she was making a clean break with her old life. He was sure she had done many more paintings than what had surfaced after her death. Jean-Paul/Luc was sure of this as well; he was her dealer, after all. I don't know. So they got together to find these missing paintings! So Keith was in the exchange program to keep an eye on Mathieson and Jules' research. When he heard about Jules' 'amazing discovery,' he went to snatch his briefcase on the street and Jules stumbled into traffic. So, another accident (kinda)? He tried to set David up because they don't like each other. And all the threats/attacks were just meant to scare Nancy off. I think that was a bit much, Keith! I don't buy this redemption arc. Jean-Paul/Luc turned on Keith to get everything for himself. What a bad egg. But Nancy and the gang are reassured by listing his charges and thinking he'll be put away for a long time. Another criminal off the streets due to NDrew!
Nancy looks really pretty on the cover, but different. And who is that dude hanging onto her? It's not Ned. I think for the Nancy Drew Files books sometimes they just show guys macking on Nancy so people'll think there will be fun sexxay times in the book. But there is for sure not. (Well, George has some late night trysts with some guy named James, actually. But none for Nan!) That's Sacre Coeur in the background, a cafe scene at the bottom, and Nancy chasing some skulking bad guy down a narrow street. Looks like fun Parisian adventures!
So Nancy always seems to match something. Usually it's her eyes, they usually match whatever body of water she's near or her windbreaker or whatever. She's very good at color coordinating. Just one more thing Nan excels at! Like skydiving and kung fu and being a pilot! The book starts out with George trying to take a picture of Nancy in a Parisian street market because Nancy's coat matches the plums there. Silly dialogue about crazy French shellfish ensues. Oh, George, you're so silly with your shellfish phobias!
The two are staying in Paris, with Nancy's dad, C-Money as I like to call him. C-Money's lawyering takes him to the best places! They're all staying east of the Place de la Bastille which is a real hoppin' area if Nancy ever wants to go clubbin'. I'm sorry I keep on dropping my 'g's. On the way to their pad, they meet a stereotypical French woman (she has a beret, asymmetrical hair, and a scarf! that's at least what I imagine. But at least she's not carrying a baguette.) But turns out she's actually an American college professor, Professor Mathieson, with a group of exchange students. She invites N and G to chill that night at a party. At said party, Nancy and George meet some twins (creepy. I'm sorry, I don't know why I'm creeped out by twins, but I DON'T TRUST THEM,) Pamela and David, and then some dark brooding fellow named Keith. He's wearing black jeans, a black button down shirt, and a black leather vest, as well as an intense gaze, so you know he's sexxay and hot for Nan. I mean, black leather vest. He also has a "powerful chest." Some of the kids are studying art history, so they get to talking about the late Josephine Solo, famous American painter. Keith talks about her kind of pretentiously. He's kind of a tool.
After the party, Nancy and George grab some coffee with Pamela only to see Professor Mathieson's assistant Jules get run over by a truck! WHAT
Nancy's real excited and goes to see what happened. TURNS OUT Jules' briefcase is missing! FUNNY BUSINESS Perhaps the man was pushed, I dare say! Nancy speaks fluent French in this book. I believe in other books I have read about Nancy in France, this was not the case. Oh Nancy and your changin' skills. Nancy questions the witnesses with her French skills and gets varied responses, like "But of course monsieur ran right into traffic, sacre bleu!" and "Ooh la la that is not the case, someone knocked him into traffic, oui oui! Gerard Depardieu! Baguette!" They do kind of talk like that, too.
Nan and George have to break the news to Professor Mathieson. Turns out she was waiting for Jules because he had made an "amazing discovery" that he had to talk to her about in person right away. OF COURSE. The plot thickens! Jules and Prof. Mathieson were working on a book about that eccentric painter, Josephine Solo, so perhaps she has something to do with this whole mystery? Nancy postulates that the evidence for this amazing discovery was in Jules' briefcase, and that's why someone pushed him into traffic and stole it.
Mathieson goes Alanis Morrisette and is all "isn't it ironic, don't ya think, that Jules was researching Solo and then gets hit by a truck? BECAUSE SOLO WAS HIT BY A TRUCK TOO!' that's kind of more ironic than rain on your wedding day I guess.
Mathieson also reveals that David was hella jel that Jules got the research position with her over him. Jealous enough to kill, maybe? I THINK....probably not.
Nancy's pretty intrigued about the Solo connection. She talks to Daddy C-Money about it and he's all, 'yeah okay this all is probably a coincidence but if it's not don't die!' Nancy meets with the Professor the next morning to look through all her research about Solo. That does not sound like a fun trip to Paris. I bet if Bess were there they'd be having more fun, eating pastries. Have you guys heard that Bess likes eating? Solo's notes in her datebook are super cryptic, like 'bw 4 dm,' but I bet Nan will crack it. Turns out they're abbreviations for famous Parisian places--Deux Magots is "DM," the famous cafe where Sartre chilled! But Nan doesn't know who "BW" is.
THEN the girls find a THREATENING NOTE to Solo from some dude named Jean-Paul Censier! They go to talk to Jean-Paul, a director of a gallery, but he's not there. HOWEVER, they bump into broody leather vest guy Keith! He says 'this is my turf' while staring intensely at Nancy again. Nancy thinks he's flirting with her. He asks the girls to lunch. There, Nancy tries to press him about the mystery but he acts all evasive and talks about Parisian museums instead. Some fellow comes by and invites the three to a party. Nancy gets invited to so many parties! Keith acts shifty and leaves and then Nancy sees Pamela, staring at Keith like she's smitten.
They return to Jean-Paul's gallery, and he's back! Jean-Paul's super snooty to them, and he 'sniffs' a lot and has 'well manicured hands.' Jean-Paul was Solo's exclusive dealer. He mentions Solo was kind of a crazy perfectionist that destroyed paintings she didn't think were perfect. When Nancy gets all busybody up in his face about his relationship with Solo (alluding to the threatening note) Jean-Paul's all 'you're with Prof. Mathieson, aren't you?' He says she sent Jules before and if Nancy doesn't back off he will "see that you receive the same treatment as he did!" Nancy's all oh no you did not, man just got hit by a truck, is that really what you meant to say? He backtracks, and says his relationship with Solo was complicated and she was super paranoid and suspicious of him for no reason so he had to end their business relationship. Then he sniffs and sashays out. He's described as having cheeks that are "freshly shaved and powdered." Jean-Paul powders his cheeks? Is that a thing?
Nancy and George muse over the encounter over croissants, and decide to interview Solo's friends from her datebook.
They meet Roger Henderson, bookdealer, who tells them that there was a rumor that Jean-Paul was using Solo's work in some sort of poppycock scheme of which she did not approve. She confronted him and he denied it so she cut relations off. This does not jibe with what Jean-Paul said!
Then they meet with a Countess! She has a very nice place, and turns out to be pretty cool, young and with a perfect American accent. She's a big collector of Solo's but didn't know her too well. Dead end!
Gail Fountain is the last one on the list, and she says that Solo seemed very happy in the months before she died, and then perhaps she had fallen in love!
THEN on their way to eat a raspberry tart at a bakery (why is George here instead of Bess?) a motorbike tries to run them down! Do you guys think they'll be okay???
Turns out everything comes out all right because Nancy has lightning quick reflexes...but there is one casualty--the raspberry tart! NOO we hardly knew you raspberry tart! Nancy notes that the motorbike says "Pizza Pow!" on the back. That sounds scary. I'd be afraid I'd get the pizza and then get punched in the face. They go investigate at a Pizza Pow nearby and find out that it couldn't have been a delivery boy from there because he wasn't dressed properly. So someone must have stolen a bike from them! Nancy makes some phone calls and finds out a bike was stolen from a Pizza Pow! near the Canal St-Martin.
They run into David on the way home, who is thrilled about his new job as Professor Mathieson's research assistant. He mentions he lives by the Canal St. Martin, so Nancy casually questions him about Pizza Pow! No luck. They run into Pamela and Keith. Paris must be a small place. David acts all shifty like he doesn't like Keith, and he doesn't like Pamela and Keith dating (apparently they are dating!) Pam talks to Nancy and says she wants to help with the case. Nancy's all hesitant about it but then agrees (I guess she's possessive over her caseload) The next thing to do is interview another man from Solo's datebook, Philippe Leduc, who lives in Montmartre (my hood!) so Pam Nan and George head over there. They go up to Sacre Coeur, a church on the top of Montmartre, by taking a cable car because George doesn't want to take the many many steps. I thought George was supposed to be all athletic? Why is Bess not here, I ask again? But then when they get to the top, someone tries to push Nancy down said steps! NOooo
...But she's okay again. David appears out of nowhere and saves her and is all "you should be more careful." Creepy, David! Why are you there anyway, you out stalkin'? He says he's going to interview Leduc, too, just like them, which I guess makes sense because he's Mathieson's research assistant, but it's still a touch fishy. They all go together.
Leduc is the most stereotypical French character yet! Thin moustache, beret, and smock! But it turns out he is just dressing that way for the tourists. I didn't give the ghostie enough credit! Leduc gets upset when David insinuates he was making copies of Solo's work, and says he was just inspired by her. Nancy asks if Solo was really planning on suing him and he gets huffy and tells them to go.
David leaves for the Musee d'Orsay and Pam's all 'yeah, this is boring, i'm outie.' Nancy says that Leduc was a "genuine tin-plated phony." NANCY! ziiing! Then an artist gives Nancy a pastel sketch of herself for free because she is soo beautiful. Nancy, Paris loves you!
They get back and Professor Mathieson informs them she has made an odd discovery. Solo died with very little money in her account, because whenever she had money, she made large checks out to someone named G.A. Mathieson doesn't recognize these initials. Why would Solo give practically every cent she had to this person? BLACKMAIL! Nancy suggests.
"BLACKMAIL?" George exclaims. Really, George? You're that surprised? Haven't you seen these tawdry shenanigans before by traveling with Nancy?
With this sordid theory to chew on, the girls go to the site where Solo was hit by a truck. They interview the business-owners there to find witnesses--after some dead ends, they find a 'sidewalk-sprayer guy' who saw the whole thing! He says that Solo was distracted by something behind her and then absent-mindedly walked into the path of the truck. WHAT. An accident?? This destroys Nancy's theories! Also, apparently George speaks fluent French too. The River Heights school system does marvels!
Nancy's not too broken up to find out Solo's death was an accident, even if they had been investigating her death on the theory her death and Jules' death were connected. It's cool because there is still funny business surrounding Jules' death. Even if Solo's death is an accident, Nancy still believes that he died because of some discovery about Solo. They've just gotta get on that.
SO they go to Jules' apartment (why didn't they do this before?) and don't find much, but they find a paper with numbers matching the checks sent to G.A. Hmm.
Nancy then casually asks David about his alibi for Jules' death. Turns out David left the party early to meet Jules, and was stood up because Jules was getting hit by a truck at the time. Hmm! Apparently there was a message by the telephone at the party that Jules wanted to meet with David. David's all sassy about this. Like, when George asks if anyone on the street can verify that he was waiting for Jules instead of killing him, David says "That is such a dumb question, George." ziiing. Nancy believes David because, really, if he were going to invent an alibi it would be less lame. She thinks that perhaps the culprit is setting David up.
Nancy and George head to a studio party! But not before Nancy changes her outfit because she's afraid her orange top clashes with her hair. Nancy, nothing clashes with you--you are a color-coordinating fiend! At the party, they see Keith, who is wearing the same leather-vested outfit but he added leather wristbands as well. I believe Keith might shop at Hot Topic. He says, "Tonight you'll get an inside look at the real Bohemian life--la vie de Boheme." Keith is a tool. If you're bohemian, you're not supposed to talk about it all pompously, right? George dances with her love interest, James. If it were Bess' love interest he would probably be the culprit. Nancy dances with like 7 boys. Nancy, what would Ned say? George wants to dance all night with James but Nancy's over the party so she heads home alone...only to be attacked in the darkened courtyard of her building! NOOO
I bet you guys can guess what Nancy does. Yes, she uses her KUNG FU on him! Totally kicks his derriere and he runs away like a little girl.
The next day, at brunch (of course Nancy has brunch. It's cool, I love brunch too) Nan tells George and her dad what happened, and they suspect they are closing in on the culprit! Nancy goes to a picnic with the exchange students afterward to interview the suspects. There she gets a THREATENING NOTE! I love threatening notes in Nancy Drew books. They are the best. I've always wanted to get one. It says:
"WATCH OUT, SNOOPER. THERE ARE LOTS MORE TRUCKS IN PARIS. " OHHHHHH. god i love that.
After Nancy's brush with the THREATENING NOTE she goes to research Jules' notes more. On the note about the checks sent to G.A. there is a number--Nancy deduces it is a Credit Lyonnais number, and goes to look through Solo's financial records. Eventually she finds a deposit slip that matches the number, and the name on the account is GIUSEPPINA ARIA, G.A.! what a name. Professor Mathieson mentions that Solo had a set of keys marked 'Aria.' Nancy looks up the name in the computer and finds an address (really?) in Montmartre, and then shouts "Hooray!" She really does.
So Pam, George and Nan go to the address, but the door's locked and no one's home. Nancy forgets that she has the set of keys marked 'Aria' in her pocket for like an hour while they're chilling in Montmartre. Really, Nancy? So they get into the apartment, and find a painter's studio! Nancy's like, what! Blackmailers don't paint! And then it clicks. Giuseppina Aria is the Italian version of the name Josephine Solo! The people are one and the same! She was living a double life! Exclamation point! Solo wanted to escape from it all, disappear, Nancy supposes.
They wander into the bedroom and then hear some footsteps outside. Nancy tries to see who it is and runs after the fleeing intruder to see...A LEATHER WRISTBAND before he gets away! We should've known Keith was no good because of his leather vest! Then Nancy's all, 'oh, duh, I should've realized the person that tried to strangle me in the courtyard was wearing a leather wristband, too.' Really, Nancy? You just noticed this? How many people wear leather wristbands, anyway? I respect your detecting skillz but you are off your game right now!
Pam's like 'what my hawt boyfriend tried to kill you?' and Nancy's like 'yeah, it happens to Bess all the time, whateva.' Pam reveals that Keith also has a dark green jumpsuit, the outfit of the man who tried to run them down with the Pizza Pow! bike. KEITH WHYYYY
But our protagonists may not get to find out why! For they have been locked in the bedroom! Keith and somebody else are outside, taking away all the Solo/Aria canvases (they would be worth a lot of money, wouldn't they?) Then Keith and his accomplice start yelling at each other in French. Nancy thinks Keith said "something about a dirty trick and not going along with it." Then, a fight, and a sound of a body hitting the ground! KEITH! Is he okay?
Our protagonists don't know because the apartment has been set on fire and they have bigger worries! George leans out the window and shouts "Au feu! Au feu!" which just seems funny to me even though this is DEADLY SERIOUS. Pam just freaks out. Nancy, always thinking clearly, puts a paper under the door and pushes the key (which was still in the door) out onto the paper and then pulls it under the door. Nancy you saved the day!
When they get out of the bedroom they see Keith, unconscious, so they have to carry him out of the way of the fire so all four will be safe! Keith mutters, "Jean-Luc," and Nancy's all 'of course! Jean-Luc Censier!' At first I was like, what? But then I realized that it's the snooty gallery director, the one I called Jean-Paul for this whole recap! That was stupid. His name is Jean-Luc! But let's just keep with the Jean-Paul, I mean, whatever, right? Jean-Paul/Luc was Solo's dealer so he's the one who wants to sell these paintings and make lots of money! Motive!
Nancy and George leave Pam with Keith to answer questions for the fire department while they chase after Jean-Paul/Luc. Car chase alert! They follow him by taxi to his gallery. They sneak over and look in the back room to see the paintings he stole. THEN he's charging at them with a crow-bar! look out!
Nancy dodges him and then kind of head-butts him and he ends up on the ground, dazed. But THEN Keith appears! He must've overpowered Pam and followed them to claim his share in the canvases!
Or so Nancy thinks. Because Keith warns her before Jean-Paul/Luc tries to crowbar her, and then launches himself at Jean-Paul/Luc to defend her. So Keith's a good guy after all? Anyway, they're taken into custody and all is well.
Denouement: Keith turned out to be Solo's apprentice, who she called Boy Wonder (the mysterious BW in her datebook!) He was sad when she died, and wondered about what she meant when she said she was making a clean break with her old life. He was sure she had done many more paintings than what had surfaced after her death. Jean-Paul/Luc was sure of this as well; he was her dealer, after all. I don't know. So they got together to find these missing paintings! So Keith was in the exchange program to keep an eye on Mathieson and Jules' research. When he heard about Jules' 'amazing discovery,' he went to snatch his briefcase on the street and Jules stumbled into traffic. So, another accident (kinda)? He tried to set David up because they don't like each other. And all the threats/attacks were just meant to scare Nancy off. I think that was a bit much, Keith! I don't buy this redemption arc. Jean-Paul/Luc turned on Keith to get everything for himself. What a bad egg. But Nancy and the gang are reassured by listing his charges and thinking he'll be put away for a long time. Another criminal off the streets due to NDrew!