Two Points to Murder

Nancy Drew Files #8

by Carolyn Keene

Nancy searches for the practical joker who is stalking the Emerson College basketball team before the team blows its chance for the playoffs.

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

151 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1988

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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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

[Readaholic Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ned acted like a jerk in this book.

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Quickie Review

Another engaging installment in the series; this one with a surprise ending! I'm curious to see where the story goes from here. This series is really fun; I'm glad that a local garage sale led to me finding out about it.

Score: 4/5

[Jess · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ned Nickerson is a drip and Nancy could do better.

[PenNPaper52 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the story to be very old fashioned especially all the hoops Ned makes Nancy go through. As for main story, it just didn't sit well... So to speak. Like suddenly Nancy figures things out... And the way Ned behaves about Mike is shameful and obnoxious. Sorry this wasn't the norm Nancy Drew mystery affair. More on how to stomp on women's feminism.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read Nancy Drew since middle school and picked this up at a used bookstore out of nostalgia. It was just as enjoyable as I remembered except for one thing - all those exclamation points! 😂

In all seriousness, though, I enjoyed the trip down memory lane and would willing grab another for a light, quick read.

[Shruti · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Files spin-off series was my favorite of all the Nancy Drew books I read as a kid (and I read quite a lot). This one — and the next two books — were super memorable because they're my origin story as a lover of angst. I reread this book in one sitting and not gonna lie, I loved starting my day with some sweet 2006 nostalgia. :D

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t remember there being this much relationship drama in Nancy Drew! Tea!

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ned, you suck even more. Nance, you don’t need him.
But seriously, this was a really fun read.

[Jessica Mcmahon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes you have to sacrifice things for the sake of others. When Nancy is faced with a new case, she thinks everything will go fine- until one of her boyfriend's friend is under suspicion. Death will be defied. Sacrifices will be made. And all this leads down to some pranks on the Emerson college basketball team. It all comes down to this: sometimes we have to bear our own scars just to heal others'.

Okay, I haven't read Nancy Drew for a while, so this was a good book to come back to. It had an interesting sotry, with some plot twists, and even made me feel real emotion for the characters. Although some would say it was flawless, at some points I was shouting to Nancy to do something in my head. For a Nancy Drew book ,his one was short, but I still loved it. I would recommend this to any Nancy Drew fans, not just sports fans, as you don't need to know a thing about basketball to enjoy it, like if did.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh I LOVED this book. At first I was shocked about the... end... I even cried, but Nancy sorta deserved it. About 5 years after reading this one and 4 years after reading the next one, I'm convinced that Nancy still doesn't deserve an amazing guy like Ned. >_<

[John Yelverton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very wary about the paperback Nancy Drew books, but they are every bit as good as the original were.

[Katie Randolph · Rating 2 out of 5]

it's so disappointing to see the nancy drew character revitalized for teenage girls only to lose most of the depth and feminist qualities that made her so beloved in the first place :/

[Jeremiah Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?!!!!
Also, if you have a choice between chasing the suspect into a big building or writing down their license plate, write down their license plate.

[Silver · Rating 1 out of 5]

Had it not been for the name on the cover I would never have suspected this was a Nancy Drew book. Not only has she lost her instinctive sharpness but she is also utterly clueless and basically does nothing until the solution to the mystery hits her right in the face. But you know what, scratch that, the main focus is on how much of a bitch Nancy has become since the Mystery Stories. I'm totally behind Ned on this one.

[Stormy · Rating 4 out of 5]

keeps you guessing till the last second. Usually before they reveal the culprit I can figure out whodunnit but this one kept me guessing till they told us. Good short read.

[Adrian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't say this often but here goes. You, Nancy Drew, are America's greatest hero.

[Roderick · Rating 2 out of 5]

somewhat predictable case and uncharacteristically foolish protagonist

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

3 stars. If this would've been just about the mystery I would've given this a four stars because I thought that was interesting and really well done. But alas we were also bombarded with angsty relationship bullshit between Nancy and Ned. I don't like them as a couple so the ending didn't bother me but I hope it sticks and that they stay separated. I've never liked Ned and he was the absolute worst here, they both were honestly. Nancy was sniveling and whiney and Ned was the biggest asshole. If I never have to read about him again I'd be happy but I'm sure they're gonna get back together unfortunately.

[Andrew Thais · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book and the last book fell flat for me. Most of the conflict would have been fixed if Nancy and Ned would have just sat down and talked things out. These last two books build their main suspects up to be the bad guy but then in the last 20 pages have a completely random character be the bad guy the entire time. Also this book was more romance than action compared to some of the previous books. 2 stars

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good mystery, but I had to change the topic I originally chose this for for my reading challenge. It was originally a sports related book, but is now a book that makes me mad. The reason why...You can’t break up Nancy Drew and Ned Nickerson people, you just can’t!!!

[sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think it was really nice, just the fact that the book focuses on Ned and Nancy's relationship more than the actual case.
ALSO:
WHY DOES CAROLYN KEENE LEAVE EVERY CHAPTER WITH A CLIFFHANGER? WHHYYYYY?

[Lize-Marie Leuschner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too much angst in the romance department

[Reba Weatherford · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of the Files series I've read, and I'm just not sure how I feel about them.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ned finally put his foot down after years of following Nancy around like a puppy dog! I’m shocked it took this long.

[cam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good mystery. I just got in to the Nancy Drew books there pretty good. Though i was not expecting the ending to end in a breakup.

[Ashley]

MY HEART 💔

[Chloe]

SO JUICY

[Noni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two-star mystery, four stars for the ongoing personal life drama of Nancy Drew... THAT ENDING THOUGH!

[ShelvedbyNicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

✏️ “Logic isn’t the only way to get at the truth,”…“Sometimes you have to listen to your heart.”
~ Carolyn Keene, Two Points to Murder (Nancy Drew Files #8)

[Hitishaa · Rating 5 out of 5]

CLEARLY OUTSTANDING BOOK. LOVE IT AND WILL RECOMMEND TO OTHERS