Nancy Drew Diaries: Secret at Mystic Lake

Series: Nancy Drew Diaries

Title: Secret at Mystic Lake

Author: Carolyn Keene

Summary: Nancy and her two friends, Bess & George are all embarking on a biking/hiking trip for George's birthday. Things start out alright, but quickly go downhill when things begin to go missing; including the hike leader!

There is nothing else to think except that someone in the group (the three girls are going with a group of different strangers) is to blame. With a few suspicious seeming characters in the group, everyone is quick to point fingers at who is doing it. However, it takes a while for even Nancy to figure just what is going on.

Comments: I stumbled upon this book in the "Mysteries" section. I realized it was by the actual Nancy Drew author and it seemed to be shorted and different and, on the cover, it seemed that Nancy Drew herself was dressed in very modern clothes! Could it be?

Yes! The Nancy Drew Diaries showcases a modern-day Nancy Drew.

It is a little strange, especially if you go from reading the 40/50s', Nancy Drew books, to reading about modern Nancy who is surviving the wilderness without *gasp* her smartphone.

I personally like the old, original Nancy Drew books and while these books were great and close replicas to the old ones, I can't help but feel that Nancy here felt a little forced. The books just seemed a little forced to me, even though I liked them, which sounds strange, but it is truly how I felt.

While the new approach is not necessarily my favorite, I do enjoy a good mystery and this one truly surprised me, so it was all good. I also think that it is good to recreate them for modern times because kids who prefer to read about modern kids like themselves can do so and still enjoy a classic Nancy Drew mystery. These are also suitable for younger children because they are much shorter than a formal classic.

The themes in the book were a tiny bit scary, like any mystery, but it was all very minor, so it would be suitable for early readers and up.

Complaints: None!

Rating: 5 stars