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Nancy Drew Files #80
Power of Suggestion
When Emerson College research assistant Wayne Perkinds turns up dead, and Ned's frat brother is a suspect, Nancy, who is visiting Ned at his school, decides to investigate. Original.
152 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 1993
2 people are currently reading
297 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn Keene
948 books3,855 followersCarolyn 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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 12, 2018
Synopsis: Nancy and her friend Bess are psyched to visit Emerson College, where Ned, Nancy's boyfriend, attends. Bess quickly meets a student named Parker, and they hit it off immediately...until Wayne, a teaching assistant, is shot dead, and all of the evidence points to Parker! Nancy, Bess, and Ned know he is innocent...but, how can they prove it? Who could be behind such a dastardly deed?
The Good: This series almost always brings the twists and turns, as well as the fun...and this one is no exception.
The Bad: Nothing, really.
Content Concerns:
Sex: Flirting between Ned and Nancy.
Nudity: None.
Language: Name-calling, at worst.
Violence: A man is shot dead;
Drugs: None.
Frightening/Intense Scenes: The ending; emotional intensity surrounding a murder.
The Good: This series almost always brings the twists and turns, as well as the fun...and this one is no exception.
The Bad: Nothing, really.
Content Concerns:
Sex: Flirting between Ned and Nancy.
Nudity: None.
Language: Name-calling, at worst.
Violence: A man is shot dead;
Drugs: None.
Frightening/Intense Scenes: The ending; emotional intensity surrounding a murder.
March 7, 2013
I don't remember when exactly I read this book. I'm pretty sure it was during 6th grade because that's when I used to read Nancy Drew. It doesn't matter when I have read it because to this day, I call this book one of my favorites. Whenever someone asks me what my favorite book is, I reply with this one (even though it isn't my #1; I don't have a #1.)
This book is basically about people's minds, creepy professors, and hypnosis !!! The hypnosis part of this book was so great I immediately wanted to learn how to hypnotize people.
A mystery and suspense filled book. Not like regular Nancy Drew series, innocent and young. The Nancy Drew: Files are more hardcore than the younger series's. More murder, more danger, and a lot more suspense.
My favorite Nancy Drew book among the hundreds I have read. (Yeah, I have read almost all of the books in all of the different Nancy Drew series. Even the little kid's ones. )
GREAT BOOK!!
This book is basically about people's minds, creepy professors, and hypnosis !!! The hypnosis part of this book was so great I immediately wanted to learn how to hypnotize people.
A mystery and suspense filled book. Not like regular Nancy Drew series, innocent and young. The Nancy Drew: Files are more hardcore than the younger series's. More murder, more danger, and a lot more suspense.
My favorite Nancy Drew book among the hundreds I have read. (Yeah, I have read almost all of the books in all of the different Nancy Drew series. Even the little kid's ones. )
GREAT BOOK!!
January 20, 2013
I just L-O-V-E-D this book. I think it's one of the reasons I'm choosing Psychology as a major in college. Eeep. Thank you Nancy Drew and the Carolyn Keene team.
November 27, 2019
On a visit to Emerson with Bess, Neds friend appears to have murdered a TA. To complicate matters, Bess has fallen for the main suspect. Very good although I figured the culprit out early
December 25, 2020
Sandra review
This was a great book thank to Ned Nancy and Bess to help found who killed Wayne , thank god the man wad arrested for his crimes
This was a great book thank to Ned Nancy and Bess to help found who killed Wayne , thank god the man wad arrested for his crimes
July 6, 2024
*me, VIBRATING with sheer delight*: OH MY GOD, THEY WINTER SOLDIERED HIM WITH HUEY LEWIS AND THE NEWS
December 15, 2025
Fun one.
August 20, 2015
This book was okay, but not one of the best of the series. Though it was a murder mystery, which is more exciting than some of Nancy's cases, the plot relied far too much on goofy ideas like subliminal messages and hypnotism, a lot of which seemed too far-fetched to me.
June 2, 2025
Ned's friend is accused of murder. Since hypnotism is involved even he doesn't know what happened at the time of murder. It's upto Nancy to unfold the knot of complications as more and more characters get involved.
I loved it. It was light but with a hint of suspense and drama.
I loved it. It was light but with a hint of suspense and drama.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews