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Nancy Drew Diaries #2
Strangers on a Train
Nancy and her friends take their detective skills on an Alaskan adventure in this second book of the Nancy Drew Diaries, a fresh approach to a classic series.Nancy’s Alaskan adventure continues as she, Bess, and George disembark the mystery-plagued Arctic Star cruise ship and explore the grand sites of the forty-ninth state: Skagway; the Yukon territory, and Denali National Park. It’s spectacular scenery, but things start to go wrong almost immediately, leading Nancy to believe that whoever was behind the unsolved mayhem aboard the ship has followed them onto dry land. The girl detectives had better watch their steps—they’re on uncharted and unknown territory!
208 pages, Hardcover
First published February 5, 2013
224 people are currently reading
824 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn Keene
1,013 books3,870 followersCarolyn Keene is a writer pen name that was used by many different people- both men and women- over the years. The company that was the creator of the Nancy Drew series, the Stratemeyer Syndicate, hired a variety of writers. For Nancy Drew, the writers used the pseudonym Carolyn Keene to assure anonymity of the creator.
Edna and Harriet Stratemeyer inherited the company from their father Edward Stratemeyer. Edna contributed 10 plot outlines before passing the reins to her sister Harriet. It was Mildred Benson (aka: Mildred A. Wirt), who breathed such a feisty spirit into Nancy's character. Mildred wrote 23 of the original 30 Nancy Drew Mystery Stories®, including the first three. It was her characterization that helped make Nancy an instant hit. The Stratemeyer Syndicate's devotion to the series over the years under the reins of Harriet Stratemeyer Adams helped to keep the series alive and on store shelves for each succeeding generation of girls and boys. In 1959, Harriet, along with several writers, began a 25-year project to revise the earlier Carolyn Keene novels. The Nancy Drew books were condensed, racial stereotypes were removed, and the language was updated. In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.
Other writers of Nancy Drew volumes include Harriet herself, she wrote most of the series after Mildred quit writing for the Syndicate and in 1959 began a revision of the first 34 texts. The role of the writer of "Carolyn Keene" passed temporarily to Walter Karig who wrote three novels during the Great Depression. Also contributing to Nancy Drew's prolific existence were Leslie McFarlane, James Duncan Lawrence, Nancy Axelrod, Priscilla Doll, Charles Strong, Alma Sasse, Wilhelmina Rankin, George Waller Jr., and Margaret Scherf.
Edna and Harriet Stratemeyer inherited the company from their father Edward Stratemeyer. Edna contributed 10 plot outlines before passing the reins to her sister Harriet. It was Mildred Benson (aka: Mildred A. Wirt), who breathed such a feisty spirit into Nancy's character. Mildred wrote 23 of the original 30 Nancy Drew Mystery Stories®, including the first three. It was her characterization that helped make Nancy an instant hit. The Stratemeyer Syndicate's devotion to the series over the years under the reins of Harriet Stratemeyer Adams helped to keep the series alive and on store shelves for each succeeding generation of girls and boys. In 1959, Harriet, along with several writers, began a 25-year project to revise the earlier Carolyn Keene novels. The Nancy Drew books were condensed, racial stereotypes were removed, and the language was updated. In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.
Other writers of Nancy Drew volumes include Harriet herself, she wrote most of the series after Mildred quit writing for the Syndicate and in 1959 began a revision of the first 34 texts. The role of the writer of "Carolyn Keene" passed temporarily to Walter Karig who wrote three novels during the Great Depression. Also contributing to Nancy Drew's prolific existence were Leslie McFarlane, James Duncan Lawrence, Nancy Axelrod, Priscilla Doll, Charles Strong, Alma Sasse, Wilhelmina Rankin, George Waller Jr., and Margaret Scherf.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 212 reviews
November 14, 2023
While this wasn’t as terrible the first one, it still didn’t prove to be exceptionally better. There’s a gap in the way that Nancy solved the mystery. In fact, I’m not really sure how she came to the decision and how a single name was able to help her solved the case. The lead up to the conclusion felt lazy and underdeveloped. There’s a “second” twist towards the end that’s extremely obvious and unneeded for the context of the entire story. I’m still not sure who the target audience is for this series considering that Bess is dating a sophomore in college and Nancy has a boyfriend in college as well. The writing is definitely for a middle grade audience but the age of the characters continues to through me off. I’m going to keep working my way through the series. It’s not necessarily my favorite but I’m interested in seeing how it works as a whole compared to the original series.
September 3, 2014
Not as horrendous as book one, but once again Nancy solves part of the mystery with minor sleuthing and an epiphany while being completely clueless about a suspicious character until the very end. It was pretty pathetic even for a detective in a children's book.
August 16, 2021
Great series with new mysteries involving Nancy Drew..I read slot of the old series as a young girl!
December 19, 2024
Listed to it with with my daughter - she loved it.
June 9, 2020
um 1.5
February 13, 2016
Wow, that was just horrendous. The new Nancy, sorry I wouldn't call this Nancy Drew.
This is just a butchered and raped version of Nancy Drew, set in this age instead of the age the first one was in. I wanted to read this book because I was interested to see what had become of Nancy, and I also needed a book that was set in Alaska for a challenge. 2 in 1 book, a good deal no? Well, I am kind of sad I stuck my time in this book, I want my hour back. :(
Nancy Drew is apparently a college/university school girl, however, the book is written for Middle Grade/Children, and you can see that clearly. Nancy feels like she is actually between 13 and 16, not older as she is supposed to be. She is childish, amateurish and her way of speaking is just weird and off. And another thing, though this has to do with Nancy in general, she is too clean and nice. It is just not how teenagers these days act. It feels like someone took the Nancy from the beginning (where a lot of people indeed acted like this), gave her a cellphone, internet access and voilà, new Nancy.
I also felt that this Nancy failed in so much things. She let people find out she was snooping, she was busted more times than ever, she even made beginner mistakes. She didn't even know the last culprit. I knew who both the culprits were after certain events at the beginning happened. Nancy? She was surprised, she didn't get it. I don't get how Nancy could miss this.
Gosh, Alan was dick. Throughout the whole book I just wanted to throw him off the cruise ship. He was nosy, annoying and I just didn't trust him. Alan is also the biggest reason why I rated this book a 1.
It was fun to see George and Bess again. They are still the same, though they have the same problem as Nancy. They are college/university age, yet come across as 13-16 year olds.
The story itself is also pretty boring and I almost fell asleep a few times. I am glad this book was short, otherwise I would just have DNF.
Ah, another thing, from what I remember, the older Nancy books could be read regardless of how it was published. Sure, there would be things like returning characters or something old cases get brought back. However, this one apparently wants you to have read the first book. A lot of times the book would rehash the things that happened in the first book. It got quite annoying and I also felt utterly confused. Here I was thinking I could just drop into the book and then I find out you actually have to read them in order. Or at least some of the books you will have to. Not something I approve of. I loved the fact that with the old Nancy books you could just grab a random one of the pile and read it.
Also that cover is strange. You see a girl of around 13/14? Is that Nancy? Because sorry, the book clearly says Nancy is college/university age. Though we know how that ended up in the book. But still, illustration fail much?
All in all, I wouldn't recommend these new Nancy's and I am not going to continue reading them. If I need my Nancy fix I will either grab the older books or play the games that are out. At least those have honest and fun characters and a good story/mystery.
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
This is just a butchered and raped version of Nancy Drew, set in this age instead of the age the first one was in. I wanted to read this book because I was interested to see what had become of Nancy, and I also needed a book that was set in Alaska for a challenge. 2 in 1 book, a good deal no? Well, I am kind of sad I stuck my time in this book, I want my hour back. :(
Nancy Drew is apparently a college/university school girl, however, the book is written for Middle Grade/Children, and you can see that clearly. Nancy feels like she is actually between 13 and 16, not older as she is supposed to be. She is childish, amateurish and her way of speaking is just weird and off. And another thing, though this has to do with Nancy in general, she is too clean and nice. It is just not how teenagers these days act. It feels like someone took the Nancy from the beginning (where a lot of people indeed acted like this), gave her a cellphone, internet access and voilà, new Nancy.
I also felt that this Nancy failed in so much things. She let people find out she was snooping, she was busted more times than ever, she even made beginner mistakes. She didn't even know the last culprit. I knew who both the culprits were after certain events at the beginning happened. Nancy? She was surprised, she didn't get it. I don't get how Nancy could miss this.
Gosh, Alan was dick. Throughout the whole book I just wanted to throw him off the cruise ship. He was nosy, annoying and I just didn't trust him. Alan is also the biggest reason why I rated this book a 1.
It was fun to see George and Bess again. They are still the same, though they have the same problem as Nancy. They are college/university age, yet come across as 13-16 year olds.
The story itself is also pretty boring and I almost fell asleep a few times. I am glad this book was short, otherwise I would just have DNF.
Ah, another thing, from what I remember, the older Nancy books could be read regardless of how it was published. Sure, there would be things like returning characters or something old cases get brought back. However, this one apparently wants you to have read the first book. A lot of times the book would rehash the things that happened in the first book. It got quite annoying and I also felt utterly confused. Here I was thinking I could just drop into the book and then I find out you actually have to read them in order. Or at least some of the books you will have to. Not something I approve of. I loved the fact that with the old Nancy books you could just grab a random one of the pile and read it.
Also that cover is strange. You see a girl of around 13/14? Is that Nancy? Because sorry, the book clearly says Nancy is college/university age. Though we know how that ended up in the book. But still, illustration fail much?
All in all, I wouldn't recommend these new Nancy's and I am not going to continue reading them. If I need my Nancy fix I will either grab the older books or play the games that are out. At least those have honest and fun characters and a good story/mystery.
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
July 27, 2016
It was decent...but not quite the teenage sleuth as we've come to expect her.
September 15, 2025
Second Book of the series continuing with the cozy, children mystery. I absolutely love how I ended up in a full series connected to a large mystery.
In this book we get to learn a little bit more about the characters, see some new environment and solve another part of the mystery that started on the Arctic Star.
Allan, I am looking at you! I think it is quite easy to guess the end of the plot but it is very clearly meant for younger readers. If you are a parent and you want to get your child into reading, I can absolutely recommend this series to teach a love for reading, how much excitement and joy reading brings.
I can't wait to continue to series and discover more mysteries!
In this book we get to learn a little bit more about the characters, see some new environment and solve another part of the mystery that started on the Arctic Star.
Allan, I am looking at you! I think it is quite easy to guess the end of the plot but it is very clearly meant for younger readers. If you are a parent and you want to get your child into reading, I can absolutely recommend this series to teach a love for reading, how much excitement and joy reading brings.
I can't wait to continue to series and discover more mysteries!
February 26, 2022
Omg Alan!!!!!!!!! I hate you so freaking much!!!!! This book was a literal mess, and who was the victim all along, my guy Alan whom I trusted and fought for like b***h how dare you!!??? They trusted you!!! (George didn't but..... okay) seriously!?? I hate this so much ahhhh
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 3, 2024
This story continues from the first book. Its written very good and I love how different this story is from the old ones. Everyone might not be on Nancy side but thats not going to stop her form solving this mystery.
January 21, 2024
I read loads of Nancy Drew books when I was about 10 year old. And it's hard to know for sure if my memory made these books so much more exciting or if this book really feels a little tame compared to those. I saw the plottwist coming from the very beginning of the book, the hints were just too obvious, and it feels like there should have been even more danger than there actually was. However, it was an entertaining and quick read and I'll happily pick up the next one whenever I need something quick and easy again.
January 7, 2015
After reading the first two books in the Nancy Drew Diaries (NDD) series, I am not impressed and do not like the new series. Like the Nancy from the Nancy Drew Girl Detective (NDGD) series, this new Nancy Drew is not my Nancy!
I wasn't very optimistic about NDD, but would have been joyfully surprised if it had been well executed. As I had anticipated, it was not. I wasn’t surprised because NDD came from the same publishers who produced the ill-fated NDGD series. With books in hand for the first time, I looked at the back cover of the first one. I discovered the new series is again written in the first person. To me, this writing style doesn’t work Nancy Drew books or for similar children’s mystery series.
I also didn’t like the cover art for either book. Nancy Drew (her age not given in the stories) looks to be about 12 years old. I assume she must be around age 18 because Bess’s new boyfriend in the NDD series is a first year university student and approximately two years older than Nancy, Bess, and George.
What is missing from NDGD and NDD, is Nancy Drew herself! To me, a heroine must be strong, confident, capable, clever, competent, smart, aware, and possess other similar positive qualities. The heroine of these Nancy Drew series is too scatter-brained about all aspects of life except those which are focused on solving a mystery! I can't believe Nancy Drew is competent about solving mysteries if she can't remember to fill her car with gas, wears slippers outside because she forgot about changing to her shoes, doesn’t remember to charge her cell phone, is not Internet savvy, and doesn’t know how people can be aware of her sleuthing success through Internet searches.
It is more realistic if the heroine has some flaws. Nancy Drew, from the 1930s, was brash, caustic, and impatient. Judy Bolton has a temper, Connie Blair refuses to commit to any of her numerous male admirers, and Penny Parker is mischievous. Nancy Drew, as written by Harriet Adams, was generally unflawed and this is one of the reasons for criticism of the Nancy Drew Mysteries Stories (NDMS). As a reader, I accept the Nancy from the NDMS series as being “perfect” because she was Nancy Drew! Both original and revised text Nancy is strong, determined, confident, capable, educated, smart, and with many more positive attributes.
Nancy Drew in NDD is dull! I couldn't relate to anything about her and I didn't either like or dislike her. This Nancy Drew is uninspiring! This Nancy Drew is boring! This Nancy Drew is not confident, capable, smart, or clever in NDD!
After I read the two NDD books, I realized Nancy is equally vapid in the NDGD series. That is probably why I didn't like the Nancy from that series. The two NDD books read very much like the first 3.5 NDGD books I read (I had started the fourth book, but put it aside because I disliked it and became bored). I also read NDGD entry, “Stop the Clock,” because it harkened back to the first book in the original NDMS series. Again, I was less than entertained by this NDGD story.
I detest George, particularly in the first NDD book. She was hateful. She is self-centered, rude, mean, and a slob much of the time. George generally behaves at about the same age level as the young boy, Tobias, who is aboard the cruise ship with his parents. He was eight years old. Tobias, like George, was self-centered, rude, mean, and instead of being a slob, was very spoilt.
George, the reader is told, always hated Bess’s boyfriends. With good reason in the first two NDD books, I think. Bess’s latest beau is the criminal. But why dislike the others?
In the second book, George seemed more like the character from the original series. George didn’t interact with other people than Bess, George, and Alan very much so she didn’t appear as rude to me. Tobias, too, had a personality change. He became quite likeable and helped Nancy solve the mystery. The abrupt personality changes of both characters made me wonder of there were different authors for each book.
I found it glaring that Nancy described River Heights as a sleepy town where nothing exciting happened. It made me think she should go back and read some of the NDMS books! It was also glaring to me that the read is told her dad is “on a case.” I know from reading previous Nancy Drew series that her father is a lawyer. A new reader to the series would not know this. One could assume that her father is a social worker, a nurse, or a psychiatrist, and not necessary a member of the law profession.
At the same time when Nancy described River Heights, she mentioned Ned. He wasn’t identified with any description at that time. Is he her brother, a cousin, a boyfriend, a classmate, a neighbour, a mailman, a dog catcher, or someone else?
And does Nancy Drew in NDD have a mother? Apparently not one that is either alive or dead because she was not even mentioned in two stories.
I actually liked Bess in the NDD series. She was the only character, other than the blogger Wendy Webster, who actually had a positive personality. Bess was very attractive, well-dressed, well-spoken, and lady-like. She didn’t seem to have a weight problem. If anyone in that series will have a weight problem, it will be George who ate four helpings of scrambled eggs one breakfast and a jelly doughnut before that meal!
For a modern series, I was surprised one of the characters was a young 20-something woman named Wendy! Wendy is such an old-fashioned, unpopular name! In my lifetime (I’m 53!), I have met seven or eight women named Wendy. At this point (2013), the youngest of these women would be middle forties; the oldest around late sixties. In my opinion, Wendy is not a young woman’s name.
