The Cheating Heart

Nancy Drew Files #99

by Carolyn Keene

Visiting Ned Nickerson at Emerson College, Nancy must ask him some sensitive questions when a scandal breaks out that could lead to his expulsion and uncovers a secret obsession that puts more than broken hearts at stake. Original.

Genres: Mystery, Young Adult, Childrens, Detective

160 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1990

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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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

Like a good television show, this book series delivers one great episode after another.

[Lady Clementina ffinch-ffarowmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up one of the more “modern” Nancy Drews after a long time, having found this one in a bookstore near home (plus of course seeing how far behind I have gotten on my reading challenge). Nancy arrives at Emerson to play hostess at a party in Ned’s sorority but finds herself literally walking into a mystery pretty much as soon as she reaches. The freshman’s English test answers have been stolen, and Ned who was helping photocopy the documents is the prime suspect. Nancy has to ensure that she does justice to the case without making Ned feel as if she suspects him (which she doesn’t of course). But what seems like a simple (ish) case of stolen answers turns a little more complicated with another student in Ned’s sorority receiving mysterious phonecalls and messages, and a few accidents along the way that are rather dangerous. In the meantime, Nancy, Ned, and their friends also find time for campus activities, a concert, sorority party, the movies, and even pizza dinners. There were a few clues in this one as to whodunit which I did pick up on but realised their significance a little more only in retrospect. The denouement, particularly the explanation did have some unexpected revelations. Quick and enjoyable though as I always say, these newer mysteries don’t have the charm of the original series.

[Prerna · Rating 4 out of 5]

suspect NED!!OMG!!amazing!

[CJS · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was pretty good

[Liselotte Howard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nostalgi!
Jag var visserligen mer en Mary/Lou-tjej, men en och annan Kitty gick också ner, de där första ”jag kan läsa själv!”-åren.
Det har aldrig fallit mig in att man kan läsa ur serien igen (trots att jag läser en del barn/YA-böcker), och hade Nextory inte radat upp Carolyn Keene-utgåvor hade jag nog inte gjort det. Mest för att slippa håna mig själv, tror jag - jag var rädd för hur låg nivå barndomsfavoriterna egentligen hade.
Men det är ändå helt okej! Lite väl ytligt (tjejer beskrivs utifrån sitt svallande hår, killar utifrån sin axelbredd) lite väl stereotypt (Kitty/Nancy drar slutledningar om vem som fuskat på prov utifrån hur populära/sociala de är - för man kan ju inte vara både trendig och smart…) och lite väl lätt (Nancy löser fallet ungefär en bok efter mig som läsare…).
Men att jag känner igen och kan det här beror ju också på att det var den här typen av böcker som lärde mig hur historier fungerar. Därför: godkänt!

[Jiyoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very enjoyable book. The synopsis led me to expect that the book was going to be about Ned cheating on Nancy (which would've been a very frustrating plot), but the book is actually about Ned being accused of cheating on a test.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

It seems like the quality is starting to decline in these later books, but I still enjoyed this one.

[dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ✩ that culprit did catch me by surprise!

[Aaliyah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think it was a great book I liked the diffrince of sannareo from the other nancy drew books.

[K.L. · Rating 2 out of 5]

When Ned is accused of stealing test papers Nancy needs to uncover the culprit. A bit of a sad ending

[Prami{reader and dreamer} · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don't remember much but I liked Nancy and the mysteries.