Sisters in Crime

Nancy Drew Files #19

by Carolyn Keene

While visiting a friend at a California college, Nancy poses as a transfer student to investigate the mysterious drowning death of a sorority girl

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

149 pages

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 In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.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

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

Yet another exciting adventure featuring the famed teenage sleuth.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a Nancy Drew Files that takes place in a sorority.



In other words, it's basically an automatic 4-star rating! For me, anyway lol.

Also, how many times is it now that Nancy has gotten knocked out by a blow to the head?? She's gotta have more TBI racked up than your average NFL linebacker by this point :D

[Catie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so happy I have a bunch of these now.

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

3 stars. Really enjoyed this one. Nancy is investigating a murder in a sorority and it was very interesting. I liked the college setting and I think the mystery in this one was well done. The reveal was good and I liked how everything ended. This was definitely one of the better ones in the series.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first Nancy Drew book ever. I started reading a Hardy Boys book once upon a time, and found it utterly boring. I lumped Nancy Drew in the same category and never even considered picking one up. My friends were shocked that I hadn't read any Nancy Drew and told me I had to. One even loaned the book to me.

I found it rather entertaining and would definitely consider reading another someday, though I don't plan to run out and buy the set. I enjoy the Hannah Swenson mysteries by Joanne Fluke more. Those books have lots of fun recipes to try.

[Laura Jerrolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the Nancy Drew Files so much! This one had great characters & a nice setting in California!

[Horror Nerd · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sorority girl drowns in a tragic swimming accident. But is that the real truth, or was there a more sinister motive behind the crime? Nancy Drew is drawn into the case, and must find all the missing pieces of the puzzle before she becomes the next target.
This has everything a classic mystery should have. An interesting plot, a quick pace, and engaging supporting characters (even minor characters like the quiet girl Alice get a spotlight in the investigation). Nancy is her usual fearless & curious self, never backing down even when faced with some serious danger. The conclusion is satisfying, and does not feel rushed at all.

[Tori · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐⭐

SISTERS IN CR*ME by Carolyn Keene

Nancy Drew has a new case: her old friend's roommate and sorority sister was found d*ad, and she believes it was m*rder. As Nancy investigates, she unearths multiple conspiracies and learns someone is after her. 
I wasn't a big fan of this one. It felt like it dragged on even thought it's under 150 pages. I don't know, despite this being a m*rder to solve, it seemed boring. Not to mention there were spots where the scene cut weirdly to a new one, which left me confused. And the whodunit was quite predictable that I think the age group that is the target of this could get it right before the reveal. 

[Mundy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Huh! I remember finding these Nancy Drew Files books gripping as a kid. Read side by side with R.L. Stine’s “Fear Street,” I’d pick the latter. I gave an “oh damn!” When Nancy got stuck in the back with a dart, tho.

[Louie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sisters In Crime was a Great addition to the series. I didn't know who the killer was until they revealed them. It was slow for me in the beginning, but overall a good book.

[Roderick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent mystery & (very) light romance

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

My summary/review (includes cursing):

https://anchor.fm/nancy-drew-nickerso...

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this one!

[Amanda Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. A dead sorority sister, embezzlement, secret motives, a school campus cheating scandal, threatening notes, and a handful of snobby college girls

[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.

[Maya Danek · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always love a good mystery! Nancy Drew books are great if you love mysteries, but also want a quick read. This book didn't take me a long time to read, but it was a bit confusing at times (but, all mysteries confuse me a little bit). This book specifically was about Nancy visiting a friend who is in college, and she works undercover to find out if a fellow student of her friend was murdered, or if it was just a tragic accident. This book has a lot of characters that might describe some friends of yours. There's the caring friend, the friend who doesn't like to study, and the shy friend.

[Nattie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love books about sororities and college campuses set in the 1940's-1980's, so this was right up my alley.

I'm reading back-to-back Nancy Drew files, so it's a little hard dealing with the stupidity of the characters in high doses. Nancy Drew is an absolute dummy. She gives everything away. She nearly ruins every case with her big mouth.

[K.L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always a favourite. Nancy goes undercover at a sorority to find out who killed a sorority sister. Hidden motives, embezzlement and cheating all come to light before Nancy unmasks the killer. A truly chilling method of murder and this one has always stuck in my head

[Prerna · Rating 4 out of 5]

GOOD BOOK!

[Sandhya · Rating 5 out of 5]

:) Amazing!!!!:)

[Linda Klinedinst · Rating 5 out of 5]

I dearly love this book...it is so good....I love the Nancy Drew Files - I am going to read them all eventually. The Author of this book is Carolyn Keene.

[V. Arrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know it's probably some kind of internalized misogyny, but I do love a thriller that involves the schadenfreude of Mean Girls getting booked for murder. Also, Susan was totally in love with Rina.