Heart of Danger

Nancy Drew Files #11

by Carolyn Keene

Nancy Drew goes undercover as a ghostwriter when a wealthy Texas rancher receives a ransom note for his kidnapped daughter, who supposedly died in a plane crash fifteen years earlier

Genres: Mystery, Young Adult, Childrens, Fiction, Crime, Mystery Thriller, Adventure

154 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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

[Regan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick & fun! I found an old '80s paperback at a used bookstore in Sedona, AZ yesterday. A google told me that, as opposed to the yellow hardcover Nancy Drew Mysteries I grew up reading, the Nancy Drew Case Files were geared toward an older teen audience (more handsome young men, Ned has a husky voice, bites his lip, and wraps Nancy in his strong arms, she grows flushed, etc. and think brushes with death, murderers, and kidnappings rather than the classic jewel thieves and buried treasures and mysterious 'ghosts'). The Carolyn Keene team published a new File novel every two months for about a decade from the mid-80s to mid-90s.

Had a good time with this one despite the predictability! Threats on Nancy's life throughout reminded me of a Final Destination film: an incoming semi with no lights at midnight on a desert road, being pushed into a bull pen at a rodeo by a stranger in a clown costume, being saddled on the most dangerous horse around, then come gunshots from a distance... the list goes on. Would pick up more Case Files if I come by them :)

[shelby ✼]

·🔍·🐎·✍️·💵·☠️·
Some things I loved from this one:
🐎 When Nancy said "I don't think there's much danger" after being shot at and, on a separate occasion, being knocked unconscious
🐎 When she refers to the guy she's working for as "crusty"
🐎 The way that the entire plot and mystery can be guessed within like 15% of the book

This is no literary feat but it's fun to speed through and I really loved imaging Nancy in the 80s, her outfit descriptions were slaying.

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Quickie Review

Enjoyable and fun...but not quite up to par with the previous volumes of the series.

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

3 stars. Fun adventure. I think this series is finally starting to really find it's footing. It only took eleven damn books but whatever. There's no character growth at all but the mysteries are always a good time so I'll let it slide I guess.

[Elle Gutierrez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very predictable. Everything was pretty much out there.

[Katelyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read better from the Nancy Drew Files. This one lacked any grit or excitement. The mystery was lackluster and felt like it was a wannabe Secret of Shadow Ranch.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

5th-6th grade (independent reading)
Nancy Drew is at it again! The author of these paperback series makes the books such an exciting read. Keene leaves every chapter with a cliffhanger, wondering what will go on next. One example of a cliffhanger in this book was when Nancy was pushed over the edge of a bullpen leaving her at the mercy of one of the toughest bulls in the rodeo. The cliffhangers lead to a book of suspense, leaving the reader to wonder what was going to happen next. The book is the perfect size for the grade level indicated above. It has enough negative space outsie the page to let the readers eye's rest when they need it. The font is just the right level for an experienced reader in the 5th or 6th grade. The vocabulary in the book is just advanced enough for this age group to push themselves slowly. Any reader who is into suspense and a good mysterious, realistic fiction read will enjoy this book.....or any book in the Nancy Drew series.

Geography/Science

Students could expand their knowledge on wild game, exotic animals, or various forms of livestock.

[McKenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be honest, I loved this book. It’s the second one in this series that I’ve read. Even though these books aren’t as “sophisticated” as the original Nancy Drew series, they are still fairly good novels.
As for my view of the story, it was a little cliche, but all the different characters kept me hooked. Though, I wanted to throw the book across the room when the big plot twist was revealed. It was sooooo easy to guess the identity of Catarina! This book is campy, predictable, and jam packed with odd characters. I LOVED IT. Would recommend to any fans of 80s culture or Nancy Drew!!!

[Jitartha Kar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Utterly children's book. Not saying it's bad, but definitely not good for someone who has read the finest works of Agatha Christie, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle or Edgar Allan Poe. Another reason for giving only 3 stars is..how the ABSOLUTE F#CK does Gene, being a foreman and horse trainer, have a pilot's license? Give it to your 11 yr old kids. Don't read it if you're a seasoned reader. But it wasn't too bad tbh....good light read.

[Roderick · Rating 2 out of 5]

readily-apparent villains & late realizations

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was yet another fun book in this series! I really missed Bess and George in this one, though.

[Adriana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Multiple plots going on at the same time

[Dinushka J · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a bit like Rebecca for me but I still enjoyed it

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here's my podcast episode on this one: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

[Plaid:) · Rating 3 out of 5]

cool🙂

[Kriti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Made me go aww at the end! A jolly read!

[Rachel Flanary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of silly but I eat it up every time

[V. Arrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up.

1) This is literally just an episode of Dallas, but I'm not mad about it.

2) Poisonings, my beloved!

[Chris Comden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heart of Danger by Carolyn Keene
Series: Yes Nancy Drew Flies #11
Format: Softcover
Stars: 4
Recommend: Yes
Would Reread: Yes


Reread 8-16-2021

I give honest reviews and all my opinions are my own.

For more of my reviews go to Heavenly High Seas Books
https://heavenlyhighseasbooks.blogspo...

[Rachel · Rating 1 out of 5]

The setting of a Texas ranch is interesting in theory, but everything's far too predictable and the way Nancy thwarts the villains is lame as hell. It has a nice, fun presume that just doesn't live up to its potential at all. Boring.

[Claire Watkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book was very predictable but entertaining:)

[Dr. Aditi Kapoor · Rating 5 out of 5]

A mystery that retraces the past.

[Lenni Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

A two point seven(2.7) rating. I could excuse the fact that I was able to solve the last couple mysteries because I had read them before, it was probably just memory. But I've never read this Nancy Drew and I predicted every plot twist. Sure, I felt accomplished, but I like it when I don't see the ending in a book coming. It was exciting though, all the action. I don't think Nancy can go a single book without somebody trying an attempt on her life. Lol, Nancy can't afford to get too close to anybody.
This series is short, quick, and fun. I enjoyed the action in this book although I was very disappointed that I could solve everything. Although, that may just be that I read too many mysteries and most people wouldn't be able to solve these cases. Okay book, I've read better, but there are also worse. Happy reading!

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was predictable, but good.

[Nina]

.

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

3 stars

[Sydney · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a suprising book so many little mysterys nancy has to solve this was an amazing book.

[Glen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is one of the latest updates of the Nancy Drew mystery series.

Unfortunately, it was just one cliche after another. This is a bloodless, dreary Nancy Drew.