False Moves

Nancy Drew Files #9

by Carolyn Keene

Nancy comes to the aid of her former boyfriend, Ned, to prove that his new girlfriend is not a thief and to find stolen jewels.

Genres: Mystery, Young Adult, Fiction, Childrens, Classics, Mystery Thriller, Young Adult Contemporary

149 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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

[Bill Riggs]

Nancy Drew is asked by her ex-boyfriend, Ned, to investigate the theft of a diamond worth millions during a ballet performance broadcast on national TV. Turns out Ned’s current girlfriend is among the suspected thieves. Nancy is forced to set aside her feelings involving the players and focus on using her detective skills to sort out the dilemma.
A fun updating of the character for the 80’s that stays true to the original stories.

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library)]

A Quickie Review

Much like a TV serial, this book series delivers one fun adventure after another. They may be a bit cookie-cutter, but, they're still great reading, and this one is no exception.

Score: 4/5

[Jeremiah]

So in the book before this, Ned dumps Nancy. And that book teases that Nancy’s next case would be about Ned’s new ballet dancer girlfriend would be accused of a crime. And Nancy would have to solve it.

I had to find out what happened!

While this book has both a live triangle and mystery—the love triangle is weak because the ballet dancer isn’t very likable. Also Nancy has a new boyfriend, Brad. He’s boring. So there’s no real tension of how this will resolve.

I thought the previous book Two Points to Murder was good. This one isn’t as good, but it’s a fun mystery and you might learn a little about ballet.

[Nadine Keels]

Because the "hanging" imagery on Book Eight's cover was a disturbing turn-off for me, I skipped ahead to this ninth Nancy Drew Files book.

Hence, I missed Nancy and her boyfriend Ned's famous breakup, though I'd already seen it coming. She's admitted to habitually taking him for granted, she's kissed or made out with other guys in previous books while telling herself she loves Ned, and she's also got another boyfriend now. So I didn't drum up much sympathy for Nancy being in her feelings here over Ned's new relationship. At the same time, he's kind of a jerk for having the nerve to show up and ask Nancy to do detective work on behalf of his new girlfriend after he often complained about Nancy's detective work while he was with her.

Dude. At least have the courtesy to find a different investigator for this case.

Yeah, yeah. I know there's little point in arguing with characters in a YA mystery novel from an '80s series that's sure to have some contrived situations and angsty romance in it. I still had to get that out, though.

Anyhow! As it's also happened in earlier books, Nancy makes some silly mistakes in this case that an experienced and renowned detective wouldn't make, like the way she keeps leaving her purse sitting around the investigation site, even forgetting where she put it. And this book has some repetitive details and dialogue.

Nevertheless, I enjoyed "watching" all of the ballet dancing in this novel, seeing the characters use stuff like cassette tapes and VCRs satisfied my nostalgic side, and the fight scene at the climax is great. Plus, it's refreshing when, every once in a while, Nancy has a case that isn't a murder mystery. Heists like this make interesting cases too.

I'll be continuing this series soon.

[Louise Green]

The first book I read when I was seven years old. It's always been very close to my heart, not only beacuse I love balet but since it was the book that captured my love for literature!

[Jamie (TheRebelliousReader)]

3 stars. Ehh, this series honestly isn’t that good and yet I keep reading them. They are far inferior to the original Nancy Drew series. Nancy in this series isn’t that likable and I hate her relationship with Ned because he’s an insufferable asshole. However, the cases themselves are so much fun and what keeps me reading these mediocre books. I liked the case here but everything else was annoying.

[Ooha Biddala]

I know Carolyn Keene is a collective of authors and I shouldn't be expecting consistency; but, Nancy Drew Files are my least favourite of the various Nancy Drew series.

I guess it stems from the fact that I've been idolising Nancy Drew since I was maybe 9; in fact she's one first heroes and one of the earliest motivators for my later feminist ideologies. Now, when you take such a figure from my life and make her angst over her chocolate-eyed boyfriend, I guess it just rubs me the wrong way.

Apart from that, my qualms with this particular book:

1) It was like a DIY mystery with the solution staring at you in the face even before you reached the halfway mark.

2) The motive didn't live up to the shenanigans pulled.

3) Please point me to that one building where a guy running around in a black face mask wouldn't be noticed! What? So, you got to do the criminal-ing, but first order of business is to go, change into your all-black, look-at-me-up-to-no-good costume complete with a black face mask?! Come on!

4) Girl be too mean to her rebound guy...In fact, its the writer being too mean to both the rebounds. Subtlety was thrown out the window in their haste to convince me that they're just not as perfect as our perfect couple. Humans are flawed, man; that's ok! Is what I wanted to tell them.

5) I don't know...it just didn't tingle me as it used to... I know that's not a good enough reason, but, I'm the reader and it's my review. So there!

BOTTOMLINE: Well, never thought I'd give my childhood hero two stars; but, I guess that's what growing up does to you... And angsty heroines.

[Alex]

Okay I admit it, I like Ned a lot more in this series. He’s such a dweeb in the original books, but in these ones I can see why Nancy likes him so much.

I definitely missed Bess and George in this one, however.

[V. Arrow]

Honestly, this gets the backstabby meanness of ballet, with a few pockets of loyalty and friendship that still bites, quite correct. Also, who doesn't love a diamond heist? And I loved Nancy's dedication to her independence and love of crime-solving here -- Brad was a dweeb and a drip.

[Kevin]

Not a bad mystery but I had the "how" and "who" figured out way too early (and that was with a 30-year break between readings).

[MasterSal]

20+ years later I still remember this book and series. The cover!! So 80s.

[Emilia Bartula]

Not rating childhood books

[Ashley]

SO MUCH LONGING.

[Andie]

I didn't like how much of this book was spent on Nancy's jealousy of Ned's new relationship. It felt like the details of the mystery were lost in the interpersonal drama.

[Julie Colmenares]

You would think a world famous detective would know the difference between a burglary, a theft and a robbery.

[Leia]

It was intresting to see Nancy not being with Ned . Brad is a idiot . The ending was good

[Miranda]

4.25

[Chris Comden]

False Moves by Carolyn Keene
Series: Yes Nancy Drew Flies
Format: Softcover
Stars: 3 1/2
Recommend: Yes
Would Reread: Maybe


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...

[The Curious Reader]

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.

[Samantha]

I thought this book was good. It involves the mystery of the stolen Raja Diamond. Ned's new girlfriend is then accused of the robbery. When Nancy has been asked by her ex-boyfriend Ned to solve the mystery to prove his new girlfriend innocent, Nancy gets jealous. Find out who stole the diamond in this non-stop action mystery.

[Rachael]

I've loved Nancy Drew since I was Itty bitty but this definitely wasn't a favorite. It takes place at a dance hall with a dance company and I think maybe that's part of the reason I didn't care for it too much?
Did love the drama/tension between Nancy and Ned though!

[Lenni Jones]

All I felt during this book was sadness. Really, what fun is a mystery when you've solved it before page 40? Too predictable. I mean, I still enjoyed the action and all that, but I didn't have as much fun when I knew who had done it. At least I had to keep reading to find out the motives.

[Aditya]

hi
i rote this book in 3 4

[Cinderella_ceri]

i love the book

[Sarah Tilatitsky]

I was bored, so I read this. If I was still obsessed with Nancy Drew, I would say that I love this book. However, I'm not, so, yeah. This book is pretty good, though. Oh, well. ☺

[Leah]

Knew who it was from the beginning. Nancy was a little annoying too.

[Svenja]

Wie bei den anderen Bänden, 1 Stern Nostalgie-Bonus ;)

[Prami{reader and dreamer}]

3 stars

[Nivethitha]

Nice Book

[Dr. Aditi Kapoor]

Nancy solves the mystery involving Ned's new girl friend. As she gets closer to the truth, Ned seems to get closer to her and a better understanding of their relationship. Definitely worth reading.