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Nancy Drew Diaries #23
The Blue Lady of Coffin Hall: Nancy Drew Diaries, Book 23
Ned and Nancy track down a ghostly saboteur in the 23rd book in the Nancy Drew Diaries series, a fresh approach to a classic series.
Nancy and Ned are visiting Coffin Hall, an estate turned rare books library, doing research on the library’s rumored ghost for an episode of the NedTalks podcast when a fire breaks out in the records room. One of the library’s security guards accuses Ned of arson — after all, he was the only one in the room when the fire started — but Ned swears it wasn’t him. He was trying to stop the fire. He tells Nancy he saw a lady in blue right before the incident, and thinks it was Henrietta Coffin, the ghost of Coffin Hall!
Nancy is confident her boyfriend is innocent, and she’s determined to identify the real culprit, though she’s pretty sure it wasn’t of the paranormal sort. When she investigates further, she learns that the fire was just the latest in a string of recent strange and inexplicable incidents plaguing Coffin Hall.
It’s increasingly apparent that someone has more than a passing interest in shutting down the library. But who — or what — is responsible? And why?
Nancy and Ned are visiting Coffin Hall, an estate turned rare books library, doing research on the library’s rumored ghost for an episode of the NedTalks podcast when a fire breaks out in the records room. One of the library’s security guards accuses Ned of arson — after all, he was the only one in the room when the fire started — but Ned swears it wasn’t him. He was trying to stop the fire. He tells Nancy he saw a lady in blue right before the incident, and thinks it was Henrietta Coffin, the ghost of Coffin Hall!
Nancy is confident her boyfriend is innocent, and she’s determined to identify the real culprit, though she’s pretty sure it wasn’t of the paranormal sort. When she investigates further, she learns that the fire was just the latest in a string of recent strange and inexplicable incidents plaguing Coffin Hall.
It’s increasingly apparent that someone has more than a passing interest in shutting down the library. But who — or what — is responsible? And why?
Audible Audio
First published January 4, 2022
48 people are currently reading
280 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn Keene
1,034 books3,877 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 48 reviews
August 1, 2023
4.5 stars, rounded up.
Ned seems really naive in this book and I don't like that. He's so mature in the other Nancy Drew series, so that really threw me off.
Ned seems really naive in this book and I don't like that. He's so mature in the other Nancy Drew series, so that really threw me off.
March 18, 2023
This is just the perfect comfort read nice and cosy and warm!! Perfect for younger readers and older readers looking for the ultimate cosy mystery. I loved seeing the story unfurl and the audiobooks are so comforting and remind me of my young childhood!!
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February 13, 2022
It was okay.
I always have a bit mature image of Ned, so his characterization in this book threw me off. I enjoyed the story though.
I always have a bit mature image of Ned, so his characterization in this book threw me off. I enjoyed the story though.
April 14, 2022
This was fun for the most part, but the whole bit with the journal at the end was extremely weird and rushed.
January 16, 2022
A fun mystery for Nancy and her friends. I enjoyed the bookish elements and the fact that Ned is a major part of this mystery. Good read.
May 23, 2022
Another wonderful book in the Nancy Drew Diaries Series loved it and looking forward to the next one in the series that comes out in 2023
February 6, 2023
This book is so illogical and boring. The beginning was fine but I cant put up a lot for every Coffin Hall scene. This one is kind of related to Nancy Drew book 13 and 16. I mean, someone pretending to be a ghost, makes sense. The connection between Yvonne, Izzie and Terry...I just dont like it. Talk about Yvonne's personality...she's the number one character I dislike in this book. And no one talk about what happened to Victor?? Another funny thing is, what kind of ghost poses on camera? I know this is just a story, but every time I read, I like to imagine things are happening in reality. And this cant relate to reality.
September 27, 2025
3.6 - okay. kinda obvious for me
January 7, 2023
The book was alright. It felt rushed and tried to balance too many things, which caused the book to lose its focus.
Ned’s character felt off in this book, because he’s normally quite mature. It threw me off a little and caused me to enjoy the book a little less.
Also, why did they only introduce such important characters (the intern and Yvonne’s sister) and backstory only in the end in a quite rushed way? With no buildup, might I add. It just didn’t feel quite as satisfying when the mystery ended.
What happened to the other security guard? I feel like he was only in the first half of the book and disappeared when he was no longer convenient.
Another thing, what’s up with Nancy’s ankle the entire book? It’s ignored quite a bit and only brought up when it’s convenient. When did she sprain her ankle? When Ned fell on her? Or when she fell again?
The journal and the letters felt a bit unnecessary, I think it would have been better if we found out the Coughlins were related to Harriet in the journal or something similar. We still have no idea what happened to Harriet, by the way. They started too many things, like I mentioned earlier, and didn’t tie loose ends well.
