Under His Spell

Nancy Drew Files #116

by Carolyn Keene

The day after an explosive fight between Sharon Krane and her boyfriend, Sharon is kidnapped, and Nancy Drew skeptically approaches the Extrasensory Convention and master telepath David LeGrand for help. Original.

Genres: Mystery, Young Adult, Novels, Adventure, Crime, Fiction

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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

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

I’m short on time, so, I’ll just quickly say: This was another great one!

[Eric Wood · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not very much enjoyed this book. I just did not care overall for the mystery, since we don't get to really care or know the victim before they get kidnapped. There was also no suspense or excitement in the search of the victim or solving the mystery, making the story dull. The story was also a bit convoluted and is too fast paced and felt kinda rushed. The father of the victim was a bit annoying and a bit stupidly reckless with the case(though I guess it is understandable, seeing it is their own daughter kidnapped, but still). The culprit was obvious and so was their motive, especially when it's hinted at on the case summary page and Nancy doesn't really suspect them for most of the book! The psychic stuff was annoying and not enjoyable in this book, it was just out of place for a ND book. Nancy keeps believing and not believing in the psychic stuff and it was annoying too. Like which is it Nancy?? Nancy doesn't typically believe in psychics, so she should have kept thinking there has to be something logical instead of believing and not believing constantly. And Nancy was a bit rude with one of the psychics in this book, which is not like her. Nancy also doesn't solve the mystery here, she really gets help solving it. Overall, this book would have been better without any psychics, a bit more time knowing the victim, less fast paced and rushed, more suspenseful, and Nancy solving the mystery with no help. 1 star.

[Ashley · Rating 1 out of 5]

OH MY GODDDDD THIS ONE SUCKS.
-I hate books where Nancy is flirting hardcore with someone else, so CHECK
-I hate books where Nancy is flirting hardcore with THE VILLAIN, so CHECK
-I hate books where NANCY AND NED DON'T EVEN HAVE A CONVERSATION, SO CHECK
WE HAVE A BINGO
ALSO SHE'S OOC IN THIS ONE. She spends 3/4 of the book thinking that the psychic asshole might actually be a psychic? NO. NOT IN THIS UNIVERSE. And the only logical conclusion once you start with the very rational assumption that he's not psychic is that HE'S THE KIDNAPPER, which is OF COURSE TRUE.

[K.L. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nancy gets the help of a famous psychic when investigating the kidinapping of a police officer's daughter. She is attracted to said psychic. All a bit weird as Nan is historically usually quite anti any paranormal stuff.

[V. Arrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hate that the NDF books without Ned in them are so much better than the ones with his presence, but... an unencumbered and confident Nancy is the best Nancy. Plus, the whole "detective versus psychic" trope is always a winner.