"Lou skötte sig fint under sin första flyglektion. Men när det var Marys tur att hålla i spakarna hände plötsligt något. Instrumenten började krångla, flygplanet råkade i spinn och till slut måste flygläraren ta över och nödlanda.
Kunde flygplansfelet ha något att göra med mysteriet i Old Bridge? Det verkade nästan så!"

This is another one of my mom's books from her childhood that we found while clearing out one of my parents' storage buildings. Being on my recent nostalgia trip, figured it was time to give this one a read.

The Dana girls, sisters Louise and Jean, are young detectives like Nancy Drew, and in fact were created by the same publisher under the name of Carolyn Keene. These plucky investigators find themselves involved in the mysterious happenings of the small town of Old Bridge as a supposed ghost terrorizes the locals by ringing the old chapel bell in the night.

Along with this mystery, the girls are entrusted to help a friend's father to save the old college in town from being sold to an outsider. Then there is their regular nemesis, bratty Lettie Briggs, who has some interest in the college, the busybody locals led by old lady Weatherspoon, and the curious behavior of one of the local girls. Meanwhile, the girls are also taking flying lessons. How will all this tie together? Read and find out!

Like the Nancy Drew stories, this is an entertaining little mystery meant specifically for young girls. The Dana sisters seem to be a more direct answer to the Hardy Boys stories, with the girls working together to solve the strange case set forth in each book. Nancy relied on her friends and boyfriend, while Louise and Jean seem to rely much more on each other, involving a friend from school or a grownup as needed (just like the Hardy boys).

Definitely a fun, quick read. ( )