En Garde

Nancy Drew: Girl Detective #17

by Carolyn Keene

If I told you I was worried about George's health because she's taken up fencing, you's laugh. Foils today are totally safe, and the gear is padded besides. Right?

Well, if so, why did I see blood at George's first meet? Skewering isn't in the legal fencing repertoire -- but it soon becomes apparent to me that someone's too fired up to care...

Genres: Mystery, Young Adult, Childrens, Adventure, Juvenile, Detective, Mystery Thriller

160 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2006

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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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]

Every time I hear a reference to fencing, I think about Tim "The Tool Man" dueling Al Borland with a stick on an episode of Tool Time that was actually supposed to be about the other type of fencing. That scene played in my head again and again while I was reading this book.

As for the novel itself, it was standard fare for the famed teenage sleuth...which isn't a bad thing. I've said in my previous reviews that I've run out of things to say about this franchise; that's still true.

[Akahayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't like Nancy drew anymore but if I was asked about whether I like the new ones or the old ones I'd say the old ones...

[Deepa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked up this book on my book box/"outside books" reshuffle. A nice enough way to spend 2 hours of an evening, but nothing particularly special.

Nancy fans, don't hate me, please!

[claud. · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's been a long time since I last read a Nancy Drew book, like around six years or something. I don't really like this 'new' Nancy Drew they've come up with. In this version, she only comes off as pesky and annoying, a little too nosy, even for a detective. The conclusion to the mystery was rushed and very much of a letdown. If I want to get into Nancy Drew again, I'd rather read the first series than this cheap teenage crap.

[LuAnn · Rating 2 out of 5]

First person Nancy doesn’t do it for me. Actions and motivations in this don’t make sense but then who said humans are logical? Maybe it’s the setting, but it’s just not very exciting. Haven’t read any Girl Detective in a while so I can’t remember if they are all this way.

[Phoebe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cool, but definitely not as good as previous Nancy Drew books. I found Nancy a little annoying, and the story concluded too quickly in my opinion.

[Dhwani · Rating 2 out of 5]

A good plot but the suspense killed the entire book.

[Alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one was pretty boring.

[Sohila Kaur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written story and it really explores George's character.

[Izati Saim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. I love the plot twist as always ✨️✨️

[Dhylan · Rating 3 out of 5]

At first, I like reading this 'cause I learned a lot about fencing and stuff. However, I don't know if it's just me or not, but Nancy is wayyyy different from the original ND Series! Nancy keeps forgetting, she seems a little spaced out, tho she is still curious about everything which kinda annoying(for me). I just finished reading this for the sake of knowing who really is the culprit and I'm disappointed. I thought there was someone else sabotaging both fencing schools, unfortunately there was none. Just some jealous brother(also Una's ex-boyfriend). And they concluded it right away!

[lavanyaaa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating- 🌟🌟✨ (2.5)
Date- 05/02/23

The mystery was fine ig but the only person i liked was wannabe hobo ereh~

[Alex Hollingsworth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting... Not as good as the others but has a twist ending.

[Heather Pearson · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's probably been forty years since I last read a Nancy Drew novel, but when I saw this one, I had to read it. I fenced for a few years with my local club and wanted to see how the author handed the subject.

Nancy was attending a fencing match that her friend George is competing in, when one of the fencers is injured. Was it an equipment failure or was it sabotage. She is pulled into an investigation in the hopes that her friend and the other members of her club won't get injured.

For the most part, this story read just like the books from my youth. Nancy and her friends solving mysteries in a fairly straight forward manner. There were a few technical errors with regard to the fencing details. Only an experienced fencer would notice them, and they did not impair my enjoyment of the story.

While this is part of a series, you don't have to read the earlier books to enjoy this one. The author introduces the returning characters, Nancy's family and friends, and those that are part of the mystery are all new. These books are written for a 9-12 audience, though the material is suitable for a younger, more advanced reader.

#IndigoEmployee

[Nikki_q8 · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book was very nice,but i don't think George acts like the usually blunt and straightforward George.becuz i am an ardent reader of all the Nancy drew series.i am very much of a fan of Nancy drew,but one thing i am slightly irritated at is her seriousness for a mystery throughout all of the series.i also am very sad that she broke up with Ned at the beginning of one of the Nancy drew series,'Nancy drew on campus' anyways,all in all,i am pretty much in love with all the books of the series.

[Deanna · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a new take on Nancy Drew written in the first person. The problem I have with this series is that the facts about Nancy, Ned, George, and Bess are not accurate with the original series of Nancy Drew and Nancy Drew files. The ages, descriptions, etc. are so different that I cannot stand this book series.

[Ruby · Rating 3 out of 5]

The new Nancy Drew. Different in many ways from the original 49, I can't help but dislike the warp the new author has created. Somewhat suspenseful it is a book you want to read to the end, however only to find out the crime.

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed parts of this book but found after the middle and especially the end confusing and slightly unsatisfying. Though I did love learning a bit about fencing and next time the Olympics are on I might pay a little more attention to this sport.

[Ruby Fink · Rating 3 out of 5]

The new Nancy Drew book. Suspenseful, told from the perspective of a young detective who is much different from the original. Good but not the best book on my shelf.

[Morgan Lemke · Rating 5 out of 5]

wellm this is one of the books that i learned a lot about a sport from, but by far not the best book by her. although i really liked it, i like a bunch of the books much better.

[Sunny Truong · Rating 3 out of 5]

good

[Shhawakh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Nancy Drew! This got me exciting like I kept reading non stop. I love when she's solving mysteries. Anyways this is a good book.