The Old-Fashioned Mystery is the 51st book in the Nancy Drew Notebooks series. It was published in December 1, 2002 for Aladdin Paperbacks. The cover tagline says “Holiday cheer, carols, and costumes–it’s a great time of the year!”
Back of the Book Summary:
The key may be lost, but there are still lots of clues!
It’s time for the Holiday Streetwalk in River Heights. That’s when the stores serve cider and cookies, carolers sing on street corners, and there’s face painting, clowns, and costumes for everyone to enjoy. But the best part is when the mayor turns on the Christmas tree lights and Mr. and Mrs. Claus arrive in a horse-drawn sleigh.
One lucky child will get to present Mr. and Mrs. Claus with the key to River Heights, and this year it’s Bess Marvin! There will be reporters and TV cameras on the big day, but Bess’s chance to be a star is ruined when the key to the city disappears. Can Nancy, Bess, and George unlock the secret of the missing key before Bess’s special day is spoiled?
Inside Teaser:
How will Nancy unlock this case?
“Hi Pudding Pie,” Mr. Drew said. “Call for you. I think it’s Bess.”
Nancy sat up in bed and took the phone from her father. “Thanks, Daddy,” she said. “Hi, Bess! she said into the phone. “What’s up?”
“I have really bad news!” Bess said in a teary-sounding voice. “It’s the worst news ever!”
Nancy frowned. Bess sounded really upset.
“What’s the matter, Bess?” Nancy asked her worriedly. “What’s going on?”
“It’s the key to the city,” Bess burst out. “It’s gone!”
Review:
Without ever mentioning the era of the theme “Old-Fashioned” the story describes a Victorian-style Christmas in downtown River Heights. Stores offer hot cider, decorations all go up, a big tree in town square is decorated and prepared for the tree-lighting, and people dress up in Victorian-era winter outfits.
Bess wins the essay contest and gets to present the key to the city to Mr. and Mrs. Claus at the ceremony, but days before, Bess loses the key. Nancy and George help her retrace her steps, talk to suspects they had met along the way on the night of the dress rehearsal. At Brenda Carlton’s family Christmas party, Bess and George help distract Brenda so Nancy can snoop her room.
The mystery is a classic lose-an-item-and-retrace-the-steps type. There is a little bullying by some boys in town who throw snowballs out of jealousy, but overall the story is pleasant and well themed.
Nancy Drew Canon Observations:
Nancy, Bess, and George are eight years old. They are third-graders at Carl Sandberg Elementary school.
Nancy keeps a blue notebook for her sleuthing which was given to her by her father. In this book, Nancy uses a purple pen with a cap.
George and Bess are cousins. George’s real name is Georgia, but hardly anyone ever calls her that. Bess is described as having long, curly blond hair and blue eyes. George is described with dark brown hair and brown eyes.
The story mentions Hannah Gruen, the Drew housekeeper who has been the Drew’s housekeeper for five years, since Nancy’s mom died. It is mentioned that she was more than a housekeeper, and is thought of as a member of the family. She serves up hot chocolate to Nancy and her friends in this story.
Nancy has a black Labrador puppy named Chocolate Chip, who is also featured on the cover wearing a sweater.
Brenda Carlton, a fellow student in Nancy’s class, is not very nice. Brenda’s father owns the big newspaper called Today’s Times. Brenda writes her own newspaper, which she created on her computer: the Carlton News. It is written that she is usually snooty and mean to everyone.
Bess’s dad meets up with people from his office, implying that he has an office job.
In downtown River Heights, there is an antique store called Ye Olde Antique Shoppe, a bookstore called Book Nook, Cranberry Café, and a department store called Muller’s.
Extra Notes:
Printed by Aladdin Paperbacks, which sport the red band on the cover and part of the spine.
Cover photography by Michael Frost. Cover photo-illustration by Joanie Schwarz. Inside pages are illustrated by Paul Casale.
Length: 76 pages in the main story (more with the title page, series lists, and ads).
Printed directly on the inside back cover of this copy of the book is an ad for Nancy Drew: Secret of the Scarlet Hand:
