Wings of Fear

Nancy Drew Files #13

by Carolyn Keene

When Nancy Drew's friend Jennifer Bishop, a flight attendent, discovers a smuggling ring operating inside the airline, Nancy is brought in by airline president Preston Talbot and Bess goes undercover as a flight attendent,

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

180 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1987

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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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

A Quickie Review

After reading and reviewing over a dozen of these books, I'm not sure what I can say about this series that I haven't already said...so, I'll just be short and sweet about this thirteenth volume: It was another enjoyable installment.

Score: 4/5

[Kristin · Rating 2 out of 5]

“Coffee, tea, or…murder.”

Kind of a boring mystery until the plane blows up at the end. The ghost writer had to do it.

Not a lot of Seattle content except the “Puget Sound Airport” stand in for SeaTac.

Seattle is very hilly but hard to believe they built a railroad crossing at the top of a hill.

Nancy wears a very “convincing” disguise and gets let on a plane without a ticket. I guess the 80s were a different time.

Kissing as a diversion.

[Ericka May Blanco · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is actually the first-ever Nancy Drew pocketbook I've read. What I love about the Nancy Files is that you can't really expect the villains of each investigative case. The story line is quite interesting for it goes with a lot of unpredictable twists. It's a fun feeling when you get through the end of the stories.

[V. Arrow · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a title that had me groaning, "NANCY. THAT'S THE BAD GUY. THIS GUY YOU'RE TALKING TO RIGHT NOW. NOT THE OTHER GUY WHO'S THE OBVIOUS RED HERRING. COME ON, NOW, GIRL!"

[Nadine Keels · Rating 4 out of 5]

My nostalgic self is continuing my revisit through The Nancy Drew Files series, some of which I read back in my adolescence.

Book 13 here, from the '80s, is one I hadn't read before. Admittedly, I won't be reading all of the 100+ more novels in the series. But it was this book cover's images of Nancy's bulky and vibrant cardigan, her wary and dramatic stance that almost looks like a dance move, and the diving airplane on fire that compelled me to pick this one up.

In the middle of this particular case, what especially put a little fire under my reading? Certain characters' disparaging comments to Nancy—as if this chick must only be playing at this detective thing. But even at eighteen, Nancy is neither new nor an amateur at her job.

There comes a point where she's not only looking to solve this case, but she's also looking to prove herself to the naysayers.

So, I was like, "Hey. The proof will be in the pudding. Just do what you do, Drew."

(Well, I actually said under my breath, "Do what you do, Nancy." But, well, rhyming that line sounds better.)

Also, I liked that this wasn't one of those mysteries where the bad guys tie up the good guys and explain everything in a monologue or an info-dumping convo in the end. And I must say, I really got into this novel's rather thrilling climax and the lead-up to it.

Looking forward to whatever Files case I'll pick up next because I'll either remember reading it back in the day or because it'll be one with cover art that grabs me.

Note:
• intended for readers aged 12 years and up

[old account (rl) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wings of Fear is certainly not the best Nancy Drew mystery that I have ever read. I am certainly getting tired of this ridiculous pen name conundrum. We have no idea who the "real" author is and some of these modern "Carolyn Keene"s are just awful. This one wasn't too bad. A good mystery. Nancy herself was okay. Again, not my favourite but still decent. A fun and easy read.

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

3 stars. This was okay. The action was fun though and I always enjoy when it's just Nancy with Bess and George because their friendship is a lot of fun and genuine. I liked the ending but the plot itself wasn't my favorite. I'm just glad this wasn't an annoying read cause goodness knows there are a lot of those in this series.

[Chris Comden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wings of Fear by Carolyn Keene
Series: Yes Nancy Drew Flies #13
Format: Softcover
Stars: 4
Recommend: Yes
Would Reread: Yes


I think this is a Reread 10-8-2021

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...

[Noni · Rating 3 out of 5]

mystery was average... i really just love Nancy though - kissing men to avoid getting caught snooping? Iconic.
oh! and the scene where Jennifer tells her boyfriend off because he's trying to tell her solving mysteries is too dangerous for her and she should give up on it.

strong, complex female characters ftw!

[Aya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Nancy Drew books. They are fun, mysterious, and quick to go through.

[Roderick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Amusingly amorous suitor Paul, but foolish decisions by Nancy at the end

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I seriously love this series so much!

[Adriana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not much of a detective story. More like being at the right place at the right time to overhear one conversation that solves it all. The airport scene and new characters are interesting however.

[Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5

[Bookish Indulgenges with b00k r3vi3ws · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

I loved this branch of Nancy Drew growing up. Besides one book that irritated me I really liked reading about her. This one involved a conundrum with a new boyfriend.

[kashvi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly a MUST READ

[Leah · Rating 2 out of 5]

So easy to tell who was involved, yet Nancy remained blind throughout the book