Murder On Ice

Nancy Drew Files #3

by Carolyn Keene

A weekend on the slopes is just what Nancy and Ned need to rekindle their romance. Joined by Bess and George, they head for the mountains - and run straight into deadly peril. First, Nancy's towline breaks, then she and Ned careen toward cliff's edge in an out-of-control Jeep! Among the suspects is a good-looking ski instructor who's already got George falling for him. Nancy's got to move fast - before an avalanche of murder buries them all!

Genres: Mystery, Young Adult, Fiction, Childrens, Mystery Thriller, Middle Grade, Romance

180 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Carolyn Keene is a writer pen name that was used by many different people- both men and women- over the years. The company that was the creator of the Nancy Drew series, the Stratemeyer Syndicate, hired a variety of writers. For Nancy Drew, the writers used the pseudonym Carolyn Keene to assure anonymity of the creator.

Edna and Harriet Stratemeyer inherited the company from their father Edward Stratemeyer. Edna contributed 10 plot outlines before passing the reins to her sister Harriet. It was Mildred Benson (aka: Mildred A. Wirt), who breathed such a feisty spirit into Nancy's character. Mildred wrote 23 of the original 30 Nancy Drew Mystery Stories®, including the first three. It was her characterization that helped make Nancy an instant hit. The Stratemeyer Syndicate's devotion to the series over the years under the reins of Harriet Stratemeyer Adams helped to keep the series alive and on store shelves for each succeeding generation of girls and boys. In 1959, Harriet, along with several writers, began a 25-year project to revise the earlier Carolyn Keene novels. The Nancy Drew books were condensed, racial stereotypes were removed, and the language was updated. In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.

Other writers of Nancy Drew volumes include Harriet herself, she wrote most of the series after Mildred quit writing for the Syndicate and in 1959 began a revision of the first 34 texts. The role of the writer of "Carolyn Keene" passed temporarily to Walter Karig who wrote three novels during the Great Depression. Also contributing to Nancy Drew's prolific existence were Leslie McFarlane, James Duncan Lawrence, Nancy Axelrod, Priscilla Doll, Charles Strong, Alma Sasse, Wilhelmina Rankin, George Waller Jr., and Margaret Scherf.

Reviews

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nancy Drew and some of her friends go on a ski trip in Vermont. When Nancy arrives at the lodge the lady who owns it asks for Nancy’s help when she finds out that Nancy is a detective. It seems some mysterious things have been going on at the lodge and the owner is worried. While Nancy investigates, she and her friends run into danger… This was an enjoyable story. I really liked the snowy ski lodge location, and the characters were interesting. Another fine Nancy Drew mystery.

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Quickie Review

This is the third book in the Nancy Drew Files series that I've finished today; I don't have much to say that I didn't already write in the earlier reviews. Young mystery fans--or ones who are young at heart--will probably enjoy this...but, that's kind of a given.

Content Concerns:
• Sex: A reference to a guy and girl hitting the jacuzzi alone together. 4/5
• Nudity: None. 5/5
• Language: None. 5/5
• Violence: A couple of accident scenes; an accidental death is described; some "PG"-level peril. 3/5
• Drugs: None. 5/5
• Frightening/Intense Sequences: As usual for this series, there are several suspenseful moments, especially when a character is feared dead. 2/5

Score: 5/5

[Sanara♥ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Actual rating- 1.5/5 stars.

So much for being a detective! God, Nancy's got to be really thick for not figuring out who the murderer was from the start. It seemed so obvious. And she's supposed to be the "detective"! *facepalm*

And Nancy would have been able to figure things out way before, if she and George had actually had an honest conversation, without getting angry for the most silliest reasons!

This story is very disappointing and frankly, quite annoying to read. :/

[Staci · Rating 3 out of 5]

While in Vermont for a skiing vacation, Nancy Drew and friends stumble upon several suspicious accidents.

[Lydia Therese · Rating 2 out of 5]

Murder on Ice is the third book in the Nancy Drew Files series.

Oh dear. This was my first Nancy Drew Files book and probably won't be my last . . . I own quite a few of them. The traditional Nancy Drew books are better then these. I forgot how impossibly perfect Nancy was. I found it funny how everyone believed automatically that she was a detective. The motive was perfectly ridiculous and very weak, the title misleading -- a murder was never actually committed! Everyone, even George, was caught up in men and their petty little "romances". As someone who practically lives in VT, VERMONT IS NOT AN ARCTIC WILDERNESS!! We have people! We have electric crews! We have SNOW PLOWS!

I shall now proceed to facepalm into eternity.

2 stars out of 5.

[Jamie York · Rating 4 out of 5]

In my nostalgia era

[Stacey McCoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a wonderful piece of nostalgia from my childhood. I devoured these stories when I was a kid, begging my mom to buy me one as soon as it came out. I found a couple at a book sale and spent a couple of hours reading this one on a day off. It took me back, and the stories hold up pretty well. I sure miss Nancy Drew.

[Carrie Klassen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Such a nostalgic read... but alas Nancy doesn't give a very good impression of being a good detective when the culprit is so obvious from the very beginning. Plus, the lack of communication between Nancy and George without getting all huffy was downright annoying. All that being said *sigh* the nostalgia...

[Blaire Seyfried · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, this book is amazing. The Nancy drew series in total is amazing. I would recommend this to every single person who would love mystery and a little romance. Honestly, 10/10

[Leah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love rereading these. I love how 1980s/early 1990s they are. This one isn't my favorite because the first time I read it I figured out who the real murderer was and hated how it took Nancy so long.

[Melody · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay. In the end Nancy gets trapped in the snow with a murderer. Uhh. . .yea.

[Yrsa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Det märktes att det inte är en bok i originalserien, den här var lite mer inriktad på pojkar och relationer (utöver mysteriet). Men det var trevlig ändå.

[Nawal · Rating 1 out of 5]

Seems quite stupid and dumb.
Nancy making silly mistakes and not able to figure out
And the too much drama between best friends over a guy they just met.
Overall - would not recommend

[Phil Bayly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fun! "Murder on Ice" is a classic Nancy Drew mystery. Nancy and her friends go on a ski vacation in Vermont, only to find something mysterious is going on there.
Originally published in 1986, this is a reboot of the original Nancy Drew books. It was given to me as a gift. The giver, no doubt, paid more than the $2.75 price tag printed on the cover. It now sells in the "Vintage" category.
The author, Carolyn Keene, is a pseudonym for a compilation of ghost writers who wrote the Nancy Drew series, the Nancy Drew Files and The Dana Girls Mystery series dating back to 1930.
Mildred Wirt was the first known "Carolyn Keene." She was paid $125 for each book (remember, this was 1930). A host of ghost writers followed.
The entire Nancy Drew series was written for the YA crowd, or eleven years and older. Well, I'm older. But it was fun to read my first Nancy Drew story, especially one involving skiing, and remember how stories used to be told.

[Adrianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the Nancy Drew Case Files. They are super 1980s and high in DRAMA. The cases are a bit more complex. IN this Case Nancy and her friends go to a ski lodge and encounter a dangerous criminal. George falls for the prime suspect and this causes a huge rift among the girls. This was really interesting as there have been very few feuds among George, Bess, and Nancy (The Sign of the Twisted Candles in the only one I can think of). Anyway, George seems really taken with this guy but he struggles with amnesia and is a victim of a set-up. Things don't seem quite healed up between the girls at the end, which I liked. But it was action packed and less formulaic writing style than the main series.

[Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok I am giving this a three because the plot had such great potential and the idea was awesome. However, I am no detective, but neither was Nancy Drew in this book. Girl was calling everyone a suspect. I think the plot had a very good concept, but the issues between Nancy and her friends took away from the plot. The whole collection was like that actually, but this one was the worse of all. I like a good mystery but the real mystery was how in the world these girls were willing to trade friendships in for boys they just met. The best character in all of these was Ned. (See rankings below).

From Ok to 👎🏼
1.) Deadly Intent
2.) Secrets Can Kill
3.) Literally Any Other Book
4.) Murder on Ice

[Jim Toner · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like stories about winter trips which contain a few twists and turns, this is the book for you. Nancy and friends take a ski trip. Her friend Bess announces Nancy is a detective. Nancy doesn't seek out another mystery, but she gets herself in danger on the ski slope. Her friend George falls for a ski instructor, who Nancy considers elusive, as he doesn't want to volunteer much information about himself. This book contains more about George than certain Nancy Drew mysteries. Ned, Nancy's boyfriend, also takes more action than in certain books.