The journal entry at the end felt long. Them cracking the journal code only 2 weeks after the main mystery felt very unrealistic.
One thing I actually enjoyed was the easter egg about previous books.
Overall, I was quite disappointed at this book, to say the least.
Ned’s character felt off in this book, because he’s normally quite mature. It threw me off a little and caused me to enjoy the book a little less.
Also, why did they only introduce such important characters (the intern and Yvonne’s sister) and backstory only in the end in a quite rushed way? With no buildup, might I add. It just didn’t feel quite as satisfying when the mystery ended.
What happened to the other security guard? I feel like he was only in the first half of the book and disappeared when he was no longer convenient.
Another thing, what’s up with Nancy’s ankle the entire book? It’s ignored quite a bit and only brought up when it’s convenient. When did she sprain her ankle? When Ned fell on her? Or when she fell again?
The journal and the letters felt a bit unnecessary, I think it would have been better if we found out the Coughlins were related to Harriet in the journal or something similar. We still have no idea what happened to Harriet, by the way. They started too many things, like I mentioned earlier, and didn’t tie loose ends well.
The journal entry at the end felt long. Them cracking the journal code only 2 weeks after the main mystery felt very unrealistic.
One thing I actually enjoyed was the easter egg about previous books.
Overall, I was quite disappointed at this book, to say the least.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2024
In the last two years I have been introduced to the Nancy Drew diary series that modernizes the teenage sleuth to the 21st century world. Nancy Drew has been around for almost one hundred years and has undergone many facelifts. Some of my goodreads friends take part in a Nancy Drew book club online and invited me to join. I read at my own pace so it gave me the impetus to start up. As a kid, I read Hardy Boys, craving the action more so than Nancy’s deductive reasoning. I advanced to Agatha Christie and then my Chicago detective V.I. Warshawski at a relatively early age and did not have the emotional pull to Nancy Drew like so many generations of women do. That pull has actually began in the last two years as Nancy and her friends reentered my life. It is little wonder to me that she is a timeless icon.
Here, Nancy and her friends Bess and George as well as Ned, solve a mystery in River Heights. Their hometown is a fictional Iowa City, where I went to college, and I recognize the famed park from the original series. This is digressing. Here, George is a techno-geek, Bess is a boy magnet but is also caring and charming and can coerce information out of many witnesses. Ned interns with Nancy’s father Carson Drew and has a podcast. Nancy is the teen detective, and all four bring their own skill sets into solving these cases. In the original series Bess and George watched from the sidelines as Nancy solved all the mysteries on her own. What I appreciate about this series is that the girls are friends, there is no animosity between them, and they laud each other’s achievements rather than being bitter. In this me first generation, Nancy Drew and her team are a positive example of working together and friendship to show girls, which is why she remains an icon.
Yes, the mysteries are a bit cliched for my taste. Halfway through I can deduce what has happened. I read a lot of mysteries geared toward adults. The plots are multi layered and complex and have me on the edge of my seat. Nancy Drew not so much. These cases have become my go to palette cleansers. Yes, they are too easy for my reading level, but I appreciate the fact that younger readers still have a positive literary role model that they can turn to time and again, the same one that countless women have read about for nearly one hundred years. The cases might be easily solvable but she is still Nancy Drew and I will continue to read about her exploits.
4 stars
Here, Nancy and her friends Bess and George as well as Ned, solve a mystery in River Heights. Their hometown is a fictional Iowa City, where I went to college, and I recognize the famed park from the original series. This is digressing. Here, George is a techno-geek, Bess is a boy magnet but is also caring and charming and can coerce information out of many witnesses. Ned interns with Nancy’s father Carson Drew and has a podcast. Nancy is the teen detective, and all four bring their own skill sets into solving these cases. In the original series Bess and George watched from the sidelines as Nancy solved all the mysteries on her own. What I appreciate about this series is that the girls are friends, there is no animosity between them, and they laud each other’s achievements rather than being bitter. In this me first generation, Nancy Drew and her team are a positive example of working together and friendship to show girls, which is why she remains an icon.
Yes, the mysteries are a bit cliched for my taste. Halfway through I can deduce what has happened. I read a lot of mysteries geared toward adults. The plots are multi layered and complex and have me on the edge of my seat. Nancy Drew not so much. These cases have become my go to palette cleansers. Yes, they are too easy for my reading level, but I appreciate the fact that younger readers still have a positive literary role model that they can turn to time and again, the same one that countless women have read about for nearly one hundred years. The cases might be easily solvable but she is still Nancy Drew and I will continue to read about her exploits.
4 stars
January 6, 2023
For this and all my Nancy Drew reviews, visit www.bargain-sleuth.com
The Blue Lady of Coffin Hall is another solid winner from the Nancy Drew Diaries series. After lamenting how every book seems to be about sabotage and hearing complaints from readers like me, I’d imagine, Simon & Schuster, the publishers, seem to have found ghostwriters who not only avoid a sabotage trope but pay homage to the original Nancy Drew’s characteristics in subtle ways. There’s sabotage of a sort, but there’s so much more to the story, too.
