The Door-to-Door Deception

Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #140

by Carolyn Keene

When some of the junior high kids are accused in a series of house break-ins, Nancy investigates and encounters danger at the hands of the real burglars. Original.

Genres: Mystery, Young Adult, Childrens, Adventure, Mystery Thriller, Detective, Thriller

160 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1997

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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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

Another great mystery in this series!

(Sorry, I'm short on time again today!)

[GhostofMyrtle]

There has been hundreds of Nancy Drew books written in various series. The original series, Nancy Drew Mystery Stories, is broken up into three eras: The "Original 56", written between 1930 and 1979, The wonderer Era, written between 1979 and 1985 consisting of books 57 to 78 and The "Digests", written between 1987 and 2003, consisting of books 79 to 175.

The Door-to-Door Deception is a "Digest". The storyline involves Nancy investigating a series of burglaries linked to an after school programme when she becomes a volunteer for the programme.

Consisting of 15 chapters over 159 pages, most of the chapters end with a "cliffhanger", most of which are quite lame. Obviously I'm not the target audience but having previously read some of the original Nancy Drews it seems the quality here has gone down significantly from the original titles which at least had some atmosphere.

Carolyn Keene, btw, is a pseudonym of various authors who have penned the Nancy Drew books over the years.

[Shannon]

Here's the thing, when I get into a reading rut, or don't know what to read next, I reach for an old friend. In this case (no pun intended), I pulled Nancy Drew off the shelf.

Nancy, George, and Bess are volunteering at CARING, a youth organization. One of their duties is to sell health bars door-to-door, but when the police show up and question Nancy, this is where our super sleuth begins. Apparently, there have been a string of burglaries in the neighborhoods that the kids have been selling their health bars, and the neighbors are wary. Is there a connection?

With Bess's fruit juice being spiked with hot sauce, Nancy's skates being tampered with so that she has no breaks, Nancy receiving a menacing phone call, and a mysterious CARING visitor showing up at Nancy's house that no one seems to recognize....there is no way that Nancy can turn her back on the case. Who is behind all of this and why?

Carolyn Keene (whomever she may be) never disappoints!

[Brad Wilber]

I have to give this series entry kudos for extra emotional complexity. This is one of the first books to address the idea that River Heights has "sides of town" with socioeconomic implications -- and with worthy people living in all zones. The boys'-and-girls' club plot is interesting and angsty. Nancy and her friends sometimes succeed, sometimes not, in speaking sensitively and eloquently into fraught situations. A cut above.

[peter f mathias]

EXCELLENT ANALYSIS. GREAT CASE FOR PROPER MANAGEMENT OF YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS.

Liked the challenge of keepin-up with Nancy's clues. Could realky feel the tensions among the counselors, and feel for the kids.

[Alexandra]

This book the poor author seemed to be struggling to hit page count, we didn't need a play by play of a soccer or skating event. Nancy had the rubber brake on her skate break off and I quote "calling on her training and agility" . . . my dude it's a skate not defusing a bomb calm down 😆

[Serena]

My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.

[LuAnn]

I found this rather boring, too much like so many of these later stories that take place in River Heights organization, school, store or gallery.

[Pinja Ilván]

😻💖❤💜🧡💛💚💙💋 IHANA

[minnajee]

22.6.2001
Vanha kunnon NE. En edes jaxanu arvailla syyllistä. No joo.
Arvosana: 8+

[Ann♥♪♪♪♪]

Nancy Drew #140 is a really enjoyable read! :)

[Sohila Kaur]

Clever story and a befuddling mystery.