Running Into Trouble

Nancy Drew Files #115

by Carolyn Keene

Serving as undercover protectors for track star Samantha Matero, who suffered a suspicious accident, Nancy and George are alarmed when Samantha begins receiving threatening notes and phone calls that point to a team-wide conspiracy

Genres: Mystery, Young Adult, Childrens

160 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1996

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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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

It's fun getting into trouble!

(Does anyone else remember that commercial from back in the day?)

Seriously, though: I enjoyed this book; it was yet another fun whodunit from this series. I can't believe I'm almost done with these books!

[Eric Wood · Rating 3 out of 5]

Average ND book. The story was interesting and so were the characters, but there wasn't a whole lot of serious investigating from Nancy. She really is focused on another student, Paul, and cheats on Ned with him. I was a bit annoyed that George doesn't do much to stop Nancy from cheating on Ned and especially annoyed with Nancy being so infatuated with this guy(who I didn't like very much) and not focusing on investigating. And it was obvious Paul was one of the culprits, but Nancy is too attracted to him to think that he could be, even though she tries to tell herself he is a suspect. Overall though, the book kept me turning the pages and was interesting. 3 stars.

[K.L. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nancy and George go undercover as cross country athletes at a posh school to figure out who is causing accidents for the runners. Average - though do love it when the girls go back to school😂