Let's Talk Terror

Nancy Drew Files #86

by Carolyn Keene

It's hot. It's cool. It's controversial. It's talk TV . . . and for Nancy Drew it's turning deadly serious! Everybody's talking about "Marcy," Chicago's hip new teen TV talk show, and Nancy has tickets to see it live. When host Marcy Robbins grabs the mike and goes on the air there's sure to be plenty of fast talk and shock-filled fireworks. But the biggest surprise of all is directed straight at an anonymous threat on her life! Professional rivalry . . . personal jealousy . . . crazy love . . . relationships out of control. . . . They're not the topics of Marcy's show, they're just a small sample of the secret intrigue churning and burning behind the scenes. Nancy's digging up all the dirt, searching for the single obsession powerful enough to incite a passion for murder!

Genres: Mystery, Young Adult, Juvenile

151 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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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]

These books are always quite exciting and intense...and this one was no exception!

[V. Arrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

EeeeEESH this one was dark and ooky.

[K.L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This seemed familiar - I suspect recycled plot- someone is threatening Marcy a talk show host and Nancy goes uc to try and find the culprit

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun as always!

[Bookish Indulgenges with b00k r3vi3ws · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys throughout my school and college days.

Nancy Drew is an amateur detective who solves crimes with occasional help from her best friends, Bess and George and, her boyfriend Ned. She also has occasional help from her father Carson Drew who runs a private law practice. From finding stolen goods to missing persons and solving mysterious happenings, Nancy is a force of nature.

Until I discovered that Carolyn Keene is a pen name for a whole bunch of ghostwriters, I used to feel confused about the slight differences in each character from books to book over the many series of Nancy Drew mysteries. I like the character of Nancy best in the original books written by Mildred Wirt Benson where Nancy is truly a character to root for – an independent and street smart girl with a penchant for trouble.

[Eric Wood · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was good. I was a bit impressed with how smart Nancy was and being a badass at the end, saving Marcy from the culprit! But I didn't like how random the culprit and his motive seemed and George was a bit dumb and was kinda annoying. The dialogue was also awkward at times, but overall it was good and the book kept me guessing so i liked it!

[Chris Comden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let's Talk Terror by Carolyn Keene
Series: Yes Nancy Drew Flies #86
Format: Softcover
Stars: 3
Recommend: Yes
Would Reread: Yes


I give honest reviews and all my opinions are my own.

For more of my reviews go to Heavenly High Seas Books