Buried Secrets (Nancy Drew Files) [Paperback]

Nancy Drew has a new case and saves Todd Harrington from a gunshot! Todd's father was killed and whoever killed him, doesn't want Nancy to solve this case. Hanna and Mayor Abbot have secrets, too. Nancy reveals them. To find out more about the many secrets in River Heights, read this incredible book! It's very suspenseful and I couldn't put it down.

"The Nancy Drew Files" are a series of mysteries set in the 1980s that update the famous girl detective. This is achieved with moderate success, and all things considered, the original 1950s-era series is infinitely preferable to this one. The main problem is that the original Nancy Drew series had a longetivity to them; these don't. Published and set in the 1980s, the "Files" are already badly dated in their descriptions of technology, clothing and slang. In this case, Nancy is described as wearing "a khaki safari jumpsuit with a canvas belt." Yikes.

However, the series does manage to give George and Bess a few subplots of their own, as well as a bit more agency when it comes to their friendship with Nancy; sometimes disagreeing or arguing with her at times. Likewise, Nancy and Ned's relationship is not exactly rock-solid, and the two are constantly having to find ways to compromise with each other as Nancy juggles her love life and her passion for mysteries. In this particular book, they've only just gotten back together after a rather serious breakup.

The plots are fairly predictable and the characters somewhat flat, but every once in a while there'll be an installment that's an exception to the rule. "Buried Secrets" is certainly one of these exceptions. Rather than being commissioned for a case or tripping over one accidentally, here Nancy is challenged by her rival Brenda Carlton into seeing who can solve the thirty year old mystery of John Harrington's death.

John Harrington was a political candidate who died in mysterious circumstances in the Harrington family home, having apparently fallen from his tower office window. After saving his adult son's life from a sniper during a political rally, Nancy is intrigued enough (not to mention riled up by Brenda's dare) to investigate into the matter further - only to be stunned when housekeeper Hannah Gruen begs her not to look into it further.

It turns out that Harrington was *not* a very nice man, and he made plenty of enemies during his lifetime, including his political opponent, his chauffeur, and his secretary (who is now the mayor of River Heights). As she continues to look into the mystery - including investigating the abandoned Harrington estate in several atmospheric chapters - she realizes that someone is trying to stop her from getting to close to the truth, and isn't above several dangerous scare tactics in order to get her off the case.

The story is unique for several reasons. The action stays in River Heights for one thing, and the idea that it's a "cold case" is also a change from the usual pace. Brenda Carlton's dare shows the somewhat competitive side of Nancy, a trait which may not be admirable, but is certainly understandable (and humorous), and the personal element of Hannah's connection with one of the suspects actually comes to a rather bittersweet resolution.

There are several bits of foreshadowing, misdirection and red herrings that work surprisingly well, and this is one of the few climaxes in which I really did fear for Nancy's life. Sometimes, against all the odds, what looks like a generic mystery can take you by surprise. Standing head and shoulders above the other books in this series, "Buried Secrets" is certainly one of Nancy's better outings.

› Go to Amazon U.S. to see both reviews  4.0 out of 5 stars