Playing with Fire: No. 26

Nancy Drew Files #26

by Carolyn Keene

Famous teenage sleuth Nancy Drew tackles another mysterious crime. In this case, Nancy is sent to Los Angeles to investigate a case of arson in a luxury hotel - and has a hot time in Hollywood.

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

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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

As usual, this series delivers.

[Melody · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one is so stupid and the girls are so stupid in it. I mean why would Nancy ever let George try on such a valuable, historic dress when they are supposed to be guarding it? And they don't even have the owners permission.

[Jamie (TheRebelliousReader) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars. This one was really cool and silly. This was goofy and over the top but it I had a blast reading it.

[claud. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

I first read this in 2008 when I was 10 or 11. I lost my original copy so I bought a new one from eBay as I've been feeling so nostalgic lately for all the books I read as a kid.

The Nancy Drew books where Bess and George are actively in the story are way better than the ones where they're not. Although I will say the mystery itself in this one (a classic case of insurance fraud) was a tad too simple and obvious to me. I also agree with one reviewer who said it was stupid how Nancy would just let George try on a dress they were supposed to be guarding. Still a comforting read though.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Title: Playing With Fire
Author: Carolyn Keene
Series: Nancy Drew Files #26
Format: paperback
Length: 160 pages

Synopsis: Nancy is sent to Los Angeles to investigate a case of arson in a luxury hotel—and has a hot time in Hollywood!

Favourite character: George
Least favourite character: N/A
Favourite line: N/A

Mini-review: Pretty good, although I’ve read this one so many times it annoys me.

Fan-cast:
Nancy - Katherine McNamara
Bess - Abigail Breslin
George - Brianna Hildebrand

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve had this book since I was 11 I think, and it’s one of my favourite Nancy Drew stories. Cheesy, but in a comforting, familiar way, and very enjoyable. It’s been a very long time since I read it last, probably my later teens. However I just read a novel that was so bad that I needed something simple and fun to make up for it, and this fit the bill perfectly, and I’m glad I picked it up again!

[Dinushka J · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was guessing right up until the end!

[Darinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nancy Drew Files #26. Nancy and friends travel to Los Angeles to solve a mystery. Light and entertaining.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

My recap/review (includes spoilers/cursing):

https://anchor.fm/nancy-drew-nickerso...

[V. Arrow · Rating 3 out of 5]

If these books had better titles, it would've been called "The Third Flame."

[K.L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stuff belonging to Napoleon is being burnt including a beautiful dress once belonging to the Empress Josephine. Nancy encounters a wealthy Arab sheik (are there other kinds???) and George nearly gets burnt alive after trying on the Empress Flame dress (why even would you???) Enjoyable but not outstanding

[Bookish Indulgenges with b00k r3vi3ws · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys throughout my school and college days.

Nancy Drew is an amateur detective who solves crimes with occasional help from her best friends, Bess and George and, her boyfriend Ned. She also has occasional help from her father Carson Drew who runs a private law practice. From finding stolen goods to missing persons and solving mysterious happenings, Nancy is a force of nature.

Until I discovered that Carolyn Keene is a pen name for a whole bunch of ghostwriters, I used to feel confused about the slight differences in each character from books to book over the many series of Nancy Drew mysteries. I like the character of Nancy best in the original books written by Mildred Wirt Benson where Nancy is truly a character to root for – an independent and street smart girl with a penchant for trouble.

[Jie Hao · Rating 5 out of 5]

People have different habits. Playing with fire is one of them. I used to lit up leafs because it's really fun to see the smoke float up, but this is a different case. Once again Nancy tricked me into thinking there's only one crime. I love how calm she can be even in the face of the danger. Despite how I always act I'm brave, I don't think I could be like her.

[aura218]

This is the one I borrowed from my bff in 5th grade so many times she gave it to me. It has two big fire scenes in it, which I thought was wonderfully harrowing. I don't remember much else about it, but I suppose the story or characters were especially well written. "White Water Terror" was another favorite of mine.