Nancy Drew is sleuthing on our screens. The teenaged detective we grew up reading the exploits of in the series, published under the pseudonym of Carolyn Keene as author, is now part of an ensemble cast of a TV series, airing at 2pm on Tuesday on Zee Cafe. But they are reimagined versions of the characters from the books. The cast, for one, has been made racially inclusive. Nancy’s best friends in the books, George Fayne and Bess Marvin, are still there. But not so much as her best friends and neither are they cousins any more. Rather, George is George Fan, of Asian stock, who is Nancy’s old nemesis from high school and her boss at the local diner where she works. Ned Nickerson, her boyfriend, is shown to be of Afro-American descent and is an ex-convict. But yes, they still solve a case together.

We chat with Maddison Jaizani, who plays Bess Marvin, shown to be a rich city girl with a mysterious past who works as a waitress with Nancy at The Bayside Claw.

What is the premise of Nancy Drew?

Nancy Drew is about a young curious girl, Nancy Drew, who is known in the town for being extremely good at solving the mysteries and investigations of the town.

Who is Bess Marvin?

Bess Marvin is definitely a character that stands out. She’s a city girl who came to this small town. She’s sweet. She gets stuck working at The Claw, which is not her idea of a career choice, but she definitely has a lot of class about her; she’s well educated. She’s a really charming character.

How are we introduced to Bess in the pilot episode?

It’s a funny scene. She’s definitely out of place. She’s not worked in a restaurant before. So, the first time you see her, she’s laying a table and she’s just doing it all wrong. She’s doing it her way, not The Claw way, and she’s basically getting told off.

Why is Bess in Horseshoe Bay?

Bess has come to town and she’s basically trying to find family. She’s alone at the moment. She’s living in a beat-up old van that she bought with the money that she had when she fled the city, and she’s looking for family to connect with again. She hasn’t told anyone that she’s in this van, and it’s quite sad when you see her perfectly in her Chanel flats and Cartier watch, walking up to this really battered old thing, and that’s her big secret. So yeah, that’s her backstory.

How would you describe the relationship between Bess and Ace?

There is the dishwasher, he’s called Ace, he is a sweetheart. Bess just isn’t interested (laughs). He’s sort of always on her left or right side, he’s always there. He would love to get to know Bess, but she likes to snap or roll her eyes or do this sort of ‘whatever’ thing. So, they’ve got a cute relationship.

What genre does Nancy Drew fall under?

There are definitely comedic moments. I would say it’s more of a thriller, with comedic moments.

Do you have to be a fan of Nancy Drew to enjoy this series?

It’s starting from the beginning, it’s not something that you feel like you have to catch up on, or who is this girl. It’s setting it from the start and there’s a really good evolvement throughout of the characters and the friendship. I don’t think you have to do a recap.

Why will audiences like this reimagining of Nancy Drew?

People have grown up with Nancy Drew, it’s so famous, and especially Kennedy [McMann] who is playing Nancy, she grew up with those books, so it’s very close to her heart. I think it’s already got that base of fans and people who know the name. People who might have forgotten it for 20 years, it’ll come up and they’ll go, ‘Oh my god, I remember those books!’ So, I think it’s great that it’s already got that, but I just think the style of the show is great. It’s very dark and mysterious and it’s grungy and it’s gritty, but it’s also a fresh new show.

TUNJI KASIM plays Ned Nickerson, a former teenage convict and football player who now runs an auto repair shop. His relationship with Nancy, as mentioned in the book, wears out in course of the TV series.

What is the premise of Nancy Drew?

Nancy Drew is about a young woman finding her way back to who she really is. She’s gone through a period in her life where she’s had to keep one side of herself down, and now she’s rediscovering that and she’s pushed back into that because of circumstances she finds herself in.

Why is it time to bring back Nancy Drew?

It’s an interesting take on Nancy Drew.’ I think we’ve all grown up with the books. I grew up reading the books as a kid, but this is a different version of Nancy Drew that people might not necessarily expect.

What is it like playing the role of Ned?

When I got the audition, there was a bit of me, the kid in me thinking, ‘Nancy Drew, that would be pretty cool’, and luckily it worked out. There was definitely that geeky kid in me that was quite excited to be playing Ned Nickerson, just because I’m a Nancy Drew fan, so yeah.

Who is Ned ‘Nick’ Nickerson?

Nick is a guy that’s come from out of town. He’s got a bit of mystery to him. He has met Nancy and when we’re introduced to him, they are in a bit of a relationship. And yeah, he’s new to town and he’s just going to keep his head down and get on with his life. I think Ned’s a bit of a mystery to begin with because he has this past that you slowly and surely find out about, bit by bit.

How are we introduced to Nick in the pilot episode?

We first meet Nick in bed with Nancy. That’s your first introduction to him and you hit the ground running with them, where they are in their relationship. It’s very early days in their relationship, so they’re still getting to know each other.

How is the supernatural element woven into the story?

There’s a supernatural element to the show. It’s an interesting balance between reality and supernatural and what is real what’s not real. We’re not setting up a world where people take it for granted that ghosts exist.