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Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #84

Alice et le valet de pique

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Some joker is causing trouble for Danner & Bishop, Chicago's most exclusive department store, but no one's laughing. Then Nancy and friends go undercover as store employees to catch the culprit--and find themselves in trouble.

187 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

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About the author

Carolyn Keene

1,073 books3,891 followers
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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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.

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5 stars
152 (31%)
4 stars
147 (30%)
3 stars
150 (30%)
2 stars
35 (7%)
1 star
5 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
Profile Image for Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library).
4,896 reviews86 followers
January 27, 2021
After watching Heath Ledger's iconic portrayal of the infamous Batman nemesis in The Dark Knight, I can't see or hear any reference to any sort of joker without thinking about that DC Comics villain.
Profile Image for Lu.
140 reviews4 followers
October 15, 2020
Este estuvo solo bien, entretenido, pero se nota que cambió el escritor fantasma. Es todo mucho más resumido, apurado, y predecible. Nancy hace cosas un poco tontas, como no ir a la policía *nunca* cuando las cosas se ponen peligrosas, o como notar pistas pero no atar los cabos para develar cuál era el siguiente paso en el plan malvado. Resuelve el misterio unas treinta páginas antes de que termine, y después es solo una escena final un poco ridícula y cliché.
Me gustó mucho leer sobre ella y sus amigas, igualmente. La tienda donde todo se desarrolla es un lugar interesante y divertido para que las chicas investiguen.
65 reviews
November 5, 2020
Well written plot! I quite liked this, although, I wouldn't call this my favorite Nancy Drew book that I have read, but still, enjoyable plot. I like these books, mostly for light reading and a short mystery. I recommend this book for young readings who are starting chapters books, or for any age who wants a short mystery to enjoy!
102 reviews1 follower
October 18, 2023
Surely all of this ending should have been exposed/prevented by the helicopter company? They were made aware the helicopter had been hired under false pretences and charged to a business that was not aware that it's name was being used and was probably going to be used in the commission of a crime - so why did they send the helicopter at all? Or why did they not at least make sure the police had the flightplan of the helicopter as soon as they had it?
Profile Image for Allison.
11 reviews
Read
May 30, 2025
You’ll have plenty of time to star. In court and in prison!!! Bess >>>>>>>>>
Profile Image for Candy.
200 reviews1 follower
August 12, 2025
This is my 2nd favorite Nancy Drew, after the mystery of the ivory charm.
Profile Image for LuAnn.
1,164 reviews
September 11, 2013
Nancy Drew has done many incredible, implausible things, but the one in the finale of this book goes too far! And Nancy missed the obvious which usually doesn't happen. Otherwise it's a straightforward mystery with typical pounding-the-pavement detective work, little mention of food and no clothes shopping for Nancy and her chums in spite of taking place in a department store!
Profile Image for Yue.
2,516 reviews30 followers
August 25, 2014
I remember I read this books like a million of times when I was in middle school. This is the only book I read of Nancy Drew, only because her books dont exist here in my country.
Profile Image for Serena.
3,259 reviews71 followers
April 26, 2017
My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews

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