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Nancy Drew Files #12
Fatal Ransom
When Hal Colson is kidnapped, Nancy Drew suspects that the teenaged heir is being held somewhere in River Heights and that the punk rockers that Hal hangs out with at the mall are responsible
180 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1987
11 people are currently reading
399 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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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 - 25 of 25 reviews
July 28, 2023
A Quickie Review
Yet another enjoyable installment in this very long series. Definitely worth the wait. To say more would give away the plot, so, I won't.
Score: 4/5
Yet another enjoyable installment in this very long series. Definitely worth the wait. To say more would give away the plot, so, I won't.
Score: 4/5
September 12, 2020
3 stars. This was one of the better installments in this series. I thought this one was really fun and entertaining. The mystery was cool and I loved it. I was also really glad that there was no Ned and no relationship mess. As long as these books stay focused on Nancy solving mysteries, they are a lot of fun.
{Challenges completed:
✔All Challenges All The Time: The Big Bang Theory Challenge
✔YA Buddy Readers’ Corner: Read Whatever You Want Team Challenge (Team Cher)}
{Challenges completed:
✔All Challenges All The Time: The Big Bang Theory Challenge
✔YA Buddy Readers’ Corner: Read Whatever You Want Team Challenge (Team Cher)}
January 2, 2025
A couple of years ago, my nostalgic self started revisiting books in the Nancy Drew Files: a, ya' know, cool-and-spiced-up YA series spinoff from the original Nancy Drew mysteries that started coming out in the 1930s. The Files Case Number 12 here, from the late '80s, is one I hadn't already read back in my adolescence.
Nancy isn't exactly at her smartest or mightiest in this case, and the book has got its unsurprising share of corn. Especially where some oh-so-bad "bad guy/bad girl" attitude comes into play.
But the sudden moments of high danger and action that burst (or at least spurt) through are what this series is all about.
Plus, my old-fashioned side never fails to get a kick out of the aspects that reflect, well, that bygone time. For instance, certain characters here have to stay at home in this or that scene to be near the telephone, so as not to miss critical calls regarding the kidnapping and all.
Oh, for those good ol' golden pre-cellphone days.
So far, Cases 1 and 4, Secrets Can Kill and Smile and Say Murder, are my favorites of the series. Both rereads for me.
With more than 100 books to go, I'll likely be skipping ahead (or around) to the ones that tug on my nostalgia the most on sight—whether because they're others I remember reading back in the day or because their '80s-'90s book covers especially grip me.
Note:
• intended for readers aged 12 years and up
• some violence, including with guns and other weapons
Nancy isn't exactly at her smartest or mightiest in this case, and the book has got its unsurprising share of corn. Especially where some oh-so-bad "bad guy/bad girl" attitude comes into play.
But the sudden moments of high danger and action that burst (or at least spurt) through are what this series is all about.
Plus, my old-fashioned side never fails to get a kick out of the aspects that reflect, well, that bygone time. For instance, certain characters here have to stay at home in this or that scene to be near the telephone, so as not to miss critical calls regarding the kidnapping and all.
Oh, for those good ol' golden pre-cellphone days.
So far, Cases 1 and 4, Secrets Can Kill and Smile and Say Murder, are my favorites of the series. Both rereads for me.
With more than 100 books to go, I'll likely be skipping ahead (or around) to the ones that tug on my nostalgia the most on sight—whether because they're others I remember reading back in the day or because their '80s-'90s book covers especially grip me.
Note:
• intended for readers aged 12 years and up
• some violence, including with guns and other weapons
January 13, 2022
Oh my God sweetie.
So Nancy is called in on a kidnapping case because she's not the police, although she shouldn't have been called in AT ALL. Just gonna get that out here. Lance Colson is his nephew Hal's guardian, and Hal's been kidnapped! The kidnappers want $475,000 ransom! In like three days! The horror!
Nancy: "Why not $500,000?"
Lance: "Maybe because they didn't want to make it sound like it was that much? Like saying $9.99 instead of $10?"
It takes Nancy WAY too long to figure out that the culprit is, in fact, the culprit. She notices a lot of really weird behavior but it doesn't all come together for her until very late. I wish she had learned from this. Sigh.
Also, Ned's working on "a paper" and she doesn't want to bother him about her case, even though "they had a good time in the front porch swing a few weeks ago," which I interpret as "Ned managed to get to third for a hot minute." He arrives at the climax of the case (yes I see what I did there) and says that now he and Nancy can celebrate his having completed his "paper" in a far more satisfying way (more finger banging).
George gets to pose as a "punk youth" in this book, which I found terrifying at the age of ten, because one of the kidnappers says "like hell you will" and I was SHOCKED, I TELL YOU.
Also Bess falls for the bad guy and ends up as his hostage. I was just glad that, for once, Nancy was like "damn, dude is tall, dark and hottie... and, scene" and gives it basically no other thought.
Lance also has a live-in girlfriend. I was just confused by this when I was a child because it was never stated that way. So this is just chock full of moral panic, y'all.
So Nancy is called in on a kidnapping case because she's not the police, although she shouldn't have been called in AT ALL. Just gonna get that out here. Lance Colson is his nephew Hal's guardian, and Hal's been kidnapped! The kidnappers want $475,000 ransom! In like three days! The horror!
Nancy: "Why not $500,000?"
Lance: "Maybe because they didn't want to make it sound like it was that much? Like saying $9.99 instead of $10?"
It takes Nancy WAY too long to figure out that the culprit is, in fact, the culprit. She notices a lot of really weird behavior but it doesn't all come together for her until very late. I wish she had learned from this. Sigh.
Also, Ned's working on "a paper" and she doesn't want to bother him about her case, even though "they had a good time in the front porch swing a few weeks ago," which I interpret as "Ned managed to get to third for a hot minute." He arrives at the climax of the case (yes I see what I did there) and says that now he and Nancy can celebrate his having completed his "paper" in a far more satisfying way (more finger banging).
George gets to pose as a "punk youth" in this book, which I found terrifying at the age of ten, because one of the kidnappers says "like hell you will" and I was SHOCKED, I TELL YOU.
Also Bess falls for the bad guy and ends up as his hostage. I was just glad that, for once, Nancy was like "damn, dude is tall, dark and hottie... and, scene" and gives it basically no other thought.
Lance also has a live-in girlfriend. I was just confused by this when I was a child because it was never stated that way. So this is just chock full of moral panic, y'all.
March 30, 2024
Probably closer to a 3.5. I didn't like this one as much as the others. For one Bess' character made no sense. They tend to write Bess as being a bit boy crazy but even for that being a major part of her personality it was over the top in this book. Not only had she fallen for the uncle in five seconds she then proceeded to put everyone in danger when she believed him over Nancy. Also, I really wish in just one book they wouldn't mention Bess eternal quest for weight loss. Other than that, the actual mystery was interesting. I think teenage me would have really liked this one.
Read
December 22, 2021I felt the urge to go back to one of my all-time favorite characters, Nancy Drew!
Ended the book with a warm feeling of happiness knowing that no matter how old you are,
It's never too late to go back to one of your all-time favorite books!
Ended the book with a warm feeling of happiness knowing that no matter how old you are,
It's never too late to go back to one of your all-time favorite books!
July 9, 2024
“There’s nothing wrong with punkers,” George said. “They’re just kids trying to make a different kind of statement... [J]ust because they dress differently from us doesn’t make them kidnappers!”
Fucking. Perfection.
Fucking. Perfection.
January 4, 2025
Yes, you're seeing this right!😂 I loved reading Nancy Drew books when I was younger, so Grace thrifted me some for Christmas. I read for many reasons, but primarily for enjoyment & to relax, and these are perfect! (Honest, it's not just so that maybe I will meet my reading goal this year! 😁
June 25, 2020
Oddly behaved suspect's reactions are too unrealistic: she doesn't really figure anything out; it's told to her
July 6, 2021
Bess and George get more involved in this one
November 9, 2021
Fun as always!
May 25, 2023
Bess has never annoyed me like this before.
October 7, 2021
Fatal Ransom by Carolyn Keene
Series: Yes Nancy Drew Flies #12
Format: Softcover
Stars: 4
Recommend: Yes
Would Reread: Yes
Reread 9-9-2021
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...
Series: Yes Nancy Drew Flies #12
Format: Softcover
Stars: 4
Recommend: Yes
Would Reread: Yes
Reread 9-9-2021
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...
April 10, 2019
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.
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.
December 25, 2016
This NDF book was not as easy to solve like the others. I didn't know who did it until Nancy figured it out. It seemed that it could've been anyone, even Hal's girlfriend!!! I feel bad for Ned, Nancy is an awful girlfriend. I don't know why he puts up with her. Dating is just too confusing. Or maybe it's con-fusing...that's a reference to In a Glass Grimmly. Don't judge, book references are the best. Anyway, great book, Nancy Drew is my second favorite girl detective(go Sammy Keyes!) and I'd totally read this again after at least a year.
August 11, 2017
This book was really good...until it started to drag when i reached page 103! I was disappointed by that because I was really enjoying the story, but I rushed through it when I came to page 103 and wanted it to end already. I also didn't like what happened with Lance, but overall this book was good and it deserves three stars.
Read
October 4, 2007Keene, Carolyn PB
July 15, 2013
Never liked how it took Nancy so long to figure out who was behind everything.
November 22, 2010
NOT THAT GREAT
September 8, 2013
I can't say Hal did wrong because Lance is also at fault. One thing in common for those two and the others who are involved in the case is, they all were tempted by money.
November 28, 2013
I loved this one. All the books in the series should be this good. Bess was so stupid, I was really hoping somebody would do bad things to her, LOL!
May 2, 2014
i think that it is a very good book and i love it and it was suggested by my skul best friend Ananya Panda... i love the book and i want to read more nancy drew files books
February 19, 2016
This is the first Nancy Drew book I've read with a curse word and also where a gun was actually shot and it injured someone.
April 29, 2016
I am amazed with this novel. It makes me feel curiously to read it more.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews