Diamond Deceit

Nancy Drew Files #83

by Carolyn Keene

Searching for missing jewels, Nancy finds the perfect setting for murder. An urgent message from Bess draws Nancy to beautiful Carmel, California. Fading movie star Joanna Burton has accused jeweler Marcia Cheung of replacing the diamonds in her necklace with fakes. But the case of the missing stones turns even more sinister when Ms. Burton ends up on the rocks -- at the bottom of a cliff! What led the actress to such a tragic final scene? Who pushed her over the edge? For Nancy, it's a murder mystery with more twists and turns than the Pacific Coast Highway, and she knows she's in a race against time. She must find the stolen diamonds before the killer strikes again -- perhaps to put her on ice!

Genres: Mystery, Young Adult, Fiction, Childrens

153 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another crackling whodunit featuring the famed teenage sleuth! This started off my mystery-themed month on a high note! I had missed this series; I'm glad I have several more volumes in my eBook collection.

[Trips Starlake · Rating 2 out of 5]

I took a year off, but it looks like I'm back to Nancy Drew Reviews.
Read this to commemorate the release of the new HerInteractive Nancy Drew game release as this is reportedly loosely based on it.

While there aren't any glaring issues (although the bar is low for Nancy), there was a whole Bess side plot that was resolved like poof! all problems gone! and Nancy didn't really solve the plot on her own, it felt like she was just told the truth of the mystery by all of the involved parties.
But the story had a lot of Nancy in peril and some exciting moments, I'll give it that. Absolutely not the worse ND I've read, but far from the best.

[V. Arrow · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm so sad that I have to one-star this title, but honestly, giving Bess AND her new friend abusive, coercively controlling boyfriends and then NEVER ADDRESSING IT MORE THAN A SIDE-EYE FROM GEORGE is horrifying to me. I know it was 1993. And I'm not saying that everything has to be addressed the way it would be in 2024. Obviously. But the fact that it didn't matter AT ALL just put a pit in my stomach that makes this a total L of a book.

[Amanda Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

A classic who stole the diamonds mystery. The majority of this book takes place in Carmel, California - a beach town that I visited in my childhood a couple of times. Bess visits Carmel and ends up inviting Nancy and George to come see it. Bess has found herself a boyfriend and a job there and is thinking about staying permanently. Will Nancy find the diamonds? Will Bess stay in Carmel with her new possessive boyfriend? You’ll have to read it to find out.

[K.L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Someone has stolen diamonds belonging to a famous retired actress Nancy and George try to solve the mystery while Bess is held back by her extremely possesive and obnoxious boyfriend who tries to prevent her spending time with the girls

[Sandra Matthews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sandra review

This was a good book, thank to Nancy, Bess and George to solved the crime and put the bad guys away

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don’t remember the plot at all, but I remember that I loved this book as a child. I bought one of these books approximately weekly when I was in middle school.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun as always.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Prompt: Written by a ghostwriter

Like all the Nancy Drew's, SO MUCH FUN>

[Eric Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great entry in the series!