Seeing Green

Nancy Drew: Girl Detective #41

by Carolyn Keene

In Green with Envy , book two in the Eco Mystery trilogy, Nancy continues her investigation into the ecological abuses at the Casa Verde resort in Costa Rica. Everything’s not as shiny and clean as it seems, and Nancy must figure out who is dumping pollutants at the resort.

Seeing Green is the stunning conclusion to this smart, three-book case and brings Nancy and company back to River Heights, where they continue to investigate Green Solutions, the shady American company that is defrauding Casa Verde.

Genres: Mystery, Childrens, Middle Grade, Mystery Thriller, Juvenile, Young Adult, Adventure

160 pages, Paperback

First published March 25, 2010

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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cool conclusion to the Eco Mystery Trilogy.

[Sophie Chapman · Rating 4 out of 5]

All Nancy Drew books ,of course, make you want to read this next one right away. This is that kind of book.

[Wende Frost · Rating 3 out of 5]

My son liked this but I really don't think the story was worthy of being a trilogy of books. A single book would have been fine.

[Kat · Rating 2 out of 5]

The problem with these trilogy Nancy Drew's is that it's either three different authors or one author writing all three and not keeping up with their own writing. Two small inconsistencies with the earlier novels bothered me. Firstly, in book 1 one of this trilogy we're told Nancy got to go on Bess and George's competition-winning trip to Costa Rica because they use someones excess frequent flier miles. In book 3, we're told Bess, George, and Nancy pooled their money to pay for Nancy's ticket. Similarly, at the end of book 2 a woman is attacked by ants so a guy (Enrique) picks her up and tosses her into a pool, yet in book 3 we're told she jumped in herself. Small inconsistencies, but something that could so easily have been picked up and fixed.

But why am I looking for quality in these books?

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

This whole trilogy was actually really cute. I did laugh that Nancy was able to call Ned from a payphone in the beginning, but then later in the book "doesn't know his number" and almost gets in huge trouble because of it.

[Kristin]

Wasen't my favorite but other wise it was good

[Alisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is really good I love it the detailing of the book was great the authored a great writing this book Nancy Drew is a great book to read and for others I recommended this book

[Shreya · Rating 5 out of 5]

😎 cool!

[HoopoeGirl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book three - thank goodness the end is here. By now I'm reading just to complete the trilogy. Continuity errors and factual inaccuracies popping up throughout the book. You know, little things like how alligators don't live in Costa Rica (American Crocodiles do though). Or how Cassandra Samuels appears on page 4, but on page 63 she's Cassandra Stevens. And let's not forget how Nancy easily calls Ned from the deli's phone, but when trying to make a call later in the book "I knew I should have them memorized, but... hmm... Ned's started with a 9, I was pretty sure..." So now you forgot your boyfriend's number? Ri-i-i-ght.

I guess these books are still fun for younger kids? Maybe? The only credit I can give the ghost writer is that at least they didn't pull an Agatha Christie with the big bad culprit coming out of nowhere. That entity had been in play throughout all three books, so it didn't feel like a complete cop out when it was revealed.