Enemy Match

Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #73

by Carolyn Keene

Nancy Drew tries to stop threats against her friend, a professional tennis player, while also searching for the girl's father and evidence which will prove he didn't commit a crime for which he's been convicted.

Genres: Mystery, Young Adult, Childrens, Fiction, Middle Grade, Adventure, Juvenile

189 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1984

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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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

[Laura (Reading is a Doing Word) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good coherent Nancy mystery with the addition of a new sidekick - Midge!
Nancy is contacted by an old friend to help her trace her missing father, who disappeared on the way to jail for a crime he did not commit. Nancy's friend, Nina, is also a top tennis player and is receiving threats related to her tennis.
Nancy and Midge (her newly acquired assistant) set about investigating Nina's father's disappearance. They search for a discarded safe, the contents of which will clear him. On the way they meet various villains, capsize in river rapids, explore ruined buildings, get kidnapped, experience car sabotage but eventually uncover the truth about the threats and Nina's father!

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The usual extreme situations, and escapes, but good detecting as to where an important paper is. Interesting addition of an assistant, a young prodigy also. The books are at least exciting and fast moving.

[Suzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nancy receives a phone call from an old friend, Nina Ford, asking for her help. Her father was accused of a crime and while on a police transport, the vehicle was swept away by a river and his body was never found. Nina hopes that her father is somehow still alive and wants Nancy to try to find him. 
Loved, loved, loved this mystery. George is on vacation in California, so doesn’t appear in this book. Bess occasionally pops up, but she is busy with a River Heights committee. And Ned? No clue! He’s not even mentioned!! But Nancy is not alone on this mystery.

Nancy takes on an assistant. 14 year old Midge, is a Nancy Drew fan. And when she and her father fall on hard times, she hopes to bring in a bit of cash by working for Nancy. Nancy is hesitant at first, but quickly relents when she takes stock of the situation. 

The mystery takes the two girls to nearby Brighton, where Nina lives. She has been receiving threatening phone calls, urging her to lose her tennis matches. But Nina is a championship hopeful and refuses to give in to the threats. Nancy and Midge work to discover where the threats are coming from and are actively searching for clues that may exonerate her father of the crime he was accused of if he should be found alive.

Midge is a great character. She’s tough, smart, and resourceful. With Nancy as her teacher, she is learning how to be a great detective. And actually manages to get Nancy out of some dangerous situations. No Bess and George, but we get Midge instead. Not a bad replacement character.

The mystery itself was okay. It was fairly obvious from the beginning who the culprit was. But watching the story unfold was still entertaining. One thing I really liked? No one made fun of Bess and her eating habits!! I am shocked. Shocked! Ever since Bess first appeared as a character, her weight and eating habits have always been remarked upon. Always. It was annoying. Let her eat in peace. Jeez. Not this book though! Her figure was not mentioned. The fact that she loves dessert was not mentioned. Ah. Refreshing! 

[Mskychick]

Placeholder for reread of Etched in Bone by Anne Bishop

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seriously... we can all learn so much just from how chill, calm, collected, and genuinely honest Nancy Drew is. Maybe it’s not a realistic portrayal of a normal human being but it does make me be like “oh, that’s how I would handle sliding down a muddy cave alone in the dark.”

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The excitement of a professional tournament provides the back drop for Nancy Drew's latest adventure. An old school friend, tennis star Nina Ford, asks Nancy to help her father, who's been convicted of theft and sent to prison. But on his way, he disappeared. It's up to Nancy to find him-and the documents needed to prove his innocence.
Helped by her irrepressible new assistant, fourteen-year-old Midge Watson, Nancy investigates this mysterious situation. What she discovers is completely unexpected-someone is trying to fix the tennis matches Nina is scheduled to play!
Seeking answers to more than on puzzling question, Nancy purses a long and perilous string of clues to unmask a dangerous gang of ruthless villains. But can she expose them before they get to her?

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is actually the first Nancy Drew book that I read, and it made me want to read more of Nancy's stories. After reading more than 50 other Nancy Drew books, I think what makes this one unique is the presence of Midge, a girl who is inspired by Nancy and hopes to be like her. Midge is in the place that many readers of Nancy Drew books want to be in. Throughout the mystery she gets to be right by Nancy's side which is a fun aspect of the story. I gave this book five stars because after finding it on the withdrawal shelf at my library, I had very low expectations, but once I read it I wanted to read more books about Nancy! 50 more! :)

[Mati000]

When Nancy gets a letter from her school friend Nina Ford telling her that her friend's father is accused and arrested for a crime he is not guilty for and was swept away in flood and she is in need of her more than ever before ,Nancy comes to her friends aid and helps her find her dad and clear his name by catching the the culprit behind all the trouble.

[Chris Comden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enemy Match by Carolyn Keene
Series: Yes, Nancy Drew # 73
Format: Hardcover
Stars: 4
Recommend: Yes
Would Reread: Yes


Reread 6-25-2020

I won the book from a goodreads giveaway.

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

For more of my reviews go to Heavenly High Seas Books
https://heavenlyhighseasbooks.blogspo...

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty good book. I ended up liking Nancy's new sidekick, Midge. When she was first introduced I though she was going to be annoying, but she managed to pull it back and actually be useful, instead of just being in the way.

[Randall Tarrant · Rating 1 out of 5]

Looks cool

[Navya Garg]

THIS BOOK IS AMAZING....

[Emma Gallacher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much better than some of the previous wanderer stories!!!

[Darinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nancy Drew Mystery Series #73. Nancy helps a friend with a mystery involving the friend's father. Light and fun.

[Tristan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Childhood bookshelf re-read

This book is a fun and easy read. Even as an adult, I enjoyed following along the mystery in this book.

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

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

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

love the book.

[Amelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25

[Serena · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.