Heart of Ice

Nancy Drew Files #103

by Carolyn Keene

Vacationing in Washington state, Nancy and Ned discover that the owners of the Alpine Adventures guide service have been victims of a terror campaign and Nancy must go to the top of Mount Rainier to solve the case. Original.

Genres: Mystery, Young Adult, Childrens, Fiction

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun installment, though I wish George and Bess had been present.

[Nadine Keels · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I'm revisiting The Nancy Drew Files vintage YA mystery series in general, this was my first time reading this one from the '90s.

It's mildly suspenseful while the clues to the case gradually drop, but the novel isn't the most action-packed installment of the series. Even much of the characters' time out on the ice and in the snow is spent with basic descriptions of, well, the characters being out on the ice and in the snow.

Being outdoorsy. Enjoying a wintry trip. Most (not all, but most) of the potential danger being related to mountain climbing rather than to crime.

Also, whether outside or in, Nancy and Ned have more than the usual number of minutes for their romance, including a silly sweethearts' quarrel.

Yet, on the way to and during the mystery's climax, at least it isn't a villain's tell-all monologue that winds up explaining the case. And despite that the story doesn't have as many thrills as some of the other books in the series, it did give me time to relax my brain with some easy entertainment. One of the main reasons why I reach for these quick reads.

I veered way out of order in my revisit to the Files specifically for the Christmas theme in the previous book, and for the January setting in this one. My nostalgic self and I plan on going further back into the series next. Back to the '80s novels.

Note:
• intended for readers aged 12 years and up
• some violence

[K.L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love books set in wintry conditions, Ned and Nancy are the worst couple ever

Reread: still a rubbish couple. A romantic holiday skiing turns into a mystery when a climbing reaort is sabotaged. Nancy and Ned with minimal training joib a group and climb Mt Rainier, in winter...

[Aaliyah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book Celt me thinking.

[Aakanksha Singh · Rating 3 out of 5]

cool nancy drew book!

[Swati · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although it's been ages since I read a Nancy Drew book, I still possess this one in my shelf. Nancy Drew books were the reason I started reading!! :)

[Alyssa Boni · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book.