Recipe for Murder

Nancy Drew Files #21

by Carolyn Keene

The Nancy Drew Files Case 21 Recipe for Murder Carolyn Keene 1988   An Archway Paperback/Pocket Books 0-671-64227-8 PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Paperback

Genres: Mystery, Young Adult, Childrens, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Juvenile

180 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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

[Raymie · Rating 3 out of 5]

These are just fun nostalgia reads. Each Nancy Drew book is 100 pages and filled with 80s sleuthing and cheesy plot lines.

[Angelu · Rating 5 out of 5]

ned nickerson was really jealous... jacques bonnet... you were quite a charmer, but nancy's immune to that... :-P

[Share · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book #4 of the challenge for 2020 was to read a YA book so I thought I’d relive my childhood with some Nancy Drew. Damn, this girl is tough! In one book someone attempts to kidnap her, tricks her into taking a broken elevator that plummets downwards, tries to drop an iron rack on her head and drown her tied up in a van sinking in the river. Nothing phases her, she gets out of every predicament and is cool as a cucumber.

Best line “He was so fast I couldn’t even use judo on him.” 😂she’s legit disappointed she didn’t get an opportunity to judo the bad guys - I love it 😂

Great trip down memory lane!

[Jamie (TheRebelliousReader) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars. This one was a lot of fun. Full of a lot backstabbing and thievery. I liked that Nancy and Ned worked together because most of the time Ned is just there being annoying. It was nice to actually enjoy him being around for once. The case was unique and I liked the setting of the cooking school a lot. Really good installment in the series.

[Sean Harding · Rating 3 out of 5]

More modern day Nancy Drew and her sidekicks this one a mystery in a culinary School
Nancy gets her man - but if they are going to modernise Nancy then they need to dump Ned and some of the other dead wood and really go for it.

[Roderick · Rating 2 out of 5]

adequate

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I seriously love this series.

[Abby Franks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Glad I've finally read a Nancy Drew, but not sure I'll be able to stomach another. Fun read (albeit unrealistic!), but brutal writing at times.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

My recap: https://anchor.fm/nancy-drew-nickerso...

[V. Arrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

::vibrating with sheer delight:: Cold War spy codes hidden in dessert recipes!!!

[Sammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.9

[Andrew Thais · Rating 2 out of 5]

(2 stars) I didn’t like how the mystery wrapped up at the end

[K.L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

As it's set in a cookery school I naturally enjoyed it although the mystery resolution wasn't as good as it could have been. I enjoyed Neds frustration at the chefs flirting with Nancy (and his own inability to cook) as well as Bess' obsession with her dessert and baking classes

[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.

[Opticalillusion · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am currently challenging myself to read a number of books in time for Halloween. This was a thrilling read from page one right till the end.

There's a charm to this book in that there's an innocence about it ie. the way in which the relationship between Ned and Nancy is discussed. This ages the book but I'd prefer to read this then some newer fiction for teens.

[A.E. Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised by how good this was. Pacey, fun and delightfully contrived with an unpredictable ending, Nancy remains a delight, although her good luck versus actual gumption was sometimes on the annoying side. I've a ton more of these hanging around which I look forward to reading again.

[Megan]

Files #21

[Chik Frias · Rating 4 out of 5]

First ever Nancy Drew novel that I ever read. Very interesting and clever. Twists are very twisted.

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

Another great entry in this series!

(The written comments in the book by the previous owner--I got this at a garage sale--were rather amusing, too!)

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book!