What Disappears in Vegas . . .

Nancy Drew Diaries #25

by Carolyn Keene

A missing bride leads Nancy on a chase through Las Vegas in the twenty-fifth Nancy Drew Diaries, a fresh approach to a classic series.

Bess and George’s cousin Veronica is getting married to extreme sports enthusiast Xavier Redd, and as a close friend of the family, Nancy has been invited to the wedding. Given the groom’s big personality and love for the extreme, the wedding will take place in Vegas, and the couple plan to take advantage of local sporting opportunities in the week leading up to the big event.

Not everyone in the family approves of Veronica’s fiancé, though, especially because of the risk-taking behavior Xavier has introduced her to. And when one of the couple’s sporting stunts almost ends in a serious accident, it’s not clear whether it’s an unfortunate coincidence or whether someone really wants to stop the wedding from happening.

Still, the day of the wedding arrives. But when it comes time to exchange vows, the bride is nowhere to be seen. Is this just a case of cold feet? Or has one of the wedding guests created a cold-hearted plot? One thing’s for sure—Nancy won’t rest until she finds out.

Genres: Mystery, Middle Grade, Detective, Young Adult, Childrens, Audiobook, Crime

272 pages, Hardcover

First published January 23, 2024

About the author

Carolyn 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.

Reviews

[Brina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished a busy two week stretch observing the Passover holiday and as happy as the occasion was, I am glad to have it in the rear view mirror. Currently I am six reviews behind because the time I didn’t spend cleaning and cooking and spending time with my kids was spent reading. The books I got through were high end and I admittedly needed a break so enter one Nancy Drew. This time Nancy, Bess, and George had to solve a case involving a bride who disappeared. This middle grade book was perfect fast paced reading that I needed for a break and now my palette is cleansed so to speak. I still enjoy Nancy Drew but not as an all the time series. I will leave that to the gen-z and omega generations who enjoy Nancy now as much as I did when I was their age. And now back to a normal schedule as much as normal is.

4 stars

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really thought this series was over, so this book was such a nice surprise!

It was so fun to be back with this version of Nancy and her friends. (However, since when did Bess became a daredevil?) I have no idea why they had to give fake names to all the Vegas hotels, though.

Also, George watching a documentary on Y2K was hilarious.

[Leah Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd give it a 3.5 it was a quick read. Fun short listen on the way to Vegas. Even though every thing there seemed to be made up it was still fun to read about the setting and area. Not as good as the original novels but it was cute.

[Debbie Ladd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun mystery series for younger readers, just enough suspense to keep me reading.

[V. Arrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Final thoughts: the daredevil angle, especially with Bess, felt like a very shoehorned left-turn (as did suddenly making Bess Latina?) and the chase scene was too long, as chase scenes in books literally always are because they do not work in book format. But overall this was a fun ND book and the stakes were high. I do love when the baddie is just banana-bonkers insane.

[Bargain Sleuth Book Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

For this and the rest of my Nancy Drew book reviews (plus a whole lot more), visit www.bargain-sleuth.com

I had a little Nancy Drew burnout last year. After four years of slowly reading through the OT (Original Text) and RT (Revised Text) of the original series, plus catching up on all of the current Nancy Drew Diaries series, I needed a break. That and an overall reading slump has made it hard to get back into the Drew groove, so to speak. Earlier this year, What Disappears in Vegas… was released, and I finally got around to reading it. With the Diaries series, I normally just listen to the audio version, but as of this writing, there is no audiobook version available. What does that mean for the Diaries series?

SOMETHING is going on with the Nancy Drew Diaries books, that’s for sure. This mystery clocks in at 272 pages, which is a lot longer than previous Diaries volumes (with the exception of the Christmas mystery.) And for the first 40% of the book, there’s no mystery. All sorts of non-essential stuff happens that it’s hard to pick up on any clues because it all seems superfluous. Once the mystery of the missing bride happens, the story really picks up.

A kidnapping, extreme sports, and not one, but two car chases make this Nancy Drew book a lot different than other volumes in the series. Because of the long lead-up to the actual mystery, I’m not sure if kids would stick with the book that long or just ditch it. I myself had to force myself to power through, but part of that is because I have not enjoyed this series as much as the original Nancy Drew Mysteries I grew up with. I will say this, though: at least the book isn’t about sabotage!

I won’t go into all the little things that were wrong with the book in regard to staying true to the known facts of the characters (Bess in a risk-taker, George is not??!! And don’t get me started on how they can have a Latino cousin–the Boonton family math isn’t mathing) I will say that I’m happy the publishers are making the effort to try something different for the series, if only the ghostwriter would have looked at the “Nancy Drew Diaries Bible” for key details into the characters.

Next up for me is a Nancy Drew Mysteries Digest. I’ve been reading on my kindle so much the past year that it’s weird for me to pick up an actual book from my collection! Stay tuned.

[Hailey Vittrup · Rating 4 out of 5]

If this wasn’t a book meant for children, it would get 5 stars. However, because it’s a Nancy Drew book written for an audience of students, I had to dock it 1 star. This is purely from the alcohol and smoking references that I didn’t find to be appropriate. As a former and probably future Las Vegan, I didn’t appreciate the comment that a side character made about Las Vegas being “one big ashtray.” I was happy that others in the book didn’t seem to hold that opinion. In fact, modern-day “Carolyn Keene” (whoever they may be) seemed to prefer LV as a vacation spot. This book read like an episode of Lincoln Lawyer or maybe High Potential- it deviated from the normal ND Diaries for sure. The clever renaming of casinos on the Strip (ie: the Venetian became the Polynesian) and the smile-inducing Freudian slip where the Stratosphere was accidentally mentioned by its actual name added to the charm of book #25.

[Hayley Shea · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Normally, Nancy Drew would not go up again. Nancy Drew would pat herself on the back for trying something new and call it a day. But I was learning that trying new things sometimes led to great rewards." (p. 47)

This was my final Nancy Drew library read from my current lot of library books. Some aspects seemed unrealistic, for instance the toddlers talking like adults, and Nancy and her friends being allowed to freely see all the casino's security footage and participating in the car chase with the police. Also, I did spot multiple grammar mistakes. However, it overall had an intriguing, fast-moving, high stakes plot that kept you hooked from beginning to end.

[Chawna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very different format for a ND mystery then what I’m used to! The mystery has a long build up but doesn’t officially start until chapter 5! I figured out “whodunnit” very soon after the that and even thought that I knew who the baddie was before that, and was right. Still, it was an enjoyable read and so I still gave it 4 stars. I’m not a fan of the formula changes so I hope the next installment returns to the framework we all know and love!

[Caitlin B · Rating 2 out of 5]

The ND Diaries seems to have thrown the character traits of Nancy, Bess, and George into a blender and then randomly assigned them. Bess is into extreme sports and George would rather sit it out? Nancy never takes risks? It just doesn't feel like there's consistency within this series, let alone the ND series.

[Gigi in Texas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just OK, not quite as good as others

Story was just OK, not as compelling a plot as most of the other Nancy Drew Diaries. Glad all the characters where back ( my daughter is invested in them) and she appreciated the "guest appearance" at the end.

[Francesca O · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was great! A nice solid mystery that was very light and easygoing. It was also very enjoyable! That’s why I love reading Nancy Drew Diaries books, they’re always good for a short, fun and entertaining read!

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 Stars!

I love Nancy with all my heart but this was definitely one of the more predictable of the Nancy Drew Diaries series.

Also Vegas is boring…

I thought the love story was cute and man do I love seeing Nancy, Bess, and George interact and work together.

[Abigael · Rating 3 out of 5]

More “mature” content than any Nancy Drew book in history including: alcohol, drunkenness, gambling & casinos, bankruptcy, su*c*de references, & psychopathy/sociopathy. Very unexpected but not personally a problem for me.

[Emma Tourtelotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can you imagine if you’re about to be married to a guy and it turns out his brother took out a $1.5 million life insurance policy on you, on his brother‘s behalf.
Then tries to kill you the night before the wedding?!?!

Yeah me neither
But this book was about that

Insane

[Mara K. · Rating 3 out of 5]

um.... pretty good.... but.....
the charctors are totally messed up!!
george and bess have switched personilitys.
if you are writing a nancy drew book, do your research! it dos'nt take much to figure out that george and bess are switched. not bad though, and i enjoyed it

[Melmo2610 · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick and easy adventure with Nancy, Bess and George. I liked this one centered around a missing bride but the mystery and the resolution weren’t my favorite. An okay read for me.

[lydia {67} ୨ৎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the best, but I didn't see the end coming!! 🤭

I also read this in the car in the dark, so...

[Harper Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this one! It was a very interesting wedding full of risks and surprises.

[Jane · Rating 2 out of 5]

The mystery didn't start until 40% into the book, which meant it felt rushed.

[Sadistic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book in this series, love the surprises & turns

[Jade · Rating 3 out of 5]

I still prefer the older books, but this one was good! I wasn't expecting the ending at all. I thought I had it figured out, but I was way off! Well done.

[daybright🌙 · Rating 2 out of 5]

way too intense and depressing for a nancy drew book! 👎🏻

[Serenity · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 it was a pretty good mystery. I mean I didn’t figure out who the bad guy was until the end.

[Yana · Rating 2 out of 5]

After reading: this was okay! Some parts were interesting but it wasn’t as exciting as I expected; things took a while to pick up, and most of the time Nancy and her friends were in the backseat, tagging along with the police. Also.. SPOILER BELOW!!

Why did we just skim over the fact that Xavier’s brother literally wanted to kill his fiance for money??? 😭😭 like he needs to get some help, not just go to jail 😭😭

Pre-review: Ahh the audiobook is out! I know it’s middle grade but I’ve been reading/listening to this series for yearsss.. so excited!

[Sarah Sammis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite this being a middle grade mystery, this volume had me on the edge of my seat. It also had me guessing the entire time


https://www.pussreboots.com/blog/2025...

[Elsie Hertig · Rating 3 out of 5]

These are amazing books but this is not as good. I rate it a 3.5 stars

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a long-time Nancy Drew fan, I have really enjoyed this series up until now. I’m not sure what happened with this book, but it feels very different from previous installations. It seems to rely a lot on the excitement of the setting to hold interest, rather than the intrigue of the mystery.

Bess is depicted as an adrenaline junkie who’s super into extreme sports. This felt very off to me as she’s always been the more cautious friend. I think George would be a lot more likely to get into something like that. I know character growth exists, but it’s hard to imagine Bess changing that drastically. There were other moments where the clue crew seemed out of character as well. Makes me wonder how familiar the author was with the rest of the series.

Secondly, the mystery in this book did not begin until after page 100. The back cover synopsis states that the bride goes missing, so you spend the entire first half of the book wondering when that’s going to happen. That’s honestly the only reason I kept reading.

It’s a fun read with colourful descriptions of Las Vegas and lots of excitement, but the mystery is definitely not the main focus here. I hope this isn’t the beginning of the end for this series and that future books are more true to the original characters.