A review by crafalsk264
A Nancy Drew Christmas by Carolyn Keene

adventurous challenging funny mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

This is #18 in the Nancy Drew Diaries series. Nancy and her dad have recently done some work for the new owners of a renovated ski lodge featuring state of design environmental technologies and practices. So they have been invited by the owners to spend their two-week Christmas vacation as guests of the lodge. When her father is delayed, Nancy goes on alone until he can join her. Nancy also plans to investigate some strange happenings going on the lodge. When on her first trip down the bunny slope results in a badly broken leg requiring a huge cast, a wheel chair and a pair of binoculars. Things continue to get worse  and the threat of a new oil pipeline to run across the mountain gains momentum. Missing her best friends and co-detectives, Nancy is pleased to meet the two Hardy brothers, Frank and Tom, and find they are also investigating some funny stuff going on at the pipeline and they are able to help each other.

 As the weather gets worse, hidden staircases, power outages, the food is tampered with, Nancy finds the danger. With her leg in a cast, her movement is limited to being an observer bring to mind  shades of “Rear Window”.

A middle-grade book, this is an entertaining update on the Classic Nancy Drew books. I found it entertaining and enjoyed some of the more quirky characters. Recommend to readers of middle grade mystery, Christmas themed books.