Nancy and Ned are trying to unlock the secret behind a ghostly figure that is intent on getting rid of a historical library that’s in an old house owned by a shady and secretive family. Of course, this family has a lost heir, too, thrown into the mix, making this one Nancy Drew romp you don’t want to miss.
The “Ned Talks” podcast is one way to hook young readers, while paying a nod to Nancy’s use of radio in the past. Since Ned is a journalism student in the Diaries series, this makes sense. Unlike the original series, where Ned was an expert on a host of things even though he majored in chemical engineering. (Seriously, how many chem. eng. majors go on archeological expeditions?)
If you’re an adult or an astute kid, the culprit is fairly easy to guess early on in the story, but that doesn’t mean the book isn’t worth reading. The journey to get there is full of nods to the old Nancy Drew, and even the TV Nancy Drew with a few Easter eggs thrown in for the clever book sleuth. So, read carefully if you’re familiar with the old series. There are hints and similarities to earlier books, which makes for an interesting read.
Overall, this is a good book in the Nancy Drew Diaries series if not great. And with that, I’m caught up with this series just in time for the next book, which is being released in a few weeks. Review to come!
The Blue Lady of Coffin Hall is another solid winner from the Nancy Drew Diaries series. After lamenting how every book seems to be about sabotage and hearing complaints from readers like me, I’d imagine, Simon & Schuster, the publishers, seem to have found ghostwriters who not only avoid a sabotage trope but pay homage to the original Nancy Drew’s characteristics in subtle ways. There’s sabotage of a sort, but there’s so much more to the story, too.
Nancy and Ned are trying to unlock the secret behind a ghostly figure that is intent on getting rid of a historical library that’s in an old house owned by a shady and secretive family. Of course, this family has a lost heir, too, thrown into the mix, making this one Nancy Drew romp you don’t want to miss.
The “Ned Talks” podcast is one way to hook young readers, while paying a nod to Nancy’s use of radio in the past. Since Ned is a journalism student in the Diaries series, this makes sense. Unlike the original series, where Ned was an expert on a host of things even though he majored in chemical engineering. (Seriously, how many chem. eng. majors go on archeological expeditions?)
If you’re an adult or an astute kid, the culprit is fairly easy to guess early on in the story, but that doesn’t mean the book isn’t worth reading. The journey to get there is full of nods to the old Nancy Drew, and even the TV Nancy Drew with a few Easter eggs thrown in for the clever book sleuth. So, read carefully if you’re familiar with the old series. There are hints and similarities to earlier books, which makes for an interesting read.
Overall, this is a good book in the Nancy Drew Diaries series if not great. And with that, I’m caught up with this series just in time for the next book, which is being released in a few weeks. Review to come!
July 26, 2023
Nancy has found herself in another adventure and must dig deep into the belief of the supernatural. A local library has been labeled as ‘haunted’ and when strange events begin again and Nancy along with her boyfriend Ned are wrapped around in it and Ned is accused of a crime it is up to Nancy to investigate whether Ned really is guilty or if the a ghost could be responsible. Nancy finds herself feeling pulled in several directions throughout the story and became more realistic of a character which is a writing trait that I truly admire. I felt that the style of the writing matched the newer TV show Nancy Drew that began premiering on The CW in 2019 and ended in 2021. I enjoyed the storyline and felt that the ending was that much better with providing the unexpected and having several aspects to the resolution. It would be much higher on my rating list amongst the Nancy Drew Diaries collection and I would recommend it to anyone that enjoys the Nancy Drew series but is seeking out complexity and an interesting question to consider is whether Nancy will still believe in the supernatural in the end?
October 1, 2024
🕵️♀️Mystery
🧒Middle Grades
👻A ghostly lady in blue
Ned has a podcast, Nedtalks, where he discusses various historical and mysterious topics. His next episode requires some research at Coffin Hall, and Nancy, always interested in mysteries, helps Ned with his research on the ghost at the rare book library, which is the topic of his next episode.
A fire breaks out in the rare book room, and Ned is accused of arson, but Nancy knows her boyfriend is not guilty and investigates to prove his innocence. Readers will wonder who the lady in blue haunts the library, and Ned swears it's Henrietta Coffin and why the estate has experienced strange events. Unlike the other Nancy Drew Diaries, Nancy does not end up in harm's way. She investigates the mystery with her friends, George and Bess, to find the real culprit. The mystery is simple to solve, but the book is entertaining, with each page keeping the reader engaged. I recommend it for elementary-aged children (4th grade and up).
