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Nancy Drew Files #35
Bad Medicine
Nancy steps in to investigate at River Heights Hospital, where promising, young Dr. Trevor Callahan appears to be killing off his patients, and is stalked by a killer who wants to keep her in the morgue with the other victims
160 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 1, 1989
About the author
Carolyn Keene
1,154 books4,015 followersCarolyn 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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 1, 2022
This one was a bang-up blast!
EDIT: As part of Mystery Month, I decided to revisit some old favorite whodunits...and, in this case, I'm glad I did! Better yet, this was the first book I read entirely on my Kindle. I've had the Kindle app on my iPad and my Mac for several years, but, it wasn't until a few months ago that I had an actual Kindle device...and I got mine at a garage sale for ten bucks. Yes, it's an older model; so much so, the screen isn't even in color. I'm hoping to get a newer model this Christmas; we'll see if Santa puts one under my tree this year.
ANOTHER EDIT: The above edit was written last year...and, yes, I did get a Kindle Paperwhite for Christmas in 2021! Though I have an iPad that has many more bells and whistles than that Amazon device, I still love my Kindle. Hopefully, I'll get more use out of it as the year continues...and for many more years to come!
EDIT: As part of Mystery Month, I decided to revisit some old favorite whodunits...and, in this case, I'm glad I did! Better yet, this was the first book I read entirely on my Kindle. I've had the Kindle app on my iPad and my Mac for several years, but, it wasn't until a few months ago that I had an actual Kindle device...and I got mine at a garage sale for ten bucks. Yes, it's an older model; so much so, the screen isn't even in color. I'm hoping to get a newer model this Christmas; we'll see if Santa puts one under my tree this year.
ANOTHER EDIT: The above edit was written last year...and, yes, I did get a Kindle Paperwhite for Christmas in 2021! Though I have an iPad that has many more bells and whistles than that Amazon device, I still love my Kindle. Hopefully, I'll get more use out of it as the year continues...and for many more years to come!
August 28, 2021
Dearest,
De fato, um grande momento quando a pessoa em green scrubs ataca, porém eu fiquei irritada que quando ele aparece de novo, ele é descritor como “a masked person in green scrubs” ao invés de “THE masked person in green scrubs”. Sei lá! Eles achavam que toda vez era alguém aleatório????
De qualquer forma, você pode ver minha jornada com essa história nos meus updates. No fim das contas decidi ler o livro físico mesmo!!!! Algo que me irritou de forma inesperada? As páginas deixavam minhas mãos quentes! (Tá na época de calor aqui em Goiânia, e eu tô sofrendo demais. Mas ficar com as mãos quentes só por segurar um livro????? É esse o mundo que vivemos graças as emissões de gás carbônico????? Preocupante.)
Ah, sim! Também fiquei muito satisfeita (????) que Nancy e Ned ficaram trocando indiretas sexuais (tô interpretando assim) logo após terem visto um homem ser atropelado por uma ambulância. Porém triste que errei na minha teoria de assassino! Mas all in all? Uma boa experiência!
De fato, um grande momento quando a pessoa em green scrubs ataca, porém eu fiquei irritada que quando ele aparece de novo, ele é descritor como “a masked person in green scrubs” ao invés de “THE masked person in green scrubs”. Sei lá! Eles achavam que toda vez era alguém aleatório????
De qualquer forma, você pode ver minha jornada com essa história nos meus updates. No fim das contas decidi ler o livro físico mesmo!!!! Algo que me irritou de forma inesperada? As páginas deixavam minhas mãos quentes! (Tá na época de calor aqui em Goiânia, e eu tô sofrendo demais. Mas ficar com as mãos quentes só por segurar um livro????? É esse o mundo que vivemos graças as emissões de gás carbônico????? Preocupante.)
Ah, sim! Também fiquei muito satisfeita (????) que Nancy e Ned ficaram trocando indiretas sexuais (tô interpretando assim) logo após terem visto um homem ser atropelado por uma ambulância. Porém triste que errei na minha teoria de assassino! Mas all in all? Uma boa experiência!
August 29, 2022
3 stars. This one was a lot of fun. It was chaotic and all over the place but a good time nonetheless. I liked that it took place pretty much just at the hospital and all of the backstabbing going on. Nancy and Ned work together to solve the case which was cute. I’m shocked at how much I’ve actually come to like Ned he still has his moments but he means well. Overall, this was entertaining.
July 3, 2026
My love of Nancy Drew runs deep (I've got two Nancy Drew tattoos), so it's fun to revisit with Nancy again.
Bad Medicine
Bad Medicine
I remembered this one, but forgot about the ridiculousness of the final few chapters. I was here for it. I love the originals so much, but I also love the Files.
October 2, 2018
I've always enjoyed mystery/whodunnit stories, and Nancy Drew mysteries were some of my favorites when I was growing up. It's kinda fun to rediscover them now. : )
January 27, 2023
I really enjoyed this one!
July 15, 2024
I figured out this one on like the first page of the actual plotline kicking in, but that's okay. It was unusually interesting for a hospital mystery.
May 18, 2025
A typical Nancy Drew Files book that takes place in a hospital. This one has a decent amount of action and a fun medical thriller spin on it.
February 25, 2015
A typical entry into the Nancy Drew Files. Nancy is an idiot as usual. I don't know how she manages to stay alive. Nancy Drew always survives, no matter how stupid she behaves, no matter how much time the culprit has to do away with her. It's really frustrating, but the series would have ended from book one if Nancy's stupidity got her bumped off.
June 15, 2010
Although this book was a short one i really enjoyed it. I enjoy mysteries and this one was interesting to read. It was interesting because i didn't think that the person in the end the murderer was actually who it ended up being.
September 15, 2013
Wow! Creepy! After this case, I'm sort of scared of going to hospital ever again! As always, Nancy sure is brave and calm in dangerous situations. I really can't stop admiring her!
May 4, 2013
Don't remember much but I know I liked it.
December 27, 2016
Involves hospitals, doctors, patients
May 15, 2025
Ned and Nancy are at a hospital solving the case for a friend of Ned's who's a doctor. The hospital is suddenly a dangerous place.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2012
As a child, this book just seemed scarier to me than the others.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews