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Nancy Drew Files #1
Secrets Can Kill
Nancy Drew goes back to high school - but this time, the curriculum is murder.
No one has been able to catch the elusive thief who is stalking the nighttime halls of Bedford High. So Nancy goes undercover as a transfer student When she meets her contact, Daryl Gray, a gorgeous senior with blueberry eyes, Nancy thinks this new case would turn out to be a lot of fun. But she is dead wrong.
Dangerous secrets, run deep at Bedford, and Nancy learns the hard way when she takes Daryl for a ride in her Mustang - and the car ends up exploding in a ball of fire. Though her suspect list is long, Nancy is almost certain she knows who the thief is - until her top candidate is found sprawled outside the video lab, very dead.
Suddenly it's a whole new game, a game called murder. And Nancy is the killer's next target.
No one has been able to catch the elusive thief who is stalking the nighttime halls of Bedford High. So Nancy goes undercover as a transfer student When she meets her contact, Daryl Gray, a gorgeous senior with blueberry eyes, Nancy thinks this new case would turn out to be a lot of fun. But she is dead wrong.
Dangerous secrets, run deep at Bedford, and Nancy learns the hard way when she takes Daryl for a ride in her Mustang - and the car ends up exploding in a ball of fire. Though her suspect list is long, Nancy is almost certain she knows who the thief is - until her top candidate is found sprawled outside the video lab, very dead.
Suddenly it's a whole new game, a game called murder. And Nancy is the killer's next target.
152 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 22, 1986
112 people are currently reading
2436 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn Keene
952 books3,835 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 - 30 of 195 reviews
June 5, 2012
Original recap for the Snark Squad here.
We open the book with some chick looking at herself in a mirror and trying on clothes. JESSICA WAKEFIELD? ARE YOU FOLLOWING ME?
No. It’s Nancy. Apparently 87% of all books geared towards teens must start with an attractive girl checking herself out in a mirror. I totally just made that statistic up, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t true.
Nancy is trying on clothes because this book takes her to the hallways of Bedford High for her new case. Her friends George and Bess, whom I affectionately nicknamed the Bovine Besties, try and convince her that high school will be hard. She's Mother Fucking Nancy Drew, though, and says it's no sweat.
Someone sends Nancy a creepy VHS stalker tape. It's not only creepy because it's a VHS, though, which makes me feel old and disgusting. The tape warns Nancy to stay away from the high school.
We get pages and pages of my biggest "girl detective" pet-peeve of ever, and that's questions used as a means of advancing the narrative. Probably helps when you are 10 and stupid, but when you are 25 and rereading this book, it effectively makes you want to poke your own eyes out.
Nancy reports to the high school where lockers are being broken into and video equipment is being stolen. Also, even though we are told that Nan has the hots for Ned Nickerson, she gets a little flirty with a high school kid named Daryl. We are told approximately 358 times that he has "blueberry" colored eyes, which is a really disturbing visual.
Nancy meets a whole cast of fishy characters and our theft mystery is quickly bumped up to a murder mystery, when one of those fishy characters ends up dead.
Will Nancy figure out who did it? Would you believe me if I told you Russian spies were involved? How many times exactly can we fit in the term "blueberry eyes?"
You can find out by reading "Secrets Can Kill." Or, you know, you can just read my recap. You're welcome.
We open the book with some chick looking at herself in a mirror and trying on clothes. JESSICA WAKEFIELD? ARE YOU FOLLOWING ME?
No. It’s Nancy. Apparently 87% of all books geared towards teens must start with an attractive girl checking herself out in a mirror. I totally just made that statistic up, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t true.
Nancy is trying on clothes because this book takes her to the hallways of Bedford High for her new case. Her friends George and Bess, whom I affectionately nicknamed the Bovine Besties, try and convince her that high school will be hard. She's Mother Fucking Nancy Drew, though, and says it's no sweat.
Someone sends Nancy a creepy VHS stalker tape. It's not only creepy because it's a VHS, though, which makes me feel old and disgusting. The tape warns Nancy to stay away from the high school.
We get pages and pages of my biggest "girl detective" pet-peeve of ever, and that's questions used as a means of advancing the narrative. Probably helps when you are 10 and stupid, but when you are 25 and rereading this book, it effectively makes you want to poke your own eyes out.
Nancy reports to the high school where lockers are being broken into and video equipment is being stolen. Also, even though we are told that Nan has the hots for Ned Nickerson, she gets a little flirty with a high school kid named Daryl. We are told approximately 358 times that he has "blueberry" colored eyes, which is a really disturbing visual.
Nancy meets a whole cast of fishy characters and our theft mystery is quickly bumped up to a murder mystery, when one of those fishy characters ends up dead.
Will Nancy figure out who did it? Would you believe me if I told you Russian spies were involved? How many times exactly can we fit in the term "blueberry eyes?"
You can find out by reading "Secrets Can Kill." Or, you know, you can just read my recap. You're welcome.
April 10, 2023
The Good: This book may have been published in 1986, but it has the feel of a '90's Disney Channel or Nickelodeon series; as a fan of such entertainment, that isn't a bad thing. The mystery is more serious, and the crimes more intense--one character even ends up dead!--which makes this decidedly different from the original old-school series, but it's also more fun. Nancy herself is a likable and strong character, though thankfully not a Mary Sue. All in all, pretty good stuff.
The Bad: I don't have anything to complain about, really; just make sure you check the content concerns below before handing this to your kid.
Content Concerns:
• Sex: Kissing; a reference to "doing other things" at a school dance; a reference to a girl being "hit on". 4/5
• Nudity: None. 5/5
• Language: None. 5/5
• Violence: A teenage boy is murdered; another one is shot, though non-fatally; a non-fatal car accident; a car chase; pretty much all "PG"-level stuff. 3/5
• Drugs: None. 5/5
• Frightening/Intense Scenes: The whole book is full of suspenseful moments: a tape with a creepy voice at the beginning, an intense finale, the violence mentioned above, etc. 2/5
Conclusion: Mystery lovers, rejoice! This reincarnation of the famed girl detective will likely please many a reader...but, you already knew that, right?
Score: 5/5
The Bad: I don't have anything to complain about, really; just make sure you check the content concerns below before handing this to your kid.
Content Concerns:
• Sex: Kissing; a reference to "doing other things" at a school dance; a reference to a girl being "hit on". 4/5
• Nudity: None. 5/5
• Language: None. 5/5
• Violence: A teenage boy is murdered; another one is shot, though non-fatally; a non-fatal car accident; a car chase; pretty much all "PG"-level stuff. 3/5
• Drugs: None. 5/5
• Frightening/Intense Scenes: The whole book is full of suspenseful moments: a tape with a creepy voice at the beginning, an intense finale, the violence mentioned above, etc. 2/5
Conclusion: Mystery lovers, rejoice! This reincarnation of the famed girl detective will likely please many a reader...but, you already knew that, right?
Score: 5/5
September 21, 2022
It's a bit dated as to expect but I'm glad I finally got around to start this series. Unfortunately my book ap don't have book two so I have to jump to the third. Don't know if this is the "original" start of Nancy Drew as it seems too be quite a few Nancy Drew series available
January 13, 2022
This one didn't hold up as well as I thought it might.
I loved reading the Nancy Drew Files as a kid. The updated Nancy was stylish and hip and always got into the most outrageous adventures. They really brought her fully into the 80s and 90s.
But this start of "new Nancy" just wasn't very exciting. Espionage, spying, blackmail...and Nancy goes undercover to investigate but doesn't even use a false name, lol.
I know they get more interesting as the books continue, so I'm sure I'll keep re-reading them.
I loved reading the Nancy Drew Files as a kid. The updated Nancy was stylish and hip and always got into the most outrageous adventures. They really brought her fully into the 80s and 90s.
But this start of "new Nancy" just wasn't very exciting. Espionage, spying, blackmail...and Nancy goes undercover to investigate but doesn't even use a false name, lol.
I know they get more interesting as the books continue, so I'm sure I'll keep re-reading them.
March 6, 2009
Ok, here's what a nerd I am. I LOVED this series though I believe they came out before 1991 because I was in elementary and middle school at the time. My dad used to take me to Waldenbooks and I would buy 5 of these a week and read them. Sometimes I would stay up ALL night reading them. I loved them. I bet they're hokey now but this series rocked at the time.
December 4, 2021
A kinda unbelievable but good mystery.
June 16, 2018
In 1986, the Nancy Drew Files were started off as a spin-off to the Nancy Drew series. This was the first spin-off on the original series, and featured a slightly older Nancy and crew. The series also upped the stakes slightly with much more danger, sometimes even resulting in murder. The adult relationships were also more intense, with Nancy and Ned beginning to have trouble. Overall, the Nancy Drew Files were meant for older readers. The first book in the series was Secrets Can Kill.
Nancy is called on by a school principal to investigate random acts of pilfering. The day before she is scheduled to start school, she receives a warning to back off. Who sends it? In school, she meets the students, forms friendships, and falls for the class president. Then comes a murder. Why is this happening?
The story was slightly disjointed, with two separate mysteries. The book also featured some Russian spies *eyeroll*. But otherwise, it is a fun book with concentration on romance and mystery, sufficient for some nostalgia. Though I would always prefer the original series the most, I rather like the NDF as well.
Nancy is called on by a school principal to investigate random acts of pilfering. The day before she is scheduled to start school, she receives a warning to back off. Who sends it? In school, she meets the students, forms friendships, and falls for the class president. Then comes a murder. Why is this happening?
The story was slightly disjointed, with two separate mysteries. The book also featured some Russian spies *eyeroll*. But otherwise, it is a fun book with concentration on romance and mystery, sufficient for some nostalgia. Though I would always prefer the original series the most, I rather like the NDF as well.
June 12, 2019
Nancy goes undercover as a high school student to find out who has been breaking into lockers, stealing from the video lab, and ruffling through the school records. When Nancy's main suspect turns up dead on the schools stairs she has a new mystery to solve and a murderer to catch.
- "Hands on her hips, Nancy Drew stood in the middle of her bedroom and surveyed the situation. New clothes layed everywhere--strewn across the bed, draped over the backs of chairs, and spilling out of shopping bags. Laughing at the mess, Nancy reached for a just-bought pair of designer jeans. "How do you like the new look in private detectives?" she said, slipping the jeans on." Did...did this series start out with Nancy standing around in her underwear? Cool. Also shes trying to look like a normal high schooler but buys designer clothes for her school wardrobe.
- Right away we're told Nancy has a boyfriend, Ned, who she loves sooooooo much...but sometimes shes gonna date other people cause how else would we expect this series to be successful in the super sexy 80's without a bunch of buff hunks posing on these covers?
- Nancy, Bess, and George have a pillow fight getting pillow feathers all over Nancy's new designer clothes. Feathers are such a pain to clean up and clean off clothes, it made cringe.
- Why is Nancy using her real name when shes supposed to be undercover? It states she's already a well established amateur detective. You think she'd use an alias especially after getting the threatening tape before even starting the case.
- I wish Jake was around longer. He's an interesting character; just a teenager but already running a blackmail ring thanks to his above average audiovisual skills. He's also confident and cocky and really gets on Nancy's nerves which is entertaining.
- After nancy's car catches on fire, rich daddy Carson buys Nancy a new Mustang GT convertible. I think Daryl speaks for all of us when he rolls his eyes and says "You've got to be kidding me". Nancy says she'll be using her allowance to pay her dad back for it. Nancy you're 18, why you still getting an allowance. Get a damn job with all your free time or accept payment from a case.
- Jake uses blackmail to get his victims to do stuff for him. He has Walt give him rides, Hal do his homework, and Connie...well it doesn't say what Connie did for him but she does tell Nancy "I had to do everything he asked"...uhm, Jake might have been even more scummy than we thought.
You can read the rest of this review at VintageGirlsBooks.blogspot.com
- "Hands on her hips, Nancy Drew stood in the middle of her bedroom and surveyed the situation. New clothes layed everywhere--strewn across the bed, draped over the backs of chairs, and spilling out of shopping bags. Laughing at the mess, Nancy reached for a just-bought pair of designer jeans. "How do you like the new look in private detectives?" she said, slipping the jeans on." Did...did this series start out with Nancy standing around in her underwear? Cool. Also shes trying to look like a normal high schooler but buys designer clothes for her school wardrobe.
- Right away we're told Nancy has a boyfriend, Ned, who she loves sooooooo much...but sometimes shes gonna date other people cause how else would we expect this series to be successful in the super sexy 80's without a bunch of buff hunks posing on these covers?
- Nancy, Bess, and George have a pillow fight getting pillow feathers all over Nancy's new designer clothes. Feathers are such a pain to clean up and clean off clothes, it made cringe.
- Why is Nancy using her real name when shes supposed to be undercover? It states she's already a well established amateur detective. You think she'd use an alias especially after getting the threatening tape before even starting the case.
- I wish Jake was around longer. He's an interesting character; just a teenager but already running a blackmail ring thanks to his above average audiovisual skills. He's also confident and cocky and really gets on Nancy's nerves which is entertaining.
- After nancy's car catches on fire, rich daddy Carson buys Nancy a new Mustang GT convertible. I think Daryl speaks for all of us when he rolls his eyes and says "You've got to be kidding me". Nancy says she'll be using her allowance to pay her dad back for it. Nancy you're 18, why you still getting an allowance. Get a damn job with all your free time or accept payment from a case.
- Jake uses blackmail to get his victims to do stuff for him. He has Walt give him rides, Hal do his homework, and Connie...well it doesn't say what Connie did for him but she does tell Nancy "I had to do everything he asked"...uhm, Jake might have been even more scummy than we thought.
You can read the rest of this review at VintageGirlsBooks.blogspot.com
March 6, 2021
Re-reading the Nancy Drew Files series in chronological order and this series never disappoints!! Such a good book with interesting characters + plot lines. ALSO- makes me so nostalgic for Nancy Drew PC games!!
December 16, 2019
I should reread this cuz all I remember is my shock when she was making out with someone who was not Ned, and George and Bess caught her. That's it.
September 22, 2023
Edited, because I thought of another point:
Right……Soooo where to begin?
I remember reading some of these books in my early and middle teens and enjoying them, so I figured why not read them all? Get content reviews for them! Needless to say, I am not impressed so far.
Fist things first, NANCY IS CHEATING ON HER BOYFRIEND THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE BOOK!!! She is constantly noting how attractive this other man is, and putting herself in situations where they are one on one, and then kissing him (more then once) in another scene there are together in a darkened living room watching a film for clues, and they both start kissing and are only interrupted when someone knocks on the door, they both come to the door and their clothes are wrinkled. Nothing further happens in this scene, and it’s not detailed, but still. Also when Nancy finally tells Ned, about her cheating, she downplays it SO MUCH!!! Basically saying they kissed, nothing happened and it meant nothing to her. Which we’re in Nancy’s head in the kissing scenes, not only did she want to be kissed, she liked it, and it clearly did mean something to her.
Number 2, Nancy is really dumb throughout the entire book. To the reader, the bad guy is very obvious, like as soon as they are introduced. And somehow Nancy never suspects them. And further, when it is revealed that they are the villain, Nancy briefly tries to make excuses for them!!
Number 3, Ned was completely good with the fact that Nancy was cheating on him. When she FINALLY told him he was basically like, “Yeah I know you were, that stinks, but it’s okay.”
Number 4, It just wasn’t really that great. That’s it. No further points.
Further content concerns
Mentions of a low cut dress to keep a man’s attention. A man asks a woman to leave a dance with him, I can’t remember what was exactly said, but the man appears to insinuating to leave and go make out.
Right……Soooo where to begin?
I remember reading some of these books in my early and middle teens and enjoying them, so I figured why not read them all? Get content reviews for them! Needless to say, I am not impressed so far.
Fist things first, NANCY IS CHEATING ON HER BOYFRIEND THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE BOOK!!! She is constantly noting how attractive this other man is, and putting herself in situations where they are one on one, and then kissing him (more then once) in another scene there are together in a darkened living room watching a film for clues, and they both start kissing and are only interrupted when someone knocks on the door, they both come to the door and their clothes are wrinkled. Nothing further happens in this scene, and it’s not detailed, but still. Also when Nancy finally tells Ned, about her cheating, she downplays it SO MUCH!!! Basically saying they kissed, nothing happened and it meant nothing to her. Which we’re in Nancy’s head in the kissing scenes, not only did she want to be kissed, she liked it, and it clearly did mean something to her.
Number 2, Nancy is really dumb throughout the entire book. To the reader, the bad guy is very obvious, like as soon as they are introduced. And somehow Nancy never suspects them. And further, when it is revealed that they are the villain, Nancy briefly tries to make excuses for them!!
Number 3, Ned was completely good with the fact that Nancy was cheating on him. When she FINALLY told him he was basically like, “Yeah I know you were, that stinks, but it’s okay.”
Number 4, It just wasn’t really that great. That’s it. No further points.
Further content concerns
Mentions of a low cut dress to keep a man’s attention. A man asks a woman to leave a dance with him, I can’t remember what was exactly said, but the man appears to insinuating to leave and go make out.
January 25, 2022
Me and my sister buddy read this. I had an update copy from 2016 and she had the 1980s copy. Sadly even with the small updates it's still alittle dated. It did set the scene for what your to expect with the Nancy Drew files and shows that Nancy isn't a teen detective anymore she's more mature and making alot of different choices when it comes to her love life.
September 13, 2017
Ehh...not my favorite. I was interested in reading it originally because I like to see how similar the games are from the books they're based off of, but this one didn't do it for me. I didn't like that Nancy was totally willing to cheat on Ned just because she could. I don't see that in her character at all. Plus, I'm not even sure what Nancy saw in Daryl. He was a pretty boring character with no real personality. I think we hear more about his "gorgeous blueberry eyes" than we do about his personality. I also felt like there were way too many make out scenes in this book. My "favorite" is right after Nancy's car blows up and she and Daryl just barely escape, and their first thought is to start kissing. Like, um...no. If anything, it made the entire book laughable. I'm not saying it was horrible, but it wasn't very good either. I think in this case, I'll stick to the game.
March 18, 2009
More book nostalgia.... I loved the Nancy Drew Files when I was 9 or 10, and when I stumbled upon this in the library, I had to indulge. Not bad, and I was definitely right in remembering that each chapter ends with a cliffhanger, but I don't think this was one of the better mysteries in the series. I only wish I could find the one that taught me mixing ammonia and bleach created chlorine gas---that one was great!
July 19, 2012
I love the Nancy Drew Files so much. I remember buying this book when it first came out, and I kept reading them until I went to college. When I was a teenager, the highlight of my life was going to town (we didn't live near any bookstores, so it was a once or twice a month trip) and buying the books from this series.
December 4, 2022
The reading of this book was filmed in front of a live studio audience...
This almost reads like a unclaimed "80's teen mystery" got Nancy Drew inserted into it. I don't mean that in a bad way, it just is a very fresh take on the character and franchise. I could have done without so much forced romance for Nancy (and we all loathed Daryl until the end at least) but I find it hilarious how obvious it is that the writer of this novel hates Ned deeply. This is a good time to point out that as the host, you're talking to a Francy shipper for life. I also like that Nancy gets to be a less filtered, more typical teen.
From chat:
"So it turns out...secrets really CAN kill!"
"Two people can keep a secret if one of them is dead."
Final thoughts: I have a bunch of the Nancy Drew Files in my collection and I was excited to read this first since I love the HerInteractive games which based their first project off of this book. Honestly, I wasn't expecting the pacing to be as good as it was and I love that Nancy keeps surprising us...I just want her to stop dating jerks. Nancy is extra emotional/boy crazy here and I don't hate it but it is a surprise.
Ultimately, this was a fun read for chat (who was fairly distracting between the two streams it took to read it but that is just the vibes.
Ever Yours,
The Scooby Drew Crew, 2022
This almost reads like a unclaimed "80's teen mystery" got Nancy Drew inserted into it. I don't mean that in a bad way, it just is a very fresh take on the character and franchise. I could have done without so much forced romance for Nancy (and we all loathed Daryl until the end at least) but I find it hilarious how obvious it is that the writer of this novel hates Ned deeply. This is a good time to point out that as the host, you're talking to a Francy shipper for life. I also like that Nancy gets to be a less filtered, more typical teen.
From chat:
"So it turns out...secrets really CAN kill!"
"Two people can keep a secret if one of them is dead."
Final thoughts: I have a bunch of the Nancy Drew Files in my collection and I was excited to read this first since I love the HerInteractive games which based their first project off of this book. Honestly, I wasn't expecting the pacing to be as good as it was and I love that Nancy keeps surprising us...I just want her to stop dating jerks. Nancy is extra emotional/boy crazy here and I don't hate it but it is a surprise.
Ultimately, this was a fun read for chat (who was fairly distracting between the two streams it took to read it but that is just the vibes.
Ever Yours,
The Scooby Drew Crew, 2022
August 26, 2025
⭐⭐⭐
SECRETS CAN K*LL by Carolyn Keene
Nancy Drew has a new case: enroll in high school to catch the thief. There, she finds more than expected. At Bedford High, secrets are deadly---and when a student is found m*rdered, Nancy must figure out who did it before she's next.
SECRETS CAN K*LL is a YA m*rder mystery. Usually I would classify Nancy Drew as middle grade, but there was a bit of innuendo that makes it more YA feeling.
This book is quite fast-paced, but I grew bored at the end. Especially because this is highly predictable to a sense. I knew who was guilty, just not what they were guilty of.
The nostalgia of this is a 10/10, but that's about it. Honestly, I didn't love it, I didn't hate it. It's perfect as a pallate cleanser when you need something short and to the point...a book that basically reads itself.
SECRETS CAN K*LL by Carolyn Keene
Nancy Drew has a new case: enroll in high school to catch the thief. There, she finds more than expected. At Bedford High, secrets are deadly---and when a student is found m*rdered, Nancy must figure out who did it before she's next.
SECRETS CAN K*LL is a YA m*rder mystery. Usually I would classify Nancy Drew as middle grade, but there was a bit of innuendo that makes it more YA feeling.
This book is quite fast-paced, but I grew bored at the end. Especially because this is highly predictable to a sense. I knew who was guilty, just not what they were guilty of.
The nostalgia of this is a 10/10, but that's about it. Honestly, I didn't love it, I didn't hate it. It's perfect as a pallate cleanser when you need something short and to the point...a book that basically reads itself.
August 4, 2022
It was so much fun to tag along with Nancy on a murder case! As someone whose been playing the Nancy Drew video games for like 15 years now, I was a bit concerned about my enjoyment of this book since I had already played through the case. Thankfully, however, I had nothing to worry about. Even though I knew who the culprit was, I still had just as much following along on the journey. Plus I had the game characters as a visual reference while reading, which was a lot of fun! I think I did enjoy a model crime a bit more than secrets can kill, but either way I'm having so much fun just devouring these stories! Next up: Deadly intent
July 18, 2024
I have fond memories of searching for a Nancy Drew I hadn’t read in Walden Books when we went to the mall or outlet stores. This is one of those finds that I’ve held onto. ☺️
📖Whodunnit mystery, fast paced and short read, an older version of Nancy set in the mid to late 80s/ early 90s, undercover student, Bedford High, stolen files and black mail
📖Whodunnit mystery, fast paced and short read, an older version of Nancy set in the mid to late 80s/ early 90s, undercover student, Bedford High, stolen files and black mail
May 6, 2025
It’s hard not to love any Nancy Drew book but especially one that one of the PC games is based off of! I love seeing what the took for the book for the game. I was surprised by this Nancy! She was a little more teenager in this one for me. She is always so adult. I hope she learned her lesson about handsome men! Ned is the only one for you girl!
November 17, 2021
This was Something Else.
The first Nancy Drew book targeted for a bit older teenagers included murdered teenagers, spies, undercover work at a school (where no one had supposedly ever heard of her?!), car ”accidents” and guns. It was kind of terrible and kind of fantastic.
The first Nancy Drew book targeted for a bit older teenagers included murdered teenagers, spies, undercover work at a school (where no one had supposedly ever heard of her?!), car ”accidents” and guns. It was kind of terrible and kind of fantastic.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 7, 2020
poor ned :(
August 20, 2025
I mean it’s an 80s Nancy Drew book, what more can you say? Classic mix of zany antics, Nancy cheating on her bf (in a book meant for middle grade), murder (in a book meant for middle grade), and spying for the good ole USSR.
March 9, 2020
Really enjoyed this book! It was a fantastic mystery with a great plot twist!
March 6, 2024
Als kind heb ik deze serie verslonden en nu lees ik hem minimaal voor de tweede keer.
En hij valt mij niet tegen. Ik had verwacht dat het wat kinderachtig was, maar dat was het niet.
En hij valt mij niet tegen. Ik had verwacht dat het wat kinderachtig was, maar dat was het niet.
February 7, 2020
Loved it
March 23, 2023
So predictable like no-
July 1, 2018
I used to love reading “Nancy Drew Files” when I was growing up. It’s one of the series that got me hooked into reading. I decided to re-read some these books in order to see if they are still as good as they were then. I am glad to say that this book still holds the charm as it did years ago. It’s so much fun to read about your favorite characters again like Bess, George, Ned and Hannah.
The story starts off easy where Nancy is just investigating petty vandalism in a school. However, once she goes undercover, she realizes the case is just the tip of espionage, blackmail and even murder among other things. The story has a few twists and turns that are fun and suspenseful to read. I guessed who the prime suspect to the murder would be midway, but it was still interesting to see how it turned out. I’m not sure if the new generation would be keen on this though because it contains some outdated reference like videotapes and audio cassettes.
I also liked reading on Ned and Nancy’s relationship even when she has feelings for Daryl. It would have been interesting to see a love triangle between the three. Maybe Daryl will show up again later in the series. However, there were some scenes where Nancy seemed out of character. For starters, she falls head over heels over Daryl from just looking at him, which is very unlike her. Then, she swoons over Daryl over the oddest moments. For instance, Nancy seems to be infatuated with Daryl even when their car is out of control and blows up. Also, I don’t see how cool the girls can be when there is a crazy Government official chasing and threatening to kill them. I have to admit though, Bess is hilarious and always knows how to add humor, even when she is involved in a high speed car chase.
Overall, this was a good start to the series and hold well even today!
The story starts off easy where Nancy is just investigating petty vandalism in a school. However, once she goes undercover, she realizes the case is just the tip of espionage, blackmail and even murder among other things. The story has a few twists and turns that are fun and suspenseful to read. I guessed who the prime suspect to the murder would be midway, but it was still interesting to see how it turned out. I’m not sure if the new generation would be keen on this though because it contains some outdated reference like videotapes and audio cassettes.
I also liked reading on Ned and Nancy’s relationship even when she has feelings for Daryl. It would have been interesting to see a love triangle between the three. Maybe Daryl will show up again later in the series. However, there were some scenes where Nancy seemed out of character. For starters, she falls head over heels over Daryl from just looking at him, which is very unlike her. Then, she swoons over Daryl over the oddest moments. For instance, Nancy seems to be infatuated with Daryl even when their car is out of control and blows up. Also, I don’t see how cool the girls can be when there is a crazy Government official chasing and threatening to kill them. I have to admit though, Bess is hilarious and always knows how to add humor, even when she is involved in a high speed car chase.
Overall, this was a good start to the series and hold well even today!
December 23, 2022
"I don't want to fight with you, Carla, but since you asked, yes, I can fight my own battles—and I usually win."
So declares the teen detective in this first book in The Nancy Drew Files, a spin-off from the original Nancy Drew mystery series. I remember getting a kick out of several of these '80s and '90s YA novels when I read them back in my adolescence, and I still liked this first book this time around, my liking now seasoned with a dash of nostalgia.
Sure, Nancy makes a few mistakes and misjudgments along the way, and it makes little sense that she uses her real name for an undercover job. But her grit comes through in this adventurous mystery, with its mix of predictable elements and satisfying intrigue. It's a quick read complete with high-speed car chases and deadly explosions (the plurality of these events added by me), and yeah, there's an "exciting" little romance of the rushed and shallow variety. 'Cause, hey, what kind of opener to a thrilling YA spin-off would it have been without hot characters and some sudden kissing? Heh heh heh...
And I do believe this series served as my introduction to cliffhanger chapter endings, back in the day. Cliffhangers with exclamation points!
The series has got 123 more books in it, so I plan to revisit more of them and try some others for the first time. Let's see (or rediscover) what more of the writers under the collective pseudonym "Carolyn Keene" have got—exclamation point!
So declares the teen detective in this first book in The Nancy Drew Files, a spin-off from the original Nancy Drew mystery series. I remember getting a kick out of several of these '80s and '90s YA novels when I read them back in my adolescence, and I still liked this first book this time around, my liking now seasoned with a dash of nostalgia.
Sure, Nancy makes a few mistakes and misjudgments along the way, and it makes little sense that she uses her real name for an undercover job. But her grit comes through in this adventurous mystery, with its mix of predictable elements and satisfying intrigue. It's a quick read complete with high-speed car chases and deadly explosions (the plurality of these events added by me), and yeah, there's an "exciting" little romance of the rushed and shallow variety. 'Cause, hey, what kind of opener to a thrilling YA spin-off would it have been without hot characters and some sudden kissing? Heh heh heh...
And I do believe this series served as my introduction to cliffhanger chapter endings, back in the day. Cliffhangers with exclamation points!
The series has got 123 more books in it, so I plan to revisit more of them and try some others for the first time. Let's see (or rediscover) what more of the writers under the collective pseudonym "Carolyn Keene" have got—exclamation point!
January 3, 2022
2.5 stars
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