🧒Middle Grades
👻A ghostly lady in blue
Ned has a podcast, Nedtalks, where he discusses various historical and mysterious topics. His next episode requires some research at Coffin Hall, and Nancy, always interested in mysteries, helps Ned with his research on the ghost at the rare book library, which is the topic of his next episode.
A fire breaks out in the rare book room, and Ned is accused of arson, but Nancy knows her boyfriend is not guilty and investigates to prove his innocence. Readers will wonder who the lady in blue haunts the library, and Ned swears it's Henrietta Coffin and why the estate has experienced strange events. Unlike the other Nancy Drew Diaries, Nancy does not end up in harm's way. She investigates the mystery with her friends, George and Bess, to find the real culprit. The mystery is simple to solve, but the book is entertaining, with each page keeping the reader engaged. I recommend it for elementary-aged children (4th grade and up).
June 5, 2025
"What I love about swans is how serene and beautiful they look on the surface. Meanwhile, underneath, they're paddling like crazy. That same thing is true of all fashionable women." (Yvonne Coughlin, p. 21)
I recently read Nancy Drew Diaries #20, and I wasn't left feeling particularly intrigued. However, this one was riveting, layered, and unputdownable, literally - it did not leave my hands for four hours (amidst many interruptions) until I had finished devouring it from start to finish! This was middle grade mystery at its best. It gave me all the spooky vibes reminiscent of reading a Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, or Famous Five book as a child - I have even been peeking around corners of my own house tonight in bated breath, waiting for the Blue Lady ghost to make an appearance!
Overall, this novel was simply excellent.
I recently read Nancy Drew Diaries #20, and I wasn't left feeling particularly intrigued. However, this one was riveting, layered, and unputdownable, literally - it did not leave my hands for four hours (amidst many interruptions) until I had finished devouring it from start to finish! This was middle grade mystery at its best. It gave me all the spooky vibes reminiscent of reading a Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, or Famous Five book as a child - I have even been peeking around corners of my own house tonight in bated breath, waiting for the Blue Lady ghost to make an appearance!
Overall, this novel was simply excellent.
March 13, 2022
I was a huge Nancy Drew fan as a child and read this book because I was curious how the series has changed. It was a pleasant surprise. The mystery was compelling and had a few fun twists without being too over-the-top wacky. I was able to figure out the culprit fairly early but there were some surprises at the end. What I missed was a sense of wanting to BE Nancy Drew, which I remember as a child. Maybe it’s because the stories are told from Nancy’s viewpoint. It’s harder to mention her admirable qualities without making her seem like she’s bragging. A good story, well-written but not as compulsively readable as the originals to me.
August 18, 2022
An interesting story. It was nice to read a mystery where Ned is more present but he’s kind of… not that prepared for mystery sleuthing in my opinion. Bess and George are better prepared for dangerous situations. Also, Nancy does have to bail out or save Ned a lot even though she often needs help from or has to be bailed out by George and Bess lol.
March 3, 2022
Lesson learned from this book: if an internship is too good to be true, and if you’re overworked and under paid; then it’s time to find a new one!
It was a lot of fun to see Nancy’s boyfriend Ned take the spotlight! Listening to spooky podcasts? I think I’d just stick with reading at the library!
It was a lot of fun to see Nancy’s boyfriend Ned take the spotlight! Listening to spooky podcasts? I think I’d just stick with reading at the library!
October 14, 2023
Ugh, this one was rough. I really didn't enjoy the story, and the mystery was easy to solve. These books are normally much better, even if I like the originals best. This one wasn't as good, and the Ned storyline was just weird.
January 18, 2022
A+! The Blue Lady of Coffin Hall was very interesting and suspenseful. I really enjoyed it. A+, would recommend.
February 24, 2022
Another fun story in the diary books
February 28, 2022
and she solves it again.
March 8, 2022
2.5
honestly not that great. I can't believe I'm fully caught up with this series. now wtf am i supposed to doooooooo
honestly not that great. I can't believe I'm fully caught up with this series. now wtf am i supposed to doooooooo
April 15, 2022
The mystery is okay, but the story is really dialogue heavy.
June 9, 2022
Cute story of Nancy Drew and her boyfriend unlocking the secret behind a ghostly figure trying to get rid of a historical library set in an old house owned by a secretive family with a lost heir.
Read
June 20, 2022I enjoy these modern takes on Nancy Drew. This was another mystery that was filled with not-too-obvious clues and kept your attention captured.
February 6, 2023
Mystery, ghost, haunting, podcast, journalism, good audio book, weird ending
July 1, 2023
Fun book to listen to with my daughter
September 24, 2023
A decent mystery.
Read
January 3, 2024The Blue Lady of Coffin Hall
January 23, 2024
3.5 stars. This was a pretty solid mystery, but you can hardly trust my bias. I love the addition of a ghost( or potential ghost)to any storyline.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews