A review by rainynook
The Hidden Staircase by Carolyn Keene

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0

This is the second in the Nancy Drew mystery series. It's not as good as the first one. The copyright date is 1959, so it does not include the racist viewpoints I found in "The Mystery of the Ivory Charm" (1936). That said, it's an all-white cast. The story just isn't that interesting; it seems to me that with the success of the first book, a second book with a lackluster plot was quickly churned out. There isn't much of a mystery; there's a hidden staircase, it's in the title. The plot is just dumb and a bit forced.  Not my favorite.