[Shannon · Rating 1 out of 5]

The culprit was so blatantly obvious that it took away any interest in the mystery for me. Nancy's logic for the first 2/3s of the book made zero sense. I spent the entire time mad that Nancy thought Luke was sabotaging his own stuff to try to kill off her and Ned for asking questions. It was beyond obvious that all the accidents were meant for Luke to be hurt/murdered. Also, I found George super annoying in this one. Like, imagine turning on your lifelong friends for some dude that you've known for like a day.

[Gabs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this was the best nancy so far. She was strong and assertive and there was even MURDER! I love how different the 80's series is from the original, i will continue to plow through her books. (See what i did there?)
Nancy and her friends go to a ski resort for a vacation, but bess lets it slip thats Nancy's a detective and suddenly shes on the case searching for a prowler, but what she discovers is much more dangerous.

[Jamie (TheRebelliousReader) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars. My favorite in the series so far. This one was so much fun and I loved that it took place at a ski lodge. The location was used really well and added a lot to the story. The ending was great, a bit rushed, but still great and I can definitely see some growth in Nancy's character which I'm happy about because she definitely starts the series a bit vapid and uninteresting. I feel like she's finally coming into her own and I'm excited to read the next book.

[Marsyee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first Nancy Drew novel and I was a little nervous to start because I hardly read mysteries but this was such a good book! I think for someone who just started dabbling in the mystery genre, this was a pretty good place to start.

It was a little predictable but the guessing game was pretty fun to go through, the way you went back and forth between the suspects and trying to keep your head above water (or should I say snow?) in case the murderer is about to get you.

[Tari · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’d first read this book in paperback but it was so long ago, I’d totally forgotten the storyline and whodunit. I loved how Nancy confronted the killer and what she ended up doing to them. Never mess with a girl who knows how to handle ski equipment! It’s always a fun couple hours to read a Nancy Drew book and great way to armchair vacation, especially when it’s something I never in a million years would do (like ski or face a killer, lol).

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve always wanted to read this series, but never got a chance to until now.

The bad guy was way too obvious, and if Nancy and George had just spoken like adults there would have been no mystery, but even so this was just SO fun to read. I don’t even care that this was really cheesy, I just loved it.

I’m so excited to finally read these books!

[Linnea · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was my first Nancy Drew Files book ever, so it felt refreshingly but strangely different from Nancy Drew Mysteries. The actual detective work is given a smaller focus as relationship drama take the stage.

The actual mystery was, as per usual, quite confusing and strangely elaborate. Also, another hit on your head surely does not cure amnesia.

[Tanya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love these books when I was a kid but re-reading it as an adults I have to say I think Nancy Drew makes a lot of silly mistakes for a detective that has been solving mysteries and is quite well known. These books are pretty predictable (I mean we know she will solve the mystery) but I still seem to enjoy them... predictability and all.

[Laila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I think I would’ve liked to see George and Nancy not be mad the whole book basically. I certainly didn’t expect Michael to be the killer. I mean I knew he had something to do with it but I was certainly leaning towards Luke being the killer. I would definitely read this again

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This Nancy Drew seems different from the one of my childhood. I don't remember the amorous feelings for Ned. Oh well, the mystery was atypical and returned fond memories of yesteryear. I may seek out one of the older editions to continue to reminisce.

[Jess Upon A Time · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t like this at all. I don't like when Bess and/or George fight with Nancy, it's just unnecessary. Or if it happens, it doesn't need to last very long like it did in this book. I was very confused about what the mystery was, making the book seem like a big mess.

[booksfromtheslimepit · Rating 4 out of 5]

I definitely feel like Nancy should have picked up on the identity of the prowler sooner. That being said though, this was a fun and cozy snow covered adventure with lots of radical skiing scenes full of dangerous maneuvers and I loved every second of it!

[Amanda · Rating 1 out of 5]

I tried to read this book so many times when I was a teenager. I would only ever read the first few chapters repeatedly. Then I gave up.