Squeeze Play

Nancy Drew Files #97

by Carolyn Keene

Nancy Drew comes to the aid of Sean Reeves, the star pitcher of the River Heights Falcons, when his young daughter is kidnapped and the price of her release is for him to lose the championship game

Genres: Mystery, Young Adult, Fiction

149 pages, Library Binding

First published July 1, 1994

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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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

WOW! Another exciting whodunit in this series! Can't believe I'm getting close to the end of the series!

[Tari · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always love how Nancy gets to work with a variety of law enforcement agencies, and this time it was the FBI in a kidnapping case. I thought I’d read all these ND Files books back in the 80s and 90s, but apparently I’d never read this one. Or it was so long ago I totally forgot the plot, lol.

As a cozy mystery reader thanks to years (adult years included too) of reading Nancy’s adventures, I can be even more thankful at how all Nancy Drew books are so good at giving a full explanation at the end. That’s what makes me appreciate all cozies that have such thorough explanations. I was planning to read these Files in order this time around, but I kinda needed this one for a reading challenge. Oh well, lol.

[K.L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A baseball players daughter is kidnapped so that he will throw the game

[Melmo2610 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a super fun one for me as I am a big baseball fan. I really liked the mystery and the end was good. A personal series favorite.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun as always.

[Amanda Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️. Always a fun and quick read. I will say that Nancy didn’t really get into any dangerous situations and the culprit was painfully obvious. Great summer vibes and loved the baseball setting

[Eric Wood · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was ok, I guess. The culprits however were so obivious and the mystery was partly dull and I just didn't care at some times, especially since the victim here hardly showed any real emotion for his kidnapped daughter. 2 stars

[Prerna · Rating 3 out of 5]

NOT THAT GOOD!

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

Don't remember much but I know I liked it.