The Clue in the Diary (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories, #7)

by Carolyn Keene

[Whitney @ First Impressions Reviews]

Okay, so Nancy finds a diary during a house fire and believes there could be a clue in it to find the arsonist. (hence, the title) while leaving the scene, her car is in an accident and meets Ned Nickerson -- Yay! He falls head-over heals in disgusting puppy love and will do anything to help solve the case. As in every Nancy Drew book she has a charity case, The Swensons, whose father/husband has gone on the job hunt and not sending money! Of course this sends Nancy on another case --Yippee and in turn helps with the first, the mysterious house fire of the disliked Raybolts. Then the Nancy Drew normal happens, the charity case goes all "Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi you our hope" minus the cinnamon-bun hair-do. Nancy saves both intertwining case and all is right in the world again.

I liked this installment, I didn't love it but it was a good read-in-a-day book. I really liked that Ned has come into the picture now, someone who will probably be on the same level of mystery-solving instead of her friends George and Bess, who basically follow Nancy around and take the incentive. The Clue in the Diary was clever, well thought-out and an enjoyable read. Carolyn Keene is starting to branch out from a "Clue" kind of mystery crime solving i.e. Mr. Mustard, in the library with the revolver; giving a deeper storyline and developing Nancy' character. She is not just some girl who runs around solving mysteries, but a thought provoking, intelligent wanna-be-your-best-friend kind of girl.