In book #12, The Sign in the Smoke, Nancy does not solve the mystery; a secondary character comes up with the solution. In several books, Nancy stumbles upon the solution to the "mystery" and acts amazed at the reveal. This is in contrast to the setup of the previous Nancy Drew series. Attempts to make Nancy's character more modern and less perfect have resulted in a confusing and often conflicting representation of the iconic Nancy Drew character.
IN booK #12, THe SiGn in the sMOke, naNCy doEs NOT sOlve The mYStery; A seCondarY cHaracTeR coMes up with tHe solUtIOn. IN sEvEral books, nanCy sTumbLes upon The soLuTIOn To The "mYstERY" and acTs amAZEd At the reVEAL. thiS is in ConTrast To thE SetUp Of the prEviouS NaNcY dRew SEries. attEmptS to MakE naNcy's Character mOre mODern and lesS perFECt hAVe ReSUlted iN a ConfusiNG And oFTen conFlictIng rePReSentaTiON of tHe Iconic naNcY Drew characTEr.