And an elderly woman in the NDD books was named Coral! That didn’t bother me; she must have been born to hippie parents during the 1960s.
I wondered at the mentality of the three girls, Nancy, Bess and George. They are supposed to be close friends, but I couldn’t believe this. Bess and George, particularly, were always sniping at each other about something trivial and Nancy was almost as bad, particularly making comments about George’s appetite and a joke about George attending a spa treatment on the cruise ship. There was a lot of eye rolling and ignoring each other among the girls. Is how true friends behave with each other? Like 12-year old girls? (Maybe this behaviour is somehow is related to the cover art?).
This trio didn’t seem like friends to me. I know there was some teasing and sniping in all the Nancy Drew series, but the girls always had each other’s back, particularly in the NDMS and Nancy Drew Files (NDF) series.
The mysteries, danger, and investigations weren’t particularly exciting or memorable. The plot was as dull as Nancy herself!
I wondered about the competence of the parents of the three girls. The girls are anywhere between the ages of 12 and 20, and, yet, they are permitted to go on an all-expense paid cruise and train vacation, accompanied by Bess’s boyfriend of less than two weeks? Alan is anywhere between the ages of 19 and 22 (he is a first year university student) and the girls go off with this man nobody knew! For goodness sake, he may be a criminal! Give your heads a shake, dear parents! He is! (Actually I believe the girls are age 18 – if they were younger they would be in high school; older girls would be in college or university. They just act like 12 year olds!)
NDD books are longer than NDGD books in page count. But are they actually longer in word count? NDD uses a large font and chapter heading that cover half a page! The font is almost picture book size! There aren’t any internal illustrations, though, and after the horrible cover art, I am grateful!
The books are geared to 8-12 year old readers. I can’t imagine a 10 or 11-year-old wanting to read them. My young cousin (who is now 13-years-old) may have read the NDD very briefly last year or the year before, but would not have kept to them. At age 11 and 12, SarahAnn read some of the NDMS and immensely enjoyed them. She liked the NDMS, I suspect she would have been bored by NDD. I definitely was. Maybe I am too old for Nancy Drew?
I do not expect to purchase any other NDD books and am so glad I didn’t buy the hardcover books. I’ll keep the two I already bought (although I’d rather have my money back!) to add to my collection. When people as about the NDD and NDGD books, I’ll be glad to tell them they are among the worst Nancy Drew books ever published and don’t buy them, especially for children. I’ll suggest they buy the youngsters NDMS books instead! I think it’s very telling that the classic NDMS are still in print today and the paperback series go out-of-print very soon after they are published.
I wasn't very optimistic about NDD, but would have been joyfully surprised if it had been well executed. As I had anticipated, it was not. I wasn’t surprised because NDD came from the same publishers who produced the ill-fated NDGD series. With books in hand for the first time, I looked at the back cover of the first one. I discovered the new series is again written in the first person. To me, this writing style doesn’t work Nancy Drew books or for similar children’s mystery series.
I also didn’t like the cover art for either book. Nancy Drew (her age not given in the stories) looks to be about 12 years old. I assume she must be around age 18 because Bess’s new boyfriend in the NDD series is a first year university student and approximately two years older than Nancy, Bess, and George.
What is missing from NDGD and NDD, is Nancy Drew herself! To me, a heroine must be strong, confident, capable, clever, competent, smart, aware, and possess other similar positive qualities. The heroine of these Nancy Drew series is too scatter-brained about all aspects of life except those which are focused on solving a mystery! I can't believe Nancy Drew is competent about solving mysteries if she can't remember to fill her car with gas, wears slippers outside because she forgot about changing to her shoes, doesn’t remember to charge her cell phone, is not Internet savvy, and doesn’t know how people can be aware of her sleuthing success through Internet searches.
It is more realistic if the heroine has some flaws. Nancy Drew, from the 1930s, was brash, caustic, and impatient. Judy Bolton has a temper, Connie Blair refuses to commit to any of her numerous male admirers, and Penny Parker is mischievous. Nancy Drew, as written by Harriet Adams, was generally unflawed and this is one of the reasons for criticism of the Nancy Drew Mysteries Stories (NDMS). As a reader, I accept the Nancy from the NDMS series as being “perfect” because she was Nancy Drew! Both original and revised text Nancy is strong, determined, confident, capable, educated, smart, and with many more positive attributes.
Nancy Drew in NDD is dull! I couldn't relate to anything about her and I didn't either like or dislike her. This Nancy Drew is uninspiring! This Nancy Drew is boring! This Nancy Drew is not confident, capable, smart, or clever in NDD!
After I read the two NDD books, I realized Nancy is equally vapid in the NDGD series. That is probably why I didn't like the Nancy from that series. The two NDD books read very much like the first 3.5 NDGD books I read (I had started the fourth book, but put it aside because I disliked it and became bored). I also read NDGD entry, “Stop the Clock,” because it harkened back to the first book in the original NDMS series. Again, I was less than entertained by this NDGD story.
I detest George, particularly in the first NDD book. She was hateful. She is self-centered, rude, mean, and a slob much of the time. George generally behaves at about the same age level as the young boy, Tobias, who is aboard the cruise ship with his parents. He was eight years old. Tobias, like George, was self-centered, rude, mean, and instead of being a slob, was very spoilt.
George, the reader is told, always hated Bess’s boyfriends. With good reason in the first two NDD books, I think. Bess’s latest beau is the criminal. But why dislike the others?
In the second book, George seemed more like the character from the original series. George didn’t interact with other people than Bess, George, and Alan very much so she didn’t appear as rude to me. Tobias, too, had a personality change. He became quite likeable and helped Nancy solve the mystery. The abrupt personality changes of both characters made me wonder of there were different authors for each book.
I found it glaring that Nancy described River Heights as a sleepy town where nothing exciting happened. It made me think she should go back and read some of the NDMS books! It was also glaring to me that the read is told her dad is “on a case.” I know from reading previous Nancy Drew series that her father is a lawyer. A new reader to the series would not know this. One could assume that her father is a social worker, a nurse, or a psychiatrist, and not necessary a member of the law profession.
At the same time when Nancy described River Heights, she mentioned Ned. He wasn’t identified with any description at that time. Is he her brother, a cousin, a boyfriend, a classmate, a neighbour, a mailman, a dog catcher, or someone else?
And does Nancy Drew in NDD have a mother? Apparently not one that is either alive or dead because she was not even mentioned in two stories.
I actually liked Bess in the NDD series. She was the only character, other than the blogger Wendy Webster, who actually had a positive personality. Bess was very attractive, well-dressed, well-spoken, and lady-like. She didn’t seem to have a weight problem. If anyone in that series will have a weight problem, it will be George who ate four helpings of scrambled eggs one breakfast and a jelly doughnut before that meal!
For a modern series, I was surprised one of the characters was a young 20-something woman named Wendy! Wendy is such an old-fashioned, unpopular name! In my lifetime (I’m 53!), I have met seven or eight women named Wendy. At this point (2013), the youngest of these women would be middle forties; the oldest around late sixties. In my opinion, Wendy is not a young woman’s name.
And an elderly woman in the NDD books was named Coral! That didn’t bother me; she must have been born to hippie parents during the 1960s.
I wondered at the mentality of the three girls, Nancy, Bess and George. They are supposed to be close friends, but I couldn’t believe this. Bess and George, particularly, were always sniping at each other about something trivial and Nancy was almost as bad, particularly making comments about George’s appetite and a joke about George attending a spa treatment on the cruise ship. There was a lot of eye rolling and ignoring each other among the girls. Is how true friends behave with each other? Like 12-year old girls? (Maybe this behaviour is somehow is related to the cover art?).
This trio didn’t seem like friends to me. I know there was some teasing and sniping in all the Nancy Drew series, but the girls always had each other’s back, particularly in the NDMS and Nancy Drew Files (NDF) series.
The mysteries, danger, and investigations weren’t particularly exciting or memorable. The plot was as dull as Nancy herself!
I wondered about the competence of the parents of the three girls. The girls are anywhere between the ages of 12 and 20, and, yet, they are permitted to go on an all-expense paid cruise and train vacation, accompanied by Bess’s boyfriend of less than two weeks? Alan is anywhere between the ages of 19 and 22 (he is a first year university student) and the girls go off with this man nobody knew! For goodness sake, he may be a criminal! Give your heads a shake, dear parents! He is! (Actually I believe the girls are age 18 – if they were younger they would be in high school; older girls would be in college or university. They just act like 12 year olds!)
NDD books are longer than NDGD books in page count. But are they actually longer in word count? NDD uses a large font and chapter heading that cover half a page! The font is almost picture book size! There aren’t any internal illustrations, though, and after the horrible cover art, I am grateful!
The books are geared to 8-12 year old readers. I can’t imagine a 10 or 11-year-old wanting to read them. My young cousin (who is now 13-years-old) may have read the NDD very briefly last year or the year before, but would not have kept to them. At age 11 and 12, SarahAnn read some of the NDMS and immensely enjoyed them. She liked the NDMS, I suspect she would have been bored by NDD. I definitely was. Maybe I am too old for Nancy Drew?
I do not expect to purchase any other NDD books and am so glad I didn’t buy the hardcover books. I’ll keep the two I already bought (although I’d rather have my money back!) to add to my collection. When people as about the NDD and NDGD books, I’ll be glad to tell them they are among the worst Nancy Drew books ever published and don’t buy them, especially for children. I’ll suggest they buy the youngsters NDMS books instead! I think it’s very telling that the classic NDMS are still in print today and the paperback series go out-of-print very soon after they are published.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 17, 2024
Much improved over the first book. MUCH. I'm glad I stuck it out because I enjoyed this one more than I was annoyed. 😆 The ending wrapped things up nicely for me and almost makes me want to read another book in this series. 😳🤦🏽♀️
Although the final reveal was 0% surprising, it was finally written in an enjoyable, oh that makes sense, type of way. 🙌🏽 Hallelujah 😅
Although the final reveal was 0% surprising, it was finally written in an enjoyable, oh that makes sense, type of way. 🙌🏽 Hallelujah 😅
August 4, 2022
It was fine. I thought it would be better but it’s still a three! They had a lot of suspects on the list which I thought was cool so that was like the best part. Have fun with goodreads😸
February 24, 2022
I know that even as a juv fiction book the characterization of main characters could be deeper and the storylines could be tighter and honestly Nancy could be a much better sleuth, but I’m really enjoying this series so far. I’m no longer the targeted audience (and I haven’t been for quite some time) but I’ve been in a reading slump and these are quick, easy, fun reads. There are plenty of juv books out there with more award-worthy elements, but this series is just what the doctor ordered for me at this point.
April 9, 2019
This. Is. Addicting...!!!
I actually don't get why people hate these type of books so much. I must say its not the best, but its not the worst either. And I know it is really annoying that we don't know their age, especially Nancy's age. And when she texted her boyfriend about Ned,... Okay, I have always suspected Alan, for why is he even in this book if he wasn't the third criminal?? So yeah...😄
I actually don't get why people hate these type of books so much. I must say its not the best, but its not the worst either. And I know it is really annoying that we don't know their age, especially Nancy's age. And when she texted her boyfriend about Ned,... Okay, I have always suspected Alan, for why is he even in this book if he wasn't the third criminal?? So yeah...😄
January 29, 2016
a continuation of the first book that could've stayed in the first book, and only be an extra twenty pages. Most of it was just random encounters that seemed to only have been put in there to keep the book lengthy. Of all the ND books I've read, this one was a downer.
April 1, 2017
I knew it!
Alan had something to do with all the weird loose ends and it's no surprise considering he always seemed to be there when something happened to Nancy.
Another thrilling mystery of the Nancy Drew series. I loved every bit of this and I think I'm being drawn to the series more than ever. I won't be astonished when I read almost all the books in the series. [Book: Mystery of the Midnight Rider]seems like an interesting one. Can't wait to read it.
Love Nancy Drew already!
Alan had something to do with all the weird loose ends and it's no surprise considering he always seemed to be there when something happened to Nancy.
Another thrilling mystery of the Nancy Drew series. I loved every bit of this and I think I'm being drawn to the series more than ever. I won't be astonished when I read almost all the books in the series. [Book: Mystery of the Midnight Rider]seems like an interesting one. Can't wait to read it.
Love Nancy Drew already!
April 3, 2019
Picks up immediately after first book which was quite terrible. I loved Nancy's original series this was not what I expected. Here, Nancy saves the day with very little seluthing and more of a luck. Kind of guessed who the culprit is in first book itself.
May 21, 2018
It was a really good book . It is a great mystery book .
January 18, 2021
I won’t give the book away, since it is a mystery, but I thought it was very clever. You will have to read the first book in the series though, to understand the people in this book. I liked it, and it was the perfect type of mystery for kids. There is no major violence, and really good themes. I would recommend for anybody from 8-12 years old.
July 3, 2022
I loved this book, I thought it had a great twist towards the end, and the author keeps you on the edge of your seat and makes you want to keep reading the text, super fun and great!
October 2, 2025
Haters gonna hate but this book’s target audience is 13-year/olds so yeah five stars Miss Keene!
August 12, 2024
oof i love a good nancy drew. she’s just THE girl detective
April 3, 2025
This was great! I loved the ending and how it wasn't just one villain. Great mystery read and action packed - it'll keep you guessing till the end!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2021
Aggressively poor plot building. Has the author read a Nancy Drew book before? Or even a mystery of any sort? It seems not.
1,5 stars, rounded up.
1,5 stars, rounded up.
August 30, 2022
Ughhhhh pleeeeeaaase,
Honestly, this is one of the weakest NDD books in this series. But at least now I’m caught up with the whole series.
Honestly, this is one of the weakest NDD books in this series. But at least now I’m caught up with the whole series.
April 29, 2022
I don't recommend reading this one without having read the first book beforehand, as I feel you will miss out on quite a bit of the mystery. After being a little annoyed with the way the first book ended, I enjoyed this one much more after the entire mystery wraps up by the end.
I loved the Alaska setting, and I enjoyed how Nancy's trying her best to solve the mystery, while trying to keep it all on the down lo from the rest of the cruise passengers.
I suspected a certain someone from the last novel as having something to do with what was going on, and I was proven right, but since I hadn't figured out this person's motive, the reveal was still a fun one for me anyways.
I definitely enjoyed this title more than the first one, and I'm looking forward to continuing on with the rest of the series shortly.
Final Rating: 4/5.
I loved the Alaska setting, and I enjoyed how Nancy's trying her best to solve the mystery, while trying to keep it all on the down lo from the rest of the cruise passengers.
I suspected a certain someone from the last novel as having something to do with what was going on, and I was proven right, but since I hadn't figured out this person's motive, the reveal was still a fun one for me anyways.
I definitely enjoyed this title more than the first one, and I'm looking forward to continuing on with the rest of the series shortly.
Final Rating: 4/5.
July 28, 2016
{Reading while trying to get over jet lag. ;) }
Okay, personalities were pretty over the top in this one. Nancy got frazzled pretty easily, which was weird to see. Bess & George were very stereotypical and bickered a lot. I still find Alan (Bess' boyfriend) odd and a dork, & not in a cute way either.
While reading Book #1 and starting this one, I was completely wondering where Ned was! If any guy got to go on a cruise with Nancy, Bess & George it should be Ned! I finally got a mention of him at half way and then a few more later on (and a phone call), which that made me happy. ;)
I saw the ending coming and was also happy about that. ;)
Questionable Content would be seeing a kiss (no details), a 'what the heck', a couple 'oh my gosh's, and a couple mentions of beer.
Okay, personalities were pretty over the top in this one. Nancy got frazzled pretty easily, which was weird to see. Bess & George were very stereotypical and bickered a lot. I still find Alan (Bess' boyfriend) odd and a dork, & not in a cute way either.
While reading Book #1 and starting this one, I was completely wondering where Ned was! If any guy got to go on a cruise with Nancy, Bess & George it should be Ned! I finally got a mention of him at half way and then a few more later on (and a phone call), which that made me happy. ;)
I saw the ending coming and was also happy about that. ;)
Questionable Content would be seeing a kiss (no details), a 'what the heck', a couple 'oh my gosh's, and a couple mentions of beer.
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