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Nancy Drew: Girl Detective #10
Frøken Detektiv: Skittent spill
A Civil War re-enactment has the whole town of River Heights up in arms - Confederate and Union sympathizers never did mix! Especially when someone starts digging holes and tampering with the battlefield. After a little sleuthing, Nancy starts to wonder whether some of the participants are trying to cheat.
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First published March 1, 2005
11 people are currently reading
465 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn Keene
948 books3,855 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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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 - 22 of 22 reviews
August 20, 2023
Another fun whodunit featuring the famed teenage sleuth.
August 21, 2017
LOL I didn't think Nancy Friends bESS and George are such ass holes, getting mad at Nancy for going Confederate in a freakin Civil War REACNACTMENT
April 10, 2023
This book was...really dumb.
Occasional bad history aside, I don't really go for mystery novels that just dump the whole solution at the end. I'm more a fan of the Christie/Doyle where if you're clever and pay attention, you can solve a good chunk of the mystery yourself. I'll be the first to admit that I am *not* this book's target audience, which might explain why I walked away so unsatisfied. Would love to see r/ShermanPosting's take on the pro-Confederate sentiments, though.
Occasional bad history aside, I don't really go for mystery novels that just dump the whole solution at the end. I'm more a fan of the Christie/Doyle where if you're clever and pay attention, you can solve a good chunk of the mystery yourself. I'll be the first to admit that I am *not* this book's target audience, which might explain why I walked away so unsatisfied. Would love to see r/ShermanPosting's take on the pro-Confederate sentiments, though.
July 4, 2024
1.5 ✩ I strongly dislike whodunit mysteries that have to spend the entire last chapter explaining the culprit’s motive bc the plot didn’t do it well enough– sue me!
the only part of this book that was interesting was the fight between nancy & bess/george about civil war allegiance (nancy’s ancestors were part of the confederacy; bess & george’s the union). they don’t speak to each other for most of the book because bess & george are mad at nancy for siding with the racists (bess is basically like, “nancy, the south stood for slavery, wtf are u doing???”). yet somehow at the end of the book bess & george are the ones apologizing???????? infuriating.
the only part of this book that was interesting was the fight between nancy & bess/george about civil war allegiance (nancy’s ancestors were part of the confederacy; bess & george’s the union). they don’t speak to each other for most of the book because bess & george are mad at nancy for siding with the racists (bess is basically like, “nancy, the south stood for slavery, wtf are u doing???”). yet somehow at the end of the book bess & george are the ones apologizing???????? infuriating.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 1, 2022
Boring, boring, boring!
January 7, 2023
Good concept for a mystery setting but something of a muddle. I was especially annoyed at Carson Drew's comment on pg. 23 "And as far as the Southerners went, they didn't fight FOR slavery--they fought for the right to make their own laws, without federal interference." So Nancy's father (and Simon & Shuster) are apologists for slavery, endorsing the oft-heard and debunked "states rights" defence? The Articles of Secession for every state that left the Union specifically cites slavery as their main reason. In addition, the author reveals ignorance of Illinois gun laws and ignorance of how Civil War era firearms work--they were not double-barrel break-open weapons like Elmer Fudd's shotgun. And using bulldozers and earth-moving equipment to recreate a battlefield four states away? Ridiculous.
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July 27, 2024Yikes @ Carson being an apologist for slavery while he and Nancy join the confederate side of the reenactment 😬
October 10, 2022
I've only read a few of the Girl Detective stories and have enjoyed most of them.
In Uncivil Acts, River Heights is preparing for a Civil War reenactment that has divided the town including Nancy, George, and Bess.
Despite this division, Nancy finds a mystery where several crimes begin to escalate into larger crimes beginning with the car accident of the event planner and leading up to attempted poisonings, pyrotechnic mishaps, and planned shootings of the town bigshot, Art.
The mystery had a few red herrings and brief bits of history. I actually would have preferred the history to be less fictional so that younger readers will know history and not fictionalizations.
Overall, not a bad story, and I enjoyed that the relationship between George, Bess, and Nancy showed the occasional tension. I recommend Uncivil Acts to Nancy Drew fans of all ages.
⭐⭐⭐1/2
In Uncivil Acts, River Heights is preparing for a Civil War reenactment that has divided the town including Nancy, George, and Bess.
Despite this division, Nancy finds a mystery where several crimes begin to escalate into larger crimes beginning with the car accident of the event planner and leading up to attempted poisonings, pyrotechnic mishaps, and planned shootings of the town bigshot, Art.
The mystery had a few red herrings and brief bits of history. I actually would have preferred the history to be less fictional so that younger readers will know history and not fictionalizations.
Overall, not a bad story, and I enjoyed that the relationship between George, Bess, and Nancy showed the occasional tension. I recommend Uncivil Acts to Nancy Drew fans of all ages.
⭐⭐⭐1/2
November 14, 2022
2.5 Stars
This book was incredibly boring for the first 100 pages. The last 50, the plot picks up and gets a bit more exciting, but even then, the mystery is...very weird? Nancy is suspicious of a guy without having any actual evidence/motive/reason for a good chunk of the book, she just doesn't like him. Turns out but it really made for a boring reveal.
Also, Nancy's friends hate her for most of the book because she decides to be on the Confederate team for a battle *reenactment*. More than anything, there weren't enough people in River Heights even being on the Confederate side to run the reenactment so like, why was it a big deal...? The book also skims over any constructive social commentary it could have made regarding that too...
Anyway, enough ranting from me, its just a weird book.
This book was incredibly boring for the first 100 pages. The last 50, the plot picks up and gets a bit more exciting, but even then, the mystery is...very weird? Nancy is suspicious of a guy without having any actual evidence/motive/reason for a good chunk of the book, she just doesn't like him. Turns out but it really made for a boring reveal.
Also, Nancy's friends hate her for most of the book because she decides to be on the Confederate team for a battle *reenactment*. More than anything, there weren't enough people in River Heights even being on the Confederate side to run the reenactment so like, why was it a big deal...? The book also skims over any constructive social commentary it could have made regarding that too...
Anyway, enough ranting from me, its just a weird book.
October 16, 2022
Nancy's town is involved in a Civil War reenactment and as usual with Nancy, things get a little out of hand.
We find out more about the families of Beth and George, which is nice, and a little bit about their ancestry.
For me the mystery plot and the reason behind the mystery wasn't that interesting.
Not one of my favorites.
We find out more about the families of Beth and George, which is nice, and a little bit about their ancestry.
For me the mystery plot and the reason behind the mystery wasn't that interesting.
Not one of my favorites.
June 11, 2020
I didn't find this installment as enjoyable as the ones that came before it, probably because I live outside of the U.S.A. and have little knowledge about The Civil War, plus the culprit was so obvious.
July 26, 2020
A nice detective crime fiction. Good read.
February 17, 2017
I really do like this modern day Nancy Drew series. Nancy is not at all perfect in these books; she makes mistakes, gets irritated with her friends, and can't even remember to fill her car with gas. Bess and George are also much more fleshed out here and have their own hobbies and interests. Bess is even described as a "natural beauty" with no mention of her weight! All of that is just so refreshing to read after bingeing on so many classic Nancy Drews last year.
That being said, the mystery in this one was pretty weak. We are told who the bad guy is right away and just have to wait for someone to take Nancy's concerns about them seriously. The Civil War reenactment scenes were interesting to read about, though, given that I'm a pretty big history buff.
I hope I can find more of these books, but they really do seem hard to track down.
That being said, the mystery in this one was pretty weak. We are told who the bad guy is right away and just have to wait for someone to take Nancy's concerns about them seriously. The Civil War reenactment scenes were interesting to read about, though, given that I'm a pretty big history buff.
I hope I can find more of these books, but they really do seem hard to track down.
January 18, 2016
2005 edition. This is the first Nancy Drew Girl Detective book that I bought. I was attracted to it because it deals with a Civil War reenactment, and I happen to be very interested in the Civil War and wanted to see what kind of a story for Nancy Drew it would make.
The town is going to hold a reenactment and the townspeople are choosing which side they wish to fight on. Reflecting the actual feeling in some towns of that time, the people are divided, the majority wanting to fight with the Union, the minority with the Confederacy. The feelings between the groups tend to get rather heated, again just as it was during the real war.
People try to do some research on their ancestors to find out which side they were on and Nancy finds out her ancestors were on the side of the Confederates which actually causes her some problems with her friends.
The mystery part deals with some things that are going on that indicate someone is sabotaging the event, going so far as to messing with a fireworks display which could have resulted in severe injuries or worse to the crowd watching.
There's even poison in a canteen.
Nancy has an abundance of suspects, one of whom is not above using real bullets instead of blanks.
I think it's a well-done book, both as a mystery and as an indication of how strong some people still feel about a war that ended over 140 years ago.
The town is going to hold a reenactment and the townspeople are choosing which side they wish to fight on. Reflecting the actual feeling in some towns of that time, the people are divided, the majority wanting to fight with the Union, the minority with the Confederacy. The feelings between the groups tend to get rather heated, again just as it was during the real war.
People try to do some research on their ancestors to find out which side they were on and Nancy finds out her ancestors were on the side of the Confederates which actually causes her some problems with her friends.
The mystery part deals with some things that are going on that indicate someone is sabotaging the event, going so far as to messing with a fireworks display which could have resulted in severe injuries or worse to the crowd watching.
There's even poison in a canteen.
Nancy has an abundance of suspects, one of whom is not above using real bullets instead of blanks.
I think it's a well-done book, both as a mystery and as an indication of how strong some people still feel about a war that ended over 140 years ago.
February 25, 2013
I have read the Nancy Drew book and it was amazing. This book had a lot of suspense and character into it. It really made you think hard on trying to figure out who commited the crime that was solved by Nancy Drew. The author did a really great job putting this book together and she earns a job well done.
October 31, 2014
I just loved this book :). Definitely one of my favorites in the Nancy Drew detectives. A battle reenactment is so cool!!! I wish I was there! Even though, Hammond was an easy suspect, the book still rocked!
And was it me, or was Bess such a jerk to Nancy?
Rating: 4.5
And was it me, or was Bess such a jerk to Nancy?
Rating: 4.5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 21, 2016
3.75
This is the longest time it has ever taken me to read a Nancy Drew book. This is definitly not my favorite Nancy Drew book, but I did like it more this time reading it. Just think how much a history play can make so much trouble.
This is the longest time it has ever taken me to read a Nancy Drew book. This is definitly not my favorite Nancy Drew book, but I did like it more this time reading it. Just think how much a history play can make so much trouble.
August 1, 2009
I learned more about the civil war but it wasn't that great of a mystery. The beginning gave away the bad guy right away!
October 26, 2012
took a while to get where it was heading.
July 25, 2013
I liked this book. I learned about the Civil War, but not my favorite Nancy Drew book.
April 18, 2015
this book was really confusing all i know is that their is a war going on
January 23, 2016
Somewhat predictable but not that bad.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews