Spies and Lies

Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys: Super Mystery #13

by Carolyn Keene

The young sleuths enter the FBI Academy in order to uncover who's lying and who's spying in America's toughest training facility. It seems that some agents have been recruited for illegal activities--and some have been murdered. Can the teens make

Genres: Mystery, Young Adult, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Childrens, Middle Grade

224 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 1, 1992

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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think that I read this one when I was a kid, but I'm not 100% sure. It's sort of just okay as a mystery--how these teenagers pass for people with master's degrees is bananas, but necessary to believe for the sake of the story. But you get a little jealous Frank and I'm always up for that.

[Gueller · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was very intresting with an incredible twist at the end. A senators duaghter is being threatened, so who else but Nancy drew to train along side her to be her bodyguard. the hardy boys have been hired to do the same to catch some of the people trying to turn some trainess against the goverment. turns out the cases are connected, judy was protecting her father by killing Erin and was arrested in the end.

[Ellie Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay just to start, I love the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew and to see them working together was epic! Joe and Nancy really stole the shwo to me. I laughed so hard when Frank was trying to get things done and Joe was very busy flirting with every girl. Needless to say Frank was not impressed.

Nancy's mystery was super shocking and super intense, had me at the edge of my seat. I also loved that she stayed loyal to Ned.

[Jennifer Abella · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my favorite crossover-- not enough Frank/Nancy flirting action in this one, imho. Definitely felt dated not just in technology references, but also writing style and dialogue. Also Joe Hardy comes off especially dumb in this one. But I did enjoy the setting (Virginia for FBI training and D.C.).

[Lyndsay-ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved these books and read most of them through my child/teen years. This was one of the ones that I could never find (the internethas made finding books so much easier now), so this was a first time read.
Typical Super Mystery with action and an unexpected ending. Was a good read and Joe is still my favourite character.

[Kellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

In an absolutely shocking twist, Nancy solved her case and the Hardy Boys solved theirs. This literally never happens, what a nice change of pace for this series.

[Sruthi Mallya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I still remember this book, more than ten years after reading it.

[Billy Mays (Caitlin) · Rating 4 out of 5]

i read it in fifht grade and this is the best nancy drew & hardy boys book i ever read

[Andrea]

nancy drew...and hardy boys! all u can ask for for a mystery lover...:)

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

Another fun crossover featuring two of the best-loved names in children's fiction.