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Nancy Drew: Girl Detective #3
False Notes
I'm always up for a good mystery, but when the big question is what I should get Dad for his birthday, I don't have a clue! And then another mystery comes my way -- one that involves Heather Simmons, a leading candidate in the upcoming election for mayor of River Heights. My friends and I are pretty sure that her daughter Leslie, musician extraordinaire, has been kidnapped. But the thing is, nobody is saying a word about it! It's hard to crack a case like this when no one will even admit that one exists. But I won't let a little thing like that stop me when I smell trouble....
150 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2004
34 people are currently reading
617 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn Keene
946 books3,834 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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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 - 30 of 50 reviews
August 12, 2023
A Quickie Review
If you like this series, you will probably like this book...but, if you don't, nothing in it will change your mind. As a fan of the famed teen sleuth, I found this book to be fun and engaging; depending on your opinion of the fictional Ms. Drew, you may feel differently.
Score: 4/5
If you like this series, you will probably like this book...but, if you don't, nothing in it will change your mind. As a fan of the famed teen sleuth, I found this book to be fun and engaging; depending on your opinion of the fictional Ms. Drew, you may feel differently.
Score: 4/5
October 29, 2024
I don’t think I even understand the concept of this very well because the book jukes you out once and then the rest is driving around with Bess and George and Ned.
September 11, 2021
This mystery was just too unrealistic. After watching a couple arguing in the street Nancy has a feeling that something weird is going on. When Nancy discovers that the couple’s daughter, Leslie, the incredible young pianist, hasn’t been seen around for a while, she immediately jumps to the conclusion that Leslie has been kidnapped to keep her mother, Heather, from filing her paperwork to run for mayor of River Heights. That has to be one of the wildest theories that Nancy Drew has ever come up with. This mystery was also kind of all over the place, and it was hard to follow Nancy’s thoughts, even though this series is written in first person.
June 15, 2022
Nancy made a whole lot of leaps in logic with this one. I didn’t feel that this mystery was as well thought out as the other books in the series that I have read. Also what the hell is Nancy doing not being able to drive? Nancy has always been a very competent driver. It kind of makes her look stupid having her not even be able to drive a car without stalling it or running out of gas. I don’t get it.
October 28, 2012
This is a new take on Nancy Drew written in the first person. The problem I have with this series is that the facts about Nancy, Ned, George, and Bess are not accurate with the original series of Nancy Drew and Nancy Drew files. The ages, descriptions, etc. are so different that I cannot stand this book series.
November 10, 2018
Fun little adventure.
The only thing that didn't make sense to me, where the parents not calling the police after their daughter's disappearance.
I mean no ransom and no threats against calling the police were given, why on Earth would they not involve the police?
The only thing that didn't make sense to me, where the parents not calling the police after their daughter's disappearance.
I mean no ransom and no threats against calling the police were given, why on Earth would they not involve the police?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 1, 2021
Her er min bokanmeldelse (!) av de eneste Frøken Detektiv jeg har lest i løpet av de siste førti år:
Carolyn Keene: "Nancy Drew: False Notes" (Frøken Detektiv: Falske noter)
Denne måtte jeg bare lese, altså. Omslagsillustrasjonen på den norske utgaven jeg altså ikke kunne motstå, men kjøpte, med den skumle plan å lese den raskt gjennom før den pakkes inn som julepresang til en niese (som spiller piano), er langt mer gjennomført vidunderlig lokkende enn den amerikanske, altså den som systemene har lagt inn i sine kataloger og som såvidt synes her. På det norske omslaget ser vi Nancy Drew [mrk. utt., Old Norse etymologi i sving, "være drewen"] i en nydelig og kanskje forbausende romslig kremsitrongul skjorte (er hun litt trinn, tro?, det er i så fall ikke noe man får øye på i teksten), og med noe jeg tolker som et glattsminket amerikansk ungpikeansikt. Blond og pen er hun sannelig også -- men noe uinteressant, liksom, i all sin glattfjesethet, selv om hun er aldeles passende forskrekket i avbildningsøyeblikket. Man blir dessverre liksom ikke *forelsket* i Nancy Drew. Skal jeg på en øde ø, må det bli (f.eks.) Jomfru Månestråle jeg ber med meg. Dessuten er jeg antagelig svak for Bess, om vi bare blir to-eine -- hun spiser og spiser, og liker grøten så tjukk at skjeen skal kunne stå som en påle. Hun er flink med bil, og vil kunne sjekke opp gutter i et kloster -- hun tiltrekker seg boyza som binders til en magnet. George er jeg mer urolig for, hun har kanskje ikke funnet sin strømførende identitet ennå.
Vi aner fra tittelen "Falske toner" og noen kvadratcentimeter klaver og halvvridde noteark at dette mysteriet altså må ha noe med musikk å gjøre. Særlig notearkene er framifrå komponert, det må jeg sige -- uten disse hadde jeg ikke stanset opp på Tanum og rasket med meg også denne boken. Jeg har nistirret på notene, i et forsøk på å se hvor de er tatt fra, før designgjengen har skrudd dem til, men det er dessverre ikke mulig, bortsett fra at de ganske riktig er fra et klaververk. Dette blir spennende -- fortsatt har jeg ikke åpnet boken på side 1, bare stirret betatt på omslag og kolofon.
Men all ære til Andreas Bennwik (omslagsillustrasjon) og Johanna Blom (omslagsdesign), som kan gå til sine sjefer i Damm-Egmont og fortelle at uten deres innsats, ville ikke Nils ha kjøpt boken.
Man må jo bare imponeres av Carolyn Keene, som skrev den første Nancy Drew-boken i 1930, og som *fortsatt* skriver og skriver: 56 bøker mellom 1930 og 1979, og ca. 111 bøker til fra perioden 1980 til 2019. Men kanskje hun nå omsider er i ferd med å stivne i en form. Denne boken tar dessverre ikke helt av, selv om trinne Bess og guttete George gjør så godt de kan. Er Leslie kidnappet, eller er hun ikke? Man har liksom ikke lyst til å svelge historiens grunnleggende premiss, at Nancy i øyekroken kan skimte et klaver *og fastslå at det ikke har vært i bruk på to døgn*. Spiller du selv Brahms, Carolyn Keene? Det blir mye kvasi-spenning som ikke er veldig spennende av å slå opp på internett i bil som Nancy har glemt å fylle bensintanken på. Og ikke kommer vi *musikkens kjerne* nærmere heller -- selv om musikken er selve dramaet og forbrytermotivet i fortellingen. Vi vet fortsatt ikke hva slags musikk Leslie og hun derre andre egentlig liker.
Dessuten var det meg høyst uklart om forbryterne egentlig fikk som fortjent til slutt. Akkurat der ligner jo boken på virkeligheten.
Som sagt, omslaget er strålende, og vil kle en rekke bokhyller.
Carolyn Keene: "Nancy Drew: False Notes" (Frøken Detektiv: Falske noter)
Denne måtte jeg bare lese, altså. Omslagsillustrasjonen på den norske utgaven jeg altså ikke kunne motstå, men kjøpte, med den skumle plan å lese den raskt gjennom før den pakkes inn som julepresang til en niese (som spiller piano), er langt mer gjennomført vidunderlig lokkende enn den amerikanske, altså den som systemene har lagt inn i sine kataloger og som såvidt synes her. På det norske omslaget ser vi Nancy Drew [mrk. utt., Old Norse etymologi i sving, "være drewen"] i en nydelig og kanskje forbausende romslig kremsitrongul skjorte (er hun litt trinn, tro?, det er i så fall ikke noe man får øye på i teksten), og med noe jeg tolker som et glattsminket amerikansk ungpikeansikt. Blond og pen er hun sannelig også -- men noe uinteressant, liksom, i all sin glattfjesethet, selv om hun er aldeles passende forskrekket i avbildningsøyeblikket. Man blir dessverre liksom ikke *forelsket* i Nancy Drew. Skal jeg på en øde ø, må det bli (f.eks.) Jomfru Månestråle jeg ber med meg. Dessuten er jeg antagelig svak for Bess, om vi bare blir to-eine -- hun spiser og spiser, og liker grøten så tjukk at skjeen skal kunne stå som en påle. Hun er flink med bil, og vil kunne sjekke opp gutter i et kloster -- hun tiltrekker seg boyza som binders til en magnet. George er jeg mer urolig for, hun har kanskje ikke funnet sin strømførende identitet ennå.
Vi aner fra tittelen "Falske toner" og noen kvadratcentimeter klaver og halvvridde noteark at dette mysteriet altså må ha noe med musikk å gjøre. Særlig notearkene er framifrå komponert, det må jeg sige -- uten disse hadde jeg ikke stanset opp på Tanum og rasket med meg også denne boken. Jeg har nistirret på notene, i et forsøk på å se hvor de er tatt fra, før designgjengen har skrudd dem til, men det er dessverre ikke mulig, bortsett fra at de ganske riktig er fra et klaververk. Dette blir spennende -- fortsatt har jeg ikke åpnet boken på side 1, bare stirret betatt på omslag og kolofon.
Men all ære til Andreas Bennwik (omslagsillustrasjon) og Johanna Blom (omslagsdesign), som kan gå til sine sjefer i Damm-Egmont og fortelle at uten deres innsats, ville ikke Nils ha kjøpt boken.
Man må jo bare imponeres av Carolyn Keene, som skrev den første Nancy Drew-boken i 1930, og som *fortsatt* skriver og skriver: 56 bøker mellom 1930 og 1979, og ca. 111 bøker til fra perioden 1980 til 2019. Men kanskje hun nå omsider er i ferd med å stivne i en form. Denne boken tar dessverre ikke helt av, selv om trinne Bess og guttete George gjør så godt de kan. Er Leslie kidnappet, eller er hun ikke? Man har liksom ikke lyst til å svelge historiens grunnleggende premiss, at Nancy i øyekroken kan skimte et klaver *og fastslå at det ikke har vært i bruk på to døgn*. Spiller du selv Brahms, Carolyn Keene? Det blir mye kvasi-spenning som ikke er veldig spennende av å slå opp på internett i bil som Nancy har glemt å fylle bensintanken på. Og ikke kommer vi *musikkens kjerne* nærmere heller -- selv om musikken er selve dramaet og forbrytermotivet i fortellingen. Vi vet fortsatt ikke hva slags musikk Leslie og hun derre andre egentlig liker.
Dessuten var det meg høyst uklart om forbryterne egentlig fikk som fortjent til slutt. Akkurat der ligner jo boken på virkeligheten.
Som sagt, omslaget er strålende, og vil kle en rekke bokhyller.
February 7, 2024
They sure don't write Nancy Drew books like they used to, huh. This modern version of the continuing series—which, I've always been convinced, but I'm more convinced now should not be continued—was so modern, circa 2004, that it was laughable. George being a computer hacker and finding people's address and personal information on the deep web? Bess being an expert lockpicker saving the day in the nick of time? It was absurd, not keeping true with any of the girls' personalities from the original books.
And the premise wasn't just absurd too, it was frankly dangerous! Three pre-teen girls, after one of them sees a couple having an argument in the street, go on a reckless chase to follow a lead that no one knows is true. I know this is the general premise of Nancy Drew books, but usually they involve Nancy's father, lawyer Carson Drew, or some other authoritative figure in the community. Here they didn't speak to a single person besides the three of themselves, and it was a faulty premise the whole way through. It made no sense as a plot and Nancy's thought process was so illogical and jumping to conclusions that it felt like a betrayal of the original character to even allow this book to exist.
And the premise wasn't just absurd too, it was frankly dangerous! Three pre-teen girls, after one of them sees a couple having an argument in the street, go on a reckless chase to follow a lead that no one knows is true. I know this is the general premise of Nancy Drew books, but usually they involve Nancy's father, lawyer Carson Drew, or some other authoritative figure in the community. Here they didn't speak to a single person besides the three of themselves, and it was a faulty premise the whole way through. It made no sense as a plot and Nancy's thought process was so illogical and jumping to conclusions that it felt like a betrayal of the original character to even allow this book to exist.
October 8, 2018
It was a very interesting book, about Nancy Drew who is looking for a present to buy her dad but when she can’t find a present to buy her dad she goes into a friends shop where she has a cup of tea and while she is in the shop she sees two people fighting across the street between a man and a woman, the woman is seems to be pulling the man away from the police station until he finally gives up and they drive away. The woman looks oddly familiar but Nancy can’t put a finger on who the woman is until she goes out side, where she remembers the woman’s name ... Heather Simones! Through a lot of poking around and digging she realizes that she may have just stumbled upon a case.
This book is a must read and has many twists and turns. I loved this book and I would definitely read it again because it’s a thriller that leaves you on the edge of your seat wanting to read more. It is a captivating book with very interesting characters and Nancy Drew’s personality is also very interesting.
This book is defiantly more than a just mystery book.
This book is a must read and has many twists and turns. I loved this book and I would definitely read it again because it’s a thriller that leaves you on the edge of your seat wanting to read more. It is a captivating book with very interesting characters and Nancy Drew’s personality is also very interesting.
This book is defiantly more than a just mystery book.
September 28, 2019
Nancy drew false notes is a great book. I fell in love with this book within reading the first couple pages. First of all it is a mystery book and I love mysteries but I also love how much description and detail went in to the characters and the setting where Nancy and her friends found all of the clues. The author did an amazing job on this book and I highly recommend this exciting and mysterious novel to any mystery lover like me.
January 7, 2022
Am I trying to understand myself by reading my childhood library, yes. Did I finish this in under 30 minutes, yes. Was I kind of disappointed in it, yes. Rereading the first two was not an awful experience, but I didn't find this book to have great clues for Nancy to go off of at first...also I was more confused about her age in this one. She is apparently a teenager, but sometimes I get the feeling she's really a middle schooler.
But all in all a decent mystery I suppose.
But all in all a decent mystery I suppose.
May 29, 2020
This was my first Nancy Drew book so I am probably not the most appropriate person to talk about Nancy as a character. As a first read, this was a pleasant surprise because Nancy was quite likable, but the plot was a bit convoluted and unrealistic. I will try other books to see if this is a common pattern or just happenstance.
April 11, 2022
Did Nancy really make any difference in this story(spoiler: other than the reward)? Would the story not have been the same regardless of whether Nancy was on the case or not? Leslie would have been returned by the family afterwards anyway and would still have missed her chance and the no one would have been punished anyway.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 18, 2019
This was really cute, albeit a little implausible.
I know I say this all the time, but I love how down-to-earth and relatable Nancy, George and Bess are in this series compared to the original one!
I know I say this all the time, but I love how down-to-earth and relatable Nancy, George and Bess are in this series compared to the original one!
December 1, 2019
An almost imaginary mystery. Nancy spots two people *arguing* and jumps to the conclusion something is wrong...
A talented young pianist disappears days before her scholarship audition...
These two things are connected. But what a random mystery!!!!
A talented young pianist disappears days before her scholarship audition...
These two things are connected. But what a random mystery!!!!
December 11, 2022
It felt better that the previous two, with more mistery. I actually felt the rush to find the missing person before her performance at the recital. I wasn't expecting the ending. However it was a little juvenile adventure.
December 26, 2023
A good plot with an interesting mystery and a lesson to be learned - everyone should ALWAYS carry a pocket knife (cuz you never know when you're gonna have to take a lock off a door handle :) ) plus I found out that Bess has a sister named Maggie. Who knew.
July 17, 2017
I'm giving this book two stars instead of five because for some reason, it took me a while to finish it and when I did finish it, I was left feeling wanting more. I'm glad I got through it, though.
June 19, 2018
Mystery adventure of prodigy musician.
Love every detail of narration as Nancy solves another mystery with her friend, Bess and Georgia, err George.
Love every detail of narration as Nancy solves another mystery with her friend, Bess and Georgia, err George.
October 27, 2019
The story was nice but done reason I didnt find it so interesting. But it was mysterious
April 7, 2020
I liked it because it had a nice twist at the end.
January 1, 2021
Very perceptive young lady, even if her hunches sometimes lead in the wrong direction!
February 21, 2021
It is always fun to go back to the days when I used to read Nancy Drew.
February 21, 2022
Cool.
4.5 stars.
4.5 stars.
January 16, 2023
Good, hyped nancy drew in this book
May 4, 2023
“On this episode of Dance Moms”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 17, 2024
cunt! couldve done without the weird body descriptions though
October 29, 2024
NO CHARGES FOR THE KIDNAPPERS???? BOOOOOO!!!! 👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻
Read
May 27, 2015Nancy Drew books are always great for if you want a quick, interesting read. They aren't too long, or hard to read, either, which, for me, is awesome. I love that the dialogue in this book is very well thought out, and the settings are thoroughly described. I think this book is basically perfect to read for anyone who likes to read mysteries, but also likes to keep it simple. It's great for kids in 3rd grade, it's great for teens in 9th grade, it appeals to so many different readers. This book really kept me wondering what would happen next. I like that in this book, and many other Nancy Drew books, there are some things to relate to. Often, they have nothing to do with the mystery, they're just sort of a side conflict. This side conflict was finding a present for Nancy's dad's birthday, which is sort of a cliche problem in a simple book teenagers are the main characters of. I will always continue reading Nancy Drew books.
Read
February 12, 2015I read this to see if Nancy Drew would be good for Ashley to read. I don't see any issues with it for her. But it's certainly not as good as I remember them being. It was predictable. It was kind of boring and not very well written. Maybe I should go back and read an old one. Perhaps they are that way too but I didn't realize it because I was young. :)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews